Collision of Verdicts

The Space Between Us

The morning after their kiss, Taehyung woke up feeling a mix of flustered excitement and nervousness. He wasn’t entirely sure what the kiss meant for them, but every time he replayed the memory in his mind, his heart would flutter uncontrollably. Jungkook hadn’t said much about it afterward, and Taehyung had gone to bed still buzzing from the moment, feeling like he was floating somewhere between a dream and reality.

Now, Taehyung stood in the kitchen, stirring a cup of coffee for Jungkook before they both headed to work. The quiet hum of the morning surrounded him as he absentmindedly watched the steam rise from the mug. He was deep in thought, trying to keep his emotions in check after everything that had happened between them. But then, he felt something warm against his back—a sudden, gentle pressure.

Jungkook had silently crept up behind him and wrapped his arms around Taehyung’s waist in a back hug, his body fitting perfectly against Taehyung’s. Taehyung’s breath hitched, and his heart raced as Jungkook leaned in closer. He didn’t say a word, but the silence was electric.

“Good morning,” Jungkook’s voice was low and teasing, right next to Taehyung’s ear.

Taehyung stiffened for a second, gripping the handle of the cup to steady himself. “M-Morning,” he stuttered, trying to regain composure. His mind was screaming, but outwardly, he tried to act normal.

Jungkook glanced down at the cup in Taehyung’s hand and grinned. “Is that for me?” he asked, his tone playful, though he already knew the answer.

Taehyung simply nodded, feeling his throat tighten. He wasn’t used to being this close to Jungkook, especially after their kiss, and every nerve in his body seemed to be on high alert. He could feel Jungkook’s warm breath on the back of his neck, and it was driving him crazy.

Jungkook’s smirk deepened as he reached for the cup. “Thanks, baby,” he mouthed teasingly, catching Taehyung’s eye for just a second before walking away with the cup in hand. Taehyung exhaled a shaky breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

But before he could even fully process the moment, Jungkook reappeared, much quicker than expected. He swiftly leaned down and planted a quick kiss on Taehyung’s cheek. The gesture was soft, brief, but it left Taehyung completely frozen in place. Jungkook winked at him, his smirk still present as he headed out, leaving Taehyung standing there, completely dazed.

Taehyung’s hand absentmindedly touched his cheek where Jungkook had kissed him, and he let out a long sigh, feeling both overwhelmed and thrilled. How could a simple kiss make him feel so out of control?

The rest of the day passed in a blur, with Taehyung’s mind stuck on Jungkook’s every little touch and smile. But later in the afternoon, Taehyung received a surprise message from his uncle. His aunt and uncle had arrived from Daegu and wanted to stay at his place while they took care of some business in the city.

That meant Taehyung had to return to his own apartment. The news left him feeling oddly conflicted. He had grown so used to living with Jungkook over the past few weeks, the idea of going back to his empty apartment made him feel… lonely.

After work, Taehyung broke the news to Jungkook. “My aunt and uncle arrived from Daegu today,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “They need to stay at my place for a while, so I have to move back tonight.”

Jungkook’s face fell instantly, though he tried to hide it. “Oh,” he said, his voice a little stiff. “I see.”

The sadness in both their eyes was hard to miss. Jungkook, who had gotten so used to Taehyung being around every day, felt a deep pang of disappointment. He tried to smile, but the thought of Taehyung leaving his place just didn’t sit right with him. He had grown attached to the feeling of waking up with Taehyung there, cooking together, talking late into the night. How was he supposed to go back to his place feeling so empty?

Taehyun and Beomgyu were sitting nearby, watching the entire interaction unfold with amused smiles. They exchanged knowing glances as their hyungs talked, both of them completely oblivious to the fact that they were practically in love with each other.

Beomgyu nudged Taehyun and whispered, “These two are hopeless. They don’t even realize what’s going on between them.”

Taehyun stifled a laugh. “You’d think by now they’d figure it out.”

But neither Jungkook nor Taehyung seemed to notice the teasing glances from their friends. Their attention was solely focused on the fact that Taehyung was leaving, and neither of them knew how to handle it.

Later that evening, Taehyung returned to his apartment, where his aunt and uncle were waiting for him. He greeted them warmly, but as the evening went on, he couldn’t stop thinking about Jungkook. Everything he did reminded him of Jungkook. Whether it was preparing dinner, sitting on the couch, or even lying in his own bed—he missed the warmth and presence of the man who had quickly become such an integral part of his daily life.

Meanwhile, back at Jungkook’s apartment, things felt eerily quiet. Jungkook sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the spot where Taehyung used to sleep. He let out a deep sigh, feeling a strange emptiness settling in his chest.

Without thinking much of it, Jungkook grabbed the pillow Taehyung had been using, pressing his face against it. The familiar scent of Taehyung still lingered on the fabric, and it brought a bittersweet smile to Jungkook’s lips. He hugged the pillow tightly, as if it would somehow bring Taehyung closer to him again.

Both of them lay in their separate beds, their thoughts consumed by the other. Though neither had spoken the words aloud, it was becoming more and more clear that what they felt for each other was far deeper than either of them had anticipated.

In their hearts, they missed each other terribly. But for now, all they could do was wait and hope that, soon, they’d find their way back to each other.