Hearts on the line

Chapter 11 : In The Quiet Of Us

Taehyung couldn't keep his frustration bottled up anymore. For weeks, he had watched as Jungkook and Yoongi grew closer, disappearing together after every class. It was as if Jungkook had forgotten about their usual playful teasing, the banter they used to share. Now, he seemed to be constantly by Yoongi's side, and it only fueled Taehyung's jealousy.

What bothered him most was the distance that had grown between him and Jungkook. After Taehyung lashed out at him that day, Jungkook had been different. He wasn't the usual mischievous Jungkook who would tease and annoy him just to get a rise. No, this time, Jungkook kept his distance. He spent most of his time with Yoongi, laughing and talking with him in ways that made Taehyung's chest ache.

It was on one of those days when Taehyung, unable to hold his irritation anymore, asked Jimin about it. But Jimin, with his usual carefree attitude, only shrugged and said he didn't know where Jungkook went after class. That didn't help Taehyung's mood; it only made him more restless.

The tipping point came when Taehyung was on his way to the washroom. He'd been trying to calm his nerves after yet another day of seeing Jungkook and Yoongi in their own world, laughing together, talking quietly. As he turned the corner, he saw them again-Jungkook, leaning casually against Yoongi, with a smile that Taehyung couldn't ignore. Yoongi was grinning, but it was the way Jungkook looked at him that set Taehyung off. There was no teasing, no playful edge-just a calm, almost intimate moment.

Yoongi pushed Jungkook lightly, and they separated, but Taehyung couldn't take it anymore. His fists clenched as his anger flared, and he marched toward them without thinking. Jungkook caught sight of him and, for a brief moment, his smile faltered. But before Jungkook could even react, Taehyung grabbed his wrist roughly, startling him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Taehyung snapped, his voice sharp.

Jungkook blinked in surprise, taken aback by the sudden shift in Taehyung's mood. For a second, Taehyung could see the confusion in his eyes-the same confusion he'd felt earlier when Jungkook had been avoiding him. Jungkook hadn't said a word, just stood there, almost cautiously. Taehyung's grip tightened as he pushed him into an empty toilet stall, locking it behind them.

"Taehyung, what the hell-?" Jungkook started, but his voice was cut off when Taehyung turned to face him.

The air between them was thick with tension. Jungkook stood there, frozen, staring at Taehyung, unsure of what was coming next. The playful teasing from before was gone, replaced by something more serious, more intense. And Taehyung couldn't stop himself from feeling frustrated and confused. Why was Jungkook avoiding him? Why was he so close to Yoongi? All of this... it was driving him mad.

....

Jungkook pushed Taehyung back with a sharp shove, his eyes burning with irritation as he stared at him. "What's your problem, huh?" he demanded, his voice laced with frustration.

Taehyung's anger was immediate, and he answered with a cold edge. "You are."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "What? What are you talking about?"

Taehyung took a step forward, his eyes never leaving Jungkook's. "What were you doing with Yoongi hyung?" His voice dropped low, his tone filled with jealousy.

Before Jungkook could reply, Taehyung closed the distance between them in an instant, shoving him hard against the wall, much like how Jungkook had done with Yoongi earlier. Taehyung's body was flush against his, and their foreheads almost touched. His breath was steady but heavy, his chest rising and falling in quick succession. Taehyung shut his eyes, confused by the sudden wave of emotions coursing through him. The closeness felt natural, yet wrong. He could feel Jungkook's warmth radiating off him, and his body couldn't deny how much he missed it. Why did he want this so badly?