Fated Foes ||toptae||

9

The sun blazed down on the quad as Jungkook and Taehyung stood side by side, glaring at the pile of cleaning supplies Professor Choi had so graciously dumped at their feet.

A broom, a mop, a bucket, and several pairs of gloves mocked them with their presence.

“This is all your fault,” Jungkook grumbled, slipping on the rubber gloves.

“You’ve said that five times now, bunny boy,” Taehyung replied, rolling up his sleeves. “Get some new material.”

“Stop calling me bunny boy!”

Taehyung smirked. “Stop looking like one, then.”

Jungkook let out a frustrated groan and grabbed the broom, determined to ignore him. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Taehyung lazily picked up the mop, twirling it like a baton. “You know, for someone who’s supposed to be a genius, you’re surprisingly bad at staying out of trouble.”

“Oh, I’m the genius?” Jungkook shot back, sweeping furiously. “At least I don’t smell like I haven’t washed my laundry in a week.”

Taehyung sniffed his shirt dramatically. “It’s called natural musk.”

“It’s called disgusting.”

They worked in tense silence for a while, Jungkook furiously sweeping up wrappers and leaves while Taehyung half-heartedly mopped the fountain area.

“This is stupid,” Taehyung muttered, poking at a sticky stain with the mop. “Why are we cleaning up a mess we didn’t even make?”

“Because your friends can’t go five minutes without starting World War III,” Jungkook snapped.

“And your friends can’t go five minutes without crying about spilled juice,” Taehyung retorted.

The bickering continued as they moved from one corner of the quad to the other, their voices growing louder with each insult.

“You missed a spot,” Taehyung teased, pointing at a stubborn piece of gum stuck to the pavement.

“Then clean it yourself!” Jungkook barked, shoving the broom at him.

“No thanks. I’m more of a supervisor,” Taehyung said, smirking.

Jungkook stared at him, fuming. “I swear, one more word, and—”

“Or what?” Taehyung interrupted, leaning in with a cocky grin. “You’ll hit me with your little broom?”

Jungkook froze, his grip tightening on the broom. “Don’t tempt me.”

Before the tension could escalate further, a group of students walked by, openly laughing at the sight of the two rivals cleaning together.

“Aw, look at them!” one of the girls cooed. “So cute, working as a team!”

“Do you think they’re dating?” another whispered, loud enough for Jungkook to hear.

“What?!” Jungkook and Taehyung shouted in unison, both turning red.

The students giggled and walked away, leaving the two flustered boys standing awkwardly in the middle of the quad.

“Great,” Jungkook muttered. “Now people think we’re a couple.”

“Relax, bunny boy,” Taehyung said, patting him on the shoulder. “I’m way out of your league.”

Jungkook slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

“Whatever you say, partner,” Taehyung teased, spinning the mop like a drumstick.

As they were about to finish, Jungkook noticed something shiny stuck in the fountain drain.

“What’s that?” he asked, crouching down to take a closer look.

Taehyung leaned over, squinting. “Looks like a...locket?”

Jungkook reached in and pulled it out. It was a small, intricate locket, slightly tarnished but still beautiful.

“Who leaves something like this in a fountain?” Jungkook murmured, examining it.

Taehyung frowned, tilting his head. “Open it.”

Jungkook hesitated but eventually clicked it open. Inside was a tiny photograph of two young boys, smiling brightly. One of them looked oddly familiar.

“Wait a second...” Jungkook whispered, staring at the photo.

Taehyung’s eyes widened as he recognized the boy next to the first one. “No way.”

They both looked at each other, realization dawning on their faces.

“Is that...us?”

Continue. .............