Taehyung Kim was a perfectionist.

It had been a week or so since Halloween. They hadn't really had any parties recently, as the Halloween one had been so batshit crazy. People fell ill for unknown reasons?? Hahaha. Moving on.

Taehyung was like a puppy. Jungkook couldn't help but feel that every time Taehyung said things or did things. He came into Jungkook's room the night before and began hitting him with a pillow because he hadn't had water since lunch. He smiled a lot and it's cute, boxy and makes Jungkook look at him for a while because he hasn't seen anyone smile like that. He giggles over jokes the boys make, laughs over anything, to be honest. Taehyung has positive energy radiating off him wherever he goes.

Taehyung makes Jungkook feel like a weight has lifted off his shoulders. Taehyung makes Jungkook feel like they're teenagers at summer camp every day and not college. Taehyung makes life seem more fun than it is. He makes life feel more fun than it is.

So it was weird, when, at 8 pm on a Friday, Taehyung came into the house after a long day of classes. The boys were all planning to have a fun drinking/talking session while playing music of everyone's choice. 'Bonding time', as Namjoon calls it.

"The only bonding I like is the BDSM kind, not this bullshit." Jin snapped.

"Jin, you're drunk." Yoongi sighed, taking his (3rd? 4th? 5th?) glass of wine away. Jin burst into a cute laugh, while Yoongi just rolled his eyes, couldn't help but let out a smile at his idiot of a best friend.

Jungkook walked into the living room, where all the boys were sitting around, drinking alcohol and talking loudly. Jungkook looked around, and then at Jimin. "Where's Taehyung?"

"Who do you think I am, Taehyung's DOG?!" Jimin shouted.

"Why would a dog know where their owner is..." Jungkook trailed, and Jimin pursed his lips.

"Point. I don't know, I think he should be here any time now." Jimin said with a nod, and Jungkook hummed. He turned his head and in time, saw Taehyung walk in through the door.

Jungkook's stomach did something funny upon seeing him, wearing a jersey and jeans, a bandana around his forehead. But he didn't say anything. Jin did, however.

"Taehyung! Join us!! We're all making fun of each other's dick size." Jin said.

"No we're not," Namjoon mumbled. "We're having fun. C'mere." Namjoon said to Taehyung, patting the empty space on the couch beside him.

"I'm tired today," Taehyung said with a low mumble, not even glancing at them, just walking upstairs and into his bedroom, closing the door and locking it loudly.

Jungkook looked up in confusion. "Is he okay?" Jackson voiced, eyes wide. "Taehyung never acts like that. Oh my god. Guys. Someone drugged him. Taehyung's going to die. Taehyung's going to die and we're all sitting here doing nothing."

"First of all, calm down," Yoongi said. "Secondly, he's probably just having a bad day. That's normal, y'know. He had a whole day of classes, he's just tired."

"Still doesn't sound like him. When Taehyung's tired, he likes being around friends, he says it energizes him." Hoseok said, and Jungkook scoffed, because wow, they were very different as people.

"Should one of us go check up on him?" Jimin asked. The guys were quiet for a few seconds, and then Jimin looked at Jungkook. "Do you wanna go see how he's doing, Jungkook?"

"No," Jungkook said quickly. "Jimin frowned. "I mean... he probably doesn't want to see me. You're closer to him."

"Um, okay. Sure, I'll go check." Jimin put the beer can down and rushed off the sofa and up the stairs to go check on Taehyung. Jungkook sat down on Jimin's spot, feeling how the seat had become warmed up because of Jimin's butt.

"Jungkook?" Yoongi said, and Jungkook looked at him grudgingly. "Taehyung really likes you as a friend. Just saying. I know you do too. It's not wrong to check up on friends."

"I know," Jungkook said, but darted his eyes away, not liking all the impending eyes on him, as if he didn't know how friends worked or something. He did. He just didn't know how to approach Taehyung. Also maybe a tiny part of him didn't know how friends worked, because no one really ever liked him enough, but that's a tiny part.

Jungkook grabbed Jimin's leftover beer and drank all of it before chucking the can away, getting up from the couch. "I think I'll head to bed as well, I feel tired." Jungkook mumbled and then walked away. Of course, no one would ever question him being tired and wanting to be alone, because he kind of always wanted to be alone.

But if so, then why was he lowkey upset that Taehyung wasn't there?

While walking up, he walked past Taehyung's bedroom. He could hear voices from inside. The door was slightly cracked open. Jungkook gulped hard, and then reached for the door handle, pushing it further.

Inside, Taehyung was laying on the bed, and Jimin was koala hugging him from the back. "Everyone fucks up sometimes, Tae. You can't get so upset over it." Jimin said softly, soothing, moving his hand up and down his forearm.

"I know," Taehyung whispered in a small voice, and Jimin continued hugging him. Jimin looked up and locked eyes with Jungkook, who was watching from the doorway with no emotion across his face, betokening how he might be feeling. Taehyung didn't see him.

Jimin just shook his head. As if telling Jungkook not to come in. Jungkook turned and walked away, closing the door lightly. Yeah, obviously Jimin wouldn't want Jungkook to come into the room.

Jungkook didn't know how to fucking help people with problems.

Jimin told Jungkook that he cut his hand and it was hurting really bad and Jungkook gave him a piece of tape and said "hope this helps" before leaving. So, yeah, he's really shit at consoling people.

He wanted to help Taehyung, but knew he'd fuck up if he tried, so going into his bedroom would be best. Jungkook took his chunky shoes off and law down on his bed, taking his phone out and scrolled through Instagram.

Jungkook unblocked Taehyung and clicked on his profile to look through his account, what he'd posted while he'd been blocked. (Jungkook blocked him four days ago because Taehyung sent him a message at 3 AM saying hey lol do you think peppa pig was communist propaganda and then followed with 18 😎 emojis).

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Jungkook paused for a second, and then deleted his comment. He gulped for a second, tonguing the inside of his cheek. He got so many comments, he probably wouldn't even see this. Nor care. Because he could get attention from all those other 1000 people who were his best friends.

Why the fuck wa Jungkook being so weird??? Jungkook grumbled weirdo under his breath to himself and then closed his phone, placing it to the side. Jungkook lay down on his bed.

It was always weird to see someone who's usually happy be down so low. It was also weird when you didn't know how to help. Jungkook didn't want to make things worse.

God, why was he thinking so much about Taehyung? This was fucking weird. Jungkook doesn't care. He closed his eyes, turning over to the other side. All he could see in his head was a mint haired boy.

*

Jungkook was woken abruptly.

He sat up, blinking his eyes. The first thing he saw was that it was still dark outside. Jungkook looked to the side, and then stilled when he saw Taehyung. Mint hair falling on his eyes, crouching by his bed, wearing a jacket and sweatpants.

"Hey," Taehyung whispered.

"What happened?" Jungkook asked, voice raspy from just waking up. Taehyung looked different from earlier, looking a bit better now, not as tired and low. Taehyung peered over at Jimin, who was still sleeping on his bed on the other side of the room. Taehyung looked at Jungkook.

"Come with me," Taehyung whispered, and Jungkook noticed he was wearing a backpack.

There were numerous questions. First of all, why was he in his room, whispering like this at what seemed like the middle of the night? Why did he have a backpack? Why did he seem so suspicious? Where was he asking Jungkook to go? What was happening?

But, for some reason, at that moment, Jungkook decided not to ask any questions. Taehyung had passionate eyes.

"Okay." Jungkook got out of bed. Taehyung grinned for a split second and then tiptoed out of the bedroom. Jungkook rubbed his sleepy eyes, wearing sweatpants and a black t-shirt.

Jungkook didn't take his phone nor his wallet, just followed Taehyung out of the bedroom. Taehyung looked around and then rushed down the steps really fast. Jungkook went behind him.

"Where are we going?" Jungkook asked. Taehyung didn't say anything, just looked around for a second to ensure no one was there, and then ran really fast towards the doors of the frat house to run out into the night. Jungkook walked after him.

"Taehyung," Jungkook whispered, now walking down the sidewalk with him. Taehyung gripped Jungkook's wrist all of a sudden.

"Look at the stars," Taehyung said, and Jungkook looked up. The sky was full of stars. Jungkook blinked his eyes, taking in the thousand and thousand of stars that twinkled across the dusty night sky, all the more serene with the hushed whisper of Taehyung's words and his fingers entangled around Jungkook's wrist.

Jungkook looked back at him, and he'd been dragged away from the frat house completely. Jungkook looked down at how Taehyung held his wrist and didn't say anything to it.

They kept walking for a long time, and at this point, things still weren't answering so Jungkook stopped asking. But why did he have a backpack?

"Taehyung," Jungkook said again, voice small. "Where are we going."

"The sun's going to rise in two hours," Taehyung said. That did not help Jungkook's burning questions.

They stopped in their steps. They were at a bus stop. Taehyung walked forward and sat down on the bus seats, so naturally, Jungkook did the same. Their legs touched. Jungkook looked ahead.

"I'm sleepy," Jungkook said in a whisper.

"Yeah, me too," Taehyung replied.

They waited for the bus for 16 whole minutes before one finally pulled up and stopped by the stop. Taehyung grabbed Jungkook's hand and pulled him up, taking him into the bus. Jungkook saw Taehyung take the loose change in the form of coins out of his pocket and spilled them into the ticket thingy in the bus.

Taehyung then dragged Jungkook to the end of the empty bus and sat down by the window. Jungkook sat down beside him. Jungkook felt a little more awake now.

"How many questions do you have?" Taehyung asked.

"Many," Jungkook replied. "But I don't think I want answers."

"That's the spirit," Taehyung whispered, and then brought his feet up to rest on the top of the seat in front of him, leaning his head back. Jungkook looked at him.

"You're so weird," Jungkook whispered, but by now they'd both established it was a good weird. Jungkook wanted to lean his head on his shoulder, but decided against it, just tipping his head onto the seat in front of him.

"What happened earlier today?" Jungkook asked, turning to look at Taehyung, who was looking out the window as the blur of early morning New York City passed them.

Taehyung took a deep breath. "Fucked up my exam."

Jungkook blinked. Taehyung was still looking out. Jungkook looked at him for a few more seconds before he started giggling. Taehyung looked at him strangely.

"You really got so upset because you messed up your exam?" Jungkook asked lightly, but it wasn't a mean tone, Jungkook wasn't mocking him, he just sounded sort of... surprised and... fond?

"Well, yeah. I only have 2 more years left, I can't be fucking up. Especially in something I'm good at." Taehyung grumbled. "You can't relate, Mr. Math genius."

"I'm not good at math. It's just easy." Jungkook said, which made Taehyung roll his eyes. "I just think you're being silly because 2 weeks ago Yugyeom told you he fucked up his statistics paper, and what did you tell him?"

"I said there's only room for growth and this is an opportunity for him to do better next time," Taehyung grumbled under his breath. "But that's- that's different! Yugyeom's dumb. I'm not dumb."

"You have a point. But still. Don't beat yourself over something like this. Plus, aren't you the one constantly saying it's college, just chill??" Jungkook asked.

"Yeah. But I mean smoke weed. Don't fail exams." Taehyung muttered, and then looked at Jungkook, who was still smiling. Taehyung knocked his shoulder. "Shut up. You're laughing at me. Jimin hugged me."

"Yeah. You guys are best friends, right?" Jungkook asked with a snicker. Taehyung cocked his eyebrow at him, looking at him with intrigue.

"We could be best friends too, Jungkook. But you're just playing hard to get." Taehyung whispered, and Jungkook bit his lip for a second and looked away. Best friends? He didn't know if he wanted to be Taehyung's best friend.

They were on the bus for the next half hour, seeing strange people come in and get out. What kind of people took a bus so early in the morning? People watching was a sport, one both Jungkook and Taehyung got quite competitive over quite fast.

"She's a nurse," Taehyung whispered to Jungkook upon seeing a girl walk into the bus, looking tired and about their age.

"No way, she has long nails. Nurses can't have long nails." Jungkook whispered back.

"Alright, then she's a police officer."

"Again, she has long nails, so no."

"Well either way, she's gay. Has a rainbow stitched to her t-shirt."

"Again, she has long nails, so no."

"Maybe she's a bottom. You don't know anything. I'm gonna go ask the nurse police officer lesbian how she's doing." Taehyung hissed, getting up from his seat. Jungkook instantly got nervous, retreating into Taehyung's seat and lodging himself in the corner, watching as Taehyung walked up to her on the moving, empty bus.

How the hell was he so confident? Jungkook had a hard time talking to people he'd known since he was a child... yet Taehyung just casually talked to anyone and made friends with them. It was like a superpower of kinds, and Jungkook doesn't know whether he should be envious or concerned.

Taehyung said a few words to her. She looked up and said a few words back. Taehyung let out a chuckle, nodded, and then walked back to Jungkook to sit down beside him.

Taehyung gulped. "Yeah, uh, no she's a waitress who came here to visit her boyfriend who's in jail for murdering ducks and eating them raw. Let's get the fuck out of here." Taehyung whispered, and Jungkook nodded, both getting up from their seats as the bus stopped by a stand.

They both got out of the bus, and Jungkook looked around, feeling something very comforting at the fact that he had absolutely no clue where he was, without any money, a phone, or identification of any kind. All he had was Taehyung.

"Sun's about to rise," Taehyung said. It was still dark, but the skyline was like an oven slowly about to raise its orange flame. Taehyung walked away from the stand, the smell of rainwater filtering through Jungkook's nose.

They neared a waterbody of some kind. There was a long wooden stretch atop the water which went on and then stopped, opening into the sea. They were at a pier. Jungkook walked beside Taehyung.

"So we're here to see the sunrise?" Jungkook asked.

"I see you've put two and two together." Taehyung grinned.

Jungkook bit the inside of his cheek, both their feet paddling against the wooden plants. They were the only ones there.

Jungkook and Taehyung made it till the end. Jungkook watched as Taehyung took his backpack off his shoulders and then rummaged his hand inside, only to take out two Wildlicious Wild! Berry flavored poptarts out.

"What's this," Jungkook asked. Taehyung handed him one.

"Breakfast," Taehyung said, and then sat down on the edge of the pier, dangling his feet down. A few feet below them was the blue waters, looking cold and uninviting, but that was only because the sunlight hadn't sunk in yet. Jungkook sat down beside Taehyung.

Jungkook unwrapped the silver foil around the poptart. They both sat in silence as they took bites of their untoasted poptarts and stared off into the horizon, watching the orange wash into the dark sky like ink on cloth.

"How come you brought me?" Jungkook asked. "Not Jimin, not Yoongi. Why me?"

"Thought you'd like the view," Taehyung said with a shrug, leaning one palm on the wooden plank, watching the sunrise. He took another bite of his poptart.

Jungkook looked at Taehyung. "It's nice," He hummed, looking back ahead.

Jungkook felt a breeze go past both of them, crumbs of his poptart were falling onto his lap, but he didn't really care. Their feet swayed back and forth as the sun finally rose up from beneath the sky, emerging into the sky and finally taking its throne, letting its orange glimmer pour onto the two boys sitting on the pier.

Taehyung finished his poptart. "You know what I thought. We can die, like anytime."

"Hopefully soon."

"Shut up. But yeah, we can die. So, if we can die, then why does it matter? Grades. Jobs. All this bullshit. Why do we do it? I could spend 8 years getting a medical degree, Jungkook, and then on my first day at the job at the hospital, I get hit by a car. Boom. Then what?" Taehyung said.

"I don't know," Jungkook said, finishing the last bit of his poptart. He gulped it down.

"But if we think that way, then why does anything matter?"

"That's what I'm saying," Taehyung said, turning to look at him, animated with his big brown eyes and floppy mint hair. "Because, like, who cares, right? Am I making any sense? Probably not. But shit doesn't need to matter. Ever. Why the fuck don't we just do things without caring of the consequences?"

"That's what goes on through the mind of a serial killer, you know that?" Jungkook said, smiling a bit. Taehyung tsked, looking away.

"Ah, that's not what I mean. What I mean is like... right now. Right now. Impulsive. I'm impulsive, right? Right? I don't know. I think a lot. But what I mean is... right now. What if we jump into the water?" Taehyung asked.

Jungkook looked at the water, and then at Taehyung. "I think we should go back."

"Jungkook." Taehyung said.

"This was really fun, but I'm pretty sure the next bus comes in 7 minutes."

"Jungkook."

"I get pneumonia really easily, and-"

"Jungkook, you're jumping in with me," Taehyung said, getting up. He unzipped his red jacket and chucked it away, wearing a plain white tee inside. "Don't care. Don't think." Taehyung said, grabbing Jungkook and pulling him up.

Jungkook looked at the water, weary. Taehyung smacked his arm. "Look at you. You're Jungkook Jeon. 18-year-old emo mischievous lowkey genius non-lame math major with rippling muscle. Jump into the water." Jungkook kept looking at the water. "Bet you won't do it, pussy," Taehyung whispered softly.

"Bet I will, pussy." Jungkook snapped back, and then took a few steps back. Taehyung smiled gradually. It only grew wider when Jungkook closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then ran forward to jump into the river.

"That's my little demon," Taehyung whispered to himself with a small smile on his face before jumping in as well.

Taehyung barrelled into the water like a bowling ball and crashed in, which sent pain through his bones but it didn't really matter, because the freezing cold waters sort of subdued the crash. Taehyung swam up and then brought his head out of the water, breathing heavily.

"Taehyung," Jungkook was moving his hands and legs frantically, chin above the water. "I can't swim. Taehyung, I can't swim. I can't swim." Jungkook kept saying, looking anxious, his eyes doe, teeth chattering.

"Hey," Taehyung grabbed him by his sides and pulled him close. Jungkook grabbed hold of his shirt. "You're fine."

"I can't swim," Jungkook repeated.

"I know, Jungkook," Taehyung said, and then smiled a little. Jungkook's eyes were closed, and Taehyung doesn't think he's ever seen him look this worried. "You can relax."

"I can't," Jungkook said in a small voice.

"You can. Look, just move your arms. I'm gonna let go of you, okay? I just want you to-"

"No, Taehyung please!"

"I'm right here."

"No. No you're not! You're leaving m-me to drown, please Taehyung, don't-don't go please." Jungkook cried, growing frantic. "I'm gonna die."

"You want to die."

"Not when I'm with you!"

Taehyung looked at Jungkook for a few seconds, and then let go of him. Jungkook sank in for a second, and then grabbed Taehyung's shirt and swam up once more, getting closer to Taehyung and then brought his head out of the water with a gasp. Jungkook instantly wrapped his legs around Taehyung's waist, arms around his neck.

"I hate you so much," Jungkook whispered, shivering. Jungkook squeezed Taehyung tighter, and Taehyung smiled a little to himself. "Please don't do that again."

"I'm sorry," Taehyung replied, wrapping his arms around Jungkook. Jungkook had his head tucked into his neck. "But now you can swim!"

"No, I can't you fucking asshole," Jungkook whispered, eyes closed. He shook his head. "I hated you."

Taehyung giggled, and then took a deep breath before submerging both of them into the water. Jungkook bloated his cheeks so he was holding his breath, and widened his eyes underwater. Taehyung looked at him with a smile. Both their hair went up, a soft glow around them.

It's okay, Taehyung mouthed through the bubbles. You're fine.

Jungkook mouthed something in the water that Taehyung couldn't make out. Bubbles came out of his mouth, and then Jungkook grew agitated again and began moving around, freaking out. Taehyung grabbed him close and brought them both out of the water, out.

"That-" Taehyung breathed in, chest heaving. "-that wasn't so b-bad, was it?" Taehyung asked, hair falling flat on his forehead. Jungkook looked at him, breathing heavily as well.

"I'm gay," Jungkook said.

Taehyung gulped. He continued breathing heavily and then squinted his eyes for a second. "Yeah?" Taehyung asked breathlessly, and Jungkook nodded. Taehyung nodded. "Cool."

They got out of the water. Jungkook climbed up the rocks until he reached flattened land, and then lay down on it, chest heaving. Taehyung followed him and then law down beside him.

Jungkook had his eyes closed, hand on his chest to feel his heart beating heavily. Taehyung turned to look at him, completely wet, hair pushed back, eyes closed, mouth open.

"Jungkook?" Taehyung whispered, and Jungkook turned his head a little to show he was listening. "I don't have any money to take us back."

Jungkook gulped. He looked at Taehyung for a few seconds. "Fuck." He whispered, looking back up at the sky.

Taehyung looked up as well, and then smiled to himself.