the girl is 'mine' [ taekook ff ]

love grows on trees

The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of orange and purple as YN, Taehyung, and Shin Rae gathered at the latter's house for their group project. 

The three of them had been assigned to research the myth surrounding the rare love ginseng—a plant said to have the power to make soulmates fall in love. 

It seemed fitting that a project about love would bring such an unlikely trio together, but the atmosphere in the room was anything but warm.

As YN stepped into the spacious living room, she felt an immediate wave of frustration wash over her. It was apparent that Shin Rae had other priorities. 

With a professional beauty kit laid out in front of her, complete with brushes, palettes, and skincare products, she was in her own world. 

Shin Rae flicked her long hair over her shoulder and smiled at her reflection in the mirror, totally oblivious—or perhaps indifferent—to the project at hand.

"Uh, Shin Rae," YN said, trying to keep her voice steady, "do you think we could maybe talk about the project a little?"

"Can't you see I'm in the middle of my beauty routine?" Shin Rae replied, barely glancing at YN. "I'll help when I'm done. Just do what you two need to do. It's just love ginseng, right?"

Taehyung, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, sighed and ran a hand through his messy hair. Known for his cold demeanor, he often kept to himself, but there was a glint of annoyance in his eyes as he watched the scene unfold. 

"This is a group project, Shin Rae. We all need to contribute."

"Oh please, the project is nothing without me," she shot back, flipping her hair again. "You can't even make it interesting without some glamour."

Just then, there was a loud clang from the kitchen, followed by a voice that made YN's heart race—a deep, playful tone that belonged to Jungkook, the bad boy of their grade.

 "Did someone say glamor? Because it sounds like I'm in the wrong room."

Both YN and Taehyung turned to see Jungkook sauntering in, a teasing grin spreading across his face. 

He had a relaxed air about him, dressed in his usual black leather jacket and ripped jeans, completely unfazed by the conversation he'd just walked into. 

"What's the drama today? Can I just skip this project and let you all flounder?"

"Not if you want a passing grade," Taehyung shot back, his tone laced with sarcasm. He glanced at YN, who was clearly at her wits' end. "We were just trying to get some work done."

Jungkook threw an arm around Shin Rae, who leaned into him with a giggle, "Come on, babe, don't be such a buzzkill. How hard can it be to look up some facts about a silly plant?"

His casual indifference only fueled YN's irritation. She opened her mouth to protest, but Taehyung beat her to it, his voice cutting through the tension. 

"Look, guys, we need to do this seriously. Whether you care or not, we owe it to ourselves to at least put some effort into it."

"What are you, my boss?" Shin Rae snapped. "I'll help when I'm ready. Until then, don't expect my help."

"Fine," YN interjected, deciding to take control. "Taehyung and I will start without you. Jungkook, if you're going to do nothing, you might as well not interrupt."

"Hey, I could help if I wanted," Jungkook replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But I prefer watching."

The tension was palpable as Taehyung and YN began sifting through notes and articles about love ginseng.

 They discussed its origins, cultural significance, and even debated the science behind its supposed love-inducing properties. 

YN felt a sense of relief working alongside Taehyung; his intelligence and focus were refreshing compared to Shin Rae's antics.

Hours passed, and as they immersed themselves deeper into the project, YN couldn't help but notice subtle changes; Taehyung, usually aloof and cold, began to warm up.

 His quiet chuckles at her quips and thoughtful insights marked a new dynamic between them.

 They exchanged opinions freely, laughing over obscure facts about the plant and its historical use as a love potion.

"Did you know that love ginseng was often used by emperors to win over their concubines?" Taehyung remarked, his eyes bright under the dim light of Shin Rae's lavish living room.

"Maybe we should get some for our presentation," YN teased, her cheeks flushing slightly. "For good luck?"

Before Taehyung could respond, they were interrupted by Jungkook's sarcastic voice, "Or we could just make an irresistible presentation—minus the weird plant."

As they continued to work, YN felt a magnetic pull between her and Taehyung.

 Jungkook's presence added a sense of carefree fun, but it was Taehyung's focus and dedication that grounded her. 

By the time they had restructured their presentation, YN felt a strange confidence bubbling inside her.

Just then, Jungkook, who had been watching from afar, couldn't shake the tiny stab of jealousy that preyed upon him.

 He had always admired YN, and seeing her bond with Taehyung—sharing laughter, exchanging ideas—was a little too much for him to handle. 

In a decision fueled by a mix of mischief and protectiveness, he turned to Shin Rae, who was perched nearby, her sharp gaze resting on the two.

"Yo Rae, don't you think Taehyung is getting too close to YN?" Jungkook threw out casually, his voice just above a whisper but laden with implications. "What if they kiss dramatically?"

The effect of his words was immediate. 

Shin Rae whipped around, her expression shifting from curiosity to indignation. "You two!" she shouted, locking eyes with Taehyung and YN. 

"Don't you think you're being too close?"

The sudden interruption left the atmosphere heavy, the laughter stifled in an awkward silence. YN and Taehyung exchanged wide-eyed glances, their cheeks tinged crimson as they instinctively shifted away from each other. 

The mirth they had shared dissolved as YN fumbled with her notes, nerves creeping in like a dark cloud.

"Thanks a lot, Jungkook," YN muttered glaring at him under her breath, though the faint smile still danced on her lips.

 Jungkook  taking a seat beside her. 

Once positioned there, he cleared his throat, resolved to steer the focus back to their project.

 "So, let's see what you have next," he said, flipping through the pages YN had sprawled across the coffee table.

Shin Rae's attention returned to her own tasks, still casting suspicious glances at YN and Taehyung. 

Throwing one last glare in their direction, she muttered something about keeping boundaries before redirecting her focus to her phone.

But as Jungkook assisted them, seamlessly integrating into the team, YN couldn't keep her eyes from wandering back to Taehyung. 

He was engrossed in their work, yet she could see a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

 Jungkook's attempts to be helpful only served to draw Taehyung's attention back to YN, their eyes meeting across the table in a moment that felt charged—a silent acknowledgment of the camaraderie that had flourished amidst the chaos.

tbc