Taehyung walked through the quiet streets, the faint glow of streetlights casting long shadows around him. The air was cool, and the faint hum of the city at night was the only sound accompanying himâaside from the laughter bubbling out of him as he held his phone to his ear.
"Stop it, Mimi! Oh my god, you're so embarrassing!" Taehyung said between fits of laughter, his voice light and teasing.
On the other end of the line, Jimin groaned dramatically. "I know, right? Don't remind me!" he whined, his tone a mixture of horror and disbelief.
Taehyung grinned, shaking his head as he imagined Jimin's pout. "I can't believe you actually wore pajamas to a blind date," he teased. "Pajamas, Jimin. Who even does that?"
"I thought it was going to be some rich, stuck-up jerk!" Jimin shot back defensively, his voice rising an octave. "How was I supposed to know my parents would pull that on me?"
Taehyung tried to stifle another laugh but failed miserably. "But Yoongi hyung was there? Seriously? How could you not know?!"
"I didn't!" Jimin wailed, the sheer mortification evident in his tone. "I walked into the restaurant, all confident in my SpongeBob pajama pants, and there he was! Sitting there like the perfect angel he is, with his black turtleneck and that smirk."
Taehyung doubled over, his free hand clutching his stomach as he let out a full-blown laugh. "Oh my god, Mimi. SpongeBob? You went to meet Yoongi hyung in SpongeBob pajamas?!"
"Stop!" Jimin's voice cracked, but even he couldn't help but chuckle. "I swear, I almost ran back out of there. But my parents saw me, and Yoongi... Yoongi just sat there, smiling at me like he knew all my secrets. I wanted to die, Tae. Die."
Taehyung could hardly breathe from laughing so hard. "What did he say?"
Jimin let out another groan, the memory clearly haunting him. "He just looked at meâlike really looked at meâand said, 'Nice outfit, Park. Very bold choice.' Bold choice, Taehyung! I could feel my soul leaving my body right then and there."
Taehyung snorted, wiping at his eyes as tears of laughter threatened to spill. "Yoongi hyung is savage, as always. But hey, maybe he found it... endearing?"
"Endearing?" Jimin sounded scandalized. "I was wearing SpongeBob pajamas, Taehyung! No one finds that endearing!"
"Well," Taehyung said, grinning as he turned the corner toward his dormitory. "Yoongi hyung stayed, didn't he? That's got to count for something."
There was a brief silence on the line, and then Jimin's voice came through, quieter this time. "Yeah... he did. We actually talked a lot, and it wasn't... horrible. He even walked me to my car after."
Taehyung's teasing smile softened into something more genuine. "See? He doesn't care about your SpongeBob pants, Mimi. He likes you for you."
Jimin hummed, the embarrassment in his voice giving way to a hint of shyness. "Maybe. But I'm still never leaving the house again."
Taehyung chuckled as he approached the entrance to his dorm. "You'll survive, Jimin. And who knows? Maybe your pajamas gave you an edge."
"Shut up, Taehyung," Jimin muttered over the phone, but the warmth in his voice betrayed the playful annoyance.
Taehyung smiled faintly, his steps light against the pavement as he walked. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of freshly fallen leaves.
"Anyway," Jimin continued, his tone shifting slightly. "Are you back at the dorm yet?"
Taehyung adjusted the strap of his bag and glanced around. The soft glow of the dormitory lights came into view in the distance. "No, not yet," he replied. "I'm almost there. Just walking up to it now."
He glanced toward the dorm entrance and immediately slowed his pace. Standing just outside the building, silhouetted against the lights, were three familiar figuresâGyungho, Siwoo, and Yejoon. Their postures were casual, but something about the way they lingered, as if waiting for someone, made Taehyung's stomach churn uneasily.
"Uh, Mimi," Taehyung said softly, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Hm?" Jimin replied, sounding distracted.
"I'll call you later, okay?" Taehyung's tone was clipped as his eyes remained fixed on the three figures.
There was a pause on the other end before Jimin responded, concern evident in his voice. "Okay, but text me when you get inside, alright?"
"Sure," Taehyung mumbled before quickly hanging up the call. He slipped his phone into his pocket and tightened his grip on the strap of his bag, willing himself to stay calm.
Taehyung considered his options. His gaze flicked from the dormitory building to the three figures standing in his way. He could try to slip past them quietly, pretend not to notice them. Maybe they weren't here for him. Maybeâ
"Where were you last night?" Gyungho's voice broke through his thoughts, cold and sharp.
Taehyung stopped in his tracks and let out a frustrated sigh. Rolling his eyes, he replied with a calm, biting tone, "Move aside."
He tried to sidestep Gyungho, hoping to bypass the confrontation entirely, but Siwoo shifted quickly, blocking his way with a smug grin.
"Why did you block all of us?" Siwoo demanded, the grin fading into a look of irritation. "You don't even answer our calls. What's the meaning of this?"
Taehyung didn't flinch. Instead, he crossed his arms and met Siwoo's gaze head-on, his voice steady and firm. "I already told you before. I have nothing to do with you guys. Not now, and not in the future."
Siwoo opened his mouth to retort but froze when he caught Gyungho's sharp glance. The silent command in Gyungho's eyes was enough to make him step back and press his lips together in silence.
Gyungho's expression darkened as he took a step closer, his voice low and dangerously calm. "Who exactly are you talking about having nothing to do with?"
Taehyung remained unfazed. His calm demeanor only seemed to fuel Gyungho's unease.
Gyungho's mind raced. It shouldn't be like this, he thought, his jaw tightening. He shouldn't be this calm. He shouldn't act like he feels nothing.
Without responding, Taehyung turned on his heel and started to walk away again. His movements were deliberate, each step radiating defiance.
But this time, Gyungho didn't let him go. In a flash, his hand shot out and clamped around Taehyung's wrist with a grip so harsh that Taehyung winced, the sharp discomfort flashing across his face.
"Let go," Taehyung said firmly, his voice low but laced with irritation as he tried to yank his hand free.
Gyungho's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. "Taehyung, stop being so unreasonable," he snapped, his frustration evident in the tension of his hold.
Taehyung twisted his wrist again, trying to break free, but Gyungho's grip remained unyielding. Panic flickered briefly in Taehyung's chest, but he refused to show it, glaring at Gyungho with defiance.
Before either of them could speak again, a sudden force shoved Gyungho back. Stumbling slightly, Gyungho looked up, startled, only to see Jungkook standing protectively in front of Taehyung.
"Get lost," Jungkook said coldly, his voice low and cutting as his dark eyes bore into Gyungho's. "Don't touch him."
Jungkook's stance was firm, his broad shoulders squared as if daring Gyungho to try something else. His presence alone radiated an intensity that made Siwoo and Yejoon step back instinctively.
Taehyung blinked, startled by Jungkook's sudden appearance. He felt Jungkook's warm hand wrap gently around his own wrist, the stark contrast to Gyungho's harsh grip making him relax slightly.
Jungkook turned to Taehyung, his gaze softening as he asked, "Are you okay? Did they bully you?"
Taehyung shook his head quickly, his voice calm but tinged with annoyance. "It's fine. There are cameras all over the school. He wouldn't dare to do anything to me." He glanced briefly at Gyungho before continuing, "I just blocked him, and he's freaking out about it."
Jungkook's brow furrowed slightly as he tightened his grip on Taehyung's wrist, almost imperceptibly, as if silently reassuring him.
Meanwhile, Gyungho was rooted in place, his chest heaving slightly as he glared at Jungkook. His anger simmered just beneath the surface, but it wasn't directed solely at Jungkook's interference. No, it was the way Jungkook's arm had slid protectively around Taehyung, the familiarity and ease between them, that sent a wave of bitterness coursing through him.
He couldn't pinpoint the exact emotion swirling in his chestâwhether it was jealousy, frustration, or something deeperâbut it clawed at him, making his fists clench tightly at his sides.
Jungkook met Gyungho's heated glare with cool indifference, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he spoke, his tone calm but taunting. "Young Master Cha," he said, his voice steady, "no one will wait for you forever."
Gyungho took a step closer, his eyes burning with defiance. "Let go of him," he demanded, his voice low and tense.
Jungkook raised an eyebrow, his arm still loosely draped around Taehyung as he tilted his head mockingly. "You want to fight me? Haven't you had enough beating already?"
The reminder of a previous encounter made Gyungho's face darken, his jaw tightening.
Siwoo, unable to contain himself, took a step forward, his expression twisted in anger. "Youâ" he started, but before he could make another move, a firm hand grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back.
It was Mingyu, who had arrived alongside Jungkook. His towering figure and sharp gaze were enough to make Siwoo falter. "Easy there," Mingyu said casually, though his grip on Siwoo's shoulder was anything but light. "This isn't a fight you want to pick."
"Jeon Jungkook!" Gyungho's voice rose, the anger in it sharp enough to cut through the tension in the air.
Before he could take another step, a voice boomed from the dormitory entrance.
"Boys over there! Why are you shouting? Disperse immediately!" the guard called out, his stern tone breaking the standoff.
Gyungho froze, his glare shifting from the guard to Taehyung and Jungkook. He gave them one last furious look before brushing past them, his steps heavy with anger. Siwoo and Yejoon hesitated before following, their expressions a mix of irritation and reluctance.
Jungkook let out a small breath, his protective arm dropping from Taehyung's shoulder but staying close to his side. "Let's go. I'll walk you to your dorm," he said softly, his voice now gentle.
Taehyung glanced up at him, a small smile breaking through the lingering tension. "Okay," he replied, nodding.
The two began walking side by side, their pace unhurried, as if to leave the confrontation behind them completely.
Behind them, Mingyu rolled his eyes dramatically and followed, his steps heavier than necessary.
"How did you even get here?" Taehyung asked, glancing at Jungkook curiously.
Jungkook didn't miss a beat, shrugging casually. "I was just passing by," he said smoothly, though the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Mingyu snorted audibly, his face a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. "Passing by?" he echoed mockingly. "I don't know who sprinted here the moment they heard someone got blocked."
Jungkook shot Mingyu a sharp glare over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing. Without a word, he jerked his head in a silent command for Mingyu to leave.
Mingyu, ever the entertainer, mimicked Jungkook's earlier words in an exaggerated tone. "Passing by," he muttered, rolling his eyes dramatically before turning on his heel and walking off, throwing up a casual wave as he left.
Taehyung chuckled softly, shaking his head at the exchange. Jungkook glanced at him, his gaze softening.
"Let's get you inside," Jungkook said, his voice carrying an undercurrent of care that Taehyung couldn't help but notice.
As they approached the dormitory, the confrontation felt like a distant memory, replaced by a quiet warmth that lingered in the cool night air.