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twenty-six

It had been a few weeks since the first kiss, and things had shifted between them. The awkwardness had worn off, replaced by something softer, more familiar. Every day felt like a little step forward, and the moments they spent together—whether they were just sitting side by side or running errands—had begun to mean something more.

Jungkook found himself looking forward to the small things he now shared with Taehyung. It wasn’t anything grand. In fact, it felt like the simplest things had started to mean the most.

One evening, Jungkook was just finishing his homework when he saw Taehyung standing outside. But this time, he was holding a cup of coffee in one hand, and in the other, a snack bag, like he was waiting for someone.

Jungkook couldn’t help but grin as he opened his window. "You know, you don’t have to keep coming over."

Taehyung shrugged, flashing that lazy smile. "I know, I just made extra coffee."

Jungkook stepped outside, raising an eyebrow. "Extra? For who?"

"For me, obviously, but I couldn't drink all of it." Taehyung handed him the cup, then tossed the snack bag in his direction. "And these. I figured you'd be starving after school."

Jungkook couldn’t help but feel a little warmth spread through him. It wasn’t just the coffee or snacks. It was the thought behind it, the care Taehyung put into it even without saying it. Jungkook had never really gotten that from anyone before.

“Thanks,” he muttered, taking the cup and walking over to sit on the small bench in his yard.

Taehyung followed, sitting next to him. The two of them sat in silence for a moment, just watching the sun dip low in the sky. It wasn’t anything special, but it felt like everything in that moment.

---

The next day, it was Jungkook who surprised Taehyung. He showed up at his house after school with a takeout bag in hand.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow as Jungkook handed it over. “And this is?”

Jungkook smirked. “Well, I accidentally ordered more so I figured you could use a snack too.”

Taehyung chuckled, opening the bag and pulling out a sandwich. “You know, I didn’t expect you to bring anything over. But, thanks.”

“I’m not a total stranger, am I?” Jungkook joked, nudging him lightly.

For a moment, Taehyung just looked at him, a small smile on his lips. Then he looked down at the sandwich in his hands, his voice softening. “I like this… you know, just being around you.”

Jungkook paused. He hadn’t expected Taehyung to say something like that. His heart skipped a beat, but he tried to act cool about it. “Yeah. Same here.”

---

Over the next few days, it became clear how much they had started to care for each other, though neither of them said it out loud. Like how Jungkook started saving his last piece of chocolate or candy to share with Taehyung, something small but meaningful.

They didn’t need to say much to know what the other needed. Sometimes, it was just a quiet walk to nowhere in particular, or sitting side by side while watching something on TV, the distance between them narrowing each time.

Days turned into a rhythm. They weren’t always together, but when they were, it felt natural—like they’d been doing this for years.

One evening, Jungkook found himself standing outside Taehyung’s house, holding a small box of band-aids.

“You cut your finger in class,” he said when Taehyung opened the door, raising an eyebrow.

Taehyung stared at him for a moment, then laughed softly. “You came here for that?”