A lie

part 30

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The weeks passed quietly in the small village, the life Taehyung led blending seamlessly into Jungkook’s days. Despite the overwhelming beauty and peace of the countryside, Jungkook couldn’t help but feel an undeniable shift within him. The more he spent time with Taehyung, the more he found himself noticing things he hadn’t before.

It started subtly—glances shared over dinner, the way Taehyung’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, the way he effortlessly commanded the respect of the village. Jungkook found himself drawn to Taehyung’s presence. He admired his strength, not just in the physical sense, but in his quiet ability to make others feel comfortable and welcome. Even his warmth, so evident in his interactions with everyone from the children in the village to the elders, made Jungkook feel like he belonged in a place that had once felt foreign.

But it wasn’t just admiration. No, there was something deeper—a flutter in his chest when Taehyung laughed, a rush of warmth when their hands accidentally brushed while working on the farm, a strange comfort that settled in his bones whenever Taehyung was near. Jungkook, though, refused to acknowledge it. He couldn’t. Not when his heart was already tied to Daniel, and not when his loyalty to his boyfriend was constantly in the back of his mind.

Yet, it wasn’t easy to ignore the feelings. Taehyung’s laughter, his teasing, the way his eyes lingered a little longer than necessary—it all seeped under Jungkook’s skin.

One evening, as they sat on the porch of Taehyung’s home, watching the sun set over the rice fields, Jungkook felt a tug at his heart. Taehyung had his arm casually thrown across the back of the chair, so close that Jungkook could feel the heat radiating from him. Every time he inhaled, the scent of freshly cut grass and the earth filled his senses, but it was Taehyung’s presence that consumed him.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Taehyung’s voice pulled him from his thoughts, and Jungkook met his gaze, heart skipping a beat.

“Yeah,” Jungkook replied quietly, a smile tugging at his lips. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Taehyung’s eyes softened. “This is home for me,” he said, his voice warm. “I’m glad you’re here to see it.”

Jungkook nodded, trying to keep his composure. But deep down, he could feel something stir in his chest—a longing, an ache that he didn’t fully understand. Was it just the charm of the countryside? Or was it something more, something that involved Taehyung himself?

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The next morning, the teasing began. Jimin had caught on to the way Jungkook’s cheeks flushed whenever Taehyung was mentioned. Every time the two of them were together, Jimin seemed to make it his mission to point it out, and Jungkook couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

“You’re blushing,” Jimin said one morning as they sat around the table for breakfast, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “What’s this? Is it because of Taehyung?”

Jungkook froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. His heart skipped, and he felt a heat rise in his cheeks. “W-What? No,” he stammered, immediately looking down at his plate.

Jimin just smirked, clearly not convinced. “Sure, sure. But I can see it, you know. You’re getting attached to him.”

Jungkook shook his head, trying to laugh it off, but the teasing didn’t stop there. Taehee, Taehyung’s mother, joined in on the fun the next day when she caught Jungkook smiling while watching Taehyung work in the fields.

“You know, Jungkook,” she said with a wink, “Taehyung is a great catch. You’d be lucky to have him.”

Jungkook’s face turned red. He had no idea how to respond to such a direct comment. He didn’t know what to say. He only mumbled, “He’s a good person,” and quickly excused himself, his heart racing.