(*unedited*)

♥║ twenty-two ║♥

It takes Jungkook a lot of effort to get out of bed the next morning for school, simply because he and Taehyung had talked for quite a while the night prior. Nothing in particular, really. It's just so easy to talk to the elder that the conversation never seemed to be dying out, and Jungkook really didn't even feel tired because of how much he was enjoying himself. The only reason the two hung up was because Jungkook started hearing Taehyung yawn more frequently and he felt bad.

Jungkook actually looks for Taehyung once he's in the school's courtyard, which is a shock to himself and to the older boy when their eyes meet. Jungkook inhales a sharp breath, clutching his camera straps instinctively as he forces his feet to move. The grin on Taehyung's face when he realizes the younger is coming to him makes Jungkook's cheeks flush.

He walks up to the group just in time to hear Hoseok's and Yoongi's argument.

"You're an idiot," Yoongi mutters, shaking his head in disappointment.

"It's the truth!" Hoseok exclaims. "How could I make something so ridiculous up?"

"You're Hoseok," Yoongi states. "Everything you say is ridiculous."

"I saw it on Buzzfeed, Yoongi, it's true!"

"Hoseok, I'm not going to believe that the dot above an 'i' and 'j' is called a tittle, for fuck's sake!"

"Actually," Jungkook says, shocked at himself for speaking. He fumbles with his hands, shyly continuing. "I-it is. C-called that."

Yoongi blinks at him, and Jungkook gets scared for a moment, worried he'll get hit for saying anything at all. But then Yoongi purses his lips and shakes his head, clicking his tongue. "Damn. Who the hell came up with that?"

"It's Latin," Jungkook says again, practically instinctively. Maybe it's excitement from being able to talk about one of the completely useless facts he knows. He averts his eyes and keeps murmuring, "Tittle a-actually means a s-small amount of something, s-s-so that's w-why. Because it's a-a little d-dot."

Everyone in the group exchanges looks. Jungkook can't help but notice how wide Taehyung is smiling, but he can't tell if he's simply amused or laughing at him. Jungkook feels like crying suddenly. This is why he doesn't talk. He doesn't know why he did in the first place. He felt too comfortable too soon with them, he supposes.

But then everyone starts laughing, and not in a way that makes Jungkook feel belittled. Namjoon claps a hand on Jungkook's shoulder and calls him the second genius in the group, smiling in an endearing sort of way. Jungkook manages to smile then, too, feeling incredibly relieved. He can't imagine how this would have gone in any other friend group. Surely they'd call him weird and he really would've ended up crying.

"How do you know that?" Seokjin asks, genuinely curious.

Jungkook shrugs. "I-I know a lot o-of useless stuff."

"You look up stupid shit as a hobby?" Yoongi questions.

Jungkook shrugs again. Sounds about right.

He's starts laughing too when the rest of them crack up again.

And the day only gets more reassuring for him and his socially awkwardness.

He sits at the table, as does Jimin, with Tae's friend group and feels himself becoming more and more comfortable calling them his own. They all treat him as if he's been there for years, and he hopes he gets to have future years with them. He's never felt so at ease around so many people at once. It's the most relieving thing he's felt in a long time.

In gym at the end of the day, he does his usual and sits on the bleachers, taking shots of the different games occurring. It's a free day, so there's a group of boys playing basketball, a group of girls playing volleyball on the other side of the gym, some kids with hula hoops, and some catching up on homework. There's a substitute today, or else any kid sitting down would have to run five laps as demanded by the coach.

Jungkook starts going through his pictures, deleting blurry shots and those he really just doesn't like. He should probably delete some of Taehyung before the elder actually forces him to show him his pictures. However, he can't bring himself to. Even the pictures that are of the side of Taehyung's face, they somehow still look ethereal.

As if he could read mind, Taehyung's eyes find Jungkook and he leaves the two boys he was talking to. Jungkook swallows his sudden nervousness, exiting out of his camera roll and shutting the device off.

Taehyung smiles as he walks up the bleachers, taking the seat bench right in front of Jungkook, sitting on it backwards to face him. "What'cha doing?" Taehyung asks cutely. "Shouldn't you be participating in your physical education, sir?"

Jungkook looks down at Taehyung, chuckling. "Coach isn't here. B-besides, I never participate, i-in case you haven't noticed."

"I noticed. You always find a way to take pictures the whole fifty minutes of class instead. When can I see some? Shouldn't I get special treatment instead of having to wait for the yearbook?" Taehyung says with an adorable pout, making Jungkook flustered enough to where he has to look away.

"Uh, t-they aren't edited or a-anything yet."

Taehyung tilts his head. "Are you embarrassed of them? Jungkookie, you've been doing the yearbook every school year. Isn't that enough proof that you're a talented photographer?"

Jungkook's cheeks flush. "M-maybe..."

"Fine. It's okay if you don't show me. But you owe me now?"

He quirks a brow. "Like what?"

Taehyung shrugs. "I haven't thought of it yet."

Jungkook frowns when Taehyung goes quiet, chewing the inside of his cheek as if he's in deep thought. It isn't like Taehyung to go completely silent, even if he is thinking of something for Jungkook to owe him.

"What's wrong?"

Taehyung blinks, looking off to the side of the gym where the volleyball girls are. "Huh? Nothing."

"You're lying."

A small smirk tugs the corner of Taehyung's lips. "So intuitive already?" The amusement in his eyes dies as quickly as it appeared.

Jungkook scoots forward. "Really. Are you okay?"

Taehyung sighs, glancing back over at Jungkook. "It's nothing you need to worry about, Kookie."

"Is it your brother?"

"Yes and no."

"What else is it?" Jungkook is worried he's being too nosy, but he is concerned about how Taehyung's eyes aren't sparkling as they normally do.

Taehyung turns to the clock behind Jungkook on the wall, looking almost... anxious?

Then the elder purses his lips, avoiding eye contact with the younger. "I just don't really want to go home today, that's all."

Jungkook wonders if something with his brother happened this morning, since last night the two seemed fine together when Jungkook heard them on the phone. But what could've happened in such a small space of time to make Taehyung so nervous of seeing him again?

There has to be another reason he's dreading his arrival home.

Jungkook wants to pry, but he wants to respect Taehyung's boundaries too, like Taehyung had done for him before. If Taehyung wants to tell Jungkook, Jungkook trusts he will. For now, he'll settle with accepting it isn't his place to know.

༺༒༻

"Oh good, Taehyung, you're home. Start setting the table, please," his mother says the instant he walks through the door. He sighs. There's still three hours until dinner.

Nonetheless, he obliges by situating the table cloth, counting out enough utensils and plates. The sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach continues to intensify with every passing second on the clock. He has an idea of where this dinner is going to go—he desperately hopes he's wrong.

Bogum is next to barge through the door, though Taehyung isn't sure where he went to begin with. He instantly starts teasing his younger brother about the "special lady" he heard is coming over for dinner.

"Bogum, I expect you to be decent throughout this dinner," their mother says as she comes into the dining area with an elaborate centerpiece. Flowers enhanced with glitter with ribbons tied this way and that, the vase being extravagant colors. It makes Taehyung blink.

"Of course," Bogum says, giving a mocking bow. "I'm always on my best behavior, eomma."

She gives him a look that says she disapproves of his sarcasm.

"Go get cleaned up," she scolds, shooing him upstairs. "Look presentable, please!"

She turns to Taehyung, giving him a once over. Immediately, he straightens his postures, eyes wide and attentive to her scrutinizing stare. "Would a tux be too gaudy?" she ponders to herself, tapping her chin. "Go change into a nice button-down, okay sweetie?"

Taehyung internally groans, but he offers his mom a polite smile before he stomps up the stairs, annoyingly heading for his closet. He wants to be on something he hasn't worn in years, something ugly and ratted just to ruin whatever scheme she's cooking up, but he's too good for that. He can't hurt his mother no matter how much she hurts him.

So he changes into a sleek white button-down, keeping his black jeans on.

She grins at him when he returns, cupping his cheeks. "Aw, darling, you're so handsome. I'm lucky to have been blessed with attractive children."

Taehyung forces another smile as she pinches one of his cheeks before strutting back into the kitchen. He lets out a sigh of relief when she's out of sight, slouching against the dining room doorway.

His father exits his study, his eyebrows furrowing when he sees Taehyung's expression. However, he automatically knows the problem and squeezes his son's shoulder lovingly. "It'll all work out, my boy. I promise."

Taehyung's eyes start watering for some reason. Maybe the way his dad is always so gentle with him, or maybe the anxiety of this dinner is really starting to claw its way in.

"Ah, kiddo." His dad chuckles a little as he pulls Taehyung into a hug, patting his back. "It's just a dinner, yeah? Just to please your mother. You can sit through a two hour dinner."

Taehyung presses his cheek into his father's shoulder. "It's not just a dinner, is it?" he murmurs, all of his conversations with his mother resurfacing.

His dad pulls away with a frown. "Of course it's just a dinner. Your mother just wants to see you interact with a girl, that's all."

Taehyung stares into his father's eyes. His father truly believes what he's saying. Maybe Taehyung should too.

It's just a dinner.