star-crossed | kth x jjk

2002

taehyung peeks at the boy from behind his mother, his features foreign but beautiful. insanely beautiful, taehyung thinks. taehyung doesn't think he'd be able to approach the brown-haired boy, two years younger than himself. but taehyung doesn't get lucky today, because before he can register what's happening, he's being pushed toward the boy, who's now smiling. it's kind of cute, taehyung admits. the boy reminds him of a bunny. a hint of light pink tints taehyung's cheeks. taehyung's mother bends down to whisper in his ear.

"taehyung-ah, this is jeongguk. i'm going out with his mother now, so please be polite and play with him, alright?"

taehyung's mother pats his shoulder and leaves with jeongguk's mother, laughing away at some joke. taehyung hopes they're not laughing at him.

jeongguk. a pretty name for a pretty boy. taehyung can feel jeongguk's stare on him but doesn't acknowledge it or make a single sound. he just but his solitude was short-lived, because a sweet voice filled his ears.

"taehyung-hyung? what do you want to play?"

taehyung tears his eyes away from his shoes – it's only polite. jeongguk spoke. jeongguk asked taehyung a question. taehyung was flustered for a moment, avoiding jeongguk's eyes. but jeongguk stares intently at taehyung, waiting for an answer, so taehyung shrugs, once again feeling warmth in his cheeks and on his neck. taehyung isn't a shy person – once you get to know him. he's just shy for a short period of time. just about a month. taehyung doesn't want to make a bad impression on jeongguk; he doesn't want jeongguk to laugh at him or tease him. so he chooses not to speak. minimal action, minimal humiliation.

"um, what about building blocks?"

there's an argument going on in taehyung's mind. should he reply with words, just once? to let jeongguk know he wasn't mute or something? he was bored with playing with building blocks. should he say yes or no? taehyung hesitates before opening his mouth.

"s-sorry, i d-don't really... want t-to play with building b-blocks..."

jeongguk nods, smiling at taehyung finally speaking up.

"it's fine, hyung. any suggestions?"

jeongguk makes several more attempts at conversation, but taehyung replies with one-liners. jeongguk realizes that taehyung is shy. or he just isn't interested in making friends with jeongguk. but jeongguk takes a chance and chooses the former. they sit in silence for a few minutes, until jeongguk's eyes light up and he stands to walk into his room.

taehyung sighs. this was it. jeongguk was going to abandon him and leave to play his own games. taehyung's plan hadn't worked. jeongguk didn't like him at all. this is even more humiliating, taehyung thinks. taehyung sits on the couch, staring at nothing and thinking about everything, jeongguk's eyes, jeongguk's smile, jeongguk's voice. it all seems to make taehyung's heart do weird things that he never felt before, and didn't understand. but taehyung brushes it off as his nerves. taehyung thinks about calling his mother on jeongguk's landline to come pick him up. but taehyung barely even moves before jeongguk reappears from his room. the red catches taehyung's eye, and he looks up. in jeongguk's hand is a string, tied to a helium balloon. if there was one thing taehyung really loved, it was balloons. taehyung lets a smile ease its way onto his face. jeongguk seems to be happy that taehyung is smiling, and he giggles. taehyung thinks it's beautiful. no, not only the balloon. he's talking about jeongguk's giggle.

"hyung, do you like it? I bought it yesterday at this carnival."

taehyung nods enthusiastically, and his stutter seems to disappear.

"I love balloons! this is awesome!"

the couch dips as jeongguk takes a seat beside taehyung.

"I know, right! here, take it, hyung. it's for you."

taehyung's eyes widen.

"f-for me?"

"yeah, of course, hyung. since you like it so much."

taehyung takes the piece of string in his hand, admiring the balloon.

"isn't it pretty?"

"yeah, it's pretty, hyung. just like you are."

it takes a moment for taehyung to realise what just came out of jeongguk's mouth, and he's blushing when he does. taehyung doesn't know how to reply jeongguk, so he just keeps quiet and toys with the string. when he looks up, jeongguk is scratching his neck and his cheeks are also, evidently, a dark shade of red. taehyung smiles, pressing his lips onto jeongguk's cheek.

"you're blushing."

jeongguk flushes even harder at taehyung's kiss and his words, and places his hands on his warm cheeks. jeongguk laughs and nudges taehyung with his elbow.

"hyung, stop it."

taehyung giggles. it's the first time he's opened up to someone this fast. maybe jeongguk did like him after all. maybe jeongguk would be his best friend, forever and ever. taehyung's heart flips at the thought. he turns to face jeongguk.

"jeongguk, can we be best friends forever and ever?"

"of course, hyung! I'd love that!"

taehyung smiles and gives jeongguk a hug, just as the front door opens.

"children! did you play well?"

taehyung and jeongguk both nod, giggling. taehyung clutches his mother's hand in one of his and the balloon in the other, turning back to smile widely at jeongguk.

"bye, jeongguk!"

"bye, hyung!"

taehyung stares up at the balloon once again. "yeah, it's pretty, hyung. just like you are." taehyung grins again.

"mom, could we deflate this balloon later? I want to keep it."

"of course, darling. when we go home, okay?"

taehyung hums in response, his mind filled with jeongguk, jeongguk and jeongguk only.

a/n: hiii!!! i'm back again with a fic though i haven't finished the life of a lover :(((( i have writer's block for that fic uGh but anyway this is a taegguk fic! creds to @bigdickbts on ig for the idea (don't go check her posts because it spoils the story though) i'm kinda excited for this fic HAHAHA i hope you guys like it and this actually gets reads.. haha. have a nice day!