High School Love

Chapter 10

After school, Taehyung suggested they head to the park to celebrate Jungkook's good news. The spring air was crisp and sweet, the cherry blossoms lining the pathways like pink confetti thrown by an unseen celebration. They bought ice creams from the vendor by the park entrance, the cold treat a welcome relief to their warm cheeks.

They sat on a bench, the worn wooden slats groaning under their weight. Jungkook's eyes wandered over to the pond, watching the ducks waddling in the shallow water. Taehyung's gaze was focused on the paper boat they had made together, gently pushing it along the water with a stick. Their laughter mingled with the chirping of the birds and the distant hum of the city.

As they shared stories of past school trips and the adventures they had heard of from friends, their hands occasionally brushed against each other. Each time it happened, a jolt of electricity shot through Jungkook's arm, leaving him feeling both excited and awkward. He wasn't sure if Taehyung felt it too, but the way his hyung's eyes darted away every time their skin touched suggested something was there, a connection beyond friendship that was as delicate as the cherry blossom petals that danced around them.

Their laughter grew louder as Taehyung told a particularly embarrassing story about a trip he had taken with their school's soccer team. Jungkook couldn't help but snicker, his eyes sparkling with mirth. As they leaned in closer to hear each other, their hands grazed again. This time, it wasn't just a fleeting touch; their fingers interlocked, the warmth of Taehyung's hand enveloping Jungkook's cold one. They both froze, the air thick with an unspoken tension that neither of them knew how to navigate.

Their cheeks burned brighter than the setting sun, painting a rosy hue across their skin. Jungkook's heart hammered in his chest, the thuds echoing in his ears like the bass of a favorite song. He felt his throat constrict, his words lodging themselves like a forgotten piece of gum. He hadn't meant for it to happen, but it had, and now, they both had to deal with the consequences.

Taehyung cleared his throat, his grip on the stick loosening. "So, Kookie," he began, his voice a gentle rumble, "what do you think about rooming together?" Jungkook's eyes shot up to meet Taehyung's, his gaze searching for answers in the depths of those pools of brown. Was he just being a good friend, or was there something more? The way Taehyung's thumb stroked the back of his hand sent shivers down his spine.

"Yeah, sure," Jungkook managed, his voice barely above a whisper. He couldn't help but feel like he was standing on the edge of a cliff, the wind of change whispering in his ear. Taehyung's smile grew, a knowing glint in his eyes that made Jungkook's stomach flip.

They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, their laughter forgotten in the wake of this newfound understanding. The air was charged with something unspoken, something that had been building between them for longer than Jungkook had allowed himself to admit. His heart raced, and his palms grew clammy. He had to get out of there before he said something he might regret.

"Hyung," Jungkook stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper, "I... I need to go home." He didn't know why he said it, except that the intensity of the moment was too much to bear. Taehyung's smile faltered, and he nodded, his eyes never leaving Jungkook's. "Okay, Kookie," he said softly, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of Jungkook's hand. "Let's go."

They stood up, their joined hands swinging awkwardly between them as they made their way through the park. The cherry blossoms seemed to watch them, whispering secrets in the breeze, as if they knew something was different. Jungkook felt a knot form in his stomach, a mix of excitement and fear. He didn't want to lose Taehyung's friendship, but he also didn't want to ignore the feelings that had blossomed inside him like the flowers around them.