My Tease

For Starters

Taehyung pov

The electronic bell rings when I enter the convenience store. My heart is pounding in my ears, but I push it too the side as I walk to the register. Minho is helping a customer and gives me a confused look when I clear my throat. I'm off today, but Jungkook isn't. I spent sleepless nights debating how to confront Jungkook but I've never been one for confrontation especially when it involves Jimin. 

I probably resemble an addict the way my hands are shaking and the dark circles under my eyes. "Did you need something?" Minho questions and I exhale, nodding my head.

"Uh, yeah. Is Jungkook here?" He shakes his head and my shoulders deflate. "A-are you sure? I saw his name on the schedule."

"He's on break." He nods his head at the entrance. "He went to the DD chicken across the street five minutes ago." 

"Thanks," I start walking backwards, "I'm sorry for the interruption. "I apologize to the customer and run out of the store. Cars drive by and speed walk to the crosswalk, dodging people along the way. I'm antsy as I wait for the light and I prep myself on what to say to him. Should I barge in and yell? Should I flip his chicken over? That'll piss him off. No, I can't do that. It'll upset the owner too. He's the bad guy, not me. 

The light changes and I follow the crowd across the street. In less than a minute I'm in front of the entrance. The glass window lets me see inside and I scan the people sitting at tables. It's easy to spot Jungkook hunched over a plate of chicken. His shoulders and black hair have been edged into my brain from spending countless hours together. I shiver as I recall our heated kiss. 

Now is not the time.

I open the door and am greeted by an elderly lady. I point towards Jungkook and she smiles and moves to the side. My feet carry me to him and all the planning I did vanishes when I'm in front of his table. His head raises from his phone that he pulled out when I was walking over. It's open to Instagram and he just gave a heart to IU's latest post.

A smile spreads on his face from the sight of me. His eyes are shining with so much emotion like I just quenched his thirst as he sets his phone on the table. "What are you doing here?" He motions for me to sit down and against my best interest I plant myself across from him.

What are you doing idiot?

"I-I needed to talk to you." I muster out and he raises an eyebrow.

"Why do you seem so tense?" He pushes the plate towards me. "Do you want some? I can order more if you want." 

"No-no. This won't take long." I say, stopping him. Jungkook straightens in his seat, sensing that something is wrong. He's always been perceptive, but this is the one time I wished I could catch him off guard. "I need you to listen to what I'm about to say until the end, okay?" He nods his head.

"Jimin came to talk to me. He told me you thought he was doing more bad than good being around me." I analyze his face, seeing it drop as I continue. "Jungkook, you had no right to do that. He's my friend and if I had a problem with him, I would have brought it up." I say with little conviction. "You almost wrecked my friendship with one conversation and I can't be with someone that can easily destroy relationships for their own benefit." 

The dim light from the restaurant shadows his features. His expression is dark as he averts his eyes and I nibble on my lip. He looks like a kicked puppy, but he definitely wasn't when he told Jimin to stay away. Jimin wouldn't be intimidated by Jungkook if he was nice about it.

Jungkook's hand plays with his phone timidly, sliding it left and right. "I really thought you were better than that. If you gave me time and just confessed on your own without pushing Jimin away this might have worked out differently." I let out a shaky breath as Jungkook's eyes meet mine, his nose red. "I've said everything-"