Cell No. 9 | TaeKook

14 | Long time no see.

Four years had passed, a long and arduous year for Jungkook. He spent the days counting down, each one feeling like an eternity. The nights were the hardest, filled with thoughts of Taehyung and the words from the letter he had read so many times that the paper had begun to wear thin at the edges. It was that letter, Taehyung's heartfelt confession and promise to wait, that gave him strength and hope.

Finally, the day arrived. Jungkook stood in his cell one last time, the familiar bars and cold concrete walls a sight he would not miss. He gathered his few belongings, the weight of his anticipation making his heart pound in his chest. As the cell door opened, he stepped out, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.

He walked through the long corridors of the prison, each step echoing his freedom. He had convinced himself that no one would be there to greet him, trying to brace for the loneliness he had felt for so long. But as he approached the exit, he noticed a familiar figure standing outside the prison gates.

Taehyung was there, waiting. Jungkook's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't believe his eyes. Taehyung was really there, just as he had promised.

The moment Taehyung saw Jungkook, he rushed forward, closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds. Without hesitation, he threw his arms around Jungkook, hugging him tightly.

"I missed you," Taehyung said, his voice filled with emotion. "I missed you so much."

Jungkook stood still for a moment, shocked by the intensity of Taehyung's embrace. Then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around Taehyung, holding him just as tightly. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth of Taehyung's body seep into him, grounding him in the reality of the moment.

"I missed you too," Jungkook whispered, his voice thick with unshed tears. "More than you can imagine."

They stood there for what felt like an eternity, neither wanting to let go. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered emotion, a reunion that both had longed for through the long months of separation. Taehyung pulled back slightly, just enough to look at Jungkook's face. His eyes were red, but he was smiling, a genuine smile that Jungkook had missed seeing.

"You look good," Taehyung said, his eyes scanning Jungkook's face. "Better than I expected."

Jungkook chuckled softly, a sound that felt foreign yet comforting. "You too. You look... happy."

"I am," Taehyung replied, his smile widening. "Long time no see."

They finally stepped back from each other, still holding hands as if afraid the other might disappear if they let go. Jungkook looked around, taking in the sight of the world outside the prison walls. It felt surreal, like stepping into a dream.

"Let's get out of here," Taehyung said, squeezing Jungkook's hand. "I have so much to show you, so much to tell you."

Jungkook nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. He followed Taehyung to a car parked nearby. As they got in, Jungkook looked over at Taehyung, who was already glancing back with a grin that lit up his face.

The drive was filled with conversation, laughter, and moments of comfortable silence. Taehyung told Jungkook about his new life, the apartment he had moved into, and how he had spent the past years thinking about him and preparing for this moment. Jungkook listened, absorbing every detail, feeling a sense of normalcy he hadn't experienced in a long time.

When they reached Taehyung's apartment, Jungkook couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the warmth and coziness of the place. It was a stark contrast to the cold, sterile environment of the prison. Taehyung led him inside, showing him around, and Jungkook marveled at the thoughtfulness that had gone into making this place a home.

"And this... is..." Taehyung began, opening the door to a bedroom, but he trailed off as Jungkook walked in, looking around.

Jungkook's eyes immediately fell on the large bed that dominated the room. He turned to Taehyung with a curious expression. "Why is the bed so big? Aren't you living alone?"

Taehyung glanced away, his cheeks tinged with pink. "Umm..."

Jungkook stepped forward, closing the distance between them until they were inches apart. He gently grabbed Taehyung's jaw, tilting his face up to meet his gaze. "Or... is it for us?" he asked, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

Taehyung's face flushed a deeper shade of red. He couldn't maintain eye contact, overwhelmed by Jungkook's proximity and the intensity of his gaze. In a sudden burst of shyness, Taehyung wrapped his arms around Jungkook and buried his face in his chest. "Ah! Stop! This is embarrassing," he mumbled into Jungkook's shirt.

Jungkook chuckled softly, hugging Taehyung back. "I didn't know you were shy... you didn't look shy that day when we were in the..." he teased, his voice trailing off suggestively.

Before he could finish, Taehyung pushed him away, his embarrassment turning into playful annoyance. He quickly exited the room and closed the door behind him, leaving Jungkook laughing softly to himself.

Jungkook took a moment to look around the bedroom. It was simple but comfortable, with soft lighting and a few personal touches that made it feel inviting. He couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of contentment that he hadn't felt in a long time. This place, this life with Taehyung, was exactly what he had been yearning for.

He stepped out of the bedroom to find Taehyung in the kitchen, nervously fiddling with a kettle. Jungkook approached him, wrapping his arms around Taehyung's waist from behind and resting his chin on Taehyung's shoulder.

"Hey," Jungkook said softly, his breath warm against Taehyung's ear. "I'm really happy to be here with you."

Taehyung leaned back into Jungkook's embrace, feeling the warmth and security that he had missed so much. "Me too," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been waiting for this day for so long."

They stood there for a while, enjoying the simple pleasure of being close to each other. The past years had been hard for both of them, but this moment made all the pain and longing worth it.

As they stood there in each other's embrace, savoring the warmth and security they had longed for, a sudden knock on the door broke the moment. Taehyung gently pulled away from Jungkook and headed towards the door, with Jungkook following close behind.

Taehyung opened the door to reveal his neighbor, Yoonji, standing there with a bright smile. "Hi!" she greeted cheerfully.

"Oh, hi, Yoonji," Taehyung replied, smiling back.

"I just came to give this," Yoonji said, extending a plate with a beautifully decorated cake. It was topped with white cream and adorned with fresh strawberries.

Taehyung's eyes widened in delight. "Oh! This looks delicious. Thank you so much," he said gratefully.

Yoonji handed him the plate, her smile widening. "This is the first time you asked me for something, so I made it with love," she said playfully, winking before she turned to leave.

Taehyung chuckled as he closed the door, then turned to see Jungkook standing there with his arms crossed, an annoying expression on his face, his head slightly tilted.