Unfriended | Taekook

8 - Touches

"You're late."

"Traffic," Taehyung replies, shrugging dramatically.

"What traffic, you pabo? You just need to cross the street!"

Taehyung giggles. "But I brought the good stuff." He lifts a bottle of soju.

Jungkook pulls him inside by the arm, excited. "Where did you get this?" He takes the bottle from Taehyung's hand, examining it. "I managed to get us a bottle of soju when I was only thirteen. Why wouldn't I be able to get one at eighteen?" He winks at his friend. "Where's your dad? We need his consent for this."

"He's traveling again, it's just us. And my dad won't even smell this soju!" Jungkook heads to the kitchen to grab two glasses, and Taehyung follows, sneaking bites of the snacks Jungkook prepared. "I don't want to be responsible for getting a minor drunk, take it easy!"

"Don't worry, Tae. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." He wiggles his eyebrows at his friend and hands him a glass of soju. They toast and take the shot in one gulp. Jungkook makes a brief face, and Taehyung shivers from the taste of strong alcohol.

After recovering, Taehyung admires his surroundings, "It really does feel like Vegas. I love what you've done with the living room! Is this all for me?" Taehyung teases and walks back to the living room, admiring the setup: the lights dancing on the ceiling, the fresh scent of the air purifier and the light smoke creating a cozy atmosphere.

"Thanks, I wanted to bring a real karaoke vibe and cheer up a friend who's feeling down lately," Jungkook says, bringing some bowls of snacks, beers, and pouring more soju for both of them, setting everything on the coffee table. "That's cute... thanks, JK...", Taehyung feels so welcome. Jungkook's place feels like home to him; more than his own house.

The younger grabs the remote and turns on the TV, "yeah yeah, don't get too used to it... alright, who's going first?" Jungkook asks, scrolling through the song selection.

Taehyung plops down on the couch, grabbing a beer and popping it open. "You start. I need to get in the zone," he says, taking a long sip.

Jungkook chuckles and picks a song. He starts singing, his voice angelic and clear, he manages to hit every not perfectly. Taehyung watches, a soft smile playing on his lips as he admires how much Jungkook has grown;

"You're still annoyingly good at this," Taehyung says when Jungkook finishes, clapping enthusiastically. "But you already know that, don't you?"

Jungkook smirks, flopping onto the couch beside Taehyung. "I'm just getting started. Now, it's your turn, Mr. Blue."

Taehyung rolls his eyes but stands up, grabbing the mic. He scrolls through the list, finally settling on a dramatic ballad. Taehyung sings with all the exaggerated passion he can muster, overplaying the emotions of the song for comedic effect. He belts out the lyrics, hand on his heart, and occasionally falls to his knees, adding theatrical flair to his performance.

"Now this is what I call a performance," Jungkook says while clapping and laughing at his antics.

Taehyung flashes a smile at him. When he finally finishes, panting dramatically, he drops back onto the couch with a satisfied smirk. "Beat that, Kookie."

"You set the bar too high, I don't think I can compete with that level of raw emotion. But I'll try."

They go back and forth, singing everything from old classics to the latest hits. Jungkook's powerful vocals and Taehyung's smooth velvet voice creating a perfect harmony, each trying to outdo the other in a playful competition.

Between songs, they talk about their week since they haven't met up as often, sharing stories about school, work, training, and jokes. The camaraderie between them is easy and light as always.