The rhythmic thuds of the basketball echoed through the nearly empty gym, accompanied by the faint squeak of sneakers against the polished floor. Gyungho was relentless, practicing his shots as if his life depended on it. Sweat trickled down his temples, but he didn't seem to noticeâor care. For him, losing to Jungkook had been a blow to his pride, and the mere thought of it happening again spurred him on.
Siwoo and Yejoon, on the other hand, were sprawled out near the bleachers, clearly at their limit after an hour of non-stop drills.
Siwoo groaned, stretching his aching arms. "I can't keep up with this energy. Does he not get tired?"
Yejoon leaned back, letting out a huff. "Same here. I feel like my legs are about to give out."
As Siwoo complained, Yejoon casually pulled out his phone, scrolling through his messages for a distraction. His relaxed expression quickly morphed into one of shock when he opened the latest text from Juwon.
"What theâ" Yejoon muttered, freezing in place.
Siwoo leaned over curiously, peering at the screen. "What's wrong?" His eyes widened when he saw the image on Yejoon's phone: Taehyung and Jungkook sitting together at a café, laughing.
"No way..." Siwoo's voice dropped, almost a whisper. "Don't tell me... they're actually dating?"
"I don't know," Yejoon replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Their hushed conversation came to an abrupt halt when a shadow loomed over them. Both boys turned to see Gyungho standing there, sweat glistening on his forehead. His piercing gaze darted between the two of them.
"What are you talking about?" Gyungho demanded, his tone sharp.
Siwoo and Yejoon froze, panic flashing across their faces. Yejoon fumbled with his phone, trying to lock the screen and tuck it away, but Gyungho's reflexes were faster.
Before Yejoon could stop him, Gyungho snatched the phone out of his hand. His eyes immediately zeroed in on the image displayed on the screen. The sight of Taehyung and Jungkook laughing together made his jaw tighten, and his grip on the phone turned white-knuckled.
"Who took this?" Gyungho asked through gritted teeth, his voice dangerously low.
Yejoon hesitated, glancing at Siwoo for help. "It... It was Juwon," he admitted.
"Are they dating?" Gyungho pressed, his tone laced with disbelief.
"I don't know for sure," Yejoon replied carefully.
Gyungho stared at the photo again, his lips curling into a bitter sneer. "Impossible. Taehyung was chasing after me just four days ago. There's no way he'd move on that quickly."
Siwoo exchanged a wary glance with Yejoon, unsure how to respond.
"Maybe he's just... playing tricks?" Siwoo suggested tentatively.
Yejoon, sensing the brewing storm in Gyungho, quickly chimed in. "Yeah, brother. Don't let it get to you. Besides, next Friday is your birthday, right? I heard Taehyung's been learning how to knit scarves lately. Maybe he's making one for you."
Siwoo nodded in agreement, desperate to steer Gyungho's thoughts in a more positive direction. "Exactly! He could be planning a surprise or something."
Gyungho's expression softened slightly, though his pride still stung.
"Of course," he muttered, half to himself. "There's no way he'd give up on me that easily. It's just his way of getting my attention."
Yejoon and Siwoo exchanged a silent sigh of relief, grateful that their tactic had worked, at least for now.
Gyungho turned back toward the court, gripping the basketball tightly. "Let's continue," he said firmly, his determination renewed.
Yejoon and Siwoo groaned quietly, dragging themselves off the bench to follow him. Whatever storm was brewing, they knew it wasn't over yet.
_________
The soft hum of the library filled the air, mingling with the rustle of pages being turned and the faint scratching of pencils on paper. Jungkook sat at the desk, his focus not on the open book before him but entirely on Taehyung, who was struggling to stay awake.
Taehyung blinked slowly, his head nodding every few seconds before he jolted upright, attempting to feign alertness. He stifled a yawn, but it wasn't long before another escaped, his lips parting slightly as he covered his mouth lazily. Jungkook couldn't help but chuckle under his breath, charmed by the sight.
Taehyung finally surrendered, resting his head on the desk with a defeated sigh. He folded his arms beneath his face, creating a makeshift pillow, and mumbled something incomprehensible before falling into a light slumber.
Jungkook tilted his head, intrigued. "What are you dreaming about?" he whispered softly, as though afraid to disturb the delicate peace of Taehyung's rest.
Unable to resist, Jungkook shifted his chair closer, aligning himself directly with Taehyung's face. Resting his chin on his hand, he studied Taehyung's delicate featuresâthe way his long lashes cast shadows on his cheeks, his slightly parted lips, and the faint rise and fall of his chest.
I can only watch you like this when you're asleep. Jungkook smiled wryly at the thought. It was absurd, even to him. If you knew what was going through my head, would you think I'm some kind of perverted stalker?
Jungkook's chuckle was barely audible, but it broke the stillness of the moment. Slowly, the warmth of the room and the lulling silence began to take their toll. His eyelids grew heavy, and before he realized it, his posture slackened as sleep beckoned.
Unconsciously, Jungkook leaned forward. His face neared Taehyung's, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. In his drowsy state, Jungkook didn't notice the inevitable until it happenedâhis lips brushed softly against Taehyung's.
Both of their eyes snapped open simultaneously, mirroring each other's shock. Taehyung immediately pushed himself up, covering his lips with his hand, while Jungkook mirrored the action, leaning back in his chair.
"You took advantage of me," Jungkook accused, his tone teasing but his ears visibly red.
"Me?!" Taehyung spluttered, his hand still pressed to his mouth. "You're the shameless one! Who's taking advantage of whom here?"
Jungkook shrugged, feigning innocence as a small smirk tugged at his lips. "I don't know. But if you want to make it up to me, you'll have to come with me to the amusement park this weekend."
Taehyung gaped at him in disbelief. "You're unbelievable."
Jungkook leaned forward slightly, his eyes playful. "You haven't hung out with me properly since you started chasing that guy. Don't you think I deserve a little of your time?"
Taehyung bit his lip, guilt flickering across his features. After a moment of hesitation, he sighed in defeat. "Fine. I'll go."
Satisfied, Jungkook leaned back with a triumphant grin. Meanwhile, Taehyung grabbed a book from the table and buried his face in it, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Jungkook couldn't suppress his laughter at the sight. "Are you really hiding from me behind a book? You're adorable, Bear."
"Stop calling me that," Taehyung muttered, his voice muffled.
But even as he tried to stay hidden, the small smile playing at his lips gave him away.