I Need You ⚣ TK

Chapter 12: Hyung

The weekend had finally arrived, and the evening was spent comfortably between the two males. Taehyung and Jungkook sat across from each other at the dining table, enjoying a dinner of steaming rice and stir-fried vegetables. The soft hum of their casual conversation filled the air, a pleasant soundtrack to their meal.

As Taehyung was about to take a bite, his phone buzzed insistently on the table, cutting through their relaxed atmosphere. He glanced at the screen and saw Jimin's name lighting up. "Hold on a second," he said, picking up the phone and answering it. "Hey, Jimin!"

"Taehyung, hey mate!" Jimin's cheerful voice crackled through the speaker. "We're planning to hang out tomorrow. You should join us! It's been a while since we all got together."

Taehyung hesitated, his gaze flickering over to Jungkook, who had paused mid-bite, eyes darting toward the phone. "Uh, can you give me a minute?" Taehyung replied, quickly hitting the mute button. He turned to Jungkook, a mix of excitement and concern in his expression. "Hey, Jungkook, would you be interested in joining me to meet up with my friends tomorrow?"

Jungkook's brow furrowed as uncertainty creased his forehead. "I don't know... What if they don't like me?"

Taehyung leaned forward, his tone reassuring. "They're all really nice people, I promise. Plus, it'll be good for you to get out and socialise a bit. We'll just introduce ourselves as friends, and I won't tell them anything about our sessions. It'll be a low-pressure environment."

Jungkook bit his lip, mulling over the offer. Taehyung watched as the apprehension slowly faded from Jungkook's face, replaced by a glimmer of curiosity. "Okay," he finally said, his voice small but resolute. "I'll give it a try."

A smile broke across Taehyung's face, relief flooding him. "Great! You'll have fun, I promise." He reached out and gave Jungkook's hand a gentle squeeze, a silent gesture of support that made Jungkook's cheeks flush slightly.

Returning to his phone, Taehyung unmuted it. "Sorry about that, Jimin. I'm in!"

"Awesome!" Jimin replied, his enthusiasm evident. "We'll meet at the café at two in the afternoon. Bring your A-game, okay? It'll be great to see you!"

"Will do," Taehyung chuckled, feeling lighter now that Jungkook had agreed. After finishing the call, he placed the phone back on the table and looked at Jungkook, his heart brimming with hope. "Tomorrow is going to be great, trust me."

"Yeah, I hope so," Jungkook said, a hint of nervousness still lingering in his voice.

"Just remember, we're friends, and friends support each other," Taehyung encouraged, giving Jungkook an encouraging smile.

As they finished their dinner, Taehyung couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling within him. Tomorrow would be a new experience for both of them, and he hoped it would help Jungkook feel more at ease in a world that had been so unkind to him.

Taehyung and Jungkook moved to the lounge, settling onto the sofa with the remnants of their meal cleared away. The warm glow of the lamp cast a cosy light, making the space feel inviting and safe. Jungkook leaned back into the cushions, a small smile still playing on his lips from their earlier conversation.

"Do you really think your friends will like me?" Jungkook asked, glancing sideways at Taehyung, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and doubt.

"Absolutely," Taehyung replied, his voice steady and reassuring. "They're all open-minded and friendly. Trust me, they'll be happy to meet you."

Jungkook nodded slowly, though the apprehension lingered in his eyes. "I guess it'll be nice to get out for a bit. I haven't really spent time with anyone other than you in a while."