The restaurant was alive with the buzz of conversation and the soft clinking of glasses. The air was rich with the aroma of grilled meat and the faint scent of soju. Taehyung sat next to Jimin at their table, their chairs tucked closely together. Across from them, Jungkook and Mingyu were seated, laughter occasionally erupting between bites of barbecue. Mingyu was in Busan for a family vacation and had eagerly joined the dinner when Jungkook invited him.
Taehyung, however, was struggling to focus on anything beyond the rapid beating of his heart and the nerves bubbling in his chest. Jimin, ever the instigator, leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You're doing it tonight," Jimin said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
Taehyung shot him a look, his voice equally low. "I told you, I'm not pretending to be drunk."
Jimin arched an eyebrow. "It's your chance, Tae. How else are you going to find out if he has feelings for you?"
Before Taehyung could respond, Jungkook and Mingyu exchanged curious glances. Jungkook leaned slightly forward, resting his elbow on the table.
"What are you two whispering about?" Mingyu asked, his tone light but inquisitive, his eyes darting between them.
Taehyung froze, his lips parting slightly as he tried to think of a plausible explanation. Jimin, ever quick on his feet, let out a nervous laugh and waved his hand dismissively.
"Oh, nothing! Just reminiscing about some dumb stuff from high school," Jimin said with a wide grin, his charm fully on display.
Taehyung forced a laugh to match, though it came out awkwardly. He could feel Jungkook's gaze on him, and his stomach did a nervous flip.
Satisfied for the moment, Mingyu shrugged and turned his attention back to the grill. But Jungkook's eyes lingered on Taehyung a beat longer before he looked away.
Taehyung exhaled quietly, glaring at Jimin. "I hate you," he whispered.
Jimin grinned wickedly. "You'll thank me later."
Taehyung hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. But then, with a determined sigh, he muttered, "Fine. I'll do it." Before he could second-guess himself, he reached for his glass of soju and gulped it down in one swift motion. The liquid burned as it went down, and he winced slightly, setting the glass back on the table with a soft clink.
Jungkook, who had been watching Taehyung out of the corner of his eye, frowned. Without a word, he picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of perfectly grilled meat, and placed it on Taehyung's plate.
"Don't just drink," Jungkook said in his usual calm tone, his voice holding a hint of concern. "Eat something too."
Taehyung's heart skipped a beat at the small gesture. He looked up, meeting Jungkook's steady gaze. The corner of Jungkook's lips curved into a faint smile, and Taehyung felt warmth spread through his chest. "Thanks," he mumbled, nodding as he picked up the meat and began eating.
Mingyu, who had been silently observing the interaction, chuckled and pointed his chopsticks between Taehyung and Jimin. "I didn't know you two were this close."
Jimin straightened up, placing an arm casually around Taehyung's shoulders. "Of course we are. We went to the same middle school and high school. We've known each other forever."
The atmosphere at the table had grown lively, with Jimin and Mingyu deep in conversation, their voices rising and falling in drunken excitement. Jungkook, ever responsible, remained focused on grilling the meat, occasionally glancing at Taehyung, who had grown unusually quiet. Taehyung sat slouched in his seat, staring at the table in a daze, his fingers absently tracing patterns on the glass bottle in front of him.
The bottle was empty now, and Taehyung's face was flushedâa clear sign he'd had more than enough to drink. Jimin, noticing his friend's unusual stillness, turned to check on him. The sight that greeted him made his jaw drop slightly. Taehyung's head lolled lazily to one side, his eyes half-lidded, and a dreamy smile played on his lips.
"Tae," Jimin asked cautiously, leaning closer, "are you drunk?"
Taehyung's dazed smile widened as he slowly shook his head, his movements uncoordinated. "Don't worry," he slurred softly, his voice light and sing-songy. "I'm not drunk. I just drank a little."
Jimin froze, his eyes narrowing as he studied his friend. Oh no, he thought, panic setting in. He's really drunk.
Before Jimin could do anything, Mingyu looked up, his cheeks rosy from the alcohol he'd consumed. Clearly tipsy himself, Mingyu swayed slightly as he grinned at Taehyung. "Taehyung," he said, his voice loud and dramatic, "listen! I'm going to tell you a secret!"
Taehyung blinked sluggishly, his head wobbling as he tried to focus on Mingyu. "Mm? Secret?" he murmured, nodding as if encouraging him to continue.
Across the table, Jungkook's head snapped up at Mingyu's words, his expression instantly wary. He abandoned the grill and turned his full attention to the scene unfolding before him. His eyes widened as Mingyu pointed a wobbly finger in his direction.
"Whenever he sees you," Mingyu announced, slurring his words slightly as he gestured toward Jungkook, "his lips will automatically turn upward like crazy."
Jungkook's eyes grew as wide as saucers, and before Mingyu could say another word, Jungkook lunged forward, clapping a hand over Mingyu's mouth. "Shut up," he hissed, his voice low and desperate.
Mingyu, undeterred, mumbled something incoherent against Jungkook's palm, his eyes glinting mischievously. Jungkook shot him a warning glare, his jaw clenched tightly. "You're drunk. Don't listen to him," he said quickly, glancing nervously at Taehyung.
But Taehyung wasn't letting it go that easily. His hazy gaze fixed on Jungkook, and he tilted his head curiously. "Jungkook," he drawled, his voice slow and deliberate, "what is he talking about?"
Jungkook stiffened, his hand still firmly pressed against Mingyu's mouth. "Nothing," he said, his tone clipped. "He's drunk. Don't mind him."
Mingyu, muffled but still persistent, managed to mumble, "I'm not drunk."
Jungkook leaned closer to Mingyu, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Shut up," he hissed, his tone more desperate this time.
Taehyung, oblivious to the tension, let out a small "Oh" and pouted slightly. His attention drifted back to his glass, which he picked up with shaky hands. He was about to pour himself another drink when Jungkook darted forward, grabbing the glass before it reached his lips.
"Stop," Jungkook said firmly, his brows furrowed. "You're already drunk. No more."
Taehyung blinked at him for a moment, his lips twitching as if to argue. But then, to everyone's surprise, he broke into a wide, cheeky grin. Resting his head in his palm, he looked at Jungkook with a dreamy expression.
"Okay, husband," Taehyung said, his voice soft and full of playful affection.
The table fell silent. Jimin's jaw dropped, his mouth hanging open as he gawked at Taehyung in utter shock. His gaze flicked between Taehyung and Jungkook, who had frozen mid-motion, his hand still holding the glass he had snatched away from Taehyung.
Jungkook's face turned a deep shade of red, his eyes darting around as if searching for an explanation. "W-What did you just say?" he stammered, his voice unusually high-pitched.
Taehyung giggled again, his head tilting as he gazed at Jungkook with an innocent, almost dreamlike expression. "Husband," he repeated softly, the word rolling off his lips as if it were the most natural thing to say. His eyes fluttered closed for a brief moment, his flushed cheeks glowing under the warm restaurant lighting.