Everyone was dead silent. Jungkook had walked out of the cafeteria. No one knew who should speak up first.

"Yo so- I-I think- I think Jungkook's gay."

"We got that part, Jackson."

"How long has he been gay?" Hoseok asked, sounding weary.
"Probably his whole life," Jimin mumbled in an irked tone.

"Um- well- wow. That's... great. Good for him! I'm glad he could come out to us," Jin said, and then sighed to himself. "Oh god, we said homophobic shit constantly without knowing- fuck."

"Damn, we should've known. I mean, this puts things into retrospect." Namjoon said, and Jimin hummed.

"Am I the only one who's weirded out by this?" Yoongi asked, and the boys looked at him. "I mean, he's seen us shirtless or naked a lot of times in the changing rooms. That's kind of creepy-"

"He's not into any of you, Yoongi. Don't flatter yourself." Jimin retorted, and Yoongi rose his eyebrow.

"Aren't you freaked out by this? You sleep in the same room as him- I mean, who knows-"

"Shut up! I've known for some time. And I don't care because I know he's my best friend. Don't be a dick," Jimin snapped, and then sighed. "And you know what? None of you are going to be assholes about this. It takes a lot of courage to do what he did- and none of you know what he's going through. So if you have any dumbass comments to make, keep it to yourself."
"Park, we'll still keep our mouths shut. What about Mr. Homophobic who just ran after Jungkook?" Namjoon said, and Jimin frowned.

"What?" He asked, and then looked around and realized Taehyung was gone. Fuck.

///

Taehyung rushed out of the cafeteria, seeing Jungkook go out. He looked left and right, and cursed under his breath when he couldn't see Jungkook; didn't know where he went. Taehyung turned and saw Yugyeom rush out.

"What're you doing?" Yugyeom asked, and Taehyung breathed out.

"Yugyeom, I just- I need to see him. You won't understand-"

"No, I understand very well. You're a homophobic asshole who's one step away from making another mistake and hurting Jungkook. I'd advise you to not do anything, but you only listen to yourself, don't you, V?" Yugyeom said lowly, clearly angered.

Taehyung kept quiet, and Yugyeom tsked, and then ran towards the dormitories, expecting Jungkook to be there.

But he wasn't. Taehyung knew where he was. He knew where Jungkook would be.

Taehyung rushed towards the staircase and went up three flights of stairs, feet carrying themselves with purpose. Taehyung reached the 4th floor and heard his footsteps grow louder on the marble flooring as he ran down it, trying to find the last door on the floor.

And then he found it and took a deep breath. The art room. Taehyung reached for the door, but just keeping his hand on the door handle gave him memories.

"-it's not like I asked Miss Chu to give me extra time- she just did! But all the other art students think she's favoring me over them. And so what if she is? It's obviously because I care about the subject so much. Frankly, if they did as much work as I did, maybe-"

Jungkook's words were cut off when Taehyung suddenly picked him up and placed him onto the table, slotting himself between Jungkook's thighs and placing one finger on his lips.

Jungkook's eyes were widened, and the sunlight pouring through windows cast honey-like swirls in his doey eyes, skin looking softer in contrast with his pink lips. Taehyung couldn't help but smile.

"You're so pretty," Taehyung whispered, and Jungkook's cheeks turned bright pink.

"O-oh-" Jungkook squeaked, and then put his hand around Taehyung's. "V- you-"

Taehyung gave him a look, and Jungkook bit his lip. "Sorry, I meant to say Taehyung."

"Hm. Good." Taehyung said softly, and then reached up and pressed their lips together. His hands moved to Jungkook's waist and stealthily moved up his shirt, feeling his soft skin.

Jungkook shivered at the touch of his cold hands and wrapped his legs around Taehyung's waist, his hands grabbing Taehyung's collar. Jungkook pulled away, breathless. "When do you think this will end? This thing between us?"

"Hopefully never," Taehyung said breathily, and kissed Jungkook's chin, looking up at the boy who put his fingers through Taehyung's silver hair.

Taehyung pulled away and Jungkook reached down, pressing his forehead against Taehyung's. "I hope this thing between us never ends either,"

Taehyung smiled, and Jungkook blinked his big eyes, giving him a shy butterfly kiss. Taehyung returned it willfully, and both felt at peace. They were the only ones that mattered at that moment in time.

Taehyung opened the door, and his breath hitched when he saw Jungkook standing with his back facing the door, looking outside the windows.

Before Taehyung could speak, Jungkook did. "W-why did you come here?"

Taehyung gulped. Of course, Jungkook knew it was him, of course. "I-I think we should talk-"

Jungkook turned around, and Taehyung's face crumpled at the tears stuck to the lashes in his eyes, the path they wove down his cheeks. Jungkook saw Taehyung's shoulders fall.

"Don't cry. Please-" Taehyung said, walking forward. "What you did in the cafeteria? That was- that was really brave, Jungkook. Don't cry-" Taehyung tried, reaching for Jungkook's arm.

Jungkook pulled his arm back. He looked enraged. "Don't touch me!" Jungkook snapped and then moved back until his back hit the counters.

Taehyung looked down. "Y-you're such an asshole, Kim T-Taehyung. I'm sure you're t-told that often," Jungkook let out, voice breaking in the end. Taehyung gulped. "Y-you just- h-hurt people and use them for your- your own gain. T-that's all you ever do!" Jungkook said, voice hoarse.

"Kookie," Taehyung said weakly, and Jungkook shook his head, tears forming in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I-I'm so sorry. I didn't know I was hurting you-" Taehyung said softly, moving closer to Jungkook.
"Yes you did-" Jungkook let out, voice small. "Y-you're hurt me countless times,"

Taehyung looked down at him, and then reached his hands up, wiping Jungkook's tears. Jungkook tried moving away, but Taehyung grabbed him and wrapped his arms around him. "I-I'm sorry-"

"Let me go," Jungkook squeaked out, and Taehyung's grip only grew stronger.

"We could still be. We could still be w-what we were- if-if all these people didn't come between us-"

"No one came in between us, Tae." Jungkook sniffled, and then pushed Taehyung back. "Only you did."

Taehyung's face showed his confusion, his guilt, it was eating him up from the inside. He shook his head. "N-no- I-"

"Why did you kiss me?" Jungkook asked, and Taehyung gulped dryly. "Tell me. W-why?"

Taehyung looked at him for a few seconds, and his eyes were nothing but a battlefield of emotions, a conflict he was having within himself causing utter liability to spark in his actions. "I-I don't know-"

"Of course you don't," Jungkook chuckled, looking away, gripping the table. "I-it's my fault. I was stupid. Stupid for doing anything with you in the first place. I should've known," Jungkook said, and then looked at Taehyung. There was a small pause;

"You're V." Jungkook said, voice drained, weak from gasping onto any kind of disillusion he'd been dreaming of for the past weeks- when the simple truth is, none of it was ever real. "You're the captain of the football team, the hottest guy in our grade, the biggest player in our school," Jungkook said, a small smile on his face that wasn't mirthful in any way.

"You treat people like shit and break everyone down," Jungkook let out. "It's who you are. It can't be helped,"

Taehyung's stomach turned at his words, and he could do nothing but stand there, frozen in shock by the words that came out of his mouth, the truth they held.

"I didn't know-" Taehyung said, knowing exactly how stupid he sounded. How weak, how feeble. "I d-didn't know I was hurting y-you-"

"How?!" Jungkook snapped, voice rising. "W-we spent two months together, V! You called me baby, told me I was beautiful, rose me up till the sky and then suddenly-" Jungkook started, voice strained. "Dropped me out of nowhere and expected me to start walking again like everything was fine!"

"It wasn't! Y-you told me we should end things, I-I understood. But then I began hanging around a guy and you can't even control yourself? Especially when you've been with 10 girls every day- I mean, what the fuck do you want, V? Why do you want everything to yourself and expect to give nothing in return?" Jungkook shouted, tears in his eyes. "How- w-why did you think you weren't hurting me?!"

Taehyung was still, and Jungkook saw tears prickling his eyes. Taehyung looked down, wiping them as quickly as he could. "B-because I-" Taehyung started, voice raspy. "I-I don't know, J-Jungkook. I j-just- I don't k-know what's going on," Taehyung said weakly, looking up at him. "There's so much in my head- I-I can't piece it together-"

"Why did you a-ask Eka out?" Jungkook asked, a silence taking over the room.

Taehyung looked at the floor. He gulped. "I like her," Taehyung said, and Jungkook felt his heart miserably clutch itself. Jungkook looked away this time, trying his hardest not to tremble. "A-all I can think about is- is her. She's the only thing on my mind- the only thing that's getting me through these sleepless nights- and- and I-I had to do something about it. It was taking over me. I-I couldn't let it get out of hand,"

Jungkook didn't hear the words, just let them filter through his ears. "Great," Jungkook said, fingers pressing into his palm. "T-that's great. I'm happy for you."

"Jungkook I'm sorry. I'm sorry it had to end this way. Maybe in another world- in- in another world we could've-"

"No, we couldn't have," Jungkook said, and then looked up at him, and it was more than evident that he was trying not to cry. "You and me- we just weren't meant to be, Tae," Jungkook said, giving a weak shrug, trying to pretend this wasn't killing him from the inside.
"But it's fine," Jungkook said, and then smiled a little. "It's not like there were any feelings involved in the first place."

"Yeah," Taehyung said, and Jungkook moved forward, smiling.

"I hope we can be friends."

Taehyung nodded. Jungkook nodded curtly and reached past him to grab the door and as quickly as he could, he walked out, closing the door behind him and letting out a deep breath, tears blurring his eyes until he couldn't see.

He never meant a thing to Taehyung, but Taehyung meant the whole world to him. That was the sad reality of it all, something Jungkook would have to live with. Some things just aren't meant to be, even if it could be perfect.

///

Winter holidays began the very next day.

A month passed away with a click of fingers. Jungkook didn't go home, his parents were far too busy with functions to attend to. Jungkook went to Jimin's house.

On Christmas, the two attempted on making a gingerbread house which failed in an instant ended with both of them eating icing while playing video games. On 30th December, Jungkook was helping Jimin set up decorations at his house for a party he was having.

"It's V's birthday," Jimin said, and Jungkook felt his heart twitch at the mention of his name.

"I don't care."

"Just message him, Kook. You're 'friends', right?" Jimin snickered, and Jungkook rolled his eyes. "Whatever, I guess so," Jungkook mumbled, taking his phone out.

Jungkook
Happy birthday

V
thanks

V
how's your holidays going?

Jungkook
good lol me and jimin are setting up decorations

V
ugh lucky im stuck with my broing dad who keeps going to play boring golf with his boring friends

Jungkook giggled to himself, and Jimin watched as Jungkook leaned against the wall, texting properly.

Jungkook
lol jimins dad lets us drive his car its lots of fun

V
i drive my dads car too

V
except he doesnt let me, yknow, bc he hates me, but its still fun

Jungkook laughed at that, biting his lip.

Jungkook
awww HAHAHA

Jungkook
how are things with eka

V
good i think

Jungkook
well jimins been flirting with his neighbour every day since holidays started im getting sick

V
awww let the poor boy find some love

Jungkook
it sucks but the neighbour has a cute older gay brother so yay for me i guess

V
oh

V
cool

Jungkook
yeah

"Okay jeez, I meant just text him one thing, not having a whole ass conversation-" Jimin snapped, but Jungkook sat down on the sofa and flopped onto his stomach, texting him more.

Jimin rolled his eyes, but for the rest of the day, Jungkook kept texting him. Rest of the day turned into the rest of the week, which turned into every day until school reopened.

They texted about nonsensical stuff, just complete bullshit- like the kind they used to discuss when they were... together. Every day. Taehyung would message him in the morning and they'd keep at it till nighttime, where he'd message him goodnight. Jungkook wouldn't lie and say it didn't send his heart into a routine of fast-paced palpitations.

On the train ride back to school, Jungkook looked solemn. "I-I guess I'm just happy we're friends again, you know?"

"Be careful, Kookie," Jimin said while eating a cookie.

"Be careful? About what? We're just texting, Jimin." Jungkook said.

"Yeah, but you text him till 3 am at night, and I see you blush every time your phone dings. You're clearly not over him, dude. No offense." Jimin said, and Jungkook rolled his eyes.

"That's- that's bullshit. I am totally over him. I've never been more over someone. I'm sooo over him." Jungkook said, and then his phone dinged, and his heart jumped up to his throat and he picked it up quickly.

Jungkook sighed. It was a stupid text by his mom or whatever. Who cares. Jungkook groaned a little, but then widened his eyes.

The heart-jumping. The sighing. The groaning. "Oh god-" Jungkook said, and then looked up at Jimin. "I-I don't think I'm over him!"

"I know!" Jimin snapped, and Jungkook covered his hands with his face, hearing Jimin call him a dumbass.

They reached school, and Jungkook dragged his suitcase through the campus, walking towards the dormitories. He saw friends hugging, couples kissing again, and people laughing in groups, having met after so long. Jungkook looked around and felt his heartbeat increase when he saw Taehyung.

He was standing by the entrance of the dormitories, and Jungkook almost rushed up to him, his stomach afloat. Jungkook saw his grey hair, probably re-dyed, and thick bandana, and smiled. "V!" Jungkook called, and the boy looked at him. "Hi!"

Taehyung blinked a few times. "Hey." He said flatly and then looked at his phone again.

Jungkook smiled. "How was the ride here? You texted me saying it was-"

"Nice seeing you," Taehyung said emotionlessly, and then walked past him, shoulders brushing as he did. Jungkook stilled, and then turned and saw Taehyung rush up to Eka. Jungkook saw him grab her by the waist and kiss her quite hard.

Jungkook felt his shoulders drop, insides contorting inside out. He looked to the side and saw Jimin, who gave him a tight-lipped smile. Jungkook gulped.

"I would say something to make you feel better, but honestly, you're just being a dumbass," Jimin said, and then hit Jungkook on the head.

"Get over him!" Jimin snapped, and Jungkook pouted.

"It's hard!" Jungkook mumbled, and then kicked Jimin lightly. "W-why'd he text me the whole time if he was planning on ignoring me in school?"

"Has V ever been understandable?" Jimin asked, and Jungkook looked away. "Exactly. So let's get to our room. Think about him once more, and I'll beat your ass."

Jungkook nodded and followed Jimin inside the dormitories. He couldn't help but turn around, seeing Taehyung smiling at something Eka said, laughing fondly and kissing her forehead. She wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering something into his ear.

Jungkook felt his heart weaken. Why, why did he do this to himself? Jungkook turned back around, following Jimin in.

Stupid Taehyung.