The final bell rang, marking the end of the semester and the start of the much-anticipated vacation. Taehyung stretched his arms, a sense of relief washing over him as he stood up from his seat. He glanced around the now-empty classroom, taking in the lingering quiet before grabbing his bag. His last class of the term had ended, and he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. Finally, a break.
As he stepped toward the door, a familiar figure caught his eye. Jungkook was leaning casually against the wall outside, one hand in his pocket and the other raised in a cheerful wave. His usual confident grin lit up his face, and Taehyung couldn't help but smile in return.
Taehyung quickened his steps, his heart feeling lighter at the sight of his friend. "Has your class already finished?" he asked as he approached, his voice tinged with curiosity.
Jungkook nodded, his grin widening. "Yep," he replied. "And I've already taken care of everything. I got us flight ticketsâtwo, just like we talked about."
Taehyung's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then they softened with gratitude. "Thanks, Ggukie," he said warmly, his voice genuine. He nudged Jungkook's shoulder lightly as they began walking side by side out of the building.
The pair strolled across the campus, the sun casting a warm golden glow over the surroundings. Their footsteps echoed faintly on the stone pathway as they fell into easy conversation.
"You didn't have to book the tickets so soon," Taehyung said, though his tone held no complaint.
Jungkook shrugged, his free hand gesturing dismissively. "Why wait? Besides, this way, we avoid the last-minute chaos. I know how you are with packing," he teased, his eyes glinting playfully.
Taehyung pouted, feigning offense. "Excuse me, I pack perfectly fine."
Jungkook snorted, shaking his head. "Sure, if throwing random clothes into a suitcase counts as packing."
Taehyung laughed, the sound light and carefree. He bumped Jungkook's shoulder again. "Fine, Mr. Organized, I'll let you win this one."
As they reached the gates of the campus, the noise of bustling students filled the air. Everyone seemed eager to head home or start their vacation plans. Jungkook glanced at Taehyung, his expression softening for a moment.
As they walked down the tree-lined path leading to Taehyung's dorm, their light-hearted banter hung in the air, a testament to their easy friendship. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, painting the campus in hues of gold. But the serene atmosphere shattered when Jungkook spotted a familiar figure approaching them from a distance.
It was Gyungho.
Jungkook's jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing at the sight of him. He instinctively moved closer to Taehyung, subtly stepping in front as if to shield him. "Stay behind me," Jungkook muttered under his breath, his voice low but firm.
Taehyung followed Jungkook's gaze and groaned audibly, rolling his eyes. "What does he want now?" he muttered, clearly irritated.
Before Jungkook could respond, Gyungho closed the distance between them. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were locked onto Taehyung.
"Taehyung," Gyungho said, his voice sharp yet oddly pleading. "Come here."
Taehyung raised an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest. "Am I your dog now?" he shot back, his tone dripping with disdain. "And didn't I make myself clear the last time? I don't want to see you again."
Gyungho flinched at the coldness in Taehyung's voice but quickly recovered. His gaze hardened as he tugged at the black scarf wrapped around his neck. "Then why did you give me this?" he demanded, holding the scarf up for emphasis.
Taehyung blinked in confusion. He stared at the scarf, then back at Gyungho, utterly baffled. "What scarf?"
"This one!" Gyungho replied, his tone rising with frustration. "You gave it to me. Don't play dumb."
Taehyung's frown deepened. "I never gave you any scarf."
"That's impossible," Gyungho insisted, his voice tinged with desperation. "I heard you were knitting a scarf, so I thoughtâ"
"You thought wrong," Taehyung interrupted curtly, his eyes narrowing.
Jungkook, who had been silently observing the exchange, couldn't suppress the smirk tugging at his lips. The way Gyungho's confidence crumbled was almost too entertaining. He crossed his arms, leaning slightly toward Taehyung. "You should go and pack your luggage," Jungkook said calmly, his tone a stark contrast to the tension in the air.
Taehyung nodded, eager to escape the awkward encounter. Without sparing Gyungho another glance, he turned and headed toward the dorm building.
As Gyungho took a step forward, determined to follow Taehyung, Jungkook moved swiftly, planting himself firmly in Gyungho's path. His tall frame exuded confidence, and his sharp gaze made it clear that he wasn't about to back down.
"What's it with you?" Gyungho snapped, annoyance laced in his voice.
Jungkook didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached for the soft grey scarf wrapped snugly around his neck. His fingers brushed over the intricate stitches as he lifted it slightly for Gyungho to see.
"It's this scarf," Jungkook said, his tone calm yet pointed. "The one Taehyung knitted."
Gyungho's brows furrowed in confusion, his gaze darting between the scarf and Jungkook. "What are you talking about?"
Jungkook leaned in slightly, his voice dropping an octave as he spoke with quiet intensity. "You should accept reality. He doesn't like you anymore."
For a moment, Gyungho faltered, his confidence wavering. But he quickly masked it with a scoff, crossing his arms over his chest. "So what?" he sneered. "It's just a scarf. Just a piece of trash I don't even want."
Jungkook's lips curled into a slight smirk, his eyes betraying no angerâonly amusement. He could see through Gyungho's façade, and it was almost entertaining.
"Trash?" Jungkook repeated, tilting his head. "If it's trash, why do you still want it?"
Gyungho stiffened, but he wasn't about to let Jungkook win. "You think you're so special, don't you?" he shot back, his tone laced with bitterness. "You like him, don't you? You have a crush on him. But let me tell you somethingâhe'll always think of you as his brother. The brother he grew up with. That's all you'll ever be to him."
Jungkook's smirk didn't waver. If anything, it grew wider. "You sound desperate," he said, chuckling softly. "Do you even hear yourself?"
Gyungho's face darkened, his frustration bubbling over. "Even if I don't do anything," he said sharply, "he'll come back to me. To please me. He always has, and he always will."
Jungkook's amusement turned into quiet pity. He shook his head slightly, his eyes locking with Gyungho's. "You're just fooling yourself," he said, his voice calm but cutting. "You're pathetic. And you know it."
Without waiting for a response, Jungkook adjusted his scarf, turned on his heel, and walked away, leaving Gyungho standing there alone. The sound of Jungkook's footsteps echoed down the path, but Gyungho didn't move.
Jungkook didn't look back once. His focus was on getting to Taehyung, knowing that he had nothing to prove to someone like Gyungho.