(☝ I really like this fan art. It suits the book. Whaddayathink?)

(its a masterpiece of Nonconman. Credits to the artist.)

Taehyung continued to wave his hand until Jungkook's car disappeared from his sight. He couldn't contain his smile and he walks down the pavement smiling like an idiot.

I need to talk to Yoongi hyung. He didn't walk back to their house, but turned to the direction of his friend's house.

As he approached the front yard, he saw a figure sitting at the dark balcony of the Min's house. Taehyung squints his eyes and tried to make out the face of the man. "Yoongi hyung?"

"Yeah?" The figure responds. He moves his hands to remove what looks like earphones from his ears, and stands up.

"It's really you! Hyung, I have something to tell you!" Taehyung beams as he can now make out his hyung's figure and recognized the pale skin in the dark.

Yoongi walks to Taehyung and both boys sit at their usual pavement ground between their houses.

"No need. I saw it." Yoongi softly said.

"No way, you really saw it?" Taehyung was surprised. Yoongi nodded. The brunette boy sheepishly smiles and looks down.

"You look like an idiot smiling there and your teeth are so blindingly white from here. You're really that happy huh?" Yoongi asked as he looks at the younger.

Taehyung still looking down, bites his lip and nodded.

Yoongi also nodded and continued, "but seriously Tae, I'm worried."

Taehyung sighs. He understands his hyung but he just can't let this opportunity to be with his crush go.

"Hyung, just be happy for me, please?" The younger looks at the elder with puppy dog eyes.

Yoongi's now turn to sigh. "But don't fall in love too much okay? Don't look at me like that! I know you like him, just not too much. I don't want you to get hurt."

That night, Taehyung cannot sleep. His mind keeps wandering to the events that day; about the time Jungkook and him spent, and also Yoongi's words.

+++

Taehyung walked inside the school gates wearing the clothes and contact lenses (that he wore with difficulty) Jungkook had bought for him. It's even more difficult to face his grandma wearing both contacts and glasses since he doesn't want his grandma to be suspicious. As soon as he reached the door, he secretly took off the glasses and continue on with just the contacts. He's wearing a green sweat shirt and black skinny jeans with a pair of sneakers, and as soon as he stepped in, all eyes were on him.

Ugh, why is our school like this? He walks with his head hung low and not making eye contact with everyone.

Is that Taehyung? What happened to him?

Wow, he's not bad.

See that shirt? It looks expensive.

My friend saw them having a date at the mall yesterday. Maybe they really love each other.

I bet he just wants Jungkook as his sugar daddy. Ugh, poor people nowadays.

The last comment stabs Taehyung at the heart. It's always like this, they would start a good comment, just to end it bad. He continued to walk, not minding the people around him.

Jungkook and his friends saw Taehyung approaching and they were surprised by the slight transformation of the brunette. He looks good and especially without his glasses covering his face. But why is he looking down?

The maknae also approached the brunette and was about to call him when he heard Jimin spoke. "Jungkook, Yugyeom's coming our way."

The raven haired boy stops in his tracks to look at what Jimin was talking about but he felt someone bumped at him and the person bounced back from the force.

Jungkook quickly steadies the person and when he realized it was Taehyung who collided with him, he hugged him in place.

Taehyung was surprised to see that he bumped stupidly at Jungkook. He internally smacks himself for being so clumsy. But what surprised him more was the younger hugging him. He blushed once again when he realized he was caged inside Jungkook's arms.

Jungkook slowly looks at him with tenderness in his eyes.

"Are you okay?"

Taehyung nodded dumbly.

"Are you hurt?"

"N-no, It's m-my fault. I-i wasn't looking."

"Next time, be careful. I don't want my baby to get hurt."

Baby?

"Let's go?"

Taehyung nodded in a daze. He blushed harder when he felt Jungkook didn't entirely let go of him, the younger only held his waist tightly as they walk. Taehyung looks at the surroundings only to be greeted by looks from students again. But there is one that made Taehyung's heart sink. It reminded him that everything was just an act.

Not far away, there was Yugyeom standing. And Taehyung didn't like the look the other was giving him.

+++

Jungkook is sitting with his friends at the cafeteria, eating lunch and talking about the bonding date last Sunday, since Jimin kept on bugging him. Taehyung was called by Mrs. Choi to talk about something and he insist that Jungkook just go eat first. The two hyungs found out that the younger was actually more than willing to tell them.

"His grandma makes amazing hot choco hyung! You need to try it some time. We ate ice cream and he's really a messy eater, but the ice cream was really good. Then there's this photographer who took a picture of us, here look.." Jungkook showed them their picture and the two secretly glanced at each other with a smirk.

"Seems like you really had fun." Jimin grinned at him.

"And you're starting to enjoy his company too. Maybe you should do it again with him." Hoseok added.

Jungkook stared at his friends who are grinning back at him. Their eyes looked in a teasing manner.

"W-what are you talking about? Didn't you say it yourself? He isn't that bad." Jungkook reasoned.

"But based from what I observed, you really had a great time. This date must be special." Jimin chimed in.

"You suggested this. And its not that special. It's uhm, It's pretty decent. That's all." Jungkook retorts.

Jimin nodded as if he's saying yeah keep telling me that.

"Well I hope that improves your acting skills now. You need to act naturally because I think Yugyeom and the others aren't convinced yet."

Jungkook immediately looks at the table where Yugyeom and Jackson are sitting. The two are laughing happily and Jackson kept on kissing Yugyeom's cheek. Jungkook clenched his fist at that.

"I'm not an actor Jimin, I'm a football player. Maybe all of this is not enough? What should I do?" The sad raven head softly voiced out.

"What? you're giving up already? You've barely started. Just keep acting, Kook. Let's wait a bit longer and see." Hoseok this time answers.

"Honestly hyung, I don't think I can wait any longer." Jungkook continues to sulk at the sight of his ex boyfriend.

"You don't have a choice. You need to work harder to make him jealous."

"For how long? What if I'm too late? Do you think I'm doing the right thing?" The youngest worriedly asked the two.

Jimin, who just can't take his dongsaeng's misery because of Yugyeom, felt pissed about the situation.

"You know what? Maybe you should move on"

Jungkook snapped his head at his shorter hyung. "What?"

"I mean look at him. He doesn't even look your way."

Jungkook glanced back at Yugyeom. "I'm sure he's doing this on purpose. I know he still loves me and he's just using Jackson to show rebellion." He assured them and continued to eat.

"Jungkook wake up! Just let him be. Let him go" Jimin still argues. He's so done with this.

Jungkook puts his chopsticks down and glared at Jimin. "But I love him! You don't understand I only want him! And I intend to win him back, even if it takes to act crap and pretend to have a new boyfriend." He whisper shouts so that they would only be the ones to hear. "Besides, you suggested this so there's no turning back."

Jimin was silenced and looked at Jungkook in disbelief. This maknae sure is hard headed.

"Oh Taehyung! Why are you standing there? Come here!" Hoseok calls out to someone behind Jungkook.

The two younger ones at the table snapped from their glaring contest and faced Taehyung.

"Hi.." Taehyung slowly sat down beside Jungkook, feeling the lingering tension at the table.

"What took you so long?" Jungkook asked the brunette. At the sight of Taehyung, for a while, he had forgotten his argument with Jimin. Those exposed eyes are now staring back at him.

Jungkook looks at Taehyung's appearance once again. He mentally patted his back for making the other look presentable. The guy is no longer wearing his geeky glasses and geeky outfits. And his looks improved at that. He's still awkward and uncomfortable though.

"Mrs. Choi reminded me about the upcoming quiz bee. Oh is this for me?" Taehyung was surprised to see a bowl of ramyun placed in front of him by Jungkook.

"Yeah. Don't want my baby to starve" Jungkook smirks as Taehyung's cheeks become red. Jimin scoffs and the raven head ignores him. Jungkook didn't notice the exchange of sad looks from Hoseok and Taehyung.

Taehyung looked away and started to eat his ramyun. Why is Hoseok looking at him like that? Did he notice the brunette earlier listening to them? Considering that this certain hyung did notice him first.

Actually, Taehyung did hear their conversation, maybe just the last part of it. He had felt his heart broke at Jungkook's words. He just hid it with a smile, he can't let the younger know right? Now Taehyung prays that Yugyeom will not be jealous sooner, since he wants to spend time with Jungkook a little longer. And for Hoseok also to not find out about his feelings, if ever he'll be screwed.