𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗚 || ᴛᴀᴇᴋᴏᴏᴋ

• C H A P T E R 33 •

Next Day – University Corridor, Late Morning

The university corridors buzzed with the usual chatter, the scuff of sneakers, the shuffle of books clutched in tired hands. Bright sunlight poured through the long glass windows, spilling warmth onto the cold tiles — but Jungkook felt none of it.

His heart thudded a little too hard in his chest as he stepped inside, clutching his backpack strap tightly. He hadn’t seen Taehyung since that night. Not since he’d clung to him. Not since he’d begged him not to tell Jin. Not since the older boy had held him with such protectiveness, yet scolded him with cold detachment.

His steps slowed instinctively.

And then he saw him.

At the far end of the corridor leaning lazily against the wall beside the water dispenser like a scene from a movie stood him.

Taehyung.

Black clothes. Loose black jeans hugged his long legs just right, tucked slightly into combat boots that looked well-worn and menacing. A simple black tee stretched across his chest, tucked slightly into his waistband with silver chains hanging from his pants. A leather cuff adorned his left wrist, and the unmistakable black bandana was tied around his head, his messy brown hair pushing up from beneath it, a few strands falling over his eyes.

And those eyes.

Sharp. Cold. Smoldering like burnt ash.

He wasn’t smiling. He wasn’t talking. He was just… there. Standing beside Yoongi who, in contrast, looked relaxed and indifferent hands stuffed in the pockets of his gray hoodie, a lollipop tucked in the corner of his mouth as always.

But Taehyung?

Taehyung looked like trouble.

The kind of trouble that left bruises on your soul and fingerprints on your heart.

Jungkook froze mid-step.

It was like he’d time-traveled.

Back to the first day of university, when he had walked into the campus nervous, clutching his schedule, trying not to get lost and had seen him for the first time. Leaning against that same wall. That same dark aura. That same dangerously magnetic energy that had pulled Jungkook in like a moth to a flame.

Except now… now he knew better.
Now he knew what that fire felt like up close.
And it still burned.

Jungkook's breath caught in his throat, and his fingers clenched tighter around his bag strap. Taehyung hadn’t noticed him yet. Or maybe he had and was ignoring him again.

But something about the way his jaw was set, how his fingers flexed like he was trying to ground himself it felt… familiar. Off.

Yoongi turned slightly, noticing Jungkook from across the corridor. His gaze flicked to Taehyung beside him subtle, but observant.

Taehyung didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t even flinch.

But Jungkook could feel it.

Feel the tension that stretched between them like an invisible thread worn thin, stretched far, but not yet broken.

The murmurs of the other students faded into the background. All Jungkook could hear was the loud, unrelenting hammering of his heart and the aching silence that screamed between them.

He turned his head slightly just enough to avoid direct eye contact and began to walk forward. Step after step, past clusters of classmates, his nerves buzzing like static beneath his skin.