Hide & Seek ➤ Taekook/Vkook

Chapter 19

[A/N : Dedicating this chapter to @DintPasTaesVibeChek. Thanks a million times for being the most hilarious and the loudest reader I've ever had. Your comments are like happy pills. I hope you never stop 🥺💜]

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𝑰'𝒎 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖,
𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖,
𝑰'𝒎 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏,
𝑰'𝒎 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝒈𝒐 𝒐𝒖𝒕,
𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖

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"What? Is this like those candid camera pranks you people do nowadays?" Mrs. Jeon chuckled at Taehyung when the guy brought up the topic of him moving out at the dinner table the next night, "If so, then I'll have to say, you've been caught and failed. Up your game, Taehyung-ah, come on!"

Taehyung took in a sharp breath, chewing on his bottom lip as he took a quick sideways glance at Jungkook seated next to him, then he heaved a sigh, "No, eomeoni. It's not a candid camera prank. I'm serious. Hyung has already arranged an apartment for me in his housing."

Jungkook froze on his seat as he heard that, a short silence falling over the four of them. He wasn't expecting it, to have Taehyung take that "as soon as you can" that seriously. To be honest, he wasn't even hoping for Taehyung to consider his request. Knowing how infuriatingly stubborn the guy could be, he had been certain that Taehyung wouldn’t go anywhere.

❝We both call this place home, Dumbkook.❞ or, ❝Last I checked, your name isn’t on the deed.❞ – Jungkook had been expecting to hear something like that, accompanied with the signature cocky smirk and head-tilt.

But surprisingly that wasn't happening. And he should've been thankful that his wish was granted without much hassle, but what he instead felt was a tightness in his chest, his stomach churning to realise that Taehyung was really thinking of leaving their house, and that too without a single utter of protest or display of anger– which was quite unusual coming from him.

"Taehyung-ah, don't talk nonsense." Mrs. Jeon broke the silence, putting down her chopsticks, her eyebrows furrowed, "You're not moving out of this house. No way, not as long as you're in Seoul. This is your home! Why on earth would you go to live alone in some apartment?"

Jungkook didn't let anything show on his face, silently picking up bits of his food and reluctantly inserting them in his mouth, but a part of him felt kind of relieved that his mother was trying to stop Taehyung. He knew he was supposed to be mad at the guy, and he swore he still was, he was, but a part of him couldn't help not wanting Taehyung to move out and permanently live twenty long minutes away from him. It was the same irrational part of him that had regretted being so harsh on Taehyung last night, the same stupid part of him that was hoping that anytime now Taehyung would send him a smug smirk and go: ‘hah, sike!’

"You are already away from your parents, Taehyung-ah." Mr. Jeon calmly spoke, his tone soft and sincere, "They've always counted on us to look after you. It's our responsibility to not let them down."

Taehyung scoffed under his breath. ‘Counted on you to look after me...? Yeah, more like they threw their burden away at you, appa. They wouldn't give two shits even if you failed at looking after that unpleasant unwanted burden.’

"Appa, I'll be living in the same housing as hyung. I will be safe. Besides, you will be here whenever I need." Taehyung said out loud, trying his best to convince his eomeoni and appa, even though he himself didn't want to leave them at all.