☾Trial & Error☽ → kth | jjk

XV

Waking up on the first day of family vacation with a head cold is not recommended, 0/10

Jungkook's jaw nearly hit the sidewalk.

He stared in complete and utter shock, unable to formulate a proper response for a few, heavy seconds. How was he even supposed to react? All this time he was convinced Taehyung just enjoyed being a dick.

It was a crush?!

"I- Um- Taehyung," Jungkook stammered, his mind coming up blank. "Why...?"

Taehyung cast his eyes down to the sidewalk for a moment and he shrugged his shoulders.
"It just sort of happened, I guess." He mumbled. "You're super passionate about things, first of all. Sophomore year I took a basic music theory course to get my fine arts credit and my class was in the same building as the dance studios; I used to see you in there after class dancing by yourself. I admired the work ethic."

"And? It can't just be the fact I love dancing." Jungkook awkwardly laughed, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Well the rest of it sounds super cheesy, if I'm being honest... I know I seem like this careless rich kid but I'm kind of a sap." Taehyung felt his cheeks heat up a bit as he continued. "You always seemed super sweet and everything you do just feels so genuine; you're not, like... pretending to be someone you're not. There's this good vibe that just seems to surround you. You never seemed like the type to... to turn people away- you give people chances." His gaze was still fixed away from Jungkook, afraid that if he made eye contact he'd be met with a less than pleasant reaction from the latter. "You're giving me a chance."

"So... you like me for my the way I act? My personality, basically?" Jungkook muttered aloud, confused among all the things.

Taehyung nodded slowly. "Yeah. And I mean- don't get me wrong, you're cute as hell and I don't think I've ever heard a laugh so lively before but that's all a plus in my mind. Sorry- that's probably super weird and super dumb, it sounded better in my head." He grimaced and brought a hand up to rub his forehead.

Jungkook opened and closed his mouth one or two times before he could figure out what to say; because what do you even say to that? Jungkook has figured Taehyung was one of those wealthy assholes that probably would be the type to get in someone's pants before take them to dinner. This jus contradicted everything he had ever thought. Taehyung didn't care about how Jungkook looked at all, from how it sounded.

"That's... kind of... sweet." Jungkook finally said, which brought a sheepish smile from the red haired boy. "But I don't- really feel the same? I mean- shit, how do I say this without being a total douche. Look, Taehyung, I don't think-"

Taehyung shook his hand quickly. "No! No, don't, please, don't worry. I'm not one of those people that gets all bitter about rejection. I understand... just- don't stress about it. I didn't really expect you to reciprocate the feelings."

Jungkook breathed a sigh of relief, managing a half-hearted smile. "Good. I mean- I'm glad? Yeah." He ran a hand through his hair. "So... I mean, we can still try this whole friends thing."

"We can?"

"Yeah. If you want." Jungkook shrugged, trying to make it seem like he didn't feel internally awful about the whole situation at hand. Taehyung said he understood but he still felt like a dick.

"Okay." Taehyung responded after a quiet pause. "Friends."
He did his best to seem cool and collected, when in fact Taehyung was having a slight emotional crisis. He had just been totally locked into the friend zone and wasn't sure what to think about it. Part of him was a bit disappointed but the majority of him as eager to see where this would go. Hopefully it'd be smooth sailing from here.

He could handle this. Yeah, Taehyung could definitely handle this.

So almost a week and a couple of friendly outings later, Taehyung came to the conclusion that he most definitely, 100% could not handle this.

He was starting to get to know Jungkook on a whole new level now! Jungkook was beginning to open up more to Taehyung; he was actually trying and so was Taehyung. Granted, they were both trying for different things.

Jungkook was trying to look past his preconceived beliefs about Taehyung, while Taehyung was trying not to focus on his rapid heart rate anytime Jungkook laughed at one of his one-liner jokes.

Taehyung learned all about Jungkook; his favorite color, his dog back home, his family, his favorite and least favorite foods, that he dabbles in sketching from time to time- and it all made Taehyung admire him so much more. Aside from the bitter responses he used to give Taehyung, there was hardly a thing to dislike about the boy.

"This was a good idea, Taehyung." Jungkook said at the end of a walk they had taken. It was Taehyungs idea to walk around that evening after a long week of stress, and both boys were pleasantly surprised at how relieved they had felt afterwards. "I don't feel as nervous about the upcoming showcase on Monday, for now that is. Still. Live in the moment, right?" He sighed, opening the door to their shared dorm.

Taehyung nodded in agreement. "I get it. But I've seen you dance before, you'll blow them away." He smiled. Jungkook kicked his shoes off and smiled back, just as sincere.

"Thanks, Tae." He turned to go into the bedroom but stopped for a moment. "I'm glad we're doing this friends thing... I kind of like it." And then he disappeared from the small living room, leaving only the sound of Taehyung's ever-pounding heart to overwhelm the silence.

Friend. That was an upgrade from 'annoying headass' or whatever it was Jungkook used to call him. He kicked his shoes off in the same general direction Jungkook had and flopped down onto the couch, letting out a groan.

He was beginning to feel like this 'friend' upgrade was making his itch for something more grow.

I want to sleep but I DEADASS cannot breathe through my nose, but NyQuil is making me so sleepy lmaoooo