i'd like to say thank you SO MUCH for 15k 🥺
it makes me happy you guys enjoy my books,
and honestly that's all that matters 💛💛
so here's a special extra update hehe

honestly suggest listening to sweet night
scenery, & jk's ending scene on the date part
(trust me, it sets the vibe😎)

♡♡♡

Jimin and Taehyung were going to date, and like he promised, Jeongguk was going to help.

The two of them were in the living room, or well, Jeongguk placed a chair a good couple feet away from his room and forced Taehyung to sit down on it while he searched for some old clothes. The older asked why they weren't just going into his room, and Jeongguk shut him up by throwing a pillow at his face.

It seemed to work because Specs didn't mention anything about their current situation after that.

"For the first date, you gotta wear something nicer than that, Specs," Jeongguk said, gesturing at the baggy sweatpants and the oversized jacket that practically ate up Taehyung's figure.

"The whole point is to show off how hot you are."

"Are you calling me hot, Jeon?" Taehyung teased, which immediately made his face all hot and gross (yuck). Jeongguk merely blinked, his lips curling upward into a tight smile.

"I'm using hypotheticals, Specs," He clapped his hands together, fingers folding over one another and cleared his throat. "Please don't warp my words into compliments, thanks."

"I mean you could give me a compliment. I wouldn't hate it completely," The older bit his lip, earning a death glare from the younger.

"Stop."

"Stop what?" Was he teasing him?

"Stop that. Stop being a fuckboy. I'm supposed to be the fuckboy in this pal-ship," Jeongguk scowled, not at all appreciating the way the older was snickering at him. "There's only room for one of us."

"So what am I gonna be?" Taehyung asked, leaning back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest. The younger raised an eyebrow at him like he was being stupid.

"A loyal bitch. That's who you are."

"Ouch," He heard the older's laughter follow him as he ventured back into his room. He rolled his eyes, going to find the outfits he managed to dig from the pile of clothes stuffed in his closet.

Jeongguk didn't get rid of his clothes back from the last three years of boarding school, which he kinda regretted because his closet was full of unnecessary shit that couldn't fit his body. He was skinny back then, and it took awhile for him to get his body into the amazing-ness it was right now.

There was a good chance Taehyung could fit them. If his predictions were correct, Taehyung was skinny beneath all those layers and probably had a smaller build. It would make sense, and the most Jeongguk had seen his body frame was in his school uniform, but even his blazer and jeans didn't fit him properly.

He came back out with all black, an outfit he guessed would look good on Specs. When he returned, he saw the boy was on his phone, giggling as his thumbs danced over his screen. The smile he wore crumbled around the edges as he leaned against the door, knowing that oh-so familiar blush on Specs's cheeks.

It didn't take him long to realize who it was.

They were texting now, huh.

"Hey Specs?" Jeongguk cleared his throat, his lips pressed into a thin line. Taehyung's head shot up, finally noticing that he was there, ready for him.

"You're really in the mood for flirting, hm,"

"Sorry," He mumbled, shutting his phone off and slipping it into his hoodie pocket. "My attention is all yours, Jeon." He said, spreading his legs as he draped his arm over the chair, which was quite the sight for Jeongguk.

He didn't expect that. "Alright," He blinked, trying to ignore how Taehyung was spread out on the chair. "I have things I'd like you to try on. It's simple, and it's skintight. None of that baggy stuff until you two have been dating for a bit."

"What? My clothes are offended you don't like them," Taehyung said, chuckling a little. He pinched the material of his jacket, "This is mad at you."

"It's clothes, Specs. It doesn't have any feelings," Jeongguk retorted, handing the clothes out for him to take. "I'd like you to get undressed right now."

"Did you just ask to me undress?"

"Yeah," Jeongguk shrugged like it was nothing. "C'mon. Clothes, off."

"Like in front of you?" The older's nose scrunched together. It took a moment for Jeongguk to realize what he meant, and he did, hand flying up to the side of his neck, scratching the skin awkwardly.

"I mean we're guys, so I wouldn't care," He said, knowing Taehyung was staring at him, but he just couldn't bring himself to meet his gaze. "Feel free to strip however you want, but like, not in a gay way."

"Oh? There's a gay way to strip now?" Specs snorted. Jeongguk swallowed, ears burning.

"Can I remind you that we both like dick?"

"No! Well yeah, I like some dick, but not exactly your dick. You don't like mine either so— you know what I mean, here. Take these," He dumped them on the younger, grumbling. "Stop being flirty, Specs. I'm not in the mood for flirty."

"I'm not being flirty," Taehyung let out a gentle laugh as he got up from the chair. "I'm just letting out my inner fuckboy." He said, brushing past the younger.

"Well for my convenience please put it away?" Jeongguk asked, carding his fingers through his raven locks. Taehyung stood by the entrance to his bedroom, eyebrow quirked upward.

"If you say so," He shrugged before shutting the door behind him, leaving Jeongguk alone.

"I've unleashed a monster," Jeongguk mumbled, sitting down on the side of the couch, arms crossed over his chest.

He was right: he did unleash a monster.

Ever since Taehyung got that makeover, people swarmed them. Those kinky little shits, wanting Taehyung to yell at them and get super turned on. Then they come to Jeongguk, knowing Taehyung didn't do that type of stuff so it left it to him to finish what he started.

What type of dumbfuckery was that? Jeongguk didn't argue because it was a free fuck, but it didn't feel like a full fuck. Hell, one time somebody moaned Taehyung's name instead of his.

It didn't feel right, but he supposed this was what they did to him. However, Jeongguk didn't want this for Taehyung— the point of this makeover was for Jimin, not for the horny little bastards that attended this boarding school.

So, he tried to end those things behind Taehyung's back.

Sometimes he overheard them talking about Specs in gross, sexual ways, thinking like they knew him now even though they forgot who he was for years. A part of him would snap if heard another 'dick me down Tae' in public, so he did what every pal would do for their pal. 

He told them to fuck off! Told them not to touch Taehyung, not to think of Taehyung, and if he saw them even try to live their dumb kinky fantasies by approaching Taehyung, he would gratefully spike a volleyball to their face! 

Usually did the trick. Somewhat lowered the amount of hookups he got recently, but it was worth it.

"Jeon," He snapped out of his thoughts, giving his full attention to Specs. He glanced upward, seeing Taehyung hiding behind the door. "I-I don't know."

"What? Speak up Specs," Jeongguk said, resting his hands on his knees. "Can't hear you." Was this a rare occurrence? Specs turned shy for him again?

"I-I just. I don't know if y-you'd like it," Taehyung murmured, drumming his fingers against the wall. "It's n-new. Like really, really new, and it's tight."

"Promise I won't judge you, Specs. In our contract, it has a strict no judging policy," The younger gestured for him to come out. Taehyung scowled, raising an eyebrow at him.

"All I saw was 'don't mean anything cuz issa fake date' you idiot," He chuckled softly, the frown around his lips shifting into one of his shy smiles. Jeongguk shrugged, knowing that it was true, but a part of him wanted Specs to be comfortable around him.

"M'serious, Specs. I won't judge you when you come out," He said. Taehyung gulped and nodded once, hiding behind the door for a couple of moments. The younger waited, hoping he wasn't changing back into his old clothes.

Just as he was about to open his mouth, Taehyung walked toward him, eyes squeezed shut and hands held out in front of him to make sure he won't run anything down. When he was coming too close, he shot up to his feet, Jeongguk's hands gently curling around his wrists, steadying him.

"I'm keeping my eyes closed," Taehyung squeaked, to which Jeongguk could barely reply to because he himself was busy staring.

Taehyung was indeed not at all smaller than him. This entire time he was hiding broad shoulders, a tiny waist accentuated by the black belt Jeongguk gave him, and long as fuck legs exposed in his black skinny jeans which hugged his figure. His thighs, my god, he had massive thighs that were clearly strained against the material.

And an ass? Oh my god he had an ass. He glanced around him, curious, and oh. Kim Taehyung was hiding this from people, and for what? Well, it was good. Good since Jeongguk was the first to make this grand scientific discovery.

Jeongguk couldn't think after that. Literally no  thoughts except 'what the fuck' repeated in his mind. It made things worse that Taehyung was wearing his clothes, and fuck, he made them look good.

Okay, this was inappropriate; he knew he shouldn't focus on Taehyung's body. That was a low move, and he knew Specs probably didn't want to be viewed as some sex object— he was more than that. Fuck, It shouldn't have crossed his mind in the first place.

Maybe he should be the one spiking a ball to his face.

"I-Is it bad? I-I can go change?" Taehyung said, but Jeongguk stayed silent. The older slowly peeled his eyes open, suddenly realizing their position. His adam's apple bobbed nervously in his neck seeing that Jeongguk was towering over him.

"Not at all Specs," Jeongguk cleared his throat, pulling his eyes away from his body and back to his questioning stare. "You look great."

"Really? Don't lie," He whispered, lowering his arms to his side. Jeongguk carefully squeezed his tiny wrists, shaking his head.

"Nah I'm not lying. You were lying though. You were hiding this from everyone," He teased, watching as the older rolled his eyes at him.

"I wasn't lying. I just... didn't love my face, so it made sense I didn't love my body too," Taehyung shrugged like it was nothing, like hating on himself was just another thing he did often.

Jeongguk didn't like that. "Well I don't know if my opinion is valid, but if you want my completely unbiased review, I think you look really good. You should give yourself some more credit."

"Didn't think I was gonna get a Jeon Jeongguk review," He chuckled softly, his gaze focused solely on him, which made Jeongguk shift awkwardly beneath his gaze. "But thanks. I appreciate it." 

"Confidence is key, Specs. I'm teaching you how to be a top, so you gotta act like one," Jeongguk joked, realizing he was still touching the older. He gulped, slowly retracting his hands away from his wrists, slipping them back into his jean pockets.

"Oh really now? Do they have some specific way to talk?" Taehyung asked, lifting an eyebrow lazily at the younger.

"Well I guess. You can give it a shot, but you might be wrong," Jeongguk shrugged, which only made him snort.

"I'm gonna be so dominant, you're gonna be begging me to fuck you," The older suddenly took a swift step closer, catching Jeongguk completely off guard. The backs of his legs brushed against the side of the couch, nearly causing him to topple over.

"One, tops don't ever talk like that," He said, throat swelling shut as his gaze met Taehyung's narrowed eyes, mind spasming when the tip of Tae's tongue flicked painfully slow across his own bottom lip.

"Two, it's Jimin you wanna fuck, Specs, but I guess m'flattered?"

"I was joking, Jeon," Taehyung took a step back, unaware that he snatched the air out of Jeongguk's lungs by pulling that little trick. Not cool.

"W-what did I say about turning off your inner fuckboy around me! There's only room for one of us," Jeongguk grumbled, not at all appreciating the way his neck was practically on fire (hopefully he didn't notice).

"Whatever Jeon," The older's lips slacked into a lazy smirk, one that made Jeongguk roll his eyes. "Now, what are we doing on our fake date today?"

"Oh, yes, our fake date," He said, scratching the side of his neck. "Well, you see, it's going to be simple. A basic first date that anyone, even you, can master."

"Great then. Know that I pass just about everything," Taehyung said, grabbing the jean jacket Jeongguk left for him on the couch and sliding it over his arms.

"Sure you do. Who has the 4.5 GPA here?" Jeongguk snorted, pulling himself back together as Taehyung elbowed his side, bringing a smile to both of their faces.

"I'll consider if you pass since I'm way more experienced than you."

"Really? Since you're so experienced, can I ask how many relationships you've had before?" Taehyung asked as the two of them exited from their dorm, walking side by side. Jeongguk didn't quite expect that question as he shoved his keys into his pocket.

"Like real ones?" The older nodded. "Like five, four? Didn't have a lot of girlfriends or boyfriends. Never really had the time for them."

"But you have time for me?"

"What?" Jeongguk stopped by the elevator, eyebrows furrowed. Taehyung simply shrugged, flashing one of those stupid smirks at him.

"I'm flattered, Jeon, that you have time for me," Taehyung said, softening his tone. "You're the first to ever do that, really."

"Shut up," The younger muttered, ears blistering hot as he heard the older chuckle once they slipped into the elevator. For the rest of them, neither one of them speaks for the entire way down.

♡♡♡

"So, first rule of first dates," Jeongguk said, the two of them walking downtown together. It was busy at night. Street performers busked, the dangling lights above the small strip twinkled like stars that fell too close to the ground, people strolled about, and stores either smelled strongly of good food, or sweet candles.

"What are they?" Taehyung asked, staying close to his side, which the younger seemed to notice, but he didn't put much thought into it.

"You gotta be on time, put your damn phone away," He gestured at the phone Taehyung was holding onto. He quickly tucked it away.

"Give them your entire attention, ask questions yada yada. Be yourself."

"Is there anything else?" The older followed the younger into this small aesthetic shop with people inside. Jeongguk nodded, holding the door open for him, his other hand gently settling on the small of his back.

"We'll talk about it when we get inside. I have a feeling you'll like this," Jeongguk winked at him and walked off to the front desk, leaving Taehyung awkwardly standing around as he surveyed the entire room.

It was cozy in there, the entire room a mixture of soft neutral whites and grays and wooden floors. The venue looked straight out of an aesthetic pinterest post.

The older noticed the people at the tables were all mostly couples ranging from early twenties to older sixties. It took him some time to realize that they were drinking wine and eating snacks, and on the tables were small art projects.

Some were sitting together, painting on small square canvases while following Bob Ross tutorials, and others were chatting quietly while they made cute little couples bracelets.

Taehyung blinked several times, completely taken a back by the effort Jeongguk put into this— it was just a fake date, yet it felt... real.

"You really took me to a couples' art session?" He murmured, pulling the younger's sleeve so he could hear him over the gentle violin and piano music playing in the background.

"Effort is a big thing in dates, Specs. Listen when I say it makes things more memorable," Jeongguk replied, his hand settling on that same spot as he guided him to a table in the back next to a giant window overlooking downtown.

"This will be the best fake date you've ever had."

Jeongguk even held the chair out for him! The older eyed the boy skeptically, shocked to see Jeongguk was capable of doing something as thoughtful as this.

Maybe he wasn't just an asshole who thought with dick. Maybe somewhere in him there was a heart.

A heart Taehyung didn't know existed until now.

"Because we are severely underaged, they are giving us sparkling water," Jeongguk explained to him when a waitress came by, filling their wine glasses with a fizzy clear drink. "Classy, right?"

"Didn't think you'd do this for me," Taehyung said in a matter of fact way, taking a sip of his drink as a lady came by to give them material for bracelets first.

"It's a fake date, Specs. Gotta teach you right," He teased, slightly bowing his head for the woman before she left. "Now, listen. When you're together like this, it might be awkward."

"Since we are pals, we have jumped that hurdle."

"So are you saying we should get to know eachother right now?" Taehyung asked, eyeing the small box of beads the woman gave him. He couldn't help but smile when he noticed the word beads, knowing what he was going to make.

"Yeah. Forget the personal rule. The point of dates is to become personal so you can see if they're the one for you," Jeongguk explained, already starting on his bracelet.

"We're not dating to fuck Specs," He said, giving him stupid finger guns. "We're fake dating to marry."

What a dork.

"Alrightie then. When did you realize you fell in love with volleyball?" He noticed the younger froze, but before he could apologize, he began to chuckle.

"Damn, you're really cutting to the point, aren't you Specs?" The younger glanced up at him, smiling for a moment before he returned to making his bracelet.

"You don't have to answer," Taehyung said, putting together a blue bracelet for Jeongguk, noticing the other couples were doing something like that. Not that they were a couple though. They were pals.

"Well I fell in love with volleyball because of my mom," Jeongguk said, catching him off guard, but Taehyung listened anyways. "My mom coached my sister's team, and since I was joined to her hip, I learned the game and loved it like she did."

"That's really cute," The older murmured, finding himself smiling while he threaded a cute little star bead on the bracelet. "Did your dad approve of it?"

"He wanted me to play a manly sport like basketball or soccer," Jeongguk shrugged, and he noticed how his eyes twinkled when he seemed to speak about his mom, "but my mom told him volleyball was just as worth it as any other dream."

"She always fought for me, even if I fucked up."

"She sounds really cool," Taehyung murmured, sneaking a glance at Jeongguk to make sure he didn't overstep. Instead, he noticed that he was too focused on his bracelet.

It was cute, seeing his brows scrunch together when he couldn't slide a bead on. When he dropped a bead, he would curse lightly and murmur dumb death threats to the beads like they were actual people.

"How was it living with two dads?" Jeongguk asked, swearing softly when a bead fell from his hands. At that, Taehyung's smile grew wider.

"It's something," He said after thinking about it. "My dads' are used to all the stares they get, but they'd rather get stared at then have to be apart just 'cause some people aren't comfortable with a black and an asian man being married and having a family."

"I could see where you get your badass-ness from," Jeongguk teased, which made the older roll his eyes.

"Warren and Siwon are the best parents I could have ever asked for," Taehyung murmured, chest aching the more he thought about his parents.

"Whenever I had scary nightmares, they'd let me sleep in their room and put on a movie. I was a sucker for Disney princesses. My dads told me I used to wear all the small dresses and little heels."

"So you were a twink from the start?"

"Shut up," He grinned, flicking a bead at him, which the younger deflected easily. "Don't bully me."

"Oh I could bully you anyday, Specs."

"Ouch. Now you're just hurting my feelings."

"If it makes you feel any better, when I was a kid, I grew up with four sisters," Jeongguk said, missing the way Taehyung's features ease when he realized the younger was getting too personal, but he said nothing, staring at the way Jeongguk focused on his art projecy.

"I was the middle. Got an older one, and the three are all young," He chuckled, probably at a memory, which Taehyung thought was sweet. "They liked to put makeup on me and paint my nails. I let them do it even if I looked like a clown because they spent hours making sure I looked pretty."

"I couldn't bring myself to tell them it looked like shit, so I encouraged them and helped them learn."

"Didn't quite pinpoint you as the sweet older brother figure," Taehyung teased, tapping Jeongguk's wrist gently. The younger glanced up, wondering what he wanted until he realized he was waiting for his wrist.

He held his wrist out, not meeting Taehyung's gaze, "And nobody will ever know about that, okay?"

"Your secret's safe with me, Jeon," He murmured, his fingers brushing against the soft skin on his wrist as he fit the string around it. When he was satisifed, he took it back to add the letter beads.

"And I like being the only one who knows this side of you," Taehyung admitted without thinking. He knew it was probably stupid, but when he looked up, he noticed the younger's ears were a shade of pink.

"It kinda feels like a special privilege."

"I have no idea if you're complimenting me or just adding to my ego," Jeongguk grumbled, earning the sweetest of laughs from the older as he gently nudged his foot beneath the table.

"Take the compliment," Taehyung murmured, not meeting his eyes but he knew Jeongguk was staring. He expected some sort of flutter, or at least a cliche epiphany, but as he sat there, he felt nothing except calmness. Nothing except a steady heart.

When they finished their bracelets, they pushed their chairs together to the next activity. Before they did, Taehyung revealed his bracelet to the younger with the biggest grin ever.

"Look! It's a whole bunch of pretty blue colors! All you wear is black, so I made this," He said, helping him put on the bracelets with an assortment of blue beads and pretty white stars.

"Do the beads really say Ugly Dick JK?" Jeongguk snorted, showing him the little letterings he chose ever so thoughtfully. Taehyung nodded, unable to hold back his laugh.

"What did you make for me?" He asked, letting the older put on a red beaded bracelet with little purple star charms on it. He twisted it over to see the letters, lips aching from the smile he wore.

"Specs? Why did I expect that?"

"You're welcome," Jeongguk nudged his side and reached for the paintbrush waiting for him.

They didn't really have a full conversation while they painted. It was more of the occasional insult or curse when Jeongguk messed up. Taehyung watched the younger from the corner of his eye while he painted, noticing how he held the paintbrush carefully, the tip of his tongue stuck between his lips as he painted on each detail.

It was a nice silence. The violin and piano in the back, the soft chatter of couples around them, and the way Jeongguk would hum a song when he was working.

Taehyung liked it, if this was how a date felt. If this was how dates were, he wouldn't want to leave.

But they eventually had to. He signed his name on the corner, proud of the abstract face he drew. The younger, on the otherhand, seemed to have drawn the sky outside the window. It was perfect, and with all honesty, Taehyung didn't expect him to be so good at art.

Jeongguk took some time to scribble his signature on the back, and once they were done, the owner of the place asked to frame their art and take a picture of them like they did with all their couples.

"Stand closer to your boyfriend," She said sweetly, holding the polaroid up. Taehyung and Jeongguk exchanged knowing looks, but before he could speak up, Jeongguk wrapped his arm around his waist, pulling him close.

"We gotta act the part. Remember that Specs," He whispered near his ear, gaze directly on the camera. Taehyung nodded dumbly, smiling when the lady took their picture.

Before they left, they watched her hang them up on the wall with hundreds of other couples' artwork and polaroids. They thanked her and bowed, but as he turned to go, the younger stayed.

Jeongguk stood by their work for a little longer, staring at their paintings. Taehyung's eyebrows furrowed together as he tugged his hoodie sleeve.

"We really do look a couple," Jeongguk murmured, his words leaving the younger confused. He simply gave him a crooked smile and went on his way with Taehyung following behind him.

♡♡♡

"So, how did you like this date?" Jeongguk asked, taking a sip of the banana milk he bought for the both of them as the two took a stroll around the park. They decided to go there instead of an actual restaurant, wanting to appreciate the weather.

"I enjoyed the painting a lot. I might go back there with Seokjin and Hoseok honestly," Taehyung said, popping a chip into his mouth. "I also liked the bracelets. You outdid yourself."

"Well I couldn't let your first date go to shit, Specs. Did you think I was gonna scar you, or something?" He snorted, which earned a smile from the older.

"You kinda already did when we first moved in together," Taehyung said in a matter of fact tone. "I'll never stop calling you Ugly-Dicked Jeongguk."

"God, don't remind me. It's branded in my mind and on my bracelet," He chuckled, showing him the blue beads that decorated his wrist. Little did Taehyung know was the fact that he treasured it; there was no way he was going to remove it.

"But it's the truth. You do have an ugly dick."

"So do you. Just saying. Not like I've seen it lol."

"Did you just say 'lol' outloud?" Taehyung asked, eyebrows raised on his features already consumed by the shadows.

"No," Jeongguk snorted, slightly thankful it was getting dark so the older wouldn't notice how red his ears got.

They walked along the path, growing silent as the sun fell between the thick clouds, the golden day slipping into darkness. It was cool, surprisingly, and the lamps around them were illuminating a hazy yellow. The sound of cars echoed throughout the empty park, and among the trees, the sky scrapers and buildings peeked from behind them.

"Tell me something about you Specs," Jeongguk blurted out of nowhere, and half expected the older to clown him, but instead Taehyung sighed.

"Like facts about myself?" The younger nodded. He merely hummed, drumming his fingers against his banana milk carton.

"I don't know? I like reading webtoons. Especially those feel good ones. The ones where the lovers take forever to realize they love one another really make me frustrated, but it feels great when they finally get together," Taehyung said, slowing his walking pace down.

"I like movies and video games? I wanna play animal crossing, but I haven't gotten the chance. I like food. Lots of food. I like art too. Oh god, this is weird," The older chuckled awkwardly.

"Why?" Jeongguk asked, throwing away his finished food in a nearby trash along with Taehyung's. "To make you feel less weird, I can tell you some things about me."

"Really?" He murmured, eyebrows easing on his features. Jeongguk nodded. "Really."

"I also like reading webtoons, but I prefer those horror ones like Bastard and Killing Stalking. Now those were good," He said, nudging Taehyung's side to get the older to smile. "I like action movies, but I guess since I grew up with girls I like romance ones."

"Did you get this idea off of a romance movie?" Taehyung teased, which brought a stupid smile to Jeongguk's lips, one he couldn't control.

"No. You really have no faith in me, Specs. I can be romantic if I want to," Jeongguk murmured, flicking the older's shoulder. "I'm super romantic."

"And I'm super straight."

"Hey, I don't appreciate the insult," He said, pretending to be offended, though he just couldn't when his damn lips kept on smiling against his own will. "Why don't you believe me?"

"Is it because I haven't made a move on you?"

"Wait what? No," Taehyung snorted, the laughter that slipped past his lips uneasy. "No not at all."

"Are you waiting for me to make a move on you Specs? Show you my technique?" Jeongguk wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at the older.

"God no. Ew stop, your eyebrows can not physically move like that," He chuckled, gently punching the younger's side, who was laughing on his own.

"Well if you insist." Jeongguk said, enjoying the way the younger kept hitting his arm to stop.

"I did not insist—oh hi there," Taehyung's voice fell into a whisper as the two stopped in their tracks. He glanced down slowly to see their hands intertwined.

Jeongguk's breath stilled in his chest as he eyed the older, waiting for a response to pull his hand away. It was weird, and he honestly felt like a middle school student holding hands with their crush (not that he was his crush). Jeongguk wasn't used to all this crap; he didn't even know how to feel.

But holy fucking shit they were holding hands!

Taehyung's hand was bigger than his, and it was somehow warm to the touch. It was weird, since his entire palm engulfed his, and his fingers were much longer, much softer against his calloused skin.

"Why are we holding hands?" Taehyung swallowed, tilting his head upward to meet his gaze.

"You said you were waiting for me to make a move so I did, idiot," Jeongguk bit his lip, awkwardly swinging their hands between them.

"So bam, a surprise. I made a move."

They continued to walk along the lake, fingers intertwined and gazes averted anywhere but at each other. Neither one of them said a thing, and with all honesty, Jeongguk was debating to pull his hand away at this point. Taehyung's hand was practically limp in his grasp.

But before he could, the older squeezed his hand, catching him off guard.

"I want to thank you," Taehyung murmured, his voice so soft it nearly blended into the sounds of the city at night. Jeongguk swallowed, unsure what to do with his hand.

"Thank me for what?" He whispered, focusing his attention straight ahead. "I did nothing."

"Don't say that," The older chuckled, gently yanking his hand. "You made me pretty."

"But you were already pretty." Oh shit.

"Oh? Oh," Taehyung said, his tone softening. "I didn't know you thought that."

"I-I mean that I didn't have to do much, or well, Jihyo didn't. You just didn't give yourself enough credit," Jeongguk admitted, his other hand clutching the side of his neck, fingers scratching at the skin.

"Well I'm saying thanks for helping me out with these things. You're a really good pal, you know."

"Yeah. I appreciate our pal-ship," He swallowed, nodding along. The two of them came to a stop by the bridge. They stood near the railing, overlooking the man-made lake that glittered beneath the moonlight.

"You know, I didn't have a lot of friends. The people here didn't give me a chance when I transfered," Taehyung murmured, staring off at the black water. "I was lucky to find Hoseok and Jin, but people were so cruel, saying they only hung out with me because they pitied me."

"I went home to my dads every weekend, crying my eyes out and telling them I wanted to transfer out."

"I didn't know that, Specs," Jeongguk whispered, a knot tying itself in his throat as he stole a glance at the older, noticing how the moonlight made him look just as breathtaking— fuck.

This was supposed to be a fake date. He signed a contract. What was he even thinking?

"Things are different now," Taehyung cleared his throat. "And it means a lot you're showing me these things. It's a nice experience, and I found a pal out of it."

"I guess I did too," Jeongguk said quietly, ignoring the way Taehyung kept himself from telling him something personal. "I had fun tonight, Specs. More than I did in a while."

"Really? You did?" The younger nodded, tugging their hands gently so now the older was facing him.

"Yeah. I'll only tell you this once. Don't let it get to your head, Specs," He pulled himself together, cramming his lips into one of his trademark smirks.

"I won't," The older grinned up at him, his free hand tucking aside his blue hair behind his ear. "Can I ask you something, Jeon?"

"Sure. Hit me with anything."

"How do dates end?" Oh, he didn't expect that.

"Well," Jeongguk said, trying to get into teaching mode, not wanting his stupid emotions or whatever to get into his head. "If it didn't go well, you say goodbye. If you think it did go well, maybe it'll end in a kiss. It depends on the person."

"Really?" Taehyung asked, which Jeongguk nodded. "So if I liked the date, I could kiss them?"

"Yeah. Our date's for practice so I don't care what you do," He shrugged. "I'm fine with just going home unless you wanna go do—,"

"—Can I kiss you?"

"W-What?" Jeongguk's eyes widened, his entire stomach dropping. He gulped, blinking rapidly as his gaze flitted between Taehyung's features to their fucking hands. "I-I didn't know you liked the date."

"You said yourself this was for practice." Right. The younger swallowed, trying to calm down the way his heart literally spasmed in his chest. He didn't not expect any of this, yet here he was, having to teach him how to kiss.

"You know what to do right? Like, please tilt your head and not smush your face against me because that would be pretty fucking weird," Jeongguk said, voice slightly cracking.

"I think I got it. I think I can kiss you," Taehyung said, and fuck, why was he so confident? Who let him be this fucking confident?

"Alright. If you say so, Specs. Please don't hurt me."

"Shut up," The older closed the gap between them, unaware of how the younger's heart was doing all kinds of twists and turns inside of his chest.

He stilled, eyes focusing on Taehyung's gentle features as he leaned forward, their interwined hands between them. Jeongguk's brows furrowed, feeling Taehyung's breath warm against his cheek, unsure why their close proximity made his heart palpitate.

Somewhere along the lines, everything silenced, the only sound he picked up being the incessant throb of his heart and his uneven breath. He closed his eyes, feeling stupid for doing so, but every time he tried to open them, he couldn't.

Specs better not fuck this up, he thought, brows drawn together as he waited, every second painful until he felt Taehyung's lips fractions above his own.

"Fucking hell you kissed my teeth!"

"I'M SO SORRY FORGIVE ME!"

Jeongguk pulled away from him, their hands flying apart as he gently touched his bottom lip. The older was covering his face, shoulders hunched together as he seemed to silently scream to himself. Jeongguk, on the otherhand, wondered how the hell somebody could miss that bad.

Even his first kiss wasn't that bad! At least he knew how to aim properly!

"I'm so so sorry! I-I didn't think I would miss your lips!" Taehyung shouted, hands trembling over his features as Jeongguk stepped closer to him, the shock wearing off faster than he expected.

"I swear your lips were closer!"

"Taehyung—,"

"—Frack I just loss half of my lip virginity and I failed. I failed! How do I miss— Oh HI THERE!"

"Shut up," Jeongguk murmured, unsure what came over him to cup Taehyung's face into the cusps of his palms. "Just shut up. Hurts me a bit that you weren't listening to me, Specs, but please quiet down." 

"I'm sorry. I'm probably the worst person you ever kissed," Taehyung cried out, his shaking fingers curling around his wrists. "I'm the worst. I'm sorry I kissed your teeth and kinda missed your mouth."

"You didn't just kinda. You kissed my chin."

"Can you please throw my body into the lake."

"Taehyung, just, calm down for a second," The younger murmured, gently shaking his face. "Get your shit together and look at me."

"I'm looking," Taehyung squeaked, his big eyes directly staring at him. "Are you gonna throw me into the lake?"

"No," Jeongguk whispered, gently running his thumb over the curve of Taehyung's bottom lip. "When you want to kiss someone, calm down. Don't think about anything except them."

"Alright. Alright I'm thinking about you," The older breathed out, his breath slightly easing back to normal.

"Good, now slightly part your lips." And he did. "I want you to relax, okay? Tilt your head like that. Ok, now I want you to close your eyes for me, Specs."

"You sure you're not going to throw me into the lake? 'Cause I'd let you," Taehyung's lips formed a small smile. He closed his eyes, which the younger was thankful for so he wouldn't see him panicking.

"Specs please shut up," And when he did, Jeongguk inhaled slowly, telling him this was just for practice. It meant nothing— they were nothing but pals, and that was all that was between them. No feelings. No stupid complications.

There was no reason to be scared because this was supposed to be nothing, to mean absolutely nothing. When he kissed him nothing was going to change between them, so why was he freaking out so much?

This was just a kiss. He done this before.

It was just a kiss.

"Are you gonna—," He kissed him.

♡♡♡

hahah they kissed as pals