Book Of Tease

Mall II

Jungkook led Taehyung back to the café, but he could sense that Taehyung's mood hadn't quite lightened up. The earlier encounter with Rose still lingered between them, like an unspoken question hanging in the air. Jungkook found himself glancing at Taehyung out of the corner of his eye, noticing the slight pout on his lips and the furrow in his brows.

"You know, if you keep frowning like that, you might get wrinkles," Jungkook said playfully as they reached their table. He sat down, leaning back casually with a smirk.

Taehyung glared at him, but the effect was dulled by the flush still lingering on his cheeks. "I am not frowning. And besides, you're the one who keeps doing these things to make me... uncomfortable!"

"Uncomfortable?" Jungkook tilted his head, pretending to be hurt. "That's not my intention, Taehyung-ah. I just like spending time with you and, well... maybe teasing you a little too much. But it's because you're fun to be around."

Taehyung's frustration softened slightly at the sincerity in Jungkook's voice, but he didn't want to give in that easily. "Well, you certainly have a weird way of showing it," he mumbled, looking away as he fiddled with his straw.

Jungkook watched him for a moment, his smile turning gentle. "Taehyung, look at me."

Taehyung hesitated before glancing, meeting Jungkook's steady gaze. For a moment, the playful facade faded, replaced by something more serious, more genuine.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel bad earlier," Jungkook said quietly, his expression sincere. "I didn't mean to. I promise, there's no one I'd rather be with right now than you."

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat at the earnestness in Jungkook's tone. He tried to hold onto his irritation, but it melted away under the warmth of Jungkook's gaze. He sighed, feeling a bit foolish for his earlier jealousy. "Fine, I believe you," he muttered. "But stop making me look like an idiot in front of other people, okay?"

Jungkook's grin returned, wider than ever. "Deal. But only if you stop looking so cute when you're jealous."

Taehyung huffed, feeling the heat creep up his neck again. "You're impossible."

Jungkook chuckled, reaching over to gently ruffle Taehyung's hair. "And you're adorable when you're flustered. Now come on, let's make the most of our day. We can go shopping, and you can pick out whatever you want-I'll even carry the bags."

Taehyung couldn't help but smile at that, feeling the tension between them ease. "Alright, but don't blame me if I pick out the heaviest things in the store."

"Oh, I won't. I'm stronger than I look," Jungkook replied, flexing his arm in an exaggerated manner.

They both laughed, the atmosphere between them lightening up as they finished their drinks and headed into the mall. Jungkook's playful attitude slowly worked its way back into their interactions, but this time, Taehyung found himself responding with more ease, realizing that maybe, just maybe, he enjoyed the attention more than he'd like to admit.

As they wandered through the shops, Taehyung picked out a few clothes, and true to his word, Jungkook carried the bags without complaint, even as they accumulated. They bantered back and forth, their voices mingling with the bustling sounds of the mall, and Taehyung found himself smiling more than he had in a long time.

After a while, they ended up in a bookstore, where Jungkook found himself leafing through graphic novels while Taehyung browsed through poetry collections. The peaceful atmosphere made it easy for Taehyung to forget about the earlier encounter, focusing instead on the comfortable silence between them.

Jungkook glanced over the edge of a book he was pretending to read, watching Taehyung as he carefully selected a slim volume with a deep blue cover. There was something serene about Taehyung's expression, the way his fingers delicately turned the pages, his eyes focused and thoughtful.

"You know," Jungkook said suddenly, breaking the silence, "you really are beautiful, Taehyung."

Taehyung nearly dropped the book in surprise, turning to face Jungkook with wide eyes. "W-What are you saying all of a sudden?"

Jungkook shrugged, a playful grin tugging at his lips as he put the graphic novel back on the shelf. "Just speaking the truth. You look so focused when you read, it's nice to see."

Taehyung's cheeks flushed, and he quickly looked away, pretending to be absorbed in the book again. "You're so strange..."

Jungkook chuckled, stepping closer until he was right beside Taehyung. "Strange, but you like me, don't you?"

"Why do you keep saying things like that?" Taehyung muttered, feeling his heart race again. He turned to look at Jungkook, only to find him closer than he expected, their faces just inches apart.

"Because I like seeing you blush," Jungkook replied, his voice low and teasing. "It makes me feel like I'm doing something right."

Before Taehyung could respond, a gentle announcement echoed through the bookstore, signaling closing time. Taehyung quickly gathered himself, placing the book back on the shelf and turning toward the exit, but his thoughts were still spinning from Jungkook's words.

As they walked out of the bookstore together, the tension that had built up between them was still palpable, like an electric current buzzing in the air. Taehyung felt Jungkook's presence beside him, warm and reassuring, and he couldn't help but wonder what this feeling between them truly was.