Thirty-Eighth
:Chapter Thirty-Eight:

"So, are you ready for the playoff game tomorrow?" Jeongguk asked Taehyung, taking a sip of his Coca-Cola.

     The two were hanging out again at Jeongguk's house while the aforementioned's father was away at work. Taehyung was only over for Jaeyong but the boy wasn't feeling too hot and decided (after being convinced by Jeongguk) a nap wouldn't hurt.

The two then thought Taehyung staying over for a bit wasn't the worst that could happen. They could just go over tips and pointers for tomorrow's game.

It was their second playoff game and away at that.

     "I guess. I think I'm more nervous than anything." Remarked Taehyung, eyes focused on the high-calorie fast food Jeongguk ordered.

"Well, duh," Jeongguk chuckled. "Who wouldn't be nervous? It's a playoff game, a lost ruins it all."

"Gee, I definitely needed to hear that. I don't think I'm nervous anymore." Taehyung rolled his eyes, picking up a few fries from his container and plopping them into his mouth.

This only made the younger laugh a bit more, hearing the sarcasm drip off of Taehyung's vocals. He set his cup down and turned a bit towards the elder. "I'm not saying that, it's just normal to feel that way."

"I figured that much," the aforementioned said. "You just asked if I was ready and I replied that I was simply more nervous than anything." Taehyung added on, looking over towards the other. "Are you tagging along?"

"To the away game? Obviously. Why wouldn't I come with? I'm apart of the team, loser." Jeongguk replied, pushing up to his feet. He stretched out his limbs just a bit, feeling as he had been sitting there for quite some time. His ass muscles felt rather flat and sore but he kept that to himself and the readers.

     "Watch it, we ain't that close yet." Taehyung warned, eyes up at the younger with a dark glare but it was playful more or less.

"Yet?" Jeongguk cocked a brow, an amused smirk playing his thin lips. "Oh, so you think we're going to get closer? Look at you hoping for a friendship between us."

"Can it, Jeon, I didn't mean it like that."

"You sure did say it that way,"

"Whatever, leave me alone."

"You're the one in my home, if you want to be left alone, go ahead and take the front door out." Jeongguk crossed his arms over his chest loosely, head cocked to the side just a bit with a sly smirk.

Taehyung just shook his head, looking away. He didn't know what else he could say to back up what he claimed or how he could argue against the other. He did say those words without much thought and Jeongguk just so happened to catch the 'slip up'.

     "Regardless, I guess I'm glad you think we can get close. Maybe. I don't know how I feel when it comes to building a," Jeongguk placed his index finger and middle finger on his thin lips, faking a gag. "A-A friendship."

Taehyung gave the stank-eye before he reached for his fries, pulling a small amount and then soon tossing them at the raven-haired teenager.

The latter gasped, watching the four fries fall onto the floor in front of him. "You dare waste fast food? My hard earned money!" He pretended to be mad, kneeling down and picking up the fries off the floor since he didn't want to keep the mess lingering.

"Hard earned on what? Sucking dick, homo?"

The remark seemed to have made both Taehyung and Jeongguk fall silent, both looking at one another at the same time as if they each knew that probably wasn't the best choice of words. But Taehyung truly just meant it as a meaningless joke and he prayed Jeongguk knew that much.

     "Is it cause I'm gay?" Jeongguk mused, lips slightly parted as he awaited an answer.

"No, no, sorry, I didn't mean for it to . . . Man, I'm part gay if that helps. I wasn't trying to insult you." Taehyung tried to justify his statement, seeing the look on Jeongguk's face made him feel bad. He didn't know if he hit too personally with the joke.

     Taehyung quite commonly joked around like that with Hoseok and Namjoon, just some friendly banter but he didn't know Jeongguk like that. He wasn't familiar with how the aforementioned was treated and if he could even say things like that just yet.

     Jeongguk nodded before he turned away and began to walk into the kitchen, probably to throw away the fries that were tossed at him moments before.

Taehyung really felt bad now. He was quick to follow, wiping his greasy fingers off the denim of his jeans. He wanted to make up for his poor choice of words. He just got a bit too comfortable with Jeongguk, not thinking hard into his insult until after it left his lips.

     "Newbie, wait, I'm really sorry." He called out, following not too far behind the other. "Oh, come on! Don't I get some leeway since I like guys too?" He questioned, Jeongguk's backside still facing him. "Dicks are great, take it more as a compliment if you need to." He was really stretching but he knew what it felt like to have his sexuality be degraded and looked at as a 'sin'.

     What he didn't know is Jeongguk was trying to stifle a laugh, thinking it was hilarious that he had Taehyung trying to apologize and defend himself for something that didn't really phase the younger.

Sure Jeongguk had his fair share of 'bullies' who found out he was gay at his old school but Jeongguk was a muscular boy, he knew how to take care of himself.

He even helped some of them figure out their sexualities themself after putting a few on their knees.

So, the comment definitely didn't bother him but when Taehyung had said it, he noticed the other's reaction and how he was unsure if his comment was appropriate.

Jeongguk, being the quick and witty thinker he was, decided to play around just a bit. If Taehyung felt like he could joke around, so could Jeongguk, right?

     "Don't be a whiny baby now." The elder huffed apologetically, putting his hand out and placing it on Jeongguk's shoulder.

That's when the other quickly spun and gripped Taehyung's wrist. "You think you can just make slick comments about my sexuality?" Jeongguk might've been in the drama club at his old school, pro-acting skills if you must.

"What?"

"That's not very nice of you. Making ill comments about what gender I'm into. How rude of you." Jeongguk narrowed his brows and pushed Taehyung back until his backside made contact with the countertop.

"I just made a small joke—" Taehyung, once again, tried to defend himself. His cheeks grew a bit red; embarrassment. He had no problem laying his hands on Jeongguk — they've fought plenty of times before — but he felt really bad and actually believed the other was hurt by his remark. This was no time to play victim.

Jeongguk got close, their faces mere inches away from one another. The blond-haired boy could feel the warm breathing fan over his pink lips, visibly gulping. "I-I'm really sorry, Jeongguk." He uttered shakily.

     An innocent smile slowly appeared over the younger's face, retracting himself. "Nonsense, it was just a joke." He commented, letting go of Taehyung's wrist. "No harm, yeah?"

"What . . . ?" The other was confused, cheeks burning bright red for multiple reasons.

"You really think I'd get that upset over something I'm into?" He chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "Since you want to try to be slick, I figured I'd have some fun." Jeongguk shrugged lamely, his smile never ending.

Taehyung stood there dumbfounded for a moment. "You piece of shit." He sucked his teeth, trying to steady himself mentally. He never once apologized to Jeongguk, never with the intention of fixing his wrongs and meaning it at least.

"What can I say? Play with fire and you'll get burned, Kim." Jeongguk said, walking over to the sink to wash his hands. They were a bit greasy and unlike Taehyung, he wasn't going to wipe his hands on his perfectly fine clothing.

     Before anything more could be said, a small voice pulled the two teenagers away from their sly comments and little pranks.

Jaeyong stood at the doorway of the kitchen, little fist balled up by his eye as he rubbed the sleep away.

     "Hey, Bubby," Jeongguk greeted first and walked over, picking up the young child.

Taehyung remained silent, shoving his hands into his pockets. He just watched the scene, unsure on what there was for him to say. His heart was beating pretty quickly in his chest, just his embarrassment taking a toll on him.

     "Goo, tummy still hurts." Jaeyong whined, a pouty frown showing on his little face. "I still feel icky." He added, laying his head on Jeongguk's shoulder, arms wrapping around his older brother's neck.

"Awe, well, you were asleep for a bit. I'm pretty sure you can take more medicine." Jeongguk uttered, carrying his brother over to the other side of the kitchen where they kept some of the medicine.

It was for common needs like stomach aches or headaches.

The older Jeon picked up the kids tummy relief, turning over the small bottle as he read the instructions.

     "You can take a bit more, maybe it'll help." Jeongguk said, sitting Jaeyong on the countertop while he twisted the lid off of the bottle.

"No, it nasty." Whined the younger.

Jeongguk hummed. "It'll make you stop hurting though." He tried to reason with the child.

Jaeyong crossed his little arms over his chest and shook his head. He was a bit cranky due to the pain he was in and his not-so-good nap.

     "Please, Jaeyong?" Taehyung finally spoke up. "If you take some of the medicine, we'll be able to sit down and watch a movie together! Or play some video games if you're allowed."

Jeongguk just simply nodded, already taking the initiative to pour the directed amount into a little plastic cup.

"But it nasty, doesn't taste good." Jaeyong pushed further, his pout still there.

"I'll try some if you take some, Jae, but you really need to so you don't throw up. You don't want to be sick forever, yeah?" Taehyung walked over, leaning on the counter beside Jaeyong.

The small amount of convincing must've worked because Jaeyong gave in, nodding his head.

Taehyung looked towards Jeongguk who looked back at him. "And you don't have any siblings?"

"I never said I didn't know how children worked. I don't need siblings for some convincing." Taehyung shrugged. "Now pass over the medicine," he held his hand out.

"You say that like it's a shot of Hennessy." Jeongguk remarked.

"Might as well be with the horrid taste." The elder claimed, taking the plastic cup from Jeongguk and pretending to take a small sip from it.

It was believable to the child since he was willing to then take some too, seeing as his most favorite person in the world took some just so he would.

Eventually, the trio were then all again seated in the living room together. They were cooped up on the couch, Jaeyong of course in the middle.

Jeongguk had put on one of Jaeyong's favorite animated movies, letting it play on as he sat there with his head propped up by his hand.

He didn't care for what was on, just now realizing it was just a bit boring. He managed to get hit by a sleepy wave, yawning quietly to himself and relaxing his body.

It wouldn't hurt if he just closed his eyes for a moment, right? He would most likely wake before the movie was actually over anyways, he was sure of it.

That being in mind, Jeongguk let his eyes fall shut but he would regret that the moment he awoke from his small slumber.

Shame on him for trusting Taehyung and his younger brother while he took a mini power nap.

Shame on him.

_______
A/N:

They're definitely friends without calling it friends. Do like where their relationship is?