As Gyungho walked away, his steps heavy with frustration, he glanced back one last time. The sight of Taehyung and Jungkook walking together, their heads tilted slightly toward one another in quiet conversation, caused an unwelcome pang in his chest. His fists clenched at his sides, but he masked his feelings with an indifferent expression.
Siwoo, ever the instigator, leaned in slightly, his voice low but loud enough for Gyungho to hear. "Brother Gyu, Taehyung is doing this on purpose. He's deliberately acting out. He wants to provoke us."
Yejoon nodded in agreement, his brows furrowed. "Definitely. If he actually likes Jungkookâ"
Gyungho abruptly stopped walking and turned to Yejoon, cutting him off mid-sentence with a sharp glare.
"He doesn't like Jungkook," Gyungho said firmly, his voice tinged with a mix of irritation and certainty. "He said it himself."
The declaration hung in the air for a moment, tense and unwavering.
Gyungho continued walking, his steps measured. "Let him calm down first. He'll come back to me when he figures it out."
Siwoo's lip curled slightly as he muttered, "Taehyung is too cunning for his own good."
Before Gyungho could respond, a familiar voice called out to him. Turning, he saw Shin Jaeho, his roommate, jogging toward him with a small package in hand.
"Gyungho," Jaeho called, stopping just a few steps away and holding out a neatly wrapped scarf. "This was delivered to our dorm in your name."
Gyungho took the scarf, his brows knitting together as he examined it. The black yarn was soft and finely woven, the handiwork meticulous. A faint scent of lavender lingered on it, a scent he recognized.
Yejoon leaned over, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "Hey, Brother Gyu," he said, a smirk forming on his lips. "I heard Taehyung was knitting something recently. It must be this scarf."
At those words, Gyungho's confusion faded, replaced by a mocking smile. He held the scarf up, letting it dangle slightly as he inspected it.
"This Taehyung," Gyungho drawled, his tone laced with amusement. "He's too impatient."
Siwoo snickered, crossing his arms. "Eager to send gifts but pretending not to care on the surface. Classic."
"Exactly," Yejoon chimed in, his grin widening. "He acts like he wants nothing to do with you, but here he is, knitting you a scarf. Seems like he actually can't bear to leave you."
Gyungho's smile grew, the corners of his lips curling upward as he nodded in agreement.
"True," he said, his tone smug. "He likes me too much to let go. No matter what he says or does, he'd never forget to give me my birthday gift."
He held the scarf up again, draping it over his shoulder as if it were a trophy.
"It's just a matter of time," Gyungho said, his voice filled with confidence. "He'll realize that he belongs with me."
Siwoo and Yejoon exchanged knowing looks, their smirks mirroring Gyungho's.
As they walked back toward the dormitory, the black scarf swayed gently in the evening breeze, a symbol of Gyungho's unwavering belief that Taehyung would come back to himâwhether Taehyung intended it or not.
_____
As they reached the dorm building, the soft glow of the streetlights illuminated their figures. Taehyung turned to face Jungkook, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Thank you for helping me today," Taehyung said, his tone sincere but calm.
Jungkook raised an eyebrow, tilting his head with a mischievous smirk. "Just 'thank you'? That's it?"
Taehyung blinked, clearly puzzled. "What else?"
Jungkook chuckled softly and extended his hand, palm up, toward Taehyung. "You forgot something."
Taehyung's eyes shifted from Jungkook's face to his outstretched palm, his confusion deepening. Slowly, hesitantly, he placed his own hand atop Jungkook's, unsure of what was expected.
Jungkook's smirk widened, and his fingers curled slightly under Taehyung's hand, not quite holding it but enough to make the gesture feel deliberate.
"Not what I meant," Jungkook teased, his voice light. "I'm talking about my birthday gift. Did you forget tomorrow is my birthday? Or are you just finding excuses to hold my hand?"
Taehyung immediately pulled his hand back, rolling his eyes with an exasperated scoff. "Who knows what you're talking about. You only ever say half of what's in your head."
He rummaged through his bag, a small frown creasing his brows as he searched for something. Jungkook waited, arms crossed, his expression a mix of curiosity and amusement.
After a moment, Taehyung pulled out an airpod case and held it out toward Jungkook. "Here. For you."
Jungkook stared at the case in disbelief before letting out a laugh. "Are you serious? You're giving me a used airpod? For my birthday?"
Taehyung broke into a laugh, shaking his head as he quickly pulled the airpods back. "No! Of course not. That's just...uh, a decoy."
Jungkook raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced but entertained by the explanation.
With a more serious expression, Taehyung reached into his bag, carefully pulling out a neatly folded grey scarf. His hands trembled slightly as he held it up, the soft yarn catching the glow of the nearby dorm lights. His gaze dropped to the scarf for a brief moment before meeting Jungkook's curious eyes.
Jungkook looked between the scarf and Taehyung, his brows lifting slightly in surprise. "For me?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual, tinged with disbelief.
Taehyung gave a small nod. "Yes," he said softly, almost hesitantly. "This is your real gift."
Jungkook's lips quirked up into a warm smile. "You knitted it yourself?"
Taehyung nodded again, his throat tightening as he murmured, "Yes."
But before he could say more, something flickered in his mindâa fragmented memory, like a broken reel of film. Taehyung froze, his grip on the scarf tightening unconsciously.
The faint echo of laughter rang in his ears, memories of Siwoo and Yejoon's mocking voices cutting through his thoughts. Their cruel words replayed like an unwanted melody: "This is so uneven. Are you sure anyone would wear this?" "It's such a mess. Just give up, Taehyung."
Taehyung blinked rapidly, his heart pounding as he tried to shake off the unease that crept up his spine.
Was that real? he wondered. A dream? Something I forgot?
The scarf suddenly felt heavier in his hands, weighted with doubt and insecurity. What if Jungkook didn't like it? What if he thought it was sloppy, amateurish?
Taehyung hesitated, his voice wavering as he lowered his gaze to the ground. "If you don't like it, Iâ"
He started to offer to take it back, but his words faltered when Jungkook reached out and gently snatched the scarf from his hands.
"I like it," Jungkook interrupted firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. His grip on the scarf was steady, and his eyes shone with sincerity as he looked at Taehyung. "Tae, I really, really like it."
Taehyung blinked, caught off guard by the conviction in Jungkook's voice.
Jungkook stepped closer, the faint scent of his cologne drifting between them. He held the scarf up, his lips quirking into a playful yet soft smile. "But...I don't know how to put it on. Can you help me?"
Taehyung blinked, his confusion evident as he tried to make sense of Jungkook's request.
Doesn't know? he thought, his brows furrowing slightly. Is he teasing me?
Despite his inner doubts, Taehyung gave a small nod and reached for the scarf in Jungkook's hands. His fingers brushed against Jungkook's momentarily, sending an unintentional shiver up his spine. Taking a calming breath, he unfolded the scarf and stepped closer to Jungkook, his focus entirely on the task at hand.
"Loop it around," Taehyung murmured, his voice quiet but steady as he draped the scarf over Jungkook's shoulders. "And then tuck this part in."
Taehyung adjusted the scarf with careful precision, his hands brushing against the soft fabric as he worked. The proximity between them didn't seem to faze him at first, his mind too preoccupied with making sure the scarf sat neatly.
Jungkook, however, was far less composed. As Taehyung leaned in closer to adjust the folds of the scarf, Jungkook's breath hitched slightly. His eyes lingered on Taehyung's faceâthe soft curve of his lashes, the slight furrow in his brows as he concentrated, the faint flush on his cheeks from the cold air.
His heartbeat thundered in his chest, so loud he was certain Taehyung could hear it.
Too close, Jungkook thought, swallowing hard. He's way too close.
Just as Taehyung finished adjusting the scarf, he instinctively glanced up to check his handiwork, only to find himself locking eyes with Jungkook.
The world seemed to pause for a fleeting moment. Taehyung's breath caught as he took in the intensity of Jungkook's gazeâthe way his dark eyes seemed to hold a depth that Taehyung wasn't sure he could handle.
No wonder so many people chase after him, Taehyung thought, his heart giving an unsteady flutter. He really is... ridiculously good-looking.
The realization hit him like a tidal wave, and he quickly averted his gaze, the sudden heat rising to his face betraying his calm exterior. "It's done," he said, his voice slightly higher than usual.
Taehyung took two hurried steps back, putting much-needed space between them. His gaze darted anywhere but Jungkookâtoward the dorm entrance, the pavement, even the faintly flickering streetlamp in the distanceâanything to avoid meeting those piercing eyes again.
Jungkook's lips curved into a soft smile, his hand brushing the scarf as if to feel the warmth still lingering in its threads. "Thanks," he said softly, his voice carrying a warmth that made Taehyung's chest tighten.
Taehyung nodded quickly, still refusing to look directly at him. "You're welcome. Uh, goodnight."
With that, he turned toward the dorm building, his steps brisk as he fled the scene, leaving Jungkook standing there with a faint chuckle escaping his lips.
"Goodnight, Your Highness," Jungkook murmured, his hand still resting on the scarf, a smile lingering on his face.