“Where did that idiot asshole run off to?” Y/n muttered, balancing three bottles of brightly colored cruisers in her hands as she returned to Taehyung's side.

“He… went to talk to some girls. I don’t know where exactly.” Taehyung’s voice wavered, his tone unsure, almost apologetic.

“Figures,” Y/n sighed, shaking her head. She held out one of the bottles toward him. “Want one?”

Taehyung hesitated before shaking his head.

“You don’t want one? Or is it that someone else doesn’t want you to want one?” Y/n teased, her eyes narrowing playfully.

“I’ve never tried alcohol,” Taehyung admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes darted nervously around the room, the sheer number of people pressing in on his already frayed nerves. Y/n noticed the shift in his demeanor instantly.

Without a word, she grabbed his arm and guided him outside. The cool night air greeted them as they sat on the steps, away from the suffocating chaos. She unscrewed the cap of her bottle, took a sip, and handed it to him. “You can have a sip of mine if you’d like. You won’t get drunk off just one.”

He hesitated, the weight of a thousand unspoken rules bearing down on him. But for once, he wanted to break free, to feel a small sense of control over his own choices. Tentatively, he took the bottle and sipped the raspberry-flavored drink.

A spark of surprise lit up his face. “This… tastes better than I expected.” He handed the bottle back, shyly avoiding her gaze.

Y/n took another sip, her lips quivering into a soft smile. An indirect kiss.

“It’s alright at first,” she mused, staring into the endless darkness beyond. “But drink too much, and your stomach churns, your mouth feels gross, and the regret settles in. You get used to it eventually.”

She paused, her voice dropping into something softer. “You know… I like hanging out with you. We should do this more often.” Her eyes remained fixed on the distant night, afraid to meet him, afraid of rejection.

Taehyung’s heart stammered in his chest, unsure if it was the alcohol or her words that left him so disarmed. Could a sip intoxicate someone? Because Y/n’s presence felt potent enough. “I-I… yeah! Same!” His uncertain response made her chuckle, a sound that warmed the cool night air.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted, shoulders slumping. “I’m not good at this. I’m not used to people… caring.” His quiet confession struck a chord in Y/n’s chest.

Her heart ached to comfort him, but she held back, offering him space instead. “If you don’t want to hang out with me, just say so. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“No! That’s not what I meant!” Taehyung protested, his words tumbling out in a rush. “I do want to spend more time with you. I’m just… bad at expressing myself. I overthink everything, and you make me so nervous that my brain just—stops working.” He exhaled deeply, as if letting go of the weight he’d been carrying.

Y/n tilted her head, her lips quaking into a small, teasing smile. “That’s a lot to unpack.” She finished off her bottle and cracked open a fresh one. “You’re harder on yourself than you should be, you know. Sure, you’re not great at starting conversations, but you’re great at keeping them going. And I think it’s kind of cute when you get nervous.”

Taehyung blinked, her unexpected compliment pulling him from his spiral. “Oh.” A shy smile tugged at his lips. “Thanks. And, uh… you look beautiful tonight. Your dress, I mean. Well, you too. Both.” His rambling was cut short by the loud slam of the front door.

“Well, what do we have here?” Nayeon’s voice pierced the tranquil moment like a knife.

Y/n groaned audibly, not even bothering to turn around. “Great. What do you want, Nayeon?”

The blonde stumbled down the steps, a bottle in hand. “Just saying how adorable you two look,” she slurred, making exaggerated kissing noises.

“Are you drunk already?” Y/n asked, shooting a glance over her shoulder. “Go back inside, im yeowah.”

“It’s Nayeon!” the girl shrieked.

Y/n sighed. “Yeah, yeah. Nayeon Hill. Got it. Now leave.”

Nayeon huffed but stumbled back inside, leaving them alone again.

Taehyung’s voice broke the silence. “Let’s hang out tomorrow.”

“Like, to study?”

“No. A date,” he blurted, his cheeks flushing.

Y/n’s eyes widened briefly before a smile curved her lips. “Okay, then.” She stood and held out her hands. “Come on. Let’s find your friend before he causes more trouble.”

Taehyung hesitated before placing his hands in hers, marveling at how soft they felt. His chest fluttered, warmth spreading through him. Maybe he wasn’t drunk on alcohol, but whatever this was felt intoxicating enough.

---

“Did you two kiss?”

“How are you already drunk?”