Those few days that came before the weekend felt like seconds to Jungkook. He tried to prepare himself, he tried rehearsing an apology of some sort, because he knew that was what he was going to be doing. Apologizing. And yet he doubted that would be enough.

It plagued his mind those seven hours he was forced to spend at school. He couldn't concentrate on anything else. All he could think about, all he could picture and imagine was Taehyung's look of utter betrayal when it was Jungkook he saw standing in front of him at that park. Surely, it would shatter his heart. Taehyung's heart, too. Would he be disappointed? Would the sight of Jungkook crush his expectations and fill him with resentment? Would Taehyung walk away after learning the truth?

He could just hear the words in his head--I trusted you. And he anticipated them. All day. He found himself watching out for Taehyung in the hallways, making sure to go out of his way so that he wouldn't have to see him before the time they scheduled to meet. He didn't know how he would react to that boy looking him in the eye right now.

Jungkook had never experienced anxiety like this before.

"Guk?"

He swung his head around violently. "J-Jihoon." Jungkook let out a sigh of relief. "Don't scare me like that..."

Jihoon squinted at his friend to the point where his eyes basically disappeared. "Dude. You've...been on edge all day, Guk. Well, I'm not sure 'on edge' is the most accurate way to describe it. Whatever it is, something's up with you."

"I've got an appointment today," Jungkook blurted.

"A dentist appointment? Doctor's appointment?" Jihoon began nodding in understanding. "I get it now. Those kinds of things always give me the heebie-jeebies-"

"No, I mean an appointment with a friend."

The blond paused, then stared at him, but not in surprise. "I know," he soon said, smiling. "I was just kidding about the dentist, doctor thing. The Jungkook I know wouldn't get nervous about something like that. And besides, you've got it written all over your face."

"I...I do?"

"Yup. I mean, obviously I'm not a mind reader so I can't get it down to the last detail, but I've got a funny feeling it's got something to do with that little talk we had last year. You know the one. The one about the boy. And things being complicated. You finally gonna face him?"

"You astound me, Jihoon."

Jihoon beamed with a sense of pride. He didn't need confirmation to know he had hit the nail on the head. "Thanks," he said, and he gave his friend a pat on the shoulder. Well, Jungkook thought it was supposed to be a pat, but Jihoon ended up keeping his hand there. The blond's expression grew softer, and soon he whispered, "I believe in you, Guk. You got this."

"Jihoonieeee!!!"

He leaned to the side. "Just a second, Soonyoung! Ah, listen, Guk, I gotta go but don't forget what I said, alright? Jihoon believes in you. You'll do great. Your friend Jihoon knows you will."

Jungkook chuckled. "Why're you suddenly referring to yourself in the third person-?"

Jihoon didn't answer him, but instead took off down the hall, calling out, "You'll do amazing, sweetie!" before disappearing around the corner. Jungkook couldn't help but smile, though he felt similar to a child trying to ride a bike for the first time without training wheels, and all the adults were backing away as he was left to do it on his own. But their encouragement didn't go unappreciated. Jiyeul's, and now Jihoon's. It was uplifting to know he had people he could run to if things didn't go the way he wanted. And he knew he was being pessimistic about it, but he doubted things would.

The final dismissal bell of the day rang. Jungkook didn't have to work that day, which both relieved and distressed him. He was already feeling strangely fatigued, so some time to rest would be great. But now he had nothing to distract him from dreading what would happen that night.

He felt like he was waiting to be led to his death.

***

"Youjin, I need to borrow your makeup. Now."

Youjin set her chopsticks down on the kitchen table, then turned dramatically towards her older brother, who had just walked through the door after coming home from his part-time job. She glanced at the digital clock on the oven. "It's 9:32. Got a hot date or something?"

"No, I--shut up, just let me borrow it."

"I needa explanation, Taehyungie," Youjin said, picking up her chopsticks again to finish the last of her rice. Tae squinted at her.

"Why're you eating dinner this late?"

"Why're you in a rush to borrow my makeup this late?"

Taehyung marched up to the table and slapped his hands on the surface of it, waiting till Youjin looked at him again before speaking. He wanted to make sure she could see the sheer level of sobriety in his expression. Youjin didn't even flinch, though. She simply picked up her empty plate and carried it over to the sink.

"Youjin, c'mon," he pleaded. "It's really important."

"Well, what is it?"

She's not gonna let me go on this, is she? Taehyung heaved a sigh. "Look, I'm meeting with someone, okay?"

A gasp was drawn from the young girl's lips, and she spun around, her long black hair spinning around with her. She was smiling widely now. "I knew it. It is a hot date."

"It's not."

"Who are you 'meeting with', then?" Youjin asked, rolling her eyes because she obviously wasn't convinced by her brother's words.

"Why do I have to tell you?"

"Because that's the fee for using my makeup. Now tell me."

He could feel the frustration bubbling up inside him, but he couldn't just let it out, he couldn't start yelling at her now. Youjin was a nosy girl. It was in her nature, it was her personality. Taehyung was accustomed to that now. He stared at the ground in defeat.

"You...you know that guy I've been messaging? The one you so disgracefully messaged a couple times saying things like 'send nudes' and 'I hate Mexicans'?"

"Okay, first of all, I was joking, second of all--oh my gosh, Taehyungie, are you seriously going to meet him??" Youjin placed her hands in front of her mouth, and Taehyung wasn't sure if she were expressing excitement or trying to hide the fact that she were about to laugh. "I don't believe this. Don't tell me, you have a crush on him and you want to wear makeup so you can look pretty and leave a good impression??"

"I'm so close to smacking you upside the head, Youjin."

"You're unbelievable, Tae." She took out her phone and snapped a picture of her brother. "Wow. And you're actually blushing right now. I'm speechless. Almost."

"You know what, never mind about the makeup. I'm leaving."

"Hey, hey, hey, now wait a second, Tae." She reached out just in time and grabbed hold of Taehyung's sleeve, stopping him before he could leave the kitchen. "C'mon, you know I'm just messing with you," she said, in a voice that, to Taehyung, sounded just a tad apologetic. He turned his head to look at her. "I'm being annoying. It's my job. That doesn't mean I don't wanna help a bro in need."

Taehyung glanced away from her face. "Where is it?"

"I keep all my makeup in my second drawer. And don't go rooting through anything else up there, or I'll send that guy a bunch of embarrassing photos of you while you're gone."

"Don't."

Youjin smiled again, then gave her brother a gentle push on his way. "Don't overdose. That stuff cost me, like, three months of allowance."

He hadn't planned to use much, anyway. Just enough to give himself a little confidence boost. Although he did intentionally pick out one of his nicest outfits for the occasion because, yes, Youjin was right in the sense that Taehyung wanted to leave a good impression. And perhaps impress Rosa. But maybe that was just wishful thinking...

Fifteen minutes later and he was at the door again. He stopped to look at Youjin, who was still in the kitchen, now staring at him with her arms crossed. "How do I look?"

"Like you're ready to go on a hot date."

"Will you stop with that?"

"Nope." She made her way over to the door and began closing it on Tae, urging him to stop fixing his hair and just leave already. So he did.

***

Jungkook went early. Much earlier than he needed too, and for two main reasons: 1) again, to prepare himself, and 2) he really had nothing better to do with his time. And he certainly didn't want to get there later than Taehyung. He had a feeling things would be worse that way.

He checked the clock on his phone--9:51. A little later than they planned to meet, but that was okay, since Jungkook was aware Taehyung probably had to work and wouldn't be able to be here precisely when he wanted to. It was okay. Everything was going to be okay. I'm in denial.

It was early November. Jungkook stood on a little bridge somewhere near the center of the park, where on either side of him trees were losing their red and golden leaves. The stream beneath him was quiet. And so was the wind. It blew a gust of cold air in Jungkook's face a few moments ago but then rested, and it hadn't blown again since. Still he kept his sweatshirt tightly zippered, hands buried deeply into the pockets. They were so tense. He was so tense.

Jungkook stared out across the park. Empty. But not all that dark, as nearby streetlamps as well as the moon helped to shed some light and rid the place of that eerie presence that would otherwise linger. The atmosphere was tranquil. And it tried its best to comfort Jungkook, but nothing, not even the sweet peace of mother nature, could do anything for him until this night was over.

"Taehyung," he whispered under his breath. "I'm sorry..."

A few minutes passed and Taehyung arrived at the park, breathless now, because he had sprinted most of the way here. He knew he was late. And he was frustrated with himself for that. He could only hope Rosa didn't believe he had been stood up. That would ruin everything. At first glance around, he panicked, seeing no people, not a soul, and his frantic mind immediately assumed Rosa had already left. But he reminded himself that he hadn't searched the entire park, so there was a chance it wasn't too late.

That was when he came across the bridge.

"Jungkook? What are you doing here?"

The boy in question, startled by the sound of Taehyung's voice, turned suddenly and faced him. Taehyung hadn't reached the bridge yet, but he was close, certainly close enough to get a good enough look at Jungkook and see the boy's eyes. And the tears. The tears that surfaced in an instant. He had tried so hard to keep them at bay, but the sight of Taehyung broke him.

It didn't take long for the realization to settle in. Those tears painted the picture clear for Taehyung, and the sheer emotion in Jungkook's face that just screamed, I'm the one you're looking for. Taehyung took one step forward. Then another. Then he ran, he ran straight up to Jungkook and threw his arms around the boy's neck and hugged him with all his might, because now Jungkook wasn't the only one overcome with emotion.

Jungkook didn't hug him back, though. He was too stunned by the feeling of these arms around him, and by the soft sound of Taehyung's shaky breaths.

"Jungkook...Jungkook, you little snake..."

He squeezed him even tighter. Jungkook could hear him sniffling now.

"You're so cruel, you know that? Then again, maybe I'm just dumb. And y-...ah, jeez, I'm crying. I'm really crying. Guess I shouldn't have put on makeup after all..."

He finally let go, pulling himself back even though it was difficult for him to do so. Meanwhile Jungkook was still in a strong state of disbelief, and he hadn't moved. He just continued to stare at Taehyung with wide, tear-filled eyes. Tae's lips curved slowly into a smile.

"You got me good, Rosa. But I think it's time I get you back."

He rested a hand on Jungkook's cheek, leaned in, and kissed him. It wasn't a long kiss, but it conveyed everything Tae wanted it to, everything he needed it to. By the time he pulled away his smile had grown wider, and another tear had spilled over his eyelid.

"I'm so freaking happy right now..." A shaky laugh passed through his lips. "I...I never thought...I mean, I didn't think that I would...I mean, I-......oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I can't believe I just kissed you without asking."

Now it was Jungkook's turn to laugh. Of course, he was still at a loss for words, so that laugh was all he could really do at the moment. Laugh, and stare into Taehyung's eyes.

There was love there. Pure, genuine love. No trace of hatred or betrayal. In fact, Jungkook was beginning to feel kind of stupid for ever thinking what he did.

"I love you." The tips of Tae's ears reddened after uttering these three words. "I, uh...I...you...already knew that," he said, glancing away shyly. "Um...Jungkook...c-can you say something? I'm a stuttering mess here, I need help."

"Can't. I'm processing."

"Well, s-so am I. So say someth-"

"Can you hug me again?"

Taehyung flinched. "Uh..." He cleared his throat. "Y-yeah, I can do that."

So he placed his arms around Jungkook, gently, then pulled him closer and rested his chin against Jungkook's shoulder as Jungkook did the same with him.

And suddenly it was worth it all. Worth the pain of Tae's rejection. Worth the endless hours Jungkook spent waiting. Worth the tears both had shed.

To think it had all started over a silly video game...