A Journey to finding love

Meraki - Part 1 [M]

Jungkook had just finished his nightly workout, a light sheen of sweat glistening on his skin, when his phone buzzed. It was a message from Jimin, his teammate: 

Jimin: You're late, Kook. And someone is getting real impatient.

Jungkook chuckled as he read it, already knowing who that someone was. He wiped his face with a towel, his lip curling into a smirk.

Jungkook: Tell Princess Peach I'll be there in five.

Jimin replied with a quick thumbs-up emoji, and Jungkook tossed his phone aside.

He threw on his favorite oversized black hoodie and slid out of the apartment. His mind was half on the dance battle he was late for, and half on the fiery glances he'd get from his 'Princess Peach', a oh-so-cheesy nickname for Kim Taehyung, his biggest rival—and the guy he'd been sleeping with for months.

Taehyung hated the nickname, which is why Jungkook loved it. 

By the time Jungkook reached their hideout—an abandoned garage that looked rundown from the outside but inside was decked out with inbuilt DJ sets, flashing lights, and enough space for their crews to go wild—the energy was already thick in the air.

Music pumped through the speakers, and bodies were moving on the makeshift dance floor, warming up.Jungkook walked in, scanning the room. Hoseok was chatting with Eunwoo near the DJ booth, and Jimin, ever the social butterfly, was bouncing between conversations.

But the one person Jungkook was looking for wasn't in sight. 

 "Looking for someone, Jeon?" 

Jungkook's jaw ticked as he heard the voice from behind him. He grinned to himself before turning around, ready for the inevitable banter.

"Late again?" Taehyung stood there, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Thought you might've chickened out." 

"Miss the chance to see your pretty face when you lose?" Jungkook quipped, his grin widening as he met Taehyung's piercing gaze. "Nah, wouldn't dream of it."

Kim Taehyung, Captain of Neon Tigers and Jungkook's rivals by day, "rivals with benefits" by night. 

Jungkook, captain of Bangtan blazers. 

The two teams have been in rivalry ever since they tied at the world championship. Always fighting for the title of the best.

Taehyung's eyes narrowed, though there was a flicker of amusement hidden beneath the surface. "You're confident for someone who's been paying for my team's lunch for two months straight.""You guys could use a decent meal. Keeps you motivated, right?" Jungkook taunts back,

Taehyung scoffed but didn't deny it. "We'll see how cocky you are after tonight. Hope your wallet's ready." 

Jungkook stepped closer, lowering his voice so only Taehyung could hear. "I think you like it when I'm cocky, Peach,"

A flicker of something—frustration? Heat?—crossed Taehyung's features, but he quickly masked it with a sarcastic grin. 

"Keep dreaming, Jeon."Jungkook chuckled, but before he could respond, the DJ cranked up the volume, signaling it was time.

Before Taehyung could respond, Jimin and Hoseok joined Jungkook's side. 

"Are we here to battle or flirt?" Jimin asked, crossing his arms. "Because if we're battling, I hope your captain is ready to cry when Eunwoo smokes Seungho in round one."

"Keep dreaming," Yoongi retorted, raising an eyebrow. "Seungho's got tricks you haven't even seen." 

The banter continued, with each team hyping their members up, but Jungkook couldn't take his eyes off Taehyung.