Taehyung was on his feet, clapping enthusiastically, his smile lighting up his entire face. Beside him, Jimin was just as animated, giving Taehyung a high-five as they celebrated the win. But as Jimin noticed Jungkook's eyes lingering on their section, a mischievous glint appeared in his own.
Grabbing a nearby water bottle, Jimin shoved it into Taehyung's hands. Taehyung blinked, looking down at the bottle, then back at Jimin with confusion.
"Why are you handing me this?" Taehyung asked, his head tilted slightly.
Jimin smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Take this opportunity and give it to your childhood sweetheart."
"Sweetheart?" Taehyung's face flushed slightly as he realized Jimin meant Jungkook. "Mimi, stop it!"
But Jimin wasn't about to let Taehyung off the hook. Without giving him time to protest, he placed both hands on Taehyung's shoulders and gently pushed him toward the court.
"Don't overthink it. Just go!" Jimin said with a laugh, stepping back before Taehyung could turn around.
Taehyung spun briefly, his brows furrowed. "What about you? Where are you going?"
Jimin waved dismissively, already making his way toward the exit. "Don't be silly and try to give it to Gyungho. He's not worth your time. I'm leavingâgood luck!"
"Mimi!" Taehyung called after him, but Jimin didn't stop. Left standing on the edge of the stands, the water bottle feeling heavier in his hands by the second, Taehyung bit his lip nervously. Should he do it? His heart raced at the thought, but the longer he stood there, the sillier he felt.
With a deep breath, Taehyung straightened his posture and began walking toward the court, his grip firm on the water bottle. He could see Jungkook and Gyungho standing close, the tension between them palpable even from a distance. Jungkook's expression was calm but laced with his trademark confidence, while Gyungho's smirk was anything but friendly.
As Taehyung neared, Gyungho's voice carried over the buzz of the court. "Jeon Jungkook, what's the point of winning the game? Taehyung still likes me," he said smugly, crossing his arms.
Jungkook's eyebrow arched, and he gave a dry laugh. "You're really full of yourself, aren't you?"
Gyungho gestured toward Taehyung, who was now just a few steps away. "See for yourself. He's bringing water. He always did this for me after games. Old habits die hard, huh?"
Jungkook's lips twitched into a half-smile. "Is that so?" he replied, his tone laced with mockery.
Finally reaching them, Taehyung stopped between the two. Ignoring the charged atmosphere, he held out the water bottleânot to Gyungho, but to Jungkook. "This is for you," he said softly, offering Jungkook a warm smile.
Jungkook's grin widened in satisfaction as he took the bottle, murmuring a quiet "thanks." Gyungho, on the other hand, was visibly thrown off, his smug expression faltering.
"You gave water to him?" Gyungho's voice was sharp with disbelief.
Taehyung shrugged nonchalantly, meeting Gyungho's glare without hesitation. "Then who should I bring it to?" he asked calmly. "We have no relationship, Gyungho. Just respect the boundaries."
For a moment, Gyungho seemed stunned. His jaw clenched, but he said nothing, turning sharply on his heel and walking away. Jungkook watched him go, sipping his water with an air of triumph.
"You were amazing," Taehyung said with a grin, giving Jungkook a thumbs-up.
Jungkook was about to respond when his eyes caught movementâa basketball hurtling straight toward Taehyung. Without thinking, Jungkook stepped forward, grabbing Taehyung by the waist and pulling him close as he turned to shield him. The ball smacked against Jungkook's back with a loud thud, making him hiss in pain.
"Are you okay?" Taehyung asked anxiously, his hands instinctively going to Jungkook's shoulders.
Jungkook nodded, his eyes narrowing as he turned to see Siwoo smirking arrogantly. "Oh, sorry," Siwoo drawled, his tone anything but apologetic. "The ball just slipped from my hand."
Taehyung's worried expression shifted to a glare. "Siwoo, that was no accident," he said firmly.
Siwoo snorted. "I already apologized. Shouldn't you forgive me? Or does your owner need to approve first?" He glanced mockingly at Jungkook.
Jungkook's fists clenched, but before he could react, Taehyung held him back. "Don't," Taehyung murmured, his voice low but steady. His eyes, however, burned with determination as he picked up the ball from the ground.
He walked up to Siwoo, his expression calm but resolute. "You don't need to apologize to me," Taehyung said, his voice steady. "I prefer actions to words."
Before Siwoo could respond, Taehyung hurled the ball straight at him, the impact landing squarely on Siwoo's face. A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers as Siwoo staggered back, blood trickling from his nose.
"You'll pay for this, Kim Taehyung!" Siwoo roared, his face a mix of pain and fury.
"Oh, you'll survive," came Jungkook's voice as he casually launched his own shot. The ball smacked against Siwoo's chest, knocking him to the ground. Jungkook crouched slightly, tilting his head with mock innocence. "Oops. Guess my hand slipped too."
Siwoo groaned, and Gyungho quickly stepped in, helping him up. "Do we really need to escalate this, Jeon?" Gyungho said, trying to maintain his composure. "We're classmates. This is just a small misunderstanding."
"Small misunderstanding?" Jungkook's tone was icy. "Touch Taehyung again, and I'll make sure you regret it."
Gyungho's composure cracked slightly, his lips curling into a condescending smirk. "What's the big deal? He used to follow me around like a lost puppy. If you're so fond of him, keep him for a while. It won't last."
That was the last straw. Jungkook's fist collided with Gyungho's jaw in a swift, unrelenting punch. Gyungho stumbled back, clutching his face in shock.
"You dared to punch me?" Gyungho spat, grabbing Jungkook's jersey and scratching his neck in the process.
Jungkook didn't flinch. He wrenched Gyungho's hand away effortlessly, forcing him to the ground with a grip like steel. "Say another word about Taehyung," Jungkook hissed, his voice low and menacing. "I'll make sure you regret it, one broken bone at a time."
Jungkook released Gyungho, who scrambled to his feet, glaring daggers at him. "Just wait," Gyungho growled, retreating with Siwoo following close behind.
_____
Gyungho stormed out of the basketball court, his footsteps heavy with frustration. Once outside, he stopped abruptly and turned to face Siwoo, his expression sharp and annoyed. The muffled cheers from the court behind them seemed to mock his current state, adding to his irritation.
"What were you thinking back there?" Gyungho snapped, his voice low but filled with venom. "Why did you target Taehyung?"
Siwoo shifted uneasily, his earlier smugness replaced by hesitation. "Brother, we lost," he began, his tone defensive. "And I was angry. Then I saw Taehyung give water to Jungkook instead of youâhow could I not be furious? I only did it out of loyalty to you."
Gyungho's jaw tightened as he glared at Siwoo. "Did I tell you to touch him?" he growled, his voice dangerously calm.
Siwoo flinched, stumbling back a step. "Brotherâ"
Before he could finish, Gyungho lashed out, kicking Siwoo's leg. Siwoo let out a pained grunt, clutching his shin as he sank slightly. His eyes darted to Gyungho, a mix of shock and confusion flashing in them.
"Listen carefully," Gyungho said coldly, standing over him. "It's not your place to lay a hand on him. Ever."
Siwoo hesitated, his voice quieter now. "Brother... you don't actually like him, do you?"
Gyungho stiffened at the question, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a sharp exhale, he turned on his heel. "That's none of your concern," he muttered, his voice clipped. Without another word, he began walking away, leaving Siwoo behind, still nursing his bruised leg.
Siwoo watched him retreat, his confusion deepening. For someone who claimed indifference, Gyungho's reaction told an entirely different story.