Busan Express [Taekook]

51. Too Gullible

The car sped down the road, with Jungkook at the wheel and Taehyung in the passenger seat, surrounded by a sea of colorful shopping bags crammed into the backseat. The two had spent their day indulging in a shopping spree, visiting N Seoul Tower, and strolling through Namsan Park.

"Yeah, Jimin-ah, it was amazing! You should've seen the view from the top!" Taehyung was bubbling with excitement as he chatted on the phone with Jimin. Jungkook, glancing over, couldn't help but grin at Taehyung's enthusiasm.

The car halted smoothly in front of their next destination. Jungkook stepped out, walked around the car, and opened Taehyung's door. Taehyung, still engrossed in his conversation, barely noticed as he was ushered out of the car.

Taehyung’s eyes lit up. “Really? You are coming  to Seoul for auditions. That’s awesome, Jiminie! I’ll book a hotel for you. Don’t worry about a thing!”

Jungkook just chuckled, leading the way as Taehyung continued chatting. As they walked into the skydiving center, Taehyung followed Jungkook absentmindedly, his attention completely on Jimin. They passed through the lobby, where staff members greeted them warmly and handed over forms to fill out. Jungkook efficiently handled the paperwork while Taehyung trailed behind, still chattering away.

Finally, as they stepped out into the open air where the plane awaited them, Taehyung ended the call. He slipped his phone into his pocket and looked up, his eyes widening in disbelief. “Kookie, what...what is that?”

Jungkook’s grin widened. “Surprise! We’re going skydiving today!”

Taehyung’s face turned from disbelief to sheer terror. “Sky...skydiving? You’ve got to be kidding me! We didn’t discuss this!”

Jungkook laughed. “You were too busy talking to Jimin. Come on, it’ll be fun!”

Taehyung’s eyes darted around, looking for an escape. “But...but...what if the parachute doesn’t open? What if I forget to breathe?”

Jungkook placed a reassuring hand on Taehyung’s shoulder. “You’ll be fine, Angel. I’ll be right there with you. Plus, we’ve got professional instructors.”

They were led to a small room where they were fitted with jumpsuits and harnesses. Taehyung’s hands were trembling slightly as he fiddled with the straps. Jungkook, noticing his anxiety, stepped in to help.

“Just think of it like one of those roller coasters you love,” Jungkook said soothingly. “Only this one goes up instead of down.”

Taehyung shot him a dubious look. “You’re not helping.”

Soon, they were out on the tarmac, the small plane revving up in the background. Taehyung’s nervousness seemed to grow with every step they took towards the aircraft. 

As they climbed aboard, Taehyung’s knuckles turned white from gripping the sides of his seat. Jungkook, on the other hand, looked as cool as ever, chatting with the instructors and giving Taehyung encouraging smiles.

The plane took off, and as they climbed higher and higher, Taehyung’s fear escalated. “Why does it feel like we’re going to the moon? Are we high enough yet?”

Jungkook laughed. “Almost there, Tae. Just a bit more.”

When the moment came to jump, Taehyung’s eyes were shut tight, and he muttered prayers under his breath. Jungkook was already at the door, looking back at Taehyung with an encouraging nod. "Hey, we've got this. We'll jump together, okay?."

“Not really!” Taehyung shouted back over the roar of the wind, but before he could protest further, Jungkook leaped out, pulling Taehyung along with him.