It's been over a week since the closet incident—yes, let's just call it that. Yet, Jungkook still feels the stranger's touch phantom over his body.

"Taehyung."

Shivers tremble down his spine, remembering that moment. Nothing else has happened since. Perhaps Jungkook really dropped the ball when he moanedTaehyung's name. But why? Jungkook has many questions: why did the note-writer up and leave?

Jungkook hasn't paid much attention to Soobin eating his lunch across from him. The table stays silent; only chattering from other tables fills the silence. Jungkook is too busy scrolling through his chat log with the note-writer. Should he send them a message?

Someone taps his shoulder, making him quickly shove his phone into his pocket.

"Gee, you don't have to worry about me prying into your messages," Jimin says, putting his lunch tray on the table.

"You—" Jungkook starts but is interrupted by Soobin choking.

"Sorry," Soobin apologises.

"You don't mind if I sit here?" Jimin asks, sliding next to Jungkook.

"No, not at all," Jungkook says, then looks at Soobin, expecting him to also say the same thing but is looking elsewhere instead.

"Thanks," Jimin says, stretching his fingers before picking up his cutlery. "Where's Taehyung? I thought he sits with you guys?"

Jungkook side eyes Jimin. Weird that Jimin takes notice of small things like that, but yes, it's true and perhaps common knowledge knowing that Taehyung and Jungkook are usually hip to hip. This week, however, not as much—another question Jungkook wants answers to.

"He has drama practice or whatever," Jungkook says.

Jimin raises a brow. "No, we don't."

"We?"

Jimin nods. "It's lunchtime. Why would drama class be rehearsing now?"

"But he told me—"

"Sounds like he's lying to you."

"But Taehyung never lies to me..." Jungkook scratches the back of his head. "Maybe he's with Naeun going over the script."

Jimin laughs. "Yeah, practising the romance scenes, if you know what I mean."

Jungkook frowns. It bothers him—everything bothers him now. Taehyung doesn't even like Naeun that way—he would never do that. Even when they went on those stupid fake dates. Or maybe Jungkook doesn't know Taehyung like he thought he did. His heart hurt when Taehyung offered to help him find the note-writer. He doesn't want it to be anyone else but Taehyung.

Jungkook sends a message to Taehyung asking where he is. He waits, but the reply he gets makes his heart sink further.

Taehyung:

Drama rehearsal

Jungkook:

Are you avoiding me?

"Cheer up," Jimin says, touching Jungkook's back. "Don't overthink it."

Jungkook purses his lips. "Why are you here?"

Jimin scoffs. "You don't want me here?"

"No, that's not what I meant. I mean—"

"I saw an empty spot and decided, hey, we've run into each other more than once now; maybe we should get acquainted properly," Jimin says, moving his hand up to Jungkook's shoulder and squeezing it.

Jimin then proceeds to pull out lip balm, lathering his lips. The red-tinted lip balm... Cherry? Jungkook gasps.

"What is it?" Jimin asks.

Soobin also looks over with curiosity.

"Is that cherry-flavoured?" Jungkook asks, feeling a little dumb for sounding a bit too interested in Jimin's lip balm.

Jimin smiles. "You like cherries? Wanna try?" He puckers his lips and teasingly points to them.

Jungkook's cheeks turn red like cherries. But, you know what? He will go for it. Jungkook turns to Jimin and leans in, quick enough to ensure he can't change his mind.

Their lips touch, and Jimin quickly backs away in shock. His hand lingers over where Jungkook kissed, trembling. "W-What— I didn't actually mean— I was only."

Jungkook remembers the kiss with the note-writer, but it's a blur like his brief kiss with Jimin erased the memory of the kiss before. "Sorry." Jungkook has no rational explanation for why he did what he did unless he exposes his rendezvous to everyone here.

"I didn't think you liked cherries that much to kiss me," Jimin says, his hand palming his nape awkwardly.

Soobin stands up. "I forgot I had to be somewhere." He leaves, leaving his food tray on the table.

"Soobin, wait—" But it's too late; Soobin is already gone.

"Well then." Jimin laughs awkwardly.

💌

The mood of Jungkook's next class makes Jungkook think about his impulsiveness, like why did he decide to kiss Jimin in the middle of a busy cafeteria?

The whispers and murmurs he hears fill Jungkook's gut with regret. He can't hear what they're saying clearly but can only assume the worst. Surely everyone knows about the kiss now—that's just how the school works. The one person he hopes doesn't find out is Taehyung.

Jungkook wonders what Taehyung's reaction will be.

So here's another list made out of pure despair.

List of ways Taehyung could react to Jungkook kissing Jimin:

No.1—continue to distance himself from Jungkook, which would send Jungkook into further turmoil. Jungkook is already struggling with the lack of clarity over why Taehyung always has an excuse to be elsewhere. What will happen if this becomes the new normal? Despair.

No.2—be disgusted. He can't imagine Taehyung reacting that way, but what if he did? Despair.

No.3—be jealous. An outcome Jungkook would favour; a secret desire. Perhaps one of the motives driving Jungkook to kiss Jimin. Does this make him a bad person?

No.4—Nothing. What if he just doesn't care at all? This might hurt Jungkook the most. What's worse than a reaction? Of course, none at all.

No.5—What if he just doesn't find out at all? Is this list all for nothing?

Jungkook looks at the chair next to him that's empty. Taehyung is meant to be here, but he's been preparing for the school play—even during class. Jungkook didn't know drama kids got special privileges and could skip class for rehearsals. It makes Jungkook feel lonelier. They don't even walk home together anymore.

He feels his phone buzz and opens the notification.

Taehyung:

Avoiding you? Why would I be doing that?

It's a reply to the message Taehyung left on read. Jungkook frowns. Is he really overthinking everything?

Jungkook:

Idk. We haven't spent much time together this week and usually we are always together...

Taehyung:

I'm sorry you feel that way 🥺 let's walk home together after school yeah? Maybe we can play video games

Jungkook slouches over the desk. Did he make everything awkward?

💌

It's not the same.

The weather is shit; overcast and gloomy. Not that Jungkook and Taehyung haven't walked home in shit weather before; it's just that the vibe isn't there. Something is off. Something is making the weather even more shit than it should be.

For one, they're barely talking. Small talk and brief comments. It might sound normal to some, but they never small talk—Jungkook hates small talk. He usually lets Taehyung do all the small talk in group situations.

Secondly, there's a noticeable distance between them. There's no accidental brushing of the arms that Jungkook looks forward to. This is just wrong. It's all wrong. Jungkook hates it.

"I'm sorry I've been so busy lately," Taehyung says, his hands in his pockets. "It's been a while since I've been passionate about something. I can't wait for you to see it all come together."

Jungkook doesn't want to see Taehyung get all chummy with Naeun on stage, but of course, he must be a supportive friend.

"However, it seems like you're not that interested in what I do lately," Taehyung says, his lips forming a pout.

Jungkook frowns. "What do you mean?"

"How's the note situation going?" Taehyung diverts.

"I haven't gotten one in over a week."

"Maybe they've given up."

Jungkook's heart drops. "Well, it's probably all a joke anyway."

Taehyung stops walking.

"What?" Jungkook turns, his brows furrowing.

"Why would it be a joke?" Taehyung sighs. "Why would someone do all that just for the shits and gigs?"

Jungkook's mouth gapes and then closes.

"Take the hint, Jungkook. Someone likes you." Taehyung starts walking again, leaving Jungkook scrambling in his thoughts.

"Why are you being like this?" Jungkook asks, trying to catch up to Taehyung.

"Sorry," Taehyung says, walking a little slower for Jungkook to catch up. "I just want you to value yourself a little more. It's hard watching you look so down all the time."

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't be." Taehyung sighs again. "Sorry for bringing the mood down."

Jungkook bites down on his lip and curls his fingers into his palm. "Can I ask you something?"

Their arms touch briefly before Taehyung says, "yeah."

Jungkook's original motive for all the love notes he wrote was to make Taehyung jealous, but perhaps that was just a coverup for a hidden reason in his subconscious—something that Jungkook was unaware of until now. In the end, all he wants is Taehyung's attention. Either way, Jungkook is curious; was it a success?

"What do you think of the notes?"

💌