Meanwhile, in the living room, Taehyung collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly ahead. His breathing was uneven, his thoughts a chaotic mess.
"What just happened?" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.
As he sat there, the moment replayed in his mind with excruciating clarity: Jungkook's lips brushing his cheek, the closeness, the warmth of his body beneath him. Taehyung groaned, burying his face in his hands.
Since when...
The question lingered in his mind, unbidden but insistent. Since when had Jungkookâloud, stubborn, and occasionally annoying Jungkookâstarted to make his heart race like this?
Taehyung leaned back against the couch, his head tilting upward to stare at the ceiling. The room was silent, but his mind buzzed with memories, each one playing vividly in his thoughts. It was like flipping through a scrapbook of moments he had shared with Jungkook: the way his smile could light up even the dullest of days, the way his laughter had a way of filling the air with warmth, and the way he was always thereâsteady, reliable, and sometimes infuriatingly so.
A small smile crept onto Taehyung's lips as he recalled these moments.
The time I spend with him, Taehyung thought, it's always so sweet.
But the smile faded as doubt crept in, seeping into his thoughts like ink on paper. What if he doesn't like me back? The question struck like a bolt of lightning, leaving his heart sinking in its wake.
He sat up, running his hands through his hair in frustration. If he finds out I like him... will he go further away from me? What if he starts avoiding me? Pretending I don't exist?
The mere thought was unbearable. The warmth he associated with Jungkook was too precious to lose, yet his growing feelings threatened to jeopardize it all. Taehyung groaned, leaning forward and burying his face in his hands.
He needed help.
Without thinking too much, he reached for his phone on the table, hesitating briefly before unlocking it. His fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before he tapped on Jimin's contact. If there was anyone in the world who could help him navigate this mess of emotions, it was Jimin.
The phone rang twice before the screen lit up with Jimin's face, half-buried in his pillow. His hair was tousled, his eyes barely open, and his voice groggy as he spoke.
"Tae? It's late... What's going on?"
Taehyung hesitated, unsure of how to start. His fingers fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, and he glanced away from the screen.
"Mimi," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of vulnerability. "I think... I think I'm doomed."
Jimin blinked, squinting at the screen as if to confirm he had heard correctly. His lips twitched into a small smile, the kind of knowing smile only a best friend could give.
"Doomed?" Jimin repeated, his voice still tinged with sleep. "Tae, there's nothing to be doomed about when it comes to loving your childhood sweetheart."
The casual way Jimin said it caught Taehyung off guard, and his heart skipped a beat.
Taehyung stared at the screen, his lips slightly parted, caught between disbelief and fragile hope. His chest felt tight as if Jimin's words had flipped a switch in his heart. "Really?" he asked softly, his voice wavering.
On the other end of the call, Jimin tilted his head, a sly grin spreading across his face. "You're not even denying it now, huh?" he teased, his voice lilting with amusement.
Taehyung blinked, realizing too late that he'd walked right into Jimin's trap. His face flushed a deep pink, and he quickly looked away from the camera. "That's not... I didn't..." He stumbled over his words, eventually groaning in frustration.
Jimin chuckled, clearly enjoying his friend's flustered state. "It's okay, Tae. You don't have to explain yourself to me. I already know what's going on in that head of yours."
Taehyung sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Fine. So what do I do now?"
Jimin's grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Simple. Just pounce on him, love." He leaned closer to the camera, winking. "I don't think Jungkook will be angry with you for it."
Taehyung's jaw dropped, and he glared at the screen. "Jimin! Be serious."
Jimin burst into laughter, his whole body shaking as he struggled to compose himself. "I am serious! What better way to get to the point? A grand confession and a bold moveâit's perfect!"
"No, it's not," Taehyung said flatly, crossing his arms. "Give me a decent idea. Something that doesn't involve me acting like a complete fool."
Jimin wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, his laughter finally subsiding. "Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Let me think." He tapped his chin theatrically. "Hmm... Nope, I still think pouncing is the best plan."
Taehyung groaned, his head falling back against the couch. "You're impossible, Mimi."
Jimin grinned. "And you're adorable when you're flustered. It's honestly a shame Jungkook doesn't see it right now."
"Mimi," Taehyung whined, his voice carrying the kind of exasperation reserved for only the closest of friends.
Jimin laughed again, his smile softening as he looked at his best friend. "Alright, Tae, listen. You don't have to rush anything. Just... be honest with yourself and with him. Start small if you're scared. Test the waters."
Taehyung mulled over Jimin's words, his gaze distant. The idea of confessingâwhether boldly or subtlyâwas equally terrifying and exhilarating.
"When are you going home?" Taehyung asked suddenly, the question tumbling out of his mouth before he had a chance to think it through. The shift in conversation was abrupt, but he needed a distractionâanything to quiet the storm of thoughts swirling in his head.
Jimin tilted his head, a knowing smile creeping onto his face as he leaned closer to the screen. "Trying to change the subject, are we?" he teased, his tone playful.
Taehyung flushed but didn't take the bait. "Just answer the question, Mimi," he muttered, fiddling with a loose thread on the couch cushion.
Jimin chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, fine. My last class was today, and guess what?" He paused dramatically, watching Taehyung's brows knit together in curiosity. "I'm coming to Busan for vacation!"
Taehyung's eyes widened, and he straightened up. "Really? You're coming here?"
"Yep," Jimin said, grinning from ear to ear. "My parents decided to stay with my uncle and his family for a while. They're in Busan, so I'll be there too."
"That's... great!" Taehyung said, the excitement in his voice genuine. He hadn't realized how much he missed Jimin until now. "When are you getting here?"
"Soon," Jimin replied vaguely, his grin turning cheeky. "Don't miss me too much until then, alright?"
Taehyung rolled his eyes, though a smile tugged at his lips. "You wish, Mimi. Just hurry back, okay? I need your ridiculous advice in person."
Jimin's laughter filled the screen, warm and familiar. "You act like you don't secretly live for my ridiculous advice."
"Maybe," Taehyung admitted with a shrug, his smile softening. "But I'd never tell you that to your face."
Jimin's laughter grew louder, his infectious energy making Taehyung's chest feel a little lighter. "You're hopeless, Tae. But seriously, stop overthinking. Get some rest, and try not to stress too much. You'll figure this outâyou always do."
The sincerity in Jimin's tone made Taehyung's heart ache just a little. He nodded, the knot in his chest loosening ever so slightly. "Thanks, Mimi."
"Anytime, love." Jimin waved at the screen, his expression affectionate. "See you soon."
As the call ended, Taehyung let out a long sigh, setting his phone down beside him. The room fell silent, but his thoughts remained loud, Jimin's parting words echoing in his mind.
Stop overthinking. Be honest with yourself and with him.
He leaned back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling. Easier said than done, but maybe Jimin was right. Maybe honestyâraw, terrifying honestyâwas the only way forward.
The idea both exhilarated and terrified him. But as he thought of Jungkook's faceâhis warm smile, his steady presenceâTaehyung found himself wondering if it might just be worth the risk.