Jungkook could feel the weight of his hesitation as he stared down at the table, unsure whether he could pull off the dare. This is insane, he thought to himself, glancing at the four faces surrounding him, all eager for him to take action.
Eunwoo leaned in, giving Jungkook a small push. "Come on, stop being a coward, Kook," he teased. "You're already going to act drunk. Make it fun, at least!"
Jungkook shot Eunwoo a glance, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. "I don't know about this, Eunwoo," he muttered, his voice almost a whisper. What if Taehyung gets uncomfortable? What if he gets... weirded out?
"Quit overthinking it, just go with it," Eunwoo said, chuckling. "You're not backing out now."
Jungkook sighed, his nerves still gnawing at him. He glanced at his phone again, the buzz of a new message breaking his thoughts. It was from his mom, telling him that Seokjin was staying with a friend.
So he's alone right now? Jungkook's stomach fluttered at the thought. He'd hoped to hang out with Taehyung later, but now he had to face the dare. How am I supposed to act drunk in front of him? What if he notices?
_______
Meanwhile, at Taehyung's house, the situation was a bit different. He was sprawled on the couch, fidgeting with his phone. It was rare for him to have the house all to himself, and he couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness creeping in.
His parents had left earlier that afternoon, explaining that they were going to visit a friend who had been dealing with some health issues. They'd also mentioned that Jungkook's parents would be joining them, which made Taehyung feel a little better. At least there was someone to keep his parents company while they were away.
But still, the silence in the house felt heavy. Seokjin, his older brother, had been gone for a few hour already, staying over at his friend's place, and Taehyung found himself missing the usual noise and laughter that filled the house. The whole situation had left him feeling slightly pouty, knowing that everyone had plans and he was stuck alone.
He tossed his phone on the couch, looking around the empty house with a small sigh. I guess I'll just have to find something to do by myself, he thought, trying to keep the frustration at bay.
If only Jungkook was here, he thought, absently tracing the edge of his phone screen. He had hoped they could hang out tonight, but with his parents gone, and everything else happening, he couldn't bring himself to make that call. It didn't help that Taehyung didn't like asking others for things. He'd always felt that he should manage on his own, even when he didn't feel like it.
With a resigned sigh, Taehyung flopped back onto the couch, muttering to himself. "I'll just be alone for now..." His voice trailed off, the loneliness sinking in further.
With a resigned groan, he pulled the blanket over himself, sinking further into the couch. Just as he was about to close his eyes and give in to the quiet solitude of the evening, the doorbell rang, its sharp chime cutting through the stillness.
Who could that be? Taehyung frowned as he sat up, a little surprised by the interruption. He wasn't expecting anyone, and yet, there was the unmistakable sound of the doorbell once again.
Reluctantly, he got up, stretched, and made his way to the door. As he opened it, his confusion deepened. There, standing in the doorway, was none other than Jungkook, his body leaning heavily against Eunwoo, who seemed to be struggling under the weight of Jungkook's unsteady frame.
Jungkook's silly, drunken smile was the first thing Taehyung noticed, and it made him raise an eyebrow. What on earth...?
"Hey, Tae!" Jungkook waved his hand enthusiastically, though he almost lost his balance in the process. Taehyung blinked, still trying to process what was happening. He looked down at the situation in front of him, trying to make sense of it.
"Taehyung," Eunwoo said with a strained voice, balancing himself awkwardly while leaning against the wall. "Jungkook's drunk."
Taehyung's eyes widened in disbelief, though his expression remained calm. He looked back at Jungkook, whose goofy grin seemed to grow wider with every passing second.
I can see that, Taehyung thought dryly, his mind racing. He hadn't expected this. He'd just been planning to stay home and wallow in his own thoughts. Now, here was Jungkook, looking like he was having the time of his lifeâor, at least, trying to.
Eunwoo, still struggling to keep Jungkook upright, cast Taehyung a pleading look. "Quickly, help me."
Taehyung snapped out of his thoughts, now fully aware of the situation. He stepped forward, shaking his head with a sigh. "Why did he drink so much all of a sudden? Is he crazy or what?"
Eunwoo let out a huff of exasperation. "He said he was extremely happy today. I don't know what happened, man." His voice was tinged with frustration as he tried to keep his balance, his hands still gripping Jungkook. "Just give me a hand here, Taehyung."
Taehyung, feeling the weight of Jungkook's body leaning against him, stepped forward and put his arms around him. As soon as he touched Jungkook, the other boy's weight shifted dramatically, and Jungkook practically threw himself at Taehyung, stumbling as his arms flailed.
"Whoa, hey, careful!" Taehyung grunted as he tried to steady Jungkook, but the drunk boy's body felt like dead weight. "Damn, you're heavy."
Eunwoo let out a short breath of relief, glad that someone had finally stepped in to help. "Okay, now get him inside. I've got stuff to do."
Taehyung shot Eunwoo a sharp look. "What? No, you're not just leaving me with this mess."
But Eunwoo was already backing away, his face showing no signs of guilt. "Sorry, man, but I really have things to do. Good luck with that." Without waiting for another word, he turned on his heel and bolted down the steps, disappearing into the night.
"Eunwoo! Hey, don't just leave me with him!" Taehyung called out, but Eunwoo was already out of earshot. With a frustrated sigh, Taehyung turned back to Jungkook, who was still clinging to him, looking up at him with wide, unfocused eyes.
"God, you're impossible," Taehyung muttered, half annoyed and half amused. He heaved Jungkook into the house, struggling to maintain his own balance as the drunken boy swayed in his arms. The door slammed shut behind them, the sound echoing in the empty house.
Once inside, Taehyung let out a relieved sigh as he guided Jungkook to the couch, half-dragging and half-carrying him. The drunk boy was heavier than he looked, and the effort left Taehyung slightly winded. Finally, he managed to drop Jungkook onto the soft cushions, where the boy immediately grabbed the nearest pillow and hugged it to his chest, a goofy smile plastered across his face.
Taehyung stood there for a moment, catching his breath and surveying the scene. Jungkook looked utterly ridiculousâhis head tilted to one side, his dark hair a tousled mess, and his boots still on, leaving smudges on the edge of the couch. Taehyung groaned, running a hand through his hair.
"This is not how I expected my evening to go," he muttered under his breath.
Resigning himself to the task, Taehyung crouched down and grabbed one of Jungkook's boots, tugging at it with some difficulty. It didn't help that Jungkook shifted occasionally, mumbling incoherent words, making the whole process more frustrating.
Why am I doing this again? Taehyung thought, though the answer came to him almost immediately. He remembered the time Jungkook had taken care of him when he was drunk.
I'm just returning the favor, Taehyung told himself, slipping the first boot off and setting it aside before moving on to the second.
Once the boots were off, he placed them neatly on the shoe rack by the door, pausing to glance back at Jungkook. The boy hadn't moved muchâhe was still hugging the pillow like it was his lifeline, his eyes now closed as if he were fast asleep.
With a small shake of his head, Taehyung headed to the kitchen. He filled a glass with warm water and grabbed a small towel before returning to the living room. Jungkook was still in the same position, his face relaxed, and his lips curved slightly upward.
"Unbelievable," Taehyung muttered as he sat down beside the couch, placing the glass on the coffee table. He poked Jungkook's cheek gently with his finger.
"Jungkook?" Taehyung called softly, watching as the boy frowned in his sleep, scrunching his nose like a child being woken too early.
Taehyung poked him again, more insistently this time. "Hey, wake up. You need to drink this."
Jungkook groaned but didn't budge, making Taehyung's patience wear thin. With a sigh, he grabbed Jungkook's arm and tried to pull him into a sitting position. "Come on, don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Jungkook finally opened his eyes, blinking up at Taehyung with a dazed expression. His lips parted slightly as he pouted, his lower lip jutting out in an exaggerated sulk. "I don't wanna," he mumbled, turning his head away dramatically.
Taehyung froze for a moment, caught off guard. Have I ever seen him act this... cute?
He stared at Jungkook's childlike pout, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. For a moment, he forgot his irritation. There was something unexpectedly endearing about seeing someone like Jungkookâwho was usually so composed and confidentâacting so unguarded and innocent.
But then, like a thunderclap, Jimin's words echoed in his mind:Â "When you think a cool, handsome, and fierce man is suddenly cute... it means you're doomed. Clearly finished."
Taehyung's smile vanished, his eyes widening in alarm. Wait. Doomed? What does he mean by... Oh no. Am I...?
The realization hit him like a freight train, leaving his thoughts scrambling. No, no, no. I am NOT...
His inner turmoil was interrupted by Jungkook's voiceâsoft yet deep, and somehow managing to sound cute despite the usual weight of his tone.
"Can you feed me?" Jungkook asked, his words slurred but clear enough to send Taehyung into another tailspin.
Taehyung blinked, his heart skipping a beat. His gaze darted between Jungkook's innocent expression and the glass of water he was holding. "W-what?" he stammered, unsure if he'd heard correctly.
Jungkook nodded, leaning slightly toward him, his sleepy eyes locking onto Taehyung's. "Feed me, Tae..."
The way Jungkook said his nameâsoft, almost pleadingâmade Taehyung's chest tighten. He swallowed hard, his mind racing. Why is this affecting me so much?
With a nervous laugh, Taehyung shook his head and held the glass closer to Jungkook's lips. "Just drink this, okay? You'll feel better."
Jungkook pouted again but obediently leaned forward, his lips brushing the edge of the glass as Taehyung tilted it carefully. Taehyung tried to focus on the task, but his eyes kept flickering to Jungkook's faceâthe way his lashes fluttered, the curve of his jaw, the way his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.
You're doomed, Jimin's voice taunted in his head again, louder this time.
Taehyung sighed internally, willing his thoughts to behave. I am so, so doomed.