school desk | vkook

- TWENTY-THREE -

When Taehyung steps onto the school bus the following morning, he's decided not to sit next to Jeongguk. He knows he won't be able to keep his hands off, and Taehyung doesn't know if acting like a couple in front of Jeongguk's friends is the best idea. However, just when he's about to sit down next to Hoseok, Jeongguk waves him over from the back of the bus (his huge group of friends always sit there because there are so many seats). Taehyung gives Hoseok an apologetic look before walking past him. He'll understand, he knows the whole story from lots of screams in the chocolate milk gang group chat yesterday.

Jeongguk is sat next to a girl Taehyung's seen many times before, but moves a seat so that Taehyung can sit in between them. The girl lets out a disappointed huff, but Taehyung's only focused on the pretty boy next to him.

"Hello there!" Jeongguk smiles at him as he sits down.

"Taehyung-ssi," Seokjin says from the seat in front of them. It's weird to hear him speak in a polite way. "I heard you've finally seen the light and made a good dating decision for once," he praises. Jeongguk can't stop smiling at the older's comment, it was just a compliment to him.

"Eh, thanks?" Taehyung says.

"Don't listen to what he says." The girl next to him suddenly speaks up. She has short, black hair tucked behind her ears. The school recently took away their makeup ban so more and more girls wear it nowadays, and Taehyung can see she was quick to jump on the trend. "My name's Kwon Aeri, by the way. Close friends with Jeongguk."

Jeongguk gives Aeri a strange look, but Taehyung doesn't think much of it and shakes her hand. "I'm Kim Taehyung."

"I know." She takes her phone out and Tae turns back to his boyfriend, who rests his head on his shoulder.

"How much did you miss me the last twelve hours?" Taehyung asks, playfully patting his hair.

"Very much." Jeongguk strokes the older's big hand.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Taehyung whispers. "Sitting like this around people from school, I mean."

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?"

Taehyung struggles with the words. "I'm just saying...you used to be so careful around them, not wanting to be seen with uncool people like me."

Jeongguk removes his head from his shoulder, looking down sadly. "I've changed, Tae... I thought you knew..."

The words and sad expression break Taehyung's heart, so he's quick to wrap his arms around his boyfriend. "I know, Ggukie," he whispers. "I'm just paranoid. I'll stop. I'm glad you're not scared."

"Good, because none of my friends mind, I'm sure of i-"

"Jeonggukie, we arrived!" Aeri interrupts cheerfully as the bus is emptying.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Jeongguk says in a bothered tone. "Ladies first." He motions for her to go away, muttering an annoyed "Jeonggukie my ass" as she leaves.

"Hey, don't be so cold towards her," Taehyung scolds the younger. "She seems nice!"

"If not having a personality whatsoever is nice, then sure."

"Then why are you two friends?"

"We aren't really," Jeongguk sighs. "She's friends with the girl Namjoon hyung's dating so she's been following us around for the last few months."

"Haven't you guys always been friends with a bunch of girls, though?" Taehyung asks. They are the last people to stand up.

"Yeah, but they're all cool!" Jeongguk looks at Taehyung, "Aeri, however, had never said a word before and one day last week she suddenly started clinging to us and talking constantly about the same things... and she gets butthurt and rude at random times. Ugh, she's so annoying, can't she just go away?"

"You know, Ggukie," Taehyung says, grabbing Jeongguk's hand as they step off the bus. "Sometimes you can be really wrong even about the people you despise. I would know. And so would you!"

"You've got a point, I guess..." Jeongguk sighs. "I still don't like her at all though."

Taehyung shakes his head, changing the subject. "What's your first lesson?"

"Art, so I gotta go. See you at lunch?" Jeongguk quickly pecks him on the lips, smiling brightly with his whole face before turning away.

"See you at lunch!" Taehyung lets go of his boyfriend's hand, waving him off with a foolish grin plastered on his face. God, he's so whipped.

+

Jeongguk grabs his lunchbox and texts Taehyung.

TAE 💕

where are you? :)

outside, next to the
basketball court
with hoseok ☺️

omw!

It's unusually warm outside for late February, a thin jacket is all Jeongguk needs to bring outside. The sun is shining brightly, occasionally getting covered by a cloud. Hoseok and Taehyung are sat across from each other at a wooden table next to an abandoned backpack and cherry trees that have not yet blossomed. But it's still a pretty nice place to sit.

"Hi guys!" Jeongguk says cheerfully and takes a seat next to Taehyung, immediately earning an arm around his back and a kiss on the lips. Both boys giggle as they pull away and Hoseok playfully rolls his eyes in front of them.

"Ugh, don't tell me you guys are in that lovey dovey phase now... I expected nothing less from Mr Hopeless Romantic here, but I had higher hopes for you, Jeongguk!"

"It's not a phase!" Taehyung protests with a pout, wrapping his arms around Jeongguk who's opening his lunchbox. The maknae scrunches his face towards him, pecking his boyfriend a few times just to annoy Hoseok. "Where's Jimin by the way?"

"He's right over there!" Hoseok swallows a vegetable and points behind them towards Jimin, who is walking towards the trio, phone in hand.

Jimin comes to sit down, so Hoseok moves a little to the left to make space for him. Jimin looks up at them as he sits. "Guys, what would you buy your 13 year old girlfriend for her birthday?"

Taehyung nearly chokes on his water, staring at his friend. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Hyung!?" Jeongguk exclaims.

Hoseok speaks up too. "Who is this 13 year old and wh-"

"Geez, guys!" Jimin holds his hands up in defense. "I don't have any 13 year old girlfriend, oh my god!" He bursts out laughing. "My brother's asking for girl advice, as if I would be any help." Jimin shows them his phone screen where his younger brother, Seungmin, has been texting him. "He's being really secretive about who it is but apparently she's a fun person and likes most things, which should make it easier to buy a present but it really doesn't."

"Eh, I don't know," says Taehyung. "It's Taesol's birthday this week and I'm buying her a Spirited Away shirt but obviously she's not my girlfriend so..."

"I'll tell him that Taehyung is buying anime merch," Jimin announces and goes on his phone again. After a minute, he furrows his eyebrows and looks up. "Tae, does your sister have a boyfriend?"

"I think s- oh!"

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dw i'm not gonna write any 13 year old hetero romance bc none of us are about that lmao