Hidden Mate

5. Jealousy

"Tae, Can we have lunch together?"

"Aah... Lu..lunch?"

"Yeah, lunch! Oh, are you busy...?"

Jungkook's voice suddenly became timid. It may sound strange, but Jungkook liked Taehyung. Why? Well, he hadn't thought about it. Jungkook just liked being with him.

Jungkook liked the way Taehyung listened to him. Whenever he spoke, Taehyung looked at him with sparkling eyes and listened intently to what he said. Taehyung's almond-shaped eyes were warm and kind and as he listened to him, he showed all his emotions from time to time. Just like a colorful picture drawn on white paper, Jungkook could easily guess how Taehyung was feeling by looking at his expression, which actively responded to his every word.

Jungkook also liked his innocent, child-like smile. Taehyung had both beauty and cuteness. His smile was beautiful and warm, and hearing him giggle made Jungkook's heart flutter as if he was floating on a cloud.

Jungkook was so immersed in being with Taehyung that it was hard to believe that they had only been friends for a few days. He tried to meet Taehyung whenever he could. If he didn't see him even for a day, Jungkook would get really anxious. He was so happy spending time with Taehyung, and he kept wanting more.

Even now, Jungkook was contacting Taehyung as soon as he returned from his morning scouting. He still couldn't believe that Taehyung had so obediently given him his phone number. For Jungkook, the unexpected meeting with Taehyung and everything that followed felt like a dream. A dream that he wants to stay in without waking up...

"Jungkook?"

"........?!!"

Jungkook came to his senses when he heard Taehyung's voice calling him. Oh, that deep and profound voice... Jungkook trembled involuntarily as a shiver spread down his spine. Jungkook bit his lower lip as he felt himself reacting strangely-oversensitively to everything about Taehyung.

Now Jungkook was showing more affection for this new friend than his wolf had ever shown.

"Oh, sorry – what did you say?"

"Where ...should I go?"

"No! It's okay, just wait at home. I'll pick you up!"

Jungkook's movements suddenly became busier. Everyone who returned from a scouting was required to fill out a scouting log. Jungkook's fingers were busy tapping the computer keyboard, but his mind was entirely focused on the phone call with Taehyung.

"It's okay, just tell me the place. I can go there..."

"No! I'll be there soon, so just wait!"

"Then, I'll wait..."

"Yeah, yeah~! It won't take long! Maybe... about thirty minutes? No, it will only take twenty minutes! Yeah, Twenty minutes! Twenty minutes is enough!"

Jungkook spoke confidently while holding the phone still between his shoulder and ear. He was so impatient that he didn't even realize that his fingers were tapping the computer's keyboard rather roughly. Then, Jungkook suddenly stopped typing when he heard Taehyung giggling over the phone. He was smiling involuntarily, as if possessed by something. Is it magic? It was surprising to Jungkook that someone's giggle could make his heart race.

"What?"

Jungkook asked, smiling like an idiot.

"Nothing. I just thought... haha... you might break the keyboard."

"........?!"

Listening to Taehyung still giggling, Jungkook finally realized how he looks like... In an instant, embarrassment swept over him and his face turned into a tomato. But the sound of Taehyung's giggling again made Jungkook smile defenselessly. He felt like a fool, but even that strangely excited him.