Book Of Tease

Again?

The lunch with both families finally came to an end, and Taehyung managed to escape from the dining room for a brief moment, stepping outside onto the porch. He took a deep breath, letting the cool breeze wash over him, trying to calm his racing heart. It had been a whirlwind of teasing and attention-far more than he was used to-and he needed a moment to collect himself. The way Jungkook kept throwing those endearing terms at him, like "honey" and "baby," had left him flustered beyond belief.

He leaned against the porch railing, staring off into the distance. The afternoon sun painted everything in warm hues, and for a second, he let himself be distracted by the tranquil scenery, the quiet that contrasted sharply with the chaos of emotions inside him.

But, of course, peace wasn't meant to last. He heard the creak of the door behind him, followed by the sound of footsteps on the wooden floorboards. Taehyung glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Jungkook sauntering towards him with that trademark smirk already curving his lips. His heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to maintain a neutral expression.

"You look like you're running away again, honey," Jungkook teased, leaning casually against the railing beside Taehyung. He nudged the older man's side with his elbow, clearly enjoying the way Taehyung's shoulders tensed in response. "Should I take it personally?"

Taehyung shot him a sideways glare, but the redness in his cheeks betrayed him. "I just needed some air," he muttered, crossing his arms over his chest and pointedly avoiding Jungkook's eyes. "It's... a lot to take in, you know?"

Jungkook let out a soft chuckle, turning to face him more directly. He tilted his head, his eyes glinting with playful curiosity. "A lot to take in, huh? Or is it just me that's a little too much for you to handle?"

Taehyung turned to him with a mix of annoyance and embarrassment, lips parting as if to fire back a retort, but the words seemed to get caught in his throat. The way Jungkook was looking at him-like he was the most fascinating thing in the world-made his mind go blank. "You're... impossible," he managed to say, his voice lacking the usual conviction.

Jungkook took a step closer, leaning in until their shoulders nearly brushed. His smirk softened into something more genuine, though the teasing never fully left his tone. "Yeah, but you like it," he countered smoothly, his voice dropping to a hushed murmur, just for Taehyung to hear. "Or else you wouldn't be here, right?"

The words sent a jolt through Taehyung's chest, and he quickly turned his gaze back towards the yard, hoping to hide the way his cheeks were burning. His heart was thudding so loudly he was sure Jungkook could hear it. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled, wishing he sounded more convincing.

Before Jungkook could push further, Mrs. Jeon's voice rang out from inside, calling for their attention. "Boys, don't forget to call the Kims and let them know you're staying here for a while! Your father and I will be out for a bit to finish up some last-minute errands."

Taehyung's stomach dropped at her words. He turned to Jungkook with wide eyes, the reality of the situation sinking in. Alone. In the house. With Jungkook. For three days. AGAIN! His face turned an even deeper shade of red at the thought, and he took a nervous step back, suddenly feeling like a cornered prey.

Jungkook didn't miss the look of panic that flickered across Taehyung's face, and it seemed to only amuse him more. He straightened up, turning to face Taehyung fully, and the mischievous glint in his eyes was impossible to ignore. "Looks like we've got the place all to ourselves, honey. Should I be on my best behavior, or...?"

He trailed off, letting the question hang in the air, and Taehyung's mind raced with all the implications behind that unfinished sentence. He stumbled over his own words, flustered beyond measure. "J-Jungkook, you better not try anything-"

"Oh, come on, I promise I'll go easy this time," Jungkook cut in with a low chuckle, reaching out to gently tug on the sleeve of Taehyung's shirt. His voice softened, taking on that teasing warmth that made Taehyung's knees feel weak. "Besides, you still owe me for those sweet words from earlier. Remember when you said you couldn't stop thinking about me?"

Taehyung's entire face flamed at the memory of his half-asleep confession, and he looked away quickly, his hands coming up to hide his burning cheeks. "I-I didn't mean it like that! I was half asleep!" he protested, but his voice wavered, making it clear even to himself that he wasn't convincing anyone.

Jungkook's smile softened, a genuine warmth flickering in his gaze for a moment, making Taehyung's heart stutter in his chest. "You're cute when you're flustered, you know that?" he murmured, his voice so gentle that it sent shivers down Taehyung's spine.

Taehyung froze, caught off guard by the sudden shift in Jungkook's tone. For a brief second, it felt like the teasing melted away, leaving just the two of them standing there, the distance between them smaller than it had ever been. Taehyung's breath hitched, his pulse quickening as he risked a glance at Jungkook's face. But then, just as quickly as it came, the playful glint returned to Jungkook's eyes, and he leaned in close, lips brushing just beside Taehyung's ear.

"So, how about that thank-you kiss?" he whispered, his breath warm against Taehyung's skin.

Taehyung jolted, pushing Jungkook back with a flustered huff, but his cheeks were burning, and he couldn't hide the small, nervous smile that tugged at his lips. "You're impossible," he repeated, his voice softer this time, tinged with a reluctant fondness.

Jungkook laughed, reaching out to grab Taehyung's hand before he could make another escape. His grip was gentle but firm, the warmth of his fingers sending a thrill up Taehyung's arm. "Come on, let's go call your parents. Wouldn't want them worrying about you while you're stuck with me, right?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes, but he didn't pull his hand away. As Jungkook led him back inside, Taehyung couldn't help but feel a small flutter of something unfamiliar in his chest-something that made the idea of being stuck with Jungkook for a little longer seem not so bad after all.