Us, Against The World | Taekook

9. Across The Distance.

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The next morning came sooner than Taehyung wanted. Jimin woke them up, questioning why Taehyung was in Jungkook’s bed. Taehyung mumbled sleepily, "There were so many mosquitoes on my bed," while Jungkook looked at him with wide eyes like a deer caught in headlights.

Namjoon informed them that the manager would be arriving soon. Jungkook got up and showered, but the usual noise and laughter of the dorm were absent. Hoseok, Taehyung, and Jimin were all subdued.

"Call Jungkookie, Taehyung," Jin said as he placed breakfast on the table.

Taehyung nodded, walking to the bedroom where Jungkook was doing a final check of his belongings. Sitting down on the bed, Taehyung looked at Jungkook’s big, slightly teary eyes and red nose.

"I promise to call you, yeah? Do you trust hyung?" Taehyung asked, trying to sound like the older, reassuring figure despite being just seventeen himself.

Jungkook nodded, his nose reddening more. "I do," he said softly.

"Then what are you afraid of? One month will go by in the blink of an eye. You’ll get to see LA, learn new things, and become a better version of yourself. You’ll gain confidence. So don’t be sad. Sometimes, in life, we need to embrace our own journey," Taehyung said. He always thought he wasn't good with words, but he noticed that when it came to Jungkook, comforting him came so naturally.

Jungkook sniffed, giving a small smile. "Okay, hyung."

"Good. Now, let's go have breakfast. You need to eat before you leave," Taehyung said, patting Jungkook's back gently.

They walked to the dining area, where the rest of the members were waiting, trying their best to keep the mood light despite the heavy atmosphere. They ate together in silence, each member occasionally stealing glances at Jungkook.

Eventually, the morning came to an end, and the manager stood outside their dorm, ready to take Jungkook to the airport. Namjoon and Taehyung helped load Jungkook's bag into the car while Jin hugged the youngest.

"When you come back, let's go and meet my parents again. They wanted to see you before you left, but I told them to wait a bit," Jin said.

Jungkook nodded, already missing the tteokbokki made by Jin's mom.

Taehyung opened the car door for him, giving a small smile and a pat on the head. He whispered, "Take care, eat on time, and don’t overwork yourself..."

"You too. And don't play Overwatch without me!" Jungkook replied, a small pout on his lips.

"I won’t. Jin Hyung can’t play, Jimin always cheats, and Hoseokie Hyung always loses! You’re the best partner," Taehyung said, just as Jimin shouted from behind, "I do not cheat!!"

They both laughed, but the manager's voice cut through, "Taehyung, close the door."

The smiles on their faces dimmed. With one last look at each other, Taehyung closed the door. As the car started, he waved until it was out of sight. His smile fully disappeared once he could no longer see the car.

~

For the next few days, there was no call or news about Jungkook. Taehyung had never felt this worried about anyone before. He even asked the other manager, who confirmed Jungkook had landed but couldn’t provide more details.

His mood was noticeably sad, and everyone in the dorm could tell he missed Jungkook more than the others. He played with his food, sometimes slept on Jungkook's bed, claiming his own had mosquitoes, and often stared at the big photo of Jungkook by his bedside.