"Hello, everyone." Jungkook gave a small bow and a smile, as soon as the live stream showed that it's connected. "I'll wait for about a minute, okay? Looks like you guys are still joining."

Jungkook alternated between looking at the camera, giving soft smiles and looking at the comments. He tried to keep the smile on his face but with every negative comment,  it started to slip a bit. He thought he was strong enough to withstand the disappointment and hate from the world but looks like he was wrong about that.

"I'm sorry guys, but I'm gonna have to close the comment section today. There are some things that I wanted to tell you guys, but I might not be able to do it if I keep on looking at the comments. Hope you all understand."

Taehyung, who was sitting on the bed behind the laptop, gave an approving nod. He didn't have to check the live to see how harsh some of it can be. They have all been there at some part of their careers.

"Okay.. Guess it's enough time." Jungkook gave another small smile. "Hi everyone. How are you all today? Hope life is treating you well and you all are happy. It was a really sunny and warm morning today, right? So I thought I'd go for a run."

"By now, I believe all of you have seen the news about me and probably saw what happened at the entrance of my apartment. Guys.."

Jungkook took a deep breath and looked straight at the camera. "It was really not okay. Coming up to my house, invading my privacy, pushing mics and cameras at my face was not okay. I was really startled and to be honest.. It was rather scary."

"I know as idols, our lives are always under the spotlight. And I'm used to it, I really am. I mean I knew it'll be like that when I signed up for this job, you know?"

Taehyung's heart was breaking into pieces by listening to Jungkook's humorless chuckle. He wasn't sure whether the rest of the world will be able to see it but he sure can see the immense hurt and pain in that action.

"But still, it isn't a nice feeling when people corner you like that. When people try to prod and probe around your life, trying to find things which are personal.. or sensitive.. It's not cool guys. Not cool at all."

"I'm really grateful for the support and all the love you all gave me throughout these years. You guys are literally the reason I'm here right now. Jeon Jungkook would not have a career if it weren't for you guys. But, having said that, you gotta realize this. While our success is dependent on public support and our Music or art are open to public opinion, our personal lives are not. We are not puppets, you guys. We are not just idols, we are human too."

It was so hard for Taehyung to not break into clapping. He was so proud of his baby, who is taking a stand not only for himself, but also for every single artist in the industry. So many of them had faced this struggle and hidden away their pain and disappointment in the shadows. Because the limelight doesn't allow any cowards. One wrong move, one toe out of line, and you're out.

But apparently, Jungkook was just getting started.

"So, I want all of you to think before you act. Not just now, but everytime something like this happens to anyone. Put yourself in our shoes and think, okay.. Do we really deserve this?  Are we answerable to you, about every single detail of our lives? I don't think so."

Jungkook took a deep breath and thought for a second, just to see if he had covered everything he wanted to say. And came to the conclusion, yes, he did.

"So, that's that. And about the news article, I don't want to confirm nor deny any of it. Simply because it's nobody's business but mine. And.."

Jungkook suddenly fell silent, his mind deep in thought. Taehyung shifted a bit in concern and unintentionally, made a tiny sound of the bed sheets rustling.

Jungkook snapped his head at that sound, his eyes widening a bit. He knew that the high tech microphone would have caught that sound. If the comment section was open, he was sure that it would be filled with comments asking who's in his room.

This was not the first time his fans noticed Taehyung's presence during his lives, even though they had zero clue about his identity. Jungkook always ignores them, or makes a brushing comment about it being a sound from outside. Once, he said it was a friend and was bombarded with more questions. After that time, Jungkook always brushes it off.

Taehyung had kind of a panicked look in his eyes. He grabbed his ear and pulled it a bit, clearly asking for forgiveness for his mishap.

Jungkook couldn't help but smile a bit at that. That was an adorable habit Taehyung had from his high-school days and it was always reserved for Jungkook only. He would cross his arms and pull both his ears, whenever he did something wrong. And Jungkook could never hold-up for more than a few seconds.

Taehyung then sent him a flying kiss, making Jungkook look down in shyness. It was rather strange that Jungkook had done so many questionable and downright freaky things with Taehyung, but something like a flying kiss or a wink would get him flustered.

Taehyung always knew how to make Jungkook flustered, from the day they met. Looking back, it wasn't hard for Jungkook to see the effect Taehyung had on him. Taehyung made Jungkook feel shy, mortified and flustered but he also made Jungkook feel brave, strong and kind of invincible.
  
   
  
  
Flashback….
   
   
 
   
"Kookie.."

"Hmm.."

"Kookie…" Taehyung waited till Jungkook looked up from the book he was studying. "Do you have to read that right now?"

Jungkook sighed. "Tae, I told you, I have a pop quiz tomorrow. I need to finish revising this part."

"But I wanna play video games." Taehyung was full on pouting now. "You said you'd play with me the next time you came over."

"I said that ages ago, Tae. How am I to know that professor Lee would suddenly announce a pop quiz. I'm sorry, okay. Next time for sure."

"Whatever." Tae plopped down on his bed, face down. "I guess I'll take a nap then. Since I have nothing important to do."

Jungkook tried to focus on his book but Taehyung's silent brooding rang like a loud bell in his ear. He was already feeling terrible, because he was also looking forward to playing with Taehyung. If it were up to him, Jungkook would not look at his books at all. Why would he, when he had the finest specimen of humans, Kim Taehyung in front of him.

After another few minutes, Jungkook closed his book and started to pack his things in his back. Taehyung turned around at that sound, stumbling down from the bed  when he saw that Jungkook was up from his seat with his backpack already slung over his shoulder.

"W-what are you doing?" Taehyung stuttered, his eyes getting wider by the second.

"I'm going home." Jungkook explained with a sigh. "I'm being a bother to you and I probably can study better without having you distracting me with your dark aura."

"No, wait." Taehyung tried to stop but Jungkook had already moved across the room and was about to open the door.

"I'll come back tomorrow, I promise- hump!"

Jungkook let out a gasp when Taehyung grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. For a second, Jungkook thought that he might fall on his ass, but he needn't have worried about it. Taehyung's chest, where he was made to lean on, was as sturdy as it can be.

"Stay."

A shiver ran through Jungkook's spine, when a whisper sounded so close to his ear. It was a warm day but he could very well feel the goosebumps along his arms and neck.

"Tae-"

Whatever Jungkook wanted to say, it got lost back in his throat, when Taehyung's hands crept up Jungkook's arms. Taehyung held him by his arms and turned him around, to stare at Jungkook's wide doe eyes.

"Stay. I won't disturb you." Taehyung whispered again. "Just… don't go."

Jungkook didn't hear it properly, due to the loud buzz in his ear. Their close proximity was clouding Jungkook's mind from anything else. His eyes widened even more when Taehyung's gaze fell on his lips.

"God!" Taehyung's voice came out as a prayer. "I really want to kiss you right now."

"I-"

Taehyung's eyes flicked back up to meet Jungkook's again. "Can I?"

Jungkook didn't answer, probably because his tongue felt like it's covered in knots. He only moved his head a fraction, giving the tiniest nod Taehyung had ever seen.

Taehyung took a step forward, but to his surprise, Jungkook took a step back. Taehyung stopped and looked at Jungkook with a questioning gaze.

"Are you sure this is okay?"

Again, Jungkook could only nod. But when Taehyung took a step forward again, Jungkook took one back. That made Taehyung pause one more time..

"Should I stop? It's okay, Kookie. We can-"

Jungkook's hand shot out to grab Taehyung by the front of his shirt, effectively stopping him from moving back. "No, just- Can you trap me against something?"

"Huh?"

Jungkook raised his eyes to look at Taehyung's. "I don't know why I keep moving back like that. Can you trap me against the door or something, so that I can't move?"

"You want me to trap you against something?"

"Yeah."

Taehyung couldn't help but chuckle at that. Here they were, just about to have their first kiss. A moment so monumental and should feel magical. But instead, they are talking about it. He was surprised but at the same time, he was not. That is Jeon Jungkook for you, the most unique person Taehyung had ever met in his life.

"Okay." Taehyung whispered, before he started to gently push Jungkook backwards.

Taehyung made Jungkook lean on the wall beside his door, before raising his arm and placing it next to Jungkook's head. He could see how Jungkook's eyes trailed the movement, before focusing back on Taehyung's own eyes.

"This okay?"

"Yeah." Jungkook's voice came out barely audible. "Perfect."

"I'm going for it, okay? Taehyung leaned forward a fraction, amused with the way Jungkook panicked at that movement. "You'll meet me halfway?"

Taehyung waited for a second, just till he saw that tiny nod, before attaching his lips with the other's. And true to his word, Jungkook did meet with him halfway through.

That was the start of something so beautiful. Jungkook and Taehyung must have shared millions of more kisses, but this one was one of a kind.

End of flashback…
 
  
  
 

Taehyung watched as Jungkook's eyes took a dreamy, faraway look. The live was still going on but Jungkook seemed to be lost in some memory, evident from the small, peaceful smile on his face.

Taehyung got up from the bed, walked towards the table and lightly knocked on it. Jungkook snapped out of his trance with that noise, and looked up at Taehyung. It took him a second to notice where he was and looked back at the camera.

"Sorry, guys." Jungkook chuckled bashfully. "Got zoned out there for a minute. What was I saying? I don't remember.. wait, I'll open the chat again."

Jungkook fidgeted with the icons to open the chat, scrolling back a bit to read some comments.

"Ohhh… the noise.. hmm.. I'll get back to that later. What else?.. hmmm.. nope, I won't confirm nor deny the rumors about my high-school life, simply because it's no-one else's business but mine. That's not why I started this live. Hmm..  but there is something I want to say."

Jungkook looked up at Taehyung, but this time, not so discreetly. The chat started to ping with comments up on comments about who else in the room. "Well, you guys are right, someone else is in the room with me. And you guys have been correct on the previous times you said you heard noises in lives…"

Jungkook paused for a few seconds, took a deep breath and looked straight at the camera.

"The one here with me right now, and all other previous times, is my partner. I will not disclose their identity but I can say that I've been in a relationship with that person for a long, long time."