zero o'clock | tk

一

Kissing and the wet sound of mingling breaths filled the room as the two teenagers hungrily devoured each other, lips clashing in a desperate attempt to become one. Their hands roamed freely, pulling each other closer, almost as if they were afraid to let go.

Suddenly, the blond pushed the raven-haired boy away, gasping for air. "Are you... mad at me?" he asked between ragged breaths, his chest heaving.

Jeongguk ran a frustrated hand through his hair, his dark eyes narrowing as an annoyed sigh escaped his lips. "You were practically all over that guy, and you expect me to just smile about it!?" His voice rose sharply, the sound slicing through the tension in the room, causing Taehyung to flinch.

"I told you, I just slipped, and he caught me," Taehyung tried to explain, his voice soft, almost pleading. But his words only seemed to fuel Jeongguk's anger.

Jeongguk clicked his tongue in frustration, snatching up his bag and helmet. Without another word, he stormed out of the room, out of the house, leaving Taehyung standing there in stunned silence.

"Gguk, wait!" Taehyung called out, his heart pounding as he hurried after his boyfriend, who was already heading out into the cold night. The chill bit at Taehyung's skin, making him shiver as he watched Jeongguk mount his bike with a determined expression.

"Go inside," Jeongguk ordered, his tone icy as he secured his helmet and revved up the bike, the engine's roar echoing in the still night.

"Get home safe..." Taehyung whispered to himself, his voice trembling as he watched Jeongguk speed off into the darkness, leaving him alone in the cold, hugging himself for warmth.

Taehyung glanced at his phone, the screen glaring back at him with the time—12:00 AM. With a heavy sigh, he stepped inside his quiet house. His parents were probably asleep upstairs, not aware of their son and his boyfriend.

He shut the door softly behind him, leaning against it for a moment as the weight of the night pressed down on him. He knew he should try to sleep, but his mind was spinning, caught between the warmth of Jeongguk's embrace just minutes ago and how that tomorrow he'd have to face him at school.

Jeongguk was going to ignore him again—just like he did every day at school. The thought made Taehyung's heart sink. It was a routine he had grown familiar with, but it had always hurt.

Every side glance, every purposeful step away from him in the hallways, every unspoken word between them chipped away at Taehyung's confidence, leaving him feeling small and insecure.

He couldn't help but think—why couldn't Jeongguk just tell people? Why did their relationship have to be a secret, hidden away like something to be ashamed of?

The thoughts twisted like a knife in Taehyung's gut. He tried to push them away, to remind himself of the sweet moments they shared when it was just the two of them, how Jeongguk would hold him close whispering promises that made his heart flutter. But those moments never lasted.

-

'Don't cry, don't cry.' The words echoed in Taehyung's mind, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. His heart clenched in his chest as he watched the scene unfold just a few feet away

Jeongguk, his Jeongguk, laughing and flirting with another girl.

Every smile Jeongguk flashed at her, every playful touch that wasn't meant for Taehyung. His breath hitched, and he quickly dropped his gaze to the worksheet in front of him, trying to focus on anything else.

The numbers and words on the worksheet blurred, his head pounding from the lack of sleep. He hadn't gone to bed after Jeongguk left last night, how could he? Instead, he had stayed up, forcing himself to study for the test today, trying to push aside his feelings.