a double update?? heck yeah

ps taehyung isn't ugly. literally, pls
don't think i mean it🥺 he's the exact
definition of beautiful

♡♡♡︎

Seeing Jeon Jeongguk with somebody other than his friends was probably the weirdest sight anybody in school ever witnessed, especially when the guy next to him was a loser like Taehyung.

He was used to the stares, and maybe Jeongguk was too, but for a completely different reason. After all, he was the captain of the boys' volleyball team and an actual sex magnet (not Taehyung's words), so he supposed his guess was pretty accurate. 

Jeongguk rarely came to class that the idiot forgot how to wear his uniform. The two of them spent the morning bickering over toast and the entire student handbook that Jeongguk insisted that didn't apply to him ("Shut up you're wasting braincells speaking").

In the end, Taehyung managed to magically get Jeon Jeongguk fitted into one of their crimson blazers, crisp white button-up, pressed black slacks, and matching oxfords. It was a start, and despite the fact Jeongguk refused to wear his tie and unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt, it was a good start.

"Gosh, should I like walk to the front of class and introduce myself?" Jeongguk gushed, sarcasm radiating off his words as he trailed after Taehyung like a lost puppy (if only Tae could kick him).

"Hello, my name is Jeon Jeongguk, seventeen years old and a hundred times smarter than your student council president. Please take good care of me," The younger mused, making his voice sound higher than it already was, which only made the older want to punch him.

"I will bodyslam you onto the desk if you don't shut the hell up," Taehyung mumbled, trying to pick up the pace, thankful that at least his legs were longer than Jeongguk's.

"Wanna fuckin' bet Specs?" Jeongguk snorted. "I can serve you like a volleyball out the window if you just asked." He shot back.

Taehyung whipped his head over his shoulder, eyes narrowing at him once he found their seats at the front. It took everything within him to not tell him off, knowing damn well everyone was staring, perhaps wondering what the hell was going on. He inhaled sharply, sitting himself down, focusing on the whiteboard rather than the idiot on his right.

God, he probably shouldn't have agreed to whatever this was.

He really needed to do better at keeping himself together. Jeongguk, out of all people, shouldn't be pitying him for something in the control of forces beyond nature rather than his own hands. He was better than that; composure was his middle name.

Jeongguk shouldn't be involved in any of his personal business: they weren't friends.

Yet Jeongguk caught him crying. He wondered how Jeongguk stayed when he probably looked terrible with all that snot and runny tears. He was a messy crier, unable to contain himself whenever he got all choked up, and soon enough everything just fell apart.

And of course, he put himself back together with a bowl of ramen and heartwarming gay anime with a picture frame of his dads next to him (homesickness sucked). Mean words weren't supposed to affect the student council president. He was beyond them; he knew his worth.

But did he really when he was nothing but an ugly, nameless face to all of his peers?

"Hey, stop thinking, specs. Class hasn't even started yet," Jeongguk nudged his side, snapping him out of his thoughts. Taehyung nodded, forcing his lips into a sliver of a grin until the younger was distracted by some pretty girl.

Part of him still envied Jeongguk, hated him perhaps that he was good-looking. He didn't have to suffer through years of endless bullying and name-calling, or the adults telling him that 'kids will grow out of that phase' when really, those insults just worsen.

Jeon Jeongguk had it easy for him. He was able to be open about anything without being judged. He could flaunt his sexuality effortlessly, and people wouldn't bat an eyelash. Jeongguk could date people without any limits. People liked Jeongguk because he was a pretty boy, while Taehyung was just that one loser, and people immediately hated him for it.

But then that other half, the half that accepted his little plan, though that maybe Jeongguk could help him.

Besides the ego bigger than his head, his irritating attitude, and his occasional rude comments, he guessed he could look past that. Jeongguk seemed like a guy to keep his promise, and who knew, maybe something good could come out of it even though this idea of a 'full-on makeover' went against loving yourself.

Loving yourself was hard, but maybe if he changed his looks things would be easier.

"I leave you for a few minutes and you're already analyzing shit?" Jeongguk nudged his side again, whining like a little kid, again. Class didn't even start yet, what was his rush?

"I leave you for a few minutes and you're already strategically finding ways to get into some random girl's underwear," Taehyung sighed, sarcasm falling from his lips effortlessly as he adjusted his glasses.

"Ouch. You really think I'm all about the sex, don't ya, Specs?" Jeongguk asked, crossing his arms over the desk. He could hear the pout in his voice easily.

"Kinda," He shrugged, getting out his binder from his backpack. "The council calls you a mobilized form of terror to the student body's sexual health."

"Is that smart lingo for saying I'm a giant walking STD?"

"Five points to Jeon Jeongguk!" Taehyung rolled his eyes, opening up his planner to write down the class calender for the day, knowing their Chem teacher would go nuts if they didn't.

"Isn't trash talking students beyond your moral code?" Jeongguk muttered. "You're just jealous that I have sex like a healthy teenager."

"Nope," His brow furrowed as he broke the tip of his led. Aggressively pressing the end to his pencil, he met the younger's gaze. "I very much appreciate my body, and I chose to abstain from sex unless it's with a trusted significant other."

"That's smart talk for 'I'm a fucking virgin' isn't it?"

"S-shut up," Taehyung squeezed his pencil in his grip, bunching his shoulders together as he tried to hide the way his cheeks suddenly flushed with this unbearable warmth. "M'not a virgin."

"All virgins deny it, Specs. It's okay. When I'm done being your fairygod-dude, my magic will rock your world," Jeongguk said smugly, but the smirk he wore immediately fell when he realized what he said.

"T-that wasn't an innuendo, you know," He cleared his throat, now fumbling for his own binder. The older nodded slowly, face reddened and ablaze.

"And I was kidding, I respect your choice," Jeongguk added quietly, his words shocking the older. "Sex is freaky anyways. Pfft, who needs it, cause I totally don't. Abstinence is for winners!" He joked.

"Just please shut up while you can," Taehyung begged, and thankfully, Jeongguk did.

Chemistry wasn't that bad, except for the occasional mean whisper and the flirty comment Jeongguk shot toward anything that breathed and could spread its legs. Taehyung tried to focus on hydrocarbons and naming those stupid alkanes and alkenes, not on Jeongguk's sexual escapades.

However, Hoseok wasn't joking when he said Jeongguk actually had a brain.

Taehyung expected him to flop and not take the class seriously, but here he was, eyes slightly widened and mouth hanging while he watched Jeongguk easily knock out those molecular structural drawings.

He finished them before he could, and as he worked, he held the pencil carefully, tongue sticking between his pressed lips as he drew out every hydrogen on the carbon chain, not forgetting the methyl or ethyl groups on the side.

The entire time he refused to flirt with anyone. Any girl that walked by, Jeongguk barely even flinched. He simply waved them off, giving them an apologetic smile, handed them his number and went back to business.

When he was done, he gently set his pencil on the desk and cracked the biggest smile, proudly shoving his paper in Taehyung's direction for him to check.

"Take that, specs," Jeongguk smirked, to which the older merely rolled his eyes at. That egotistical child.

If Taehyung was some other person, he would have been amazed at Jeongguk's ability to work quickly. He wondered if he picked up any hookups this way, but he couldn't quite imagine hearing him say "if I can draw 2-methlypropane in less than a minute, can I show you my dick?" any time to anyone.

"Looks like you are capable of thinking with your brain rather than your dick," Taehyung grumbled, exhaling through his nose realizing Jeongguk was right. What else could he do?

"My dad worries for no reason," Jeongguk said, leaning back in his seat, stretching his arms behind his head. "Class is irrelevant. I don't need a teacher's dear love and attention."

"School is literally about showing up," He muttered. The younger snorted, rolling his eyes.

"No, it's mostly doing your homework and doing good on tests," Jeongguk retorted. "I have a 4.5 GPA, Specs. Don't underestimate my power."

"A w-what? I have a 4.4," Taehyung stammered, eyes nearly bulging from behind his glasses. There was no way he was smarter than him. "How is that possible? What?"

"I do my work," Jeongguk smirked, shrugging like it was nothing. "You jealous, Specky?" Yes, but not because of that.

"Frick off," He groaned, hearing the bell ring. The teacher said something about homework, but he got it all down, so he didn't pay much attention. "You're free to ditch me by the way. The bell rang."

"No shit sherlock," The younger said, raising an eyebrow at him. "And why would I ditch you? We have a whole ass agreement to start working on."

"We have to put that on hold," Taehyung told him, putting away his things hastily. "I have things to do. It's a free period."

"By things you mean what exactly?" He could feel Jeongguk's gaze fixated on him, following his every move, and to be honest, Taehyung didn't understand why he wasn't squirming beneath his gaze. He shook his head, pushing the thought away as he zipped up his pencil case.

"Homework. I go off campus and do it at Sunshine Sips," Taehyung explained, immediately cursing at himself for revealing his super secret plan. Jeongguk noticed the mistake immediately, the smirk he wore growing on his lips.

"What a coincidence— I have a free period, too," Jeongguk chuckled, getting up. He casually tossed his bag strap over his shoulder and waited beside his desk, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"No you don't. Go do Jeongguk things," The older snapped, fumbling with his backpack as he slid his arms into the straps awkwardly.

He got up, almost bumping right into Jeongguk's chest. He tilted his gaze upward, breath catching in his throat when he realized their close proximity, the other's features somehow clearer in his field of view. He quickly pushed his glasses up his nose, gulping.

Jeongguk raised a questioning eyebrow as Taehyung took a step back, digging his nails into his palms. It was oddly silent now, and neither one of them knew why. It wasn't like Taehyung's heart was racing; in fact it was oddly calm, stilling in the cavity of his chest. 

Nothing happened, and nothing was the reaction.

"I'm gonna go with you, and we're gonna take on the first step to our immaculate plan of getting you a boyfriend," Jeongguk said after some time, sliding his hands into his pants pockets.

"If it changes your mind, I'll pay for your boba."

"You will?" Taehyung's ears immediately perked up, hearing the words 'boba' and 'free' in the same sentence. Jeongguk nodded once, licking his lips.

"Yeah. But we're not going out as anything, okay? Not even friends. Remember, the rules," He said sternly. Taehyung rolled his eyes, brushing past him. This guy really was a handful.

"I know, idiot. C'mon. Let's go before the hour's over," Taehyung gestured him to follow him, the edge of his lip quirked into half a smile. Jeongguk sighed, shaking his head to the side before joining the older.

♡♡♡

"Lesson one of the Jeon Jeongguk's grand plan— How To Be A Top," Jeongguk declared, handing the older his boba order, snorting softly seeing his eyes light up when his drink was in his hands.

"How To Be A what now?" Taehyung's brows creased as Jeongguk led them to a booth in the back of the shop. The duo sat by the corner, away from the other customers and any windows.

"How To Be A Top," Jeongguk answered, sipping his drink. "Don't give me that look, Specky. If you want to date Jimin, you have to channel your natural inner fuckboy."

"I don't have an inner fuckboy," He deadpanned, sliding into the seat in front of him. "I've never had sex. What makes you think I can fake it?"

"M'not saying you're gonna fake it. You're gonna learn how to be one. That's the title of this plan," The younger shot back in a matter of fact tone. "We have three phases."

"Three phases? How much freetime do you have?"

"Enough to devise this entire baby. Call this plan Jeon Junior because I poured a lot of my hard effort into this," Jeongguk grinned, twirling his straw between his fingers. "We have a lot of work to do."

"Never say that again, please," Taehyung frowned, mild disgust decorating his features. "All you're doing is spitting out dead skin cells talking like that."

"Ouch. But okay, channel that bite. Anyways we're getting sidetracked. Back to what I'm saying— Phase One: the makeover," Jeongguk waved his hands in the air, gesturing a little rainbow in front of him. "We go big, or we go home here."

"How I can make sure you're not gonna turn me into the Grinch?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at the younger, straw sitting between his lips. "Or like, make me uglier just to mess with me." He added in a whisper.

To say Jeongguk wasn't affected by that would be a lie. He sat up in his seat, eyeing the older as he slouched over, head bent down to obviously avoid his gaze. Part of him wanted to make some joke about, but he hesitated, remembering what Namjoon and Yoongi said and the events at the cafteria.

What the hell did you go through, Tae?

"You have no faith in me, don't you, Specs," He said to be safe, deciding to not push any further. He might be an asshole, but he knew his limits.

"No I do. You just have the IQ of a squid, and I don't know if I should trust you completely."

"Hey, you can," Jeongguk said, defensively, though he kept down his volume, noticing the way Specs's shoulders began to droop. "I made a deal with you, and I'll stick with it. You're helping me, so I'll help you."

"You don't know if Jimin would even like a guy like me" Taehyung murmured, stirring his drink around. "All of your effort could go to waste, y'know."

"Oh shush Jimin would like you." It wasn't a full lie. They had to have atleast a couple things in common, right? Well hopefully because Taehyung was his key to getting his bestfriend back, but he wasn't going to say that.

"But—," Jeongguk raised his hand up, cutting him off. Taehyung glanced up at him, eyebrows knitted together, and by the looks of it he wanted to say something else, but Jeongguk wouldn't let him.

"Trust me, Specs. I was going to tell you that the first step was skincare. I'm gonna show you my routine, and since your face isn't that bad as mine was, I'll also spare you tips on how to use makeup," He said, crossing his arms the table, slightly leaning forward.

"Makeup? You use makeup?" Jeongguk nodded.

"Concealer, mostly. I have a knack for eyeshadow on the good days," He shrugged like it was nothing. He could tell Taehyung wanted to ask something, but he pressed his lips into a tight smile.

"Remember, the rules, Specky. No personal shit." At that, Taehyung nodded once, then twice, and they continued like nothing happrnrd.

"Alright, but know my hands aren't steady like at all," Taehyung said. "I'll mess up."

"Practice will help," Jeongguk countered, sipping his drink, chewing on the sweet boba in his mouth. "In a couple weeks, your face will be clear and smooth. I'm kinda proud you don't have any scarring."

Taehyung almost touched his face, but the younger kicked him beneath the table, causing him to yelp out loud. "Hey! What was that for?" He snapped, pain crinkling his features.

"Big rule in the laws of skincare— don't get your lil grubby hands on your face, you lil terrorizing munchkin," Jeongguk cooed, earning a dirty look from the older.

"You coulda been nicer," Taehyung grumbled, reaching below the table to rub his shin. "And don't call me munchkin, you actual ogre."

"While we get your skin all nice," Jeongguk ignored him, "we can change your hair. I was thinking we get a perm, but if not, we can start small like a trim. You got a lot of dead ends, but Jihyo can fix it."

"May I ask how you know this?" The older sighed, to which the younger responded with another shake of his head. There was no way he getting personal with anybody.

"Once you get a new cut, we could dye it. Then once we're done with that, we'll go on from there," He clapped his hands together, hoping it didn't sound so bad. After all, he made this entire plan at one in the morning with nothing but a carton of banana milk.

"You thought this out, didn't you?" Taehyung raised an eyebrow at him, but before Jeongguk could argue that his plan was valid, he noticed the little twinkle in his eyes. Was he amused by him?

"But what will we do to the Jimin part?" He asked, propping his elbow on the table, resting his chin on the cusp of his palm, pork broth-colored hair falling over his eyes.

"I can tell you the basics if you want," Jeongguk shrugged. "Jimin's birthday is on October 13th, he's been a setter ever since middle school. He's a people person, very, very confident, likes all cats, sweets, drinking, parties, and sex." He listed them off on his fingers.

"Was the sex part really necessary?" Taehyung's nose scrunched a little bit.

"Do you even know how to have sex, Specs?" The younger raised an eyebrow at him, biting back the smirk twitching on his lips when the older's ears began to match his blazer. "I can explain. First you prep the—,"

"N-No, I get it. I know what sex is. Does it mean that much to Jimin?" He asked softly. Jeongguk nodded slowly, supposing it did. Jimin liked sex as much as he did. It was practically one of his hobbies, but he didn't want to scare Little Specs like that.

"Alright," Taehyung swallowed, pushing aside his empty drink. "I-I think I can do this? I dunno, but I promise to try... We'll see if it works out."

"It will work out, but can I ask something?"

"Yeah? Please don't ask anything sex related, or else I will personally chop off your limbs."

"How did you meet Jimin? It's technically not a personal question, so it's valid," Jeongguk clarified, slightly tilting his head to the side to get a better look at Spec's features while the older seemed to be stuck in thought.

The longer he studied Specs, he knew he wasn't as ugly as he and the others thought him to be. Specs was the kind of good-looking that took time to find; it wasn't on the surface for display— you had to dig a little bit before you hit the jackpot.

In fact, he wasn't ugly at all, he just didn't know how to put himself together.

Something like a stone dropped into the pit of his stomach, sinking further and further, weighing him down along with it. His throat was suddenly dry, and even though he cleared his throat, he couldn't help but feel that nagging feeling in the back of his mind.

He shouldn't have judged Specs like he did, but he supposed it was simple habit after hanging out with Namjoon, Yoongi, and Jimin for years. Fuck, he could remember everytime they sat in Namjoon's basement, talking shit on people who didn't deserve it, yet he sat there, agreeing anyways.

But even that was a bullshit excuse, yet he knew he would never admit this out loud. He just couldn't.

When Specs finally lifted his gaze away from his lap, Jeongguk turned his head the other way, pretending to study a plant bowl hanging above them. He tried to whistle a tune, unsure why he was shifting in his seat when moments ago he was fine.

"I met him last summer," Taehyung spoke carefully as though he was trying to find the right words to describe this moment. "I had to work to buy a gift for my one of my dad's birthday, and I felt bad I didn't get him anything last time, so I did night shifts."

"He was stressed out from work, and he was grumpy, so I thought I could buy him a coloring book because I remembered he loved to draw." Jeongguk didn't want to feel like an asshole and tell him that he was getting too personal, so he kept listening.

"Anyways, they were late shifts. Terrible hours. It was then did I meet Jimin," It was the way did the older's face ease, which made Jeongguk realize he wasn't kidding.

He actually liked Park Jimin. Like, liked like.

"He was sweet, and he treated me like a person," He murmured, voice shy and cheeks tinted a rosy pink. Taehyung smiled to himself, his eyes squinting ever so slightly. "We talked about things we liked all night while we worked. I looked forward to every shift, wanting to see him and hear him talk about his love for volleyball." 

His eyes sparkled with this sort of light he couldn't quite explain as he continued to talk about Jimin, and the longer he did, Jeongguk's smile slowly fell from his lips. The guy actually cared for him, and he could tell by the way he chuckled to himself with every little memory and inside joke he told him that what he felt was genuine.

Jeongguk wasn't sure what to think.

Taehyung talked about Jimin like he really knew him, which wasn't exactly the case. Maybe he did, he didn't know, but Jeongguk knew Jimin since he was born. The guy was practically a brother to him, and he knew every side to Jimin that others failed to see.

It was obvious, however, that Taehyung didn't truly know the many faces of Park Jimin just yet.

But maybe Taehyung was good for Jimin, rather than him. Maybe there was a possibility to change Jimin, make him a better person. Jimin wanted a boyfriend, and Taehyung seemed to want the same thing. Jeongguk wanted none of those things.

This idea is good, Jeongguk thought, chewing at his inner cheek as Taehyung droned on about Jimin's laugh. With some work, they could date. You can hand him off to Jimin and focus on volleyball. All that matters is your future, Jeongguk, not them.

"Ah crap, look at the time," Taehyung realized, face a bright hue of red when he stopped himself from rambling on and on. "Frack, I probably creeped you out, didn't I?" Jeongguk snapped out of his thoughts.

"No, n-no you didn't," He said, blinking, glancing at his Apple watch on his wrist. "M'guessing you really do like him." At that, Taehyung flushed a deeper crimson.

"Y-yeah? I guess so? But it's not a big deal," He chuckled awkwardly, following after Jeongguk who got up. "I'll treat you next time, by the way."

"You don't have to," Jeongguk murmured coldly, tone hardening. He knew Taehyung was smart, so of course he noticed, but he brushed it aside, instead speeding up his pace. Before he did, he  didn't forget to wave at the Jungs.

"With that attitude I won't. When you're in a better mood, I'll buy you barbecue next time," Taehyung punched his shoulder, hoping to ease the mood, but it did the complete opposite.

The walk back to the school was silent, and the rest of the time, Jeongguk couldn't help but get this odd feeling that maybe he wasn't helping Taehyung. But before he could overthink, he discarded the idea away, knowing that this was right, hooking them together.

It was right. It had to be.

♡♡♡︎

m'sorry there's no action yet😔
i wanna get to tae's big makeover,
buuut at the same time show ya'll
their characters a bit more hehe (: i
hope you like them like i do,, ik
it's hard to like them at first ahhh
BEAR WITH ME!! 🥰

but n e ways, i hope you guys are
taking good care of yourselves!! stay
healthy and strong, and i hope you're
having a good day/night💛💛 lub uu
- mela

ps i hope u notice that the chapter
titles have a trend 👀👀👀