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27: partners

Lately, Taehyung had started to notice things about Jungkook that he shouldn't be noticing. The way the sunlight hit his skin in the afternoons, the way he bit his lip in concentration, the way his voice dropped just a little lower when he was tired. It wasn't new-Jungkook had always been beautiful-but lately, it had been feeling dangerous to look at him for too long.

Jungkook was feeling it too. Taehyung had always been effortlessly captivating, but these days, it felt impossible to ignore. The way his fingers tapped absentmindedly against his knee, the curve of his lips when he smirked, the way he leaned in just a little closer when they talked. Jungkook wasn't sure if Taehyung was doing it on purpose, or if he was just losing his mind.

They had settled into something comfortable, something warm-but with that comfort came an undeniable pull. One they weren't ready to acknowledge yet.

And maybe that was why it felt so hard not to do too much.

--

The art room buzzed with quiet chatter, brushes clinking against jars of water. Jungkook tapped his pencil against the desk, pretending to be interested in his sketchbook. The truth was, his focus had scattered the second Taehyung walked in.

He wasn't sure if it was the way the sunlight hit Taehyung's brown hair or the way his gaze always seemed to find Jungkook first. Either way, his chest tightened.

Taehyung's steps slowed when their eyes met. For a moment, neither of them looked away. The air felt thicker somehow, like they were the only two people in the room.

Taehyung gave a faint smile as he walked over. "This seat taken?" he asked, motioning to the empty chair next to Jungkook.

Jungkook blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, no. You can sit here."

It felt strange saying that-inviting Taehyung to sit next to him. They'd never done this before. But when Taehyung pulled out the chair and sat down, Jungkook couldn't help thinking how right it felt.

"Guess we're breaking all kinds of traditions lately." Taehyung said quietly.

"Yeah," Jungkook muttered, glancing at him. "Guess we are."

There was an odd comfort in the silence that followed-like neither of them had to say much for it to matter.

Before either could dwell on it too long, the teacher clapped her hands at the front of the room.

"Alright, everyone, focus up! Today we're working on partner portraits," she announced, her voice cutting through the room. "Pair up with the person next to you and start sketching."

Jungkook's hand froze mid-tap. He felt Taehyung shift beside him. They turned to look at each other at the same time, awkward smiles creeping onto their faces.

"So... partners?" Jungkook asked, half-chuckling.

Taehyung raised a brow. "Looks like we don't have much of a choice, huh?"

"Guess not."

They settled in, still glancing at each other and laughing under their breath at how weird it felt.

"Don't laugh when I draw you ugly," Jungkook warned playfully.

"Same to you," Taehyung shot back, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

The classroom noise faded into the background, muffled like an afterthought. Jungkook held his pencil, pretending to focus on Taehyung's face. But focus was a joke when Taehyung was looking back at him just as intently.

Taehyung wasn't sure who started it, who had looked first, but now neither of them were looking away.

Jungkook's eyes flickered to his lips before darting back up.

Taehyung's pulse kicked.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" he asked, keeping his voice low, teasing-because teasing was safe, teasing let him pretend.

Jungkook's fingers curled tighter around his pencil. "I'm trying to draw you, genius," he muttered, though his voice cracked slightly.

Taehyung tilted his head, a slow smirk threatening to form. "Doesn't feel like it."

Because it didn't. Because Jungkook wasn't just drawing him-he was looking at him, like he wanted to memorize him, like his gaze alone could carve Taehyung into something permanent.

And god, Taehyung felt it.

The moment stretched. Taehyung should have turned away, should have broken it. But he didn't. Instead, he let himself notice things-like the way Jungkook's breath came just a little too fast, or the way his tongue darted out to wet his lips.

Jungkook bit his lip.

Taehyung swallowed. He shouldn't have noticed. Shouldn't have felt that ridiculous jolt in his chest. Shouldn't have been looking at Jungkook's mouth like he was-

He exhaled sharply. "You're biting your lip."

Jungkook blinked. "Huh?"

Taehyung hesitated. He'd said that out loud.

"Nothing," he muttered quickly, shifting in his seat like that would somehow shake off the feeling creeping up his spine.

Under the table, Taehyung's leg brushed against Jungkook's. Neither of them moved away.

Taehyung should have. Jungkook should have. But neither of them did.

The air between them was thick, suffocating. Taehyung could hear his own heartbeat in his ears.

And then Jungkook, voice tight, blurted, "You're making this hard."

Taehyung's stomach clenched.

"Drawing me?" he asked, his voice quieter, but it wasn't teasing anymore.

Jungkook exhaled sharply. "Yeah. That."

Liar.

Taehyung knew it was a lie, knew exactly what Jungkook meant-because it was the same for him.

He should have laughed it off, made another joke, something to push it away. But instead, he just stared, the words sticking in his throat.

"Maybe you're just bad at it," he said instead, but his voice wavered. Just enough.

Jungkook muttered a soft "Shut up," but it was useless. The moment had already cracked open between them.

Their gazes tangled once more, and this time, Taehyung wasn't sure if he was the one who couldn't look away-or if it was Jungkook.

Either way, neither of them did.

And god, Taehyung didn't know who was breathing harder anymore.

The tension between them wasn't just a storm waiting to break-it was a storm they'd already stepped into.

And neither of them seemed to want to find their way out.

☆☆☆

I wanna write a *ahem* scene but idk if I'll be able to pull it off :') just building up the tension for now