(here's a long ass chapter to make up for the wait! ... yes, it's unedited... enjoy!1!! ~)

♥║ thirty-one ║♥

After breakfast is eaten, and Taehyung is finally motivated to get off the couch, his mother suggests he take a shower to help feel better. Taehyung accepts the offer, thus causing Jungkook to rummage through his drawers for some sweatpants and a t-shirt. Luckily, that's pretty much his entire wardrobe.

Jungkook realizes Taehyung needs clean underwear too, and his face turns red. They're just boxers. Nothing embarrassing about that, right?

Jungkook purses his lips, tucking the boxer under the shirt so it's hidden. He's being melodramatic, but oh well.

He gives Taehyung the clothes, who then locks himself away in the bathroom.

And then two minutes later, he's shouting, "Jungkook, how in the world do you turn your shower on?"

Jungkook laughs to himself, going back upstairs to help the boy. "I can come in, right?" he hesitantly asks, his hand on the knob.

"Wait... yes, now you may enter."

Jungkook steps in, blinking a few times when he sees a shirtless Taehyung, however, the elder male is holding his shirt against his chest. "Why..." Jungkook stifles his giggles. "Never mind."

"Look, I know I don't have breasts to protect," Taehyung says. "But you don't need to see my stomach."

Frowning, Jungkook can't help but to ask why.

And Taehyung replies with a shy, "Don't play dumb. When you stretched earlier, I saw your abs, and I don't have any of that."

"I don't expect you to," Jungkook responds naturally, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Still." Taehyung's cheeks redden as he averts his gaze. "You probably want someone with something more than a squishy tummy."

"Actually," Jungkook murmurs, turning the knob in the shower so he doesn't have to look at Taehyung. "A squishy tummy sounds really cute."

He sneaks a glance at the older boy, who's blushing even harder. Jungkook clears his throat, standing up straight again. "There you go. Just turn it to the right if it's too hot. You pull it out to turn it off."

Taehyung gives a slight nod, still gazing at the floor, clutching the shirt in front of his torso tightly.

Jungkook, feeling awkward, leaves quickly without another word.

He helps his mom clean up the kitchen from the breakfast mess while he waits for Taehyung, Mina sitting at the island writing a note of some sort. She pauses and taps her chin with her pencil every now and then, looking straight out of a K-drama.

Jungkook decides not to ask.

His mother suddenly begins to speak quietly beside him while she washes the dishes and he dries. "Taehyung is welcome to stay here if he needs to."

"I told him," Jungkook says sheepishly, but he knew his mother would already offer. It's in her nature.

"Tell him not to go home if he doesn't feel safe," she says. serious now as she glances over at him. "I don't want him putting himself in a dangerous situation when he has and invitation to stay somewhere comfortable."

Jungkook gives his mother a grateful smile. "I'll tell him, Mom. Thank you."

She nods, but she doesn't return his smile. There's a look in her gaze that makes him falter, hesitate before speaking again. Luckily, she does so first. "Jungkook," she whispers, her voice almost sounding on the verge of cracking. She turns to him, but keeps herself angled out of Mina's sight. Her eyes are watering. "I-I don't want to ask you to hide yourself, and I certainly don't want you to be ashamed, but I... Last night. Seeing the hate people can have..."

Jungkook bites his lip and looks down at the plate his drying. He isn't sure how to answer. Promising he'll be safe sounds silly when he's merely going to be living his day-to-day life. He shouldn't have to promise something so... mundane.

"If you ever feel like the people you're with are like-like him, leave. Please, honey, don't put yourself in that sort of situation," she pleads, blinking quickly before her tears can fall. "I-if, it had been you beaten like that, I..."

Jungkook isn't sure what else to do other than hug her. She falls into him easily, like this is what she wanted him to do in the first place, to solidify his presence for her. To ensure her that he's perfectly safe, perfectly fine. She squeezes him, despite her hands being wet with dish water, soaking through the back of his shirt. He can't be bothered by that right now.

"Is saying 'I love you' too soon for a six-week anniversary?" Mina suddenly asks, drawing the two apart as they turn to look at her suspiciously. She shrugs innocently, flicking her pencil on the back of her hand. "It's for science."

Jungkook rolls his eyes as his mother says, "Mina, don't ever tell someone you love them if you don't mean it."

"But Seon Woo told me he loves me, and I want him to keep picking me those pretty roses."

"You don't have to lie," his mother scolds. "Do not be greedy with the attention you're getting. You should appreciate him as a person, not his gifts."

"Can't I appreciate both?" she asks, eyes wide in seriousness.

His mother sighs, shaking her hand. She waves Mina's question away. "Just... just do whatever."

Jungkook chuckles just as he spots Taehyung in the doorway, hair wet and Jungkook's clothes hanging loosely on his frame. His gripping his phone in his hand, practically wringing it like one would do a wet rag. He looks to Jungkook anxiously, the panic in his eyes making Jungkook straighten immediately.

"Can I talk to you?" Taehyung asks softly, as if he's trying to not alarm anyone but the quiet tone of his voice is enough to set everyone alert.

Jungkook is quickly out of the kitchen, leaving Taehyung to follow him to the couch. Taehyung nervously sits down, his phone still in his hands, his hands being pressed between his knees. "I need to go home," Taehyung says, but the way he's nervously flicking his hair out of his face tells Jungkook he doesn't want to.

"Hyung," Jungkook murmurs with a frown. "You're welcome to stay. My mom wants you to know that."

"I think I will stay another night," Taehyung admits. "But I need clothes, and... and my dad wants to see me. I couldn't..." Taehyung inhales deeply. "I couldn't bring myself to tell him what happened over the phone. All he knows is that Bogum hates me now, which he guessed why, but he doesn't know about... you know." Taehyung gestures to his face.

Jungkook's scowl deepens. He can't tell Taehyung to not go home at all, but the idea of him going even for a brief moment isn't settling well in his stomach.

"Dad texted me and said Bogum isn't home right now," Taehyung adds. "So I can run in and come right back. Could you maybe come with me?"

Taehyung looks up at Jungkook with wide, doe eyes, a certain desperation glistening in them that Jungkook can't bear to see. His own desperation to protect the older male sitting in front of him is enough to make him nod, agreeing without really meaning to. Truth be told, he doubts his abilities to protect anyone. Last night he completely froze. He was scared, too. You can't protect someone if you can't protect yourself.

When Jungkook tells his mom about their plan, she nods too. But then she says, "Okay. I'll drive," and starts walking towards the door, telling Mina to get her shoes on.

"Mom," Jungkook mumbles, rubbing his forehead.

"You need a ride anyways," she points out. "Taehyung's car is still at the park. We can go to his house first, then pick it up."

Jungkook doesn't say they should get Taehyung's car first, so just the two of them can go to his house. It's obvious his mother wants to go, probably a protective maternal instinct of her own. Whether it's over Jungkook, Taehyung, or both, though, he isn't sure. All he knows is that there's no winning the fight.

Taehyung looks like a lost puppy when he climbs into the front seat to give Jungkook's mother directions. He keeps telling Jungkook's mom that she doesn't have to be doing so much for him, which his mother cuts off real quick by saying, "Your brother threatened my son, and hurt the boy my son loves. It's in my right to want to defend you both."

The vehicle falls quiet.

Mothers always have the last say, after all.

Albeit, Jungkook does blush when his mother says "love." Taehyung might have told Bogum that to prove a point, but the two have never said it face to face.

When they pull into Taehyung's driveway, Taehyung gives Jungkook's mom a side-eye, as if scared she's going to demand to go inside the house, too. But she keeps her seatbelt on, instructing Mina to do the same. Jungkook isn't quite sure if he's supposed to get out, but the second Taehyung gets out and doesn't see Jungkook do the same, Taehyung looks at him frantically. He scrambles out of the backseat.

He's going to meet Taehyung's parents.

In sweatpants and a t-shirt.

And Taehyung is in his sweatpants and a t-shirt.

With a flowering purple bruise on his cheek, a split lip, and a cut under his eye.

Needless to say, this isn't how Jungkook pictured the moment at all.

Jungkook is just as anxious as Taehyung when the elder checks to see if it's unlocked before opening the door.

Taehyung's dad is on the couch watching television, but he instantly jumps to his feet when he hears the door click open. Taehyung walks in shyly, keeping his head down as he crosses his arm tightly against his stomach. Jungkook closes the door softly, awkwardly staying behind.

Taehyung's dad says nothing as he walks slowly towards his son, gently cupping his face to raise so their eyes lock. His dad's eyes water the second he sees the damage, his words coming out in a short breath of, "Oh, my boy..."

Then Taehyung is crying and collapsing into his dad, despite towering over the elder man. Jungkook regrets not staying in the car. This moment feels too raw for him to see.

"Honey? Did I hear the door close?" a woman's voice calls as she walks in from a bedroom, her feet abruptly freezing when she spots the scene. "Oh my God. What happened?" She rushes over, doing her own inspection of her son's face. "Taehyung, baby, who did this to you?"

Taehyung opts for crying into her shoulder rather than confessing.

She strokes her fingers through his hair, her eyes meeting Jungkook's, but she saves the question of his presence for when her son isn't sobbing. "Who did this?" she repeats, quieter, concern thick in her voice as she rubs his back.

When Taehyung still doesn't lift his head to answer, his father looks down in shame and says through gritted teeth, "Bogum did."

Taehyung's mother frowns, pulling Taehyung away to scoff with an uncertain laugh. "Bogum? He would never hurt you. He told me when he came home that he hoped to have a better connection with you in the upcoming years."

This makes Taehyung cry harder, shoving his face in his elbow.

"This... he wouldn't," his mother says, blinking now in confusion, lines etching into her forehead.

"He found out Taehyung is bisexual, Seyoung."

This is where Taehyung's mother starts to show her opinion, a slight downwards curve in her lips giving away her distaste. She doesn't outright express it, and she doesn't defend Bogum, no, but she doesn't immediately come to her youngest son's defense, either.

"Well," she finally says. "It isn't a problem, considering he'll be wed soon."

Taehyung calms down enough to understand this, taking a step back from his mother with a pained expression. He stares at her like his heart is truly broken. "That's all you have to say?" he asks, voice cracking mid-sentence.

Taehyung's mother clenches her jaw, averting her gaze.

"I don't know why I try," Taehyung mumbles, mainly to himself as he angrily wipes at his tears.

As if to try and switch the subject, his mother gestures to Jungkook. "Who's that?"

"You wouldn't want to know," Taehyung snaps. "Especially since he's interfering with your wedding plans."

"Taehyung," his father says softly, laying a hand on his son's arm.

Taehyung shakes him off. "I can't," he exhales. "I can't."

"Taehyung, use your words," his mother says, looking exasperated now, all concern completely drained from her face. Jungkook can't quite believe how quick her moods switched when she found out her eldest son caused all of this pain.

"Words?" Taehyung scoffs. "Fine. This is Jungkook. My boyfriend."

Jungkook's cheeks flush, but he bows politely in greeting.

Taehyung's mother clicks her tongue, scornfully. "We've been over this, dear. This little phase will pass and—"

"Seyoung," his father snaps disapprovingly, but Taehyung is already a step ahead.

He grabs the front of Jungkook's shirt, tugging him closer to where their lips meet. Jungkook hears a feminine gasp, but then the pounding of his heart blocks out any other noise. Taehyung pulls away quickly, strictly wanting to make a point.

"It's not a phase," he tells his mother. "Maybe you'll realize that when it's him meeting me at the altar and not Aecha."

"Taehyung," his mother gasps, horrified as she stares at her son.

His dad, on the other hand, has a small smile on his lips. A proud smile.

"Jungkook-ah, come upstairs with me while I pack," Taehyung says, threading his fingers through Jungkook's as if his mother isn't on the verge of a heart attack watching.

"Taehyung—" she starts to shout after him.

Taehyung's dad interrupts. "That's enough, Seyoung. His heart has been taken already. You can't change that."

There's a lump in Jungkook's throat. He can't quite pinpoint why. Maybe because the image of him seeing a boxy grin at the end of the aisle won't leave his head now.

"Sorry," Taehyung mumbles when he enters his room, closing the door behind them. He rakes his hands through his hair, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry," he repeats, multiple times.

"I-it's okay," Jungkook stammers, taking a look around Taehyung's room. Nothing crazy aside from how neat it is and the fact that his closet is color-coordinated.

Taehyung sniffles while he gets a duffel bag, going to search for outfits. "I don't want you to think I just used you to prove a point," he says.

"I don't," Jungkook answers honestly.

"Good." Taehyung rubs his eyes, then groans in frustration and packs with more aggression. "I can't believe that's all she had to say. Funny, she was so ready to get the cops involved until her dearest Bogum was mentioned."

Jungkook stays quiet, letting the elder vent his feelings.

"I don't know what Bogum did to be her favorite," he admits, seeming distressed over it. "He got in trouble every day at school, nearly got expelled twice, and here I am making the honor roll and I've never even been called to the principal's office. I've never understood why she always prefers him when he's so rude to her. I'm working my ass off just to get a sliver of her attention, and all she talks about is marrying me off."

Jungkook waits until Taehyung is quiet a while before he says, timidly, "Maybe... it's because Bogum acts that way. She's trying to make him the opposite."

"But I'm the opposite," Taehyung says, throwing a shirt into his duffel bag while turning to face Jungkook, fresh tears on his cheeks. "I've always tried to be the perfect son she wants, and the hug you saw downstairs is the most I've gotten from her since I was a child."

Taehyung purses his lips, letting tears roll down his cheeks as he puts his hands on his hips. "Just once," he whispers, barely audible as if speaking will make him cry harder. "Just once I want to be good enough."

It's cheesy, but it's an opportunity and it's truthful. And maybe, just maybe, Taehyung will be relieved to hear it. "You're good enough for me," Jungkook says, bashful. "More than that, actually. I know it's not my approval you want, but..."

Taehyung steps closer, his red eyes boring into Jungkook's. "I'm not good enough for you, either," he whispers. "You deserve someone that doesn't have baggage."

"Everyone has baggage, hyung. The fact that I'm here should show that I don't mind yours."

"What if you get hurt because of me, huh?" Taehyung's voice turns angry, but not at Jungkook. "What if he hurts your because of me?"

"If it happens," Jungkook mumbles, hesitantly making the first move as he grabs Taehyung's hand, "then I guess it happens."

Taehyung shakes his head. "I can't see that happen, Jungkook."

"If you're trying to scare me away, it isn't working. It isn't going to work." Jungkook musters his bravery, holding Taehyung's intense stare. "I've been hurt before. Worse than what Bogum would do to me. I don't think..." He starts losing that confidence now, cheeks flushing as he looks away. "I don't think you understand how much you mean to me."

Taehyung lifts Jungkook's chin with his finger, their noses inches apart. "Is what your mom said true?" he asks softly, his breath brushing Jungkook's lips. "Do you love me?"

Jungkook swallows. "Y-you said it to Bogum f-first."

Taehyung grins then, amused. "I did, but I haven't heard you say it."

Jungkook pouts. Taehyung just wants him to say it first.

"Let me ask other questions first," Taehyung says, not backing away but also not getting any closer. "If I asked you to be my boyfriend, would you say yes?"

Jungkook struggles to maintain eye contact, but Taehyung is holding his chin and won't let him look away. "Yes," he breathes out, heat creeping up his neck from how embarrassed and shy he feels.

"If I kissed you at school, in front of everyone, would it bother you?"

Jungkooks is far past caring about what kids at school think.

"No."

"So if I told you I loved you, would you say it back?"

Jungkook sucks in a breath at this. Just from the idea of someone actually giving him that type of affection, someone he can genuinely say that the feeling is mutual between them.

Taehyung takes Jungkook's pause as a chance for a risk. In the softest voice Jungkook has ever heard, Taehyung brings his lips to Jungkook's cheek and whispers, "I love you, Jeon Jungkook."

Jungkook closes his eyes, complete serenity spreading through him, the words naturally leaving his lips without thought, "I love you too, Kim Taehyung."

The kiss is short and sweet before Taehyung pulls away with a wide grin, the puffiness of his eyes going down, the remnants of his tears fading. He zips up his duffle bag, slings it over his shoulder, and makes a grand gesture with free his hand as he bows.

"After you, boyfriend."