Chapter 10: chapter 9

Taehyung has never liked Sundays.

They are slow, unstructured. A gap between the efficiency of the workweek and the distractions of a Saturday.

But today, something is different.

Maybe it’s the way his apartment feels less empty. Maybe it’s the knowledge that Jungkook is coming over.

He shouldn’t be thinking about it. Shouldn’t be checking the time every few minutes as if it matters.

But he is.

And when the doorbell rings at exactly 2:05 PM, he gets up without hesitation.

Jungkook stands there in an oversized sweatshirt, hood up, hands stuffed into his pockets. His eyes crinkle slightly when he sees Taehyung.

“Hyung,” he greets, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

Taehyung doesn’t stop him.

Jungkook toes off his sneakers and walks straight to the kitchen, opening the fridge. “You still don’t have anything edible.”

Taehyung crosses his arms. “I have coffee.”

Jungkook scoffs. “That’s not food.”

Taehyung shrugs.

Jungkook sighs, closing the fridge. “We’re ordering takeout.”

“Fine.”

Jungkook pulls out his phone. “Pizza?”

Taehyung hesitates.

Jungkook smirks. “You don’t like junk food, do you?”

“I don’t like unnecessary things.”

Jungkook laughs, tapping on his screen. “Hyung, food isn’t unnecessary.”

Taehyung doesn’t argue.

Because Jungkook is already placing the order, already making himself comfortable on Taehyung’s couch like he belongs there.

And strangely Taehyung doesn’t mind.

The pizza arrives. Jungkook eats enthusiastically, stretching the cheese between bites, humming in satisfaction.

Taehyung watches.

He doesn’t understand how Jungkook makes the simplest things seem full of life.

“Eat, hyung,” Jungkook says, nudging the box toward him.

Taehyung hesitates, then picks up a slice. It’s warm, messy, the grease staining his fingers. It’s not something he’d normally eat, but......

It’s not bad.

Jungkook grins. “See? It won’t kill you.”

Taehyung chews. “I never said it would.”

Jungkook laughs. “You looked like you thought it might.”

Taehyung doesn’t respond, but his lips twitch slightly.

Jungkook notices.

And he stares.

“Hyung,” he says softly.

Taehyung looks up. “What?”

Jungkook shakes his head, smile fond. “Nothing.”

But it isn’t nothing.

Because the air between them shifts, quiet but not uncomfortable. Familiar, but different.

Jungkook glances at the time. “I should go soon.”

Taehyung frowns. “Why?”

Jungkook shrugs. “Got an assignment to finish.”

Taehyung doesn’t know why he hesitates.

Why the idea of Jungkook leaving feels off.

“You can stay,” he says before he can think about it.

Jungkook blinks. “Huh?”

Taehyung clears his throat. “If you need to work. You can stay.”

Jungkook studies him for a moment. Then, slowly, he smiles.

“Okay, hyung.”

And just like that, he settles back in.

Like he was always meant to be there.

.

..

.

Jungkook works on his laptop, occasionally grumbling under his breath about deadlines. Taehyung reads through work reports but finds himself distracted.

By Jungkook.

The way he bites his lip when he’s focused. The way he mutters to himself. The way he sighs and stretches every so often, limbs sprawled lazily across the couch.

At some point, Jungkook yawns and shifts closer, his knee brushing against Taehyung’s thigh.

Taehyung doesn’t move away.

Jungkook doesn’t either.

They sit like that, close but not touching, in a silence that feels oddly comfortable.

Eventually, Jungkook closes his laptop and rubs his eyes. “Done.”

Taehyung nods. “Good.”

Jungkook leans back. “Hyung.”

“What?”

Jungkook tilts his head. “Do you like having me around?”

Taehyung hesitates.

Because he doesn’t know how to answer that.

Not because he doesn’t have an answer.

But because he doesn’t know how to say it.

Instead, he says, “You’re always around anyway.”

Jungkook huffs a laugh. “That’s not an answer.”

Taehyung looks at him.

Jungkook is waiting. Patient, but expectant.

And Taehyung he doesn’t know why, but he wants to give him something.

So he says, quietly, “I don’t mind it.”

Jungkook’s expression softens.

Then, gently, he bumps his shoulder against Taehyung’s.

“I’ll take it.”

And for the first time, Taehyung thinks

Maybe this is okay.

Maybe Jungkook has always had a place in his world.

He just hadn’t noticed it before.

🐻🐰