The rain had been falling since morning.

Taehyung stood at the bus stop, his fingers wrapped tightly around his phone, staring at the screen even though there were no new messages. There never were-unless he texted first.

A car splashed water onto the side of the road, droplets hitting his shoes. He didn't move.

He was used to this.

Waiting.

Hoping.

Pretending.

His phone buzzed.

His heart jumped.

"Where are you?"

No "hi." No "are you okay." Just that.

Taehyung quickly typed back.

"At the bus stop. I've been waiting."

The reply came instantly.

"You're always so slow. Don't make me wait."

His fingers froze for a second before he locked the phone.

A small, familiar ache settled in his chest.

Still... he smiled.

Because at least he replied.

When Taehyung finally reached college, his clothes were slightly damp, his hair sticking to his face. The campus was loud-students laughing, talking, living.

He felt like he was just... passing through it all.

As he walked down the hallway, whispers followed him.

"Isn't that him?"

"The one always with that guy?"

"Yeah... poor thing."

Taehyung lowered his gaze and kept walking.

Then-

Thud.

His shoulder slammed into someone.

His books slipped from his hands, scattering across the floor.

"Watch where you're going," a low voice said.

Taehyung looked up.

Him.

Jungkook.

Tall, calm, unreadable. The kind of person who didn't need to try to be intimidating-he just was.

"You bumped into me," Taehyung muttered softly, kneeling to gather his books.

He didn't help.

Instead, he crouched slightly, picking up one notebook... only to glance at it and smirk.

"Taehyung," he read aloud. "You should try looking up when you walk."

His cheeks flushed. "Give it back."

For a moment, Jungkook just looked at him-like he was trying to figure something out.

Then he handed it over.

"Try not to fall apart next time," he said, standing up and walking away.

Taehyung watched him go, anger and embarrassment twisting inside his chest.

He hated him.

Or at least... he told himself he did.

That evening, Taehyung pushed open the front door quietly.

"Why are you late?" his stepmother's voice cut through the silence.

He froze.

"I-I had extra class-"

"Don't lie," she snapped, stepping into view. "You think I'm stupid?"

Taehyung shook his head quickly. "No."

"Then act like it."

She walked past him, shoulder hitting his arm just hard enough to sting.

"Dinner's in the kitchen. Eat and clean up. And don't make a mess."

He nodded, even though his throat felt tight.

Later that night, Taehyung sat on his bed, the room dim except for the soft glow of his phone.

He stared at his boyfriend's chat.

No new messages.

His fingers hovered over the screen.

Should he text first?

No... he didn't like that.

He put the phone down slowly.

Silence filled the room.

For a moment, his eyes drifted to the small box beside his bed. He opened it carefully.

Inside were old letters-his mother's handwriting, soft and familiar.

Taehyung picked one up, his hands trembling slightly.

"My dear Tae,

If you're reading this, I hope you remember one thing-

love should never make you feel small."

His vision blurred.

A tear slipped down his cheek.

Outside, the rain hadn't stopped.

And for the first time that day-

Taehyung wondered if the life he was holding onto...

was the one slowly breaking him.

Taehyung didn't expect the day to start gently.

But it did.

"Kim Taehyung, if you ignore me one more time, I will personally ruin your life."

A sharp-but oddly nice-voice came from behind.

Taehyung turned, blinking once... then sighed softly.

"Good morning, Jimin."

A dramatic gasp followed immediately.

"Wow. No hug? No smile? This is emotional betrayal."

Before Taehyung could respond, arms wrapped around him tightly.

Warm.

Familiar.

Safe.

Jimin wasn't just his best friend.

He was... everything good in Taehyung's life.

Rich. Popular. Loved by everyone.

But more than that-

He understood Taehyung the most.

"You didn't text me last night," Jimin said, pulling back slightly, his eyes carefully scanning Taehyung's face. "You look tired."

"I just couldn't sleep," Taehyung replied quietly.

"Or..." Jimin's voice dropped, his expression changing, "he did something again."

Taehyung looked away.

Silence.

That was enough of an answer.

Jimin exhaled slowly, clearly trying to control his anger.

"I don't like him," he said, his voice quieter now-but firm.

"I know."

"No, Tae," Jimin said, more serious than before. "You don't understand. He doesn't love you."

Taehyung's chest tightened.

"Don't say that."

"I'm saying it because it's true."

"Jimin."

A calm voice interrupted them.

Both turned.

Jin walked toward them, his expression soft but observant, as if he already knew something was wrong.

"What happened now?" he asked gently.

"Same problem," Jimin muttered.

Jin's gaze shifted to Taehyung.

"You okay?"

Taehyung nodded automatically.

Jin didn't believe him.

He never did.

The three of them walked together toward the cafeteria.

This was their routine.

Their small, safe world.

Inside, laughter filled the space.

But in the far corner-

Another group.

Louder. Sharper. Different.

Namjoon

Jhope

Suga

And him.

Jungkook

Jimin's eyes shifted-just for a second-toward Suga.

A faint blush appeared on his face before he quickly looked away.

Taehyung noticed.

But said nothing.

His own steps slowed.

Jimin caught it instantly.

"Don't look," he muttered under his breath.

Too late.

Jungkook was already looking.

Straight at Taehyung.

It wasn't a normal glance.

It was focused.

Intent.

Like he was trying to read something hidden under Taehyung's skin.

"Why is he staring?" Jimin frowned, clearly annoyed.

"Maybe because Tae walked into him yesterday," Jin said calmly.

"No," Jimin shook his head.

"That's not it."

"I don't like it."

"Let's just mind our business," Jin said softly.

Jimin nodded, but his expression stayed tense.

They were about to sit-

When someone stepped closer.

"Jin."

A familiar voice.

Soft. Careful.

Jin froze for just a second.

Then looked up.

Namjoon stood there, hands casually in his pockets... but his eyes weren't casual at all.

There was something warm in them.

Something that had been there for a long time.

"Hi," Namjoon said.

Simple.

Genuine.

Jin looked at him.

For a moment-

Just a moment-

Something flickered in his expression.

Then...

He looked away.

"Hey," Jin replied shortly, his tone calm but distant.

Too distant.

Namjoon's smile faded slightly.

But he didn't say anything.

Didn't push.

Jungkook was still watching.

But this time-

His gaze didn't leave Taehyung.

And then-

He walked over.

"Funny," Jungkook said calmly, stopping beside them.

"I didn't know the cafeteria allowed such... miserable faces."

Jimin scoffed immediately.

"Didn't know anyone asked for your opinion either."

"Jimin-" Jin warned softly.

"No, hyung."

Taehyung stayed silent.

But he could feel it.

That gaze.

Still on him.

"Why do you look like that all the time?" Jungkook said suddenly.

Taehyung looked up.

"Like what?"

"Like the world already ended for you."

The words hit.

Hard.

Silence fell.

Heavy.

Real.

And somewhere in that silence-

Taehyung realized something.

Jungkook wasn't just looking at him.

He was seeing him.

Taehyung exhaled slowly, his energy already drained.

"I don't have the energy to fight with you," he said calmly-

but he didn't look at Jungkook.

"Mind your own business."

A small pause followed.

Then-

"Yeah, you should," Jimin added immediately, his face clearly annoyed. "Mind your own business."

Jungkook didn't reply.

But his eyes stayed on Taehyung.

Sharp.

Unreadable.

"Okay, that's enough," Jin stepped in gently.

"We're not doing this here."

The tension hung in the air for a second longer.

Then Jin glanced at the time and sighed softly.

"It's time for class."

Jimin rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Perfect timing. I was about to throw hands."

Jin gave him a look.

"You say that every time."

"I mean it every time," Jimin muttered.

Taehyung didn't say anything.

He just grabbed his bag quietly.

As they turned to leave-

He could still feel it.

That gaze.

Even without looking back-

He knew

Jungkook was still watching him.

The classroom slowly filled with noise as students took their seats.

Taehyung walked in quietly, avoiding eye contact, and slipped into a chair near the window.

He liked that spot.

Less attention.

Less noise.

"Move, I'm sitting there."

Taehyung looked up.

Jimin was already walking toward him, bag in hand, completely ready to take his usual seat beside him.

For a moment-

Everything felt normal.

Until-

A chair scraped loudly.

Someone sat down beside Taehyung.

Too suddenly.

Too confidently.

Taehyung froze.

He didn't need to look.

He already knew.

Jungkook leaned back slightly, completely unbothered, like he belonged there.

Then he looked straight at Jimin-

And smiled.

Not a friendly smile.

A provoking one.

"This seat is mine now," Jungkook said casually.

"You can sit somewhere else."

Silence.

Then-

"What?" Jimin let out a disbelieving laugh. "Excuse me?"

His expression hardened instantly.

"How dare you? That's my seat."

Jungkook didn't move.

Didn't argue.

Just tilted his head slightly, still looking at him like it was all a joke.

Jimin stepped forward, clearly ready to start something.

"Get up-"

A hand caught his arm from behind.

Jimin turned.

Suga stood there, calm as always.

"You can sit with me," he said simply.

"If you don't mind."

Jimin blinked.

Just for a second-

His anger disappeared.

Replaced by something softer.

"Uh... yeah," he said, suddenly less loud. "I don't mind."

A faint blush crept onto his face.

As Jimin walked away with Suga-

Jungkook leaned slightly forward...

And gave Suga a small wink.

Taehyung noticed.

And for some reason-

His chest felt... strange.

Across the room, Jin stood for a moment, scanning the classroom.

No empty seats left.

"Hyung!"

Jhope called out, waving him over.

"You can sit with us. There's space."

Jin hesitated for a second.

Then walked over.

And there-

Already seated-

Was Namjoon.

Jin sat down beside him quietly.

Careful.

Distant.

Namjoon glanced at him.

Just once.

A small, almost invisible smile appearing on his lips.

Jin didn't look back.

Meanwhile-

Taehyung sat still.

Too aware.

Of Jungkook.

Right next to him.

"You're quiet," Jungkook said suddenly.

Taehyung didn't respond.

A pause.

Then-

"Do you always let people decide things for you?" Jungkook added, voice low.

That made Taehyung look at him.

And for a second-

Their eyes met.

Too close.

Too intense.

Too dangerous.

The classroom slowly settled as the professor walked in.

Taehyung tried to focus.

Tried.

"You're trying too hard."

The voice came from beside him.

Low. Calm.

Annoying.

Taehyung didn't look.

"I'm not."

"Yeah?" Jungkook leaned slightly closer.

"Then why are you holding your pen like it's going to run away?"

Taehyung glanced down.

His grip tightened.

He immediately loosened it.

"...mind your business."

Jungkook smirked.

"I am. You're my business now."

Taehyung froze.

That didn't sound like a joke.

Before he could reply-

A piece of paper slid onto his desk.

He frowned and opened it slightly.

Messy handwriting.

"Try breathing. You look like you're about to pass out."

Taehyung blinked.

Slowly turned his head.

Jungkook was already looking at him.

Like he was waiting.

Taehyung quickly looked away.

But something in his chest felt... lighter.

And that confused him even more.

Across the room-

"Why are you sitting so far?" Jimin whispered, leaning toward Suga.

"I'm not," Suga replied calmly.

"You are. Emotionally."

Suga blinked.

"...what?"

Jimin leaned even closer.

"Like, physically you're here-but emotionally you're like... in another universe."

Suga stared at him for a second.

Then-very slowly-

Moved his chair one inch closer.

"There," he said. "Better?"

Jimin froze.

Then smiled.

Too quickly.

Too brightly.

"Yeah... better."

A small blush spread across his face.

Behind them-

Jhope leaned toward Namjoon.

"Did you just witness that?" he whispered dramatically.

Namjoon didn't answer.

He was looking at someone else.

At Jin.

Jin was writing quietly.

Focused.

Calm.

Unaware.

Namjoon smiled faintly.

Soft.

Unspoken.

"Hyung," Jhope whispered again, "you're staring."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm observing."

"You're in love."

Namjoon coughed.

Jin looked up slightly.

"What?"

"Nothing," Namjoon said quickly, looking away.

Jhope grinned.

"Wow. That was painful to watch."

Meanwhile-

Back at Taehyung's desk-

"Hey."

Jungkook's voice again.

Closer this time.

Taehyung turned slightly.

"What?"

Jungkook leaned in just enough to make Taehyung's breath hitch.

"Do you always listen to him?" he asked.

"Who?"

"That guy."

Taehyung frowned. "Don't talk about him like that."

Jungkook's expression changed slightly.

Not angry.

But sharper.

"So you do listen."

"That's not your problem."

Jungkook leaned back, crossing his arms.

"You're right," he said.

Pause.

Then-

"But it's annoying."

Taehyung blinked. "What is?"

"The way you let him control you."

The words hit.

Hard.

Taehyung looked away again.

Because he didn't have an answer.

For a moment-

Jungkook didn't say anything.

Then-

Another note slid across the desk.

"You don't look like someone who deserves that."

Taehyung stared at it.

Longer this time.

And for the first time-

He didn't push it away.