Taehyung could feel how stiff the younger’s body was against him, as if it turned to steel, but he couldn’t bring himself to draw away. He knew what he did was extremely impulsive and unexpected and that Jeongguk hated it obviously, but despite everything, he didn’t want to stop.

A fruity, redolent of summer aroma crawled into his system when his mind emptied from any thought, and he twisted his head a tad, burying his nose in his caramel, feathery hair. With an intake of breath, his delicate fragrance flowed through him in slow waves, melting his insides with uncontrollable coziness and sending his mind floating in colorful clouds.

Inside Jeongguk’s stark stupefaction, the sound of his long, unhurried inhalation buzzed in his ears, and he flickered an eyelid when the realization of what had just happened dawned on him.

He just smelled you. Push him away. Do something! He screamed in his head, but his body didn’t seem like it wanted to comply. It’s just a damn hug, why are you so freaked out? Hoseok and Yoongi hug you all the time. But this feels nothing like their hugs. This feels... Why does this feel so different?

While Jeongguk slipped into his torrent of thoughts, seeking answers to his piled-up questions, the warmth engulfing his body faded little by little until it vanished throughout.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me. What you said was really beautiful and I guess I just wanted to thank you,” Taehyung uttered as he allowed a soft smile to stretch on his lips, wanting to conceal his shaken condition and pounding heart.

With his mind still reeling with countless, head-aching questions, Jeongguk gulped and cleared his throat as he shifted in his seat, keeping his head bowed. “You thanked me already. You shouldn’t have hugged me. It was really weird and uncomfortable.”

Traces of sadness budded on Taehyung’s features as his words were like shards cutting into his heart, forcing out any warmth and joy he felt before. “I’m sorry.”

Jeongguk cast him a glance when he heard his whispering apology and heaved a sigh, feeling a pang of guilt rip through him. “Was it... too harsh?”

The violet-haired boy darted his gaze at him, taken aback by his question. “It was just honest. I prefer it that way even if—I mean, I just want you to be honest.”

“Even if... it saddens you?”

A series of awkward half laughs erupted from Taehyung’s mouth as he avoided eye contact. “It doesn’t sadden me. I mean, you’re an ass who doesn’t care about how I feel, anyway.” He nervously clutched the edge of the couch and squeezed it multiple times as he waited for any kind of response from him, but he got nothing. “You don’t care, right?”

Jeongguk maintained his silence for a few more seconds as his eyes wandered on his restless face. “Yeah.”

“Of course you don’t,” he said in such a hushed tone that Jeongguk probably couldn’t hear him, feeling his bitterness settle on his chest and press it down painfully. “Since we’re talking... I’m curious about something.”

“Aren’t you curious about everything?”

“Shut up,” Taehyung spat with a glare, but a fog of hesitation clouded his face, unsure about vocalizing his thoughts. He took a sip of his drink first, trying to buy some time to prepare himself and work his courage up even a notch, and finally shot him a row of timorous glances. “Uh, were you really mad after I asked you to make out with me?”

His inquiry brought confusion to Jeongguk that shined through his furrowed brows and his narrowed eyes that stared at him piercingly. “What?”

“I mean... you ignored me after that day or snapped at me for no reason at all when I talked to you. Is the idea of making out with me really that bad?”

“Well, yeah since you’re horrible and stuff.”

“Yah! You can’t call me pretty, then horrible, then call me pretty, and then call me horrible again. You have to decide right now!”

Jeongguk scoped his unexpectedly cute scowl and the faint pout decorating his lips, and the corner of his mouth curled up into a slight smile. “I’ll go with horrible.”

Shock spread across Taehyung's face as his jaw dropped with a sonorous gasp. “Seriously?” He discerned Jeongguk shrugging a shoulder, and that only festered his vexation. “You’re unbelievable. And annoying. Why are you so damn annoying?”

“And why are you breaking my balls, huh?”

“Because you don’t have any!”

“What the fuck?”

“You’re a damn coward, that’s what you are. Why can’t you just openly admit that you find me pretty?”

“Why the hell do you need my confirmation?”

“Because!”

“Because what?”

Taehyung held the now heated eye contact, trying to find a way to slink out of the tough spot he put himself, and only one idea popped into his head. “You know what, screw you.” He exploded out of his seat as he snatched his drink from the table and splashed it across his chest with a brisk flick of his wrist.

Jeongguk sucked in a breath at the unforeseen action and stared at his sweater moon-eyed, his mouth wide open in shock. He dragged his head up and set his gaze on Taehyung, but it amazed him that he couldn’t sense any sign of fury burn inside him as it was supposed to when they locked eyes.

No matter how hard Taehyung mulled over his expression, he couldn’t grasp what it meant or what was hidden under it. Not knowing what else to do, he retreated with halting, slow steps as he felt a rush of apprehension travel through him, but then his brows clumped together when he espied a tiny, rather cunning smile tugging at Jeongguk’s lips.

A yelp jumped out of Taehyung's mouth as he caught Jeongguk reaching for his drink, and he made a run for it the moment Jeongguk rose from his seat.

Jeongguk’s small smile stretched into a sly grin as he chased him, determined to get revenge. To his surprise, Taehyung barged into Jeongguk's room instead of his own, and he snorted as Taehyung outstretched a protective arm between them when they halted. “Why did you go into my room?”

“Because you’re not gonna throw that sticky liquid all over your bedroom floor—“

Jeongguk yanked his hand and pushed it to the side as he neared him with one swift stride. He lifted his arm and poured every single drop of his drink over his head, watching the light yellow fluid course down the boy’s scrunched-up face with sheer amusement.

Taehyung lowered his head once he finished and wiped his eyes in order to open them, feeling an outburst of laughter braise in his chest.

Jeongguk observed in confusion as his shoulders started shaking, but dulcet giggles boomed out through the room a few seconds later, easing his baffled state. As his laugh intensified gradually, he found himself chuckling along with the older until they were both gasping for air by their fit of laughter.

“My hair—My eyes are burning, you dork,” Taehyung choked out as he folded in half, his stomach aching by his continuous chuckles.

They cracked up once more at his remark as Taehyung wiped his face with his sweater in his attempt to make the burning go away, and Jeongguk simply gazed at him, finding his demeanor rather endearing.

Taehyung’s giggles were smothered into a shriek when he suddenly lost the earth from beneath his feet, and it took him a moment to comprehend that Jeongguk just picked him up and placed him over his shoulder like a potato sack.

“What are you even doing?” Taehyung asked and laughed his head off after his short freakout, but the only response he received was honeyed chuckles.

Jeongguk kicked the bathroom door open and made his way to the bathtub, stepping inside and then releasing the boy. He grabbed the showerhead and held it in front of Taehyung’s face as he turned on the faucet, drenching him with amble water.

“This is fucking cold! What are you doing?” Taehyung ducked his head as his blood glaciated in his veins by the ice-cold water.

“I’m helping you wash your face since your eyes are burning, remember?” Jeongguk held back a chuckle as he aimed the showerhead right at his face, but his taunting smile vanished when Taehyung gripped his hand and forcibly flipped it towards him, soaking him as well.

“Oh, you’re not laughing now, are you?” he mocked and roared with laughter as a series of exclamations and curses reached his ears, fighting with the younger over the showerhead.

Jeongguk gave up first and turned off the faucet as shivers ran down his spine by the cold. “Tsk, I only wanted to help you and you got me all wet.”

“Help me? Ha, that’s funny. I almost froze to death!”

“You’re so dramatic.” Jeongguk clicked his tongue in vexation as he glared at him. “You didn’t answer me, though. Why do you need my confirmation?”

“How did I end up in my bed two days ago?”

Jeongguk cocked a scornful brow. “Oh, really? Is this how it’s gonna be now? You’re gonna answer me with a question?”

“If you want to know something, you have to give me something first.”

“But I told you I don’t know what happened. I fell asleep. Probably you just woke up and went to your room.”

“And why don’t I remember it?”

“Because you were tired.”

“I don’t know, it sounds suspicious,” Taehyung muttered as he eyed him in depth, trying to figure out if he was lying.

“That’s your problem.” The younger lifted an idle shoulder, keeping his calm posture, even though his heart pranced at the thought of getting caught. “Now answer me.”

Taehyung folded his arms over his chest as he snapped his head away from him, putting his contemptuous expression on his face to mask his unease. “I don’t need your confirmation.”

Jeongguk waited for him to continue as he searched for his eyes, but Taehyung stayed mute. “That’s not an answer, Kim.”

“I don’t have a better one.”

“Fine. Why do you care so much?”

“Why can’t we be friends?”

“Seriously?” Jeongguk scoffed while he shook his head, feeling annoyance bubble inside him.

“I told you, you have to give me something first.”

“Oh trust me, I want to give you something, but you’re not gonna like it.”

“What?” Taehyung mumbled as he cast him a dubious glance, his vision narrowing on him.

“I’m talking about a slap in your face, you pervert-minded dork.”

“Yah! I didn’t think—My mind didn’t go—Ugh, leave me alone!” Taehyung exclaimed, frustrated, and he made a step to get out of there, but he lost his balance as he accidentally placed his foot on the tub’s curve.

A robust arm fastening around him prevented him from tumbling and stabilized him effortlessly while he held onto the toned body for dear life. As his scare dissolved, the way he was cocooned inside Jeongguk’s hug came into focus and his eyes bulged, but fuck, he couldn’t move away. He didn’t want to. What’s wrong with me?

“So except for annoying and whiny, you’re clumsy too?” Jeongguk murmured as he pulled back, but a firm grasp on his sweater impeded him from moving more. “Kim, what are you doing?”

“You’re warm.”

“I’m wet. I can’t be warm.”

“You are.”

“Kim, let me go.” He attempted to free himself, but Taehyung didn’t yield. “What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”

“I told you, you’re warm.”

“What are you talking about? It’s freezing, and I’m not warm.”

“You don’t feel it?”

“Feel what?” he questioned, a thread of anger creeping into his voice as he continued his attempts to pry the boy away from him.

Taehyung heaved a deep sigh as he withdrew from the hug, complying with his request to let him go. “Sorry.” He presented him a forced smile and then stepped out of the bathtub.

“Feel what, Kim?”

He froze in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder before he let his head fall, a delicate smile sprawling on his lips. “Nothing,” he breathed out and resumed his way with hasty steps, leaving a puzzled Jeongguk behind.

But I’m not warm. My sweater is all soaked and cold, Jeongguk thought as he felt the fabric, striving to understand what he meant. Feel what? Fuck, that damn guy. He groaned as he bolted out of the bathroom, heading to Taehyung's room with sheer decisiveness to get the answers he needed.

“Yah—“ He yanked his door open, but piped down the moment he spotted the boy furiously typing on his phone, still wearing his wet clothes. “What are you—“

Taehyung shushed him peevishly without stopping what he was doing.

“Don’t shush me—“

“Just shut up!”

Jeongguk huffed in surprise as he spectated the boy, but chose to obey, and he stayed silent until the very moment Taehyung locked his phone and stared into space with a smile engraved on his lips. “Hello?”

His voice jolted him out of his reverie, and he jerked his head in his direction. “You’re the best, Kook! Thank you.” He hopped off his bed and crushed him into a hug, catching him completely off guard. “I’m gonna clean the mess in the living room and your room, so don’t worry about that at all!” he chirped as he squeezed him so tightly he cut off his breath for a second.

“But I—“ He gave up on what he wanted to say as the older dashed out of his room, but a soft smile dangled on the corner of his lips when the hearty beam Taehyung had on his face before he disappeared infiltrated his mind, sending a strange feeling blustering deep in his belly.

⚜✳⚜

So I'll update again in three days ☹ I'm sorry, but I still have things to organize and I want to be 100% satisfied with the chapters I publish. I hope you understand💜

Please be patient and you'll have a double update in three days!😍

Have a great weekend 💜