Beyond The Friend Zone [Taekook]

Hero's Soaked Secret (15)

When Jungkook entered the tent, his eyes widened in surprise at how neat and orderly everything was. The chaotic mess of his belongings had been meticulously arranged, every item in its place. Taehyung was sitting cross-legged on the ground, his focus entirely on folding the last piece of Jungkook's shirt with one hand. The soft rustle of fabric filled the air as Taehyung's short fingers smoothed out the wrinkles before folding it neatly.

Jungkook, limping slightly as he made his way over, couldn't contain the warm surge of gratitude that welled up in his chest. Without a second thought, he dropped to his knees beside Taehyung and wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug, his voice bursting with genuine appreciation.

"Thank you for helping me clean up my things! You're the best!" he exclaimed, his words full of sincerity and his lips stretched into a wide, boyish grin.

But Taehyung, ever composed, gently pushed him away, creating just enough distance to look Jungkook in the eyes. His expression remained neutral, almost indifferent, as he replied in a calm, measured tone, "I wasn't helping you. I just couldn't stand the mess."

There was no malice in his words, just a simple statement of fact, and Jungkook's smile only grew wider. He knew Taehyung enough to understand that this was his way of helping, even if he wouldn't admit it outright. With a playful glint in his eyes, Jungkook plopped down beside Taehyung, his gaze following the smooth, methodical movements as Taehyung finished folding the clothes.

"Could you help me clean my room next time? It got messy again," Jungkook asked, his tone teasing, though there was a hint of hopefulness in his voice.

Taehyung paused in his task, turning to give Jungkook a long, unamused look. His eyes were steady, silently conveying his lack of interest in the idea. Jungkook chuckled at the response, shaking his head as he held up his hands in mock surrender.

"I'm just kidding!" he laughed, the sound light and carefree. But then, after a brief pause, his laughter died down, and he added in a softer, more thoughtful tone, "But I'm so glad you got injured today!"

Taehyung's eyes flickered with a mixture of confusion and wariness as he looked at Jungkook, who quickly realized how his words must have sounded. It was as if he was happy that Taehyung had gotten hurt, and the thought made Jungkook's heart drop. He scrambled to correct himself, his words coming out in a rushed tumble.

"Ah, I didn't mean it like that! Getting hurt sucks, and I don't want you to be in pain. But now that you're hurt, we get to share a tent! Isn't that a good thing?!" His voice rose with a desperate laugh, hoping to salvage the moment.

Taehyung studied him for a long, silent moment, his face an unreadable mask. Then, with his characteristic bluntness, he replied, "No, not really."

Jungkook's face fell slightly, his lips pulling into a pout as he frowned for a second. He had hoped Taehyung might see the bright side, but Taehyung's straightforward response was like a cold splash of water. Still, Jungkook's natural optimism couldn't be dampened for long. His smile returned, as resilient as ever.

"Hey! Don't spoil the mood!" he protested with a playful whine, nudging Taehyung lightly before brightening again. "You know, everyone was still talking about how you fought that big brown bear! I wish I could've been there to help. I would've kicked and punched it so hard it would've run home crying for its mom! We'd become superheroes and save the class together! You're a hero in everyone's eyes now, and I get to sleep with the hero? I'm so honored!"

Taehyung's lips pressed into a thin line, a subtle sigh escaping him as he listened to Jungkook's enthusiastic rambling. "You talk too much," he finally said, his voice carrying a hint of weariness.