You have (1) new message from taehyung.

taehyung:
✨good morning jungkook!
how are u 2day?（＾ω＾）🌸 🌹

Every morning. Every single morning since he put Taehyung's number into his phone, Jungkook had been waking up to see this message or something similar on his phone. He wasn't used to it. Sure, Yoongi texted him pretty often, but hardly ever first thing in the morning, simply because he was too sluggish to think or do much before eight a.m. Although, if someone texted him, he would usually try to respond. But Taehyung always did so first, as if routinely.

And if he were honest with himself, Jungkook still felt a bit shy about the whole thing, starting with Yoongi ever having prompted the whole thing to begin with. Jungkook never really was the best in social situations outside his close group of friends, and that day at the coffee shop was a whole new level of socially making a fool of himself. In his own opinion, anyway. Taehyung had found it cute, as did Yoongi, the mastermind responsible for the two's meeting.

He and Jungkook had been texting for a little while now, with Tae's messages being lively and friendly and curious, because that's the type of person he was, and Jungkook's being tentative and polite. He was gradually beginning to loosen up, though, but it would probably be a while before he could consider himself comfortable.

Taehyung was just too pretty. Too pretty, too sweet, too friendly. And he really seemed to enjoy talking to the shy Jungkook for whatever reason, which just made things worse.

me:
i'm ok

taehyung:
^^ that's good ☺️
hey, did u eat breakfast yet??
u should come to the golden spoon!
i have the day off but i like to come here in the mornings anyway ✨

me:
well...

taehyung:
u don't have to if u don't want to!
it's totally ok if u don't want to
i just thought it'd be fun 😊

His heart pounded against his chest. Just breakfast with a friend. You've done that with Yoongi before, remember? Don't be such a coward. He just wants to hang out, that's all.

Slowly Jungkook typed out a reply.

me:
i guess it's alright

taehyung:
reALLY??
K I'LL SEE U SOON THEN BYEE

So bubbly. Even in text. Jungkook shook his head, climbing out of bed to go find something to wear. He froze at his closet. Then he hit himself across the cheek for overthinking he matter. There was no reason to be indecisive about what he was wearing. This wasn't a date. This wasn't a date. This was just breakfast with a friend. He wasn't going there to impress Taehyung.

But at the same time he kind of wanted to impress Taehyung. At least a little. Maybe because deep down he had unknowingly accepted that he liked the strange, happy barista. And Jungkook never thought about if he had a type before. Now he considered it might be Taehyung.

After about ten minutes, Jungkook finally selected an outfit: casual, a pair of black jeans and a solid white t-shirt, along with his lightweight blue hoodie and a slightly heavier coat to go over that. It was still winter, after all.

Another five minutes later and he was rushing out the door, already worried that Taehyung would be disappointed for keeping him waiting so long. Jungkook practically raced to The Golden Spoon, though he made sure to slow down once he got close so once he entered, it wouldn't seem like he had been so eager to get there.

Once again, overthinking.

Pushing open the shop's door, Jungkook stepped inside and hesitated to look around. Upon lifting his head, he immediately found Taehyung sitting by himself in a corner table, waving eagerly at him.

The boy had on a galaxy-themed shirt, white sweater over top, blue jeans and a headband that pushed back some of his light brown hair, while some arched over the band.

Jungkook swore he could hear his own heartbeat attempting to sync up with his slow steps, but instead spinning wildly out of control.

Once arriving at the table, Jungkook pulled out a chair and sat down. All the while Taehyung had been watching him, smiling, with just a hint of pink dusting his cheeks.

"You look really cute."

A quiet giggle followed Tae's words, as did a deep blush from the other boy. Jungkook shrunk into himself. He twiddled his thumbs underneath the table as he chanted in his mind that there was nothing to be nervous about. Nothing at all.

"Sorry if...I kept you waiting," he said softly after some time. Taehyung's eyebrows went up in surprise.

"Why are you apologizing? I wasn't waiting that long," he insisted. "And besides, I sprung this on you without warning. I'm just glad you agreed. You don't come to the shop that often."

Jungkook shrunk into himself even more. He felt guilty. After all, the main reason he didn't come here that often was because of Taehyung, because he was so afraid of making himself look like an idiot again in front of the prettiest boy he had ever seen.

"Can I get you a coffee, Jungkook?"

The sudden question drew Jungkook from his thoughts. "U-uhm-"

"Or don't you like coffee?"

"No, I do, it's just-"

"Black or sweetened?"

"...sweetened."

"Do you want something to eat with it? I can buy you a doughnut or danish or something."

Jungkook furrowed his brow. "You...don't have to buy it, I brought money-"

"But I wanna buy it for you." The boy's smile broadened. "Can I?"

Powerless. Jungkook was powerless to Tae's deep, soft-spoken voice, which he didn't hear very often since the majority of the two's conversations happened via text. And his eyes, Taehyung's eyes, the way they were trained attentively on Jungkook, watching his every move, every reaction as though not wanting to miss it...

In a minute Taehyung had temporarily abandoned his seat so that he could go up to the counter to order for Jungkook. And too soon, it seemed, he was back again, smiling as he placed in front of Jungkook both the coffee and doughnut he had ordered. Then he reclaimed his seat.

"Try it. The coffee, I mean," Tae said. "If you don't like it, I'll go get you another one. But I think you'll like it."

With the boy's wide-eyed, curious gaze once again on him, Jungkook felt compelled to taste the coffee, gingerly raising the cup to his lips to take a careful sip. And it was sweet, but not overly sweet, so he took a second sip, then gave a slow, approving nod.

"You like it?"

"Yeah..." He gave another nod. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Hm?"

"Can we call this a date?"

Taking another sip of his coffee at that time would have been a huge mistake on Jungkook's part, had he known the question was coming, but since he hadn't, it was just an unlucky occurrence. He choked on what he had drunk, sending himself into a brief coughing fit and Taehyung into a major panic. He extended his hand, though not really knowing what to do with it. It had been instinctive. Fortunately, Jungkook got a hold of himself before too long. But Tae's panic still held on for a bit longer.

"A-are you okay?? I'm so sorry, I...I didn't think you'd react like that, I'm sorry, I should have waited till you put the coffee down. Are you alright??"

Jungkook nodded several times, quickly, just to assure the other boy that he really was okay. In one sense, anyway. In another, he was still in the process of...well, processing Taehyung's words.

I misheard him. I misheard him. You just misheard him, Jungkook.

"Is that a 'no' to the date, then?"

No, I was wrong. I didn't mishear him.

He couldn't answer right away. His hands trembled, fingertips tapping rapidly against the coffee cup which he now held tightly in his grasp. He hadn't prepared for this.

"Uhm...I-"

"You're allowed to say no," Taehyung told him, despite obviously hoping for a positive response. "I just...wanted to ask..."

Their eyes met—accidentally, because initially Jungkook had been trying to avoid the other's gaze, but the moment he failed was the moment he caved in and admitted to what he was feeling. "I'd...like that," he said.

Now it was Taehyung's time to freeze up. "...you would?"

"...yeah..."

"...oh...well, that's...good."

The blush on his face, the small pout, the shy side-glances, everything about Jungkook, right now, made Taehyung just want to pick up him and squeeze him, and maybe kiss his pink cheeks, too. But that was too much, at least now. So instead, Tae slowly moved his hand across the table towards Jungkook's, and he touched his fingers so as to test whether or not the boy would pull away. When he didn't, Jungkook soon found the back of his hand being gently caressed by Taehyung's thumb.

It wasn't good for his heart. These soft, gentle actions, Taehyung's smile, all of this. Jungkook honestly felt he was on the verge of melting, becoming a part of this coffee shop seat on which he sat. His body felt warm. Except oddly enough, it wasn't uncomfortable. This boy's touch was anything but uncomfortable.

"...your hands are soft."

"So are yours."

Taehyung giggled again. "Thank you. I do try to take care of my skin."

"It shows."

"Mm. Can I ask you another question?"

"Okay."

"Do you wanna go on a walk with me?"

"...I'd like that, too."

*

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a/n:
sorry this is lazily written lol i just wanted a taekook chapter in here so 💜