Chapter 9: chapter 8

The restaurant Jungkook picks is small and tucked away in a quiet alley, the kind of place you wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for it.

It smells like grilled meat and warm broth. The lighting is dim, the tables are slightly worn, and the walls are decorated with old posters of classic Korean films.

Jungkook grins as they step inside. “I used to come here all the time with my friends. The ahjumma makes the best kimchi jjigae.”

Taehyung glances around. “You have friends?”

Jungkook gasps, clutching his chest. “Wow. You wound me.”

Taehyung doesn’t react. “Just order.”

Jungkook huffs but waves over the owner, an elderly woman who greets him warmly. “Jungkook-ah! It’s been a while.”

Jungkook smiles. “I brought a friend today.” He gestures to Taehyung. “This is Kim Taehyung.”

The woman looks Taehyung up and down, nodding approvingly. “Handsome. But serious-looking.”

Jungkook laughs. “He’s always like that.”

Taehyung ignores them. “Kimchi jjigae and samgyeopsal. With rice.”

The woman chuckles. “Oh, he knows what’s good. I like him.”

Jungkook smirks. “I’ll have the same.”

The owner pats Jungkook’s shoulder before heading to the kitchen. Taehyung watches as Jungkook settles into his seat, effortlessly at ease, fingers tapping against the wooden table.

“I think she likes you,” Jungkook teases.

Taehyung hums. “She likes that I order properly.”

Jungkook grins. “That too.”

Silence settles between them, but for once, it isn’t uncomfortable.

Taehyung isn’t sure why he let Jungkook drag him here. He isn’t sure why, when he had called Jungkook earlier, he had felt something like relief when Jungkook agreed to meet him.

He doesn’t like things he can’t categorize.

And Jungkook he is unpredictable in ways that make Taehyung feel like he’s missing something.

Jungkook suddenly rests his chin on his palm. “Hyung.”

Taehyung looks up. “What?”

Jungkook tilts his head, eyes sharp with curiosity. “Do you ever feel lonely?”

Taehyung blinks.

The question is so unexpected that, for a moment, he doesn’t know how to respond.

“No,” he says finally.

Jungkook hums. “I figured you’d say that.”

“It’s the truth.”

Jungkook doesn’t argue. Instead, he leans back, studying Taehyung like he’s searching for something. “I don’t think you get lonely, hyung. But I do think you notice when someone’s missing.”

Taehyung doesn’t respond.

Because he doesn’t like that Jungkook might be right.

The food arrives, and conversation shifts to lighter things. Jungkook talks about school, about an upcoming project, about how his professor keeps using outdated software and refuses to listen to students’ suggestions.

Taehyung listens.

Jungkook has always been like this full of life, full of words, expressive in ways Taehyung isn’t. But now, as he talks, Taehyung notices things he hadn’t before.

The way Jungkook gestures when he’s passionate about something.

The way his eyes light up when he laughs.

The way he occasionally glances at Taehyung, as if checking if he’s paying attention.

He is.

“Hyung,” Jungkook says suddenly, pulling him from his thoughts.

“What?”

Jungkook hesitates, then shakes his head. “Nothing. Just… thanks for taking me out today for dinner.”

Taehyung frowns. “You act like I did you a favor.”

Jungkook grins. “You kinda did.”

Taehyung exhales but doesn’t argue.

Because maybe, just maybe he didn’t mind it either.

They walk back to Taehyung’s car in silence, the night air crisp against their skin.

Jungkook exhales, stretching his arms above his head. “That was nice.”

Taehyung nods. “It was.”

Jungkook glances at him, expression unreadable. Then, with a small smile, he says, “Goodnight, hyung.”

Taehyung hesitates.

Then, before Jungkook can walk away, he speaks.

“Jungkook.”

Jungkook stops, turning back. “Yeah?”

Taehyung swallows. Then, quietly, he says, “See you tomorrow.”

Jungkook blinks.

Then slowly, softly he smiles.

“Okay,” he says. “Tomorrow.”

And as Taehyung watches him leave, he realizes something.

Maybe he isn’t lonely.

But he doesn’t want to be alone, either.

🐻🐰