Us | Taekook | Complete

9

The days following their confrontation were marked by an unspoken truce. Taehyung and Jungkook worked side by side on the new mural, their interactions laced with a careful balance of professionalism and something softer—something they both felt but neither dared to name. 

The studio’s dim light filtered through the large windows, casting soft shadows on the walls. Taehyung sat cross-legged on the floor, his sketchpad balanced on his knees. He was engrossed in shading a concept for the mural, his pencil moving in rhythmic strokes. 

Jungkook leaned against a nearby table, pretending to check his phone but stealing glances at Taehyung. The way Taehyung bit his lower lip in concentration, the slight furrow of his brows—everything about him seemed to captivate Jungkook lately. 

"You’re staring," Taehyung said without looking up, his tone neutral. 

Jungkook straightened, caught off guard. "I wasn’t." 

Taehyung smirked faintly, still focused on his sketch. "You were. It’s distracting." 

"Maybe you’re just imagining things," Jungkook replied, trying to sound nonchalant. 

Taehyung glanced up then, his eyes meeting Jungkook’s. "Am I?" 

The question hung in the air, daring and charged. Jungkook opened his mouth to respond, but a loud thud broke the moment.  Taehyung’s pencil holder rolled off the table.

Taehyung’s pencil had rolled off the table, clattering to the floor. He sighed and reached for it, but Jungkook bent down at the same time. Their hands brushed, and both froze, the unexpected contact sending a jolt through them. 

"Sorry," Jungkook mumbled, quickly handing over the pencil. 

"Thanks," Taehyung said, his voice quieter now. 

The tension lingered, a quiet hum in the space between them. Taehyung returned to his sketch, but his mind was no longer focused on the lines he was drawing. 

As the evening wore on, the studio grew quieter. Most students had left for the day, but Taehyung and Jungkook stayed behind, determined to make progress on the mural. 

Jungkook was mixing paints while Taehyung worked on transferring their design onto the large canvas. 

"Do you ever think about what’s next?" Taehyung asked suddenly, breaking the silence. 

"Next for what?" Jungkook asked, looking over his shoulder. 

"Life," Taehyung said simply. "After this project, after college... What do you want?" 

Jungkook paused, considering the question. "I guess I want to prove to myself that I’m more than just grades or talent. That I can be... something real." 

Taehyung’s lips quirked into a faint smile. "Deep thoughts for a guy who usually pretends not to care." 

Jungkook laughed softly. "What about you? What do you want?" 

Taehyung hesitated, his gaze distant. "I want to find a place where I belong. Somewhere I don’t have to keep proving my worth to everyone around me." 

"You already have worth, Taehyung," Jungkook said, his voice low. "You don’t have to prove anything." 

Taehyung looked at him then, his eyes searching Jungkook’s face for sincerity. "You don’t get to say things like that and then act like none of this matters." 

"Maybe it matters more than I want to admit," Jungkook confessed, his gaze unwavering. 

As the night deepened, they worked in companionable silence. Jungkook stood on a ladder, painting the upper sections of the mural, while Taehyung focused on the intricate details below. 

"You missed a spot," Taehyung called up, pointing to a section Jungkook had overlooked. 

"Where?" Jungkook asked, squinting. 

Taehyung rolled his eyes and climbed up beside him. "Here," he said, guiding Jungkook’s hand with his own. 

Their proximity made the air around them feel heavier. Jungkook turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of Taehyung’s profile—the curve of his cheek, the way his lashes cast faint shadows on his skin. 

"Got it?" Taehyung asked, stepping back. 

"Yeah," Jungkook said, his voice quieter. 

Taehyung climbed down, but Jungkook remained still for a moment, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions he couldn’t quite name. 

When they finally left the studio, the campus was quiet, the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. They walked side by side, their steps unhurried. 

"Thanks for staying late," Taehyung said, breaking the silence. 

Jungkook shrugged. "I didn’t mind. It’s... nice, working with you like this." 

Taehyung glanced at him, his expression softening. "Yeah, it is." 

For a moment, the world seemed to shrink around them, leaving only the sound of their footsteps and the quiet rhythm of their breathing. 

"Taehyung," Jungkook began, his voice tentative. 

"Yeah?" 

"Do you ever feel like... we’re changing?" 

Taehyung stopped walking, turning to face Jungkook. "Changing how?" 

"Like... this isn’t just rivalry anymore," Jungkook admitted, his eyes searching Taehyung’s. 

Taehyung’s heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain calm. "What do you think it is?" 

"I don’t know," Jungkook said honestly. "But I want to find out." 

Taehyung looked away, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Let’s just take it one day at a time." 

Jungkook smiled faintly. "I can do that." 

As they continued walking, a subtle shift had taken place between them. It wasn’t a grand declaration or a dramatic moment—it was quieter, like the first hint of dawn breaking over the horizon. 

---