Saved || A Jungkook fanfic

27.

Deja vu hit me like a freight train.

Fifteen minutes of stiff, uncomfortable silence was all it took for me to realize we had been here before—only last time, it had been the morning after Jungkook's first house party. Now, we were in a hospital, and instead of nursing hangovers, we were dealing with the aftermath of a full-blown fistfight between Jungkook and Taehyung.

Jin, being the best friend that he is, had brought me a hoodie and jeans from Jungkook's place, saving me from the indignity of hospital gowns. Now, we sat in the cafeteria—Jungkook to my right, Jin on my left, while Taehyung and Jimin had taken their seats across from us.

I absently pushed my food around my plate, the mashed potatoes and broccoli growing colder by the second as I focused on anything but the unbearable tension.

Jin, bless him, decided to cut through the silence. "So, Taehyung, you don't look as bad as I thought you would."

I sighed internally. Of all the ways to break the ice.

Taehyung stared at Jin for a beat before stabbing his fork into a steamed carrot with an unnecessary amount of force. His face showed little evidence of the brawl—just a faint yellowing bruise beneath his left eye. Jungkook, on the other hand, looked completely unscathed.

"Yeah, well, he's not as strong as he looks," Taehyung quipped, a slow, taunting smirk stretching across his lips.

Jungkook, mid-chew, froze. His glare could have burned a hole straight through Taehyung's skull.

"Oh yeah?" Jungkook set his fork down, picking up his knife and twirling it between his fingers as if it were a cherished possession. "We can test that theory again if you'd like."

For the briefest moment, Taehyung hesitated. It was a flicker—barely noticeable—but I caught it. Jungkook, however, didn't seem to.

Jimin, on the other hand, found the entire exchange highly entertaining, stifling a laugh behind his cup.

Rolling my eyes, I leaned back in my chair. "We're not testing any theories." My voice carried just enough irritation to make both men grudgingly return to their trays.

Silence settled again until Taehyung finally spoke. "Ails, can I talk to you?" His eyes flickered toward Jungkook before adding, "Alone."

Jungkook's head shot up so fast I thought he might get whiplash.

I hesitated, my nerves twisting uncomfortably. Might as well get this over with. "Yeah, sure."

Jungkook's hand found mine in an instant, gripping it tightly. "Hold on a second." His voice was low, almost desperate.

I squeezed his hand in reassurance. "It's okay, Jungkook. You can trust me."

He exhaled sharply, jaw tightening. "It's not you I don't trust."

Taehyung made an unimpressed noise. "She's a grown woman. She can talk to whoever she wants."

Before I could react, Taehyung reached for my other hand. Now both men were gripping me like I was a prized possession in some twisted game of tug-of-war.

I groaned. "Seriously?"

"She's my girlfriend," Jungkook shot back, his grip tightening. "And I don't want her alone with you."

Silence.

Taehyung and I blinked in unison.

"...Girlfriend?" we echoed.

From across the table, Jimin and Jin shared a look before simultaneously shoveling food into their mouths like they were watching the season finale of their favorite drama.