Mix and Match ~ TK

70

"Ow!"

"S-sorry."

"No problem." Jungkook brushed off before retrieving the fork. "You should go grab a new one though."

"Yeah." Taehyung responded, still dazed from the throb in his head but made no sign to move yet.

Jungkook had turned back to resume his conversation with Lucas as if nothing had happened except the little redness on his forehead he was now covering with his hand.
Taehyung knew Jungkook was mad at him. Of freaking course he was! Taehyung deserved more than the cold treatment. It was only fair after everything the brunette did to him and denying the real intention behind their entire sexual experiences was probably the cherry on top. To his defense, Taehyung did think that those weren't really something to fuss about.
Okay no, who was he lying to? The things he did with Jungkook were more than he ever did with Jimin. It wasn't fair to the true blood the way he had dismissed everything, lied to his face and pretended their bond was nothing but a burden. Which, to a certain extent, was. It's just that Taehyung may or may not—definitely may— be reconsidering his actions and feeling extremely bad about his actions as of now.
With his memory recovered, he felt lighter than ever. He felt like he could finally live again. Like the world is shining in a bright new color.
Except he's the only one witnessing such changes because clearly, his mate had moved on at last.

Taehyung excused himself to get a new fork and took the little moment of privacy to think properly.
First of all, Taehyung was a dick.
How could he make someone go through all the shit he did to Jungkook and still expect to be forgiven? He wasn't delusional, he was just finally seeing things clearer.
Jungkook must've felt awful all along. How did the true blood put up with his crazy shit for so long was beyond him. And he never even complained once?
The boy deserved some sort of award because the more Taehyung reminisced about their encounters and petty fights the more ashamed he felt.
Man, he really had no brakes. He was undoubtedly the biggest asshole in the entire universe.
Jungkook is better off without him. Of course he was. Lucas was a way better match than Taehyung could ever be.
So why was he so sad about?
Come on, Taehyung! Surely, you've seen it coming?
He didn't. What was that saying again?
You only miss the sun when it starts to snow.
How sadly veracious.

-

Jungkook didn't spare his mate another glance. He tried to give his entire attention back to the black haired charming wolf in front of him but even the said wolf had noticed the unfocused state of his interlocutor.

"Why don't you go talk to him?"

"Huh?"

Lucas motioned to his left with his head and the ravenette quickly shook his head as Taehyung was just coming back to sit beside him after retrieving new cutlery.

"He looks better." Lucas noted.

Jungkook closed his eyes and slowly nodded. He couldn't help himself. Of course he noticed the healing gashes on his mate's body. They were so many and Jungkook couldn't miss them even if he tried to.
The more he glimpsed at the bandages the more he wanted to blame himself but caught himself before slipping.
It had taken Lucas two entire nights to get him to accept the fact that Taehyung's state wasn't his fault. To be fair, the brunette did look... healthier in a way. Ironic considering he spent a whole day in the clinic, passed out.
And yet something in the hazelnut swirls of Taehyung's orbs that Jungkook had desperately fallen for, he saw something he hasn't seen before; life.
Seeing it made him feel relieved, in some way.

Taehyung looked livelier, vigorous, blooming. As if weights have been lifted away from his shoulders. Even their mate link felt lighter. Gone was the pressuring heaviness burdening them down. And Jungkook had no idea what to make of it.

What happened to Taehyung that made him come back as another, greater version of himself?

-

After dinner, the entire family dispersed into the living space and left the two best friends struggling with the mountains of dishes to clean and leftover food to store.

Not new to the stunt, the duo had learned an effective way to work without tiring themselves too much and it was playing games while splitting the chores.

"Ocean or river?"

"Lake." The alpha answered confidently.

"That's wasn't an option!"

"Well neither, then. The ocean is too big, the river too tricky. Lake is fine. My turn." Taehyung handed Jimin the soaped plate for the blonde to rinse and put on the dryer. "Rain or snow."

"Uhm... snow is more romantic. Snow."
Jimin threw a bit of water from the tap towards the brunette who was snorting at his answer.

"When did you become so cheesy?"

"I've always been cheesy. You're just too oblivious to notice." Jimin suddenly fake cried when he turned around and found the table still half full. "We're never finishing this!"

"Jimin?" A voice called from the entrance of the kitchen and the aforementioned turned to face the caller with a clear pout.
"They want you downstairs." Jungkook informed and the blonde's eyes gleamed.

"Right away!"

"Park Jimin don't you dare!" Taehyung shouted behind the already disappearing form of his best friend, leaving him alone to finish the cleaning.
The brunette sighed defeatedly and turned to resume doing the dishes by himself. There was so many even the dishwasher couldn't hold them all.

Upon hearing movement behind him, he turned and found the ravenette calmly emptying the plates and getting out plastic containers to fill them with leftovers.
What was he doing?
Taehyung couldn't find the voice to ask nor did the other say anything so he resumed scrubbing the tableware.
Once everything was back in place, the floor swept and Taehyung drying his hands on a rag did he realize he just spent about an hour with the ravenette without uttering a word.

"Uh thanks."

"No problem." Came the straightforward answer. Not even facing him and he lowered his sleeves and made to go back to where the chattering was still going strong in the sitting room. But before he disappeared fully Taehyung finally found the courage to call back.

"Jungkook?"

The said wolf halted in his place, back to the speaker, waiting for him to say without finding it in him to turn around and having to lock eyes with his mate.

"I.. I'm.." what was he doing for Goddess's sake? "I'm sorry."

Moments of silence stretched between the two; Taehyung not believing that he had just apologized to his mate without explaining exactly what he was sorry for while Jungkook was just shocked that the other did something as decent as ask for forgiveness, full stop.
Unfortunately, Jungkook didn't get the chance to respond—not like he knew what to say either— because he was cut off by his brother calling his name from the other side of the house.

Without further thoughts, the ravenette sped-walked out of the kitchen, leaving his mate with an open mouth and guilt driven thoughts.

-