between heaven and disaster | jjk + kth ✔️

three

By the third week, Jeongguk finally asks the question that's ringing in his mind as Taehyung appears once again.

"Why are you still here?" He sighs. Every day, Taehyung has shown up without fail, despite what he heard Jeongguk say weeks ago. One would think he'd stay away or distance himself but not once has Taehyung missed a day.

Not even when it poured a storm outside and trees fell over. Taehyung showed up, looking like a drenched cat, but had a big smile on his face when he pulled out the food he protected successfully tucked into his jacket.

Jeongguk was speechless that day.

"What do you mean?" Taehyung asks, setting down the lunch he packed for Jeongguk.

"Why are you still bringing me food? Why are you still talking to me?"

Taehyung shrugs, blinking the curly hair out of his eyes. "Your eating habits aren't very healthy, Jimin used to tell me how you wouldn't eat much sometimes because of how much you practiced. And how it gets worse when a performance is coming up. I want to make sure you're eating well."

Jeongguk stares at him, trying to find anything in his face that says he has an ulterior motive.

"Yeah, well," Jeongguk sighs. "I hope you know I'm still not going to go out with you."

He doesn't even consider them friends. Not even because they're in the same friend group and he's befriended Yoongi and Namjoon, who he originally only knew from Jin's stories.

Taehyung doesn't seem surprised by his words, he only nods like he expects it. "Yeah. I know. But really, I just want you to eat well. I know I'm no chef like Yoongi or Jin but it's not bad. Right? If you really don't like my cooking, I'll stop. I'll just bring you snacks or takeout instead."

Jeongguk blinks in confusion. Of course the food isn't bad, but he didn't expect Taehyung to offer to buy him food every day. They're in college, how can he even fathom buying takeout every day for someone else?

"No," Jeongguk stutters, realizing he stayed quiet for a bit too long. "No, of course not. It's not bad. I don't mind it. I just." He bite his lip in concentration. "I just don't understand why you care so much."

As far as Taehyung knows, Jeongguk doesn't like him. That he actually hates him. But he still cares enough to set aside time to prepare him something, goes out of his way to deliver it, and doesn't want anything in return. That can't be right.

"I just do." He answers simply. "I want to make sure you're okay and that you're eating right." He shrugs again and smiles. "Have a nice practice, Jeongguk. See you tomorrow!"

With that, he walks out the door, leaving Jeongguk even more confused than he was earlier.

There has to be something else, Taehyung can't seriously be making him food simply because he's concerned for him. He scoffs, it's ridiculous. No one in their right mind would waste their time and money so generously without expecting anything in return.

*

It continues to happen this way and Jeongguk still can't figure it out.

Weeks go by and the season changes and Taehyung still brings him food.

Even when he's busy or running late, he always brings him something. Disheveled, he'll apologize to Jeongguk and say he's got class in a bit and leave and Jeongguk can only watch in frustration.