With his body still engulfed by that same unbearable heaviness, Jungkook went to the changing room. He splashed some water on his face and stood still, gazing at his reflection.

The door clicked open, and he lowered his head to splash a few more handfuls of water on his face. He dried his hands with his towel, but every movement halted as his eyes caught Taehyung walking towards his locker.

He sank down on the bench and wiped his face. He didn’t dare glance at him again. That pool of bitterness in his gut persisted, but remorse also filtered in. Taehyung was in a situation he didn’t want to be. And Jungkook was harsh on him and didn’t even give him a chance to explain himself.

Taehyung sent a row of peeks his way. He craved to talk to him more than anything. But he had screwed up so much he didn’t know how to approach him again.

 
The rest of the day crawled by indifferently. After they finished, Namjoon suggested going for a beer, and the others agreed, except Jungkook and Taehyung, both saying they wanted to rest.

So the five boys left together as Jungkook and Taehyung stayed for a bit more to change their clothes. Jungkook waited for Taehyung to leave first, since he didn’t want to walk with him. And eventually, after some time, he took off.

Jungkook sauntered towards his apartment, listening to his favorite songs, and soon arrived. He tossed his backpack on the floor once he entered and plopped down on the couch. This was a long day.

His mind drifted to Taehyung right away. He wanted to talk to him. He wanted to ask him how he was. He wanted to be there for him, but he didn’t know if he could. Even looking at him hurt.

He dwelled on it for a long time, but his impulsiveness won in the end. He jumped to his feet and hurried out of his apartment. The closer he got to Taehyung’s place, the higher his anxiety built up. He couldn’t go back now, though. He had to check up on him.

He stared at the door for a bit and swallowed. His shaky hand delivered three knocks, but even after waiting for a satisfying amount of time, there was no answer. He must be with Youngjae. With this thought, he crept around and shambled back to his apartment.

He spotted someone from afar walking towards him, and he ducked his head, shifting to the side.

“Jungkook?”

. . .

After the five boys left, Taehyung glanced at Jungkook to check if he had changed his clothes. Upon realizing he hadn’t, Taehyung swiftly wore a clean sweater and grabbed his jacket and backpack, taking the opportunity to leave first.

It was a while later when he arrived at his apartment, and he flung himself into his bed. What the hell am I doing? He stared at the ceiling, feeling more lost than ever. I should have talked to him today.I should have talked to him even if he didn’t want to listen. He actually thinks I want this. He actually thinks I want to be with Youngjae.

Unable to bear his torturous thoughts anymore, Taehyung snatched his jacket and burst out of his apartment. He visited the convenience store and bought some soju, then he headed to Jungkook’s place.

He knocked once and waited for his usual ‘who is it’. But to his disappointment, there was only silence on the other side of the door. His brows knitted in a frown as he knocked again. “Jungkook.” No matter his efforts, the door remained closed, and he made his way back to his apartment.

He located a very familiar figure down the road, and a hopeful light sparked in his eyes. “Jungkook?”

The said boy flinched at the unexpected call of his name, and he slapped a hand over his heaving chest. “Shit, I almost died.”

Taehyung snorted. “Where were you? I was at your place just now.”

“What? I was at your place too. Why didn’t I see you?”

“I stopped by the convenience store, and I guess that’s when you were going to my place.”

“What a bad timing,” Jungkook said with a slight chuckle. His vision circled Taehyung’s face in a moment’s awkward silence. “So are we going to your place or...?”

“Let’s go to yours. It’s late, anyway, and we don’t have much time. And I don’t want you to walk alone at night.”

“It’s only five minutes away.”

“Yeah, but still.”

“Okay.” Jungkook smiled as he led the way to his apartment.

They arrived soon and entered. Taehyung placed two bottles of soju on the coffee table and left the others in the kitchen. Then, they perched on the couch, still enveloped in a taut silence.

“Are you okay?” Jungkook asked.

“No.” A single crease formed between Taehyung’s brows at the smile that overtook Jungkook’s mouth. “Are you enjoying my pain?”

His remark wrenched a subdue giggle from Jungkook. “No, I’m just... It’s nice that you didn’t say you’re fine like you used to.”

“Well, I’m completely not fine. I’m frustrated, angry, sad. And mostly, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hurting you.”

Jungkook turned his body to face him. “I’m sorry for being a jerk. I didn’t even let you explain anything.”

“Well, I’m surprised you even talk to me now.”

“The truth is, I wasn’t planning on talking to you after that. But Jaebum told me what happened yesterday.”

“Jaebum?”

“Yes. He wanted to ask me about something I had said to him before.”

Taehyung's eyes squinted on him. “What did you say to him?”

Jungkook bit his lower lip, cursing himself internally at his blunder. He didn’t want to discuss this with him, but he didn’t have a choice now that he mentioned it. “We were talking, and he said that Youngjae doesn’t want to break up with you because he loves you. And that we can’t do anything about it because love is love and who can beat that, and I just said... I said that’s not love.” Jungkook couldn’t comprehend what Taehyung’s somber expression meant, so he just looked away from it. “Anyway, he figured out eventually what I meant, and he wanted to tell me that.”

“What did you mean by that?”

“Exactly that. That it’s not love. He’s just obsessed with you. And you don’t love him as far as I know. One-sided love doesn’t exist, Taehyung. One person can fall for someone, but they can’t love alone. Love takes two. He’s obsessed with you, so no matter how much you hurt him, he’ll always return to you.”

Taehyung hid his face in his hands, rubbing it with calming pressure. “What am I supposed to do?”

“I really don’t know... But I don’t think being with him just because he’s obsessed with you will help him. You just have to find a way to make him understand that you guys don’t work together. That you can’t be with him.”

“I don’t know how to do that,” Taehyung uttered. “Yesterday, when I told him we can’t be together, he cried so much, and it made me feel awful. I really didn’t know what to do, so I just said okay. And then you came in my mind. And I felt like shit.”

Jungkook recognized the sorrow in his clouded eyes and attempted to mellow it with a warm smile. “We’re not together, Tae. I think I overreacted a little. You just said some things, and I said some things, but we never made clear what we are or what to do from there.”

“No, Jungkook, it doesn’t matter. I opened up to you, and the next day you found out I’m back together with Youngjae. That’s not okay. And I really feel like shit. I never thought this would happen. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, Tae, really. It did hurt, but once I found out what happened, I understood. The question is, what are you going to do now?”

A long sigh cartwheeled from his lips. “I have no idea.”

Jungkook studied him in the quietness that veiled them. He felt so bad for him. His heart ached seeing him like this. Hopeless. Lost. It truly hurt him so much tears threatened to form in his eyes. “Taehyung, how can I help you? I hate seeing you like this.”

“Just... I don’t know.” Taehyung cast him a hesitant glance, as he moved his hand an inch closer to him.

Realization gleamed in Jungkook’s gaze when he caught his little action, and he tugged him into his hug. They spent a while feeling each other’s warmth, with faint smiles on their faces. This hug was the only thing Jungkook could offer him to salve a fraction of his sorrow.

And so he clutched him, brushing delicate patterns of comfort over his back and hoping Taehyung would feel a bit better when they would draw apart.

Jungkook ventured to place a little kiss on the side of his head. “I’m sorry I can’t do anything to help you.”

“This helps me, Kook. Thank you.” Taehyung sighed in relish. This hug was exactly what he needed, and he couldn’t get enough of it. “What if... you talk to Youngjae?”

The younger pulled away slightly and narrowed his eyes on him. “What?”

“Well, you have your way with words and stuff. I’m really bad at this.”

“Tae, I’m not his friend. I don’t think he’ll listen to me. He’ll think it’s not my business, and he’ll be right.”

“You’re right... What am I saying?” Taehyung chuckled as he shook his head. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

“What will you say?”

“That we can’t be together. That I don’t love him like he loves me. I don’t know.”

Jungkook glanced down as he mulled over the matter for a beat. “I’ll try talking to him first.”

“You just said—”

“I know. I don’t want to talk to him about you specifically. I just want to talk to him... in general.”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t have to know.”

“Oh, come on, don’t do that!” Taehyung whined.

Jungkook giggled at his cuteness. “Don’t be such a baby.” He detected the pronounced pout Taehyung wore on his lips and how he tossed his head in the other direction. “Oh, you’re so adorable,” he teased, tickling his chin.

Taehyung snatched his hand and pushed it to the side. He lunged at him and started tickling him, making the younger gasp and shriek.

“Tae—please—I can’t!” He sensed Taehyung’s tickling attack subside, and he panted as he straightened his posture. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t,” Taehyung scoffed.

“Yes, I do.”

“No.”

“Yes!”

“No!”

“You’re such a baby!”

“You’re the one to talk!”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“That you’re no better than me.”

Jungkook gasped, looking at him with a feigned shocked expression since he couldn’t come up with anything to shoot back.

“Not talking now, huh?”

Jungkook huffed as he crossed his arms and looked away from him. “You’re so annoying.”

“I know.”

Jungkook peeked at him. Upon finding a fond smile engraved on his lips, he riveted his eyes on him. “It’s nice seeing you smile.”

Taehyung’s smile grew into a beam as he ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s nice being with you.” As his gaze fell to his rosy lips, a sudden urge to erase the gap between them swept over Taehyung.

Jungkook perceived the reduction of space between theirs face, and he set a hand on his chest. “Tae...”

Taehyung jerked away, a titter jumping out of him. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but... you have to clear things up with Youngjae first.”

“I know, and I want to do that before... spending more time with you.”

Jungkook snorted at his choice of words. “Really, Tae? Spend more time with you?”

“I told you I’m not good with words!”

“Yeah, you kind of suck at that.”

“Well, how would you say it, then?” Taehyung asked with a raised brow.

Jungkook’s laugh piped down in an instant. “Well, I would say that... before we, um, shut up!”

A haughty look spread over Taehyung’s countenance. “Not so easy, huh?”

“Whatever,” Jungkook muttured.

Taehyung caressed his nape with little swipes as he gazed at him. “You’re cute.”

Jungkook’s pout was replaced by a mild smile at his words and tender touch. “I wish we had more time, but it’s after eleven and we have classes tomorrow.”

“I didn’t even notice how time passed... You should get some rest. It was a long day.”

“Yeah, you should too.” As the other took his things, Jungkook picked up the two bottles of soju and his brows drew together in surprise. “You didn’t finish your soju. You didn’t even drink half of it.”

“Oh.” A low chuckle flowed from his mouth. “I actually forgot we had soju at some point.”

“Well, I can keep it for... tomorrow or something.”

“I would really like to come tomorrow too, but I have to talk with Youngjae.”

“Yes, right, right.” Jungkook released an awkward chuckle, shaking his head.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Hmm.”

Taehyung opened the door, but whirled to face him a moment later. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Just for talking to me. And being with me. It always makes me feel better when we talk.”

Jungkook enclosed him into his arms and caressed his back. He dipped his face into the crook of his neck and drew in a deep breath, getting drunk on his scent.

“Don’t smell me. It’s creepy,” Taehyung teased.

“You’ve done it too! And besides, it’s nice.”

“It is.” Taehyung squeezed him before pulling away. “Goodnight, Kookie.”

“Goodnight. Hyung.”

Taehyung blinked at him, dumbfounded, thinking for a moment he heard wrong. He swallowed his awkwardness and secreted it behind his bright, boxy smile. He rubbed his cheek with a caring thumb, then shuffled away, with Jungkook’s voice calling him hyung playing on repeat in his head.

⚜✳⚜