Chapter 6: chapter 5

Jungkook is waiting outside Taehyung’s building.

The evening air is crisp, carrying the scent of rain, but Jungkook doesn’t seem to care. He leans against the entrance gate, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, looking up at the penthouse windows.

He knows Taehyung is home.

His messages have gone unread all day, but Jungkook isn’t stupid. Avoidance is its own kind of response.

So he waits.

It takes exactly twenty minutes before the door to the building swings open.

Taehyung steps out, his movements precise as always. He’s in a long black coat, his posture effortlessly composed. His gaze lands on Jungkook, and for a fraction of a second, something flickers in his expression.

Then it disappears.

“You’re blocking the entrance,” Taehyung says.

Jungkook doesn’t move. “You’re avoiding me.”

Taehyung exhales. “It’s late, Jungkook.”

“So what?” Jungkook pushes off the wall, stepping closer. “Why are you ignoring me?”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Liar.”

Taehyung’s jaw tightens. “Go home.”

Jungkook shakes his head. “No.”

A moment of silence. The city hums around them.

Jungkook’s voice softens. “Did I do something?”

Taehyung doesn’t answer.

Because the truth is no. Jungkook didn’t do anything.

And that’s the problem.

Because if Jungkook had done something, Taehyung could rationalize his own reaction. He could categorize it, analyze it, label it as frustration or irritation or anything else that made sense.

But there is no logic to this. Taehyung is always logical.

No reason why the sight of Jungkook sleeping on his couch had lingered in his mind all day.

No reason why Jungkook’s absence felt like something tangible, something he noticed.

No reason why he feels so unsteady right now.

“I don’t understand you,” Taehyung finally says.

Jungkook’s brows furrow. “What?”

“I don’t understand why you’re here.”

Jungkook blinks, then laughs sharp, disbelieving. “Hyung, are you serious?”

Taehyung says nothing.

Jungkook scoffs. “You really don’t get it, do you?”

Taehyung remains silent.

Jungkook steps closer, just enough that Taehyung can feel the warmth radiating from him. There’s something vulnerable in the way he looks at him now, like he’s laying himself bare.

“Hyung,” Jungkook murmurs, “I’m here because I want to be.”

It sounds so simple.

But for Taehyung, it isn’t.

Because people don’t stay unless they need something.

And Jungkook what does he want?

Jungkook exhales. “I don’t expect you to understand. But at least stop pretending you don’t notice.”

Taehyung doesn’t know what to say.

So he says nothing.

Jungkook steps back, something resigned settling in his gaze. “Fine. If you don’t want me here, just say it.”

Taehyung should.

He should tell Jungkook to leave. To stop waiting. To stop looking at him like that.

But the words won’t come.

Jungkook waits for a few seconds. Then, with a soft, tired sigh, he nods. “Okay.”

And this time, he’s the one who walks away.

Taehyung watches him go, the space between them stretching wider and wider.

And for the first time, he wonders why it feels like he’s losing something.

🐻🐰