i'm single. kth | slow updates

십일

after school, aera guiltily approached taehyung to tell him to go home first.

"mian, i promised jungkook i would treat him today..." she said.

he opened his mouth to reply her when eunbi suddenly popped out of nowhere. "oppa, you're free today right, can you show me around town?"

taehyung shrugged. "i guess...", turning to you he smiled. "see you later rara, i'll come over for dinner?"

aera nodded and bid him goodbye, pushing the uneasy feeling gnawing at her and instead moved to join jungkook. "kookie, let's go!"

_

"@jjk97 i feed u so well kookie ah... be grateful for ur noona!" aera captioned as she posted the recent photo she took of jungkook eating.

jungkook just smiled before taking another serving of food and shoving it in his mouth. when he finally finished, he said, "잘먹었습니다, 고마워요 누나!!"

aera smiled contently. it made her happy to see jungkook well fed, and even happier now that they had made up. now that the meal was over, they were strolling back home when jungkook made a detour to one of the parks near school.

pulling aera to one of the swings, he pushed her forward, just like he used to when they were younger.

"i miss this kookie... school is so tough now, i wish we could go back to kindergarten!" aera exclaimed as jungkook pushed her higher.

"at least then, you wouldn't be dating taehyung." he muttered.

"what?" aera asked, unable to hear what he muttered.

the swing jolted to a halt and jungkook's face lost its carefree smile and became serious.

"what's up kookie? why'd you stop?" she asked.

"noona, i need to tell you something. i... i don't like seeing you with taehyung." he practically forced out, causing aera's brows to furrow. "i just don't think you guys are a good match..."

"w-why?" aera asked, unsure of what to feel. while taehyung and her were fake dating, she had begun to develop feelings for him, and she didn't want them to stop. but now jungkook said they weren't a good match... where was this coming from?

"i feel uncomfortable i mean, you guys aren't meant for each other... there are so many better guys... he isn't good enough for you." jungkook replied, staring into her eyes.

aera was surprised. gone was the silly and cute kookie that she always took care of, and in his place was this protective and serious guy that stood in his place. aera's heart warmed, her little kookie was becoming a man!

pinching his cheek lightly, she pushed the corner of his lips up. "don't stare at me like that kookie. you can't look serious or sexy. you need to be cute, cos you're kookie!"

jungkook continued to stare unrelentingly at her so she sighed. "kookie, i don't know what to say... what's so bad about taehyung? he's a nice guy and-"

"it's not about him. it's about the two of you together." jungkook interrupted. taking her hands in his, he blurted out. "it should be you and me instead. not you and him."

aera's mouth fell open but no words came out.

"i like you aera. like like you. for a long time too." he finally confessed.

aera squeaked and felt her heart flutter. "w-when?" she stuttered.

"i... i'm not sure," he began, and aera was more than prepared to debunk his feelings for her when he continued. "maybe it was the first time we met in kindergarten, or when you saved the cat in grade four, or when i told you all my fears and you helped me overcome them. but the point is, i like you aera. i really really like you."

aera blushed but still couldn't respond. this felt unreal to her. how could jungkook have had a crush on her for so long! kindergarten was literally a decade ago.

"but why now kookie? i've been single for so long, why only wait until taehyung shows up?" she asked.

he bit his lip nervously and let out a small smile. "because i was scared and thought i could take my time before?"

aera narrowed her eyes. "what do you mean? any other guy from school could have asked me!"

jungkook bit his lip again, and aera knew he had done something. "jeon jungkook, you better tell me the truth now or else."

jungkook couldn't meet her eyes when he told her," the hyungs might've helped me out a little by threatening any competition..."

aera wanted to scream when she finally realised what he meant. the reason why she was the school's 모솔 was all because of jungkook! she immediately ripped her hands away from his grip and took a step back.

"are you for real? you knew how insecure i felt about that especially after everyone kept making fun of me for it. that was selfish of you jungkook." aera replied, hurt and disarrayed by all the new information.

"i'm really sorry aera. i liked you so much but you didn't seem to like me back and i didn't know what to do." he replied, approaching her.

"so why are you confessing now? because taehyung wouldn't listen to your threats?" aera scoffed.

jungkook shook his head. "ani, i'm confessing because i'm not afraid anymore. i'm not going to stall or daydream about you liking me back anymore. i'm going to make you like me back. just as much as i like you."

he shrugged. "you don't have to answer me now, and i have a school trip and will only be back in two weeks. if we are lucky, my feelings will fade. but if we aren't, then taehyung better be prepared."

he said to so matter of factly that aera fumbled to find a response, but as usual she was stunned into silence and all she could do was squeak when jungkook pulled her into an awkward hug.

while growing up together, they had shared thousands of hugs, greeting hugs, comforting hugs, happy hugs, sad hugs...

but this time it was different.

for the first time, she felt jungkook's heart beating against hers, and she was pretty sure he could feel hers beating against his too.

she was all over the place, still not fully accepting what had just gone down.

she couldn't believe she hadn't noticed his feelings towards her. all those times they held hands, and all the hugs they shared... it must've felt different to him.

but she couldn't help but wonder.

would she ever be able to feel that difference too?

________________________________

잘먹었습니다 (jal-meo-keo-ssub-ni-da) :
i ate well / thanks for the meal

고마워요 (go-ma-wo-yo) : thank you

누나 (noo-na) : older sister of a guy <formality, not literal>