"Alright, Kim?"

Taehyung heaves a sigh, immediately recognizing the voice. Taehyung is currently on his way for his after-school track practice. His last class ended at three in the afternoon, fortunately, so he had almost two hours to rest in his apartment with the practice starting at five.

"Stop stalking me," Taehyung says and he can feel Jeongguk's presence somewhere behind him now. He hears a chuckle before he sees Jeongguk walking beside him in his periphery.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, i'm also going to the field," Jeongguk says and Taehyung can almost see the smirk on his face without actually looking at him.

Taehyung settles by not saying anything, remembering that Jeongguk is in fact in the track team as well. He curses under his breath knowing that he would be seeing the other three times a week now during their practices. Five times a week if he counts the weekend when they go to the local gym.

Surprisingly, they both make it to the field in one piece and without arguing with each other. Taehyung is grateful for this because ever since he got the animation project and got into the track team, he has been very busy and hasn't been getting enough rest to have the energy he needs every day. Arguing and fighting with Jeongguk is definitely not how he wants to use his energy for.

Their coach instructs them to start their warm-ups. Today, the plan is to run and measure their time to check whether they need more practice or if they are at the level they are expected to be. They will also have to talk about the rules and policies during the track meets and practices.

The order starts from the long distance runners to the short distance runners. Both Taehyung and Jeongguk runs in the short distance; Taehyung for the 100-meter sprints and Jeongguk for the 200-meter sprints.

The practice goes by uneventfully. Taehyung and Jeongguk kept their distance from each other to avoid causing problems and giving a bad first impression. After a brief speech and announcement about their first track meet next week, the coach finally dismisses them. Everyone groans from exhaustion but relieved that they're finally over for today as they all head back towards the changing room.

Taehyung wants nothing but to go home so he decided to take a shower back in his apartment instead. He removes his shirt, soaked in sweat, before grabbing a new one and putting it on. He tucks his thumb on the waistband of his shorts when he hears Jeongguk's voice again and he silently asks for strength from above to restrain himself from strangling the other right on the spot where he's currently standing, facing Taehyung with that smirk on his face again like it's his job to always look like that.

"Not sure if you were bluffing or actually doing your best out there in the field, Kim. I'd say I was quite disappointed," Jeongguk says, leaning over the lockers with his arms crossed over his chest, looking pleased when he earns a glare from Taehyung. His comment earned a few snickers from the other runners and Jeongguk looks all the more pleased with himself.

Taehyung admits though that he didn't do well like he usually does. He had felt so exhausted that despite being competitive, he still ended up slacking off and finished only as the third place, probably his worst result so far.

"But not as disappointing as your own result, isn't it?" Taehyung fires back, earning a scowl from Jeongguk and a few more laughs from the others who are watching them.

"Is that a challenge, Kim?" Jeongguk says, gritting his teeth. Taehyung allows himself to smirk this time.

"Always," Taehyung says, finally done from changing, though it was quite difficult when Jeongguk and a few other runners are looking at him because they attracted an audience. Jeongguk, thankfully, locked his eyes on Taehyung's face when Taehyung was pulling down his shorts and putting on a new one.

Jeongguk pushes himself off of the lockers, uncrossing his arms and finally walking away towards the shower room.

"Challenge accepted," Jeongguk says before stripping his shirt and his shorts, only leaving his boxers on, and stepping into the shower.

Taehyung have completely thrown himself into his school works and track that next thing he knows, the first two track meets are over and that he's almost finished with his animation project. He doesn't get the time to breathe though when one of his professors assigned an essay for them to write with several assigned pages to read and analyze off of their textbook. At least his next track meet is not happening anytime soon and their coach gave them a bit of a break for the next couple of days, meaning he won't have to worry about going to track practices.

With his busy schedule, Taehyung found himself not having enough free time once again to attend the gym, both the school and local gym. He has been aching to go because he feel a bit of guilt not being physically active and he doesn't feel truly complete without going to the gym on Fridays and the weekends. He also did not have much time to socialize unless talking to Jimin about leftovers and who's in charge of washing the dishes are considered socializing.

Now, Taehyung rests his forehead on his folded arms on top of his desk, his animation and essay fully forgotten. His head has been throbbing ever since he woke up past noon and he really did try to pull out the stuff he has to work on but his brain doesn't seem to cooperate and Taehyung is both frustrated and exhausted.

As if sensing it, Jimin immediately appears on his doorframe, his head peeking in and looking at Taehyung with raised brows.

"Go to the gym," Jimin says, after studying Taehyung's lifeless figure. Taehyung only grunts in question.

"It'll help you relax," Jimin explains briefly, his eyes softening. Taehyung is reminded once again why he kept Jimin close and it's because of how much the other knows him, probably knows him more than Taehyung knows himself sometimes.

After a bit of hesitation, and that is only because Taehyung is not sure if he have the energy to change out and walk to the gym, Taehyung finally decides that it's a good idea and Jimin is right. After all, Taehyung thinks he's more mentally exhausted than physically. He's tired but has enough energy to get himself to the gym and do a few of his routines.

Jimin quietly leaves his room and went back to his own room while Taehyung changes into his gym attire and grabbing his drawstring bag before heading out of the apartment with a shout to notify Jimin that he's leaving.

The school gym is much closer but Taehyung decided to take the longer walk to the local gym. After all, he owes Namjoon a visit after disappearing for a while.

When he gets there, he immediately spots Namjoon and a smile forms on his face. Taehyung and Namjoon have formed quite a friendship through seeing each other so often in the gym. Taehyung momentarily notes to himself to ask Namjoon to hang out somewhere other than the gym next time.

Namjoon positively beams when he sees Taehyung approaching, showing those pair of dimples that Taehyung came to adore.

"Tae!" Namjoon exclaims, walking towards him with his hands on his hips.

"Long time no see," Taehyung says before bumping Namjoon's fist.

"What have you been up to? I rarely see you and Jeon these days," Namjoon says and Taehyung visibly grimaces at the mention of his rival. Namjoon notices this and smiles in understanding, knowing well about their gym rivalry.

"School has been so deep in my ass lately," Taehyung says, sighing. Namjoon nods in sympathy. "Jeon and I have been busy with track lately too."

"Track?" Namjoon asks, furrowing his brows. "Since when do you guys go to the same school?"

Taehyung flinches at the memory of finding out that Jeongguk moved to his school and he almost can't believe how Jeongguk seems to be everywhere, as if following Taehyung to constantly taunt him.

"He just recently moved there," Taehyung explains. "It wasn't a good time for both of us, especially me."

Namjoon chuckles at the frown on Taehyung's face and pats him on his back.

"Come on, he's not that bad," Namjoon says and he was quick to avoid the lighthearted punch from Taehyung.

"Okay, okay," Namjoon says, holding up his hands as if in surrender while chuckling. "I'm not gonna keep you any longer. Go start your routines." Namjoon nods towards the gym equipments before going towards the front desk where he started playing with the computer.

Taehyung starts his warm up routine without wasting more time. At least now, Taehyung doesn't feel as exhausted as he felt earlier because of the familiar surge of adrenaline simply from just being in the gym. He feels more motivated but still feels the lack of energy within him.

After warming up, he hopped onto the treadmill, wanting to start it simple. He starts with an average pace as he gradually speeds up. When he's finished, he moved to the exercise bike.

He notices then how quiet it is, must be because it's late afternoon on Sunday and there aren't much visitors. He also decided to leave his earphones in his bag so he doesn't have music to fill in the silence. He doesn't mind this as much because he wants to focus on his breathing and calming his thoughts.

The silence doesn't last long though, to Taehyung's disappointment, when he hears a familiar voice.

"Well, well, look who we have here."

Taehyung grits his teeth in irritation, mostly because he's not pleased that Jeongguk is here and partly because he's too tired to deal with him.

"Shut up, Jeon," Taehyung mutters, earning a chuckle from the other. Taehyung sees him settle on the exercise bike beside him but he only remained to sit there, obviously just wants to rile Taehyung up.

"Come on, I haven't seen you in a while," Jeongguk says with a visible curl on his lips. "Let me have some fun."

Taehyung ignores him.

"How about a challenge?" Jeongguk presses on, leaning closer towards Taehyung to catch his eyes. Taehyung remains ignoring him. Usually, Taehyung would snap at the other by now but with his lack of energy, it's easier to remain silent during these times.

"Are you refusing my challenge? Kim is a coward now?" Jeongguk continues, his voice getting louder in that way that he knows Taehyung hates.

Taehyung could not ignore him any longer, not when Jeongguk is basically breathing down his neck and continues to taunt him like that.

Taehyung turns to face Jeongguk after shoving him away and making sure their faces are not close. He gives the other an exhausted look, hoping that he'll get his message across.

"Listen, just, leave me alone," Taehyung says, weakly. He sees something flicker in Jeongguk's eyes but it was gone before Taehyung could decipher what it was.

"At least just for today," Taehyung continues. "I'm really tired, Jeon."

Taehyung expects Jeongguk to laugh on his face and continue to get on his nerves like he always does even though Taehyung tells him not to. But to his surprise, Jeongguk remains silent, looking down on the ground for a few moments before getting up and walking away from Taehyung without saying anything. Taehyung was momentarily shocked before gathering himself again and directing his focus back on his workout, taking advantage of Jeongguk staying out of his way for once.

After several minutes, Taehyung wonders where Jeongguk have gone to. After Taehyung told him to leave him alone, Jeongguk seemed to have vanished from the gym. He only expected him to at least not talk to Taehyung and continue his own workout but it seems that Jeongguk have completely left him in the gym. This surprises Taehyung once again but he grins at the thought of making Jeongguk listen to him without question for once.

Deciding that he's done his workout and that he is feeling way more relaxed compared to when he just entered the gym earlier, he calls it a day. He went to grab his bag and take out the spare shirt he packed and changed his soaking shirt into a fresh one. He also takes a few gulps of his water before heading towards the front desk where Namjoon is still sitting, his eyes focused on the desktop in front of him.

Namjoon looks up when Taehyung approaches him and they exchanged smiles.

"Done for today?" Namjoon asks, turning his body slightly so he's facing Taehyung.

"Yeah, feeling much better too," Taehyung replies with another smile which Namjoon easily returns.

"Glad to hear that," Namjoon says. Taehyung was about to open his mouth to bid farewell when Namjoon suddenly holds up a finger in front of Taehyung, as if asking him to wait as he scrambles to get a cup of coffee underneath the desk. Taehyung watches the steam coming out of the hole on the lead of the cup.

"Almost forgot," Namjoon says, a mysterious smile on his face as if he knows something that Taehyung doesn't. Namjoon then hands the cup of coffee to Taehyung, who takes it tentatively with a questioning look on his face.

"What's this for?" Taehyung asks, holding up the cup in between them. Namjoon shrugs.

"You seemed tired so someone got it for you," Namjoon replies, a sheepish smile on his face. Taehyung blinks at him.

"Who?" Taehyung asks, already listing people on top of his head who could possibly give him this coffee.

"I'm not supposed to say but," Namjoon then looks at Taehyung with a glint in his eyes that Taehyung is very curious to know about. "Your boyfriend got it for you."

Taehyung immediately starts choking on his spit at this, almost dropping the cup of coffee in the process. He looks up at Namjoon, teary eyed from all the choking and Namjoon only laughs at him.

"Wait, who? Do you mean Jimin? But he didn't come today," Taehyung says. After all, Jimin is the only person who knows that Taehyung is tired and that he's in the gym right now. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time that Jimin is mistaken as Taehyung's boyfriend. In some of the people's eyes, Jimin and Taehyung acts more than friends and this leads to them into thinking that they are a couple.

Namjoon chuckles at this, still with the mysterious glint in his eyes as he gives Taehyung a smile.

"No, it's Jeongguk."