[ 02. we meet again ]
J E O N G G U K

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It's been a few days since Jeongguk's seen Taehyung, and he's been dreading it as Sunday draws closer with each passing second.

However, Taehyung has been appearing quite frequently lately much to his own distaste, the golden-haired boy with his masculinity and testosterone skyrocketing through the roof has become the recent object of attention at his highschool. Well, to be more specific, being a city boy in a school populated with teenagers that have never been exposed to anything beyond their small town is bound to draw a lot of attention.

He isn't exaggerating when he says he sees Taehyung literally everywhere. The boy's in the lockerroom when he is, in some of his classes, walking around the hallways with notable losers on his tail, hopeful to share some of his newfound popularity if Taehyung happens to look their way and adopt them as his sidekick.

Wherever Jeongguk goes, he hears his name being uttered from the mouths of preppy girls and jealous jocks that clutter the hallways in cliches. Anything they discuss ranges from his Hollywood-worthy looks fit for the big screen to his all-American accent. Jeongguk tries his best to also drown out the rather horny and rude comments about Taehyung being amazing at sex or a womanizer, those types of naughty comments always causing his cheeks to heat up feverishly (how can people be so comfortable talking about something so private?).

Anyways, there's no doubt Taehyung's simply becoming a celebrity in their tiny, countryside town overnight, and by the looks of it, he's fitting into his newfound fame quite well.

So well, Taehyung has the great audacity to clamp his palm over his mouth, his other hand dragging him inside of a cramped, dark room Jeongguk can only assume as the janitor's closet without his permission.

"Taehyung?" Jeongguk nearly shrieks to the top of his lungs, completely flustered when the older presses a single finger to his lips. Out of all places to meet the boy, he ends up almost pressed up against him in a strongly lemon-scented closet filled with cobwebs.

How awesome is that?

"Quiet doll," Taehyung chuckles softly, holding his arms up close in surrender, "I'm merely trying to not draw any attention."

"You just yanked me into a damn closet! That's drawing attention if you ask me!" Jeongguk shouts, flinching when Taehyung presses his palm against his lips to shut him up. At this, embarassment spreads across his cheeks like a wild fire, tinting his skin a bright red.

Sticking his tongue out, he licks the blonde's palm, watching proudly when Taehyung quickly retracts his hand to his side, disgust scrunching his brows together as he wipes off Jeongguk's saliva on his jeans.

"That was unnecessary," Taehyung frowns, rolling his eyes at the childish smile glowing on Jeongguk's shadowy features.

"City people really don't think," Jeongguk snorts, yelping when Taehyung pokes his side out of nowhere. Offended, Jeongguk pushes him back playfully, though surprisingly the boy doesn't budge underneath his touch. How embarassing is that.

Pouting, Jeongguk averts his gaze to anywhere but Taehyung. He gnaws on his bottom lip, trying his best to ignore the boy's deep laughter ringing throughout the closet.

"I used my head right there," Taehyung teases, finding it amusing when Jeongguk doesn't utter a single word in response. "C'mon doll, you're the only one I actually know here. If I knew somebody else, they would be in your position right now."

"We barely even met," Jeongguk flits his gaze to the blonde, his lips curling downwards into a frown, "and please, stop calling me doll. You don't call other boys that."

"Then what do you want me to call you? Sport? Maybe even buddy? Or does calling you a man satisfy your need to be reminded that you're indeed masculine?"

It's this side of Taehyung that has Jeongguk totally confused, somehow even bothered by his humor. A part of him is offended by his choice of bitter wordplay, and another half of him wishes for Taehyung to call him 'doll' over and over again until his knees grow weak. All of this is undoubtedly wrong, especially since they're close in proximity and anyone can get the wrong idea if they are to open the closet.

"Hey, sorry I didn't mean that Jeongguk," He realizes he's been silent for awhile, and the concern that glitters in Taehyung's hooded gaze makes his stomach twist.

"It's okay," Jeongguk mumbles, swallowing down the panic rising up his throat that at any second someone can open the door right now.

"You sure? You look pale," Taehyung worries, his palm reaching up to Jeongguk's cheek, but the younger beats him before he can touch him by swatting away his hand. At this, Taehyung tenses, drawing his hand to his side, his gaze glazed over with a sort of blankness.

"Aren't you a little afraid someone could get the wrong idea if they opened that door right now?" Jeongguk whispers, his teeth capturing his bottom lip and chewing anxiously at the plush skin.

"No," Taehyung replies monotonously, his stare fixating on Jeongguk it's almost uncomfortable with how empty it feels.

"There's nothing for me to be worried about."

"Why? Anyone can open that door and think we're freaking making out right now," Jeongguk counters, gesturing to the space behind the two of them. "Aren't you scared someone will think you're queer?"

"No," Again, he says it curtly, his voice steady yet twinged with something he can't quite pin point. "Jeongguk, if you know we're not doing anything bad, why fret?"

He supposes Taehyung's right, but he can't deny the discomfort bubbling his stomach, squeezing at his insides that the mere idea of being caught fogs his mind. Jeongguk shakes his head, his jaw tightening as he pushes Taehyung back a little, easing slightly when the boy complies by taking a step back.

"Jeongguk you need to-,"

"-Why did you even bring me in here?" Jeongguk asks lowly, willing himself to calm his breathing, though he finds it a little hard with the thinning air surrounding them.

"I told you I hate attention. I guess I panicked when it got too much and dragged you here," Taehyung retorts nonchalantly, tugging his shoulders into a shrug. "I thought you'd want to talk, but by the looks of it you're afraid to be caught kissing a boy."

"But I'm not kissing a boy-,"

"-See! Then why worry Jeongguk? I won't kiss you," The blonde assures him, the corner of his lips lifting effortlessly into a crooked grin. "If I wanted to fuck someone, I would have chosen someone like Tiffany or Maria, not you."

It eases him a little with Taehyung's assurance, the boy exhaling slowly in an attempt to calm himself down. He nods firmly, content with their current situation; finally able to meet Taehyung's concerned stare with a small smile.

"Alright, but next time you want to talk, just ask first okay? Even though I believe you, I still don't want to be caught," Jeongguk grins widely, lightly hitting Taehyung's chest with his curled fist. The older bobs his head, a hint of a smirk twitching on his big lips, but before Jeongguk can suggest they leave, Taehyung hums his name.

The younger raises a brow at the older, but before he can open his mouth to speak, he feels Taehyung's finger trail down the edge of his jaw painstakingly slow. He gulps, flinching at the touch when Taehyung presses his thumb beneath his chin, tilting the boy's gaze up to meet his own. Taehyung's pink tongue flicks across his lower lips, his narrowed stare flitting between Jeongguk's lips to his widened eyes.

Tense, Jeongguk squeezes his eyes shut feeling the ghost of Taehyung's finger tickling his chin. He can feel the warmth of his breath fanning over his cheeks, the roughness of Taehyung's fingers scratching against his skin.

His brain's a whirl pool of thoughts, a surge of panic, anger, and confusion wrecking every single moral he holds in that moment. He doesn't know whether to pull away, to hide and scream at Taehyung for teasing him in a way that could be portrayed intimately.

"What are you doing?" Panic fills his throat almost suffocatingly, Jeongguk having no other choice but to allow himself to stare into the infinite puddles of burnt honey that make up Taehyung's irises.

"Hm? Taehyung tsks his tongue, gently swiping his thumb over Jeongguk's bottom lip as though he's examining the shape carefully, painting a mirror image of it in his mind.

"I said, what are you doing?" Jeongguk finally gathers the courage to push Taehyung back, his voice breathy, on the verge of anxiety.

Stumbling backwards, his breath hitches in his throat noticing the way Taehyung's sandy locks fall over his eyes, but Jeongguk's quick to shut down any weird thought from his mind. You have morals Jeongguk, beliefs.

"You got somethin' on your lip," Taehyung rasps, flashing Jeongguk a rectangular grin that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Didn't want you to embarrass yourself!"

Cheeks feeling hot, Jeongguk's fingers brush over his lips which are still stinging from Taehyung's fiery touch. He manages to nod stiffly, not exactly believing Taehyung's excuse though unable to bring himself to fight with him. Maybe this is what city people do, touch and touch to where it feels almost unfriendly, as though they've overstepped boundaries.

Maybe city people like to be up close and personal, just maybe, maybe not all of them have sexual intentions. And maybe, Taehyung is like that - friendly but touchy. Right?

"Hope I didn't offend you sport," Taehyung's deep vowels sound somewhat strained in the hollow of his throat, the nickname more of a mocking taunt rolling off his tongue.

"Enjoy the rest of your day," He forces through his teeth, clicking the door open and leaving Jeongguk behind without another word and another reason to doubt himself all over again.

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sorry it took so long! hope ya'll
aren't upset ):