Taehyung stood at the cafeteria gate, his lips pressed into a pout as he watched the rain cascade from the sky. The rhythmic sound of droplets hitting the ground filled the air, but it didn't soothe the small wave of frustration building in him.
"I should have brought an umbrella," he muttered, scolding himself. His arms wrapped around his torso, bracing against the cool breeze that accompanied the downpour. The dorm building wasn't far, just a five-minute walk, but without protection from the rain, he'd be soaked by the time he reached it.
He sighed, glancing at the gray sky, debating whether to make a dash for it when he suddenly felt a gentle poke on his shoulder. Startled, he turned to see Jungkook standing behind him, an umbrella in hand and an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Jungkook asked, tilting his head slightly as if to study Taehyung's expression more closely.
Taehyung blinked, feeling his heart skip a beat at the unexpected encounter. He quickly shook his head. "Nothing."
Jungkook raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced but choosing not to press further. Instead, he extended the umbrella above their heads, shielding them both from the rain. "It doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon. Come on, I'll walk you to your dorm."
The kind gesture made Taehyung's pout vanish, replaced by a warm smile. "Thanks, Ggukie," he said softly, his voice carrying a genuine note of gratitude.
Together, they started walking. The space beneath the umbrella was tight, forcing their shoulders to brush against each other with every step. The rain continued to fall around them, creating a cozy cocoon of shared warmth and quiet conversation.
"Tae," Jungkook said after a few moments, his tone casual yet deliberate.
"Hmm?" Taehyung hummed in response, glancing up at him.
"Link your arm with mine," Jungkook said, his voice steady but his gaze focused ahead.
Taehyung stopped mid-step, his eyes widening in surprise. "What?"
Jungkook finally looked at him, a playful smile on his lips. "Link your arm with mine. It'll make walking easier. Isn't that what you and Jimin do all the time?"
Taehyung let out a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"
"Completely serious," Jungkook replied, feigning innocence. "You laugh, but I'm trying to help here."
Still laughing, Taehyung slid his arm through Jungkook's, their elbows hooking together. "Is this okay?" he asked, his tone teasing.
Jungkook nodded, satisfied. "Perfect."
"You're sulking, aren't you?" Taehyung teased, his voice light with amusement.
"I'm not sulking," Jungkook said, his pout betraying his words.
Taehyung chuckled, shaking his head. "You are. And it's cute."
Jungkook stopped for a moment, turning to face Taehyung. "I've always been cute," he said, his expression so earnest it made Taehyung laugh even harder.
"Right," Taehyung said, nodding in mock agreement. "You are."
Jungkook rolled his eyes, but a small smile lingered on his lips. With their banter and shared laughter filling the air, they continued their walk, the rain now feeling less like an inconvenience and more like a backdrop to their moment together.
_______
The steady patter of rain filled the air, creating a rhythmic backdrop for the trio huddled under a small shed near the dormitory path. Siwoo and Yejoon leaned lazily against the wooden posts, their clothes just barely escaping the occasional splash of water carried by the wind. Gyungho stood between them, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable as he gazed out at the rain-soaked campus.
"Why didn't Taehyung bring the umbrella to you, Gyu brother?" Siwoo broke the silence, his tone laced with mocking curiosity.
Yejoon snickered, rubbing his hands together to fight the chill. "Maybe he's playing hard to get. You know how he isâacting all noble before crawling back."
Siwoo laughed, his grin widening. "I'll give him a week. Just one week, and he'll come running back, begging for your attention."
"A week?" Yejoon scoffed, shaking his head. "Too generous. I say give it two days. He'll cave. Always does."
The two burst into laughter, their voices cutting through the rain's symphony. Gyungho remained silent, his eyes fixed on the wet pavement ahead, but the faint tightening of his jaw betrayed his annoyance.
"Alright, alright," Gyungho finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a sharp edge. "Why are you two always targeting him? Can't you find someone else to toy with?"
Yejoon raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Gyu brother, you're too kind for your own good. Don't act like you don't feel uncomfortable around him too."
Siwoo, sensing an opening, chimed in, "Right, it's not like you actually want him around. Admit it, he's a bit... much."
Before Gyungho could reply, Siwoo's gaze shifted, his eyes narrowing. "Wait a second... Is that Taehyung?"
Both Yejoon and Siwoo leaned forward, their attention now drawn to the figures walking just beyond the rain's reach.
"Why is Jungkook with him?" Yejoon asked, his voice dropping an octave as he squinted to confirm what he was seeing.
Taehyung and Jungkook were strolling side by side, an umbrella shielding them from the rain. But what caught their attention wasn't the umbrellaâit was the way Taehyung's arm was linked with Jungkook's. The two seemed completely at ease, their laughter breaking through the rain's steady hum.
Siwoo's lips curled into a grin, but it was one of disbelief and intrigue. "Did he actually hook up with Jungkook?"
Yejoon, recovering from his surprise, let out a low chuckle. "Should we go and ask for an umbrella? Taehyung's so soft, he'd definitely hand it over."
Before they could act on their mischief, Gyungho's voice cut through their chatter like a blade.
"What umbrella?" he asked, his tone cold and clipped. His dark eyes remained fixed on the pair in the distance, his expression hardened. "Didn't you see? He's happy with his knight in shining armor."
Siwoo and Yejoon froze, exchanging wide-eyed glances. It was rareâunheard of, evenâfor their usually composed leader to show any emotion, let alone something so biting. The way he spat the last words made it clear: Gyungho wasn't amused by the sight before them.
"Gyu brother," Yejoon started hesitantly, but he was met with silence.
Siwoo leaned closer to Yejoon and whispered, "He's annoyed."
"No kidding," Yejoon muttered back, his gaze flicking nervously between Gyungho and the two figures disappearing into the distance.
The rain continued to pour, but the air around the shed had grown heavier, tension crackling like an unspoken storm waiting to break.