Beyond The Friend Zone [Taekook]

Through Recklessness and Resolve (17)

As twilight bathed the campsite in a dusky glow, Taehyung slowly stirred awake, his senses gradually piecing together his surroundings. He blinked groggily, his vision still clouded with sleep. When his eyes finally focused, he found himself in the cramped space of the tent, Jungkook's face mere inches away from his own. The unexpected sight of Jungkook's drooling mouth pressed against his chest sent a shiver of disgust through Taehyung. He recoiled, pushing Jungkook away gently, yet forcefully enough to make the boy groan in his sleep.

Taehyung sat up quickly, feeling the dirt and grass that had stained his shirt. A surge of confusion and irritation washed over him as he tried to piece together the events of the previous night. He remembered falling asleep beside the river, a serene yet distant memory now overshadowed by his current predicament.

Jungkook muttered incoherently in his sleep, "Tae Tae... I-I did it all for you... d-don't get angry at me..." The mumbled words were filled with an endearing mix of vulnerability and dedication. Taehyung's heart softened despite his irritation. He realized with growing clarity that it must have been Jungkook who had carried, or more accurately, dragged him back to the tent. His heart sank as he saw Jungkook's swollen ankle, clearly aggravated by the additional weight.

Guilt and gratitude intertwined in Taehyung's chest. He couldn't help but feel a pang of remorse for the boy who had so recklessly worsened his own injury for his sake. "Why are you so reckless?... Making your injury worse for me was not worth it..." Taehyung muttered under his breath, his voice a soft murmur of concern.

Suddenly, Jungkook's eyes fluttered open, and with a sleepy smile, he responded, "It's totally worth it." His gaze was soft and filled with a sleepy affection. He continued, "I couldn't just leave you asleep by the river. What if you fell in and never woke up again?" The playful glint in Jungkook's eyes, coupled with his hearty laugh, was the last thing Taehyung expected.

Taehyung's brow furrowed further. "When did you wake up?" he asked.

"When you pushed me away," Jungkook said with a chuckle, his eyes still heavy with sleep, "it felt like I'd dreamt of an earthquake shaking me awake."

Taehyung listened quietly, realizing that Jungkook's earlier murmurs were intentional rather than sleep talk. With a resigned sigh, he prepared to leave the tent to clean himself up. But as he moved to exit, Jungkook, now fully awake and alarmed, scrambled up. His movements were clumsy but filled with genuine concern as he grasped Taehyung's arm. "Wait, your wound is bleeding!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with worry.

Taehyung glanced at his arm and noticed the blood trickling down. Though surprised, he tried to brush it off with a nonchalant shrug. "I'll ask Mr. Kim to help me with a new bandage after I finish showering."

Jungkook's concern was evident, but his exhaustion soon took over. His eyelids drooped heavily as he nodded sleepily. With a soft groan, Jungkook settled back onto the tent floor, allowing the weariness to pull him back into sleep. Taehyung watched him for a moment before stepping out of the tent to tend to his own needs, leaving Jungkook to his rest.

Hours later, Jungkook stirred from his sleep to find the sun high in the sky. The once quiet campsite was now alive with the hum of activity. He blinked sleepily as his friends entered his tent with bright and cheerful smiles. "Kook-ah, you're finally awake!" they called out.

Jungkook, trying to mask his grogginess, responded with a casual air. "What do you mean? I've always been awake. I was just thinking with my eyes closed," he said with a feigned nonchalance. He pushed himself up and stumbled out of the tent, his limp more noticeable now.

His eyes scanned the bustling campsite for a familiar face. "Have any of you seen Taehyung?" he asked, a note of curiosity in his voice.

One of his friends pointed towards the trees. "The girls took him with them to collect berries for our breakfast later."