High School Love

Chapter 11

Just as he was about to put his pen to the paper, the classroom door swung open, and in strode Taehyung, his eyes searching the room until they landed on Jungkook. The sight of his best friend brought a small smile to Jungkook's face, a beacon of comfort in the storm of his thoughts. "Hey, Kookie," Taehyung said, his voice low as he approached the desk, "you're still working on that?"

Jungkook nodded, his jaw clenched. "Yeah, I have to turn it in today," he said, trying to keep his voice even. Taehyung's eyes flicked to the destroyed assignment, and understanding dawned on his face. He didn't need an explanation; he knew Jungkook wouldn't tolerate such disrespect. "You already did this," he said gently, placing a hand on Jungkook's shoulder. "Why are you doing it again?"

Jungkook took a deep breath, the anger slowly dissipating. He looked up at Taehyung, his eyes brimming with determination. "Someone spilled coffee over my assignnemt," he said, his voice firm.

"Who was it?" Taehyung's gaze was sharp, his protective instincts flaring up like a bonfire.

"It doesn't matter," Jungkook insisted, his voice soft but firm. "I can handle it."

The words hung in the air, a silent challenge. Taehyung's eyes narrowed, the muscles in his jaw tensing. "Their name," he demanded, his voice a low rumble.

Jungkook hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking to the group of girls who were now watching them with a mix of smugness and unease. "It's not like that, hyung," he said, his voice low. "I don't need you to fight my battles."

Taehyung's hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning white. "I'm not fighting for you," he said, his eyes never leaving Jungkook's. "I'm fighting because it's wrong, and I hate to see you upset."

The tension between them grew palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. Jungkook knew Taehyung meant well, but his words stung. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the gesture, but he had always been fiercely independent, his mother's strength a constant reminder that he could handle his own battles. "I can take care of myself. You don't need to do it hyung. I don't need sympathy," he said, his voice a whisper.

Taehyung's eyes searched Jungkook's, his expression unreadable. "Sympathy?" he echoed, his voice filled with confusion and a hint of hurt. "Is that what you think this is?" He took a step closer, his hand still resting gently on Jungkook's shoulder. "You think I care about you just because I feel sorry for you?"

Jungkook looked up, his eyes meeting Taehyung's with a flash of anger. "No," he said, his voice small but firm, "but sometimes, it feels like you're only looking out for me because you think I'm not capable of handling things on my own."

The room seemed to shrink around them, the whispers of the other students fading into the background. "That's not true, Kookie," Taehyung said, his voice thick with emotion. "I do it because I care about you, because you're my best friend."

"But I can't always be the one you save," Jungkook insisted, his voice shaking. "I need to learn to stand on my own two feet, to fight my own battles."

Taehyung's eyes searched Jungkook's, his grip on his hand tightening slightly. "I know you can," he said, his voice a gentle rumble. "But that doesn't mean I won't be there to help you up if you fall."

Their argument grew heated, the tension between them a palpable force. The classroom was a blur of faces and whispers, a cacophony of sound that barely registered as they stared at each other, their friendship hanging in the balance. "I don't want you to treat me differently," Jungkook said, his voice shaking. "I don't want to be the charity case, the one you have to take care of."

Taehyung's eyes widened, his face a picture of shock. "Is that what you think?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "That I see you as a burden? A charity case?"