Exchange student - one year ᵗᵃᵉᵏᵒᵒᵏ

16

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"Why do you hate gays so much?" he bravely dared to ask the question that had plagued him since day one.

Taehyung sighed softly and for a moment, it seemed as if he was lost in thought. His eyes became lost in the distance before he finally answered, his voice softer and more thoughtful, "By now, I'm not sure if it's really hate anymore. It's just... complicated."
Jungkook felt his heartbeat quicken when he heard Taehyung's honest answer. Still, his curiosity remained unabated and he probed further, "What do you mean complicated? Then why are you acting like you're judging me?"
Taehyung sighed again. He slowly lowered his gaze to the ground, as if desperately searching for the right words to adequately express his feelings and thoughts. "It's really hard to explain," Taehyung began hesitantly. His voice sounded softer and brittle, as if he was becoming vulnerable to himself. "I grew up in an environment where things like this... Were looked at differently."

Jungkook felt his heart beat faster when he heard Taehyung speak so honestly. He was surprised that Taehyung actually answered his question instead of dismissing it. But he also didn't want to say or do anything wrong now when his roommate had been so honest with him before.
Taehyung continued his explanation, and his words carried a hint of bitterness, "In my family and community, there's a lot of prejudice against anything 'different', whether it's sexual orientation or appearance. Homophobia was instilled in me from a young age and the country has reinforced these prejudices. In Korea, homosexuality is simply not welcomed."
Taehyung suddenly looked sad as he continued: "It's not easy to let go of something that has been drummed into you since birth. I've only been questioning it since I've been here and observed you. You're basically a normal guy, apart from a few exceptions. But they're just strange quirks that I'm not used to."

Jungkook now understood better why Taehyung was the way he was. He had already suspected that Taehyung's environment wasn't ideal, but now learning how deeply rooted these prejudices were hurt the blond. It made him angry to know that Taehyung had had all these false ideals imposed on him and probably couldn't even live the way he wanted to.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," the blond said quietly and honestly as he swallowed down a heavy lump in his throat. "I just hope I'm not adding to your hatred towards us," the blond added, trying to lighten the atmosphere again.
Taehyung laughed softly, shook his head at himself and seemed surprised by his own words. The fact that he had just said all that left him stunned himself. Perhaps the rest of the alcohol had still been working through his veins when he had said it. At least that was his guess. "I still don't like you," the dark-haired man began. "But maybe I'll stop randomly beating up on these people because of you."

Jungkook couldn't help but laugh softly either. "Then I guess I've been lucky to have been spared so far, haven't I?" he asked. Taehyung shrugged his shoulders and looked at Jungkook. "After all, I need a place to stay while I'm here. It certainly wouldn't go down well to beat up my host family's son," Taehyung replied.
"Nice of you," Jungkook mumbled and got up from his chair to join his roommate at the table. "Can I study with you?" the blonde asked a little shyly, expecting a rebuff. "Do what you want, but I certainly won't help you," Taehyung replied.
Smiling, Jungkook nodded and also dug out his books. Actually, he didn't feel like studying at all, but he envied Taehyung's eagerness and let it infect him a little. While Jungkook tried to concentrate on his books, he could feel Taehyung's dismissive gaze on him. He could also feel the tension gradually easing. The two exchanged glances from time to time and although Taehyung acted distant at first, he gradually seemed to become more open towards Jungkook.

The rest of the weekend passed very quickly and the first day after the semester break began. The morning started with a clear announcement from Jungkook's mother, "Jungkook, I'm counting on you to see Taehyung through college and not leave him alone on his first day." The words placed an unexpected responsibility on Jungkook's shoulders, which he swallowed hard as his eyes wandered between his cereal and his mother.
Jungkook's mom smiled and said, "Taehyung, Jungkook will guide you around campus today. You're in good hands." The pressure on Jungkook's shoulders intensified as he felt the responsibility in his mother's words. Taehyung let his eyes wander briefly to his blonde hair and nodded calmly. "Whatever," he replied calmly.

After breakfast, they got into the car and Taehyung took the keys from Jungkook's hand and got behind the wheel himself. A slight pout appeared on Jungkook's face as he buckled up in the passenger seat. "I'll never learn to drive properly like this," he sulked to himself. "You can learn if I'm not in the car with you. I still have a few years to live," Taehyung countered and handed Jungkook his cell phone with the navigation app. "Enter the address," he instructed curtly, while he buckled up himself.
With a pouty lip and a slight hesitation, Jungkook entered the address of the college. "Can we give Jimin a lift? I used to pick him up and go there together," Jungkook asked cautiously, handing the older man his cell phone again.
The dark-haired one gave the blond one a sideways glance, which sent a shiver down Jungkook's body. "As soon as he says or does something stupid, I'll throw him out on the street," the older man replied and started the car. "That'll be his problem then..." Jungkook muttered as he navigated his way to Jimin, who fortunately didn't live far away and knew the way well even without a GPS.

As they approached Jimin's house, the blond felt the tension inside him intensify. His heart beat faster as he fervently hoped that Jimin would not shower his exchange partner with provocative remarks. Taehyung parked the car on the side of the road and they waited together for the pink-haired man to show up.
Jimin came running out of the house with quick steps and when he opened the door, a wave of energy and cheerfulness poured in. "Hey! Ready for the first day?" he shouted enthusiastically as he climbed into the car, finally realizing that Jungkook wasn't at the wheel. With a mischievous grin, Jimin remarked, "Don't tell me I'm getting there without praying for my life?"
Taehyung rolled his eyes slightly and put the car back in motion. "I don't drive that badly," Jungkook defended sulkily. "Yes, you are," said Taehyung and Jimin at the same time. "You guys are so mean," the blonde sulked and crossed his arms in front of his chest, while Jimin laughed heartily.
Jimin dropped into the back seat and buckled his seatbelt, still flooded with good humor. "You have to admit, Jungkook, your driving skills are... take some getting used to," Jimin remarked with a twinkle in his eye, sticking his head between the front seats.
Jungkook furrowed his brow in offense. "I'm just not a boring driver, that's all," he defended himself with a self-confident grin. The mood in the car was light and cheerful and Jungkook's initial tension had dissipated.

When they finally reached their destination and got out of the car, both Jimin and Jungkook felt the stiffness in their muscles and stretched extensively. Jimin stretched with pleasure and said to Taehyung, "You can always drive from now on, it's much more relaxing than having Jungkook behind the wheel." He patted Taehyung euphorically on the shoulders while praising him, which earned him a cold look from the older man. "We just have to work on your manner," Jimin added after noticing the look and turned back to Jungkook. Taehyung looked at the building skeptically, he had somehow imagined it to be more imposing.
"I'll accompany Taehyung to the registration and then go to the reading room," the blond said to his pink-haired friend, who nodded. "All right," Jimin replied and together they entered the building.
Jungkook didn't miss the curious looks that Taehyung was attracting. Around them, he could hear the quiet whispering and giggling of the girls pointing at the dark-haired man. Jungkook could well understand their reaction. New ones always attracted attention and Taehyung was also good-looking. If Taehyung wasn't his roommate, Jungkook would probably have been as enthusiastic as the girls around him at that moment.
Inside the building, Jimin said his goodbyes as he had to go to another wing of the building while the two roommates went in opposite directions.

After Taehyung's registration was complete, they entered the reading room together. Since they were studying the same subject, they mostly shared the same curriculum and attended the same lectures.
Jungkook was unsure whether he should sit next to Taehyung or not. Spontaneously, he would have said no. He didn't assume that Taehyung would put up with him. He rather thought that the older man would prefer it if he just left him alone. So Jungkook just sat down in his seat in one of the back rows.
However, when he noticed that Taehyung sat down right next to him, he looked over at him in confusion. "Don't you dare say anything now," Taehyung muttered when he noticed the confused look on his roommate's face. "I hate being the new guy anywhere and you're my only significant other here, after all."
Jungkook's heart skipped a beat. Had he misheard him?
A slight blush rose inside him and he suddenly felt inexplicably warm. He had expected anything. That Taehyung would completely ignore him or pretend that they didn't know each other. But this? He wouldn't have even dreamed of that.
But Jungkook liked it.
It made Taehyung less of an asshole in his eyes.

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