A lie

part 31

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Jungkook had been trying to push his feelings for Taehyung to the back of his mind for days. The guilt he felt every time Daniel called, every time he saw a message from him, was overwhelming. He wanted to be true to his relationship with Daniel, the relationship he had built over time, yet every interaction with Taehyung seemed to pull him further away from that sense of loyalty. He couldn’t help it. There was something magnetic about Taehyung—something that made his heart race and his thoughts scatter.

Today, he had decided to take a walk in the fields, away from everyone. The quiet of the countryside usually gave him some peace, but not today. Today, his mind was too filled with thoughts of Taehyung. He tried to shake it off, focusing instead on the path ahead, the way the earth felt beneath his shoes, the wind that tousled his hair.

As he walked along the ridges of the fields, he didn’t notice the ground shift beneath him. His foot slipped, and he found himself stumbling forward, his body tilting dangerously as he tried to catch his balance. Panic surged in his chest as he braced for impact, but in a heartbeat, a strong pair of arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him back.

Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat as he found himself pressed against Taehyung’s chest. His body was warm, solid, and Jungkook’s face flushed a deep shade of red.

"Careful," Taehyung’s voice was soft, yet filled with concern. He steadied Jungkook, holding him close until he was balanced again.

Jungkook could hardly process the words as he pulled away slightly, looking up at Taehyung. His chest was still rising and falling rapidly from the shock, but it felt like his heart had just skipped a few beats. Taehyung’s smile was soft, reassuring, but it made Jungkook’s breath catch in his throat.

“I— I’m sorry,” Jungkook stammered, his face now burning with embarrassment. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. He had just nearly fallen into Taehyung, and he could hardly bring himself to look the other man in the eye.

“Don’t worry about it,” Taehyung said, his tone light but with a glint of humor. “You’re okay. Just be more careful next time.”

Jungkook nodded, trying to regain some composure. But inside, his heart was racing, and the feeling that had started to build up between them—this undeniable attraction—seemed to pulse stronger than ever. Taehyung was always there to catch him, always there with a gentle hand, and it was becoming harder to ignore the way his presence made Jungkook feel.

They stood there for a moment in silence, with Jungkook feeling both embarrassed and strangely comforted. Taehyung's eyes lingered on him for a second longer than necessary, and Jungkook couldn't help but feel his pulse quicken again.

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That evening, when Jungkook went back to the house, he was lost in his thoughts. What had just happened? It had been a simple thing—Taehyung catching him, helping him regain his balance—but it felt like more than that. The feeling of Taehyung’s arms around him had made his heart skip, his mind race. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it left him with a lingering warmth he couldn’t shake off.

The day continued, and even though Jungkook tried to focus on other things, he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about that moment. Every time he saw Taehyung, his chest tightened in a way he couldn’t explain.

Later that evening, as they all sat down to dinner, Jungkook couldn’t help but notice how good Taehyung looked as he moved around the table, smiling and talking to everyone. The way his laughter seemed to echo through the room, how his eyes sparkled when he spoke—Jungkook felt an odd mix of admiration and something deeper.