Collision of Verdicts

Serenity

The next morning, the entire group was filled with the excitement of exploring Jeju Island. The weather was a perfect mix of chilly and sunny, making it ideal for a day of sightseeing. Jungkook, who had been carrying his camera all day, had a specific mission in mind: vlogging the trip. But there was more to it than just the scenery. Jungkook knew the video was mainly for Taehyung—he wanted to capture every single moment, every smile, every laugh, every glance, all for him.

As the group explored the island, Jungkook's thoughts often drifted to Taehyung. There was a weight in his chest, something that felt too heavy to ignore. He had always been close to Taehyung, but now it was different. Jungkook realized, as he filmed Taehyung looking out over the ocean, his hair tousled by the wind, that he was in love. And yet, there was an ache in his heart because he had no idea how to tell him. How could he confess these feelings without ruining everything they had? Their friendship, their bond—it all seemed so perfect just as it was. The thought of crossing that line terrified him.

“Are you okay, Jungkook?” Taehyung asked, pulling him from his thoughts. He was standing beside him, his warm hand briefly touching Jungkook’s arm.

Jungkook smiled, though it was a little forced. “Yeah, just thinking about how perfect this place is.”

Taehyung grinned and nodded, his eyes lighting up with his signature smile. “It is perfect, isn’t it? So peaceful.”

They spent the rest of the day laughing, taking photos, and enjoying each other’s company. But Jungkook couldn’t help but notice how his heart would skip whenever Taehyung laughed a little too loudly or when his fingers brushed against his. It was confusing, and it only made him more frustrated that he couldn’t simply admit to Taehyung how he felt.

By the time they returned to the hotel room, everyone was exhausted but in high spirits. They all quickly changed into comfortable pajamas before gathering in Jin's room for the pyjama party that he had so excitedly planned. Jin, ever the host, had an assortment of soju and alcoholic drinks spread out on the table. There were also bowls of ramen, instant tteokbokki, and a few other snacks scattered across the floor. And, of course, there was a bottle of milk, which Jin had insisted was necessary for a good party—though no one really understood why.

"Alright, everyone, grab a drink and let’s get this party started!" Jin called out, his hands flailing excitedly as he poured soju into glasses.

Namjoon, ever the calming presence, was at Jin’s side, helping him set everything up while quietly making sure everyone had a drink. The room buzzed with energy as everyone settled down on the floor in their pajamas, excited to eat, drink, and relax.

Taehyung, as usual, found himself sitting next to Jungkook. Their legs brushed occasionally, sending little sparks of electricity through Jungkook’s body, but neither of them mentioned it. The atmosphere was light, playful, with a hint of warmth and camaraderie.

As the group settled in, laughter filled the room. But then, a few of the members started to notice something that hadn’t been so obvious before: the hickies on Jungkook and Taehyung’s necks. The moment someone pointed it out, the teasing began.

“Wait, hold on—what’s this?” Jimin asked, pointing toward Taehyung’s neck with a mischievous smile. “You two have been busy, huh?”

Jungkook’s face immediately flushed, and he reached up instinctively to cover the mark, but it was too late. The group had already noticed.

“Oh my god, you guys!” Yoongi exclaimed, his voice full of disbelief. “How long have you been hiding this?”

Taehyung’s eyes widened as he looked over at Jungkook. The teasing was inevitable, but he couldn’t help but laugh at how quickly their friends picked up on it. "Oh, shut up. We’ve been busy touring, okay?" Taehyung said, trying to deflect, but his voice was a little too high-pitched to sound entirely convincing.

“Jungkook,” Jin teased, a grin spreading across his face, “I didn’t know you had such... talents. Should I be worried?”

Jungkook, now thoroughly embarrassed, buried his face in his hands. “Hyung, stop. This is not funny.”

The teasing continued for a while longer, and though Jungkook and Taehyung tried to play it off, they could feel the heat rising in their faces. Their friends were relentless, making jokes and poking fun at them. It was all in good humor, but still, Jungkook could feel himself wishing the ground would swallow him up. He was just glad the focus shifted quickly back to the food and drinks, which helped him avoid more embarrassment.

Jin, never one to miss an opportunity, suddenly clapped his hands. "Alright, enough about Jungkook and Taehyung’s love marks. Let’s play a game, everyone! Time for a mukbang challenge!"

The group eagerly dug into the ramen and tteokbokki, their chatter and laughter growing louder as they competed to eat the most food without stopping. The room became a blur of joking, teasing, and eating as they played game after game, the alcohol and food making everyone loosen up even more.

Jungkook felt a little lighter after the teasing, especially when the attention shifted toward the games and food. He glanced at Taehyung, who was laughing and joking around with Jin and Jimin. There was something so effortless about Taehyung’s presence, something that made everything feel right in that moment. He wanted to hold onto this feeling forever—this easygoing friendship, this closeness.

But in the back of his mind, the thought that had been gnawing at him all day returned: how would he tell Taehyung how he truly felt? He couldn’t keep hiding it forever.

As the night wore on and the group grew more relaxed, the room became a blur of laughter, voices, and the sound of clinking glasses. Jungkook glanced at Taehyung one more time, wondering if he could find a way to tell him, just for once, how he felt.

But for tonight, it was enough to just be with him, laughing and enjoying the moment.

And that was all Jungkook needed—for now.