playing by the rules || j.jk

XXV

"Chapter 25"

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My stomach began to feel nervously bubbly and my limbs craved to reach out to Jungkook but I suppressed the urges, knowing he probably needs some time along. I just hoped calming down didn't involve old habits nor illegal substances. I'd seen his tempers before and what happened after the tempers was even more terrifying. Sometimes he'd be so bad, it was like he was brain dead, a zombie, just merely existing.

After leaving the food hall, I took Taehyung by the hand and led him around the back of the food cabin, sitting down, back to the damp and aged wood and he sat across from me, looking at the floor. He could barely look me in the eyes for a few seconds and he was twiddling his thumbs, much like a child.

"Taehyung-" My voice was calm and soothed but was quickly interrupted.

"I-I'm sorry Ji-Young, I'm so sorry, please forgive me. Please!" Small sobs escaped his throat and tears brimmed his waterline, eyes slightly bloodshot. 

"Tae, I just-"

"It was so wrong, it's just, the alcohol and all the romance around the fire, and you and Jungkook. I couldn't stop myself, my mind was clouded by jealousy. B-Because I-" he paused, breathing to regain his composure. "Because I like you Ji-Young, I have for a long while, but you never responded. It has been painful seeing you go, seeing the kindness and love you once showed me suddenly switch to Jungkook."

Honestly, I wasn't completely surprised. He had always been kind to me yet I had guessed it was more a childhood best friend, I see you like my little sister, protective kind of thing. I'd never have guessed he had experienced feelings for me. Across from me, I could hear his breath become slightly laboured and I scooted closer, guiding him through a breathing exercise the nurses taught me after the accident. Once he calmed down, I hugged him.

"It was incredibly wrong what you did, okay?" He nodded against my shoulder. "But, I know you were drunk and hurt, so since it didn't go further and you seem sincerely sorry, I will let it go, okay?" He nodded again and pulled away and a slight smile graced his beautiful face. "But-"

"You have feelings for Jungkook."

Hitting him, I said "STOP INTERRUPTING ME!" He chucked to that. "And, a month ago and before that, I was completely in love with you. I was convinced - in my dreams of course - that you would have my children. But, recently, Jungkook has helped me realise a lot of things and-" I now paused, feeling a little choked up. "My feelings have moved to him."

"Well, I support it because that boy loves you and everyone knows it except you." Taehyung rolled his eyes, making me hit him. "SERIOUSLY! You think he's playing with you I bet... but he isn't. If he was, he'd have gotten you into bed by now."

"Ew."

"It's true. I mean at first, I admit, his feelings did seem physical because come on, after the summer, you got hot. But, the more we had conversations-"

"You guys had conversations about me!"

"What do you think we do when we sleep over. We play games and talk about hot girls, that's about it!" He laughed, exposing his boxy smile which I loved so much. "Look, go get that boy back and tell him what you told me and that you are head over heels for him."

"I should?"

"Yes you should, but-"

"but what?"

"I will only stop my feelings for you on one condition."

"Mhm, okay." Subconsciously, my eyes rolled and I leaned back cockily.