Chapter 37: 36.Mosquito

But just as they were lost in each other, the sound of hurried footsteps shattered their bubble of intimacy.

“Dadda! TaeTae!” Jaybum’s excited voice rang out, cutting through the haze of their passion with innocent glee.

Startled, Taehyung and Jungkook jerked apart, their breathing heavy and erratic.

Taehyung and Jungkook stood awkwardly in the pool, the water barely doing anything to cool the heat rising to their faces.

They kept their distance, stealing glances at each other but avoiding direct eye contact. The intense kiss they had just shared lingered in their minds, leaving them flustered and uncertain.

Jaybum suddenly appeared at the pool’s edge, his excited voice cutting through the silence. “You guys are playing without me! Wait, I’m coming in!” He was already preparing to jump when Taehyung raised his hands to stop him.

“No, no, Bum! Me and your dadda... we accidentally fell in!” Taehyung stammered, his voice slightly higher than usual. “You don’t need to join us. You’ll get sick.”

Jaybum pouted but stayed put. Hoseok entered the pool area moments later, taking in the sight of the drenched duo. “I’ve been calling you two for ages! Why didn’t either of you pick up?”

Taehyung and Jungkook both froze, their eyes darting to their phones lying on the poolside table. Taehyung’s mind flashed to the moment his phone had buzzed during their kiss.

He had tried to pull away to answer, but Jungkook’s firm grip and deepened kiss had made it impossible.

I...uh...we didn’t notice,” Jungkook managed to say as he got out of the pool.His voice unsteady as he avoided Hoseok’s knowing smirk.   Taehyung  came out of the eater too.

Before Hoseok could tease further, Jaybum pointed at Taehyung, his eyes wide.

“TaeTae! What happened to your neck?”

Taehyung’s hand shot up to cover the red mark Jungkook had left during their heated moment. His face burned with embarrassment, and he quickly turned away.

Jungkook quickly went aside drinking water to avoid the question.

“It’s nothing, Bum,” Hoseok cut in smoothly, a sly smile tugging at his lips. “Just a really big mosquito.”

Taehyung looked at Hoseok with a shock face, but the older man simply scooped up Jaybum, ignoring him entirely.

Jaybum tilted his head curiously. “A big mosquito? How big?”

“As big as your dadda,” Hoseok said with a grin, his teasing tone evident.

Jungkook choked , almost spitting out the water. His ears turned red as he avoided looking at both Hoseok and Taehyung.

Taehyung, desperate to change the subject, shifted his attention to Jaybum. But the little boy, still concerned, turned to him with a determined expression.

“TaeTae, don’t worry! I’ll fight the mosquito for you!” Jaybum exclaimed.

He paused dramatically before adding, “I’ll kill it away!”

Jungkook choked once more, this time doubling over as Taehyung’s face went even redder. Hoseok burst out laughing, clearly enjoying the chaos.

The atmosphere was thick with tension and unspoken emotions, but Hoseok’s laughter and Jaybum’s innocent bravery somehow lightened the mood.

To avoid more drama they all went back inside.

Sooner later Taehyung quickly changed into fresh clothes—once again, Jungkook's.

The oversized hoodie and sweatpants felt impossibly warm against his skin, though he couldn’t tell if it was from the fabric or the lingering memory of their earlier kiss.

His flushed cheeks betrayed his effort to compose himself as he tried to shake the thought away.

Standing in front of the mirror, Taehyung took a deep breath. *You’re fine. Act normal. It’s nothing.* But even as he repeated the words to himself, his mind kept replaying Jungkook’s intense gaze, the press of their lips, and the way his heart had raced like never before.

Once ready, he walked downstairs, only to freeze at the sight of Jungkook emerging from another hallway. Jungkook’s damp hair clung to his forehead as he towel-dried it, the loose black shirt he wore emphasizing his broad shoulders.

Their eyes met for a brief moment before Taehyung quickly looked away, his pulse quickening. He cursed his inability to act casual and awkwardly glanced at the door, desperate to leave before his reddened face gave him away.

Hoseok, seated on the couch and helping Jaybum with a painting, noticed the heavy tension in the air. The way Jungkook’s gaze lingered on Taehyung and how Taehyung refused to meet it didn’t escape him, but he chose to remain silent, hiding his smirk behind Jaybum’s artwork.

Taehyung cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “Uh... I’ll be heading out now,” he announced, his voice slightly shaky.

Jungkook straightened, he just nodded ,he couldn't voice out anything atleast not yet...

Hoseok stood up. “Wait, Taehyung. I’ll come with you. Let’s go together,” Hoseok said, his tone casual yet oddly knowing.

Taehyung nodded, grateful for the escape, and smiled briefly before stepping toward the door. Hoseok ruffled Jaybum’s hair and grabbed his coat, leaving Jungkook to stand in the middle of the room, watching them go.

As Taehyung slipped out of the house, he let out a long exhale, feeling the cool night air calm his racing heart. Hoseok walked beside him, a small, teasing grin playing on his lips.

Jungkook stood frozen in the living room for what felt like an eternity, his mind replaying the kiss.

The softness of Taehyung’s lips lingered on his own, the way their bodies had pressed together etched into his memory. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake the thought away, but a small thought tugged at the corners of his mind.

*Maybe… just maybe, he wouldn’t mind if it happened again,* he thought before quickly brushing the idea aside.

Shaking himself free from his daze, Jungkook scooped up Jaybum, who had grown drowsy from painting with Hoseok. “Alright, little one. Time for bed,” he murmured as Jaybum yawned, nestling closer to him.

After tucking Jaybum in and ensuring he was sound asleep, Jungkook found himself restless. Instead of heading to his room, he wandered to the guest room with the large balcony, needing the cool night air to clear his head.

The gentle breeze did little to calm his racing thoughts, though. His mind stubbornly lingered on Taehyung—his laughter, his teasing gaze, and, of course, the kiss.

That’s when Jungkook noticed something.

Draped over the back of a chair on the balcony was Taehyung’s shirt, left out to dry after their earlier time by the pool.

He approached it slowly, as if drawn by some invisible force. His fingers grazed the fabric, and he hesitated for a moment before lifting it.

Bringing the shirt closer, Jungkook inhaled deeply. Taehyung’s faint, distinct scent still clung to it, mingling slightly with his own.

It was intoxicating in a way that Jungkook couldn’t explain. For a brief moment, he closed his eyes, letting the scent calm him.

Taehyung had left a few clothes here before—forgotten in the chaos of babysitting Jaybum or during rushed mornings—but Jungkook had never returned them.

He had no reason, really, or at least none he could admit to himself....

With the shirt still in his hand, Jungkook left the balcony and headed to his own room.

He sat on the edge of his bed for a while, staring at the shirt as if it held some unspoken secret. Finally, he lay down, holding it close to his chest.

As he closed his eyes, the scent of Taehyung surrounded him, comforting in a way he didn’t fully understand. For the first time that night, his thoughts quieted,replaced by the warmth of imagining Taehyung’s presence. Sleep came easily, with Taehyung’s shirt still clutched tightly in his hands.

On the other hand Taehyung was so better.

As soon as Taehyung returned home, Yoongi greeted him with a quick offer for dinner, but Taehyung politely declined, muttering something about being full.

The truth was, he wasn’t hungry—his thoughts were far too occupied to focus on food.

He quickly retreated to his room, shutting the door behind him. The quiet of the space wrapped around him, but it did little to still his racing mind.

Jungkook’s face, his touch, and most of all, their kiss—everything replayed in vivid detail.

Taehyung sighed, shaking his head as if that would help dispel the memories, but it was futile.

To distract himself, he began removing his accessories. His watch, bracelets, and rings were all placed neatly in their spots inside the closet. Just as he was about to close the door, his eyes caught sight of a small box tucked into the corner. He hesitated before pulling it out, a faint smile already forming on his lips.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Taehyung carefully opened the box. Inside was a flower ring—slightly wilted and fragile, but still holding a certain charm. It was the ring Jungkook had made for him at the park, a simple yet cherished memory that made his heart ache in a way he couldn’t fully understand.

He brushed his fingers over the delicate petals, his smile soft and nostalgic. He didn’t know why he’d kept it—or why it felt so significant—but something about it compelled him to treasure it. With a quiet exhale, he placed the ring back into the box and set it in its usual spot, safe in the corner of his closet.

Moving to his bed, Taehyung paused.

He was still wearing Jungkook’s clothes, and for a brief moment, he considered changing. But the faint scent of Jungkook that clung to the fabric stopped him.

It was warm and strangely comforting, wrapping around him like an embrace he wasn’t ready to let go of.

Pulling the blanket over himself, Taehyung closed his eyes, hoping sleep would come quickly.

But instead, his mind betrayed him. The kiss replayed in perfect clarity—the feel of Jungkook’s hands gripping him tightly, the heat of their bodies pressed together, and the softness of Jungkook’s lips.

Flustered, Taehyung groaned and buried his face into the pillow, trying to smother his thoughts. But despite his embarrassment, his lips curved into a small smile, and his heart raced at the memory.

With the scent of Jungkook lingering and the warmth of his clothes surrounding him,

Taehyung slowly drifted off to sleep, his thoughts still tethered to the man who had completely unraveled him.