Taehyung stood in front of the full-length mirror, staring at his reflection. He was dressed in a simple white tee and black shorts, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. A wave of hesitation washed over him as he debated whether or not to take the shirt off. The thought of being shirtless, even in the relaxed atmosphere of the hot spring, made his heart race slightly.
Finally, with a deep breath, he tugged the shirt over his head and tossed it onto the nearby chair. He glanced back at the mirror, his eyes taking in his own frame. Taehyung didn't work out regularly, but his naturally lean and fit body surprised him. His skin glowed faintly under the warm light of the room, and for a moment, he let out a quiet sigh, deciding he looked... decent.
Satisfied, he stepped out of the dressing room and into the outdoor area where the hot spring jacuzzi awaited. Steam rose in gentle curls from the water, the crisp night air making the heat even more inviting. As Taehyung approached, his gaze fell on Jungkook, who was already sitting in the jacuzzi, his back turned toward him.
Jungkook's broad shoulders glistened with droplets of water, his damp hair curling slightly at the nape of his neck. Taehyung knew Jungkook worked outâit wasn't exactly a secretâbut seeing it up close was something entirely different. The definition of his muscles, the way his arms rested on the edge of the jacuzzi with an easy confidence, and the sheer expanse of his frame made Taehyung's breath hitch.
His eyes lingered longer than they should have, tracing the curve of Jungkook's back and the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he exhaled. The realization of how undeniably attractive Jungkook looked in that moment struck Taehyung like a bolt. His thoughts betrayed him, drifting to images that were far from innocentâJungkook's bare chest pressed against his, the heat of his skin, the feeling of being so close it blurred the line between them.
Taehyung's eyes widened in horror as the inappropriate thoughts invaded his mind. What am I thinking?! he scolded himself internally. In a desperate attempt to snap out of it, he raised his hand and slapped his own cheek with a loud smack.
The sound echoed in the quiet night, startling both of them.
Jungkook turned sharply, his dark eyes locking onto Taehyung's flushed face. "Taehyung?" he asked, his brows furrowing in concern. "What are you doing?"
Taehyung froze like a deer caught in headlights, his face rapidly turning the color of a ripe tomato. "N-Nothing!" he stammered, waving his hands in front of him as if to erase the awkwardness. "There was a... bug. On my face. Yeah, a bug."
Jungkook's lips quirked into a small, amused smile. He raised a brow, clearly unconvinced but deciding not to press further. "A bug, huh?" he said, his tone teasing. "Well, you scared it off for sure."
Taehyung awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, avoiding Jungkook's gaze as he stepped closer to the jacuzzi. His heart was still racing, but now it was more from embarrassment than anything else. He slipped into the warm water, the heat seeping into his skin and doing little to cool down the blush that stubbornly clung to his cheeks.
Jungkook leaned back casually, his gaze flickering to Taehyung with a soft chuckle. "You're acting weird," he said, his voice playful.
Taehyung splashed a little water in Jungkook's direction, desperate to change the subject. "Just shut up and enjoy the hot spring," he muttered, sinking lower into the water to hide his face.
Jungkook laughed, the sound deep and rich, filling the night air. Though Taehyung tried to focus on anything else, he couldn't help but steal glances at the boy beside him, his heart caught in a confusing, unrelenting rhythm.