Book Of Tease

Call

Taehyung had barely managed to drift off when his phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand, jolting him awake. He groggily reached for it, squinting at the bright screen through sleep-blurred eyes. He didn't bother checking the caller ID-his brain was far too foggy with sleep to think clearly-so he swiped to answer and pressed the phone to his ear.

"Hello?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep and a hint of a whine in his tone. "Whoever this is, it's late, and I'm really tired..."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, then a deep, amused chuckle that made Taehyung frown in confusion. The sound was warm, a little too familiar, and it sent a shiver down his spine even in his half-asleep state.

"Did I wake you up, sleepyhead?" Jungkook's voice came through the speaker, low and playful. "You sound adorable when you're like this, you know that?"

Taehyung blinked slowly, the words sinking in, and a flush crept up his neck as realization dawned on him. He sat up abruptly, nearly dropping his phone in the process. "J-Jungkook?" he stammered, his voice going from drowsy to flustered in an instant. "Why are you calling me so late?"

Jungkook's chuckle deepened, and Taehyung could practically hear the smirk in his voice. "Well, I couldn't sleep. And I thought maybe you were thinking about me too."

Taehyung let out a groan, rubbing at his eyes with one hand as he tried to wake himself up fully. "I-I wasn't thinking about you! I was... I was sleeping, okay?"

"Uh-huh, sure you were," Jungkook teased, clearly enjoying the situation. "You sounded like you were ready to fall right back asleep when you answered. You always this cute when you're sleepy, Tae?"

Taehyung's face burned with embarrassment, and he tried to muster up some semblance of his usual composure. But his mind was still foggy, and he couldn't help the way his voice softened as he mumbled, "I-I wasn't trying to be cute... I just... you called, and I didn't know who it was."

Jungkook let out a soft, almost affectionate hum. "Well, I'm glad you answered. It's nice hearing your voice like this."

Taehyung buried his face in his pillow, groaning softly at the way his heart skipped a beat. "You're impossible, Jungkook. Why do you keep doing this to me?"

"Because," Jungkook replied, his tone turning more serious for a moment, "I like seeing this side of you, Tae. The one that's a little softer, a little less guarded. It's nice."

Taehyung's breath hitched at the sincerity in Jungkook's voice, and he found himself at a loss for words. He stayed silent, clutching the edge of his blanket as he tried to process the unfamiliar warmth spreading through his chest.

Sensing Taehyung's hesitation, Jungkook shifted back to his teasing tone, trying to lighten the mood. "Besides, if I call you late enough, maybe I'll catch you saying something cute again. Like you did just now."

"I-I wasn't saying anything cute!" Taehyung protested, his voice going high-pitched in his flustered state. "I was just... I'm going back to sleep, Jungkook. You-"

"Oh, come on, Tae. Don't hang up yet," Jungkook interrupted, his voice dropping to that low, smooth tone that made Taehyung's pulse quicken. "I think I like hearing you like this too much."

Taehyung's cheeks burned, and he mumbled something incoherent into his pillow, feeling like he might combust from the sheer embarrassment of it all. But there was a part of him-one he wasn't quite ready to acknowledge-that didn't really want to hang up, that liked the sound of Jungkook's voice filling the quiet of his room.

"Fine," Taehyung mumbled after a long pause, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just... don't say anything weird, okay?"

Jungkook's laughter was soft and warm, and Taehyung could almost imagine the way his eyes would crinkle with amusement. "No promises, Tae. But I'll try."

They stayed like that for a while, exchanging a few more playful jabs and quiet words, with Jungkook occasionally throwing in a compliment that had Taehyung burying his face in his hands all over again. But underneath the teasing, there was a warmth that left Taehyung feeling strangely comforted, even as his heart raced in his chest.

Eventually, the conversation slowed, the silences stretching out longer as Taehyung's exhaustion caught up with him again. He yawned softly, and Jungkook's voice came through the speaker, gentler this time.

"You should get some rest, Tae. You've had a long day."

Taehyung blinked sleepily at the screen, feeling a smile tug at his lips despite himself. "Yeah... maybe I should. Goodnight, Jungkook."

"Goodnight, Taehyung," Jungkook replied, his tone warm and sincere. "Sweet dreams."

Taehyung ended the call, the silence of his room feeling a little less heavy than before. He let out a long breath, hugging his pillow as he drifted back to sleep, Jungkook's voice lingering in his thoughts like a comforting melody.