The sky was painted with hues of orange and deep purple as Jungkook and Taehyung stepped out of the archery range. The cool evening breeze brushed past them, a stark contrast to the warmth that still lingered in Jungkook's chest from their practice session.
"Admit it," Jungkook teased, nudging Taehyung lightly. "I'm the reason you didn't completely embarrass yourself in there."
Taehyung rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Jungkook chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets as they made their way down the quiet street. The sound of distant laughter caught his attention, and he turned to see a familiar group gathered near a street vendor.
"Hey," Jungkook said, his eyes lighting up. "That's Bambam and the others."
Taehyung followed his gaze and recognized the group immediately. Bambam's animated gestures, Jaehyun's relaxed demeanor, Dokyeom's contagious laughter, and Eunwoo's effortlessly charming presence were unmistakable.
As if sensing Jungkook's gaze, Bambam looked up and grinned, waving them over. "Jungkook! Long time no see!"
Jungkook hesitated for a moment, glancing at Taehyung. "You okay with this? They're not really your crowd."
Taehyung shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "It's fine."
They approached the group, and greetings were exchanged. Bambam pulled Jungkook into a quick hug, slapping his back enthusiastically.
"Man, you've been MIA!" Bambam said, mock-scolding him.
Jaehyun gave Jungkook a nod, his signature laid-back smile in place. "Still causing trouble, I see."
Dokyeom grinned widely, clapping Jungkook on the shoulder. "We thought you forgot about us."
Eunwoo greeted him with a warm handshake, his eyes twinkling. "Good to see you again."
Their attention turned to Taehyung, who stood a little to the side, feeling slightly out of place.
"Taehyung, right?" Eunwoo said, offering a polite smile. "It's been a while."
"Yeah," Taehyung replied, his voice softer than usual. "Good to see you all."
The group exchanged pleasantries, but it was clear that Taehyung wasn't part of their usual dynamic.
After a few minutes, Taehyung glanced at his phone, noting the time. "It's getting late. I should head home."
"You sure?" Jungkook asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Taehyung nodded, offering a small smile. "Yeah. You should catch up with your friends. I'll see you tomorrow."
Jungkook hesitated, watching as Taehyung turned to leave. "Text me when you get home," he called out.
Taehyung waved over his shoulder. "Will do."
________
Jungkook turned back to his friends, a slight pang of guilt settling in his chest. But Bambam's playful jab snapped him out of it.
"You two looked cozy," Bambam teased, wagging his eyebrows. "What's the deal?"
"There's no deal," Jungkook said quickly, though his flushed cheeks betrayed him.
"Uh-huh," Jaehyun drawled, smirking. "You're blushing, man."
Dokyeom laughed, slinging an arm around Jungkook. "It's okay, brother. We won't judge."
Eunwoo chuckled but changed the subject. "Come on, let's grab something to eat. It's been too long since we all hung out like this."
Jungkook smiled, grateful for the distraction. As they headed toward a nearby bar, his thoughts lingered on Taehyung.
I hope he got home safe.
_______
The bar was upscale, with soft lighting casting a warm glow over the group. Laughter filled the air as Jungkook and his childhood friends gathered around a polished wooden table, a bottle of vodka in the center. The mood was light and carefree as they passed around shots, the night still young despite the hours slipping by.
They had decided to play a round of truth or dare, and the dares were getting increasingly ridiculous. Bambam had already taken a shot while pretending to be a cat for five minutes, and Jaehyun had been forced to text his ex with a message filled with cheesy pick-up lines.
"Your turn, Kook," Bambam grinned, eyes gleaming mischievously.
Jungkook spun the bottle lazily, leaning back in his chair. His mind wasn't entirely focused on the game, though. He couldn't stop thinking about Taehyungâhow nice it was to spend time together outside of their usual routine. The warm laughter and easy camaraderie felt like a world away from his usual nervousness around him.
As the bottle slowly came to a stop, Jungkook's heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened as the tip of the bottle pointed directly at him.
"Truth or dare?" Jaehyun asked, a playful smirk forming on his lips.
Jungkook's fingers clenched the edges of the table. He couldn't hide his nerves anymore. But there was no backing out now. "Dare," he said, his voice barely audible as he braced for whatever absurd challenge they would give him.
Just then, Jungkook's phone buzzed in his pocket. He quickly pulled it out, glancing at the message from his mom:
Jungkook, your dad and I are heading to a friend's place in the Dalmaji Hill with Taehyung's parents. You should stay out tonight and hang out with your friends.
Jungkook frowned, momentarily distracted by the message. What were his parents up to in the Dalmaji Hill? And why had Taehyung's parents decided to go with them?
"Jungkook," Jaehyun's voice snapped him back to reality.
The group was waiting for him, eyes twinkling with anticipation. He took a deep breath and set his phone aside.
"Alright, I'm ready," he said, trying to shake off his distraction.
Jaehyun's eyes gleamed. "I dare you to act drunk and clingy in front of Taehyung when you see him again."
The words hit Jungkook like a wave, and his face flushed bright red. "What? No way," he said immediately, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Oh, come on, Kook!" Bambam chimed in. "It'll be hilarious."
"Yeah, think about it. You get to be all over him," Dokyeom added, grinning.
Eunwoo leaned in, his voice teasing. "It's the perfect chance to finally get some attention from him, don't you think?"
Jungkook's mind raced. The pressure from all four of them was mounting, and it was clear they weren't going to let him off the hook easily.
"No, absolutely not," Jungkook repeated, his voice firm, though his heart was beating faster. How could I do that to him?
"Come on, just one little dare," Jaehyun pressed, raising an eyebrow. "Don't be a buzzkill, Kook."
Jungkook looked around the table, each of them waiting with eager, mischievous grins. He knew there was no escaping this. They were relentless. He could feel the heat of embarrassment crawling up his neck.
"Fine," Jungkook muttered, finally giving in, his voice small. "I'll do it. But only because you guys won't let me off the hook."
The group cheered, laughing as Jungkook slouched back in his chair, feeling both nervous and slightly embarrassed.
What the hell am I getting myself into? he thought, knowing this wasn't going to end well, but at least he could make it funny. He just hoped Taehyung wouldn't notice how much he was actually sweating.
The evening continued on with laughter and teasing, but Jungkook couldn't help but keep thinking about the dare. What if Taehyung actually buys it? he mused, his heart racing at the thought of Taehyung's reaction.