Chapter 20: chapter 19

Jungkook walks out of the lecture hall, his bag slung over his shoulder.

The campus is bustling, students moving in groups, chatting, laughing.

Jungkook moves through them, but his mind is elsewhere.

He should be thinking about his upcoming exams.

But all he can think about is last night.

And Taehyung.

And the way his voice sounded when he said yes.

Jungkook sighs.

He needs a distraction.

Anything to keep his thoughts from circling back to Taehyung.

And just as he’s about to text his friends, his phone vibrates.

Taehyung: Are you free?

Jungkook stops walking.

He stares at the message.

Then, before he can talk himself out of it

Jungkook: Yeah.

Taehyung: Come over.

.

.

.

.

Jungkook steps inside, toeing off his shoes.

Taehyung is standing in the kitchen, pouring two glasses of water.

Jungkook raises a brow. “No wine today?”

Taehyung glances at him. “You drink too much.”

Jungkook scoffs, flopping onto the couch.

Taehyung doesn’t respond.

Instead, he walks over, setting a glass in front of Jungkook before taking the armchair across from him.

For a moment, neither of them speaks.

Then Taehyung says, “I’ve been thinking.”

Jungkook stills.

He doesn’t like the sound of that.

Taehyung thinking never leads to anything simple.

Jungkook takes a slow sip of water. “Yeah?”

Taehyung nods. “About what you said.”

Jungkook exhales, setting his glass down. “Hyung, you don’t have to....”

“I want to,” Taehyung interrupts.

Jungkook blinks.

Taehyung rarely interrupts him. No he never interrupts.

Rarely speaks with this much certainty.

Jungkook leans back, crossing his arms. “Okay. Go on.”

Taehyung hesitates.

Then, carefully, he says, “I don’t know how to… process feelings the way you do.”

Jungkook tilts his head. “I know.”

Taehyung exhales. “But I think.....I think I want to try.”

Jungkook’s breath catches.

For a second, he wonders if he misheard.

But Taehyung is watching him, serious and steady.

Jungkook swallows. “Try what?”

Taehyung doesn’t look away.

And then, softly almost cautiously he says,

“Try… understanding what I feel for you.”

Silence.

Jungkook’s fingers tighten against his arms.

His heart is racing.

Because this is it.

This is the moment he’s wanted for so long.

But it’s also terrifying.

Because what if Taehyung never figures it out?

What if this is all just an experiment for him?

Jungkook wets his lips. “And if you don’t feel anything?”

Taehyung exhales, his gaze flickering. “Then I’ll tell you.”

Jungkook looks at him for a long moment.

Then he nods.

Because this is Taehyung.

And Taehyung doesn’t lie.

“Okay,” Jungkook says quietly.

“Okay,” Taehyung echoes.

And just like that....

Something changes.

🐻🐰