To say Taehyung was aggravated the next day in his classes would be an understatement.

His head fucking ached like crazy.

Last night he woke at the steps by the front entrance of his university. It felt like he got there not too long before he woke up since his neck didn't ache at all.

Only his damn head, undoubtably after that strike he got that made him unconscious.

In which still fucking hurts.

They probably gave him a concussion, who knows.

That following night, Taehyung did end up going to the police station and reporting the incident. Don't get him wrong, he's not fucking snitch, but if he's trying to have a decent life here, he wants some sort of reliability that he won't have his head snatched off his body.

Officers were a pain in the ass, but they did say they will look into it, but Taehyung knew better.

He knew the second they didn't ask for a description or of any names Taehyung heard while being kidnapped that these dirty cops worked for him, the boss.

So he left the station while telling them to forget about it, knowing well this will get to the boss's ears sooner or later.

But he won't do anything, for now.

He said he wanted Taehyung, but willingly, so who knows what could really be ticking in his head.

That's what unsettles Taehyung.

Stupid gang asshol-

"Hey, are you okay?"

Taehyung breathes deeply to the shakily voice against his ear, fighting the urge to stand up and leaving the classroom right then and there.

He just wanted a moment of class all alone and to himself.

After his long fucking night and day, that's all he can simply ask for.

Guess that won't be happening today.

"No," he responds bluntly, staring at the Professor go off about realism and liberalism for the class lecture.

But the kid didn't take that as an answer.

"What's the matter? You're not usually-"

Taehyung can't take it anymore.

And luckily for him, they're in college, so he can just get up and leave without it being an issue.

So that's what Taehyung did, abruptly stands up, his stuff in hand and storms out the classroom.

His headache is fucking pounding and he can't seem to control it, no matter how many pills he had to drink this morning to mellow it down.

Maybe they gave him an actual concussion, probably would be wise to get that checked out eventually.

Rolling his eyes to the burn, Taehyung storms into the bathroom to see it completely empty, shuffling his stuff inside his backpack and throwing it aside while leaning against the counter of the sink.

Breathe, just breathe.

Just go home, and rest.

That's it.

As if it was that simple.

The door suddenly creaked open and Taehyung mentally shot himself with the hun in his bag when he sees Jungkook shuffling inside, a worried look on his face.

Taehyung lost it.

"Can you just leave me the fuck alone!" He screams in aggaravation, grabbing the kid and pinning him against the wall, "Why do you still try to be around me!?! I'm no good for you! Danger comes at every corner and everything I touch! Just STAY AWAY FROM ME!" He snaps with a red face, feeling all his frustration just pouring out at this very moment.

Taehyung is usually not that aggressive, he's always too calm and grounded about his emotions.

Something about Jungkook just drives that emotional side of him out, and it pisses him off.

Jungkook stares at him with eyes widen and breathing heavily to Taehyung's sudden outburst. But Taehyung doesn't care if he scared him.

He's doing it to protect him!

But Jungkook is the most stubborn person he has ever met!

And Taehyung hates how..... Fucking hopefully it makes him feel.

No matter how much Taehyung tells him to leave him the fuck alone, a small part of him is hoping he'd stay. To show him that he'll still be there, no matter how scared Taehyung is that something may happen to him.

It's twisted, it really is.

Because in the future, if things goes wrong, Taehyung can just simply say that Jungkook came onto him. He didn't listen and got fucked up because of it.

Even though deep down inside of him, Taehyung is also guilty for wanting him to come back to him.

Every single time.

And it seems as though that's the side Jungkook listens to, beyond his words, to his soul.

As deep as it sounds.

"Get a grip on yourself," Jungkook suddenly snaps, and pushes Taehyung away from him with an unknown strength, "I don't like to be manhandled."

He didn't listen to him.

And he's still here.

Can he stop making shit so damn complicated!

Taehyung rolls his eyes heavily and walks to the sink, splashing water on his face as he tries to calm down some of his anger. Surprisingly though, all that anger suddenly washed away when Jungkook places a tender hand on his back, gently rubbing his spine in small circles.

For some odd reason, he felt like that calmed him down slightly.

Just that physical contact alone.

It almost felt like Jungkook just yanked him down from his angry cloud and brought him back into reality.

It felt so..... Comforting.

That's why he wants the kid around, he makes him feel normal.

They have a connection, Taehyung isn't blinded by it, and he wishes more than anything to pursue it as much as Jungkook is.

As if it was that easily.

He has to stay away for his protect.

It's not an option, it's a must.

"Don't you see I'm trying to protect you?" Taehyung whispers, trying to steady himself from his angry high, "Everyone around me always falls hard...... I don't want you to be one of those people."

Jungkook was surprise to hear the other's sudden confession, expecting him to just snap or unleash another angry tantrum.

Taehyung even feels odd to show a soft side to the other boy like this, not really use to showing that after.....

After she died.

He feels a finger tilt his chin and force him to look directly into Jungkook's sincere eyes through his wide glasses.

No matter how badly Taehyung fought it, it's just all laid out there on the table.

How can someone be so right for you come at the wrong fucking time?

Maybe if this was a little after his father handled shit with Orchids, then maybe Taehyung would feel okay enough to be around this boy.

They could openly go study at a café together, Taehyung can get to know more his brilliant mind and perhaps catch him a few times when he stumbles because of his clumsiness.

Who knows, maybe it could grow into something more and domestic, but right now is just not a good time.

And those dreams are way too far from reach, yet Taehyung sees it in Jungkook's eyes those wishes coming true.

It's so difficult hiding this.....

They both know it is.

Taehyung felt a sudden urge consume him the more he stares between Jungkook's gaze. A familiar urge that made him slowly lick his lips, and his blood suddenly rushed to the way Jungkook tenderly bites his bottom lip.

He feels it to.

The tension.

Taehyung knows he does.

"I don't need you to protect me," Jungkook whispers, staring intently at Taehyung's lips.

Taehyung couldn't hold back the urge to lean, the other's lips taunting him just for a small taste. A sinful taste.

And he doesn't know how to control it.

No, he doesn't want to control it.

At all.

"But I want to," He whispers and lets down his guard as he was mere centimeters from crashing their lips together-

"Jungkook-ah,"

And that's how the moment shatters.

Now that snapped Taehyung completely from his trance.

Fuck, he nearly fell for it.

He shouldn't be doing this!

Taehyung sends a dark look into Jungkook's eyes and leans back and stares at himself in the mirror. The bruises under his eyes is more prominent than usual, and his face is sickly pale by the looks of it - so unlike his usual natural skin tone.

Taehyung hasn't been able to sleep or eat properly in days. His school work and his paranoia getting the best of him in doing so. He feels like he's being watched at all times, and no matter how many times he has searched over the tapes, he's still afraid that they'll find him and come after him.

He knows he probably has PTSD from them, but that's just something he has to live with.

He has to remain hidden.

And that means staying away from Jungkook.

For now, just until he knows he's safe.

The door is open with one of Jungkook's friends at the door way, parted lip and a wild blush on his cheeks. Clearly not expecting Taehyung and his friend to be here at the same time, but he wasn't going to make a remark on it.

"Yoongi, is there something you need?" Jungkook practically spats but covers it up with his teeth gritted.

Taehyung suddenly furrows his eyebrows.

Yoongi?

He slowly trails his eyes to observe the man with silver hair parted down the middle, wide glasses and braces on his teeth.

No..... It can't be the same guy.

Taehyung takes his memory and doesn't recall seeing anyone of those masked men with silver hair at all.

And his voice..... It doesn't sound the same.

The other man spoke in a heavy and thick dialect, this one his voice is smooth and quiet.

Then again, there's so many people in this country who can potentially have the same name.

Fuck I'm going crazy already.

Taehyung grabs his backpack and walks past Jungkook and the Yoongi kid, his body aching for some rest.

But he can't rest now.

Especially with two gangs after his ass.

Wonder how the mysterious masquerade mask boss may pull his next move on him, and that's something Taehyung has to be prepared for.

___________

A/N:
COME ON TAEHYUNG CONNECT THE DOTS GRAHHHHH!!!

Well Vkook stans, that ship is sailing! We got ourselves a bubbling relationship! Yas!!!

So...... Who do you guys think tops huh?

I'm curious hehehe

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR THE READS!!

I PURPLE YOU <333333