The Sinister Symphony [Taekook]

Unveiling Shadows

Author PoV-

Taehyung and Jimin sat in a quiet corner of the campus café, their books and notes scattered across the table, though neither seemed particularly focused on studying. The sun streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over their surroundings. Taehyung absentmindedly tapped his pen on the edge of his notebook, eyes drifting as he recalled his recent dinner with Jeongguk.

Breaking the silence, he spoke up, "You know, I ran into Jeongguk a few days ago."

Jimin's attention piqued, and he looked over with a knowing smirk. "Oh? The infamous Jeongguk? What happened?"

Taehyung shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Nothing much. He saw me at the coffee shop, and we talked for a bit. He asked about my studies... offered to walk me back to campus."

Jimin's smirk deepened, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Really? Just that? Come on, Tae. He's always popping up around you, don't tell me you haven't noticed."

Taehyung blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. "Noticed what?"

"That he likes you," Jimin teased, leaning back in his chair with a playful chuckle. "I mean, seriously, the way he looks at you—there's definitely something there."

Flustered, Taehyung felt his face grow warm. "No, no, that's not... I don't think that's it," he stammered, trying to laugh it off, though the thought lingered longer than he expected. "Jeongguk's just... polite, that's all."

"Polite, sure," Jimin said with a raised eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "But come on, Taehyung. He's always finding a reason to be around you. You're telling me you haven't noticed the way he stares? That guy's definitely interested. Why else would he keep showing up?"

Taehyung shifted uncomfortably, glancing down at his notes. "I... I don't know. I never thought of it that way."

Jimin laughed lightly, shaking his head. "Tae, you're so clueless sometimes. It's kind of cute. But trust me, there's more to his attention than just being polite. He's not just showing up randomly."

As much as Taehyung wanted to brush off Jimin's words, they clung to him, gnawing at his thoughts. Could Jeongguk really be interested in him like that? It seemed so far-fetched, yet Jimin's teasing planted a seed of doubt.

"You're overthinking it," Taehyung finally said, a small smile creeping onto his lips, though his mind continued to race. "Jeongguk's not interested in me like that. It's just... I don't know, a coincidence."

"Mm-hmm, sure," Jimin replied, clearly unconvinced. "But you'll see. He's got his eye on you, and sooner or later, you're going to have to admit it."

Though Taehyung laughed it off, the idea lingered long after their conversation ended. As they returned to their studying, the thought of Jeongguk's attention—his lingering stares, his soft-spoken words—kept replaying in Taehyung's mind, leaving him wondering if there was something more behind Jeongguk's charm than he'd been willing to admit.

A soft melody played in the background of the upscale restaurant, its dim lighting casting a warm and intimate glow over the plush, elegant interior. Taehyung sat across from Jeongguk at a secluded table, nervously sipping his water as he took in the lavish setting. He still couldn't believe he'd agreed to this dinner, yet here he was, seated across from the man who had slowly begun to infiltrate his thoughts.

Jeongguk smiled warmly, setting his menu aside. "You look a bit tense, Taehyung. You don't need to be nervous, you know. It's just dinner."

Taehyung smiled back, albeit a little awkwardly. "Yeah, I know. I guess I'm just not used to places like this."