As they walked together under the shared umbrella, the rain continued its soft drumming, creating a quiet symphony that filled the spaces between their conversation. Taehyung's gaze wandered to Jungkook's shoulder, where droplets of rain were soaking through his jacket. His brow furrowed with concern.
"Jungkook," Taehyung said softly, tilting his head to get a better view. "I think the umbrella is tilted too much toward me. Your shoulder's getting wet."
He reached up, gently angling the umbrella more toward Jungkook, but the latter immediately pushed it back.
"I just hope you won't get wet," Jungkook replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The simple statement caused Taehyung to pause. A realization struck him, as gentle yet profound as the raindrops around them.
It turns out the only person who has truly cared about me, whether in reality or even in my dreams, has always been Jungkook.
The thought stirred something deep within him. His chest tightened, and before he could stop himself, tears welled up in his eyes. He turned his head forward, trying to blink them away before Jungkook noticed, but it was too late.
"Tae Bear, are you okay?" Jungkook asked, his voice tinged with worry. He leaned in slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of Taehyung's face.
Taehyung shook his head quickly, brushing at his cheeks. "It's nothing," he murmured, his voice wavering slightly.
Jungkook frowned, unconvinced. "Did that Gyu guy bother you again? If he did, just tell me. I swear, I'llâ"
"No one bullied me," Taehyung interrupted, forcing a weak smile as he wiped his tears more thoroughly.
Jungkook's jaw tightened as his frustration bubbled to the surface. "You've cried too much because of him already," he said, his tone sharper than he intended. "And you still care about him? Seriously, how much do you even like him?"
Taehyung froze at the question, his heart pounding in his chest. Slowly, he turned to look at Jungkook, shaking his head with determination.
"I don't like him anymore," he said softly, but there was a weight to his words that made Jungkook blink in surprise.
"What did you say?" Jungkook asked, his voice almost disbelieving.
Taehyung met his gaze directly this time, his eyes resolute. "I don't like Gyungho anymore."
For a moment, Jungkook stared at him, the rain forgotten, as the words sank in. Then, a small smile of relief broke across his faceâa smile so genuine it could have rivaled the sun piercing through the clouds.
"Congratulations," Jungkook said, his voice teasing but warm, "on finally opening your eyes."
Taehyung frowned playfully at the jab, reaching out to pinch Jungkook's arm. "You're so annoying," he muttered, but Jungkook only laughed, the sound rich and carefree, echoing in the rain.
What Taehyung didn't notice was the way Jungkook's relief ran deeper than his teasing tone let on. Beneath his playful demeanor, Jungkook's heart was lighter than it had been in years.
Congratulations to me, too, Jungkook thought silently, stealing a glance at Taehyung's face. Because I've been waiting for this moment for so long.
________
They finally reached the dorm building, the rain still gently falling around them. The warm glow of the building's lights reflected in the puddles, creating a serene atmosphere. Taehyung stepped under the shelter of the entryway, turning to face Jungkook, who was still holding the umbrella over both of them.
Jungkook tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into a soft smile. "There's a basketball game tomorrow," he said casually, though there was a hint of expectation in his tone. "Make sure to come and watch me."
Taehyung chuckled, his own smile lighting up his face. He nodded firmly. "Okay. I'll be there."
The simplicity of his answer seemed to please Jungkook, whose grin widened. For a moment, neither of them moved, the sound of rain filling the silence as they stood there, sharing a quiet but significant exchange.
"Goodnight, Tae Bear," Jungkook said finally, his voice gentle.
"Goodnight, Ggukie," Taehyung replied, giving him one last smile before turning and heading inside the building.
Jungkook stayed where he was, watching Taehyung disappear through the doors. His smile softened, and he let out a small, content sigh. Twirling the umbrella in his hand, he murmured under his breath, "See you tomorrow, Tae."
With that, Jungkook turned and walked away, the umbrella shielding him from the rain as he disappeared into the distance, a trace of warmth still lingering in the air from their shared moment.
___
Taehyung stepped into his dorm room quietly, careful not to wake Jimin, who was already fast asleep, sprawled out on his bed with a blanket half-draped over him. The rhythmic sound of Jimin's soft breathing filled the room, a calming backdrop to the storm still raging outside.
Taehyung set his bag down and made his way to his study desk. Sitting down, he let out a long sigh, his mind still swirling with the events of the day. As his gaze wandered, it fell upon a book tucked in the corner of the deskâa book he had created specifically for his feelings toward Gyungho. A book filled with memories, sketches, and little notes he had once thought were special.
He hesitated before pulling it closer. Slowly, he opened the pages, his fingers brushing against the edges of the carefully preserved mementos. A single polaroid photo slipped out from between the pages, landing on the desk.
The picture was of him and Gyungho, a candid shot Jimin had secretly taken during one of Taehyung's earlier, more hopeful days. It was the day he had sent a lunchbox to Gyungho for the first time, a moment he had once treasured deeply. In the photo, Taehyung was smiling shyly, standing next to Gyungho, who barely acknowledged the camera with an indifferent expression.
Taehyung picked up the photograph, staring at it with a mix of sadness and disbelief. How could I have been so blind? The thought echoed in his mind as he let out a bitter chuckle.
"Liking him has always been my mistake," Taehyung whispered to himself, his voice steady despite the ache in his chest. "It only took a moment for me to give up on this crush."
Without another thought, Taehyung folded the photo in half, the crease cutting through the image like a clean line of resolve. Then, he tore it into small pieces, the fragments falling onto his desk like confetti. He gathered them into his palm and dropped them into the trash bin along with the book. It landed with a dull thud, a fitting end to something that had weighed him down for far too long.
Turning back to his desk, he reached for his phone. Scrolling through his social media, he found Gyungho's profiles and, with unwavering determination, blocked him from every platform. Each tap of the screen felt like shedding a layer of unnecessary burden.
When he finally set his phone down, a strange yet comforting calm washed over him. He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment as a soft smile crept onto his lips.
"For the first time," he thought, "I feel... free."
The rain continued its gentle rhythm against the window, but to Taehyung, it no longer sounded melancholic. It was a soothing melody, marking the start of something new.