Jungkook sat in the back of his lecture hall, hoodie pulled up over his head, sleeves tugged over his hands. He didn’t say a word to anyone, not even when Jimin plopped down beside him and gave him a curious glance.
"You okay, Kookie?" Jimin whispered, nudging him gently.
Jungkook didn’t answer. He just nodded stiffly, eyes fixed on the notebook in front of him, though he hadn’t written a single word.
It had been a week.
A week of dodging Taehyung. A week of walking faster whenever he sensed his presence. A week of avoiding eye contact, pretending to text, hiding in stairwells and library corners.
But Taehyung didn’t make it easy.
Far from it.
If anything, he was worse now. Not cruel—but... persistent.
Every day without fail, Taehyung would appear out of nowhere, slide an arm around Jungkook’s shoulder and lean in close, voice dripping with smugness.
“Where’s my morning hug, bunny?”
Or, “Didn’t get my good luck kiss today, how cruel of you.”
Or worse, “You looked at me for three whole seconds. That counts as flirting. Come here.”
It wasn’t loud or public—not anymore. It was always in passing, just for Jungkook to hear. But it was constant. And terrifying.
Because Taehyung wasn’t laughing like before.
He wasn’t smiling widely or teasing openly like Jimin.
He was cold. Calm. Too calm. He said all those flirty things with a flat voice and unreadable eyes. That made it worse. Like Jungkook couldn’t tell if it was a joke or if Taehyung was testing him. Playing him.
Jungkook felt like he was walking on a wire every time they crossed paths. Never sure if the next step would break him.
And every time Taehyung reached out, Jungkook flinched just a little more.
Today was no different.
Class ended. Jungkook packed his things quickly, but not quick enough.
As he stepped out into the hallway, Taehyung was there. Waiting against the wall with his arms crossed.
Jungkook’s heart stuttered.
“There’s my little ghost,” Taehyung said, straightening. His tone was smooth, his expression unreadable. “Still pretending I don’t exist?”
Jungkook froze, trying to slide past him, but Taehyung blocked his path casually.
“Wait,” he said. “You forgot something.”
Jungkook’s eyes darted up, wide and unsure. “W-What?” he whispered.
Taehyung leaned in, so close that Jungkook could feel the heat of his breath. “My hug.”
Jungkook blinked fast. “No—n-not now—people are—”
But Taehyung tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly.
“You do remember what happens when you say no, right?” he murmured, and though his voice was quiet, Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat in panic.
He didn’t wait for a response. He reached forward and wrapped an arm around Jungkook’s shoulder, pulling him in for a tight, one-armed hug. Jungkook stiffened like a statue, hands trapped against his chest.
“There,” Taehyung whispered. “Doesn’t that feel better?”
Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to cry, trying not to like it, even though it made his chest feel like it was going to explode.
And then—Taehyung released him just as fast, stepping back, expression as indifferent as ever.
“See you tomorrow, bunny.”
And he was gone.
Leaving Jungkook standing in the middle of the hallway, heart pounding, cheeks burning, mind spiraling into a thousand tangled thoughts.
He didn’t know what hurt more—Taehyung’s teasing or the way he missed it when it stopped.
The door clicked shut softly behind Jungkook as he stepped into the apartment he shared with his older brother. The silence of home wrapped around him like a warm blanket, but it wasn’t enough to melt the cold pit in his chest.
He toed off his shoes slowly, shoulders slumped, bag slipping from his fingers to the floor with a dull thud. His hoodie sleeves were tugged over his hands again—his go-to armor.
From the kitchen, Jin’s head popped out.
“Jungkook? That you?” His voice was light, cheerful as always. “You’re late. I was about to eat your share of the tteokbokki.”
“I’m not that late, hyung…” Jungkook muttered softly, barely glancing up as he padded over to the table and sank into a chair.
Jin watched him closely, his smile fading slightly. He noticed how Jungkook’s eyes didn’t shine like usual. How he didn’t even fake a smile. How his shoulders were drawn up like he was holding something in. Jin knew that look.
“You okay?” he asked gently, placing a bowl in front of him. “Rough day?”
Jungkook just nodded, poking at the food with his chopsticks without eating.
Jin leaned against the counter, arms crossed, concern deepening in his gaze. “Is it that Taehyung guy again?”
Jungkook’s hand froze mid-stir.
His eyes flicked up for the briefest moment, wide and startled. “W-What?”
Jin raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been weird ever since you mentioned him last week. And you’ve been quiet. You think I don’t notice when something’s eating you?”
Jungkook dropped his gaze again, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve.
“No… it’s not him,” he whispered, forcing a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s just… school stuff. You know. Projects. Tired.”
Jin didn’t look convinced.
“You sure?” he asked quietly, voice softer now. “If someone’s bothering you, Kook… you can tell me. Always.”
Jungkook bit his lip and gave the tiniest shake of his head.
“I’m okay, hyung. Really,” he said, trying to sound convincing. “Don’t worry about me.”
Jin sighed but didn’t press. He just walked over and placed a hand gently on Jungkook’s head, ruffling his hair like he used to when they were kids.
“I’ll worry no matter what,” Jin muttered. “That’s the deal. You’re my baby brother, remember?”
Jungkook nodded slowly, the warmth of that hand grounding him for a moment, though the ache in his chest never fully left.
To Be Continued
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𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗚 || ᴛᴀᴇᴋᴏᴏᴋ
Fanfiction𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐆 "seon-bae wh-what ar-are y-you doing?" - Jungkook blushed "People call me red flag but for you I'll be that every color which you like" - Taehyung ➥ In which Jungkook a nerd coward boy became Obsession of a mafia bad boy Kim Taehyung...
