ᴄʀᴜᴛᴄʜᴇs || ᴊ.ᴊᴋ + ᴋ.ᴛʜ ✔️

eight: beauty in graphite

It had since become a casual, daily thing--after the practices, and during the short breaks during those practices, Taehyung would always make his way swiftly over to the bleachers to sit beside Jungkook. Sometimes, he would get lucky. Sometimes Taehyung could actually get the boy to talk, usually about small things, meaningless things, but Tae didn't mind, because he was simply relieved Jungkook would talk to him at all. So even if their "conversations" lasted all of ten seconds, Taehyung was thankful for them.

Today was another day, and Taehyung expected it to be as any other, though again, he chose to remain positive and held on to the hope that perhaps Jungkook would talk a little more today, or that Taehyung would be surprised. And he was. The reason being something Jungkook had brought along with him to the bleachers--a book of some sort, it appeared to Taehyung from a distance. However when the time came for Tae to join the boy on those white benches, he realized this thing Jungkook had brought with him wasn't just a book, but a sketchbook.

He lowered himself to the seat beside Jungkook, slower than usual. Jungkook didn't say anything. He didn't move. Taehyung hesitated to do either.

"...you draw?"

"I have to now."

It came as an immediate response. And it made Taehyung wonder if Jungkook had predicted his question ahead of time and prepared this brief selection of words, hoping it would suffice. It didn't at first, because Taehyung didn't stop to think about what Jungkook meant. But then he recalled suddenly a small portion of the conversation he shared with Seokjin and Hoseok when the three sat together that day at Daegu Diner. Not only that, but Jimin's mentioning of the subject as well, and of Jungkook's brother Junghyun, and of the possibility, perhaps even the likelihood, of Jungkook being urged to join the art club.

Had it come to that?

"She told me she was being kind...extending the time for me."

Taehyung's train of thought snapped once Jungkook had spoken up - on his own this time, which automatically made a difference. Tae fixed his eyes on the boy's expression. As usual, Jungkook wasn't looking at him, but rather downward, this time at the closed sketchbook resting on his lap.

"I don't want to. But I have to."

Yes, now he understood. It was just as Seokjin had explained. Because of their school's "program of study," Jungkook was required to be involved in an extracurricular activity of some kind, and due to his recent injury, a number of his options had been wiped clean off the table. But rules were rules, and not even Jungkook in his pitiful state could be exempt from them. Now here the boy was, miserably holding this drawing pad which would have to filled, at least somewhat, with something, and turned in as proof of participation. Taehyung thought of what to say. He tried, and at first the only thing that came to mind was to hug Jungkook, but he didn't, because he had a strong feeling that wouldn't be the right choice. Not with this person. Not now.

"...those drawings of yours in the hallway at your house were really good."

"Those weren't mine."

At this, Taehyung drew his head back in puzzlement. "But...Jimin told me you drew them."

"Why would Jimin tell you that?"

"Well, I asked him. So you didn't draw them?"

"No, I did."

"Oh, okay, my mistake. Wait-" His head went forward again on its own, this time due to the laughter which bubbled up and out of his throat. He didn't know why he laughed. And needless to say Jungkook didn't know why, either. But then again everything about Tae confused him so he wasn't surprised.