"the more time flows, the more it deepens. I'm between your past and future right now.

TWENTY SIXTH CHAPTER

everything returns to the past in seconds. I found a reason for living in the present, meeting you."

—

To tae:
where's jungkook? he's not answering my messages

From tae:
Jin's gym

Elianna makes her way there as soon as she reads Taehyung's message, her legs moving fast. It's a part of Jin's home that she's never been to before and she's not surprised that her best friend even has his own gym.

Elianna greets Jin's friendly mum at the door who somehow always smells of candy, before walking into the back spacious garden where the gym is located. She walks onto the step in front of the white painted door before bringing her fist to knock against it.

Just as she's about to knock, she realises the door is already open so she pushes it forward. Elianna walks into the cramped gym.

Elianna pays no attention to the surroundings of Jin's gym because what catches her eye immediately is Jeon Jungkook. Suddenly a million questions go through her mind, did I come here to suffer?

Elianna grips the ends of her jacket, not knowing what to do with her hands when she starts to stare at Jungkook lying on the floor. He's not just lying there either ... he's doing hip thrusts. His chest moving up and down with his muscular arms on either side of him as he continues to exercise with effort.

Shirtless.

Elianna clears her throat when he does another hip thrust and she feels very fucking hot. He's even closed his eyes and what the-

Elianna tries to stay calm and show that she's definitely not turned on, when her exhausted friend Jin walks towards her with a bottle of water. "What a surprise!" Is what leaves his mouth excitedly.

Jin embraces her, squeezing her with his long arms just to rub his sweat on her. Elianna squirms away and chooses to stand in a position where her back faces Jungkook. "Hey urm-" She can't look at Jungkook, he's way too distracting. His sweaty neck, his great arms, his waist-

Jin notices her sudden, unnatural movement. "You alright?" He raises his flawless brows.

"Yeah. I'm. great."

Jin raises one brow. "You sure El?"

Elianna hums, exaggerating as she nods. "Mhmmmmm .. I feel hot." She admits and takes off her jacket to reveal a sports bra. She does feel hot. The weather is hot.

Jin snickers as he loves to tease his friends. "Will you two ever stop being so horny?" He takes a drink from his water bottle and there's a hint of mischief in his brick, beady eyes. "You should look at the way he's looking at you."

Elianna panics. "He's looking at me?"

Jin tightens the lid on his bottle, not looking at her. "Yes." He states, telling the truth. Elianna doesn't dare to look back.

Elianna presses a hand against her chest as her eyes widen- her heart is beating so fast. She shifts on the spot as her friend gives her a bizarre look. "Jesus Christ Jin." Is what she says first, in a rush. "I've never fangirled so much over a guy before .. what's wrong with me? I sound like Talulah."

"Talulah?" Jin questions.

Elianna furrows her brows. "Tae's ex. How can you forget?"

"Oh yeah!" Jin beams. "Of course .. what a legend."

Jin puckers his pink lips- his eyes shifting to Jungkook behind her which increases Elianna's nerves. "He's standing up, he's coming." He tells her quickly.

"Fuck fuck fuck." Elianna mutters.

She turns around abruptly, nearly bumping into Jungkook's chest as he appears in front of her. "Hi." She says with a considerate smile.

"Hey." Jungkook shoots a soft smile back at her. His facial expression is adorable with his curved lips, sable wavy bangs, a huge contrast to how he looked when he was on the floor with his talented lips parted, his heavy breathing and- "What are you doing here?"

Jin drinks his water with a knowing look before walking back to the treadmill in the corner- ready and eager to continue.

Elianna grips her denim jacket in her hands. "Can you put a shirt on?" She asks, her voice unintentionally stern and full of confidence. She forces herself to maintain intense eye contact with Jungkook, their brown eyes holding similar emotions such as great happiness.

Jungkook is really challenging her today. "Why?"

Elianna stammers. "Because."

Jungkook is still shirtless and Elianna's eyes are tempted to look at his chest. He tilts his head. "Why Elianna?" He asks.

"You know why." Elianna runs a hand down her face.

Jungkook furrows his brows and clicks his tongue. He folds his arms and Elianna's eyes have no self control because she takes in his biceps, oh god- "Nope tell me." Her boyfriend smirks.

Jungkook grabs an ivory towel from the bench before rubbing the sweat off his neck slowly. He tilts his head and his mouth is open, his lips red and his eyes dark.

Elianna really has no self control today because a taunting thought slips out of her lips. "You look fuckable." She mumbles but he hears her, Jungkook hears.

Jungkook's smirk tells Elianna that she just boosted his ego which makes her roll her eyes. Before he can say anything, she shoots a glare at him. "Just put it onnnnnn."

"Fine." Jungkook imitates the tone of her voice and pulls a black shirt over his pretty head.

Jungkook gives her a look that says- are you happy now? "Now can you put a shirt on?" He asks, glancing at her dark sports bra.

Elianna decides to challenge Jungkook just the way he has been lately. "No, it's hot." She raises her head- a smirk forming.

"You're hot." Jungkook responds.

Elianna needs a fan, she needs to be taken to Antarctica because she feels hot and hor- "Now I feel ten times hotter than I already did, thanks." She exaggerates.

Jungkook tickles his ear. "So you're here to work out?"

Elianna gulps. "Yes ... that's exactly what I'm here for."

Jungkook moves his lengthy bangs out of his eyes- his brown eyes lifting up to look at her face. "Hm, sure you are." And he's trying not to smile just like his girlfriend.

"I am." Elianna argues. "I've just become lazy this year and I need a nice ass so-"

"Oh same here." Jungkook pats his ass and Elianna laughs. "I'm going to continue now."

Jungkook starts to lift up his shirt and Elianna's eyes narrow, she looks away quickly. Her cheeks feel hot as she presses her palms against them, she's never felt this coy around Jungkook.

"Hey Elianna, eyes on my face." Her boyfriend laughs.

Elianna didn't even realise that she had been staring at the tiny glimpse of his abs under his murky shirt, his rolled up sleeves, his veiny arms, his sweaty skin. Why the fuck are you so hot Jeon Jungkook? she wants to shout at him.

"Jungkook!" Elianna whines.

"Try not to look down." He smiles.

Jungkook lifts up his shirt again whilst keeping his eyes on Elianna's face. He lets out a loud laugh when Elianna winces.

Elianna lets out a deep breath and shakes her shoulders- trying not to get affected. "I got this."

That's until he takes one arm out of his shirt, he's still amused by his flustered girlfriend and Elianna shifts on the spot. She groans a little, unintentionally. "Stop."

And she looks down.

"Ha!" Jungkook grins.

"Stop being horny, oh my god." Jin screams. "Stop it."

"Thank god no one else is here." Elianna mutters and doesn't take a single glance at Jin.

"My ego is like up here because of your reaction to me today-" Jungkook states, stifling a laugh and he raises his hand up to his head.

"Go away." Elianna purposely pushes his abs with a smile.

—

Jungkook's mind is a mess.

He wakes up with a nervous, overwhelming feeling which worsens when reading messages from his friend Yoongi. However, the horrendous feeling seems to only go away if he wakes up beside the girl he loves and needs.

Jungkook's elated, pleasant memories with Elianna is what the boy thinks about in the middle of his lecture. His mind wanders off to Elianna every minute of everyday.

Like how she loves joining him in bed after a long day, cuddling into his side as the two of them fall asleep with hushed breathing. He remembers the one time they read together, running their fingers through each other's dark locks as soft voices reciting meaningful words were all that could be heard.

The silence that has changed from awkward to comfortable between them shows how far they've come from their beginning, even when they're walking together, hands interlocked. Jungkook loves how they've gotten used to each other so much that they do actions without thinking. For example- when they're watching TV with the volume turned up, the little touches such as fingers running over each other's arm or thigh is comforting.

Jungkook finds it hard to believe that he's in a relationship with Elianna, the love he once thought was unrequited but somehow, he's hers and she's his. He never would've thought a girl as fierce and influential as Elianna, would date him, want to be with him and every time he looks at her- he feels breathless.

Jungkook loves her so much that he believes one day, she'll say three special words back. But even though she's never said it back, he likes to tell himself that a part of Elianna loves him too.

The usual trio walk out of class together, ready to go home and sleep, ready for summer to start. Elianna takes Jungkook's rough textured hand in hers as they start to walk down the narrow, student filled corridor.

Jimin sounds tired but the boy just has to speak. "One month to go and then summer break." He can't go a day without speaking. He's counting down the days left.

Jimin and Elianna start up a conversation where Jungkook can't be bothered opening his mouth to even socialise. He feels drained, physically and emotionally. He hopes no one notices.

Taehyung suddenly appears with a snapback on his head- finding his friends. He directs what he's about to say to Jungkook as he holds his phone in his big hand. "Yoongi told me he's been trying to text you for ages-" He starts.

Jungkook grabs him quickly- his first instinct is to shout at Taehyung. Sh leaves his lips as a mutter of shut up's leave his mouth too. "I don't want to hear about him."

Jungkook hopes Elianna didn't hear a word. She's too busy smiling at pink haired Jimin anyway. Taehyung ignores the fact that his best friend just told him to shut up and starts to walk beside him.

"Alright bro, close your eyes." He says to an irritated Jungkook. 

Jungkook furrows his brows, he's not in the mood. "Why?"

"Just do it."

So Jungkook closes his eyes. "Bro, what do you see?" Taehyung asks, his voice loud in his ear which makes the younger move away.

"Nothing bro."

Taehyung starts to chuckle in a cute manner and Jungkook sees an image of his box smile even with his eyes closed. "That's my life without you bro." He squeezes his shoulder, proud of his words.

He's trying his best to make Jungkook feel better and when the maknae's lips form into an uncontrollable smile- Taehyung knows he succeeded.

Did Jin teach you that?- Jungkook thinks to himself.

"Bro." Jungkook is amazed.

Jin eventually joins his friends, not talking to Shira. Jungkook eyes the strange situation before asking Jimin what the reason is.

"Jin blew a kiss to Shira and she didn't catch it so now he's not talking to her." Jimin laughs.

That's something only Jin would do.

Jungkook lets out a laugh too but the only thing he's thinking about is how Elianna is silent. She's strangely quiet, leaning into his side with her hand around his arm.

Did she hear Taehyung saying Yoongi?

Her unbothered gaze is directed to the floor, it's as if everything around her is a blur and Jungkook can't read her emotions.

All Jungkook can think about is how it would feel to hear his Elianna say I love you.

—

elianna say it already

anyways

do you think elianna knows? what are your predictions?

3 more chapters to go ...

:((

happy birthday to the most soulful and kindest leader. I love you kim namjoon you legend.

also I just made a Twitter
it's @ taehphoria
so please give me a follow!

don't forget to check out my other BTS fanfics. I just published my new hoseok fanfic :))

all the love, thank you for reading

A xx