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43: home [ end ]

Taehyung stood near the balcony, the glass door firmly shut against the chilly January air. A thin shawl was draped loosely around his shoulders. The warmth from the heated room seeped into his skin, a comforting contrast to the frost-kissed night outside.

His gaze was fixed on the night sky, the stars twinkling faintly through the haze of the city lights. There was a quiet serenity in the moment, a pause before the whirlwind of tomorrow.

A soft shuffling sound broke the silence, followed by the gentle padding of footsteps. Taehyung's lips curved into a soft smile even before he felt the familiar warmth of arms encircling his waist. Jungkook's presence was like a second layer of warmth, grounding and familiar. He rested his chin on Taehyung's shoulder, his breath a soft whisper against his neck.

"Why are you still awake?" Jungkook's voice was hushed, laced with sleep, warm against Taehyung's skin.

Taehyung leaned back into the embrace, "I'm just too excited for tomorrow, I guess," he admitted, exhaling softly.

Jungkook chuckled softly, the sound vibrating against Taehyung's back. He pressed a tender kiss to Taehyung's jaw, his lips warm against the cool skin, "me too."

They had spent the entire day packing their bags, making sure everything was in order. Tomorrow was the day. The day they would move into their dorm, stepping into a whole new chapter of their lives.

All of their friends had gotten in. Seoul National University. The place they had worked so hard for, dreamed about, talked endlessly about during late-night study sessions and in between school breaks. And now, it was finally happening.

Taehyung had even managed to get scholarship so he wouldn't have to worry about his University fees and the money he had gotten from his mother's insurance will be more than enough for his living expenses. Financially, he had nothing to worry about till he graduates and gets a job.

"Do you think it'll be everything we imagined?" Taehyung asked softly, his eyes still fixed on the stars.

Jungkook tightened his hold, his voice steady and reassuring. "It'll be even better. Because we're doing it together."

Taehyung's heart swelled at the words, a quiet certainty settling over him.

"You should sleep," Jungkook murmured against his shoulder. "We have a big day tomorrow."

"I know," Taehyung said softly. "I guess I'm just..."

"Excited? Or nervous?"

Taehyung exhaled, his fingers tightening slightly around Jungkook's, "Maybe both." He tilted his head, staring out at the quiet night. "It's just... everything is changing. We're leaving home, stepping into something new. It's kind of scary, isn't it?"

Jungkook hummed, his hold tightening. "Yeah. But it's not like we're doing it alone."

Taehyung smiled, small and knowing. "No. We're not."

A comfortable silence settled between them, only the faint hum of the night outside filling the space. Jungkook's grip around him never loosened, his touch as steady as ever.

And then, quietly, Taehyung spoke.

"I used to think love was something I had to earn." His voice was steady, but there was a weight to it, something fragile beneath the surface. "That if I was good enough, quiet enough, perfect enough... maybe then, someone would stay." He let out a small, breathy laugh, shaking his head. "But no matter what I did, it was never enough."

Jungkook stiffened slightly behind him. His fingers curled around Taehyung's waist, almost like he wanted to shield him from the past. "Tae..."

Taehyung turned in his arms then, facing him fully. His eyes were warm, but there was something heavy lingering there, something vulnerable. "But then you came along."