♥║ sixteen ║♥

Taehyung waits, a bit anxiously, outside the cafeteria. Part of him thinks Jungkook will be brave and come while the other part thinks he'll get too intimidated and bail. He's fine with either, if he's honest, though the former is much more preferable. He understands anxiety, and that everyone is different with how much they can handle. His father told him a story of how Taehyung's mother used to be so self-conscious of her voice after being picked on in school that she was mute all her teenage years.

Hard for Taehyung to believe, since all his mother does now is talk about her favorite dramas and which characters make the cutest couple.

As Seokjin and Namjoon walk by, Seokjin gives Taehyung a tiny smirk. "We won't embarrass him too much, I promise."

Taehyung points a finger at him. "I'm serious, Seokjin. If he comes, it'll be a big deal for him so I don't want any of you screwing it up."

Namjoon laughs, nudging Seokjin. "Look how worked up he got."

Seokjin nods, beaming. "It's so pure."

Taehyung glares at the both of them as they wave cutely before going inside. He sighs, leaning back against the wall, closing his eyes. He just wishes Jungkook was as comfortable talking to him in person as he is over the phone.

"Hyung?"

Taehyung jumps, his eyes immediately opening at the sound of Jungkook's soft voice. He looks at the boy in front of him, practically his height and yet he seems so small.

"Hi," Tae says with a grin. "You came."

Jungkook nods, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"I'm glad. Anyways, I think everyone is already inside. Are you hungry?" He opens the cafeteria doors, letting Jungkook go in first.

"Oh, n-no, I'm okay. Thank y-you, though."

He leads Jungkook over to their designated table, the group already throwing stale crackers at each other. He gives Hoseok a look when the older makes eye contact with him, but Hoseok merely grins and chunks a cracker at him, hitting him in the chin. Naturally, Taehyung attacks, taking the plastic fork on the boy's tray and smacking him repeatedly in the forehead with it.

"Ya! Stop it, I'm sorry!" Hoseok yells but he's laughing.

Jimin brings Taehyung back to reality when he says, "Oh, hey, Jungkook!"

Taehyung instantly straightens, his cheeks flushing. "Sorry," he murmurs to Jungkook. "Jungkook, this is Seokjin, Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok. I don't recommend being friends with any of them."

Another cracker hits the side of Taehyung's neck.

"Joon, stop encouraging them!" Seokjin snaps, hitting the other's arm. Then he smiles kindly at Jungkook. "It's nice to meet you, Jungkook. I won't let them hurt you, I promise."

Jungkook smiles sheepishly, bowing politely.

Taehyung sits, and Jungkook surprises him when he sits beside the older. He had expected Jungkook to sit with Jimin since he's friends with the boy, so it makes Taehyung smile very widely at the fact that Jungkook chose him. Not to mention the fact that their thighs are touching.

"Aish! Hobi, you're dead!" Yoongi yells after the hyper kid crumbles a cracker in his hair. In retaliation, Yoongi flicks a spoonful of rice at Hoseok's face.

"It went up my nose!" Hoseok complains, grabbing a napkin and presuming to blow his nose in it.

"I should have warned you," Taehyung says, leaning over to Jungkook. "I can't guarantee you'll leave here without some food on your shirt."

Jungkook chuckles. "I-it's okay. They're f-fun."

Jimin is in the midst of ruffling the crumbs out of Yoongi's hair when he asks Jungkook, "Hey, is Mina's party still tomorrow? My mom keeps yelling at me to ask you what her favorite characters are so she can get a present."

Jungkook nods. "It's s-still tomorrow. B-but I don't e-even know w-w-what she likes."

"You have a little sister?" Taehyung asks. "Here I thought I knew everything about you."

Jungkook face flushes. He surprises Taehyung a second time that day when he asks softly, "W-would you l-like to come?"

Taehyung can't hide his surprise either, his eyes widening. "Really?"

Jungkook looks down to his lap, fumbling with his hands. "It's a k-kid's party s-so I understand you p-probably don't w-want to. It w-was a dumb question."

"No," Taehyung says quickly, angling himself to face the younger. "It's not a dumb question. You just shocked me is all. I'll go, if you really want me to, of course."

Jungkook chews on his lip, nodding.

Taehyung wants to hear him say it. He leans a little closer, smirking teasingly. "What was that, Jungkook-ah? You'll have to use your words so there's no confusion."

Jungkook, knowing what Taehyung is doing, shoves the elder playfully. "Stop," he whines. But when Taehyung only laughs, he murmurs, "Y-yes, I want you t-to come."

"Done deal. I'll be there." Taehyung goes back to his usual sitting position, grinning smugly.

"I r-regret asking," Jungkook mumbles.

"Don't worry, Kookie. I love kids and kids love me. I'm more excited to play with your little sister than to hang out with you," he says jokingly, which causes Jungkook to roll his eyes and Taehyung smiles.

Maybe getting Jungkook to open up won't be as difficult as he thought.

༺༒༻

"Eomma?" Jungkook calls out softly, noticing his mother is currently on the phone. She gives him the infamous "one minute" gesture, so he sighs and leans against the doorway to the kitchen, waiting for her to finish.

He can gratefully say that nothing has changed between them, even though it's only been a day. She still woke him up this morning with a gentle kiss to the forehead and reassured him that she loves him. It was nice. Really nice. It almost made yesterday feel like a dream.

Once she's off the phone—which is much longer than a mere minute later—she gives him that kind motherly smile and says, "How are you doing, honey?"

He smiles. "I'm doing okay." He rubs the back of his neck. "Actually, I have something to ask you."

She raises a brow. "Oh?"

He swallows, suddenly nervous. "It's... it's about Tae."

"Has he hurt you already?" she asks, almost in a panic.

"No, no," he says quickly. "Nothing like that. I was just... I was wondering if it was okay for him to come. Tomorrow, I mean. For Mina's party."

His mother puts a hand to her chest in relief. "Don't frighten me like that, Jungkook. I already told you I wanted to meet him, though this is sooner than I expected. As long as he knows it's a kid's party, then I'm okay with it."

Mina pokes her head in. "What 'kid' party?"

Jungkook gives his mom an amused look.

She sighs. "Mina, you're turning eleven, not sixteen."

"Kids are under ten," Mina argues. "So technically I'm a preteen. Which isn't a kid."

"Right, of course not."

"So who's coming?"

His mom looks to Jungkook, as if asking for permission. He gives a small nod, his cheeks suddenly flushing.

"Jungkook's friend," his mom says instead, unsure what else to call the boy since she's never met him. "Is that okay with you?"

Mina beams, turning to Jungkook. "Is it the boy you take pictures of? He's really cute!"

Jungkook's face might as well be on fire now.

"Pictures?" His mom sounds concerned.

"For the yearbook," he sputters out. "R-remember? I take pictures for the yearbook."

His mother nods slowly, not completely convinced it's that innocent.

Jungkook wants to crawl under a rock and stay there the rest of his life.

As if on cue, Jungkook's phone rings in his back pocket. There's only two people that call him, and one is far too busy with their new infatuation. He fumbles to get his phone, and just when it's in his hands, Mina takes him off guard by snatching it.

"Mina—!" he shouts, but it's too late.

"Hi! Is this orabeoni's cute friend?"

Jungkook is sweating from so much humiliation. "Mina, give me my phone!" He turns to his mom, desperately.

She gives him a small shrug. "You're siblings. I've learned getting involved makes it worse."

He groans just as he hears Mina say, "So are you bringing me a present? Not to be rude, but if you want some of the pizza tomorrow, you have to bring a present."

He lunges for his little sister, but she runs around the corner, taking the stairs. He's close behind her, and just when he's about to grab her arm—she slams the bathroom door shut, locking it.

"Mina!" he yells, banging his fist on the door. "This isn't funny. You aren't six anymore, it's not cute!"

"Oh, that? It's just orabeoni yelling at me. He's worried I'm embarrassing him."

He wiggles the doorknob as if that'll magically unlock it.

"I like makeup, but only the sparkly kind. And women's makeup, not kid's. Or you could just give me money. But I also need some new Wonho posters or the new album. Either is fine. Or money. Did I say money already?"

Jungkook lets his forehead fall on the wooden door. "I'm definitely going to kill you when you come out of there," he mutters.

"Who said I'm coming out?" Mina calls back. "I've got snacks hidden under the sink for when these moments happen. I have everything I need."

Siblings are a piece of work.

"Come on, Mina," he says, almost in a whine.

"Am I cute?"

"What?"

"You said I'm not cute anymore, so why should I come out?"

"Oh, for fu—I said this isn't cute anymore, as in the way you're acting!"

"So I'm still cute?"

Jungkook rolls his eyes, knowing it's the only way to get his phone back. "Yes, you're still cute."

The door unlocks and Mina stands there, one hand on her hip while the other holds out his phone. "He has a really deep voice," she says. "And he said he'll bring me a present, so I accept your friendship. Jimin-oppa is bringing me something too, right?"

"You're so greedy," he mumbles, snatching his phone from her. "You lost your present from me, though."

"Orabeoni, I'm not stupid. You let eomoni pick out and buy the present."

He mocks her because it's his only defense to her statement, then enters his own room and closes the door. He dreads bringing the phone to his ear, but when he does, Tae is chuckling.

"Sorry," Jungkook mumbles.

"Don't be. That made my entire year."

"You sure you want to deal with that tomorrow?"

"I can handle it as long as you're the reward."

Jungkook blushes fiercely. He's done far too much of that in too little time today. "S-stop, you cheesy freak."

Tae laughs. "I'll take that stutter as a success."

Jungkook sits in his desk chair, chewing the inside of his lip.

"Hey, why'd you go so quiet?"

"Sorry," Jungkook mumbles again. "I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"It's embarrassing."

"Are you thinking about my face because I don't blame you."

"You're so egotistical sometimes," Jungkook says, but he laughs regardless, unable to help it.

"Really," Tae says. "What's wrong?"

"It's just... I told my mom you're coming tomorrow."

Tae is quiet before he laughs. "Ahh, so you think I'm going to make a bad first impression!"

"No, I just..."

"Jungkook-ah, I'm an angel. Parents love me, don't even worry about it."

"Well, now I'm worried."

"Have a little faith in me."

"I have faith in you."

"Really?"

"I wouldn't have invited you if I didn't," Jungkook replies quietly. "I don't know how my mom is going to react, though, and not because of anything you'll say or do just because..."

"Because she knows you're gay now?" Tae whispers. "You are gay and not bi, right? Not that bi is a problem, obviously, I'm just curious."

Jungkook frowns. "I think so. I mean, I've never thought about a girl the way—" He cuts himself off, putting his free hand up to his burning cheek.

He can practically hear Tae smirking. "The way you think about me?"

Somehow, Jungkook manages to whisper, "Yeah."

"Hmm, in what ways do you think about me, Jungkookie?" Tae asks, his voice sounding deeper than usual, huskier.

With a lump in his throat and anxiety clawing up his insides, Jungkook hangs up.