CRIMSON LIES (TAEKOOK)

23.(TENT AND HAM)

..Jungkook was on the bus, shivering slightly as he pulled his hoodie tighter around himself. It was early-too early. The sun hadn't even fully risen yet, and the air carried that crisp morning chill that made him wish he were still in bed, preferably tangled up with Taehyung. He sighed, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he trudged toward the bus with his classmates.

This wasn't his first field trip, but something about this one felt different. Maybe it was because it had been a while since he had gone anywhere for an extended period of time. Maybe it was because of the workload waiting for him when he got back.

Or maybe it was because he was already missing Taehyung.

With another deep sigh, he climbed onto the bus, heading straight for the back seat. He slumped down, resting his head against the cool window, when a familiar presence settled beside him.

Yoongi.

Neither of them spoke at first, just sitting there, two introverts who had somehow ended up next to each other. They exchanged nods in silent acknowledgment before Jungkook closed his eyes, trying to get some sleep.

"Did you eat?" Yoongi asked after a moment.

Jungkook peeked one eye open. "Huh?"

Yoongi yawned. "Did. You. Eat?"

Jungkook blinked. "Oh. Uh... yeah?"

Yoongi hummed in response, then went quiet again.

The bus started moving, and for a while, the only sounds were the chatter of their classmates and the hum of the engine.

Jungkook shifted, feeling a familiar ache in his chest. He missed Taehyung. It was absurd-he had just seen him last night, but it already felt like weeks had passed. He could still picture the way Taehyung had kissed him goodbye, the way he had clung onto him, not wanting to let go. Jungkook reached into his pocket and felt the small chain he had given Taehyung. He wondered if he was wearing it right now.

Beside him, Yoongi was staring at his phone, his fingers hesitating over the screen.

"You miss them?" Jungkook asked.

Yoongi stiffened. "...No."

Jungkook smirked. "You definitely miss them."

"Shut up."

"You wanna call them?"

"It's 5 AM. They'd kill me."

Jungkook chuckled before pulling out his own phone. He stared at Taehyung's contact name-*Baby*-before locking his phone again with a sigh.

"They're probably asleep," Jungkook muttered.

"Probably," Yoongi agreed.

A silence stretched between them.

"...Wanna just suffer together?" Jungkook asked.

"Yeah."

And that's how two love-sick fools sat there, staring at nothing, thinking about their partners.

The journey was long, with occasional stops, but mostly just a mix of awkward small talk and periods of dead silence. At one point, Jungkook and Yoongi tried to have a deep conversation about life, but it quickly derailed.

"Do you think the universe decides who we love?" Yoongi asked out of nowhere.

Jungkook frowned. "I dunno... maybe? Like, soulmates?"

"Yeah."

Jungkook thought about it. "I think people choose love, but maybe there are people we're naturally drawn to."