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In the days following the blood poisoning incident, Crimson Academy buzzed with tension and whispered theories. Taehyung found himself at the center of it all, struggling to balance his newfound powers, his confusing feelings, and the weight of recent events.
One evening, as Taehyung returned to his dorm room, he found Jimin waiting for him, an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face.
"Spill," Jimin demanded the moment Taehyung closed the door. "What really happened between you and Jungkook during the attack?"
Taehyung sighed, collapsing onto his bed. "I... I drank his blood."
Jimin's eyes widened. "You what? Tae, do you have any idea what that means?"
"That he saved my life?" Taehyung replied, confused by his friend's reaction.
Jimin shook his head, pink hair swaying. "It's so much more than that. Blood sharing between vampires isn't just a casual thing. It's deeply intimate, sacred even. In vampire history, it was part of bonding rituals, used to forge unbreakable connections."
Taehyung's mind raced, remembering the overwhelming sensations he'd experienced. "But why would Jungkook...?"
"That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?" Jimin waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Maybe our brooding prince has a soft spot for you after all."
"It's not like that," Taehyung protested weakly, even as his heart raced at the thought. "Besides, I'm with Chang Wook now."
Jimin's expression softened. "Are you sure that's what you want? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you and Jungkook have something pretty intense going on."
Before Taehyung could respond, a sharp pain lanced through his head. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed by a flood of emotions that weren't his own - frustration, longing, and a bone-deep weariness.
"Tae? What's wrong?" Jimin's concerned voice seemed far away.
As quickly as it came, the sensation faded. Taehyung blinked, disoriented. "I... I think I just felt what Jungkook was feeling."
Jimin's jaw dropped. "Oh, this is way bigger than I thought."
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The next day, Taehyung tried to focus on his classes, but his mind kept wandering. In Combat Training, he found himself moving with a grace and power he'd never possessed before. Professor Jin noticed, pulling him aside after class.
"Your progress is remarkable, Taehyung," Jin said, his handsome face creased with curiosity. "Almost as if... but no, that's impossible."
