𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗚 || ᴛᴀᴇᴋᴏᴏᴋ

• C H A P T E R 19 •

The Taehyung household was unusually quiet that evening. The sky outside had melted into hues of deep indigo and gold, the only sound being the distant hum of traffic and the soft ticking of the hallway clock.

Jimin padded barefoot down the corridor, pausing at Taehyung's closed bedroom door. He noticed the faint smell of smoke clinging to the air, and his brows knit with concern. Slowly, he pushed open the door.

The room was dark, the curtains drawn shut. The only illumination came from the dim glow of Taehyung's phone screen resting face-down on the floor beside the bed.

Taehyung was lying on his back across the mattress, fully dressed, one arm over his eyes. He didn't stir when the door opened.

Jimin stepped inside quietly, shutting the door behind him with a soft click.

"You didn't come to dinner," Jimin said, voice careful.

Silence.

"You've been quiet since you came back home now."

Still no answer.

Jimin walked to the side of the bed and sat on the edge, looking down at his older brother. "Is this about Jungkook?"

At that, Taehyung's lips pressed into a line, but he didn't speak.

Jimin exhaled, gently. "I know you like him. I also know you've been messing with him nonstop. But hyung... it's too much."

Taehyung's arm moved slightly, just enough to peek one eye at Jimin through the shadows. His voice was low, scratchy. "He cried because of me....he said he's scared of me"

"Yeah," Jimin said softly. "And he flinches when you get near him."

Taehyung stared at the ceiling again, a flicker of guilt flashing across his face.

Jimin continued, more serious now. "If you like him, you've got a weird way of showing it. You're not a bad person, Tae. But you're making him feel like you're someone to fear. Is that really what you want?"

Taehyung didn't answer.

The room was quiet again, the weight of Jimin's words sinking into the thick air.

Jimin stood, brushing imaginary dust from his hoodie. "You can't keep hiding behind teasing. You either stop or... fix it. Before he starts believing he really is just someone you enjoy hurting."

And with that, Jimin left the room, leaving Taehyung in the dim quiet, alone with the silence, and the suffocating heaviness of his own thoughts.

The next day at university brought an odd stillness that clung to the air like mist. The usually chaotic energy that buzzed around Jungkook's mornings—filled with anxiety, darting eyes, and the ever-looming presence of him—was gone.

Jungkook walked through the campus courtyard slowly, eyes scanning the crowd nervously as they always did. But there was no teasing voice echoing through the air, no sudden arm slung around his shoulders, no demanding smirk waiting to corner him by the lockers.

No Taehyung.

His steps slowed in confusion. His heart should've been relieved, right?

When he entered the classroom, Jimin waved at him from their usual corner, already mid-conversation with a sleepy-eyed Yoongi. Jungkook nodded, mumbling a quiet "good morning" as he sat beside them, instinctively glancing toward the door.

Taehyung eventually walked in, tall and confident as ever... but his eyes didn't search for Jungkook. He didn't throw a snarky comment his way. He didn't even glance at him.

Instead, he passed by their row without a word, settling at a desk in the back, slouching low in his chair, eyes fixed on the window like Jungkook didn't exist.

Jungkook blinked, stunned.

He waited. For something. Anything.

But nothing came.

No demand for a hug.
No sly comment.
No playful threats of "bullying."
Just silence.

Jungkook fidgeted in his seat, stealing quick glances over his shoulder. Taehyung was just... there. Quiet. Distant. Cold.

His heart felt tight, confused. This is what you wanted, right? he told himself. Peace. Distance. No more heart-pounding panic.

So why did it feel like something was missing?

His shoulders slumped slightly. Even Jimin seemed to pick up on it, raising a brow.

"Everything okay?" Jimin whispered.

Jungkook offered a forced smile. "Yeah. Just... tired."

But the ache in his chest said otherwise.

He couldn't stop himself from stealing one more glance toward the back of the classroom.

Taehyung still wasn't looking at him.

The days began to stretch unbearably long.

Taehyung kept ignoring Jungkook.

Not just a little — not a casual brush-off or silent moment in passing — but full, icy cold-shoulder silence. No smirks, no teasing, no stolen touches or whispered demands for a kiss. He didn't even acknowledge Jungkook's presence in the halls or classroom.

And it was driving Jungkook insane.

At first, he'd thought he'd be relieved. He'd even mentally celebrated. Finally, peace. Finally, space.

But now, sitting two rows away from Taehyung in class, Jungkook found himself... distracted. Restless. Sulky.

His eyes would flicker toward the older boy every few minutes, watching him scribble notes, whisper something to Yoongi, stare out the window. And never once—never—did Taehyung look back.

During lunch, when they passed each other in the cafeteria, Taehyung walked by like Jungkook was air. Nothing.

Jimin had noticed. Of course he had.

"You okay?" he asked gently, sliding into the seat beside Jungkook. "You've been kinda... off."

Jungkook quickly looked away, poking at his tray of uneaten food. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," Jimin said, voice softer. "Taehyung's not bothering you anymore, so I thought you'd be... I don't know, happier."

Jungkook's lips tugged into a small pout as he stared at his tray, throat tightening. "Yeah... guess I should be."

Jimin blinked, confused again. "So you're upset that he's not bullying you anymore?"

"I didn't say that!" Jungkook snapped, flustered. Then, softer, quieter, "I just... it's weird."

Jimin tilted his head. "Weird how?"

"I don't know..." Jungkook muttered. "It's just... he's not him anymore."

Jimin's eyes widened slightly, surprise dancing across his face.

Across the cafeteria, Taehyung sat beside Yoongi, listening half-heartedly to something the older said, barely responding. His eyes drifted once—just once—toward Jungkook's table.

But when Jungkook looked up, their gazes didn't meet.

Taehyung turned away first.

Jungkook's chest ached, and he didn't know why.

To be continued