$moke Break || TAEKOOK

2

Taehyung sat at his desk, papers scattered around him, in his apartment. The day's events replayed in his mind, particularly his unexpected encounter with Jungkook. There was something about the young janitor that stirred an unfamiliar curiosity within him.

He sighed, putting down his pen and rubbing his temples. The memory of Jungkook's tattoo, the way he had apologized for smoking, specially the widened doe eyes that looked like they held stars inside were additions to his distractions. He couldn't quite place why it affected him so much the way it did.

It was a typical Monday morning when Jungkook first arrived at the school as a janitor. Taehyung had initially paid little attention to the new addition to the staff. However, over the course of the next few weeks, he couldn't help but notice Jungkook's kind gesture towards the people even strangers.

One particular incident stood out in Taehyung's memory. He had stayed late one evening to finish grading papers when he heard a commotion in the hallway. Peering out of his classroom, he saw Jungkook helping a student who looked injured. The student was not from his class otherwise he would have remembered her face.

Taehyung went towards the student who held Jungkook's hand firmly. Her bottom lip was bleeding along with her right knee for which it looked difficult to walk.

"What happened?"

Both of them looked up when Taehyung approached. His eyes unknowingly went to see the hold of their hands, though the student was holding Jungkook's wrist to support herself only. Jungkook looked concerned, Taehyung could notice. Even only with his eyes out, Taehyung could easily read Jungkook's expression underneath the mask.

"Some students-"

"N-nothing Mr. Kim, i-it's just I fell down.."

Jungkook frowned looking at the scared girl. Taehyung could definitely understand that it might not be the truth she was telling.

"Are you sure? You know you could tell what happened right?"

"Y-yes Mr. Kim"

Taehyung only nodded and saw them going towards the nurse's office. He also saw Jungkook talking to her about something which he was unable to hear due to the distance.

The next day that student revealed everything to Taehyung how she was being bullied by some students due to her being from poor background and being on financial aid with scholarship. When he asked her why couldn't she tell that the previous day or what made her change her mind, she replied that she was afraid of them but the janitor made her understand that it was important to let the teachers know otherwise she'd continue to get hurt as well as it'd be wrong to not protest against the bullies.

Taehyung still was unable to point out his feelings, what he exactly felt on that day or what he'd been feeling towards the certain janitor from the day onwards. Perhaps that made him more infuriating when a group of students (the said bullies) were taunting Jungkook, calling him derogatory names and making fun of his appearance.

Taehyung's heart clenched at the sight. Without hesitation, he intervened when they were about to hurt him physically, scolding the students and sending them on their way. Jungkook had looked at him with surprise and gratitude, a small but genuine smile gracing his lips.

"Are you okay?"

Taehyung asked, fixing his glasses on his nose bridge; a movement he does whenever he's nervous.

"Yeah I'm alright"

Nothing came out of Taehyung's mouth after seeing Jungkook smiling. So, he left the place with a small nod only.