Chapter 2: A Meeting That Changes Everything

Taeko followed the directions Jungkook had given him to the art wing, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn’t just looking for Taehyung—he was looking for the man who would one day become his father’s husband, his own mother.

As he approached the spacious studio, he heard the sound of laughter and a soft, melodic voice explaining something passionately. Peeking inside, Taeko saw a tall boy standing near a mannequin draped in a half-finished garment.

“Alright, everyone, I need honest opinions!” the boy said, clapping his hands together dramatically. His chestnut hair fell across his forehead, and his expressive eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “Does this say bold and innovative, or am I just losing my touch?”

The small group of students around him chuckled, throwing out compliments.

“Taehyung,” Taeko whispered, his lips curling into a small smile.

Gathering his courage, he stepped into the room. “Excuse me… are you Taehyung?”

The boy turned to him with a bright, welcoming smile. “That’s me! And you are?”

“I... I’m new here,” Taeko lied smoothly, extending his hand. “My name’s Taeko.”

“Welcome, Taeko!” Taehyung shook his hand warmly. “What brings you to my little corner of creativity?”

Taeko glanced at the garment on the mannequin, its intricate details catching his eye. “Your designs… they’re incredible.”

Taehyung’s eyes lit up, and he placed a hand on his chest dramatically. “Ah, a man of taste! You, sir, are my new favorite person.”

Taeko chuckled softly, but his focus quickly shifted. He needed to steer the conversation. “Actually, I ran into someone who mentioned you earlier.”

“Oh?” Taehyung tilted his head. “Who?”

“Uh… Jungkook,” Taeko said cautiously, gauging Taehyung’s reaction.

The smile on Taehyung’s face faltered ever so slightly, but he quickly recovered. “Ah, Jeon Jungkook. Mr. Perfectionist himself. Let me guess, he probably said I was annoying or something?”

Taeko hesitated before nodding. “Something like that.”

Taehyung laughed, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Well, that’s Jungkook for you. Always so serious, always so… cold.”

“Do you… dislike him?” Taeko asked carefully.

Taehyung blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Dislike? No. He’s just… difficult to understand. But I guess that’s part of his charm, isn’t it?”

---

As Taeko left the art wing, his mind raced. His first meeting with Taehyung had gone well, but he could already see the challenge ahead.

“This is going to be harder than I thought,” he muttered. “They’re so different. How am I supposed to make them fall in love?”

---

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Jungkook leaned against a tree, staring up at the sky. His mind wandered back to the strange boy who had approached him earlier.

“Taehyung…” he muttered under his breath, frowning.

For some reason, the idea of Taeko talking to Taehyung didn’t sit well with him.

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