"So Taehyung, do we get paid hourly or should I demand by day?" Jimin took off his black apron and huff in relief thanking the high power above for not breaking anything while he worked.

"Are you serious?" Hoseok gently tapped Jimin's head. He can't believe his friend is being so calculative.

"Yes."

"Jiminie. It's a favour to Taehyung. We are not getting any pays for this. It's Easter!" Hoseok exclaimed.

"Then Tae, can I have the blueberry muffins?" Jimin pointed at a couple of muffins resting on the display, among the last few to remain. Not because it wasn't selling but because the bakery was closed before it could stretch longer than it already was.

"Sure. I will even reserve you some more tomorrow." Taehyung nodded allowing Jimin to quickly snatch the treats while he is at it. "And guys, thanks a lot for sticking around. We had such a good business today coz you guys helped out a lot." Taehyung looked around and rested his eyes on the raven head who gave him a weak smile.

The brown head can say how tired Jungkook is right now. He wishes he could run a hot bath for the younger and pamper him for a good sleep appreciating the work he put in. Taehyung is aware how the rest of them must be equally tired, if not more than Jungkook, but he didn't wanna pamper them like he wants to with Jungkook.

"Tomorrow is the actual Easter Day. Will you need more help buddy?" Yoongi looked at his cousin brother for an answer.

"Actually no. It doesn't get busy on the day of Easter. It's always the day leading to it." Taehyung mentioned they won't need to stop by and help him at the bakery. He even gave Jin a day off. "I will be opening for half a day tomorrow and that's it. I'll manage it. Thanks guys."

Deep down, Taehyung wished for Jungkook to volunteer again. He knows he will eventually pay the guys who helped out for he is completely against free labour. Somehow, he wants the only help to be around to be Jungkook.

"I can help if you don't mind?"

There. Right there. The person who Taehyung expecting to voice out his volunteering act did just that. The raven head raised his hand and smiled meekly indicating his intention.

"Don't you have a match to start training for Kook?" Jimin said with a mouthful of a blueberry muffin, munching them messily.

"Don't speak when you're munching JiMinie." Yoongi leaned forward and pressed his thumb to clean away the crumbs at the corner of the blond head's lips. Simply taking his chance to caress the plump lips feeling the softness pressing his rough thumb.

Jimin probably would have turned the same shade as a pink lady apple for he froze in place feeling his heartbeat. Loud and clear to alert the remaining males about the PDA they were exhibiting.

"GET A ROOM!" Jin wiggled his arms in the air creating a wave of laughter by the rest while Yoongi drops his head in embarrassment, flashing his gummy smile while Jimin clears his throat. For once, the blond head felt his heart swell with excitement.

"Shut up Jin." Yoongi rolled his eyes.

"Tell that to Jimin when you top him in -..."

"Bold of you to assume I'd be a bottom?" Jimin snatched his look towards Jin, giving the older a dead stare.

"Wait what?" Hoseok was finding his amusement in the middle of this fruitful gossip when Taehyung hijacked his interrogation by asking the boys to clean up instead.

"Let's just pack up and leave alright? It's been a long day." The boss of the bakery threw each one of the boys a washcloth and asked them to start cleaning. With the effort of all the muscles combined, Taehyung and the boys made such a good job in cleaning the space. One after another excused themselves leaving our duo all alone in the bakery.

"Thanks for today Kooks." Taehyung leaned against his kitchen stool, arms crossed as he gave Jungkook a big grin.

"You're welcome." Jungkook replied with a smile as he hung the washed clothes for drying in the rack near the sink.

"You love being around here?"

"Kinda? I'm never a people's person. Working here allows me enough exposure and gives me the space to engage with others without getting too much you know?" Jungkook explained. He liked the idea of serving others behind the counter where he was gently forced to break his shy self by asking them very basic questions. He often won't have to engage in a lengthy conversation with the customer and for the most part, he won't be seeing them again.

"I can see that, you seem comfortable."

"Mhm, thanks for asking me to help out I guess?"

"Anytime Kooks. So, I heard about the upcoming match. You decided to sign up for a new one?" Taehyung questioned the younger. Without a doubt, the brown head knows that this might be one of the toughest competition with a huge cash prize to win.

Jungkook did make it clear to him that he is there for the cash prize and partially driven by his passion for the said sport as well.

"I did. The competition is in another two months."

Hearing this made Taehyung slightly worried about the timeline Jungkook is expected to fight in the match. "In two months?"

"Yep, and this might be my last competition. I don't plan to fight anymore after this. For that, I must win." Jungkook looked into a far distance, focusing on nothing particular as he spoke with such a desire in his voice. Taehyung knows for a fact that Jungkook will train extra hard after the failure he seen previously.

"You don't have to be here tomorrow Kook if you're starting your routine. I understand you probably need to be in a strict regime for the competition to give your utmost best."

Jungkook usually spares a month to train and rekindle his diet plans. This time, he is ensuring he has 2 months in preparation as he doesn't wish to have any other bitter experience of not taking that championship crown home.

"Will you come to my match this time? You kind of promise."

Taehyung wasn't expecting that question. He didn't think that Jungkook will remember his promise. Guess the younger never really forget promises. He looked into the doe eyes which held his gaze so endearing showing a sign of anticipation. There is no way Taehyung will deny Jungkook when he is looking innocence as a child, requesting Taehyung on the promise he made.

"Yes, I will." The brown head swears his heart did a funny turn when he watched a blinding smile making an appearance on Jungkook's face as the younger jumped up and down in excitement.

"Great! Then I will make sure to win it for you." Jungkook wasn't exactly aware of his choice of words but he didn't regret it when they left his mouth. He was too contended with the thought of having Taehyung at his match to bother what he said.

Taheyung on the other hand watched how excited the ravenette was being and smiled back as he watched Jungkook continued his blabbering about some boxing match rituals and his diet plans. The older noticed how happy Jungkook got when he promised to attend the match.

"Calm down Kooks. Don't waste your calories by jumping up and down right now. You'll get more tired after all the long hours of working at the bakery."

"Nah, I have a strong body." Jungkook raised both his arms in the air to his side and flexed it nonchalantly.

Taehyung won't deny but he did a double-take on the man in front of him which added further confusion on how can such an innocent-looking male reside in the shell of a muscular man? Two and two don't add up and Taehyung was left with strings of confusion.

"Anyway, as I was saying. You don't have to be here tomorrow Kook. You can spend the time to train and have some rest." The last thing that Taehyung wishes is for the younger to not have his time with practice.

"Can I ask something though?" Taehyung interject when he noticed Jungkook was contemplating for an answer.

"Go ahead."

"You mentioned the competition is not until the next 2 months. How about the internship with VANTE? It's right after that?"

"Nope, I was requested to be reporting to Namjoon in another month? Actually, in another 3 weeks, I had a chat with him last week." Jungkook explained all he had to Taehyung, just like how he did with Jin.

"A month? But the internship wasn't scheduled to start until another 2 months." Taehyung frowned. He doesn't remember having the information for an early schedule. Not that it matters to him but he was just curious about the changes and wondered if Jungkook figures out why?

"You're speaking as if you're the CEO of VANTE." Jungkook chuckled in oblivion. "Besides, how did you know it's suppose to be in 2 months?" The raven head questioned. He was just curious about how did the brown head get the information spot on. Taehyung has nothing to do with his University or VANTE. 

"Ah...Yoongi used to intern the last time he was in Undergrad as well. I kind of know the timeline of the University internship period from there."

Jungkook nodded at the older. It doesn't sound special or suspicious to him, so he let it pass. The brown head furrowed his brow as he thought about how having Jungkook joining the company earlier than scheduled will only ruin his regime on the training. He wishes the younger won't be overwhelmed with the load of work in VANTE which might affect his time and dedicated hours for his training.

"I guess I will take my leave then. I will see you tomorrow. Don't worry, a few hours in the morning won't ruin my training. I train in the evening mostly." Jungkook gently took off the apron which was protecting his clothes from getting wet by the dishwashing.

"Jungkook?"

The younger was called back as soon as he waved the older goodbye and goodnight for the night. He was slowly feeling the tiredness creeping in and wanted to get home as soon as he can to rest and wake up fresh tomorrow morning for Taehyung.

"Yes?" The raven head turns back on his heel. Both hands on the kitchen door pushing it open to exit. He squinted his eyes as he noticed Taehyung was moving towards him, steady on his feet. From squinting his eyes, Jungkook widened it in shock and he turned his body back, facing the older who was walking towards him. Taehyung pulled the door knob closing the parted door shut subsequently pulling Jungkook towards him.

With one hand secured on the door handle and the other free to explore, Taehyung raised his right hand and grazed his eyes from Jungkook's dark onyx to his nose and down to his lips. He didn't allow his eyes to linger any longer around the younger's luscious lips which were trapped between Jungkook's teeth.

The raven head's heart started to compete with the racing horse and successfully overtook the fastest record-breaking racer in a match when he felt it explode.

"Where did you get this Bambi? So messy."

Taehyung was licking his thumb and sucking the residue of what seemed like a powder making Jungkook's breathe hitch in his throat.

Did he just fucking lick things off my cheeks? From his freaking thumb? Jungkook's doe eyes were wildin. They couldn't contain their excitement and disbelief as Jungkook bore his eyes out of the socket.

"Ah, it's icing sugar. It tastes different on you though." Taehyung chuckled when he saw the flustered state of Jungkook in front of him. He wasn't planning to tease the younger but Jungkook's shy nature is something captivating to Taehyung as a constant reminder of how innocent and pure the raven head is.

Jungkook tried to recall a few minutes before the incident as he allowed his mind to register Taehyung's cheeky act in caressing his cheeks and finding the residue of icing sugar dust sticking on his cheeks.

"Must have happened when I helped you to refill the container with icing sugar." Jungkook tried to wipe his cheeks clean but found nothing coz someone licks it off him.

"Well, just don't get messy next time alright? Not that I mind seeing you coated in icing sugar Bambi but that bitch is costly. Feel free to use the bathroom at the back to clean yourself or refresh if you have to."

Taehyung is now no longer holding the door or Jungkook hostage in front of him. He pointed at the back entrance accessible only by employees of V's Bakery.

"Okay, see you tomorrow. Um, thanks. Bye Tae."

The older hummed but chuckled when he noticed Jungkook fleeing the spot like he was made one with the wind. Once he was out from the picture, Taehyung raised the palm of his right hand and pressed it over his beating hard.

Why is it beating faster than usual?

.
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🌻
Why is my heart beating faster than usual?
Let's not pretend that Jin almost blurted out about the engagement. Did Jimin paid enough attention to comment on it?
Should Jungkook know about it already?