Exchange student - one year ᵗᵃᵉᵏᵒᵒᵏ

18

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A whole week had passed since Taemin had asked Jungkook out on a date. Time seemed to have flown by because Taehyung's first week at college was also over and the weekend was just around the corner. The two hadn't spoken much this week and had been avoiding each other. Instead, Jungkook had been in contact with his ex-boyfriend all the more. They texted or called each other for hours every day, as if they were trying to make up for lost time. It almost felt like the old days for the younger boy.
Jungkook had been preparing for this moment all day. He had showered and blow-dried his hair, which smelled of his favorite shampoo. When he came out of the bathroom, he could already feel his heartbeat accelerating. He sat down at his dressing table and looked at himself in the mirror. His reflection seemed to stare back at him as if it were asking him to be honest with himself.
The blonde shouldn't really be so excited that he was going on a date with his ex-boyfriend today. But he couldn't help but be nervous. He hadn't spent a day with Taemin for months and was therefore unsure what to expect. But the fear still gnawed at him.
What if Taemin was just messing with him?
When he played with him?
What if Jungkook fell in love with him again?
Jungkook tried to calm his thoughts and concentrated on his make-up.

Sighing, he reached for his foundation brush and applied the foundation evenly to his face to create a flawless base. He could literally feel the foundation hiding his insecurities under a layer of perfection. Next, he reached for his concealer and carefully covered his dark circles and small imperfections on his skin. He carefully blended in the edges of the concealer for a natural finish. He then reached for his blush brush and dabbed a hint of pink on his cheekbones to make his complexion look fresh and healthy. It was a subtle splash of color that gave his cheeks a warm glow and made him forget his nervousness for a moment.
Jungkook placed great emphasis on his eyes, as they were one of his most distinctive features. He started by applying a light, shimmery eyeshadow color to the entire lid to create a light base. He then reached for a medium brown shade and applied it in the crease to create depth. He carefully smudged the color to avoid harsh edges.
Finally, he reached for a dark brown shade and applied it in a V shape in the outer corner of the eye to create a subtle cat eye. He carefully blended the color with the other shades to create a seamless transition.
Finally, he looked at the result in the mirror and smiled with satisfaction. The make-up emphasized his natural beauty and gave him a self-confident glow that eased his nervousness somewhat. It was too perfect for a date with his ex. He wasn't supposed to make himself so pretty for his ex-boyfriend and yet he loved making himself beautiful for him at the same time. It was a bittersweet feeling that filled him, a mixture of anticipation and fear, of hope and uncertainty.

Taehyung sat motionless on the black couch the whole time and watched Jungkook, from where he had a perfect view of the younger man. He was both disgusted and fascinated by the sight before him.
Jungkook sat in front of a large, illuminated mirror and quietly hummed a tune to himself. He skillfully held a brush in his hand, although his fingers trembled slightly. His eyes sparkled with concentration and joy as he carefully painted his eyes. His face radiated an indescribable bliss that Taehyung had never seen on him before.
Taehyung felt uncomfortable at the sight. It was unusual for him to see Jungkook so happy and relaxed. Since the dark-haired one had been here, he had never seen the blond so carefree. He had only seen him wearing make-up twice - on his first day in LA and at Namjoon's party. But now, in this moment, Jungkook seemed to be a different person. A person Taehyung didn't know and who somehow disturbed him.
It unnerved him to see the blond so happy. It was as if the sight of him touched something inside him that he didn't want to be touched. He could feel his mood sinking and he became more and more irritable. He didn't know why he was reacting like this, but he couldn't help it. It was as if an invisible bond tied him to the sight and repelled him at the same time.

When Jungkook stood up from his dressing table, he glanced briefly at Taehyung and caught his gaze. "Are you okay?" the younger man asked cautiously when he noticed the look. His voice sounded soft and concerned. Only then did Taehyung's body seem to react and he was able to look away. "Everything's fine," the older one replied curtly and looked back down at his cell phone, which he had been holding in his hand the whole time while his fingers tightened around the device.
With a warm smile and a brief nod, Jungkook disappeared in the direction of the closet to pick out another suitable outfit. He opted for a simple pair of tight-fitting black jeans and a black turtleneck sweater that accentuated his figure. He would add black shoes later to complete his outfit. He wanted to look good tonight. But not too good, as he didn't want to give the impression that he had over-prepared for the date.
After he had finished changing, he went back to his dressing table and took some jewelry out of the drawer. He put on silver earrings, pulled a necklace over his head and added rings to his fingers. He looked at himself in the mirror and was pleased with what he saw.

"Shall I make you something to eat before I go?" Jungkook suddenly broke the silence and looked at his roommate. "My parents went to my grandparents' for the weekend. I don't know when I'll be back either," he added, his voice quiet and almost a little hesitant.
Taehyung lifted his gaze again and looked at the blond. His eyes slowly traveled over Jungkook's outfit, which showed off his figure perfectly, until they stopped on his face. For a moment, he just looked at him silently, which made the blond a little nervous. Then the older man finally shook his head and replied: "Nah, it's fine. I'll be fine." His voice sounded rough.
The dark-haired man let his eyes wander back to his cell phone and inwardly cursed himself. Because he thought that Jungkook looked incredibly good in this outfit and in general at that moment and he didn't like that he thought like that. He didn't want him to think like that. "Go away and don't bug me," Taehyung mumbled.
Jungkook sighed and went to the door with a "I'm off then." Before he opened it, he took one last look at Taehyung, whose eyes were still fixed on his cell phone.

When Jungkook left the house, he felt a little uncomfortable at the thought of leaving Taehyung alone. He didn't want him to feel lonely and was still struggling with himself as to whether he should really leave. But he decided against it, they would just keep quiet anyway. So would it really make a difference if he left? Or would his absence only widen the gap between them?
With a deep sigh, Jungkook shook off these thoughts and made his way to the agreed meeting point. When he got there, he already saw his ex-boyfriend waiting for him. Jungkook stood rooted to the spot and looked down at his feet as he was suddenly overcome with nervousness.
Was it really a good idea to meet up with the man who had broken his heart eight months ago?
Wasn't it rather stupid and naive to get involved in this meeting?
But before he knew it, his heart began to beat wildly in his chest as he caught sight of the black-haired man with blonde highlights smiling at him. With every step Taemin took closer, Jungkook's heart thundered louder in his ears, drowning out his doubts and concerns.
"There you are at last," said Taemin as he took the last few steps towards Jungkook and immediately embraced him. Jungkook drew in his breath in surprise and hesitantly put his arms around the other's. He felt the warmth of Taemin's body through his sweater and smelled the lovely perfume that was so typical of Taemin and that he had loved so much about him. It brought back memories, memories of happier times, of laughter and love, of tenderness and kisses. And for a moment, Jungkook allowed himself to indulge in these memories and cling to Taemin.
"You look so incredibly good, as always," the older of the two breathed into Jungkook's ear, which gave him goose bumps. Taemin finally released the embrace and reached for the blond's hand. "Come with me, I have a reservation," he said with a smile that Jungkook could fall in love with all over again.

Jungkook nodded and followed Taemin to the restaurant. When they got there, Jungkook immediately recognized the restaurant. This was where his ex had taken him on their very first date. Jungkook was never a person for fancy dining, he was more the type of person to order something and watch a boring movie on the couch. But he felt different that evening. He felt a certain nervousness and anticipation building up inside him, it was nostalgic.
Taemin led Jungkook inside, let the staff know that they had a reservation and then they were led to a small table by the window, decorated with candles and flowers.
The blonde sat down opposite his ex and kept glancing over at him. He couldn't help but admire Taemin's appearance. He looked good, as always, with his slightly disheveled hair and blue eyes that had immediately captivated Jungkook when they had first met.
He also wondered if it was a coincidence that it was the same restaurant where they had their first date. Or was it planned by Taemin? To distract himself, Jungkook looked around. It looked exactly the same as the first time. Cozy and stylish. But instead of focusing on the surroundings, he felt magically drawn to Taemin's presence. He felt the old feelings rising up in him again. But at the same time, he knew he had to be careful not to get hurt again.

He didn't know what to say or do, how to behave. His heart pounded wildly in his chest as he tried to hide his feelings. He didn't want Taemin to realize how much he was upsetting him and how much he secretly longed to be near him. But he also didn't want Taemin to think that he was indifferent or dismissive towards him. He could feel his hands getting clammy and his throat getting dry.
Taemin scrutinized the blond with a worried look. "Is everything all right, Jungkook? You seem a little tense," Taemin said in a soft voice. Jungkook forced himself to smile and shook his head. "Everything's fine, I'm just a little tired," he lied.
Taemin nodded and smiled at him encouragingly. He wanted to ease Jungkook's tension and create a pleasant atmosphere. "Then let's order something delicious and you can relax. I'll pay of course, so order as much as you want Kookie," Taemin said as he reached across the table for Jungkook's hand.
Jungkook could only nod with a smile in response and pulled his hand back to reach for the menu. They placed their order and then Jungkook felt an uncomfortable tension again. He felt his heartbeat quickening and his mind wandering.

While they waited for their food, Taemin talked about trivial things, about his new job or his newly discovered hobbies. He talked about movies and music that they both liked. Taemin made Jungkook feel like there was no need to be tense. It felt like the last eight months had never happened, like they were still the happy couple they had once been.
"I missed you," Taemin suddenly said quietly, his voice sounding rough and honest. Jungkook's heart skipped a beat and he felt a lump form in his throat. He didn't know what to say, how to react to these words that hurt him so much and did him so much good at the same time.
"I missed you too," he finally replied, his voice barely more than a whisper. Taemin smiled and brushed a strand of hair away from his face, his touch tender and loving. Jungkook felt something inside him loosen, like a wall he had built around his heart to protect it was collapsing. But the blond was able to push that aside very well at that moment, because the smile that formed on his ex-boyfriend's lips sent a pleasant shiver through Jungkook's body.

When the food was served, they paused their conversation and turned their attention to the delicious dish. Jungkook was surprised at how good it tasted and he savored every bite. He watched Taemin from the corner of his eye as he ate with relish, licking his lips every now and then, making Jungkook gulp. He could feel his desire for him growing stronger, longing to kiss and touch him.
Inevitably, he remembered the nights they had spent together, the kisses and touches. He missed being close to Taemin so much and wondered if he would ever be as happy as he was then.
"Try it," said Taemin, holding out a fork of noodles to Jungkook. "It's really tasty." The blonde looked hesitantly at his ex-boyfriend's face and then at the fork in front of him. "Come on, Kookie," Taemin urged lovingly. With a slight hesitation, Jungkook finally put the fork with the twisted noodles in his mouth and ate it. "There you go," Taemin smiled contentedly and continued eating himself while the blonde's face flushed.

They talked for a while after their meal before leaving the cozy restaurant. Outside, the sun had already set and the streets were lit up by the soft light of the lanterns. Taemin immediately reached for Jungkook's hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His fingers closed tightly around his ex-boyfriend's as if he never wanted to let go. He led him along the streets, which were caressed by the gentle evening breeze.
The blonde didn't even feel the need to pull his hand away. Instead, he simply enjoyed the warmth radiating from his ex-boyfriend's palm, spreading through his chest like a comforting feeling. "I had a wonderful evening, Jungkook. Thank you for meeting me," Taemin broke the silence between them as they strolled leisurely through a park.
Taemin stopped and pulled Jungkook closer to him. His eyes sparkled in the light of the lanterns as he said, "I know we've had some problems in the past, but I want to try, Jungkook." His voice was firm, but full of emotion that Jungkook could feel.
Jungkook felt a tingling sensation in his chest, a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. "I don't know yet," Jungkook mumbled, looking into his ex's eyes as if mesmerized. A slight smile flitted across Taemin's face, playing around his black hair, which was streaked with blonde highlights. "I'll get you to forgive me," Taemin whispered with a mischievous smile that made his eyes sparkle.

He pulled the blond into a tighter embrace, as if he never wanted to let him go. Then he bent his head and kissed him gently on the lips.
Jungkook hesitated for a moment before returning the kiss. It was an uncertain, hesitant kiss, but he went for it after all. It was as if all doubts and fears disappeared for a moment when their lips met. Jungkook felt his heart beat faster and a warmth spread through him that reached the tips of his toes. He let himself go and enjoyed the feeling of Taemin's lips on his. A feeling he had missed so much over the last few months.
At that moment, he knew he was ready to give Taemin a second chance.

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