Taehyung sits in his office, fingers resting against his temple as he reviews a contract on his desk. Jimin stands beside him, listing off his schedule for the day.
"...And at 3 PM, you have a meeting with the marketing team. The proposal for the new campaign will be presented...."
Taehyung's phone vibrates.
Without thinking, he reaches for it.
A message.
From Jungkook.
Jungkook: Hyung, what are you doing?
Taehyung exhales. He types back.
Taehyung: Working.
A few seconds later...
Jungkook: Boring.
Taehyung stares at the screen. His lips twitch, just slightly.
Jimin clears her throat. "Sir?"
Taehyung blinks, looking up.
Jimin raises an eyebrow. "You seem distracted."
Taehyung straightens, setting his phone down. "Continue."
Jimin nods and resumes reading the schedule.
But even as he speaks, Taehyung's mind lingers elsewhere.
Jungkook.
Jungkook, who didn't stay over last night.
Jungkook, who usually barges in unannounced but instead, only texted.
Jungkook, whose absence still feels... strange.
Taehyung exhales, pushing the thought aside.
He doesn't understand this.
And maybe, he doesn't need to.
Not yet.
.
.
.
.
Jungkook sits outside the campus café, staring at his untouched coffee.
He had planned to text Taehyung as usual, maybe even show up at his office just to annoy him.
But something stops him.
Maybe it's the way Taehyung never answers properly. Maybe it's the way he never looks at Jungkook the way Jungkook looks at him.
Maybe it's the fear that he never will.
Jungkook taps his fingers against the table. Then, impulsively, he types a message.
Jungkook: Hyung, can I ask you something?
The reply comes minutes later.
Taehyung: Yes.
Jungkook stares at the screen.
Then, heart pounding, he types...
Jungkook: Have you ever been in love?
A pause.
Then...
Taehyung: No.
Jungkook exhales, something tightening in his chest.
He types back.
Jungkook: Have you ever wanted to be?
Another pause. Longer this time.
Taehyung: I don't know.
Jungkook closes his eyes.
That's the problem, isn't it?
Taehyung doesn't know.
And Jungkook is terrified that he never will.
.
.
.
.
Jungkook doesn't come over.
Taehyung notices.
He sits on the couch, phone in hand, staring at their last conversation.
Jungkook hasn't replied in hours.
It shouldn't bother him. But it does.
Taehyung exhales, setting his phone down. He picks up the book on the coffee table, flips through a few pages.
But he doesn't read a single word.
For some reason, the apartment feels quieter than usual.
Almost empty.
And for the first time, he wonders....
Is this what missing someone feels like?
.
.
.
.
Next day.
The doorbell rings.
Taehyung stands, making his way to the door. When he opens it, he isn't surprised.
Jungkook stands there, hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes unreadable.
Taehyung steps aside. "Come in."
Jungkook does.
They sit in silence. Jungkook on the couch, Taehyung in the armchair across from him.
After a while, Jungkook speaks. "Hyung."
Taehyung looks up.
Jungkook's voice is quiet. "Do you think you'll ever fall in love?"
Taehyung exhales. "I don't know."
Jungkook looks down at his hands. His fingers tighten.
Then, forcing a smile, he says, "That's okay."
Taehyung watches him.
And for the first time, he wonders...
Is it really?
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