Skipping class wasn't something that concerned Taehyung. Especially not now, with everything that had been going on with Jimin and whatnot. College was the last thing on his mind. And work was the second to last thing.

Yoongi, however, seemed to consider these things more than his friend. After the second day of both Taehyung and Jungkook staying cooped up in the apartment, he spoke to them. Encouraged them to go to class, to go to work as usual, because Jimin didn't need three caretakers, and besides, it could do them some good. To get out and about and do something.

"I'm on vacation, not you two," he joked, which only made his friend pout in disappointment.

"But we were supposed to hang out over your break..."

"Tiger, we'll still do that. But right now I think you need some fresh air."

"I'm not gonna get any fresh air sitting in a classroom..."

"You know what I mean, Tae."

"I know what this is, you just want alone time with Jimin."

"...Tae, he's recovering from a getting hit by a car, please..."

It took a lot of convincing, but Yoongi somehow managed to succeed. It certainly helped that Jungkook also contributed to the efforts given, and with both his best friend and boyfriend supporting the same idea, he couldn't argue.

So soon enough Taehyung finally decided to return to class - he had only missed a couple days, but then again so did Jungkook, so this time he couldn't rely on the boy to help him catch up.

Of course, there was still Seokjin. But Taehyung doubted he could ask him, considering the several occasions that boy begged to copy homework because he wasn't, one might say, the most diligent student.

Un-shockingly, the moment Taehyung walked into class that day and approached his usual seat with Jungkook in tow, Seokjin reacted openly to seeing both boys after their absences. At first, it was a simple hello, followed by, good to see you again. But then followed the greater concern, which skyrocketed after he laid eyes on Jungkook's face.

"Holy crap, dude."

Jungkook gathered these words were directed at him, so he smiled somewhat reassuringly and waved.

"What..." Now Seokjin was looking at Taehyung. "What happened to him?" Back to Jungkook. "What happened to you??"

"Bad people," Tae answered vaguely.

"Bad people?"

"Yeah."

The memory still upset him. So Taehyung did his best to suppress it, the mental pictures of Jungkook beaten, bruised, and bleeding in that alley, and took out his notebook from his book bag. But Seokjin didn't seem happy with letting the subject drop.

"Do you know who they are?" He asked, peering at Jungkook's face but the boy seemed too uncomfortable to reply. "You gotta report that kind of thing to the police!"

"They took off before I found him," Taehyung answered again.

"Who on earth would have something against Jungkook enough to beat him up like that in the first place??"

"It wasn't his fault. They wanted me, not him."

He spoke in a low, evidently pained tone of voice that silenced Seokjin. For a number of reasons. Taehyung's choice of words, though few, conveyed a darker message that didn't go over the boy's head. He could hear it, moreover detect it in Tae's expression, which he had grown accustomed to seeing solemn on a daily basis. But this was different.

"...were they...after your blood or something?"

Seokjin uttered this tentatively, sounding almost afraid the other boy would snap at him for having dared to ask. But still he waited eagerly for a response.

However Taehyung said nothing. And that soundless action was confirmation enough.

Seokjin, too, said nothing for the rest of the class to avoid bothering both Taehyung and Jungkook any more.

And Taehyung assumed this was a display of respectful distance - perhaps, at the time, it was. It was something he appreciated, something he wished more people would do, yet he ended up having to bail poor Jungkook out of numerous situations of other students asking what had happened to his face. And they, unsurprisingly, were much more obnoxious about it than Seokjin. Some even accused Taehyung of having been directly responsible.

Which, needless to say, didn't make either of them feel any better. But especially Taehyung, still bearing the guilt for it all.

On a positive note, performing at the Fermata Pavilion proved once again to be a great stress reliever. Being there with Jungkook made it even better. Being with him, feeling more comfortable around him than he ever had before, because Taehyung finally knew what Jungkook had spent so long hiding from him.

So they performed that night till closing, naturally receiving panicked attention from Hoseok, but thankfully he, like Seokjin, was respectful when requested not to ask about it. He did, however, wish Jungkook a speedy recovery to which the boy replied, "Don't worry, can hardly feel them anymore."

Taehyung still had his doubts. Jungkook didn't mind. Although he didn't like the boy worrying, he couldn't complain Tae kissing his bruises.

Those tender kisses, soft lips pressed to his skin - to his lips, too, whenever Tae would give in to Jungkook's puppy-dog eyes. It was like a dream made reality, but a dream far better than anything his mind had ever constructed while asleep.

He could live with this. With Taehyung's sweet and protective nature that made him feel loved, that made him feel he could let his guard down without having to worry about anything. At the same time, he didn't want to allow himself to do that at all. Letting his guard down. If anything, he felt he was the one who needed to do the protecting - and not because Taehyung was incapable of protecting himself, rather that Jungkook believed he owed the boy his life.

So while he enjoyed Taehyung's arms around him, he kept his own even tighter around Taehyung.

For the time being, Jimin stayed at Tae's apartment during the day, where Yoongi stayed with him in case he should need anything. At night, Jimin had insisted he could go back to his own place, that he could manage on his own, but neither Taehyung nor Yoongi was comfortable with leaving him alone so soon to the accident. And so they came to the conclusion to just have Jimin stay at Tae's under he fully recovered. The couch was comfortable enough to sleep on - more than comfortable enough, which is why Taehyung had slept there more often than in his bed - so it wasn't an issue. The issue he, meaning Taehyung, had with it was that Yoongi wouldn't have a place to sleep.

Yoongi had no complaints with sleeping on the floor. None at all. Regardless, Taehyung took it upon himself to go out and buy his friend a futon.

"If the futon isn't comfortable, I can go find a different one."

"It's perfect, Tae."

"Well, if you don't like the blankets, I can go get more."

"Tae, it's fine, these are more than enough."

"You're lying. I'll go get more."

"Whatever makes you happy, Tiger..."

*

*

*

The second day of returning to classes, Taehyung had better prepared himself. For anyone who might approach him, or Jungkook, or both of them, he guarded them both with menacing eyes and even walked into class jealously grasping Jungkook's hand.

And Jungkook had the same in mind. Jealously guarding Taehyung, his own eyes sharpening their focus and sending warning signals to anyone who might glance their way.

It was quite a sight to anyone who happened to cross their path.

Some students in their music class gossiped it was the disease Taehyung had that had spread to Jungkook, a nasty attitude having infected him along with it. Others just scoffed after having accidentally made eye contact with either of them, then chose not to be bothered by it.

Then there was Seokjin. Again.

"Hey, Tae, can I talk to you, man?"

"If it's about Jungkook's bruises or the fact that I'm 110% prepared to drill a hole through the wall with my eyes, I don't want to talk about it."

"Ah, no," Seokjin chuckled, a little nervous, "it's not that. I just wanted to talk to you."

"Well, I'm here. Talk."

"No, I meant more privately."

Jungkook's attention peaked. He turned abruptly towards Seokjin, grabbing Taehyung's hand tightly. "He can't."

Seokjin furrowed his brow curiously. "Do you guys...have a date or something? 'Cus it's kind of important. Tae-"

"If he's going I'm going."

"You want to?" A small smile appeared on Jin's face. "That's fine. Ooh! You guys could come to my apartment! We could have tea."

"Tae hates lavender."

"...I have other kinds?"

Taehyung tilted his head slightly to whisper in Jungkook's ear. "It's fine, if he says it's important, I'll hear him out. But go with me."

"I will," Jungkook whispered back. "Absolutely. I won't let you out of my sight, baby. Seokjin seems really nice but you know, just in case."

"Yeah."

"Uh, hello?"

"Hi."

Taehyung turned back around.

"So, tea at your apartment?"

A puzzled look. Seokjin nodded. "Yeah. And we can talk."

"Sounds like a plan."

"I'm joining."

"That's...fine, Jungkook."

"I won't take 'no' for an answer."

"I said it's fine-"

"No buts."

"...you know what..."

*
*
*

end of chapter twenty-eight.