Taehyung rushed towards the changing room, hoping to find Jungkook there. He spotted him putting his stuff from his locker into his backpack with ferocious movements, the veins in his arms throbbing.

“Kook.” He detected tears slid down his structured expression once he neared him enough, and his eyes bristled with worry. “Kook, what the hell?” He placed a hand on his shoulder, but Jungkook continued stuffing his backpack until he closed it and stepped away. “Yah, what are you doing?”

“I’m leaving.” Jungkook squirmed in his attempts to release himself from Taehyung’s firm hold on his hand.

“Can you stop for a minute? It’s me, Kook. You’re talking to me,” he uttered and tucked him into his embrace when he quit struggling against him. He rubbed soothing circles on his back as his muted whimpers reached his ears. “It’s okay.”

“Nothing is okay.”

“Jungkook, what do you need? Should I go and curse the shit out of him? Should I beat him up? Because I will. Just say the word and I’ll do it.”

A sudden, broken chuckle escaped Jungkook’s mouth, but despondency grasped him again. “No, I’ll... I’ll leave and just... give up.”

“What?”

Jungkook pulled back, wiping his drenched cheeks. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

“Jungkook, you can’t quit. You can’t give up.” Taehyung noticed he was about to reach for his backpack, and he leaped at once, snatching it out of his hold with an ever-increasing anxiety. “If you leave, I’ll leave with you.”

“Tae, don’t do this.”

“I’m serious.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I am serious. I can’t let you leave just like that. I won’t.” Taehyung dropped the bag behind him and held his cheeks in loving palms. His eyes, swimming in softness for him and a shred of melancholy, fastened on him. “You’re not alone in this anymore. You weren’t alone before either, but now I can show you this in many ways.”

Jungkook gripped his hips, leaning their foreheads together. “I don’t deserve you.”

“I think it’s the other way around,” Taehyung said, and he felt a torrent of relief at the sight of the little smile that bloomed on his lips. “There you go.” He erased the space between them and kissed him gently, sweetly — a kiss meant to mollify his sorrow.

Taehyung sighed as they broke apart. “Jungkook, you know you’re amazing, right? So amazing I’m actually questioning right now what the hell did you see in me and fell for me.”

“Shut up,” Jungkook uttered, slapping his shoulder, then he sneaked into his hug. “How can I not fall for you? You’re always here for me. And you make me feel so many things. And you’re hot. Thank you.”

Taehyung squeezed him once and twice and planted a feathery kiss on his neck. “I told you, I’m not leaving you alone again. Do you want to go to the rooftop and wait for the break?”

“Or we can go to the cafeteria right now and eat.”

“Oh, yeah, let’s check if the food is ready.”

Jungkook giggled at the eagerness he identified in his voice, and he pecked his lips, smiling.

They strolled towards the cafeteria side by side, with their hands brushing against each other often and sharing fond glances. They filled their trays with the freshly cooked food and settled down at a table. They ate their lunch blithely, chatting about different things, giggling, and goofing around like a normal couple, as there wasn’t anyone there except for the chef, who was in the kitchen.

 
People flooded the place seconds after their break started, and the two boys, now finished with their food, waited for their friends to join them.

“Kook,” Jimin called as he approached him. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, now I am.” He gave a glance at Taehyung, an unconscious smile pulling on the corner of his mouth.

Jimin’s brows twitched as he detected his look aimed at Taehyung, though he was too worried for the younger to dwell on it. “Eunhyuk was such a jerk again.”

“Hyung, go take some food first.”

“Oh, right.”

As the five boys trod to the buffet, Taehyung tipped closer to Jungkook. “So you wanna do something after our classes?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. We should go on a proper date.”

“Let’s leave the proper date for when we have more time, like on Saturday.”

“You’re right. We can just chill at your apartment or mine, then.”

“Just chill, nothing else?” Jungkook asked with a raised brow, a slew of innuendos lacing his words.

“Do you have something specific in mind?” Taehyung’s voice dipped dangerously, with a throaty tune of slyness.

“No, no, let’s just hang out, you know, casually or something,” Jungkook stammered — Taehyung’s deep voice did things to him he couldn’t understand.

“You’re so cute,” Taehyung cooed and reached out to caress his cheek on impulse.

“What was that?” Hoseok asked as he sat down with the others copying his moves.

The two flinched away and glanced around the floor.

“Guys, what’s up?” Namjoon asked.

Taehyung’s eyes crawled to Jungkook in a silent question, and the younger gave a hesitant nod. “Okay, don’t freak out and just act normal, okay?” Taehyung said as he leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table. He gulped as all eyes focused on him, filled with anticipation. “I swear if any of you screams, I’ll punch you,” he added, casting a sharp glare at Jimin.

“Why are you looking at me?” Jimin questioned with a pout.

“Just say it already,” Hoseok grumbled. “What is it?”

“We’re together,” Jungkook blurted out.

Jimin palmed his mouth to silence the gasp that flew out of him, as everyone got engulfed in a bubble of surprise, except Yoongi, who smiled faintly.

“How? When? What?” Hoseok asked.

“Since yesterday,” Taehyung said.

“Finally,” Yoongi sighed, then started eating his food.

“What do you mean finally?” Jimin grimaced. “Did you know something about it?”

“Of course.”

“I’m your boyfriend. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“From your reaction right now, it seems like you knew something, too. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I found out he has fallen for him only yesterday!”

“Jimin, keep your damn voice down,” Taehyung snarled.

“You guys have fallen for each other? So cuuute,” Hoseok cooed as he clapped his hands in tiny, grinning at the two boys.

Jungkook chuckled awkwardly as he glanced away. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

Seokjin fixed him with a disapproving stare at his words. “Jungkook.”

The said boy threw his gaze at him, but it drifted past Seokjin, landing on Jihoon and Eunhyuk, who just entered the cafeteria. Why are they coming closer? Jungkook dropped his gaze, gripping the sides of his chair. They won’t come here, right? No, they’ll just take some food and sit somewhere and—

“Jungkook,” Jihoon called him, now standing next to him.

Jungkook’s view climbed up Jihoon’s form, and his chest deflated with a relieved sigh as he didn’t spot Eunhyuk.

“Can you come with me, please?”

Jungkook wavered, then pushed himself off his seat and trailed behind him without protest.

Silence cloaked the two until the very moment they reached the teacher’s lounge and settled down on the couch.

Jihoon analyzed the rigidity gripping his form and his firmly bowed head. “Why are you so tense? I’m not going to scold you,” he said with a delicate hue coloring his voice. “I’m sorry for the way Eunhyuk treated you. It wasn’t okay.”

“You don’t have to be sorry for what he did. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I’m your teacher too. I should have done something, but sometimes, I just can’t understand him either. I wasn’t expecting he would say that, and it caught me off guard.”

“It’s not your fault,” Jungkook repeated a tad firmer.

“Still... I’m sorry. But I don’t want to talk to you about Eunhyuk. I want to talk to you about, well, you.”

Jungkook’s gaze, that twinkled with a tentative gleam, crept to him. “What about me?”

“Seeing you just leave the classroom today and saying you really didn’t want to be there was shocking to me. You’re always stubborn, and you always try hard, even though you want to give up sometimes. But what I don’t understand is why don’t you have faith in yourself? Why aren’t you confident about the things you know you can do well?”

Jungkook played with his hands, eyes anchored on his nervous actions. “I never got recognition,” he whispered. “I’m not confident I can do it.”

“We always hear people say to just believe in ourselves. It’s so easy to say it. It’s human nature to seek approval from others sometimes. And especially for an artist. You always have doubts about what you do, like if I do it like this or if I change this, it’ll be better. Sometimes we need approval from others, Jungkook. But the point is how you feel. If you feel you’re doing well, you have to see it just like you see it when you’re not. You have to find the line between I know it all and I’m perfect, and from I can’t do it and I’m not worth it. Don’t be so harsh on yourself all the time. And if you can’t do something perfectly well, it’s okay. The only thing that matters is that you’re trying.”

“How can I start? How can I do that?” Jungkook asked, a spark of desperation making his voice shake.

“Just give credit to yourself for trying. That’s a good way to start. You’re still here and you’re still trying. And don’t forget how much effort that takes.”

“Thank you. Really.”

“Don’t thank me,” Jihoon smiled. “I’m here to listen to all of my students and help them as much as I can. As a teacher, you have to do that too.” His brows bumped together at the snicker that jumped out of Jungkook. “What’s with the laugh?”

“Sorry. Nothing.”

“You thought about Eunhyuk.” At the silence he received, he knew he was right. “He’s harsh sometimes, but he has his ways in teaching. He cares, even though he doesn’t show it. He really does.”

Jungkook dismissed his words with a faint shrug. “Thank you again,” he uttered and shuffled out of the room.

He returned to the cafeteria and sat next to Taehyung, who was already staring at him with curious eyes.

“What happened?” Taehyung asked.

“Nothing. He just wanted to make sure I’m okay.”

“Should I be jealous?” Taehyung teased.

“What? Hyung, he’s like thirty years old and he’s our teacher.”

“But he looks like twenty-five and no one can deny he’s hot as fuck,” Jimin chimed in, smirking.

“Hyung, your boyfriend is sitting like right next to you,” Jungkook said, pointing at the said boyfriend.

“I can’t tell if he’s mad.” Seokjin frowned in contemplation and he viewed him. “He rarely shows any sign of emotion.”

“My emotions are not for everyone to see,” Yoongi said nonchalantly. “And no, I’m not mad. There’s nothing wrong with appreciating someone else’s looks.”

“Exactly, and besides, Yoongi knows I wouldn’t replace him for anyone.” Jimin curled his around him and rested his head on his shoulder.

Taehyung observed them for a spell. “You guys are being open about your relationship?”

“Why wouldn’t we?” Yoongi shrugged.

“Is this even allowed in the company?” Taehyung asked.

“I didn’t see anything about that on the list of rules they gave us when we got in,” Jimin said. “Besides, when you were with Youngjae, everyone knew it.”

“Yeah, but not the teachers. I mean, Eunhyuk probably had figured something out, but either way, we weren’t really showing it.”

“Well, I don’t really care if it’s allowed or not,” Yoongi said.

Taehyung’s regard slithered towards Jungkook and rested there, examining the vestiges of torpor that embellished his face, as if he was lost in hidden thoughts. He believed that was why Jungkook didn’t want everyone to know. But if it was allowed to have a relationship with another trainee, why didn’t he want to be open about it?

“Anyway, we need to celebrate, guys! You’re finally together,” Seokjin chirped. “Beers after classes?”

“Oh, yes!” Hoseok exclaimed.

“You know I can’t say no to beers,” Namjoon said with a chuckle.

“I forgot to say something to Jihoon. I’ll be right back.” Jungkook sprang up from his seat and took off.

“Wait, about what?” Taehyung asked, staring at his figure that kept receding from his sight.

“Something about the classes,” Jungkook said with a slight loudness so Taehyung would hear him, then he disappeared.

The others exchanged bewildered looks, and Yoongi huffed. “He literally didn’t hear anything, right?”

“Apparently,” Taehyung mumbled, sighing.

Jungkook knocked on the door and slid it open hesitantly. “Excuse me, Mr. Jung?” He froze in his tracks upon finding Eunhyuk sitting at his desk. “Mr. Lee. Sorry,” he muttered and retreated at once.

“What is it?”

The unexpected question ceased Jungkook’s movement of leaving. “I just wanted to tell Mr. Jung something. We were talking here about ten minutes earlier, so I thought he would still be here. I’m sorry.”

“You can tell me.” Eunhyuk gestured him to come in, but his view narrowed on him at his stillness. “You don’t want to talk to me?”

Jungkook darted him a glare. “Do you blame me?” A semblance of absolute mystification tinged with shock burst onto Jungkook’s face at the sight of Eunhyuk lowering his head, as if he felt sorry about his behavior.

“Not really,” Eunhyuk uttered. “Just come in.”

Jungkook did as he was told; each step he took towards him was small, with vacillation subtending it, until he perched on the empty chair.

“I know I’m harsh, but when you get out to the real world, it won’t be any different. In fact, it’ll be even harder. You have to be prepared, and that’s how I work. That’s what I teach. If you can’t handle this, how are you going to survive out there?” A long sigh rolled off him as he eyed the sullenness waltzing all over Jungkook’s traits. “But Jihoon said some things, and he made me realize something. My method isn’t always the best for everyone. I hadn’t thought about that before. Anyway. What I’m trying to say is I want you to be prepared. And I don’t want you to give up.”

Another round of surprise washed over Jungkook, and it left him gaping at his teacher in a daze. “I don’t know what to say...”

“Just tell me what you wanted to say to Jihoon.”

“Oh, right.” Jungkook brushed aside the immense change in Eunhyuk’s treatment towards him for now. “I finally got an appointment with a doctor who does PRP. It’s this Wednesday. But from what he said, if I do it, I won’t be able to dance for four to fives days.”

“Yes. I’ll hurt for a few days, and you shouldn’t dance until the pain is gone.”

“Can I still come to the company and watch the classes?”

“Of course. That’s what you wanted to ask?”

“Well, I wasn’t sure if it was okay.”

“It’s good to watch too, you know. You learn a lot of things when you observe the others. Don’t feel bad about it.”

“How do you know I feel bad about it?”

“I just do.” Eunhyuk lifted an idle shoulder. “Anything else?”

“No.” Jungkook rose to his feet, but halted. “Actually, yes. I want to ask something because I’m not sure about this either.”

“Okay.”

Jungkook cast a row of faltering glimpses at him. “Never mind,” he tittered, then trod towards the exit.

“You know, that’s not okay,” Eunhyuk said, preventing him from leaving. “If you start something, you have to finish it.”

Jungkook’s forehead filled with a pattern of creases at the teasing he discerned in his voice. “Are you really trying to break the ice between us?”

Eunhyuk’s expression blanked as his eyes plunged to his desk. “Just ask.”

Jungkook glanced around the empty room in a moment’s hesitation. “Is it allowed to have, um, a relationship with someone else from the company? I’m just asking for a friend.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it, but there isn’t a rule about it. A relationship with a teacher is prohibited, obviously. I want to believe you’re aware of that.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Why are you asking again?”

“Just for a friend,” Jungkook muttered, barely audible.

“I don’t get to know what happened to that drama?”

“What drama?”

“That day in the hallway with Taehyung and Youngjae, I think?”

“Why are you gossiping? And especially with me?”

“I just wanted an update,” Eunhyuk said with a casual shrug of his shoulders.

“What happened to ‘I’m your teacher?’”

“I am, don’t ever forget that. But I just want to know if you guys are finally together.”

“What!? How do you even—what?” Jungkook’s eyes stood in two big circles of ultimate shock, his mouth hanging open.

“I know a lot of things. And I’ll find out whether you tell me or not, so you might as well save me the trouble.”

“It doesn’t concern you,” Jungkook stated firmly, then walked away.

“Jungkook. You can have a relationship with someone from the company, but when you have classes, I want you to be focused.”

“Of course. Thank you.”

Jungkook headed back to the cafeteria, still plunged into a pool of shock. What the hell was that? I’ll never understand him... He stood beside the door and glanced at their usual table, but his friends weren’t there anymore. He rotated and trudged towards the yard to look for them.

“So you and Taehyung?” Jaebum popped up in front of him, cutting his way.

Jungkook blinked, appalled. “What?”

“You’re with Taehyung, right?”

“What are you—”

“Cut it, Jungkook. I heard you guys in the cafeteria.”

And Jungkook could only sigh as he dropped his act. “Okay. Fine. We’re together.”

“So this is what you wanted. I really thought you had that talk with Youngjae to help him understand some things, but you did it for yourself. You did it because you wanted Taehyung for yourself, right?”

“What? Are you serious right now? You told me yourself you realized how toxic their relationship was and that you didn’t know what to do to help him. I won’t lie. I was attracted to Taehyung, but I didn’t have that talk with Youngjae with that in mind. I really wanted to help him because I could understand what he was going through.”

Jaebum listened to his explanation tacitly, with a sullen cloud dragging his features down.

“Jaebum-ah, I thought we were cool. What happened?”

“You know what happened?” A sudden fury grasped him, that caused him to raise his voice. “You told me you weren’t ready for a relationship, and next thing I know, you’re with Taehyung!”

“Lower your voice, damn!” Jungkook whisper-yelled, scanning the hallway with a harried view. Every muscle in his body tensed upon spotting Taehyung nearing them, with a frown carved on his traits.

“What is going on exactly?” Taehyung asked.

“Jungkook, I just want to know why,” Jaebum uttered.

“Jungkook,” Taehyung said strictly.

“Okay, stop!” the said boy snapped. “Jaebum-ah, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say, okay? I don’t know how to explain it. I just... fell for him.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to him.” Taehyung accompanied his remark with a glare aimed at Jaebum.

“No, I do,” Jungkook rushed to say. “I can understand how he feels, and if he has questions, I should answer them.”

“It’s okay.” Jaebum smiled bitterly. “I get it.”

Taehyung watched him leave with his shoulders hunched and turned his attention to Jungkook. “Kook. You’re not talking to me. Again.”

Jungkook sighed. “You’re right.”

“But why?” Taehyung decreased the space between them, standing a breath away from him.

“I’m used to not talking about things, Tae. I don’t know how to change that.”

“And what am I supposed to do? How can I help you change that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe just give me time.” Jungkook could recognize his melancholy and desperation so easily. He hated that he caused the sullenness that hung around Taehyung’s traits like a dark veil. Without much thought, he looped his arms around his waist and pressed him against his chest.

“What are you doing? You said—”

“The truth is...” Jungkook uttered against his neck, “I was feeling bad about Jaebum. I didn’t want him to know, at least for now, and I don’t want Youngjae to know either. But Jaebum will tell him for sure.”

Taehyung drew away, observing him. “Why didn’t you want Jaebum to know?”

“Because I knew he would react this way. He told me I only had that conversation with Youngjae because I wanted you for myself and—”

“He what?” Taehyung growled.

“Hyung, if you think about it, it really seems like that. Because I talked with Youngjae, the same day you guys broke up, and the next we were together.”

“It wasn’t the next day.”

“I’m just making a point here.” Jungkook chuckled softly at the endearing pout that tugged at his lips. “Anyway, I just didn’t know what to say to him, but he heard us talking in the cafeteria and he found out. I don’t think I can deal with Youngjae too. He’ll be heartbroken when he finds out.”

“I get what you’re saying, and I’m feeling bad for him too, but I want to be with you. I’m happy with you.”

“I want to be with you too,” Jungkook said with a shy smile, sending a string of glances at him as he was unable to maintain eye contact.

Taehyung giggled at his overwhelming cuteness and cupped his cheeks, squishing them. “I swear you’re the cutest thing ever.”

“Stop!” Jungkook choked out through his laugh, but any trace of bliss died out of his face at the sound of someone clearing his throat behind him.

“Jungkook, not in the hallways at least,” Eunhyuk commented, a thread of teasing coiling around his words.

Jungkook jolted away from him and bowed his head. “I’m sorry.”

“I was just joking.”

“You were joking? With Jungkook?” Taehyung asked in pure disbelief.

“You guys have class in ten minutes,” the teacher said, as if he didn’t hear him. “Go get ready.”

The two strolled off, and Taehyung, still mired in a cesspool of surprise and bafflement, anchored his eyes on him. “What was that?”

“I don’t know what got into him. I talked with him earlier and—”

“You and Eunhyuk?”

“Yes.”

“How did that happen?”

“Well, if you come to my place after classes, I’ll tell you,” Jungkook smirked.

“Seokjin suggested going for beers to celebrate or something. You really weren’t listening before, huh?”

“When?”

“At the cafeteria, before you went to find Jihoon.”

“Oh. Yeah, I wasn’t listening.”

“What were you thinking, then?”

“We’re not talking about that now. We have a class.”

Taehyung respected his wish and smiled at him instead. “Let’s go.”

⚜✳⚜