Thirty-Fifth
:Chapter Thirty-Five:

     "Uh, Coach, I was wondering—"

Coach looked back at the raven-haired teenager, a cocked brow.

Jeongguk had spent another day at practice but today was different. He participated and practiced a bit with them; only a bit but he was taking steps to his recovery.

     "So, since I'm better and my concussion is all cleared up, I just wanted to know if I could pitch for our team again. I really missed it." Jeongguk spoke, sitting in the chair in front of Coach's desk.

The old man set his pen down and focused his attention on Jeongguk, not yet answering the boy just yet. He hummed, thinking for a moment; thinking of an answer he could provide for the younger.

     "No," he answered vaguely, picking his pen back up and returning to his notes.

Jeongguk was confused, taken aback by the answer given to him. "I'm sorry, no? Why not? I'm a great pitcher." He said, almost trying to convince his Coach.

"Because I said so, Jeongguk, now get out." Coach dismissed, not looking back up to see Jeongguk's startled look.

"Can you— like, I don't know, elaborate?" The teenager inquired, feeling a pain in his chest. He didn't understand, unsure on why he couldn't play his position. He was so good and much better than Taehyung. No way Coach was going to sit there and let the other stay at pitcher rather than put in his best player.

The old man huffed. "Jeongguk, you're great at it and yes, you deserve it, but Taehyung got us this far. He's been practicing day and night. I think he should remain as the starting pitcher." He explained. "At least for now. You'll back up for him if something happens."

Jeongguk frowned, trying to comprehend the told words to him. It didn't make sense. He was the best on the team and had to stay and warm the bench instead.

He didn't deserve to be sat out all because Coach pitted Cap.

     "Is there anything else I can help you with?" Coach asked, looking annoyed that he was being bothered.

"That's so bullshit, Coach, you know that. I mean, I don't mean to brag but I'm the best on this team. I can hit far, I can pitch good, I don't see why you would keep me on the bench." Jeongguk argued, brows pulled in. He sat up. "You just feel bad for him, admit that."

"First off, boy, I don't have to admit anything. If I pitted him, I would've made him the pitcher awhile back. I'm playing my cards smart and I'm keeping him as the pitcher. If you have an issue with such, you can always take your leave and pitch elsewhere." Said the man, his annoyance only rising. He didn't want to argue with a child about why he kept things this way.

"Whatever," Jeongguk pushed to his feet, shaking his head. This was completely unfair and left him with his blood boiling.

     He left the office and found his way outside, feeling the spring breeze coat his features but it didn't seem to make him relax.

He kicked a nearby trash can, a loud groan escaping his mouth. He was furious, not pleased with the outcome he got from coming all the way up here on an early morning.

Jeongguk wanted to scream at the sky but he didn't want others to look at him with skeptical looks, bombarding him with, 'are you okay's and whatnot.

He just couldn't believe that someone like Kim was going to steal his position right from under him. It was unbelievable.

***

Taehyung held the plastic bag in hand. The bag was full of sweet and savory treats, some drinks in there too. The sugary goodness calling his name, wanting to cover his cravings but not alone.

He had the bright idea that he was going to go spend time with Jaeyong. He woke up and was just in a great mood all around. He had a good time at practice, a good time showering, so he figured he could share his good mood with a young child.

Not only that, he decided he could give some snacks to Newbie, kind of like payback for that one day he bought his snacks for him.

It was a win-win to Taehyung.

He used his free hand and knocked on the door a solid four times, standing back as he patiently waited.

Like previous times before, he could hear the footsteps growing closer and closer until they were stopped. Then, Taehyung's ears caught the sound of the lock being undone.

     Soon enough, he was greeted by Jeongguk who was confused, cocking a brow. "The fuck do you want?"

The 'hello' was quite startling, making Taehyung frown at the greeting he received. "Um, well, just thought I come over to spend time with Jaeyong." He said, pulling his brows in just a bit.

"He isn't here, he went out with my dad. Now go home." Jeongguk went to shut the door but Taehyung stopped it, pushing it back open.

"What's your deal?" The elder wondered. "I brought you some snacks, we could always just hang out, right?"

"Oh, please," Jeongguk rolled his eyes, huffing. "You? Want to hang out? Sounds like bullshit, Blondie. Weren't you the one shaming me for thinking we could be civilized?" He definitely had an attitude going on, very unappreciated.

Taehyung stood there for a second, lips parted and brows pulled in at the slightest. "Okay, let's try to act civilized."

"What?"

"Let's give the whole 'civilized' thing a shot since you can't seem to drop that. I just don't like you but . . . Unfortunately, you have decent qualities." Taehyung suggested, shrugging lamely.

Jeongguk stared at him, looking for something in his doe eyes but seemed to have found nothing of the sorts. He hesitantly took a step back and pulled the door open, allowing Taehyung to walk on inside.

"See, it was that simple, Newbie." Taehyung grinned, hearing Jeongguk suck his teeth.

"Keep going and you'll leave as soon as you came in here." Jeongguk threatened, shutting the door after the elder walked through.

"This stays between us, yeah?" Taehyung disregarded Jeongguk previous comment, looking back at the younger who had a bit of a frown playing his lips, unsure on why he would say something like that.

"Why?" Jeongguk decided to ask.

The elder didn't have much of an answer, just a shrug of his shoulders before he spoke. "We have a groove, it's just better. And, if something doesn't work out, nothing changes on the outside."

Taehyung's response had made no sense to Jeongguk but he wasn't going to question it, just nodding his head. It was pointless to go back and forth and in Jeongguk's head, who cared if people knew they were going to try to be cool or not.

     "I brought all types of snacks. I don't know what you like so I got random shit. I got spicy chips because I remembered you like it and it's 'pussy shit' if you don't." Taehyung chuckled, setting the bag on the table and beginning to empty it.

Jeongguk heard that and subconsciously smiled but it immediately fell the moment it showed its existence. He was just stunned Taehyung was even paying attention to what he liked and didn't.

He remained silent though, still standing where he stood.

     "If you don't like any of this, well, shit, you're going to have to deal with it because I'm not going back down to the store for some treats for you." The blond-haired chuckle, leaning back on the couch with a back of Sour Patch Kids, tearing it open on the side.

"Nice," Jeongguk hummed and walked over, sitting on the other end of the sofa. His eyes scanned over the variety provided. He then picked up a bag of Hot Cheetos, giving it a once over before he opened it and dug in.

"What was the movie we were watching last time? We should put that back on." Taehyung suggested. His behavior seemed so weird but it was comforting almost, better than the ugly insults that use to be thrown towards one another.

"Uh, Maze Runner." Jeongguk looked for the remote before picking it up, clicking a few buttons and getting to where he wanted to get to. The movie was on the TV, Jeongguk lingering over the 'resume' button.

Taehyung hummed and nodded, popping a few sour gummies into his mouth. "Let's just continue from where we left off, we were so close to the ending. I want to see if they get out or not."

"Well, there's two other movies. I'm sure they get out."

"There's two other movies?" Taehyung repeated, looking over at the younger who looked back at him, giving a slight nod. "We'll be here all day then."

***

     The two weren't even watching the movie anymore. They were on the second movie but they seemed to be enjoying the conversation they were having way more than the movie playing in the background.

The two didn't think they would be this happy when engaging in a conversation with the other but here they were, sharing a few good laughs together.

     "So, he never asked Namjoon or Jimin to come over?" Taehyung asked, lips a bit parted in disbelief.

Jeongguk nodded, letting out a small chuckle. "Right? He totally set us up. What a dimbo."

"I'm so beating his ass when I see him, how dare he backstab us like that! That trader!" Taehyung crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head in utter disappointment.

"We can jump him after practice, teach him his place." Jeongguk said.

"It's all due to his stupid love fantasy he has planned in his head. 'Enemies to Lovers' type shit. He's trying to 'set' us up it seems." Taehyung did quotation marks, rolling his eyes.

Jeongguk laughed at that, knowing all about Hoseok and his love scheme. "I have a pretty stupid question to ask," he brought up, still on the topic of their friend. "Ya know, speaking of Hoseok hyung."

"Shoot," Taehyung said, turning his head a bit to the left as he awaited the question to be asked.

"It's really none of my business but is he actually straight? Like, a hetero? Some of the shit he does is so," Jeongguk ended his sentence and flicked his wrist downward, a very modern hand gesture when referring to someone's sexuality.

Taehyung stifled a giggled, paying attention to how Jeongguk acted. "Trust you and I, I question it everyday. He describes you like you're a Greek God, admires you like you're some famous K-pop idol. Gayest straight person I know but I love it, honestly."

"Tsk, gay people, am I right?" Jeongguk huffed and rolled his eyes, clearly playing but Taehyung must've missed the joke; the joke going way over his head.

It made the smile the elder hold slowly fall into a flat line. "Are you homophobic or something?" Taehyung questioned, feeling a bit uncomfortable now.

Jeongguk looked at him for a moment. He was looking for something to say Taehyung was joking, sitting there and waiting for more to be said but when there was nothing else added, he let out a small laugh.

Soon, his small laugh had him bursting out in giggles, throwing his head back with eyes squeezed shut. His laugh was honestly so pretty-sounding but that was beyond the point.

Taehyung frowned, feeling a bit overwhelmed with the reaction he was given. "I-I don't get what's funny." He spoke, confusion lacing his vowels, a small squint in his eyes. His brows were tugged in just a bit.

"Taehyung—" He laughed some more. "Babes, I'm gay." Jeongguk came out the closet to the elder, wiping the tears from his eyes.

That's when Taehyung's cheeks flushed a dark red, feeling awfully embarrassed. "Really? You? You're gay?" His pulled in brows were now raised.

"Yes, I'm gay," He laughed some more, finding it quite comical. "But, let's say you're homophobic because then we have a bit of an issue there." Jeongguk said, looking to Taehyung to see his reaction.

"Ah, no, I'm bisexual." Taehyung also opened about his own sexuality, shaking his head.

"For real?" Jeongguk's eyes went a bit wide, surprised to hear though Hoseok would make constant jokes about Taehyung and Jeongguk.

"Yeah, but I thought everyone knew I was. I'm open to whoever asks." Taehyung admitted. "Jimin knows and we're not even friends like that."

"I don't go around asking people if they like fucking guys or girls." Jeongguk shook his head, a subtle smile on his lips. "But I just wouldn't have guessed you were into men." He shrugged, looking at the TV for a moment.

"Me? Yeah but you? How you and Seok have switched personalities is beyond me." Taehyung chuckled. They were just kidding and joking around with one another, having fun.

Jeongguk smiled, showing his pretty bunny smile before he sat up, leaning over and picking up some gummy worms to munch on.

     He teared the baggie open, taking a sniff of the artificial fruitiness before he took out a worm, plopping it into his mouth.

He then took out a small handful and held it out for Taehyung who placed his hand out, receiving the gummies. "Thank you," he said.

"Welcome," Jeongguk replied, their conversation dying down but nothing turned awkward. It was all good and felt comfortable.

     Jeongguk thought he was going to take his anger out on Taehyung, belittle the teenager until he felt satisfied with himself but he knew that Taehyung didn't beg the coach to stay where he was put.

He also knew that Taehyung had been dying to play pitcher and here he was, starting and doing a pretty good job at it. The aforementioned got them this far and Jeongguk had actual faith that the boy could win more.

Kim's been practicing a hell of a lot, Jeongguk knows how important this is to Taehyung. Why would he want to take it away and ruin it for the boy? There's always next year.

________
A/N:

Hey! Made it through another chapter! It's St Paddies Day as I make this chapter but it probably won't be posted until Easter or honestly even later, depending how I feel!
+ It was, in fact, much later after Easter (May 1st).