glass-cased doll ✩ | t.k

07. all is fair in friendship and flirtation

[recap]

"I'm paying you physically, just like I said." Taehyung's tone almost turned a little shaky when he realised Jeongguk was shamelessly staring at his freshly-licked lips, not attempting to hide it like he always did.

Jeongguk drew in a breath, then let his shoulders fall. He blinked slowly and looked back up to meet Taehyung's eyes with an unexpected shift in his gaze.

"Sorry, I really thought you meant something else by that." Jeongguk murmured in a voice that was barely above a whisper before stepping aside and moving past the frozen Taehyung to go to the older's car.

Taehyung swallowed thickly. There was no way that he had implied something other than sexual — the desire was clear in his round eyes.

Jeongguk's action single-handedly confirmed something else for Taehyung, that his sexual attraction toward Jeongguk was absolutely and undoubtedly not one-sided. This confirmation was so gonna make it harder for him to hold himself back. Far deep inside, he knew Jeongguk wasn't gonna take accountability for saying such thing and he was gonna keep on testing Taehyung.

At that moment, Taehyung swore to himself that he wouldn't get lured into a sexual relationship with Jeongguk. Because he genuinely liked Jeongguk and won't settle for only that, at least not until he confirmed that Jeongguk definitely didn't like him any other way than only sexually.

Only then, he might have to take whatever he can get. He had to.

"Gosh, I must really like this boy." Taehyung whispered hopelessly to himself when he realised how borderline pathetic he was going for a human being. But oh well.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

"Hyung," Jeongguk let out a sharp sigh, his steps faltering. Stepping in front of Taehyung, who had been walking alongside him, he hesitantly spoke, "You can go now, really. I appreciate it." He aimed for sincerity, hoping Taehyung might understand and let him walk the remaining distance alone to the lecture hall at the end of the hallway.

Taehyung came to a stop, his expression adorned with a gentle smile. "Okay," he replied. The passing familiar faces drew curious gazes, making Jeongguk strive to ignore the attention.

Jeongguk parted his lips, about to speak, but was caught off guard when Taehyung unexpectedly took a step forward, causing Jeongguk to instinctively retreat a step, a flicker of familiar tension threading the air between them.

"You really gotta stop doing that, hyung," Jeongguk whined when he noticed the mischievous glint in Taehyung's eyes, his pointy finger playfully pushing Taehyung's chest, although barely touching it.

"Just a practice until you get used to it, Kook." Taehyung retorted as he took a weak step back, as if the doll's push had an actual impact.

The gentle smile on Taehyung's lips persisted as he said that, yet an imperceptible change swept across his face. Jeongguk felt a pang of unease, his nerves prickling as he registered the shift in Taehyung's demeanor and the intensity of his unrelenting gaze.

"Thank you for dropping me off." Jeongguk quickly said.

"It's my pleasure, really." Taehyung replied, a gentle warmth infusing his words as he maintained the subtle appraisal, silently appreciating Jeongguk's endearing features under the ambient glow of the hallway's lights. "Will I see you after your class ends?"