As Jungkook sat in his car, the engine's hum the only sound breaking the heavy silence around him, his mind raced, scheming how to smooth things over with Yugyeom. The hospital was still a good thirty minutes away, plenty of time for Jungkook to strategize, to perfect his apology—if you could even call it that. He couldn’t help but scoff under his breath, a self-satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Things I have to do because of this Kim Taehyung," he muttered with a roll of his eyes.
The more he thought about it, the more absurd the whole situation seemed. Taehyung, that calm, collected figure who had somehow managed to get under his skin without even trying. His thoughts were bitter, but under it all, there was a sense of frustration that cut deeper. "Man, he is so boring," Jungkook muttered, his hands gripping the steering wheel tighter, as if the thought alone was enough to fuel his irritation. Who does he think he is? The calm and composed image of Taehyung infuriated him even more now, knowing that the older man had somehow managed to pull strings and make his life more chaotic than it ever needed to be.
But despite the irritation gnawing at him, Jungkook couldn’t deny the underlying tension that Taehyung had stirred within him. Every taunt, every word in that video, it had felt like an attack on his very character. Who does he think he is to call me out like that? Jungkook's pulse quickened as he thought of Taehyung's calm, calculated demeanor—so far removed from the impulse-driven decisions that Jungkook himself often made. The two were like night and day, and yet, there was something unsettling about the way Taehyung always seemed so composed, always so untouchable.
And then, there was Yugyeom. His best friend. His childhood friend. The one person who had always been there for him, even when Jungkook was at his most impulsive, most reckless. But this time, he had gone too far. He knew that. He couldn’t just let it slide. Not this time. But he’ll come around, Jungkook assured himself, tapping his fingers against the wheel. Yugyeom’s not the type to stay mad forever.
It wasn’t going to be hard, he thought, to get back into Yugyeom’s good graces. After all, they had been friends for so long, through all the ups and downs. He’d seen Yugyeom angry before—this wouldn’t be much different. Jungkook just needed to show him that he regretted his actions, that he wasn’t the same careless fool he’d been in the heat of the moment. Sure, it wasn’t going to be perfect, but it would work. It always did.
Still, the looming specter of Taehyung’s influence made everything feel more complicated than it needed to be. Every time Jungkook thought he had things figured out, something—someone—always came along to mess with his rhythm. This time, it was Taehyung, and Jungkook was determined to put him in his place, once and for all. He didn’t know how yet, but he would. Taehyung’s not going to win. Not over me. Not this time.
The hospital loomed ahead, and Jungkook’s thoughts shifted back to the present. He could see Yugyeom now, sitting in that sterile hospital room, looking at him with a mixture of disappointment and frustration. But that was okay. Jungkook was ready. He was going to fix this. He was going to make it right.
The car slowed as he neared the hospital entrance. As he parked, a deep breath filled his lungs, the weight of his resolve settling within him. It’s time to end this childish game, he thought, stepping out of the car with a newfound determination. And once I do, maybe then I can finally put Kim Taehyung out of my mind for good.
Jungkook stepped out of the car, his breath visible in the cold, crisp night air. The sky above was dark and ominous, thick clouds swirling in the distance. The chill cut through his clothes, and he instinctively pulled his coat tighter around himself. Looks like it will rain tonight, he thought absently, a sense of unease gnawing at him. The storm outside seemed to match the turbulence within. With quick steps, he walked toward the entrance of the hospital, his mind still racing with thoughts of his earlier arguments and the tension with his friends.
