Whispers of a first kiss

Chapter 18

Taehyung entered his house with a grin so wide he looked like a crackhead, still floating on the clouds of his encounter with Jungkook. As he made his way down the hall, he rubbed his cheeks, trying to control his smile that seemed determined to stay plastered on his face.

“Tae,” his mother called from the kitchen, pulling him from his reverie.

Taehyung paused, tilting his head towards her voice. “Yes, Mom?”

“Jin called and said he sent some cookies home with you,” Mrs. Kim mentioned casually as she continued stirring a pot on the stove.

For a moment, Taehyung’s face was blank with confusion, but then reality sank in, his eyes growing wide as he remembered. The cookies! In his haste to catch up with Jungkook, he had completely forgotten the box on the road.

“Cookies? Oh...right,” Taehyung stammered, trying to maintain his composure. “I’ll...I’ll get them now!” he said, turning on his heel and dashing out of the house before his mother could respond.

Outside, the sky had turned cloudy completely hiding moon, and rain was beginning to pour, soaking the streets. “Aish, this rain,” he groaned, muttering to himself as he ran, splashing through puddles, taking the shortest path to the spot where he’d left the box of cookies.

As Taehyung reached the place, his heart sank at the sight. The box lay on the ground, tipped over, with cookies scattered across the road, each one drenched by the rain and now a soggy mess. He stood there for a moment, staring at the soaked cookies, feeling a wave of despair wash over him.

“What am I going to tell Mom and Jin-hyung now?” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration.

Resigned to his fate, Taehyung gingerly picked up the box, his once bright mood slightly dampened by the turn of events. He clutched the box close to him and turned back toward home, trying to think of the best way to explain this little mishap.

As he jogged back, the rain pattered around him, he couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. His heart was still light from his time with Jungkook, and though the cookies were ruined, he knew he’d remember this day for reasons far sweeter than any baked goods.

~

As he reached home, Taehyung placed the empty box on the dining table, trying to keep his expression neutral. 

“Where are the cookies?” Mrs. Kim asked, eyeing the box with curiosity. 

“I... I distributed them to the kids out there,” Taehyung lied, his voice a little shaky. 

“Kids?” Mrs. Kim inquired, raising an eyebrow. 

“Yeah. There were children playing in the park,” Taehyung said, wiping his damp face with the back of his hand. 

Mrs. Kim sighed and took the empty box from the table. Taehyung exhaled in relief, thinking he had gotten away with his little fib. He turned to leave the room, but just then, his father's stern voice echoed from the living room. 

“Taehyung!” 

The sound of his father's voice made Taehyung's heart skip a beat. He slowly walked toward the living room, feeling a mixture of guilt and apprehension, while his mother followed him with a look of confusion. 

“Yes, Dad,” Taehyung acknowledged, standing upright near the tea table, trying to appear calm. 

Mr. Kim looked him up and down, taking in his drenched appearance with a frown. “Where were you after school?” Mr. Kim asked, his voice firm. 

“I was at Jin hyung’s home. I’m taking tuition from him,” Taehyung replied, hoping his voice didn’t betray him. 

“Suddenly?” Mr. Kim raised an eyebrow.