Teach me how to love

4

Later that day, after the unsettling incident in class, Jungkook approached Taehyung as they packed up their things. The awkward tension between them from earlier had shifted into something more protective, more personal. Jungkook hesitated for a moment, watching as Taehyung quietly put his books away, still visibly shaken from the cruel prank earlier. He decided to break the silence.

"Hey, Taehyung," Jungkook called softly, trying to get his attention without startling him.

Taehyung looked up, his eyes a little wider than usual, as if he was still expecting more trouble. When he saw Jungkook standing there, his expression softened. "Yeah?"

Jungkook cleared his throat, feeling a little awkward now that the moment had arrived. "We have that project for English, right? We should probably start working on it."

Taehyung nodded, already feeling the nervousness creeping back. Being paired with Jungkook for the project had initially made him excited, but now, after everything that had happened, he felt uncertain. "Yeah, we should," Taehyung agreed quietly.

Jungkook shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable with how to proceed. "We could, uh... do it at my place? It'll be quieter there. I don't want to stick around school after today, and you probably don't either."

Taehyung blinked, caught off guard. Jungkook was inviting him to his house? It was such an unexpected offer. His initial instinct was to decline, to avoid any more potentially awkward situations, but something about the way Jungkook was looking at him made him reconsider. Jungkook was trying—he was offering his space, his time. And after the way he had stood up for him earlier, Taehyung felt like maybe... maybe he could trust him.

"Okay," Taehyung said after a moment, offering a small smile. "Your place sounds good."

Jungkook seemed to relax a little at Taehyung's response, giving a quick nod. "Cool. Let's get out of here then."

They walked in relative silence through the school and out to the parking lot, where Jungkook led the way to his motorbike. Taehyung paused, eyes widening slightly at the sight of it. "I've, uh, never been on one of these before," he admitted, feeling a bit nervous.

Jungkook smirked a little, handing him a spare helmet. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. Just hold on tight."

Taehyung hesitated for a second, then took the helmet and carefully put it on. He climbed onto the bike behind Jungkook, his hands awkwardly hovering for a moment before Jungkook's voice cut through the moment.

"Grab on," Jungkook instructed, his tone more gentle than commanding. Taehyung slowly wrapped his arms around Jungkook's waist, feeling a strange mix of nerves and something else he couldn't quite name.

The ride to Jungkook's place was quicker than Taehyung had expected. The wind rushing past him helped clear his head, the fresh air a welcome change from the suffocating atmosphere at school. When they arrived, Jungkook parked the bike and led the way up to his apartment, which was small but tidy, a reflection of the structured side of him that Taehyung was only now starting to see.

"Make yourself at home," Jungkook said, tossing his bag onto the couch. "You want something to drink? Water? Juice?"

"Water's fine," Taehyung replied, taking in the surroundings while trying to calm his racing heart. Being in Jungkook's personal space felt oddly intimate, and he wasn't sure how to act.

Jungkook returned with two glasses of water, handing one to Taehyung before sitting down at the small dining table. "So, the project. We should probably start by dividing up the work."

Taehyung nodded, grateful for the shift to something normal. They spent the next half hour discussing the project, figuring out what needed to be done, and assigning tasks. The conversation flowed easily enough, and Taehyung found himself relaxing bit by bit. Jungkook was surprisingly focused when it came to work, and his sharp mind impressed Taehyung.