Behind the Scenes

Stay

"Jungkook, you okay bro?"

Jungkook felt a hand softly pat him on the shoulder. Still seated on the same rolling chair, he looked up and smiled lazily, "Yeah. Why?"

Jimin tilted his head at this. He noticed during their rehearsals that Jungkook was a little out of it, especially when the younger boy tripped on his own feet while they were practicing for their Black or White performance.

He eyed the faint dark circles on Jungkook's pale face. "You look tired."

Jungkook turned to the front and observed his features reflected on the full body mirror spanning the entire wall opposite him. He winced when he spotted the bags under his eyes and the strands of hair poking out of his head in random directions. He looked like a mess. "Yeah. I guess I do look kind of tired," he muttered. 

"Good work guys," Namjoon beamed and clapped his hands together, "let's wrap up today. Make sure to get enough rest, tomorrow's our last day of rehearsals."

"'Kay," the members hummed in response and bowed to the staff before leaving the room.

----xxxXXX///XXXxxx----

The boys entered their dorm and Jungkook quickly paced towards his room, the need to sleep becoming painfully urgent.

He hastily turned the cold knob and flung the door open, then stumbled his way towards his bed and flopped down on it. Heavy with sleep, his body curled up and he dozed off almost immediately, not even caring about the pile of used clothes that had accumulated on his bed underneath him or his half open door. He just really, really needed to sleep.

--

"Taehyung!"

The said boy was munching on last night's leftover fried chicken and jumped at his name being called. He wiped his fingers with a napkin and got up from the coffee table, searching around for the source of the voice.

"Yeah?" he yelled.

"Come here!" Taehyung jerked his head to the right. The sound was coming from the living room bathroom. He strutted towards it and pressed his ear against the door. "Yeah, I'm here."

He nearly fell over when the door clicked open. A fog of steam seeped through the slightly opened door and a wet hand poked through the door, clutching a blue portable charger. "I forgot to give this to Jungkook. Could you give it to him?"

Taehyung flinched when he heard Jungkook's name. "Hyung, why don't you just dry yourself up and give it to him yourself?"

The elder stretched his arm further, tapping the charger on Taehyung's chest. "I'm not done showering. I just heard it suddenly fall out of the pocket of my pants." 

"But hyung, he probably doesn't need it now."

Namjoon quickened the tapping, "Just take it! I'm getting cold."

"Fine," Taehyung sighed and grabbed the portable charger.

"Thanks." Namjoon thanked and shut the door, resuming his well-needed bath.

Taehyung walked slowly past the living room and towards Jungkook's room.

He really didn't feel like talking to Jungkook. He didn't know exactly why; he was just upset. About the other night, about today, about everything. Still, there he was, standing right in front of the younger boy's room, about to talk to him after two whole days.

He raised his hand to knock on the door but just when he was about to, he realized that the door was open. He pushed it slightly and peeked inside.

He looked around the room and found Jungkook curled up in bed. 

Oh. He's sleeping.

The older boy entered the room and gently closed the door behind him. He tip-toed towards the bed and kneeled down to level himself with the younger boy's sleeping form.

He watched as Jungkook's chest raised and dropped rhythmically to his breathing. The lights were off and the dim room made it difficult for Taehyung to make out the detailed features of the younger's face, but the street lights from outside the window cast a strip of orange light on Jungkook's closed eyes.

Jungkook had really long eyelashes. He wondered why he never noticed it before.

He brushed the younger's fringe to the side.

He looks so peaceful.

Taehyung leaned forward and placed his elbow on the edge of the bed, resting his chin on his palm. He gently stroked the younger's cheek with a finger and felt the crease of his small scar. Then he brought his hand up to Jungkook's hair and fidgeted with a few strands while studying his calm sleeping face.

He's so good-looking.

He let go of Jungkook's hair and proceeded to poke him on the cheek. He chuckled.

Cute.

"Having fun?" Jungkook suddenly said, his eyes flitting open.

Taehyung's eyes widened and he frantically withdrew his hand. "Y-you were awake?"

"Well, you kept touching me so..." Jungkook's lips curled up on one side, forming a lopsided smirk.

Taehyung found himself thankful for the closed lights when his felt his face redden immediately. "Um, sorry. Namjoon-hyung told me to give you this." He placed the blue device on top of Jungkook's bed. "I-I'll go now then. Good night."

He was about to get up when Jungkook reached out to grab his arm. "Hyung, wait."

Taehyung bit his lip. "What?" he queried nervously.

Jungkook looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"Stay with me."