Us, Against The World | Taekook

15. Quiet Place.

.
.
.
.
.
.

Jungkook spent the entire morning thinking about how to approach Taehyung. He wanted to ask him—really ask him—about what was wrong, but every time he tried to find the right words, they got stuck in his throat. Taehyung still looked exhausted, even more so than before, and Jungkook didn’t like it one bit. But how could he bring it up? How could he make sure Taehyung wouldn’t brush it off with a tired smile and a half-hearted "I’m fine"?

Frustrated with his own hesitations, Jungkook turned on the music and started practicing. Dance had always been his escape—his sanctuary. Ever since his LA training days, since those long hours in the studio, dance has given him a way to process his emotions, to fill the emptiness inside him. Now, as he moved through the choreography, he hoped it would quiet the thoughts racing in his mind, even if just for a little while.

Through the mirror, he noticed Taehyung watching him. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment before Jungkook quickly looked away, focusing on his footwork. Taehyung, too, averted his gaze, pretending to be preoccupied with his water bottle. There was no Good morning between them today, no playful teasing or easy banter. The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken words.

Jungkook knew the real reason why Taehyung isn't holding his gaze for long—his eyes were still slightly swollen from all the crying he had done the night before. And it made Jungkook’s chest ache all over again.

"The more I watch you dance, the more I think you're an incredible dancer!" Hoseok exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration.

Jungkook paused mid-move, glancing over at Hoseok who had walked up beside him, a bright smile on his face. He hadn’t realized how intensely he’d been focused on the routine until Hoseok’s words broke through the fog in his mind.

"Thanks, hyung," Jungkook said, a slight blush creeping up his neck. He always appreciated Hoseok’s praise—Hoseok had a way of making even the simplest comment feel like a huge compliment.

Hoseok, ever the enthusiastic one, bounced on his feet. "No, seriously. You're getting so good! I’m honestly impressed. You’re in your element when you’re on the floor."

Jungkook shrugged casually, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "I mean... sometimes I think I might want to be a dancer more than a singer."

"YOU DIDN'T JUST SAY THAT?!" Jin's voice shot up, his face going red with disbelief. "What do you mean by that?!"

Jungkook blinked in surprise, but then realized the situation had gotten a lot more dramatic than he intended. Still, he couldn’t resist pushing the joke further.

He scratched the back of his neck, trying to act innocent. "I mean, I really enjoy dancing... Should I tell Manager-nim that I want to switch to being a dancer?" His words hung in the air as he barely managed to suppress a grin, feeling the weight of Jin's intense glare.

"Namjoon! NAMJOON!" Jin shouted, his eyes wide in panic as he looked for the leader, who had just stepped outside with Taehyung and Jimin.

Within seconds, the rest of the members barged into the room, all wearing confused expressions. They took in the sight of Jin’s flushed face, Hoseok looking done with everything, and Jungkook, whose lips were pressed together in an obvious attempt to hide his amusement. It was clear to everyone that the youngest was having the time of his life with whatever was happening.

"What's wrong?" Namjoon asked, glancing at the trio standing there, confusion written across his face.

"He—" Jin started, his finger shooting out to point accusingly at Jungkook. "This kid now wants to be a dancer! He doesn't like us anymore, he doesn't want to be with us, he said!!"