𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 -tk

chapter 12

As the semester progressed, Taehyung and Jimin’s friendship blossomed into something so admired that it began to draw attention from nearly everyone on campus. Known for their striking good looks and warm, inviting personalities, they became the duo everyone wanted to be around. It was as if they embodied some untouchable yet alluring charm that others couldn’t resist. Their bond had that magnetic effect: strong, genuine, and unshakable.

Their reputation spread quickly, and whispers followed them wherever they went. Students would find any excuse to pass by them, hoping for even a small interaction, a flash of their dazzling smiles. Both girls and guys were entranced, dropping hints and playful suggestions, some hoping to get closer to the two friends. Yet no one seemed to realize that Taehyung and Jimin weren’t quite what they assumed—weren’t quite what people wanted them to be.

Though Taehyung and Jimin shared an unspoken understanding about each other, the campus seemed oblivious. People overlooked the small, tender gestures they shared: the way they leaned a bit too close while studying, or the quick squeezes on the shoulder when one of them looked exhausted. Their silent bond spoke volumes, yet most dismissed it as mere friendship. The assumptions made Taehyung and Jimin laugh at times, shrugging off the obvious lack of awareness around them. "Guess they’re too straight-minded to see it," Taehyung once joked, earning a soft chuckle from Jimin.

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Jungkook noticed everything—the growing attention, the admiration pouring toward Taehyung and Jimin, and, more than anything, the way Taehyung’s energy seemed so focused on someone else. He would catch snippets of praise from his classmates, about how Taehyung and Jimin were the “it” pair everyone looked up to, admired for their beauty and charisma. Each compliment felt like a stab, a reminder of what he’d pushed away and what he might never have again.

“Looks like your ‘puppy’ found himself a new pack, huh?” Jisoo teased one day, nudging Jungkook in the ribs with a smirk.

“Shut up,” Jungkook snapped, trying to brush it off, but his eyes lingered on Taehyung’s soft smile as he chatted with Jimin from across the courtyard. Jealousy clawed at him, deep and unyielding. Why couldn’t people see that Taehyung was his—his friend, his…everything? And yet, Jungkook had done nothing but push him away. He knew that, and it was a reality he couldn’t face without bitterness welling up inside.

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Meanwhile, Yoongi had been watching Jimin’s rise in popularity with cold resentment. The students’ admiration only irritated him further. Seeing Jimin so comfortable, laughing freely with Taehyung, enjoying the attention of others—all of it set Yoongi on edge. How could someone like Jimin, who’d hurt him so deeply, now find such joy, so freely and without consequence? He didn’t deserve it, Yoongi thought bitterly. He would make sure Jimin didn’t forget their past, that his happiness would always be fleeting.

On top of it all, Yoongi could feel his own reputation slipping. The once cold and unattainable “bad boy” image he held was now overshadowed by the new fascination surrounding Taehyung and Jimin. As far as Yoongi was concerned, this was just another insult, another bruise on his pride.

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Unbothered by the murmurs around them, Taehyung and Jimin continued living in their own bubble of happiness. To them, their friendship was something deeper and more cherished than any fleeting admiration. They saw each other fully—sensitive and bruised, but strong in the way only survivors could be. Late-night study sessions turned into moments of quiet reflection about life, love, and the dreams they once thought too fragile to pursue.

They could sense the tension from Jungkook and Yoongi, but for now, they chose to ignore it, savoring the calm they had found in each other.

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Tbc

Appollo 🎀