Chapter 4: The First Step

The next day, Taehyung and Jungkook were reluctantly seated in the student council room, papers spread out before them. The air was tense, and Taeko watched from a distance, a smirk on his face.

“This is going to be entertaining,” he muttered under his breath.

Jungkook, arms crossed and face stoic, stared at Taehyung, who was doodling on the edge of a notebook.

“Can we take this seriously?” Jungkook asked sharply, his tone cutting through the silence.

Taehyung rolled his eyes, tapping the pen against the table. “Relax, Mr. Serious. Creativity takes time.”

Jungkook sighed, visibly frustrated. “It’s not creativity we need. We need a plan. A budget. A list of tasks. You’re wasting time.”

“Wasting time?” Taehyung shot back, leaning forward with a challenging glint in his eyes. “I’m the one who’s going to make this event memorable. You’re just here to crunch numbers.”

“Exactly,” Jungkook snapped. “Numbers are what keep the event organized. Not your… wild ideas.”

Taehyung smirked. “Wild ideas are what make events worth attending, Jeon.”

Taeko decided to step in before the two could escalate further. “Okay, okay, let’s take a breath!” He walked between them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. “You’re both right. We need organization and creativity.”

Both Jungkook and Taehyung looked at him, startled by his boldness.

Taehyung chuckled softly. “You’re braver than you look, kid.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Taeko replied with a grin. “Now, why don’t we start by brainstorming themes? Taehyung, you’re great at thinking outside the box. Jungkook, you can help refine the ideas into something practical.”

Jungkook’s frown softened slightly as he nodded. “Fine.”

Taehyung shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. “Whatever you say, little boss.”

---

Two Hours Later

Surprisingly, the brainstorming session began to flow smoothly. Taehyung’s energy was infectious, and even Jungkook couldn’t help but get drawn in as they discussed ideas for the charity event.

“What about a masquerade ball?” Taehyung suggested, sketching on a piece of paper. “It’s elegant, mysterious, and perfect for fundraising.”

Jungkook considered the idea, his analytical mind already calculating the logistics. “It could work. We’d need to rent a venue, hire a caterer, and set up ticket sales in advance.”

“See? Teamwork!” Taeko interjected with a grin.

Taehyung gave Jungkook a teasing smile. “Admit it, Jeon. You’re impressed.”

Jungkook glanced at him, his expression unreadable. “It’s… acceptable.”

Taehyung laughed, leaning back in his chair. “I’ll take that as high praise coming from you.”

For a brief moment, Taeko saw something in Jungkook’s eyes—curiosity, perhaps? It was fleeting, but it gave him hope.

---

Later That Evening

Taehyung was walking home when he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw Jungkook approaching, his hands in his pockets.

“Jeon? What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to ask you something,” Jungkook said, his tone more neutral than usual.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s new. Go ahead.”

Jungkook hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Why are you so… carefree about everything? Don’t you worry about your future?”

Taehyung blinked, caught off guard by the question. He chuckled softly. “Of course, I do. But worrying doesn’t help. I believe in working hard and trusting the process. Life’s too short to stress over every little thing.”

Jungkook frowned slightly, as if processing Taehyung’s words. “That’s… irresponsible.”

“Or maybe it’s just living,” Taehyung countered with a smirk. “You should try it sometime, Jeon. Let go of all that tension you’re carrying.”

Jungkook didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on Taehyung.

“What?” Taehyung asked, tilting his head.

“Nothing,” Jungkook said quickly, looking away. “Forget I asked.”

Taehyung watched him walk away, a thoughtful expression on his face. “He’s not as cold as he pretends to be,” he murmured.