Chapter 8: chapter 7

Taehyung doesn’t know why he feels restless.

It isn’t nerves he doesn’t get nervous. It isn’t anticipation because that would mean he’s looking forward to seeing Jungkook.

And that isn’t the case.

Except, maybe, it is.

Jungkook had said, I’ll see you tomorrow. But he hadn’t said when, or where, or how. Yet somehow, Taehyung had spent the day half-distracted, checking his phone at intervals, waiting for something that hadn’t arrived.

Now it’s past five, and there’s still nothing.

Taehyung doesn’t like waiting.

He doesn’t like uncertainty.

So he does the only thing that makes sense.

He calls Jungkook.

It rings twice before Jungkook picks up.

“Hyung?”

Taehyung ignores the way his chest eases at the sound of Jungkook’s voice. “You said you’d see me today.”

Jungkook hums. “I did.”

Silence.

Taehyung exhales. “And?”

Jungkook laughs, light and teasing. “You sound impatient.”

“I don’t like wasting time.”

Another soft chuckle. “I was waiting for you to ask me.”

Taehyung frowns. “Ask you what?”

“To come over.”

Taehyung is quiet.

Because that’s not how this usually works. Jungkook never waits for an invitation, he just arrives, unannounced, without hesitation. Taehyung has grown so accustomed to it that he never had to acknowledge the choice.

But now, Jungkook is giving him one.

It unsettles him.

Taehyung exhales. “Come over.”

Jungkook hums again. “That was a statement, not a request.”

“Jungkook.”

A pause. Then, finally

“Okay, hyung. I’m on my way.”

Jungkook arrives wearing an oversized hoodie and ripped jeans, looking effortlessly casual in a way that makes Taehyung feel overdressed despite his simple button-down.

He steps inside, glancing around. “Your place looks the same.”

“It hasn’t changed.”

Jungkook kicks off his sneakers, smirking. “Neither have you.”

Taehyung watches as Jungkook moves through his apartment with easy familiarity, heading straight for the kitchen like he’s done it a hundred times before. Because he has.

He pulls open the fridge, brows furrowing. “You still don’t keep real food here.”

Taehyung sits at the dining table. “I eat fine.”

Jungkook scoffs, grabbing a bottle of water before joining him. “Surviving on black coffee and protein bars isn’t ‘eating fine,’ hyung.”

Taehyung says nothing.

Jungkook leans back, tilting his head. “So.”

Taehyung raises a brow. “So?”

Jungkook exhales, playing with the cap of his bottle. “Why’d you call me?”

Taehyung blinks. “You said you’d see me today.”

Jungkook watches him, something unreadable in his expression. “Yeah, but if I hadn’t said that, would you have?”

Taehyung hesitates.

Because the truth is he doesn’t know.

He isn’t used to needing people.

Jungkook exhales, shaking his head. “Forget it.”

Taehyung doesn’t want to forget it.

But he also doesn’t know what to say.

So instead, he asks, “Have you eaten?”

Jungkook blinks, surprised at the sudden change in topic. “No.”

Taehyung stands. “Let’s go.”

Jungkook blinks again. “Go where?”

“To eat.”

Jungkook stares at him for a long moment, then breaks into a small, amused smile. “You’re weird, hyung.”

But he stands anyway.

And when he follows Taehyung out the door, Taehyung doesn’t say it aloud

But something about it feels right.

Like the space between them is finally closing.

🐻🐰