𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗚 || ᴛᴀᴇᴋᴏᴏᴋ

• C H A P T E R 26 •

The four of them sat around the cafeteria table, trays untouched, drinks barely sipped. The mood was… tense — not exactly awkward, but thick with unspoken words, lingering glances, and the occasional nervous fidget.

Jimin drummed his fingers on the tabletop, eyes darting between Taehyung and Jungkook.

Taehyung was picking at the edge of his bottle’s label like it personally offended him. Jungkook, on the other hand, was staring down at his tray, his fork poking aimlessly at a piece of fruit, lips slightly parted like he wanted to speak but kept swallowing the words down.

Yoongi, lounging back with his arms crossed, raised a brow. “This is painful to watch.”

Jimin cleared his throat and leaned forward slightly. “Sooo…” he began, voice all light and casual, “isn’t it nice? All of us sitting here like civil human beings for once.”

No reply.

Taehyung gave a short hum that could’ve meant anything. Jungkook kept poking at his fruit like it owed him answers.

Jimin tried again, his tone a little more pointed. “You know, sometimes people just need to talk. Out loud. With words.”

Taehyung’s jaw flexed. Jungkook’s shoulders tensed.

Silence.

“Seriously?” Jimin muttered under his breath. “You two are impossible.”

Yoongi sipped his iced coffee, watching the scene like it was a soap opera. “They’ll crack eventually.”

Jimin nudged Jungkook’s leg under the table, whispering, “Say something.”

Jungkook blinked, glancing up at Taehyung — only to find Taehyung already looking at him. Their eyes met for a heartbeat too long before both of them looked away quickly, cheeks flushing.

“I, uh…” Jungkook started, voice soft, uncertain, “I didn’t mean to grab your arm so hard. That day.”

Taehyung’s fingers stilled. His gaze flickered toward Jungkook again, unreadable. “It’s fine,” he said quietly. “You didn’t.”

Jungkook bit his lip. “Still.”

The silence returned, heavier than before.

Jimin sighed dramatically, leaning into Yoongi. “We’re going to need a miracle.”

Yoongi smirked. “Nah. Just give it time. They’re both idiots, but they’re our idiots.”

And under the table, neither Taehyung nor Jungkook noticed how close their knees had gotten. Close enough to touch if either of them moved just a little bit closer.

Jimin, growing tired of the thick tension and the unsaid things hanging between Jungkook and Taehyung, suddenly clapped his hands with a bright grin. “Okay! Enough of this moody air. Let’s go to a club tonight.”

Yoongi raised an eyebrow, sipping his drink. “You hate crowds.”

“I do,” Jimin nodded casually. “But desperate times call for desperate measures. Maybe we all need a little distraction.” He turned to Jungkook with a smile. “You should come too, Kook. Might be fun.”

Jungkook blinked, surprised. “M-Me?”

“Yeah! I’ll stick with you the whole time. Promise.”

Before Jungkook could even form a proper response, a sharp voice cut through the table.

“No.”

All heads turned toward Taehyung.

He hadn’t even looked up — his voice was low, firm, and laced with something… dangerous. Possessive.

Jungkook froze.

Jimin’s eyes widened slightly. “Uh… what?”

Taehyung finally realized what he’d just said, and the silence that followed his words made the back of his neck prickle. His jaw tensed, and he quickly looked down at his bottle again, fingers curling tightly around it.

Yoongi stared at him, unimpressed. “You planning to lock him in a tower next?”

Taehyung didn’t respond. He just clenched his jaw and mumbled, “Whatever. Do what you want.”

But everyone at the table knew it wasn’t nothing.

Jungkook looked away, his cheeks tinged pink, heart pounding for reasons he didn’t understand.

Jimin shot Taehyung a long look before sighing, “Well... someone’s in denial.”

Yoongi just smirked into his soda can. “may be being possessive”

Taehyung couldn't help but blush right in front of everyone made Yoomin tease the shy soon to be couple more

TO BE CONTINUE