the girl is 'mine' [ taekook ff ]

touching roots

The moon hung high in the sky, bathing the neighborhood in a soft, silvery glow. Inside Shin Rae's house, the atmosphere was thick with tension as Jungkook, Taehyung, and YN sat around a table cluttered with books, papers, and textbooks. 

Their project was due in two days, and yet, despite hours of brainstorming, they struggled to find a coherent direction.

"I can't believe how unproductive this has been," YN sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "We're all over the place."

Jungkook leaned back in his chair, pushing his dark hair out of his eyes. "Yeah, well, we can't just sit here all night. It's getting late, and I have to work tomorrow."

Taehyung, seated at the other end of the table, scoffed dismissively. "If you actually focused instead of messing around, we wouldn't be in this situation."

YN shot Taehyung a glare, the tension between the two boys palpable. 

Their rivalry fueled an uneasy dynamics in the group, especially with YN caught in the crossfire of their unspoken competition for her attention.

Finally, with a sigh of resignation, she suggested, "How about we call it a night? We can regroup tomorrow. I live just a minute away; I can go home."

As the trio gathered their things, Jungkook's expression shifted. He moved toward the door, revealing his motorcycle parked by the curb. "Hey, YN! Hop in. I'll give you a ride."

YN looked at him, disbelief evident on her face. "Jungkook, I live right in the front mansion! It's literally a minute away. Just drop Taehyung off."

Jungkook blinked in surprise, caught off guard by her refusal. In the back of his mind, he had hoped that this small gesture might change something, a silent invitation that hinted at something more than friendship. 

But the glances they shared only seemed to amplify Taehyung's irritation.

"No way, I'm walking home." Taehyung's tone was cold, and he turned on his heel, striding away from the scene. It felt like a rejection echoing in the night, the air thick with the weight of unspoken words.

"Wait!" YN called after him, frustration bubbling over. "You're going to leave without a ride?"

"It's not a big deal," Taehyung shrugged, his back to them, dismissing the concern like it was nothing.

"That's not the point!" YN snapped, irritation flaring. "You could have accepted the ride! You're just acting stubborn."

"Whatever," Taehyung retorted with a bitter laugh that stung more than he realized. "I'll see you both tomorrow. Enjoy your little bike ride."

With that, he walked away into the shadows, leaving Jungkook and YN standing by the motorcycle, silence stretching between them.

"Jungkook, let's just go," YN said curtly, her anger directed as much at Taehyung as it was at the clingy tension that hung between them.

Jungkook's shoulders drooped slightly, a mix of disappointment and resentment roiling within him. Watching Taehyung walk away, he muttered, "Great. Just what I needed."

They both stood there as the sounds of the night surrounded them, an unspoken understanding lingering in the air. Finally, YN turned to Jungkook, her expression softening.

"Thanks for offering the ride," she said quietly, stepping closer. "But seriously, I can just walk home."

Jungkook nodded slowly, trying to hide his disappointment. "Fine. But if he pulls that stubborn act again tomorrow, I might not hold back."

"Deal. Just know... it's not you I'm mad at," she murmured, a small smile creeping back onto her lips. With that, she waved goodbye and turned towards her house, a flurry of confused emotions stirring within her.

As she walked away, Jungkook couldn't shake the feeling that their fragile group dynamic was shifting in ways he couldn't understand.

 The rivalry between him and Taehyung was becoming not just about the project, but about something much deeper. 

Something that might require more than just a late-night bike ride to resolve.

tbc