winter bear || k.th

• 1 •

Taehyung woke up with his eyes closed, his hands immediately searching for the warmth of his older brother lying next to him. He was met with the cool feeling of worn cotton sheets.

He sat up and stretched, opening his eyes and pushing the bangs off his forehead. The bright morning sun shone in his face. He immediately felt exhausted. 

He'd stayed up nearly all night trying to finish homework that wasn't even his own.

Suddenly, the familiar voice of the boy's older brother rang through the room. 

"Good morning Tae. Get ready for school so you're not late," he said, standing in the doorway with his hands on his hips. His expression looked almost motherly. 

"Mmmkay," Taehyung replied sleepily. He glanced over at the clock. It read 7:05

He groaned. He did not feel like going to school today. But did he have a choice? 

He stood up, walking to the window and looking out. Immediately his mood was lifted. A thick layer of white powder covered the ground and everything on it. 

He smiled, watching all the little white flakes fall from the white-gray sky. The snow had always been his favorite thing about this time of year. One of his favorite things in general.

He loved the way it smelled, the way it sparkled at night and lit up the sky with a white glow, and the feeling of his cheeks going numb with cold

Chuckling happily, he grabbed a pair of clothes from a pile on the floor, making sure to pick something warm. He chose a thick, dark blue sweatshirt, a pair of jeans, thick socks, and his favorite gray beanie.

He pulled off his pajama shirt, clenching his teeth at a sudden dull pain that spread through his ribs. He brushed it off and quickly dressed, washed his face, brushed his teeth, and and looked in the mirror. His light brown eyes shone back at him, his brown hair cut in a slightly shaggy two-block style. 

His Hyung always told him he was handsome.

He made his way down the stairs, his thick socks making a soft padding sound. He caught himself glancing towards the small corner of the living room where their grandmother used to sit. It was like he could still hear her soft voice singing him to sleep. Still feel her hand lightly graze his back as he, still a small child, lay in her arms. It had been three years since she passed, and he still  wasn't completely used to it.

A thump snapped him out of his thoughts.                                          

Seokjin set down a bowl and took his usual seat at the kitchen table, waiting for his little brother.

"I made us some breakfast. Come eat, you have that hungry-puppy look on your face again," he said, chuckling and pointing to the two bowls of steaming oatmeal.

 Suddenly, Taehyung felt starved.

"Wow, thanks hyung," he said sweetly. He sat down and begin shoveling the oatmeal into his mouth. The warm sensation of it filling his empty stomach was wonderful.

"Mm, It's really good. But you know I'm old enough to make oatmeal, right?" He teased, smiling at how caring his hyung was. Seokjin's cheeks instantly turned as red as a strawberry.

"Hey, I know that! I just... I was already making mine, so I-I thought I would make yours to save time." He looked flustered, hiding his blush behind his bowl.

Taehyung just laughed, patting Seokjin's arm, and they finished their breakfast in a comfortable silence.

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶

After breakfast, they both left the house for Taehyung's high school. As they walked through the cold winter air, they both enjoyed the beautiful white scenery of the town they called home.

After their parents had passed when they were little, they went to stay with their grandparents. That neighborhood had been their home ever since.

Seokjin worked at a grocery store located close to the school, so they walked there together every morining.

As they approached the school, Seokjin turned to face Taehyung. 

"Namjoon called in sick and I'm taking over his shift today, so you'll have to walk home by yourself. Do you have your phone?" he asked. Taehyung nodded, showing Jin the device in his pocket.

Seokjin smiled and pulled the younger in for a warm hug. "I love you, have a good day," he said sofly.

Taehyung didn't want to let go, and when he did, he felt cold again.
"Love you too, hyung," he replied as they parted ways.

They waved at each other until Taehyung reached the doors to his school.

He walked through the halls towards his classroom. Taehyung never really had a lot friends when he was younger, and it stayed that way into high school, his only school friend being a boy named Jimin. Though, as he got older, he and Jimin became friends with Seokjin's friends, Yoongi, Namjoon, and Hoseok, and that formed their small group. They were all more like brothers, with how close they were, and how they were there for each other at any time of need.

Taehyung entered the classroom, the teacher smiling in greeting.

"Hey," he said, sitting down next to Jimin.

He looked at Taehyung, his eyes small crescent moons as he smiled. But then his smile fell. 

"Hey, you look tired. Are you getting enough sleep?" he asked in reply.

Taehyung began to speak, but the teacher cleared his throat.

"Class, we will be welcoming a new student today." He motioned for someone to enter the class room.

The door opened and in came a boy, probably a little younger than Taehyung. His overgrown, slightly wavy hair covered his forehead and he looked around with large, doe-like eyes.

"Please introduce yourself," the teacher said kindly. The boy bowed his head nervously, looking like a frightened bunny.

"Hello... My name is Jeon Jungkook," he said shyly. He raised his head and looked curiously at Taehyung, then smiled, warm and friendly. He immediately looked familiar, but Taehyung didn't know why.

"Hello," the class said in return.

The teacher nodded. "Please take your seat," he said quietly.

The boy walked over to and sat down at an empty seat a few down from Taehyung, and the teacher began to speak again. 

Taehyung wished he wasn't so tired; It was going to be hard to concentrate today.

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶

Next chapter comes tomorrow! <3