Taehyung stammered, his words caught in his throat as he struggled to form a coherent response. Why had he called Jungkook his husband? His mind raced, attempting to piece together the fragments of his absurd dream and separate them from reality.
"Iâ" he began, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, he looked down, his face burning with embarrassment.
Am I crazy? he thought. I just... I couldn't tell the difference between dream and reality.
Taehyung clenched his fists, willing himself to stay calm. "Youâyou must've heard it wrong," he blurted out finally, his voice higher than usual in an attempt to dismiss the situation.
Jungkook tilted his head, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "Is that so?" he mused, clearly unconvinced. The glint in his eyes was playful, but his tone carried a teasing edge that made Taehyung squirm. "Because I could've sworn some people were rather... impatient with me in their dream."
Taehyung's breath caught in his throat, and his eyes widened in alarm. His head snapped toward Jungkook, his expression one of sheer panic, as if he had been caught red-handed.
"What are you even talking about?" he demanded, but Jungkook was already leaning closer, clearly enjoying Taehyung's reaction.
"Oh, it was like they were savorâ"
Before Jungkook could finish, Taehyung shot forward, slapping a hand over Jungkook's mouth to shut him up. His face was beet red now, his heart racing like it had a mind of its own.
"Stop it!" Taehyung hissed, his voice a mix of frustration and mortification. "You're spouting nonsense!"
Jungkook's muffled laughter vibrated against Taehyung's hand. His mischievous gaze held steady, unbothered by Taehyung's futile attempts to control him.
His mouth is so unfiltered, Taehyung thought bitterly. Really poisonous.
With a quiet chuckle, Jungkook gently pried Taehyung's hand away from his face, shaking his head in amusement. "Alright, alright, I'll stop," he said, though his grin betrayed his reluctance to let the teasing end.
Taehyung huffed, crossing his arms as he turned to face forward, trying to focus on anything but Jungkook's irritatingly handsome smirk. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, his mind wandered back to the dream.
How on earth did he become my husband in my dream? he thought, his brows furrowing. The dream had been too vivid, too detailed for him to shake off so easily.
He remembered the feel of Jungkook's hands, the way his voice had dropped to that intoxicatingly low timbre. His heartbeat quickened at the memory, and he shook his head furiously as if to physically banish the thought.
Get a grip, Taehyung! he scolded himself. That was just a dream. It means nothing. Absolutely nothing.
But as the corners of Jungkook's lips quirked up again, as if he could read Taehyung's thoughts, Taehyung's resolve faltered. It was going to be a long ride if his mind kept betraying him like this.
_____
The bus hissed as it came to a halt, jolting slightly as it stopped. Taehyung and Jungkook stepped off, the mid-morning sun casting a warm glow over the bustling campus. The faint chatter of students surrounded them, blending with the occasional burst of laughter and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
Jungkook, effortlessly carrying Taehyung's luggage, led the way with his usual steady, confident strides. His broad shoulders made him seem taller than he actually was, though he and Taehyung were nearly the same height. Taehyung, however, struggled to keep up, taking quick, small steps to match Jungkook's pace.
"Jeon Jungkook!" Taehyung called out, his voice slightly breathless. "Could you please walk slower? You're not carrying me, you know!"
Hearing Taehyung's plea, Jungkook stopped and turned slightly, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement as he glanced at Taehyung, who was practically jogging to keep up.
"You're right," Jungkook teased with a playful smirk. "But I'm afraid someone might get jealous if they see us walking so closely together."
Taehyung blinked at him, confused by the remark. "Jealous? Who are you even talking about?"
"Your favorite person," Jungkook replied, his smirk deepening. "Cha Gyungho."
The name sent an invisible jolt through Taehyung, and his feet faltered slightly as his steps grew slower. Jungkook didn't seem to notice, continuing forward with ease, but Taehyung's mind was elsewhere now, clouded by unwelcome memories.
Gyungho... The name repeated in his head, and with it came the sting of emotions he thought he had buried. He thought about the years he had spent chasing after Gyungho's affection, about the fleeting joy he had felt when they had finally started dating. Six years of loyalty, of putting Gyungho first, only to realize that his heart had always belonged to someone else.
His chest tightened as the images played in his mind like scenes from a tragic film: the coldness in Gyungho's gaze, the way he had brushed off Taehyung's attempts at affection, the heartbreak that followed him like a shadow.
So lost in thought was he that he didn't notice Jungkook slowing down until he bumped into his back. The impact startled him, snapping him out of his reverie.
"Jungkook," Taehyung muttered, frowning slightly as he stepped to the side to face him. "Why did you stop here?"
Jungkook didn't answer right away. His usually expressive face was uncharacteristically still, his eyes locked on somethingâor someoneâin the distance. There was a faint tension in his posture, his hands gripping the straps of Taehyung's luggage just a little tighter.
Curious and a little concerned, Taehyung followed Jungkook's gaze, turning his head to see what had caught his attention.
And then he froze.
There, not far ahead, stood Cha Gyungho.
His figure was effortlessly commanding, even as he casually leaned against the edge of a bench, chatting with a group of students. His sharp features and confident demeanor were the same as the day Taehyung first saw him. It was during a visit to the college six months ago when Taehyung, wide-eyed and full of excitement for his future, had laid eyes on Gyungho for the first time. The instant their gazes met, Taehyung's heart had skipped a beat, and before he even knew it, he was falling.
Now, however, seeing him here again brought a strange mix of emotions to Taehyung. He felt the remnants of his admiration, yes, but also a pang of something sharperâa reflection of the dream he'd had earlier.
Gyungho's eyes flickered toward Taehyung and Jungkook, narrowing slightly. He stepped forward, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of accusation.
"Taehyung," Gyungho called out, his voice smooth but edged. "You didn't come to see me today. And now, here you areâwith him."
His eyes briefly darted to Jungkook, who stood silently by Taehyung's side. The air between them thickened as Taehyung's chest tightened, memories from the dream rushing back in vivid fragments.
I ignored Jungkook for him... The thought echoed painfully in his mind. For the longest time, Taehyung had convinced himself that keeping Gyungho happy was worth sacrificing everything elseâeven his bond with Jungkook. They had been inseparable since they were kids, their friendship a constant source of comfort and joy. But the fear of Gyungho's misunderstanding had been enough to drive a wedge between them.
Now, with the clarity of hindsight and the raw emotions stirred by his dream, Taehyung felt the weight of his past decisions pressing down on him. He could see how foolish he'd been, how blindly he had let his feelings for Gyungho dictate his actions.
Taking a deep breath, Taehyung steadied himself. He raised his head, meeting Gyungho's gaze with an unexpected determination. Without a word, he turned to Jungkook and grabbed his arm, the gesture firm and resolute.
"Jungkook," Taehyung said, his voice clear despite the tension in the air. "Let's go."
Jungkook raised a brow, momentarily surprised by the sudden shift in Taehyung's demeanor, but he didn't protest. Instead, he gave a small nod, his lips twitching into a faint, knowing smirk as if he understood what this moment meant.
Together, they walked away, leaving Gyungho standing there. Taehyung didn't look backânot at Gyungho's stunned expression nor at the subtle whispers from the students nearby.
For the first time in a long while, Taehyung felt like he had taken a step in the right direction. Even if it was small, even if his heart still ached, he knew this was a choice he wouldn't regret.