"Stupid kissing. Stupid
roaming hands. Stupid boys."
— Jessica Park

Jungkook POV

The sick feeling in my stomach got worse with each step down the sidewalk, especially with every bite I forced down into my tummy. Taehyung kept talking like nothing happened because that's what it was to him, nothing. I had to keep reminding myself that.

I didn't mean to grab his hand and keep holding it, it just happened.

I know we just met recently, and it's not like I'm in love with the guy, but the possibility of him being embarrassed by something so small being done in public that shouldn't matter, it made my heart sink and I felt ashamed with myself.

There was more though, there had to be. Something that bothered Taehyung and made him act differently here in public compared to his friendly behavior behind closed doors. I wanted to ask, but now wasn't the time.

"Here." Taehyung said, breaking me out of my thoughts as he placed the last meat kebab he had onto my own paper dish. "You seem more hungry." he smiled.

I looked down and noticed I had finished my serving, empty wooden sticks laying lonely as my nerves must have made me eat quicker than I thought. "Thanks." I mumbled.

"So where are going exactly?" Taehyung waited to ask until I finished chewing, tossing both our trash into a bin as we walked passed it.

"Dance studio." I said, noticing the twitch of his lips as he grinned. It was becoming predictable now, the snarky and playful remarks thrown my way, leaving me to continue wondering if he was serious or not. "You're really excited to take me on this date aren't you?" he smiled.

I rolled my eyes and kept walking, the mask sitting snug over my chin and keeping it somewhat warm as the air got colder as night approached, "If we're going to be technical, you asked me."

Taehyung simply waved my words away, "Yeah yeah, let's not bother with details." he said following me around the corner and the next few doors down to the studio.

The bright red doors stood in the center of the front of the building, large floor-to-ceiling glass windows lined each side and allowed a sight into the lobby of the dance studio, bright lights illuminating the marbles floors and front desk. The name of the studio sat in large letters across the wall behind the front desk, and the woman working smiled as Taehyung and I walked in. I pulled out my badge that showed my clearance for use of the dance rooms, the studio was privately owned and only trained those who paid quite a lot for it. Jimin and I were able to get jobs and that allowed us some use of the rooms in our free time.

"Fancy." Taehyung mumbled, fingers tapping along the granite counter as his eyes looked around the lobby.

I glanced his way for a moment, nodding quickly and smiling in thanks to the woman as she let us pass down the hall, unlocking the door. Taehyung followed behind me as I led the way down the hall, red carpeted floors leading to multiple studios on either side of varying occupancies. I stopped by studio room D, knowing only higher level classes were being held at night and those are always in the first few rooms.

"So," Taehyung started, making himself comfortable on one of the rolling chairs placed by the sound table, "Dance for me Kookie."

"That's how you think this works?" I raised an eyebrow, setting my bag down beside the table and hooking my phone up to the speakers.

The older boy only nodded, that dumb grin on his face as he leaned back, "We need to practice for our next date."

This certainly caught my attention, but the playful nature to his tone still made me cautious, he was most likely joking. I bent down to tighten my laces, "Please continue." Maybe I'd listen, go along with it for a while, but I won't get my hopes up.

He easily continued, "See the next time we go out to a club, you need to know how things work," Taehyung explained, sitting all comfortable in the black chair with his legs spread just a bit and his hands laced together over his stomach, "I'm going to be standing there with my drink in my hand and you have to dance around me making me look good."

I couldn't help it. The laugh erupted from my chest and I tossed my head back to be a little more dramatic, the entire time Taehyung kept the straight face he wore. "Keep that attitude up Taehyung and you'll just be seeing me dancing with another guy."

He scoffed and I ignored whatever he started mumbling about, "Press play." I told him after tossing him my phone. The cord was long enough as it sat hooked up to the speakers that hung from the corners of the room. I tugged the black mask up over my mouth and nose, shaking out my legs and bouncing a bit on the balls of my feet as I found my position on the dance floor.

"Manolo?" his voice echoed throughout the momentarily quiet room. I ignored the deep sound though as the steps ran through my mind quickly a few times.

The speakers were loud and I felt the bass throughout my chest. My hands started to sweat as I could see Taehyung in the corner of my eye set my phone down and focus his gaze in my direction. It didn't matter though, the nerves would go soon and my eyes fluttered shut as the song started. The sweats and shakes were somewhat familiar, in a different aspect this time.

I waited until the right moment, bobbing my head a bit to the beat as I listened to the words blasting through the speakers and bouncing off the soundproof walls. Then it came, the first count that I hit hard as always. And I was lost.

Lost in the music and the moves as my body moved freely and sharply to each step hitting them precisely as if this was the last time I'd ever get to do this routine. I don't think my eyes opened the entire time as I finished the small routine Jimin and I learned off one of our favorite youtube channels.

My chest rose and fell drastically as I caught my breath, glancing over at Taehyung and his parted lips.

"The fuck you think I can do that for?" he blurted, somewhat shocked. "Today's cancelled, all you're getting out of me in a kind applause and a quick exit." Taehyung said standing already and clapping softy a few times before walking to the door like the dramatic ass he must be.

"Oh come on," my boots echoed on the shiny beige dance floor, "I'll teach you something easier." I said standing by him now, the older who still seemed unconvinced and stubborn.

He didn't object so I took his hand, slowly and kept my eyes on his face, curious to see if he'd push me away like before. Then again we were alone and he seemed a lot more comfortable when no one else was around.

I took slow steps backwards, his hand still in mine as I tugged him along without much unwillingness from his end.

"Just a few simple steps." I said, stopping once we were in the center of the room and facing the long mirrored wall. Taehyung stood there without much enthusiasm as I went to grab my phone and play a song on loop. It was one of the songs and routines we taught the beginner classes usually around 12 to 15 years, but maybe I wouldn't tell him that.

I smiled once walking back over to his side, "Just follow me, it's easy."

It took a few tries for Taehyung to get half the steps down, and we only went through the songs about eighteen times.

He gave up at one point every time I got carried away and started adding harder moves and laughed every time he'd throw curse words into the air along with his hands.

My back met the dance floor as sweat trailed down my neck and temples. I closed my eyes and tried catching my breath, laying on the floor as my energy was spent. Taehyung sat down beside me and leaned back on his palm, "This is what you do for fun?" he looked absolutely exhausted and I only smiled a bit, peeking open one eye to look up at him, "What do you do for fun?"

Taehyung didn't speak for a moment, simply watching me and making me feel small underneath his gaze as he hummed softly. I felt like my head was spinning as he leaned closer, his hand landing on the other side of my body, voice deep as his warm breath fanned over my lips when he whispered, "This."

Then the little space that remained between us was gone, swallowed up by the urge for our lips to touch once again and move together like the harmonies of the song coming from the speakers.

Taehyung was leaning over my body, hands placed on the floor by either side of head to support his weight, head tilted just a bit as he moved his tongue over my bottom lip. My heart never stopped racing, I couldn't even tell if it was from dancing or from this extremely attractive man pressed against my chest.

There was still confusion. Kissing him was easy, my parted lips spoke for me as his tongue pushed into my mouth, but my hands stayed hovering beside his body as I feared he would change his mind again so quick and push me away. Leaving me alone and conflicted once again. Taehyung must have noticed because he pulled away just enough to speak, the tips of his swollen lips brushing mine with each word, "You're okay." he said simply, taking my hand and placing it on the side of his neck.

I took the invitation quickly, straining my neck upwards to connect our lips again as I slipped my hand around to the back of his head and pulled him down closer, fingers tangled in his soft honey colored hair.

Shivers ran down my spine when I felt his fingers dip underneath the hem of my shirt, the pads of his fingertips brushing up my side and lighting up the bare skin with heat and tingles. I bit down on his bottom lip gently and pulled a low groan from his chest, almost making me moan at the beautiful sound.

Taehyung's hand stayed under my shirt and gripping my waist, my confidence growing with each second he didn't pull away and admit this being a mistake. I trailed my hands from his neck slowly down his chest, feeling the smirk on his face against my own mouth.

But I should know by now, things never stay okay, just when you're about to think positive and have some sort of hope, life shits all over that.

His quiet groan covered up the sound of the door opening, but not the person clearing their throat.

I felt Taehyung tense under my palms and against my swollen lips, my blood running cold as he yanked his hand from under my shirt and took hold of my wrists to pull them away from his chest. My eyes darted over to the newcomer and I recognized him as a friend, another instructor at the studio.

He smiled friendly but I remained frozen, not sure if it was sadness or anger flooding my veins as Taehyung wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and sat up, making no eye contact with anyone.

"Sorry, I just wanted to remind you closing is in a few minutes." my friend said from the door. I nodded and pushed myself off the floor, ignoring Taehyung standing there and walking over to grab my phone. "Thanks Kino." I said. He nodded and left as quick as he came.

The floor squeaked and I knew Taehyung was getting up. I felt my pulse quicken as I hurried to grab my bag and shove my things back into it, gripping the strap and walking to the door without another word.

"Jungkook, wait up. Where are you going?" he sounded confused.

I only scoffed, the easy outlet of anger coming naturally, "I'm going home, where I wish I stayed all day."

"Oh come on." Taehyung said, his footsteps quickening as he walked over to me and shoved the door shut with his hand. I glared at him and kept my hand on the door handle, there was no way he was stronger than me I hope he thinks twice. "What's going on?"

The fact that he saw nothing wrong with what he was doing made me even more frustrated, and he should know that, "I'm not here to play games Taehyung, you can't keep doing things with me and then pretending like they didn't happen because you're too scared people are going to think badly of you."

"You don't know anything." he shot back, there was a flash of anger in his eyes and I bit my tongue for a moment. It wasn't my intention to make him upset, especially when he didn't even have the right. That is until he has to open his mouth again, "Everyone has problems, some worse than others, you should know that better than anyone."

It felt like a very personal stab. There were no words coming to mind or any insults I could throw his way. I felt the heavy weight of my bag on my shoulder and the incredible burden of the medication sitting in small bottles at the bottom. Taehyung seemed to regret his words, knowing they sounded wrong. But he already said them, there's no going back. "Jungkook-"

"Fuck off." I managed to spit, shoving his hand off the door and yanking it open. My temples throbbed and my throat felt like I was trying to swallow a fist of clay. I felt like I just spent ten hours teaching dance classes as my breathing quicken and my chest wouldn't stop hurting. It didn't stop all the way home as I walked to my apartment quickly, never once looking back to see if Taehyung followed and never once even wanting him to.

• ♡ •
this chap was kinda long
let me know if you want them
to be shorter. also comment
and I'll update quicker