"Do you want coffee?" Jeongguk asked as they entered the house.

"I think we should just talk so I can leave." Taehyung strolled towards the living room and sat on the couch as the younger stared at him with gloomy eyes.

He sighed and bowed his head as he neared him with heavy steps. "Mr. Kim, I'm really sorry for what I did. It was over the line and I shouldn't have done that."

"Why did you do it, though? What were you trying to prove?"

"I didn't—I mean, you j-just said that you don't like me like t-that but then why did you..." he trailed off as he peeped at him.

"Why did I what?"

Jeongguk shifted in his seat uneasily, not knowing if he should say what he heard from Jimin the other day. "Do you r-really not like me like that?"

"Jeongguk, when you ask me these kinds of things, you're crossing the line again. Don't do that. I've already answered you."

"But then why d-did you... why did you get h-hard?" Jeongguk mumbled bashfully. He touched his flushed cheeks with the back of his hand, still looking down.

"Would you be able to control your body when someone touches your fucking thigh?"

"With you no," he murmured so quietly Taehyung didn't hear him.

"What?"

Jeongguk ventured to raise his head, ignoring the flaming heat on his cheeks, and laid his eyes on him. "I said with you no."

Taehyung stiffened at his remark but was unable to whisk his gaze away from him. "Jeongguk, you can't say things like these to me. And you most certainly can't ask to help me with my fucking... problem. I think you forgot that I'm your teacher."

"I remember it every day. Don't worry about that."

"Then why are you doing this? Why can't you just be like my other students and stop screwing with my mind?" he snarled, outright frustrated.

The words startled Jeongguk as he didn't think that his little test would have this kind of effect on him. "I'm sorry," he breathed out. "I feel really bad about what I did. Do you hate me?"

And Taehyung could only sigh. "I don't hate you. I'm sorry for yelling at you. I just couldn't understand why you did that."

Jeongguk felt so overwhelmed with everything. He liked his teacher in a way he shouldn't and tested him to see his reaction, making him furious by his actions. Thinking about all those things, tears overflowed his eyes as he stared at the floor, hands clutched together.

"Jeongguk, don't," Taehyung whispered the moment he noticed his tearful eyes and shut his own, unable to bear the sight.

"Can you leave?"

"Am I really supposed to leave you alone when you're crying?" Hearing his choked voice, Taehyung scooted closer, wanting to pull the boy in his hug to comfort him, but halted abruptly. He didn't have the right to comfort him.

"Yes."

"Why are you even crying?" Taehyung asked with such a soft voice it made the other squeeze his eyes shut, trying to contain himself from breaking down completely in front of him. "Should I call one of your friends?"

"No."

Taehyung heaved a long sigh as he saw another wave of tears course down his face. He hated seeing the younger cry. It brought unexpected sorrow deep in his chest, the reason unknown. "Should I get you anything? Water, food even?"

"No."

Taehyung stayed mute for a stretch as he thought about what else to say. "Should we play overwatch?"

"No."

Taehyung felt wholly lost. The boy continued crying silently, and he had no idea how to make him feel better. "Should I hug you?"

Silence. Jeongguk glanced slightly towards his direction, eyes still not meeting his, and then wiped some more tears that leaked out.

Soon enough, he felt warm arms engulf his body, one curling around his shoulders and one holding his waist loosely. He nuzzled his face in Taehyung's chest and clutched his sweater, shocks of warmth swimming through him.

This is completely wrong, Taehyung. What are you doing? Despite his thoughts, Taehyung  caressed his back soothingly, trying to alleviate his crying state.

Jeongguk unclenched his fists and slipped his arms around him as he inched closer, their thighs now in full contact. It felt so heavenly to just be in his heart-melting hug, hearing the placatory sound of his heartbeat that was a tad irregular, something he was too lost in his embrace to fathom.

A while later, his tears stopped, but he didn't venture to pull away in the slightest. How could he? Now that he had the chance to feel him so close, he wouldn't be the one to break apart first. He couldn't.

Deep puffs of his sweet scent filtered in Taehyung's system as he held him tightly. He hadn't realized before how heady his scent was, and he found himself asking for more. So he lowered his head, nose and lips faintly touching the top of his head, and inhaled another long breath before he vacated his lungs at a slow pace. A muffled, honeyed giggle vibrated against his chest then, something that raised a smile from him, but confused him as well.

"It tickles."

"What?"

"Your breath on my head."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, it's nice." Jeongguk's hearty smile vanished as fast as it appeared when he sensed the older draw away.

"Are you feeling better?" Taehyung questioned, his voice as soft as a feather while he glanced at him.

"A little," Jeongguk uttered as he rubbed his face, brushing off any remains of his tears.

An uneasy silence fell over them as they looked anywhere but each other. Taehyung knew he had to put an end to whatever was happening between them, so after a few minutes of searching for a glimpse of courage to speak up, he set his eyes on him.

"Jeongguk... this thing or whatever is getting out of hand. I can't have one of my students giving me a boner, and I can't have one of my students getting one because of me. I know I tease you about your age, but I believe you're smart and mature enough to know that this is wrong. I can forgive you for the teasing because to be honest, I think I was the one who started it without even realizing it. I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression with my actions. It wasn't my intention. I think it's best to forget about what happened and keep a clear teacher-student relationship." The words flowed through his lips in a mellow tone, despite how heavy his chest felt as he spoke.

Jeongguk forced a tiny, bitter smile on his face. Although he was attracted to him, he knew he was right. It was wrong to think about him all day long. It was wrong to get himself off by thinking about his hot body. It was wrong to want to touch him and be touched by him. But he also knew he wouldn't be able to get him out of his mind anytime soon.

"You're right. I should probably give you your clothes."

That was random, Taehyung thought as he observed him in depth. "Um, yeah, okay. I'll go get yours too. They're in my car." He saw the boy nod and headed outside, but before going to his car, he fished his phone out of his pocket and made a quick call.

"Hey!"

"Hi, Seongwoo. I'm afraid I have to cancel again."

"Oh, it's okay. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, something just came up. I'll text you so we can arrange another date."

"Okay, Taehyung, can't wait to meet you!"

"Me too. Talk to you later." He ended the call and sighed as he resumed his way to his car to take the younger's clothes.

Upon returning inside the house, he caught Jeongguk sitting on the couch and staring at  an empty spot in the air with a glazed gaze. A flicker of worry crossed his chest when he called his name and the boy didn't answer. "Jeongguk," he called once more as he placed a hand on his shoulder.

Jeongguk flinched at the contact and darted his gaze at him. After a second, he broke into an awkward smile as he rose from his seat. "Here." He handed him the bag with his clothes.

"Are you okay?"

"Sure. So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

Taehyung's brows clumped in a frown at his bizarre behavior. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Kim." No, I'm not.

Taehyung didn't seem convinced but still whispered, "Okay. See you tomorrow."

"Bye." And with that, the older left, and Jeongguk could finally drop his body into his bed and cry his heart out in peace.

Taehyung entered his car but was unable to drive away and actually leave him alone. His behavior was so strange and... fake. He wanted to go back, but he knew he shouldn't. He should stay away from him and erase him from his mind. But he didn't know if he was able to do these things.

So he took his phone in his hands and called his hyung since he didn't know what else to do.

"Hey, Tae, what's up?"

There was a moment of silence as Taehyung couldn't find words to answer his simple question.

"Tae?"

"Um, can you check on Jeongguk?"

"Why, what happened?"

"I don't know, I saw him a little down before leaving school." He had to lie since the last thing he wanted was to have Hoseok scolding him at that moment.

"He didn't talk to you?"

"About what?"

"He didn't tell me what he did to you, but he was feeling really bad about it. He almost cried, Tae. I was really worried."

"Oh, um, he talked to me and I was a little harsh. Can you check on him?"

"Tae, you're not making sense. What is going on?"

"Can you just fucking check on him? Or call Jimin or Seokjin or one of his friends?" He raised his voice in complete frustration. "Just... check on him."

"Okay, Tae. But you have things to explain tomorrow," Hoseok said in an strict tone and hung up the phone.

But I don't have a reasonable explanation about anything. A heavy, shaky sigh emitted from his mouth as he started the engine and drove towards his house.

  
Alarmed by Taehyung's behavior, Hoseok called the younger boy right away. Something is definitely going on, he thought since Jeongguk took a while to answer. And even when he did, Hoseok could only hear some stifled sounds and his unsteady breathing.

"Kook, are you there? Is everything okay?"

The younger let a few more seconds of silence reign over them as he endeavored to control himself and not break down to sobs. "I'm fine, hyung."

"You don't sound like you're fine to me."

"Why did you call?"

"I just wanted to ask if I can come over."

"Um, maybe tomorrow, hyung."

"Jeongguk, what's going on? Talk to me," he said dejectedly. He hated it when the younger was holding whatever he was feeling to himself.

"Hyung... I-I c-can't—" As these words left his lips, the boy burst into another stream of tears and suffocating sobs.

"Fuck, I'm coming over right now!"

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