Third person's pov

When Taehyung returned to the dorm late at night, almost everyone was asleep. The dim light cast long shadows across the rows of bunk beds, the muffled snores and deep breathing of exhausted players filling the room.

He glanced at Jungkook’s bunk, his lips twitching into a faint smile.

The boy was curled up on his side, his blanket pulled up to his chin, and his features softened by sleep. Taehyung walked over quietly, his steps light. He sat on the edge of Jungkook’s bed, careful not to jostle it, and reached out to take one of Jungkook’s hands in his.

It was small, warm, and soft. Taehyung marveled at how Jungkook could sleep so peacefully here.

“How do you even do it, Koo?” he whispered.

Jungkook didn’t stir, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

Taehyung tilted his head, his smirk softening into something more playful. “Do you ever dream about me?” he asked teasingly, knowing full well he’d get no answer. “Probably not, huh? You’d never admit it even if you did.”

He chuckled quietly, brushing his thumb over the back of Jungkook’s hand. “What are you dreaming about right now? I bet it’s food. Or… maybe you’re thinking about punching me in the face. I wouldn’t blame you.”

For a moment, he just sat there, watching Jungkook sleep. There was something comforting about it, even if Jungkook would probably kill him if he woke up and found Taehyung sitting there like this.

Eventually, Taehyung stood, placing Jungkook’s hand back under the blanket gently. “Good night, petal,” he murmured before slipping away to his own bunk.

────୨ৎ────

The next morning, Jungkook was jolted awake by none other than Taehyung.

“Wake up,” Taehyung said, nudging Jungkook’s shoulder lightly.

Jungkook groaned, burying his face deeper into the pillow. “Go away.”

“They’re serving breakfast,” Taehyung said, ignoring the words.

Jungkook sat up reluctantly, his hair sticking out in all directions. His eyes were still half-closed as he looked at Taehyung. Why was this man so annoyingly chipper first thing in the morning?

Taehyung smiled. “You look like a baby bird when you wake up.”

Jungkook scowled but didn’t have the energy to retort. As Taehyung started walking down the bunk stairs, Jungkook sighed and followed, still groggy from sleep.

His body felt heavy, and his mind was foggy. That’s probably why he didn’t notice his foot slipping on one of the stairs. Before he could even yelp, he felt an arm catch him mid-fall.

Taehyung had grabbed him with one arm, effortlessly holding up his entire body weight. Jungkook blinked, wide-eyed, as he stared at Taehyung’s biceps, which looked almost unreal in this moment.

“You okay?” Taehyung asked, his voice calm.

Jungkook pulled himself upright quickly, brushing off his clothes as he muttered, “Yeah...Thanks,” He avoided eye contact with Taehyung.

“Careful next time,” Taehyung said casually, continuing down the stairs as if he hadn’t just performed a superhuman feat.

Jungkook followed, his cheeks slightly red. How the hell is he so strong? he wondered.

────୨ৎ────

The players gathered in the dining area, forming a long line for breakfast. Jungkook groaned softly as he stood in place, his legs aching from the previous day. His whole body felt sore, and waiting in line wasn’t helping.

Finally, when it was his turn, Jungkook grabbed his tray and was pleasantly surprised to see that today’s breakfast looked… good. There was rice, soup, and a chocolate-filled bun—his favorite. His mood lifted slightly as he made his way back to the dorm.

Jungkook sat on his bunk and immediately started eating. For once, the food didn’t feel like a punishment. The bun was the highlight of his meal, and he saved it for last, savoring the thought of eating it.

Not long after, Taehyung, Yoongi, and Jimin joined him, sitting with their trays.

“This is decent for once,” Jimin said, popping a sponful of rice into his mouth.

“Don’t jinx it,” Yoongi muttered, already halfway through his soup.

Jungkook’s eyes flickered to Yoongi, and he felt a pang of guilt. This man had saved his life, and all he’d given him was a cold thank-you. Yoongi deserved something more.

Hesitating slightly, Jungkook picked up his chocolate bun and held it out toward Yoongi.

“This… is for saving me,” he said, his voice quiet and soft. It was like giving his heart away.

Yoongi looked at the bun, then at Jungkook, his expression unreadable. “I don’t like buns, kid,” he said flatly.

Jungkook blinked. “You don’t… like buns?”

“Nope,” Yoongi replied, going back to his food.

For a moment, Jungkook was stunned. Then, slowly, a wide smile spread across his face. He pulled the bun back eagerly, practically bouncing as he unwrapped it. “Good,” he muttered, taking a big bite. He looked like he’d just won the lottery.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, watching Jungkook, “You were waiting for him to say no, weren’t you?”

Jungkook didn’t answer, too busy devouring the bun like it was the best thing he’d ever eaten.

Jimin chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen someone so happy over bread.”

“It’s not just bread,” Jungkook said defensively, his cheeks puffed out with chocolate.

Yoongi glanced at him briefly, “You’re weird.”

Jungkook didn’t care. For the first time, he felt a small joy in this crazy place. And if that joy came from a chocolate bun, so be it.

────୨ৎ────

The guards marched the players into what looked like an enormous playground. It was surreal—giant slides, monkey bars, seesaws, and even a brightly painted merry-go-round stood under the artificial lights.

Jungkook’s stomach churned as he looked around. The speaker crackled to life.

“Welcome to the next game: The Floor is Lava.”

A collective groan rippled through the crowd. Jungkook froze, his mouth going dry. Of all the games, it had to be this one.

“There will be five rounds,” the voice continued. “In each round, parts of the floor will become ‘lava.’ Your objective is to stay off the ground and move to the safe zones indicated. Failure to remain off the floor will result in elimination. Use the playground equipment to survive. Good luck.”

Jungkook’s heart sank. He hated this game. He had hated it as a kid, and he hated it even more now that his life literally depended on it. His legs felt wobbly just thinking about jumping from one precarious surface to another.

The guards stepped back, and the buzzer blared.

“Round One begins now.”

Immediately, players scrambled in every direction, rushing toward the nearest equipment. Jungkook hesitated for a moment, overwhelmed by the chaos around him.

Then the floor beneath him began to glow red, the "lava" spreading in jagged patterns across the ground.

“Crap!” he yelped, sprinting toward a slide. His heart pounded as he grabbed the ladder and climbed up, his feet just missing the lava as it consumed the ground beneath him.

He exhaled sharply, sitting at the top of the slide and gripping the edges tightly. His palms were sweaty, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Across the playground, he spotted Taehyung perched on the merry-go-round, his long legs dangling casually as if he were taking a leisurely ride instead of participating in a life-or-death game.

Jungkook squinted. Was Taehyung smirking?

Taehyung’s gaze was locked on him, his expression unreadable. He looked almost too calm for someone in this situation, but his posture was alert, like a predator watching its prey.

No, not prey. His petal. Or whatever nickname Taehyung had given Jungkook in his mind.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Jungkook muttered under his breath, though he knew Taehyung couldn’t hear him.

The first round ended without incident for Jungkook, though his nerves were frayed. A few players hadn’t made it to safety in time, and their eliminations were swift and brutal. He avoided looking as the guards dragged their bodies away, focusing instead on keeping his breathing steady.

“Round Two begins now,” the speaker announced.

The players jumped into action again as the lava started spreading in a different pattern. Jungkook slid down from the slide and darted toward the monkey bars, only to realize too late that someone else had beaten him to it.

“Damn it,” he muttered, changing direction.

Nearby, Jimin was hopping from one piece of equipment to another. He caught sight of Jungkook and waved.

“This way!” Jimin called, gesturing toward a seesaw that seemed relatively stable.

Jungkook nodded, making his way toward him. But as he approached, he misjudged the timing of a jump and slipped. His foot barely touched the glowing floor before he scrambled back onto the edge of a platform.

“Shit,” Jungkook muttered, his chest heaving. That had been way too close.

“You okay?” Jimin asked, climbing onto the seesaw and holding out a hand to help Jungkook balance.

“Yeah, thanks,” Jungkook replied, gripping the edge tightly as he clambered up.

But the seesaw wobbled dangerously under their combined weight.

“Uh, maybe this wasn’t the best idea,” Jimin said nervously as the board tilted.

“You think?” Jungkook snapped, trying to shift his weight to the center.

The two of them teetered precariously, the seesaw creaking ominously beneath them. Jimin looked down at the lava creeping closer and let out a slight scream .

“This feels like karma for something,” he muttered.

“Karma for what?” Jungkook shot back, trying to adjust his footing.

Jimin hesitated, “Let’s just say… bad decisions.”

Before Jungkook could ask what that meant, the seesaw tipped again, and Jimin yelped as he lost his balance. He grabbed Jungkook’s arm at the last second, nearly dragging them both down.

“Jimin!” Jungkook yelled, trying to steady him.

“I’m trying!” Jimin shouted, his voice high-pitched with panic.

From across the playground, Taehyung stood up from the merry-go-round, his eyes narrowing as he watched the scene unfold.

“Hold on,” Jungkook said through gritted teeth, pulling Jimin back up with all his strength.

Jimin collapsed onto the seesaw, panting.

The round ended moments later, the buzzer signaling safety for those still alive. Jungkook slumped against the seesaw, his heart pounding.

Taehyung walked over, “Are you hurt?” he asked Jungkook, ignoring Jimin.

“No, I’m fine,” Jungkook muttered, brushing him off.

Taehyung didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he placed a hand on Jungkook’s shoulder briefly before walking off.

“I know I am not his ex-boyfriend, but he could have at least asked if I was alright," Jimin muttered, looking round.

As the third round began, an announcement echoed through the playground.

“This round comes with a new challenge. Players must not only avoid the lava but also navigate through obstacles placed across the playground. Good luck.”

Jungkook groaned audibly, glaring in the direction of the guards. Obstacles? Really? Are they trying to kill us faster? His legs already ached from the previous rounds, and now he had to dodge hurdles, crawl under bars, and climb across nets.

He shot a bitter look at the guards. If I survive this, I’m coming for you all, he thought angrily.

From across the playground, Taehyung was leaning casually against a climbing frame, his arms crossed as he watched jungkook.

A smirk tugged at his lips. I knew you’d hate this game, Jungkook. After all, he had arranged the games himself. He knew every twist, every rule. And if it meant keeping his petal on edge and under his gaze, he wasn’t about to hold back.

The buzzer sounded, and chaos erupted once again.

Jungkook darted toward a small jungle gym, narrowly avoiding the glowing patches of lava spreading across the floor. He climbed up quickly, gritting his teeth as the equipment wobbled beneath his weight. The obstacles made everything ten times harder—there were ropes to swing on, balance beams to cross, and random wooden planks blocking paths.

“This is insane,” he muttered, ducking under a bar and hopping onto a seesaw that was already starting to tilt.

Meanwhile, Taehyung was making his way across a set of monkey bars with ease, his sharp eyes flickering to Jungkook every few seconds. He’s struggling, Taehyung thought with a smirk. Of course he is. He always hated this game.

Taehyung’s gaze lingered on Jungkook a moment too long, and as he reached the final bar, he intentionally let himself slip.

“Shit,” he muttered, hitting the ground hard with a loud thud.

It wasn’t a bad fall, but it was enough to make him groan in pain. The players closest to him barely spared him a glance, too busy trying to save themselves, but Taehyung knew exactly who he wanted to notice.

Sure enough, Jungkook’s head whipped around at the sound.

Taehyung grinned internally. That’s right, petal. Come help me.

Jungkook froze for a moment, his chest tightening when he saw Taehyung on the ground. The lava was creeping closer to him, glowing ominously. Without thinking, Jungkook turned, ready to run back and help.

But before he could, someone else got there first.

“Get up,” Yoongi said flatly, grabbing Taehyung’s arm and pulling him to his feet with surprising strength.

Taehyung bit back a curse. Yoongi?! Not you! I wanted Jungkook!

Still, he appreciated Yoongi’s help as they started running together, the lava barely a step behind them. Taehyung’s knee was scraped and bleeding from the fall, and his trousers had torn slightly, exposing the raw skin. His lip was split too, though he barely noticed it.

He didn’t care about the injuries. What bothered him most was the fact that Yoongi had swooped in before Jungkook could!

Damn it, he thought bitterly, his jaw clenching as he ran. I appreciate the help, Yoongi, but this wasn’t part of the plan.

As they reached the next obstacle—a narrow rope bridge—Taehyung glanced over his shoulder. Jungkook was still running.

For a split second, their eyes met.

Jungkook quickly looked away, focusing on his path, but Taehyung caught it. The way Jungkook hesitated, the way he looked back even after deciding not to help—it was enough.

You’re not over me, Taehyung thought with satisfaction. Not even close.

Jungkook, on the other hand, was cursing himself as he jumped onto a balance beam. Why did I look back? Why do I even care if he’s okay? He gritted his teeth, pushing himself forward, refusing to dwell on the fact that he had cared.

The buzzer blared, signaling the end of the round.

Jungkook collapsed onto a safe platform, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his mind racing.

Taehyung, bloodied but unbothered, sauntered over to a nearby bench and sat down.

Yoongi sat beside him, “You’re welcome, by the way,” he muttered.

Taehyung smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thanks,” he said simply, though his tone lacked warmth.

Yoongi raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. He leaned back, glancing at the other players. “You’re lucky you didn’t fall into the lava. You’d have been gone in seconds.”

Taehyung didn’t respond, his eyes drifting back to Jungkook, who was now sitting on the ground, drinking water and glaring at nothing in particular.

You looked back, Koo, Taehyung thought, his lips curving into a faint smile. And that’s all I needed to know.

────୨ৎ────

So I hope you liked the chapter!

What was your favourite moment ?