𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗' 𝚞𝚙 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖 (𝚝𝚊𝚎𝚔𝚘𝚘𝚔)🩹

18.

..

In the quiet of Taehyung's room ....

After a pause, Jungkook turned to Taehyung with a mischievous grin, breaking the silence. "Hey, Tae," he started, his voice a soft whisper, "who do you love more? Me... or strawberries?"

Well...*

Taehyung blinked, caught off guard. He could feel a warmth spreading to his cheeks. He opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again, looking away. It was hard to put into words, and even harder to decide. He bit his lip, at a loss for how to respond.

Seeing Taehyung's struggle, Jungkook chuckled lightly. "Okay then," he continued, "since you can't choose, I'll answer for you." His eyes sparkled with mischief. "I love strawberries more."

A flash of disappointment crossed Taehyung's face, though he tried to hide it. He looked down, fingers twisting in his lap, feeling his heart sink just a little. But then, without warning, he felt a soft, warm pressure on his lips. Jungkook had leaned forward, capturing Taehyung's lips in a gentle, tender kiss that left him breathless.

Taehyung stared at Jungkook in shock as he pulled away, his heart racing. "Jungkook... why did you kiss me?" he asked, trying to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions. "I thought you said you love strawberries more than me..."

Jungkook's eyes softened, a gentle smile gracing his lips. He leaned in, his voice barely more than a murmur. "Your lips *are* strawberries to me," he replied. "Sweet, soft, and impossible to resist."

Taehyung felt his heart swell with warmth, his earlier sadness melting away. He couldn't help the shy smile that tugged at his lips, as he looked into Jungkook's eyes, feeling safe, cherished, and understood.

In that moment, words weren't necessary. Their connection was enough, a sweet understanding that lingered in the soft silence that followed.

..............

Jungkook closed the door behind him as he stepped into his condo, the warmth of the earlier moments with Taehyung still lingering in his mind. But as he entered, he was met by a familiar face—J-Hope, casually leaning against the kitchen counter, a relaxed smile on his face.

"Ah, Jungkook! You're back," J-Hope greeted, his voice full of cheer. "How was your day?"

Jungkook managed a small smile, then asked, "How was the date with Jimin and Suga hyung?"

J-Hope's grin widened, his eyes lighting up. "It was great! We went to that new restaurant Jimin wanted to try. He and Yoongi had a blast—they were so caught up in each other's company ...but then they squeezed me like a salami Between bread ," he chuckled. "But it was worth it. We all needed a break."

Jungkook listened, nodding, but his gaze grew serious as he shifted his weight, looking down at his hands. J-Hope immediately noticed the change in his mood, his own smile fading.

"Is something wrong, Jungkook?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

After a moment's hesitation, Jungkook took a deep breath and spoke, "Hyung, did Jimin tell you about... what happened today at college?"

J-Hope frowned, confusion crossing his face. "No, he didn't mention anything. Why? What happened?"

Jungkook's jaw clenched as he recounted the day, his voice steady but simmering with a quiet intensity. "Some girl... she bullied Taehyung today. Said some awful things about him because he's intersex."

J-Hope's expression darkened, but he stayed silent, allowing Jungkook to continue.

"She's... she's my ex," Jungkook admitted, a hint of bitterness in his tone. "I don't know why she would even think about doing something like that, but she did. And Taehyung... he was crushed, Hyung. It took a lot to bring him back from that place tonight."