Thirty-Fourth
:Chapter Thirty-Four:

     Taehyung held Jihyun's hand, walking down the sidewalk. They were on their way to Newbie's house together. It was the day of Taehyung's tea party with the aforementioned's younger brother.

Jihyun wasn't going in, hell no, it wasn't in her right and she wasn't invited. She just wanted to keep her boyfriend company while he made a nice little walk to the boy's house.

     "So, let me just make sure I have everything in order." Jihyun started.

"Mhmm, yeah, keep going." Taehyung nodded, swinging their arms back and forth, eyes focused ahead of them,

"You 'hate' this boy but you're on your way to his house to . . . Have a 'play date'?" Frowned the slightly older teen, looking up at her boyfriend who kept his eyes forward.

He shook his head. "No, you got it all wrong, sweetheart," said Taehyung. "I'm not having a date with him, I'm having a date with his little brother." He cleared. "I met the kid at the store and now he has, like, separation issues or something, just can't get enough of me."

Jihyun rolled his eyes but playfully, hitting her boyfriend's bicep with her free hand. "Yeah, well, if the kiddo's older brother has any issues, tell him my warning still stands. I played soccer when I was younger, I'll kick in his kneecaps."

Taehyung laughed at the remark, smile growing wide at her silly comment. She was so cute and protective.

     Soon, the duo arrived in front of Jeongguk's door, still holding each other's hand. Their conversation cut short as Taehyung brought his fist up to knock on the wooden door.

It wasn't much later that Jeongguk was able to be heard walking to the door, pulling it open. He was confused on seeing the girl beside Taehyung, deciding he would instantly make a fuss about it.

     "Why is she here? I never invited her." Jeongguk commented, leaning on the doorframe, a skeptical look playing his handsome features.

"Calm it, clown ass, she's just walking me here." Taehyung responded, shaking his head. This was already off to a horrific start.

"Aw, you need someone to walk you places? What? You afraid the big bad Boogie Man is going to get you?" Jeongguk pushed his bottom lip out, teasing Taehyung.

He definitely was back on his bullshit, not holding back from his antics.

"No, dumbass," Taehyung scoffed. "You make this really unbearable, I almost don't want to see the brat."

Jeongguk was taken aback, cocking a brow. He looked over at Jihyun, directing his next comment to her. "Watch your man,"

"You should watch your mouth." Jihyun replied quickly, Taehyung proudly smiling at her comment. Before he could say anything, she pulled him close and kissed his cheek. "Have fun, I'm not going to sit here and entertain him." Jihyun said, bidding her boyfriend a goodbye and then soon taking her leave.

Jeongguk sat there with disgust, face showing it all. "At this point, go back home."

Taehyung shook his head and pushed past Jeongguk, entering the house without being allowed but he didn't care. "Now, where is he?" He heard the door close behind him by Jeon.

     "He's coming back down, he said he wanted to watch one of his favorite movies with you." Jeongguk answered. "I made popcorn but not for you."

"That's why it smells burnt in here." Taehyung hummed, walking over and taking a seat on the couch, getting a little too comfortable already.

"Oh, haha, it isn't burnt." Jeongguk said, a small squint in his eyes.

Taehyung looked back at him, pure boredom plastered on his face.

They sat there for a moment, Jeongguk's nose doing a small little flare; much like a bunny would. His eyes going a bit wide before he quickly rushed away to the kitchen, making Taehyung chuckle to himself.

Jaeyong heard the teenager's voice and hurriedly walked down the step, hand on railing to keep his balance.

"Taerung!" He cheered, holding his rabbit securely in his other hand. Jaeyong jogged by Taehyung's side and climbed up beside him. "I missed you!"

It never failed to make Taehyung happy the way Jaeyong greeted him, claiming that he missed him. It always gave him a joyous feeling in his heart.

     "Where's Goo?" Jaeyong looked around, looking for his brother who was focused on his burnt popcorn.

"He's burning your popcorn."

"It isn't burnt!" Jeongguk called from the kitchen, making Taehyung laugh at the ridiculousness.

"Bring it in then!" Taehyung called back, pushing to his feet. "Let's go sneak up on your Goo, see him throw out there burnt popcorn." He said in a much quieter tone, grinning softly at the young child.

Jaeyong nodded and threw his arms up, wanting Taehyung to pick him up which the elder did just that.

"Uh, no, no, it- uh—" Jeongguk stumbled over his words, the smell of burnt popcorn becoming stronger and stronger with every progressive step Jaeyong and Taehyung took closer to the kitchen.

The two creeped down the hall, seeing Jeongguk try a piece of the darken popcorn. He instantly gagged and spit it into the sink, taking his palm and wiping off his tongue aggressively to rid of the horrid taste.

The two spying couldn't contain their laughter, making Jeongguk snap his head back to look over at them, eyes wide with bewilderment.

      "What are you guys doing?" He asked, pushing the bowl of popcorn behind him, pretending he didn't just eat the rancid popcorn he made.

Taehyung and Jaeyong kept on laughing, tears in the elder's eyes, showing just how funny it was to him.

Jeongguk stood where with an annoyed and quite embarrassed look, a small frown playing his lips. He was getting so angry but not as angry as he thought he would be. His anger was only because he was embarrassed.

"Ah! You moron! How do you burn popcorn? You're literally a clown!" Taehyung said in between laughs, shaking his head.

Jeongguk waited for Taehyung to look at him before he picked the bowl up and began to chase after Taehyung.

That's when the elder quickly rushed out, still holding a laughing four-year-old who was having the time of his life.

      Taehyung carefully ran the child up the steps, Jeongguk still chasing behind the two.

"Want to keep talking shit?" He said after them, the three rushing up the steps.

Taehyung ran straight into Jaeyong's room, quickly setting the child down before he slammed the door shut, using his body to block the wood that was in between him and Jeongguk.

Jeongguk couldn't help the wide smile on his face, twisting the knob and pushing against the door but he felt the added weight.

"Oh, we're going this game?" He asked with no answer, trying to push the door open again. It was hard since he was carrying the bowl of burn calories with him.

Taehyung was persistent and wasn't going down without a fight.

Jaeyong sat on his bed, cheering on his best friend happily, unable to contain his joy that bubbled out of his heart.

Jeongguk rammed his shoulder into the door — not too hard since he still was recovering from a massive injury but hard enough to get Taehyung feeling it.

The elder pushed back on the door before he rushed over to Jaeyong, sitting on the bed beside him, huddling close.

Jeongguk rammed again, the door opening and the aforementioned stumbling over his feet due to the missing barrier. He spilled a bit of the dark popcorn, looking at the two boys on the bed.

     "You two dare insult me and my snack that I made specially for you?" He questioned, standing tall with the bowl in hand. "How sickening!"

"Oh please, you didn't make shit for me!" Taehyung said with the brightest smile on his face.

There wasn't an ounce of hate in anyone's heart. Everyone was so happy and cheerful, all having a great time; laughing in joy.

Jeongguk got closer and closer until he was towering over the two. "Bastards!" He set the bowl down and reached for Jaeyong, wanting to tickle him and make the youngest laugh until he couldn't breathe.

Taehyung, however, was quicker. He quickly got in the way and began to push away at the boy, protecting Jaeyong at the cost of his own stamina.

     "Back, you steroid hulk ass bitch! Keep your burnt popcorn fingers back!" Taehyung insulted playfully, trying to get further back.

Jeongguk grabbed Taehyung's wrists and pushed them down by his head, laughing. Jaeyong tried to interfere, wanting to protect Taehyung the way he was protected.

The oldest of the trio twisted his wrists, trying to get away. "Off! Off!" He laughed, tears down his cheeks due to all of his laughter.

There was a sound; the front door downstairs opening indicating someone had walked in. This made the obnoxious laughs fall silent, ears listening closely.

     "Boys?" It was Jeongguk's and Jaeyong's father, finally home from work.

Jaeyong was first to leave out of excitement, wanting to greet his father and tell him about his day and that Taehyung was here.

Jeongguk still had his hands gripping Taehyung's wrist, head looking to where Jaeyong ran from. He then looked back down and eyes met Taehyung's, their smiles were long gone.

"You can let go of me now, I don't think the popcorn was that big of a deal." Taehyung mumbled, wiggling his wrists.

Jeongguk quickly pulled back and backed away. "Uh, yeah, sorry." He uttered. "You probably can go home since my dad's here, I thought he would be here a bit later than this." He commented.

". . ." Taehyung sat up, humming to himself. "Do I have to?" He wondered, not missing the way Jeongguk looked shocked to hear his question.

"Um, I guess not." Jeongguk vaguely responded but there wasn't much to be said. "My dad probably will just sit in the kitchen and read articles on his phone until it's dinner time."

"Sounds like what my mom would do, just on Twitter and whatever's happening there." Taehyung chuckled, standing. "She calls it, 'keeping up with the youngsters of today's society'."

Jeongguk let out his own snicker. "Sounds like something parents would say. Who even uses Twitter anymore?"

"Man, I don't even know. Idols and rabid stans I think." Taehyung shrugged, following the younger out of Jaeyong's room.

    They acted as if whatever happened in Jaeyong's room never happened at all. It seemed to be a reoccurring situation. Something would happen and they would push it aside and pretend it wasn't even a thing.

The two would never be able to build a solid foundation if they always moved on like there was nothing to move on from. The only thing it would build would be misunderstandings and toxic bonds.

It was just weird for them both, they hated each other and to feel some sort of connection; an almost want to be friends, it was something they didn't want to accept.

Especially Taehyung. He didn't want to be Jeongguk's friend but when things felt right, when it felt okay, it was a switch that flipped in him.

He was so furious, angry and agitated at Newbie for many reasons, reasons that were added right after the initial reason.

Taehyung didn't want to accept Jeongguk's silent offer of making a new friendship, if it was even an offer to be accepted.

________
A/N:

This chapter is one to be enjoyed I should say. I hope you all got a bit of what you wanted! Hopefully the steps being taken are steps that were needed and you all appreciate!

+ Sorry for the late update. Hope you all enjoyed!