"I want revenge now."
Before Jungkook could process the words or the playful glint in Taehyung's gaze, Taehyung grabbed the collar of his shirt and tugged him forward with surprising strength. The sudden pull threw Jungkook off balance, and in an instant, he found himself hovering over Taehyung, their faces a breath apart.
"Taehyung," Jungkook stammered, his voice barely above a whisper, "don't doâ"
But before he could finish his plea, their lips brushed. Jungkook froze, his eyes widening in shock as the unintentional kiss sent a jolt of electricity through him. His heart thudded loudly in his chest, his mind racing to make sense of what had just happened.
Taehyung, however, seemed entirely unbothered by the accidental kiss. Instead, he leaned up and pressed his lips fully against Jungkook's, the action soft but deliberate. Jungkook's breath hitched, his mind screaming at him to pull away, but his body refused to cooperate.
Finally, summoning every ounce of self-control he had, Jungkook pushed himself back slightly, still hovering above Taehyung but putting some distance between them. His wide eyes searched Taehyung's face for any sign of clarity, but all he found was a pair of half-lidded eyes and a lazy, satisfied smile.
Taehyung reached up and pressed his index finger against Jungkook's lips, silencing whatever protest Jungkook was about to voice. "Don't say anything," Taehyung murmured, his voice soft and pleading.
The way Taehyung's eyes locked onto hisâfilled with an unspoken desire and vulnerabilityâmade Jungkook's resolve waver. His throat felt tight, and he gulped audibly, trying to steady himself against the tide of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
Taehyung's finger lingered on his lips for a moment longer before he began tracing delicate patterns along Jungkook's jawline, his touch featherlight and teasing. Jungkook shivered involuntarily, his pulse quickening as Taehyung's finger trailed downward, stopping at the hollow of his throat.
"Taehyung," Jungkook said hoarsely, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. He gently took Taehyung's hand in his own, pulling it away from his lips and holding it firmly but tenderly. "Tae, you're drunk. You don't know what you're doing."
Taehyung giggled softly, the sound sending an unwelcome rush of warmth through Jungkook. "I know exactly what I'm doing, Jungkookie," he replied, his words slow and slurred but carrying an undeniable sincerity.
As if to prove his point, Taehyung's free hand lifted to trace a languid line along Jungkook's neck, his finger pausing at the curve of his Adam's apple. Jungkook's breath hitched again, and he instinctively turned his head to the side, desperate to escape the intensity of Taehyung's gaze and touch.
"Taehyung," Jungkook whispered again, his voice tinged with both frustration and affection. He felt himself teetering on the edge of his self-control, his emotions a chaotic mix of desire, guilt, and protectiveness.
Taehyung simply giggled again, his fingers still tracing invisible lines on Jungkook's skin as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Jungkook closed his eyes briefly, willing himself to stay grounded.
"You're going to regret this in the morning," Jungkook muttered, more to himself than to Taehyung. But even as he said the words, he couldn't bring himself to move away, trapped by the moment and the magnetic pull of the man beneath him.
Jungkook shook his head firmly, trying to banish the turbulent thoughts threatening to cloud his judgment. He quickly stood up, putting some much-needed space between himself and Taehyung. His chest heaved with uneven breaths, and his fists clenched at his sides as he forced himself to look anywhere but the bed where Taehyung sat.
"I can't do this," Jungkook muttered, his voice taut with restraint.
Taehyung blinked, his already hazy eyes narrowing as he struggled to process Jungkook's words. Slowly, he pushed himself up to a sitting position on the bed, his movements uncoordinated but determined. His head tilted slightly as he studied Jungkook, his lips curving into a small pout.
"Jeon Jungkook," Taehyung called softly, his voice almost pleading.
Jungkook flinched at the sound of his name, but he didn't turn around.
Taehyung wobbled slightly as he sat upright, his eyes half-lidded but still focused on the man standing stiffly before him. "Do you..." he hesitated, his voice dropping to a shy murmur, "...do you like me?"
Jungkook's heart stopped for a beat. He swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as he struggled to compose himself. He stared at the floor, his gaze fixed on the carpet as if it held all the answers. He couldn't bring himself to face Taehyungânot when the question carried so much weight, not when Taehyung was too intoxicated to fully understand what he was asking.
When the silence stretched too long, Taehyung's expression shifted. His brows furrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line as a flicker of hurt crossed his features. He pointed a shaky finger at Jungkook, his pout deepening into something almost accusatory.
"Why aren't you answering me?" Taehyung demanded, his voice rising slightly, though it still carried a drunken lilt. "Do you not like me anymore?"
Jungkook's breath caught in his throat as Taehyung continued, his words becoming increasingly slurred but no less impactful.
"You liked me so much in my dream," Taehyung said, his voice cracking with a hint of vulnerability. "Gyungho didn't want me, and now...now you don't want me either?"
Jungkook's stomach twisted painfully at those words. His face paled, his mind racing to untangle the mess of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
So you chose me because Gyungho didn't want you?
The thought pierced Jungkook's heart like a dagger, and before he could stop himself, he let out a sharp sigh of frustration. His fists clenched tighter, his nails digging into his palms as he wrestled with the sudden surge of anger that bubbled up inside him.
It wasn't fair. None of this was fair.
He knew Taehyung wasn't in his right mind. He knew these were just drunken ramblings born from a foggy dream, but that knowledge didn't make the sting any less real.
Without a word, Jungkook turned sharply on his heel, his movements tense and deliberate as he made his way toward the door. He needed spaceâneeded to breathe, to think, to cool the storm raging inside him.
But before he could take more than a few steps, a warm hand wrapped around his wrist, stopping him in his tracks.
"Jungkook," Taehyung called softly, his voice tinged with desperation.
Jungkook froze, his entire body going rigid as he felt the gentle tug on his arm. He closed his eyes briefly, steeling himself before turning back to face Taehyung.
Taehyung was standing now, swaying slightly but holding onto Jungkook's wrist as if his life depended on it. His eyes were glassy and filled with unshed tears, his lips trembling as he whispered, "Don't go. Don't leave me."
Jungkook's breath hitched at the sight. All of his anger, his frustration, his hurtâthey melted away in an instant, replaced by an overwhelming ache in his chest.
"Taehyung..." Jungkook said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Taehyung tightened his grip on Jungkook's wrist, his other hand clutching the fabric of Jungkook's shirt as he leaned closer. "Don't leave me," he repeated, his voice cracking. "I don't want to be alone."
Jungkook's heart broke a little more with every tear that escaped Taehyung's eyes. The sight of Taehyung's trembling lips and the quiet sniffles tugged at him so forcefully that leaving wasn't even an option anymore. With a soft sigh, he gave in, sinking down onto the bed beside him.
"How could I ever leave you?" Jungkook murmured, his voice gentle but steady.
Taehyung looked up at him, his teary eyes wide and searching. The tears continued to spill, trailing down his flushed cheeks, and Jungkook instinctively reached out, brushing them away with his thumb. His touch was soft, almost reverent, as if Taehyung might break under too much pressure.
"Don't cry," Jungkook whispered, his voice almost pleading.
Taehyung sniffled and wiped at his own cheeks, his movements clumsy and slow. "Then I won't cry anymore," he said softly, his voice wobbling. He paused and looked at Jungkook again, his expression filled with a raw, unguarded sincerity. "Just don't go, okay?"
The way Taehyung's voice cracked at the end made Jungkook's chest ache. He nodded, offering a reassuring smile as he reached out to ruffle Taehyung's soft, slightly messy hair.
"Okay," Jungkook said warmly. "I'll stay here with you. I'm not going anywhere."
Taehyung's lips twitched into the faintest of smiles, but his brows furrowed slightly as if still unsure. "Don't lie to me," he said, his voice quiet but firm, his gaze locked onto Jungkook's.
"I'm not lying," Jungkook promised, his tone resolute. "I won't leave you."
Taehyung blinked, seemingly reassured, and Jungkook gently guided him to lie back on the bed. He tucked the blanket around Taehyung snugly, making sure he was comfortable.
"Now, let's sleep, okay?" Jungkook said, his voice soft and coaxing.
Taehyung hummed in agreement, but as soon as Jungkook started to pull away, Taehyung's hand shot out, grabbing onto his arm with surprising strength.
"Don't go," Taehyung said again, his voice barely above a whisper, but the desperation in his tone was unmistakable.
Jungkook looked down at him, his heart clenching as he saw the vulnerable expression on Taehyung's face. He smiled softly and sat down on the bed, letting Taehyung keep his hold on him.
"I won't leave," Jungkook reassured him, settling himself beside Taehyung. "I'll stay here and watch you sleep, okay?"
Taehyung hummed again, his grip on Jungkook's arm loosening slightly as he nodded. He closed his eyes, his breathing evening out almost immediately as sleep began to claim him.
Jungkook watched him quietly, his gaze lingering on Taehyung's peaceful face. A small smile tugged at his lips as he reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair away from Taehyung's forehead.
"Good night, muffin," Jungkook whispered, leaning down to press a soft, lingering kiss to Taehyung's forehead.
Taehyung stirred slightly, a contented hum escaping him as he nestled deeper into the pillow. Jungkook stayed where he was, his heart full as he watched over Taehyung, making sure his promise to stay was kept.