(sorry this update is so late. i have a job now where i work from 9-6 and it makes me exhausted. i'll try to be better! enjoy x)

♥║ nineteen ║♥

Taehyung plops down beside Jungkook in the grass, a small piece of cake on his plate as the two watch the children argue over who gets to hit the piñata after Mina. The adults try to mediate, but no one can agree on youngest to oldest or shortest to tallest.

Jungkook picks at the blades of grass, a peaceful feeling circulating within him. Today may just be the best kid's party he's ever been to, including his own. Taehyung has managed to befriend every child and adult, and he even participated in the three-legged race per Mina's request that he be her partner. Taehyung later told Jungkook that Mina was trying to make her "boyfriend" and "fake friend" jealous. Is it sad his little sister has more drama in her life than he does?

Taehyung moans happily as he shoves cake into his mouth. "This is delicious. Did your mom make it?"

He nods. "S-she bakes a lot." His stuttering isn't as bad, but it's still there. He's really trying his hardest, but he can't control it no matter how hard he tries.

"Why aren't you having any?"

Jungkook shrugs. "I d-don't really like cake."

Taehyung's eyes widen. "Jungkook, that is sinful. Even if you don't like the cake, you have to at least enjoy the frosting."

"Frosting m-makes me nauseous. It's t-too sweet."

"This friendship may not last, I'm afraid. As a person with an enormous sweet tooth, I can only be around people that can relate."

Jungkook playfully shoves his shoulder, making Taehyung grin.

Almost like a sudden realization hits him, the grin fades instantly. "You haven't eaten anything today, have you?"

"I h-had breakfast," he lies.

Apparently, it's obvious. Taehyung pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, staring at Jungkook in concern. "If I get an extra slice of pizza, will you eat it?"

Jungkook frowns. "I'm f-fine."

"You can prove that to me by eating some pizza."

The two are interrupted by cheers as one of the boys busts the piñata, causing the children to get to their knees and scavenge the ground like vultures for candy.

Jungkook pulls his knees to his chest, resting his chin on them.

"You're okay, right?"

"I'm o-okay," he whispers.

"Pizza is here!" someone yells, gathering all the kid's attention. It was supposed to be here before they did the cake, but Mina couldn't be bothered to wait.

Jungkook tells Taehyung, "G-go get some."

Taehyung glances over at him, eats his last bite of cake, then gets to his feet and walks over. He comes back with two slices, holding the plate towards Jungkook for him to take one. Jungkook, unable to argue with the elder looking so concerned, sighs quietly and takes it. He really isn't hungry, but he's never really hungry. They had a big dinner last night to celebrate Mina's birthday, anyways.

"T-thank you for coming," Jungkook says softly before taking another bite of the pizza. It's easier to eat it since it tastes so good.

"Did you think I wouldn't?" Taehyung teases.

Jungkook shrugs.

Taehyung turns to him, and crosses his legs. "Jungkook, we should go somewhere after this. Like a movie, or even to the park."

Jungkook gives him a confused look.

Taehyung smiles, a light flush to his cheeks. "I don't want to leave you just yet. I mean, unless you're tired of my company and want me to leave..."

"As if I-I could be t-tired of you," Jungkook mumbles, a shy smile on his lips. "Okay. W-where do you w-want to go?"

"I don't care. We can just walk until we find something interesting."

So that's what they do. When Mina's party started to die down and guests starting leaving, Jungkook asked his mom if he could go see a movie with Taehyung and his friends. He felt too awkward to have her believe it would just be the two of them, but he thinks she believes that anyways with the look she gives him. She tells him not to be home too late, then gets distracted with Mina trying to steal another slice of cake.

The two walk for a while, going back and forth between suggestions, ranging from an ice cream parlor to a trip through a children's toy store. They actually do step into the toy store, but the way Taehyung's eyes had widened in awe made Jungkook nudge him right back out. He doesn't have money to buy Taehyung anything, or else he would've let the elder indulge his kid side to his heart's content.

Both boys get excited when they near a bowling alley, though, so it's easily decided that that's how they'll spend the rest of the evening. Jungkook finds out two things about Taehyung throughout this adventure:

For one, he can't bowl for shit.

And secondly, Taehyung likes to sing and dance obnoxiously in public.

It's like being with Jimin in the mall all over again, except twelve times worse. The thing about Taehyung is his socialization, which makes it indescribably easy for him to get half of the bowling alley singing horribly and dancing with no rhythm. Jungkook has never seen anything like it. It's almost like it's a scene from a musical except no one can follow the script.

Jungkook gets a strike his next go, which causes Taehyung to call him a cheater and yet somehow simultaneously congratulate him.

"Oh!" Taehyung suddenly shouts, pausing in the middle of his throw. "I don't know what this song is but I like it." He swings his hips around in a slow, exaggerated motion.

Jungkook laughs. "Just bowl already, would you?"

"Come on, Kookie," Taehyung teases, setting the bowling ball back in place. He grabs Jungkook's hips, trying to force them in a big circle. "You have to try."

Jungkook gently flicks Taehyung's nose, causing the older to yelp. "I don't want to dance," he says, but he's still chuckling. "You just don't want to lose."

"You're right. My ego will be severely wounded."

"It needs some damaging."

Taehyung places a hand on his chest in mock hurt. "My ego is a good size, thank you."

Jungkook gives him a look. "You're making it weird now."

"Am I making it weird or are you taking things the wrong way? It's all about context, Kookie."

"Do you need me to bowl for you?" Jungkook mocks. "You even have the bumpers up!"

"Shhhh. Don't expose me so outright."

"Everyone can already see, brilliance."

"Where is my respect, young child?"

"Everyone can already see, you overly 'expressive' hyung."

"Thank you. That's more like it." Taehyung picks the ball back up. "Watch closely, grasshopper."

Jungkook is grinning so widely his cheeks ache.

Despite having the bumpers up, Taehyung still manages to miss every single pin. Jungkook leans over in hysterical laughter since Taehyung is trying to play it off as if missing the pins is the point.

"I bet you've never seen it done before," he remarks.

Jungkook can't remember ever laughing so hard. It may not even be very funny, but he keeps giggling despite his laughter quieting down. He doesn't know why. He's just really happy right now. Really happy.

When he composes himself, he realizes Taehyung is staring at him with that boxy smile of his. Instantly, Jungkook becomes self-conscious, his smile turning sheepish as he looks down to his toes. Taehyung's shoes come into view shortly after, and when Jungkook looks up, his breath catches in his throat at how close the elder is. If he leaned just the slightest bit forwards, their noses could be touching.

"The game is over," Taehyung says in a low voice, nearly inaudible. "You won."

Jungkook averts his gaze, chuckling nervously. "S-sorry?"

"Do you still want that ice cream?"

Taehyung's blank expression is confusing Jungkook after the bright smile he saw only moments ago. "Uh, s-sure." He has little cash on him, but it should be enough for an ice cream.

Taehyung surprises Jungkook when he grabs the younger's hand, lacing their fingers together as if it's the most natural thing in the world. As if the two aren't in public where two boys being together romantically is shunned and disgusting. He keeps his eyes on the floor, his face red, too scared to look up in case everyone is staring at them. He can hear the hustle of the bowling alley, and no one should be paying them any mind since Taehyung stopped encouraging a party, but still...

Taehyung doesn't let go of Jungkook's hand. Jungkook likes it. He loves it, actually, but he's worried about the passersby on the street. He catches one male giving their locked hands an incredulous look, making a scoff sound. Taehyung ignores him, but Jungkook's gut churns. His hands start sweating.

Taehyung doesn't deserve such looks.

Jungkook bites the inside of his cheek and tugs his hand away, already hating the lack of contact but he feels less shameful with his hands at his sides. Less guilty.

Taehyung doesn't hide the hurt look on his face, but he doesn't say anything and shoves his hands into his pockets, still walking silently. Jungkook wishes he would say something. He doesn't know what he did back at the bowling alley to have Taehyung acting so strange, so out of character.

The parlor isn't too far from the bowling alley, which Jungkook is thankful of since it interrupts the odd silence between them. Taehyung ends up paying for Jungkook, but Jungkook tucks his little bit of cash into the older's hand when he hands him the ice cream. Taehyung frowns, but Jungkook walks towards a table before Taehyung can hand it back.

"Jungkook," Taehyung calls. "I was thinking we could eat in the park instead."

"Oh, o-okay." Jungkook nods, following the boy back out onto the sidewalk. He distracts himself by eating his sundae, but he eats it too quickly and gives himself a headache. He keeps quiet about it so Taehyung doesn't notice.

After arriving at the park a few minutes later, the two find a bench near the little pond that sits in the middle of the area, lily pads practically covering the entire surface. Jungkook shovels more ice cream in his mouth, trying to distract himself from this eerie feeling between them. He doesn't understand how Taehyung's mood had shifted so quickly, so seamlessly. Did he do something wrong by accident?

Unable to stand it, Jungkook forces his mouth to open, forces words to come out. "A-are you mad t-that I won?"

Taehyung laughs, a relieving sound after the atmosphere had been so tense. "Of course not. I'm terrible at bowling. I expected to lose." He sighs, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, his ice cream nearly gone. It seems both of them were trying to compensate the quiet by eating. "I'm not mad at anything, especially not you, Jungkook."

Jungkook frowns. "I f-feel like I did s-something wrong."

"You did."

His eyes widen and he nearly drops his ice cream, looking over at Taehyung in a panic. He knew it. He always messes up anything good in his life. This isn't a surprise so much as disappointment in himself. "W-what did I do?"

Taehyung doesn't look over at him, instead chewing on his bottom lip as he stares at the pond ahead of them. "It's not important. Don't worry yourself over it."

Jungkook blinks at the boy. How is he not supposed to worry about something he did wrong? What if he's hurt Taehyung's feelings somehow and the older is too nice to tell him? He doesn't want to make the same mistake again.

Taehyung suddenly stands, setting down his near-empty foam ice cream bowl on the bench. He walks over to the swingset a short distance away, plopping down on one of them. Jungkook naturally follows, but he lingers by the pole of the swing rather than getting on one himself. He watches Taehyung close his eyes and look up at the sky. The weird feeling between them has shifted into more of tranquility, no desire for words to be exchanged.

He doesn't know what takes over him, but he moves behind the older, gently pushing him by his lower back. Taehyung looks so beautiful with the setting sun highlighting his tan skin, a content smile on his lips. Jungkook has never been more in awe by a person.

By anything.

He wishes he had his camera. It's such a perfect moment with the perfect art to capture.

Taehyung breaks the silence while Jungkook continues to push him softly. "Jungkook-ah... have you ever thought you were meant to be born as someone else?"

Jungkook purses his lips. He hasn't. He's thought before that he was never supposed to be born, but never once did he think he should've been someone else. More like he should've just never existed. "No," he murmurs. "I'm guessing you have, though."

Taehyung puts his feet in the dirt, halting the swing. He spins around towards Jungkook, the chains of the swing twisting. Taehyung sets his chin on the spot they overlap. He looks like such a child when he does that, peeking up at Jungkook with almost puppy-dog eyes.

"I just think about all the people I could've turned out like. The person my mom would've wanted me as, for instance: straight, in a serious relationship thinking about marriage, thinking about college, into things more practical than art. Haven't you ever wondered what made you turn out the way you are now? It could've been something as small as someone saying 'thank you' when you held the door open for them, or something as big as a family member getting sick. But even with all of that, you still could've been someone different. A different version of who you are now."

Jungkook stares at Taehyung, a bit taken aback by how much thought he's seemed to have given this particular subject. Is this why the boy had gone so silent and strange?

Taehyung notices the look Jungkook is giving him and smiles, his cheeks squishing against the chains. "I just scared the shit out of you, didn't I?"

"No," Jungkook says quickly. "I actually... I admire the way you think. It shows how smart you are. I could never think of something so deeply..."

"Are you indirectly calling yourself stupid? Don't you make straight A's?" Taehyung clicks his tongue. "I don't consider myself smart. I just overthink a lot, all the time."

"I overthink, but in a different way," Jungkook mumbles.

"Everyone overthinks in their own way," Taehyung says. "That's why it's important to have people around you that'll listen."

Jungkook never had one of those people; not until now.