♡ 태꾹︴escape
내 사랑 . . . this terrible reality ♡ *.ﾟ⋆
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his footsteps moved a little quicker that morning, hitting the concrete like the soft raindrops falling from the clouds hanging above. jungkook tugged his hoodie further over his head and headed for the front doors of the high school.

it was a monday morning, so the fields were open for early practice for the school sports teams. jungkook knew his best friend would be out there practicing her throws for their next game, but he also knew someone else would be there too.

he tried not to think too much into it. it didnt mean anything. all the guy said was that he'd see him at school, and now jungkook was excited that someone else would maybe want to talk to him.

"jungkook!" it was yeji calling his name, running over with a grin and squinted eyes. she'd never seem tired no matter how early it was. jungkook sipped his drink and smiled small in return, "good morning." his voice was soft like the rain.

"thats not breakfast." yeji pointed at the clear cup her best friend was holding, baby pink lips sucking on the gas station straw.

jungkook looked out at the field and all the lacrosse girls in their slim leggings and razor back tanktops. he shrugged and kept sipping his soda. "i packed noodles for lunch." he said. yeji nodded at that and they kept walking towards the fields, "what book did you bring this time?" she asked.

"uh." jungkook knew which one he had, but the title wasnt coming to mind. his thoughts wandered as his eyes did the same, over the grass and patches of dirt until cleats and thighs and sports jerseys were seen. he didnt see the number he knew ⏤ not by the rest at least. maybe because that number was over by the small skirts and pretty smiles.

jungkook didnt hear the cheerleader tell the quarterback how good he looked in his gym pants today, but he saw the grin on the handsome guys face and the way the girls cheeks flushed when he laughed at what she said after that. it seemed cute, their little interaction.

jungkook just wondered if he could ever manage a hello again, let alone making the guy laugh.

"whatcha staring at?" yeji broke him from his thoughts again and followed his gaze over to the football players.

"n-nothing." jungkook managed to say quickly, "shouldnt you be practicing?"

yeji shrugged but smiled again, the same squinted eyes appearing and carefree persona shining through. "you're right, i'll see you after okay." she ran off to join her team again, leaving the small boy to stand with his big drink from the gas station and hoodie pulled over his head, only leaving a few tufts of soft black hair to poke out from underneath.

it felt like he was hidden, blocking out what was around him and avoiding the world as it moved along. he could pretend like he didnt hear the laughs of friends and sweet words between a boy and girl that have a little crush on each other, all those typical high school things. jungkook could pretend like he didnt want those things, like his book was enough and his soda was enough and he didnt need any more. he didnt need anyone to compliment him, to make him laugh or say his big hoodie looked nice over his small shoulders. he didnt need his sister to say hi to him as she walked past to join the cheerleader squad on the field.

jungkook tugged his hoodie on tighter and pretended like it was all okay being the way it was.

he was never hidden though. simply looked over by most.

by most ⏤ but kim taehyung wasn't most.

they all thought he was staring at the pretty girl, head cheerleader strutting across the field with a soft smile and ponytail swinging with each step. they thought he'd be wondering what she would say to him, if she'd invite him over again and how kim taehyung could be so lucky.

they all thought wrong. they didnt know he was staring past the girl, only to be looking at her brother that she brushed past without a word or even a look. he wondered how someone could not want to talk to someone like the little ravenette.

"hey tae." mirae smiled at the quarter back, "its a good morning today, wouldn't you say so?"

taehyung nodded, tearing his eyes away from the retreating figure with a book against his chest. "it is, good morning." he said to her. "you look cold." he glanced down at her slim legs showing from underneath the small cheerleader skirt. she had goosebumps too, but she'd deny it along with every other girl so they could still have reason to dress that way despite the weather.

"and you look good too." she smiled. "my dads working late at the bank later, you could come over after school." she offered.

he knew what she meant. they'd take their books out and pretend to do homework for a little bit.

"sure." taehyung said. it was an answer that came with ease.

soon his mind was blank, eyes stuck on the pretty cheerleader as she smiled and talked in a sweet voice that had him stuck like candy. mirae never did it one purpose. it wasn't her fault she was so approachable and had the charm to keep people close and wanting more. people wanted her attention all the time ⏤ from taehyung tugging on her gym bag to pull her close to the cheerleading squad calling her name so they could start their formations.

mirae was surrounded by attention all the time, like most popular kids in their small school. it's the blinding light that keeps them focused on the ones that didnt need it.

status drove them ahead, pulling them in the direction of their names being called and compliments being thrown their way. football players and pretty girls stayed blind as they walked down halls and did worse on each surprise quiz every monday. even the quarterback found himself unable to see sometimes, despite curious glances towards territories others would advise him to steer clear from.

taehyung didnt know it yet, not as he went through his day and tried to get through classes by at least remembering a pencil. the only time he didnt need it was for lunch, which had him breathing a sigh of relief as his brain could rest and stomach could be filled. it was monday ⏤ which meant noodles.

"get me some." taehyung told his friend, seeing woosung groan and open his mouth to be difficult. "i have to piss, just get me some noodles." taehyung said again, this time adding a please once his friend rolled his eyes and walked off to stand in the line for their lunches.

taehyung tossed his bag under the wooden bench of his usual lunch table before heading off to the bathroom. he high fived some people and said hello to a few kids he probably should have remembered the names of. it was typical, getting that kind of attention when you're attractive and the head player of the high school football team.

he should have stayed on that path, stayed blinded and stayed away from the temptation that whispered his name. the shouts from the cafeteria faded away and the sickeningly sweet call of temptation reached out, trailing its finger down his throat to turn his head in the wrong direction.

taehyung saw him.

he was sitting there looking so small in the same damn baggy hoodie. taehyung wondered if he wore so big on purpose. the boy had his head down, chopsticks balanced delicately between his pale fingers. jungkook didnt even look up when the handsome male stopped beside the lunch table that he sat alone at.

"hey." his deep voice sounded rich and smooth, such a contrast to the loudness that screamed around them in the cafeteria.

jungkook looked up from his full cup of noodles, only some broth missing due to previous little sips. he didnt speak, not when the confusion and nerves held onto his tongue.

taehyung tilted his head a little, wondering why there was such a lack of response from the smaller boy. it was the little tint of pink on the boys cheeks and the way his lips parted slightly, as if he really did want to try and say something. taehyung felt himself smiling a bit, the corner of his mouth twitching up into a small grin.

he figured he's save jungkook the trouble of fumbling over nervous words. taehyung tapped the top of the table, "i like your sketchers." he said, smile not faltering. the athlete didnt even realize he winked when he said it, not as jungkook looked down at felt the warmth in his face get worse.

"thank you." he mumbled, not looking up and not knowing if he prayed more for his blush to leave or for the handsome boy to leave.

it felt like a nightmare and a dream all twisted into a few seconds of blissful terror for the boy. jungkook felt himself being able to breath again once he saw those shoes disappear, leaving him alone again at the table ⏤ only for the coldness of the nightmare to return, hugging him close and reminding him why that was so wrong to feel that kind of way towards someone like that.

but it didnt feel wrong at all, and jungkook looked back down at his sketchers, seeing the smudges of mud on the edges and the marker doodles of little flowers hidden on the inside of the left one.

he smiled again, and jungkook decided he would wear those ones again tomorrow.

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