Whispers of a first kiss

Chapter 38

As the maid began serving tea to everyone, the atmosphere grew even more tense. Taehyung stood there, rooted to the spot beside his mother, his eyes never leaving Jungkook. He couldn't tear his gaze away, even as the others around them continued to talk, their voices blending into a dull hum in the background.

Jungkook's hand tightened around Jimin's, seeking some kind of anchor in the storm of emotions swirling inside him. He could feel Taehyung's eyes on him like a physical presence, but he couldn't bring himself to look up, to meet that gaze head-on. He was afraid of what he might see, pain, regret, or worse, a goodbye that he wasn't ready to hear.

The room felt suffocating, the polite chatter grating against Taehyung's frayed nerves. All he wanted was to pull Jungkook aside, to have a moment alone where they could finally talk, where he could explain everything that was tearing him apart. But with their families so close, with the air so thick with unsaid words, it felt impossible.

Taehyung's chest tightened, his heart aching with everything he couldn't say. He wanted to scream, to break through the wall that seemed to have formed between them, but all he could do was stand there, silently pleading with his eyes, hoping that Jungkook could understand all the things he couldn't find the words to express.

Jungkook was just as lost as Taehyung. Distracted by his thoughts, he flinched when the hot tea scalded his lips, causing him to spill the cup in his lap. "Ah," he gasped, jerking his hand away and quickly standing up.

"Oh god, Jungkook, are you alright?" Mrs. Kim asked, her voice full of concern. Jungkook nodded, but the tears he had been holding back finally spilled over, betraying his attempt to remain composed. "I'm fine, really. I'm so sorry," he stammered, bowing apologetically to everyone.

Taehyung clenched his eyes shut, his frustration mounting as he caught sight of the reddening patch on Jungkook's hand. "Let me... please let me use the washroom," Jungkook requested, his voice barely steady as he gave a reassuring nod to his mother and Jimin, though his eyes told a different story.

"Come on, Jungkook, I'll show you where it is. You should put some honey on that burn," Jin offered, leading him towards the washroom. Jungkook followed quietly, his mind swirling with emotions he couldn't quite manage.

"Be more careful, Jungkook," Jin advised softly, opening the door to the washroom. "I'll grab the honey," Jin said, leaving Jungkook alone in the washroom.

As the door closed behind Jin, Jungkook leaned over the sink, letting the cool water run over his reddened hand. The tears he had been trying to hold back finally broke free, streaming down his cheeks as he struggled to keep his sobs quiet. The pain from the burn was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

He stared into the mirror, seeing the reflection of someone who looked so different from the bright, innocent boy he had been just a day ago. Now, his face was pale, his eyes red and swollen from crying, and his lips quivered as he fought to keep his emotions in check. The weight of everything that had happened with Taehyung, was pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.

Jungkook splashed some water on his face, hoping it would help him regain some composure before Jin returned. But as he looked at his reflection again, he realized that no amount of water could wash away the hurt he felt. The thought of losing Taehyung, of not knowing what went wrong between them, was too much to bear.

Jungkook gently caressed the red patch on his hand, the cool water soothing the sting. But before he could turn off the faucet, he was suddenly grabbed and spun around. His lips were captured in a fierce kiss, the grip on his short hair unyielding, as if Taehyung was holding on for dear life.

Jungkook's eyes remained wide open, locked on Taehyung's, which were squeezed shut and brimming with intense emotion. This kiss was anything but tender, it was possessive, almost primal, as if Taehyung was marking him.