Books×Bikes [KTH] ✔️

Ch 26 .☘︎ ݁˖

╰┈➤Third Person's POV:

"Taehyung..." she murmured softly, unsure if he even registered that it was her voice. She tentatively reached out to place a hand on his shoulder but hesitated when she remembered his words. He'd told her not to touch him.

She pulled her hand back not knowing what to do. She wasn't used to these kinds of feelings. Sure, she had always found Taehyung infuriating with his teasing and his cocky attitude but seeing him like this.

He groaned again, his brows furrowing in discomfort. "Don't touch me..." he muttered again. "I need her... where's my girlfriend?"

Jude felt her stomach twist again at the word girlfriend. She felt... moved. She didn't know why but hearing him call out for her made her chest tighten. There was a kind of longing in his voice that she had never heard from him before.

Her thoughts were racing, unsure of what to say or do. Taehyung groaned again, this time a little louder. His eyelids fluttered. "Jude..." he whispered again and this time, it sounded a little clearer. His fingers twitched as though he was reaching out for her and her heart nearly stopped.

"I'm here." Jude finally whispered.

His body seemed to relax slightly at her words, though he still wasn't fully conscious. A part of her wanted to scold him for getting himself into this mess but the sight of him like this-so lost, so vulnerable-silenced the reprimands building in her mind. Instead, she felt an overwhelming urge to protect him and stay by his side until he came back to himself.

"It's me, Taehyung. I'm Jude. See."

Taehyung squinted. One eye tightly closed, the other barely open as he peered at her. Jude thought he might actually recognize her. But when he smiled sheepishly and slurred, "You look like my girlfriend." her jaw dropped slightly in disbelief.

A snicker escaped her before she could stop herself. 'Does he really think I'm a lookalike of myself?' she thought, amused.

Jules and Alex shared chuckle as Taehyung continued in a lazy, dreamy tone. "You are... cute too but Bubs is cuter." His head lolled to the side, his eyes shutting again as he drifted off.

Jude's heart skipped a beat at his words. She could feel her face heat up and when she glanced back. Jules was smirking mischievously. She leaned in, nudging Jude's shoulder lightly. "I guess you guys can have your time. We'll be downstairs."

Jude blushed even more realizing she had completely forgotten that Jules and Alex were still in the room. She gave them an awkward smile as they sauntered out, leaving her alone with Taehyung who was lying in a state between sleep and wakefulness, too far gone to notice anything other than his strange half-formed thoughts.

She glanced down at Taehyung's hand which had been twitching, searching for something to hold. Without hesitation, she reached for it and this time he didn't resisted. His fingers curled around hers, gripping it tightly. Jude smiled unknowingly at the gesture.