Memory - A Taekook Story ✅

I: Jungkook

Knock knock.

I sighed as I saw my father's sleeping figure on the couch. My introverted ass really didn't want to answer the door. Nonetheless, I quietly walked to the door, thinking it was the mailman. At least I could avoid talking.

But no. Instead, it was one of my classmates from school.

Taehyung.

He looked up at me, his long blond hair sweeping across his face, contrasting with his black leather jacket. He said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought this was Jennie's house." I shook my head and, keeping my heart from escaping my body, replied, "Sorry, but Jennie lives over at 63, not here. She didn't tell you?"

Taehyung scratched his nape and looked down, a tint of pink visible on his bread cheeks. He said, "I've been to her place before. I thought I could've memorized it." I smiled a bit and said, "Yeah, she lives in one of those houses just behind you."

He turned around and said, "So I took the wrong turn... sorry JK." I looked at him, my heart skipping a beat.

"What did you just call me?" I asked, trying to keep the excitement from building up in my voice. OMG my wish came true he really does-

"JK. I mean, I've heard your friends calling you that, so I thought..."

My heart dropped.

Nope. Nothing.

I gave a small sigh and replied plainly, "JK is a name they use just to annoy me. It's not a name that I would... prefer being called." Taehyung looked at me and said, "But I can still call you JK if I want to."

I bit my tongue when he said that. I didn't know how to reply. Then he said, "Anyway, it's nice meeting you, JK. Hope I get to see you around." He waved and smiled his boxy smile. But as I was closing the door, I swear I saw him wink.

~~

The next day at school, I sat in my seat, feeling small in my class. I hated my class. It was filled with athletic boys and popular girls. Not that they're terrible... but they're all playgirls and playboys. And I'm not like that. I'm the type of person you'd see quietly hanging out with his crazy friends.

"JK! Nice to see ya."

I looked up from my desk and saw Taehyung smiling widely, his boxy smile on full display. I could hear the boy beside me whispering to his friend, "OMG."

Mentally shaking my head, I looked at him and asked, "Yes?" He rested his hands on my desk and, leaning on them, replied, "I want to ask you something." I nod.

He grabbed a chair no one was using and placed it where he was standing. Sitting down, he asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

I was shocked that he asked me that. But that shock turned into sadness. Why Taehyung? Why?

"No," I replied blankly. I think.

"Do you have a crush on someone?"

Now you have to lie. "No."

"So if I asked you to go out with me, would you say yes?"

I didn't want to reply. I would say yes! I wanted to scream. Every cell in my body knew I would agree to that offer. But I sighed and replied, "I'd reject you. I'd try to be nicer, but I'd still reject you nonetheless. Why do you ask?" He looked at me, surprised. He replied, "Well, I asked because I just wanted to see what you were like."

Nodding, I went back to staring at my desk, trying to make my mind blank. I couldn't think about him or what he said or what my responses were that were the complete opposite from the truth. I wanted to forget it ever happened.

"So, how was it talking to Taehyung?"

I looked beside me at the boy who whispered with his friend just before.

Jimin.

I replied quietly, making sure he wouldn't hear, "He's changed. I don't think he even knows who I am."

~~

Then it became a cycle for him everyday. He'd drop by at my desk, asking me about my love life. I always said I was single and wouldn't date him if he asked, which got him to shut up and leave me alone.

But today, he came up to me and asked a different question.

"JK, why don't you like me?"

I was startled. That was definitely sudden. Collecting myself, I rambled, "You're a nice person to talk to, and probably you're a nice friend. It's not like I don't like you because you're great and all I guess but..."

"There's gotta be a reason. C'mon, just tell me," he pressed, as if he was begging me with everything he had for the truth. I shut my eyes tightly.

Don't do it again.

I replied in a whisper, "Because I already made a mistake liking someone, only to be hurt at the end."

Taehyung went quiet. I opened my eyes, thinking he left. But no. He was sitting right in front of me, staring at me with sadness in his eyes. He asked softly, "Do you wanna talk about it?" Then he quickly added, "Y'know you don't have to, right?"

I replied, "I don't want to, but I just want you to know that I don't hate you, okay?" Taehyung nodded and walked back to his seat.

Lies, I thought to myself. Everything I told him... they were all lies.