Books×Bikes [KTH] ✔️

Ch 38.☘︎ ݁˖

જ⁀➴🖤⃝🤍𓆰♕𓆪
Taehyung's POV:

I washed my hands, the sound of running water drowning out the silence. Kevin was leaning casually against the tiled wall, absorbed in his phone but there was still an air of tension between us. Alex was still inside one of the stalls.

I dried my hands, rubbing the towel across them with unnecessary force, trying to dispel the restlessness that had been gnawing at me. Everything about today had been off. It made me uncomfortable in a way I wasn't used to and I hated it.

I started to leave, wanting to get back to Jules and Jude, maybe distract myself from whatever this was. But then Kevin's voice stopped me in my track.

"Taehyung."

There was no warmth in his tone. No playful lilt or teasing edge. It was the kind of voice Kevin reserved for when he was truly upset or disappointed. My stomach dropped and a cold shiver ran down my spine. Kevin never spoke to me like that.

I froze, my hand hovering over the door handle. What had I done? I mean, I knew things had been weird between us for the past couple of days. I licked my lips nervously, trying to buy myself time and slowly turned to face him.

Kevin had put his phone away and was staring at me now, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression was unreadable which only made the tension worse. I felt like a kid who had just been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to and I was about to get scolded.

I didn't know what to say. Hell, I didn't even know what he was thinking. So I stayed quiet, my heart thudding painfully in my chest as I waited for him to speak.

The silence stretched on, oppressive and heavy, and the longer it lasted, the more anxious I became. So, I waited, holding my breath until finally, I saw his expression soften.

"Why are you like this, buddy?" Kevin asked. He wasn't angry anymore.

I swallowed hard, not sure how to answer him. My chest tightened as if all the words I wanted to say were trapped behind a wall. I could feel his gaze on me, waiting for a response. Finally, I let out a sigh, meeting his eyes, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Kev. But this is how I am."

A fool.
A fucked-up person.
Someone who can't make anything right.

Those thoughts echoed through my mind but I didn't dare say them aloud. The silence that followed felt heavier than before. The sound of the ventilation system was the only thing breaking through the stillness of the washroom. I shifted uncomfortably, my hands flexing at my sides, unsure of what to do next.

Then, a distinct click echoed in the room, followed by the creak of a stall door opening. Alex stepped out, completely unaware of the tension. His eyes flicked between Kevin and me as he made his way to the sink. He finished washing his hands and moved to stand beside Kevin. "So, what's going on here? You two look like you're about to start a therapy session or something."