"Jimin, wait—!"

Short pants pushed past his throat. Jeongguk's body felt sluggish while he ran over the pavement, chasing blond strands of hair in the distance, ones that belonged to his best friend, who blindly sped down the street ahead of them.

In all truth, well, Jeongguk still couldn't believe it.

He just couldn't believe that Yoongi had been hiding such a big secret from his own boyfriend, after having fought so hard for the boy's trust. It didn't make any sense.

"Go away!" He heard Jimin call out to him as he turned a corner, arm reaching up to wipe a tear from his face, an action that had shielded his vision long enough for him to stumble over the concrete. His body tripped forward, delayed him a few seconds; and that was when Jeongguk had finally caught up to him, his gentle hand pulling the smaller boy toward his direction.

He wrapped Jimin into a welcoming embrace, arms holding him tightly while the blond's sniffles began to seep into Jeongguk's ears.

"Don't cry, Jiminie.." He hushed quietly, fingers reaching into Jimin's hair, where he caressed at the strands soothingly. "It's okay.."

"It's not okay!!" Jimin cut in, though instead of shoving the boy back, he gripped tighter onto Jeongguk's sleeves, tears cascading down his cheeks. "I t-trusted him, I... I took a leap of faith with him... Gave up on my unrequited love for him, even, and he—!"

"I know.." Jeongguk responded in a calm tone, making sure he wouldn't agitate the boy any more than he already was. "I know you did. But clearly he's not worth your tears, Jimin, I... get that you're upset, but-.."

The blond finally loosened his hold on Jeongguk, retreated two steps back and wiped the wet stain of tears he had left behind on his friend's shoulder. There was a lulled silence that settled between the two, and Jeongguk could only watch as his best friend struggled to seek eye contact with him.

"You're.. going to be late.." Jimin finally spoke up, a puff of frozen air leaving his lips, eyes lowered. "You should go to your class."

Jeongguk quickly shook his head. "But what about you? Let's just-... ditch class and watch some of those old movies you like." He cracked a gentle smile, his voice coaxing. "How does that sound? I'll get the popcorn, and you can head back to your place and wait for me there."

Jimin let out a weak laugh, one that was dry and lacked substance.

"I'm sorry, Gguk.." His voice was nearly a whisper, a crack at his words. "I just r-really want to be alone right now... Okay?"

Jeongguk blinked back at him, brows knitted in concern. But he made no effort to stop the boy once he turned the other way, resumed his walk down the streets.

And Jeongguk watched his friend's retreating shadow, hands lowering beside him while he came to the realization there was just nothing he could do to comfort the other.

At least not now.

※ ※

A tray of cafeteria food settled promptly over the table surface. Jeongguk let his bag strap lower from his shoulder while he plopped down atop the chair beside him.

The lecture he had endured had felt much too long, when all his thoughts could waver over was nothing short of concern for his best friend, who must be laying heartbroken, most likely alone in his apartment.

Jeongguk wanted nothing more than to give him a call. To stop by his place, even. Just to ensure that Jimin wasn't being swallowed by the negative emotions that slowly nipped at him.

But he knew better.

He's known Jimin for ages now—knew what that look had meant before they had parted ways this morning. The boy truly wished to be alone, that much was clear. If he were in the same situation, Jeongguk reckoned he'd feel the exact same way.

So he held himself back, and rather distracted his forlorn thoughts by chowing down the purchased meal from the cafeteria staff. He only really had about half an hour before his next class started, so he needed the recharge the food rushed into his body.

He sat there, by himself, poking and picking at the food at his own leisure. Until eventually, at the far end table near the wall opposite to him, he heard a sudden commotion; and naturally his chin lifted while he let himself peer at the group of students scattering to sit together on one of the round tables.

He blinked, lips in motion while he continued to chew his food, big curious eyes watching the group in silence until he felt his entire body come to a freeze. That was, once he had spotted Taehyung amongst the bodies of students.

The man had his camera strapped around his shoulders, long wavy hair adorning his face in a charming way Jeongguk could never get used to, couldn't possibly look away from. Time and time again, no matter how many times he laid eyes upon the older, Taehyung only seemed to grow more and more handsome as the days went by.

Jeongguk found it all so fascinating. It seemed he could just never get enough of admiring the piece of work that was Kim Taehyung.

Yet just as he had gotten distracted by the man's perfectly crafted features, Taehyung's eyes flickered forward, and just like that the two were making direct eye contact from across the cafeteria hall.

Jeongguk felt every sense of alarm go off in his body once that familiar dark gaze pierced into him, and he found himself gulping quietly. He knew immediately by the look on the older's eyes that it was still V who was currently at front, and somehow he felt like a bunny caught red handed by his prey.

He lowered his chopsticks with trembling fingers, brows pushing together once he realized that Taehyung was making no effort to look away. No, instead he held firm eye contact. Refused to break his hold on him.

Jeongguk, too, couldn't dare look away. He felt as though it would be wrong to. As though he'd be punished for it.

And Taehyung seemed to realize that, because once their eye contact persisted for longer than twelve seconds, an amused grin grew over his lips, tongue darting out to lick across them.

The younger sucked in a breath, and felt himself slipping into the older's eyes. The eyes that captivated him, seemed to create a world for just them two with a mere gaze.

In this world Taehyung was running his fingers down Jeongguk's skin. Was ever so slowly exploring his naked body, laying his lips over him, kissing his shoulders, his chest, his stomach.

In the world Taehyung had crafted for them, Jeongguk was bent over a mattress, ass up in the air while the older slammed his cock into him in thunderous thrusts. Jeongguk would scream in shivering ecstasy, would clench his puckering hole with every grunt Taehyung would whisper in his ear. And the older, he would slam his hand over Jeongguk's ass cheeks, making them bounce in rhythm, squeals from the younger filling the realm that existed only in their imaginations.

And it was with that vision the man had slipped into him that Jeongguk realized Taehyung was eye-fucking him right then and there.

With his gaze, with his mind. It was evident in that cocky grin of his. Yet Jeongguk couldn't dare look away. Didn't know how.

That is, until a voice beside him called out to him, pulling him from the fantasy realm he and Taehyung had slipped into in their heads.

"Wh—What..?" He stammered quietly, lifted his head to see a male figure seating himself on the seat across from him. It took him a grace period of a few seconds to recover from the predatory gaze of the man across the room, and then Jeongguk was able to recognize that the guy now next to him was a classmate of his, from the lecture course he had just finished. "O-Oh, hey Donghyun.."

"Hi." The guy, Donghyun, gave a chuckle at the unfocused look on the other's face. "You seem very distracted. Am I interrupting your alone time?"

Jeongguk slowly shook his head, eyes flickered across the room to see that Taehyung was now talking to someone sat on the same table as him.

"N-..." He cleared his throat, then forced a light laugh. "No, I was just... still processing what the professor was talking about back in our lecture."

Donghyun cracked apart his chopsticks and began to poke at his food. "Hm, yeah. I was just about to ask you if you took notes. Everything that old geezer said flew right over my head, and you-... Well, you're a model student so I'm sure you understood at least half of what he was saying."

Jeongguk let out a more genuine laugh this time, the flustered state Taehyung had rendered in him slowly fading away. "I barely understood much, but you can have a look at my notes if you want," he reached into his bag to pull his small notebook out, reaching the book toward the other man.

"You're a total lifesaver!" Donghyun clapped his hands together and rubbed in gratitude before taking hold of the notebook. "I'll copy these and return it back to you on Monday. Is that cool?"

"Of course," Jeongguk gave him a warm smile, then watched as the man bowed politely and took a bite of his food. The two then proceeded to make comfortable small talk while eating, and eventually Jeongguk took note of the group of students on the other side of the hall now getting up from their seats including, of course, Taehyung.

His lips slowly parted, and he quickly munched down at what was left of his food before he hurriedly rose from his seat.

"Gotta get ready for my next class now," he looked down at Donghyun, "Thanks for keeping me company."

"Of course," Donghyun blinked in slight confusion, though he didn't question the boy too much. "And thank you for the lecture notes. See you in class, Jeongguk-ah."

The boy gave a quick nod, then hurried to throw the remaining trash over his plate, returned the tray, and sped toward the exit. He spotted the group scattering down the hall, leaving the sight of Taehyung's backside strolling down casually. Jeongguk wasn't sure why he was holding his breath while jogging after him, but he quietly exhaled upon finally reaching the tall man's side.

"Hyung, um-... Hey!" He spoke up. Taehyung's head turned to the side to look at him.

"Ah. Jeon. Hello."

"W-What were you doing back there? Was it some kind of club meeting?"

Taehyung grabbed at the DSLR camera strap hanging from his neck, waving the device toward the younger.

"Correct. Photography club business. None of an art club fool like you's concern."

Jeongguk's brow quirked, resisting a roll of his eyes. "I thought you were going to wait for me, and..." He lowered his head. "Escort me to my next class.. But you just left after the meeting was done."

Taehyung scoffed out a curt laugh. "You had an escort already, no?"

The boy's head tilted slightly in confusion, before he finally understood what the alter meant. "D-Donghyun? What—no, he's just a classmate who needed some notes."

Taehyung came to a sudden stop, causing Jeongguk to slow down and halt as well.

"A classmate you giggle and bat your eyelashes toward?" The man's eyes were dark while he stared directly at him.

Jeongguk opened his mouth to say something, but had gotten far too intimidated by his stare to think properly on a response. "T-That's not what I was doing.." he finally pushed the words out, though they came quiet and diminished.

Taehyung's glare lingered on the boy for a few more seconds, and then his walking resumed, to which Jeongguk quickly responded to by following after him.

"Don't frolic around with other guys, Jeon Jeongguk.." He spoke in a warning voice. "I'll fucking kill you. Don't you dare lie to me, either."

The boy remained silent, fingers timidly clasping together in front of him. He wasn't sure why he felt so alarmed, really. It wasn't like V's claims were true. He was merely being friendly toward his classmate, and yet somehow thinking on arguing such a statement made him feel as though he'd quickly lose the fight.

But as he pushed down the wriggly feeling in his stomach, he lifted his chin, raised his head up high. And decided to push the bold words from his mouth.

"Well, what about you, huh?" Jeongguk spoke daringly, though was still fearful of pushing his luck.

"What about me, mm?"

"You lied to me, too.." His voice lowered. "Didn't you know? About Misun and Yoongi?"

Taehyung was silent for a moment before uttering his simple response. "Yes. I did."

An automated scoff left Jeongguk's lips, the anger he felt for his wronged best friend rising deep in his veins. "And what was that all about? You kept that secret from me.. even knowing that it directly affected my best friend. But still, you kept your mouth shut and played both Jimin and I like fools. You gang assholes are nothing but liars who toy with people's feelings!"

The two slipped from the cafeteria building, out into the cool breeze and rocky pavement. Taehyung stopped midway down the stairs, turned around and grabbed harshly at Jeongguk's face, his long fingers pressing deep into either side of the boy's cheeks.

"How dare you fucking speak to me that way.." His deep voice stung the young one's ears, and then Taehyung shoved Jeongguk's head back while releasing it. "Correct your language. Now."

Jeongguk gasped in a quiet breath, head snapping backwards. He reached his hand up to rub at the reddening skin over his cheeks, where Taehyung's powerful grip had grabbed him.

The older watched him in silence, slowly realizing what he had just done.

He briefly looked down at his hand and lowered it. And it seemed Yerin was right, because despite the remorseful glint in his eye, the alter didn't utter an apology. But rather, he cleared his throat under his breath and turned back around, reaching the bottom of the steps.

Jeongguk ignored the stinging on his face and hesitated before he continued to follow the man. After a curt silence between the two, Taehyung then spoke again.

"It wasn't my place to say." His low voice rumbled past his throat, further explaining himself. "Misun didn't wish for anyone to know just yet. So I simply followed her wish. It's not my fucking child, therefore not my problem to try and solve."

Jeongguk walked with his lips pressed firmly together, listening to the older's words before he sighed out a gentle breath. "Y-You're right.." He finally concluded in a weak voice, pulling at his jacket sleeves. "It's not even your concern... Not your problem, like you said." He paused. "It wouldn't have made sense for you to be the one to tell me.. I'm sorry, V."

The man dug his hands into his pockets and continued over campus grounds in silence, brows twitching in a lowering frown. He hadn't quite expected the boy to respond in such a way, and so naturally he wasn't quite sure how to react.

After a moment, he heard Jeongguk's footsteps recede, and Taehyung turned to see that the boy had stopped walking.

"You must have things to do.." Jeongguk said, head lowered. "I'll stop following you now. I'll message you when my class is over."

The boy's feet skid over pebbles while he turned to his left, and before he could stroll away he felt a large hand grab at his arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" Taehyung's hefty voice rumbled the air between them. "I'm supposed to walk you to class, remember?"

Jeongguk blinked up at the older with his big eyes, shocked that the man had even insisted. V wasn't too keen on doing protection services, after all. He had expected the alter to ditch him at least once or twice, although he came close to doing so back at the cafeteria hall.

"R-Right, I just thought-.." he trailed off, watching as the man then released his grip on him.

"Lead the way, Jeon."

Jeongguk felt himself gulping. Those dark stagnant eyes were ever so striking, so sharp and riveting. And that low voice, full of depth... He felt a swarm of butterflies roam his stomach all at once.

With a shy nod, Jeongguk rubbed at the side of his neck and began to walk down the distant building where his next class would take place. Somehow he was more conscious of the older's powerful aura beside him, a presence that ensured his safety down the path they took. The two men strolled beside each other in a peaceful silence, the chirps of distant birds and students chattering accompanied their surroundings.

And after more graveling steps, Jeongguk decided to ease his curiosity.

"C-Can I ask you something...?"

Taehyung made no effort to look in his direction while he simply hummed in response.

"Has it been long since-..." Jeongguk found himself fiddling with his thumbs again. "Has it been long since Vante last fronted..?"

The older didn't show much of a reaction on his face.

"Yes, it has."

Jeongguk hesitated. "Is it b-because of me...?"

Taehyung exhaled a low breath. "No. It's because he's a fucking idiot."

Jeongguk's brows lowered. "He's not an idiot.." came his quiet mumble.

"But that's precisely what he is." Taehyung scoffed out. "He showed you just how crazy he is and drove you away from us. Not that I had much of a problem with that, but that was far from his and the others' intentions."

Jeongguk's lips tucked into a pout as he listened, a defeated sigh then slipping past his mouth. "So he thinks that I think that he's crazy?"

Taehyung tilted his head to look at him. "Is that not what you think?"

The younger's gaze flickered toward him, and he gently shook his head. "No. It's not."

The older's eyes lingered on the boy for a moment longer, before he straightened his shoulders and looked ahead of them. It didn't take them much more to reach the new school building, and once they made it down the correct hall towards Jeongguk's classroom, it was time for them to part ways.

Jeongguk stopped a few feet away from the doorframe, then looked up at the man with an endearing smile. "Thank you... for walking me to class."

Taehyung merely blinked back at him, and the younger took advantage of the silence by nearing closer, hands placing themselves over the older's shoulders. He lifted himself up on his toes and reached Taehyung's face, where he placed a light smooch over his lips.

The man blinked down at him with the same blankly stunned eyes that Jeongguk remembered he wore, back when he had accused the alter of being proud of the Jia girl. A look that made Jeongguk giggle on the spot back then, because god forbid V actually felt proud of anyone.

In fact, it seemed as though Jeongguk's ability to read his emotions simply confused him. He showed no distinct expressions on his face, and yet oftentimes it felt Jeongguk could read him like a book.

The boy was getting used to it. Used to deciphering the blocks of complicated code the man's void gaze seemed to hold. The alter nearly spoke with his eyes, after all.

But of course, V doesn't get flustered.

No, he was good at keeping his face entirely deadpanned. Though Jeongguk took note on the way the man's lips parted, ever so slightly at the gesture.

"What's with that stare...?" Jeongguk laughed softly. "That's my boyfriend's body you're sharing. I can't help but kiss it.."

Taehyung's gaze flickered down towards the younger's lips, then returned his direct eye contact before the boy retreated toward the classroom, a toothy grin over his lips.

And the older man stood there for a lingering moment, ran his large hand down his cascading bangs, a puff of air leaving his throat before he finally turned to exit the hall.

※ ※

Jeongguk glanced down at his watch. It was nearing nighttime now that his final class for the day had finished, and he dug into his pockets to pull out his phone.

After grabbing his things from his desk, he typed up a message to Taehyung to let him know his class was done with, then mindlessly strolled down the empty hall.

He sighed quietly. With such an erratic disorder, and unstable alter, he couldn't be too sure if Taehyung would really come and pick him up or not.

So he decided to get ahead on some work and wait at the library. It was the perfect time in the day for such a thing, seeing as most people would've gone home around this hour.

He walked past an array of bookshelves and tables, until he reached his favorite corner, where he settled his things and sat over the chair. He pulled out his laptop, which was quick to display an essay he was in the midst of writing, and immediately his motivation to get some actual work done was quickly diminished.

That's how the boy found himself scrolling through online shopping sites instead, his thoughts distracted far past the items of clothing and accessories the webpage offered him. He lowered his hand, index finger nearing the trackpad. And after a moment of contemplation he found himself opening a new tab, shoulders straightening while he leaned forward to type something in the search bar.

'intermittent explosive disorder'

He stared at the words, teeth digging into his bottom lip before he hit 'search', watching as a list of informative pages came up. He clicked on the first option, his eyes scanning the words over the screen.

'Intermittent Explosive Disorder, or IED, is a mental condition in which the affected undergoes sudden impulsive outbursts of anger or aggression. This can be either verbal or physical, and can greatly affect relationships with other people negatively.'

Jeongguk blinked, scrolling as he read up more on the condition that seemed to affect only V, within the already existing disorder Taehyung as a whole already had.

His brows furrowed. Sudden anger, getting violent, verbal arguments... It all made sense. He could hear his heart beating loudly inside his chest, feeling it growing heavier as he continued reading.

It didn't seem as though V could control it, and somehow knowing such a thing made Jeongguk feel... a little better. It wasn't like the man was doing it on purpose, after all. And, who knows? Perhaps there was a way to learn to deal with it.

He leaned closer towards the computer screen, then heard the shuffling of footsteps suddenly grow louder in his proximity. Jeongguk flinched, quickly closed the tab and looked up to see the very set of handsome eyes he had been waiting on.

"Let's go." Taehyung's deep voice called out to him, the same blank look over his eyes.

Jeongguk slowly exhaled, lowering the laptop screen until it shut. Then he offered up a smile.

"Y-Yes... Let's go."

✱