Time began to pass, and Jungkook found himself slowly spending less and less time with Taehyung. And more time with Jimin.

He sat on the rooftop. Jimin and his friends sat beside him as they began eating their lunch.

"You really need to quit hanging with that Taehyung guy, he's not as normal as he makes you think," Jimin stated, biting into his apple slice.

Jungkook looked up from his sandwich and stared at his group of friends. Ever since he met Jimin, his other friends had accepted him into their group as well. There were Jimin and Namjoon...

and Hoseok, but he was a bit too loud for Jungkook's liking.

"What makes you say that hyung?" Jungkook asked.

Jimin shrugged, "I've known him longer than you have. And he isn't what he says he is." He looked up at the younger, wearing a mask that hid mischief and evil. "Trust me, you don't wanna be hanging around with a homo."

"Those types of people get bullied around here. We don't want you getting the same treatment." Namjoon said, his voice was soft but held the tiniest bit of sadness that no one could pick up.

Hoseok nodded, staring at the food on his lap. "Besides, Taehyung's a nerd and you're a lot cooler than he is. No one's friends with Taehyung and it's obvious why."

In all honesty, Jungkook didn't want to stop being friends with Taehyung. Taehyung was nice to him, but so was Jimin.

He didn't want to get bullied again or have people ignore him like the other schools. Maybe this was his chance to lead a normal life. Losing one friend isn't that bad when you gain 3 others.

His aunt told him that life is a game of losing and gaining. So maybe this was just how it was supposed to be? Who was he to disobey the rules of the game of life?

So that's what he did.

"Hey, Jungkook!" Taehyung giggled, skipping over to the younger's locker. He peeked his head out from behind the door and watched as Jungkook gathered his things to leave for home. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to hang out in my backyard, we have a swing set and everything! And maybe you can even stay for dinner. Your auntie wouldn't mind right?"

Jungkook faced the bubbling boy in front of him. There was a small pain shooting through his chest when he looked into Taehyung's eyes and how they were almost shimmering with hope. They were glistening like clear lake waters, and Jungkook couldn't help but think, maybe he was Taehyung's first friend too.

He shook his head and watched as Taehyung's shoulders dropped slightly.

Taehyung nodded slowly, usually,y Jungkook always hung out with him. Maybe he had something else to do today. "Uh, okay. How about tomorrow? It's a Saturday, and we always hang on Saturdays."

"No. Taehyung, I-" Jungkook stopped, maybe this wasn't the right thing to do. But he didn't want to lose three friends just because he wants to keep one. Hopefully, Taehyung could find some other new kid to hang out with. "Taehyung, I don't hang out with homos."

The pain in his chest rippled as he saw the colour drain from Taehyung's face and the shimmer in his eyes die quickly. He could hear Taehyung's voice breaking, and every crack in his voice etched one into Jungkook's heart. "My mom said being a homo is a good thing, that it means happy. It doesn't mean that does it?"

Jungkook shook his head, closing his locker and throwing his backpack around his shoulders. Looking back on it, he felt nauseated by the fact that something like this could even come out of his mouth.

"It means disgusting."

The shimmer of happiness in Taehyung's eyes replaced itself with glistening tears as he watched Jungkook walk towards the school doors, the light blinded him slightly as he looked after the only person he's ever been close to simply just... walk out on him.

Jungkook stood outside, the cool air nipped at his skin. He walked towards his home and during that walk, he forced the events that happened just 5 minutes ago out of his mind.

Almost a week after the talk they had, Taehyung had stopped coming to school, the filled the empty desk with a new student and soon enough any trace of Taehyung ever being there had been erased. The locker was cleaned and repainted, and it made Jungkook wonder how many times that locker had to be redone to cover all the nasty words that littered them.

Taehyung was erased from the minds of every student. Including Jungkook.

Jungkook sat in his bed, the ropes around his arms and legs still as tight as they were before. He looked around, his shoulders felt heavy despite them being held up by the rope around his wrists.

Jungkook leaned his head back and took a deep breath before opening his eyes again. He realized what was happening now, why it was happening. Oddly, knowing V was the Taehyung from his past made him feel a lot safer than before, but he also felt more guilty than he had before.

Who knew one decision could have led to the deaths of 7 people? How different would it be if Jungkook hadn't had lunch with Jimin at all? Something told Jungkook that he would've liked the other outcome way better.

Jungkook kept his eyes closed, despite hearing the faint footsteps enter his room and the weight of the left side of the bed deepen. He knew who it was and he felt safe nonetheless.

"Do you know who I am now Jungkook?"

He looked to his left side and watched Taehyung's shoulder move up and down slowly as he took in each breath.

Jungkook nodded, though he knew Taehyung couldn't see him. "I do, and I'm sorry-"

"So then why'd you do it? I know you didn't just say all that because you actually found me disgusting. You didn't even know what homo meant at the time either." Taehyung moved his leg onto the bed and faced the boy in front of him. "So why did you leave me alone like that."

In that very moment, Jungkook saw the exact glisten of sadness he had seen in Taehyung's eyes all the way back then. It was like the Taehyung he broke all those years ago was staring right back at him. It was the same slump in his shoulders, the same crease in his forehead, and the same pout in his lips.

"I was fucked up back then, you know that. You know what happened to me Tae. I didn't understand anyone, and I didn't care. If I knew it would lead to all this I would've stayed with you, if I was able to find you again I would have. But you left so soon I-"

Taehyung stood up, walking towards the door and slammed it in a fiery rage. He didn't want to hurt Jungkook just because he was mad, so he'd take his anger out on anything else except the boy on the bed.

"That doesn't answer my fucking question Jungkook! Why?! Why would you say that?" Taehgung's voice softened at the end and truthfully he couldn't stay mad at him.

"I thought it was easier to lose one friend if I gained three more. That one person wasn't worth three of them. But I know you're worth so much more than that. If I had known this all wouldn't have happened." Jungkook said he could feel the small sting in his eyes as his vision became slightly blurred.

Jungkook flinched as Taehyung raced towards him, towering over him on the bed. He could feel Taehyung's breath on his face while he spoke. "People are not fucking accessories that you can trade off Jungkook. We're not something that can lose its value over time. We are not something you can trade for something more valuable. I was a fucking person and you broke me, and now you're the only one that can fix me."

Taehyung looked at the tears that flowed down Jungkook's face, etching themselves into his skin. He shook his head, disappointed in himself. "I know, and I'm so sorry. Just please forgive me."

Taehyung smirked slightly, rubbing Jungkook's tears away with his thumb. He kissed the boy's forehead before looking back at him with soft eyes. He leaned towards Jungkook's ears.

The hairs on the back of Jungkook's neck stood up as Taehyung's next words came from his mouth.

"I'm gonna have to punish you first."

Taehyung stood from the bed and smirked wider at the look on Jungkook's face.

"And luckily, " Taehyung walked out of the room before returning with a purple satin box in his hands.

He set it on the edge of the bed and stared at Jungkook as he slowly removed his shirt from his body. He opened the box and revealed its contents and Jungkook could practically feel the blood rush to something that wasn't his head. "Your friends left some presents for us."

~~~~~~

Y'all I have school tomorrow and my sleep schedule is absolute shit. I literally woke up at 12:00 pm today. Someone help!!!
Anyways, I'm in the 10th grade. What grade/year are y'all in?

-Hannah

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