𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗚 || ᴛᴀᴇᴋᴏᴏᴋ

• C H A P T E R 36 •

The gymnasium buzzed with energy, a hurricane of shouts, whistles, and stomping feet. The echo of the announcer’s voice bounced off the walls, calling out the names of the Red and Yellow teams, introducing players, and building the anticipation to a fever pitch. The scoreboard lit up with a clean 0-0 as the game was about to begin, but Taehyung stood still near the center of the court, bouncing the basketball slowly as his sharp eyes scanned the stands searching.

The sea of red and yellow flags was a blur before his eyes, a mix of fans on either side of the gym separated by nothing but emotion and painted school spirit. His expression stayed cold and unreadable, but inside, he felt a subtle current of frustration tugging at his calm.

They weren’t here.

Not yet.

He didn’t even want to admit to himself that he had been searching for them — him — ever since he stepped onto the court. But the way his eyes had flickered to the doors every few seconds, scanning the crowd, betrayed his heart. He knew it. Yoongi definitely knew it.

“looking for someone special” a low voice suddenly teased beside him.

Taehyung turned his head, locking eyes with Jinsoo, the arrogant, cocky captain of the Yellow Team. He wore that usual smirk of his, his uniform sharp, his stance confident.

Taehyung gave no response, didn’t even blink, just turned back toward the game. His silence was louder than any insult.

Jinsoo chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. “Thought so.”

The referee blew the whistle, and the game began with a loud cheer from the crowd. The ball was tossed into the air for the tip-off, and Taehyung, snapping into focus, launched upward like a bullet, out-jumping Jinsoo easily and smacking the ball toward Yoongi, who took immediate control.

The Red Team wasted no time weaving plays with speed and precision. Taehyung was a beast on the court: fast, strong, with calculated movements. His long limbs carried him gracefully from one end to the other, his black bandana flaring behind him, beads of sweat already gathering on his temple, veins bulging along his biceps as he dribbled, passed, and shot.

Three goals in the first five minutes.

Red was dominating.

The crowd was already roaring, half of them on their feet. Jinsoo looked pissed, his smugness slowly chipping away as he barked orders at his teammates and clumsily missed a shot blocked by none other than Taehyung.

But still, Taehyung’s eyes drifted flickering up to the doors again, scanning… and then he paused.

They were here.

The gym doors had opened midway through the second quarter, and Jungkook entered alongside Jimin, cheeks flushed from the chilly breeze outside. Taehyung’s breath hitched for a moment not visibly, not noticeably to anyone else but Yoongi, who stood beside him near the free throw line, caught the subtle stiffening in his posture.

Jungkook looked… ethereal. His dark hair curled at the nape, cheeks pink, lips slightly parted as he gazed at the game, scanning for a familiar face. And then their eyes met.

Taehyung didn’t know what emotion hit him first. Relief. Warmth. Longing. But before any of those could settle in, something else caught his attention.

The flag.

In Jungkook’s hand.

Yellow.

Taehyung’s face tightened, jaw locking as he glanced again to confirm it wasn’t a mistake.