bisect my angle

②②

tzuyu never let go of his hand.

dragging jungkook to the small cafe down the fashion department, he stays silent.

when she asked and got the ice pack, only then was she able to let go and swivel around to face him.

she has never seen jungkook like this. never. only when... she stops pondering to examine his face.

a glimpse of him made her heart ache, and anger rose from within. she drags him again, faraway from eyes– on the stairs near the top of the building nobody uses.

he sits by the window ledge that outlooked outside, perched, he glances at the blue sky– white cotton swirling about. he turns to look at tzu.

jungkook could not read her expression. but he felt relief when she came to his aid. help he unknowingly asked, reflected on his face. and in his big doe eyes, the one she had long adored– was devoid of the spark it usually had.

with towel wrapped on the pack, she presses it gingerly on his bruise. he flinches, but welcomes the cooling sensation. "you went there?" she asks, soft but firm.

jungkook holds the arm that presses his face, adjusting the pressure. he croaks out, "you gave me courage last night."

"you could have done it in the evening koo." she chided.

"he works in the evening.. and he wouldn't have expected his child early in the morning. he could use a surprise." no traces of fear or emotion in his tone. empty. acceptant of what transpired.

"it's not a joke that he didn't take the surprise... well." tzuyu mumbled, her finger hovering above his cut lip. a thin line of red. he jolts slightly. he smiles. but even with the crescent line, his eyes reflected the pain beneath. delicate glass that could break.

"why did you bother coming when the day's almost over?"

"besides the visit, I ran errands
in the morning and I wanted to
tell you about it."

"looking beat up? without treating your wounds?"

"I did treat it..  I bit my lip on accident as a habit so it started bleeding again.  the bruises were still there even with a cold compress– and I thought no one would bother looking at the door.."

tzuyu pressed harder on the bruise, making jungkook squirm. he scowls, "take care of yourself, you idiot.."

silence lapsed, but they let it pass.

"are you okay?" she asks a final question, and he answered just as quick, nodding. tzuyu only narrowed her eyes at jungkook.

before he could argue, warmth enveloped him.

it wasn't normal. jungkook would ask, or tug a hem on her shirt, but now he only stared, his eyes lacklustre, done. the last time he was seen like this, he bottled his feelings the same. appearing strong, when he was torn apart inside. tzuyu refuses to let the past repeat, where she let him go. let him slip away and come back the next day, as if nothing happened.

"you're not." she grumbles crouching, pulling him close, arm around his neck. jungkook who was sitted, hesitates for a moment. slowly, he wraps his arms around her waist, chin on her shoulder.

he softens at the gesture. he has already picked his pieces up okay, in need of no aid. but when he picked it all up, she was the one to put them back together.

always.

his hold falters. not any longer.

"i'm okay now, tzu." he smiles, genuine, but she couldn't see it. "just shut up, and cry if you need to."

jungkook giggles, her grip tightened but he wiggles out her hold. "why are you so–" he meant to ask why she wasn't letting go. her furrowed brows and tear streaked cheek answers it all.

"tzuyu–" he almost laughs, she looked like a fuming kid, not wanting to cry but is. he's seen her cry a lot. through films and books, for someone, for another. seldom for herself. "juwi, I'm really fine now." she brushes off the hands that cupped her cheek, punching him in the gut before resting her chin on his shoulder this time.

"you don't deserve this." she says quietly.

"and i'm okay. that's all that matters." he reassures her. futile attempts of returning, and he never gives up to try again. he ran, he did not stand his guard. nor fight back. he does not explode. when will he grow tired?

"thank you." he whispers before letting go. it wasn't a thank you that held gratitude upon today, but for the many days she was there to comfort him. fortifying the strength he had, being the one that watches over his back.

"cry all you want. and here you are crying at your words." jungkook teases. pulling away, she shoves the ice pack to his face. "it's your fault dumbass." tzuyu retorted pinching his ears. he responds by pinching hers back.

the two fight, tugging at each other's ears, "let go at the same time– 1, 2," their hands remained planted on their ears. before all this could carry on, a stifled cough interrupted their quarrel.

"you guys are like little kids, I swear," taehyung smiles on the bottom of the stairs. his black curls seem ruffled, his posture tall, his hands on his pocket. "I came to collect you kids, work needs to be done." he says, hands on his hips, mocking a teacher's stance.

"he's the little kid," tzuyu rolled her eyes, walking down the stairs, jungkook followed, mimicking. he nudges her elbow, whispering to her about yesterday. he's met with a smack on his.

"i'm doing a portrait shot, mind being my model?" taehyung vaguely asked, in which the two answered, "sure."

"he asked me you idiot."

"huh? he was definitely looking
in my direction!"

"no–"

"two of you can help a new student out, no need to argue." taehyung chuckled, matching the two's pace.

he in the middle, tzuyu and jungkook flanking his sides.

"don't worry, I told the prof about your situation, only marked you late." he mentions, "thanks taehyung." tzuyu said, smiling at him.

"my pleasure." taehyung returns her gaze,
his–lingering a bit longer when she turns away.

_
my updates are sporadic, but expect bma on mondays :D