Short Stories
The boy who stayed (1)
Jungkook had always hated rain.
Not because it was cold. Not because it ruined his clothes.
He hated it because every important memory in his life seemed to happen under a gray sky.
The day his father left.
The day he moved away from his childhood home.
And the day he met Kim Taehyung.
The rain poured heavily outside the university library as Jungkook hugged his books against his chest.
jeon jungkook
"Great," **he muttered**"Just great."
His umbrella had broken that morning, and now he was stranded.
As he stared at the storm, a black umbrella suddenly appeared above his head.
jeon jungkook
**Jungkook blinked**
Standing beside him was a tall boy with soft brown hair and a warm smile.
..
"Need help?" **the stranger asked**
His deep voice somehow sounded comforting.
jeon jungkook
**Jungkook hesitated**
"I'll be fine."
..
**The boy laughed**
"With that broken umbrella?"
jeon jungkook
**Jungkook looked down at the umbrella hanging sadly from his hand**
"...Okay, maybe not."
..
**The stranger's smile widened**
"Come on."
For some reason, Jungkook followed.
They walked side by side beneath the umbrella.
The boy smelled faintly of vanilla and coffee.
Kim taehyung
"I'm Kim Taehyung."
jeon jungkook
"Jeon Jungkook."
Jungkook felt his ears grow warm.
Why was his heart beating so fast?
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks turned into months.
And somehow Taehyung became the most important person in Jungkook's life.
They studied together.
Ate together.
Stayed up all night watching movies together.
Taehyung was always there.
When Jungkook failed an exam.
When he cried after receiving bad news from home.
When he felt lonely.
Taehyung stayed.
And that scared Jungkook more than anything.
Because people always left.
Everyone did.
Sooner or later.
One winter night, they sat on the university rooftop.
Snowflakes drifted from the sky.
Jungkook leaned against the railing.
jeon jungkook
"You know," **he said softly** "I think people are like seasons."
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung looked at him**
"What do you mean?"
jeon jungkook
"They come into your life... stay for a while... then leave."
Kim taehyung
**For a moment, Taehyung was silent.
Then he stepped closer.
Close enough that Jungkook could hear his heartbeat**
"Then I'll be different."
jeon jungkook
**Jungkook's breath caught**
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung gently took his hand.
And whispered**
"I'll stay."
The snow continued falling around them as Jungkook stared into Taehyung's eyes.
For the first time in years...
He wanted to believe someone.
And for the first time in years...
He was falling in love.
The boy who stayed (2)
The weeks passed peacefully.
Too peacefully.
Jungkook should have known happiness never stayed long in his life.
It was late evening when he received a phone call.
mrs jeon
**His mother's voice trembled**
"Grandma is in the hospital."
jeon jungkook
**The color drained from his face**
"What?"
mrs jeon
"She's not waking up."
The phone slipped from his fingers.
His grandmother was the only person who had loved him unconditionally.
The only one who always waited for his calls.
The only one who never made him feel unwanted.
And now...
She might be gone.
Before he realized it, tears were falling.
Strong arms suddenly wrapped around him.
Taehyung.
Jungkook hadn't even noticed him arrive.
The words were simple.
Yet they shattered Jungkook completely.
He buried his face in Taehyung's chest and cried.
For hours.
Taehyung never once complained.
Never once let go.
That night Taehyung sat beside Jungkook's bed.
Jungkook had cried himself to sleep.
His eyes were swollen.
His cheeks stained with tears.
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung stared at him silently.
Then smiled sadly**
"You really have no idea, do you?"
Kim taehyung
**His fingers gently brushed Jungkook's hair away from his forehead**
"I love you."
The confession came out barely above a whisper.
A secret.
A truth.
A heartbreak.
Because Jungkook was asleep.
He couldn't hear it.
The next morning, Jungkook woke up to find Taehyung sitting beside him with two cups of coffee.
jeon jungkook
"You stayed all night?"
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung shrugged**
"You looked like you needed someone."
Jungkook smiled.
A genuine smile.
One that made Taehyung's heart ache.
Because all he wanted was to tell him.
To tell him everything.
A few days later, Jungkook's grandmother finally opened her eyes.
Relief flooded through him.
He laughed.
He cried.
And without thinking, he threw himself into Taehyung's arms.
Taehyung froze.
Jungkook had never hugged him like this before.
Never held him this tightly.
Never looked at him with such warmth.
For a dangerous moment...
Taehyung almost kissed him.
Almost.
But he stopped himself.
Because losing Jungkook's friendship would destroy him.
That night Taehyung stood alone on the rooftop.
The same rooftop where he had promised to stay.
Snow drifted through the dark sky.
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung turned**
His best friend, Jimin, stood behind him.
park jimin
"You love him."
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung laughed bitterly**
"That obvious?"
park jimin
"Painlessly obvious."
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung looked toward the city lights**
"What if he doesn't feel the same?"
park jimin
**Jimin's expression softened**
"Then you'll survive."
Kim taehyung
"And if I lose him?"
park jimin
**For a moment, Jimin said nothing.
Then quietly replied**
"That would break you."
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung closed his eyes
Because he knew Jimin was right**
Across campus...
Jungkook sat alone in his dorm room.
Staring at his phone.
At a picture of himself and Taehyung.
His heart beat strangely.
Faster.
Warmer.
Different.
jeon jungkook
**He touched the screen softly.
And whispered words he didn't fully understand**
"I miss him."
Even though they had seen each other only three hours ago.
And for the first time...
Jungkook began wondering if friendship was enough.
The boy who stayed (3)
The next few weeks felt different.
Jungkook didn't know why.
Nothing had changed.
Taehyung was still Taehyung.
Still texting him good morning.
Still saving him a seat in class.
Still buying him banana milk whenever he looked stressed.
Yet somehow...
Everything felt different.
Camille
"Jungkook!"
**A cheerful voice called his name**
jeon jungkook
**He turned around**
A beautiful girl from his literature class waved at him.
Camille
"Would you like to study together this weekend?"
jeon jungkook
**Jungkook smiled politely**
"Sure."
What he didn't notice was the figure standing a few meters away.
Watching.
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung's jaw tightened**
park jimin
**Jimin noticed immediately**
"Oh no."
park jimin
"You're jealous."
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung nearly choked**
"I'm not jealous."
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung glared at him**
park jimin
**Jimin simply laughed**
The entire day Taehyung was unusually quiet.
Jungkook noticed.
Of course he did.
He always noticed things about Taehyung.
jeon jungkook
"Are you okay?"
jeon jungkook
"You're lying."
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung sighed**
Why did Jungkook know him so well?
Unfortunately...
Jungkook didn't know the one thing that mattered most.
Saturday arrived.
Jungkook sat in a café with the girl from class.
They talked.
Laughed.
Shared notes.
Completely innocent.
But when Taehyung accidentally walked past the café window...
His heart sank.
Because from outside...
They looked like a couple.
Taehyung walked away before Jungkook could see him.
For the first time in months...
He felt angry.
Not at Jungkook.
At himself.
Because he had waited too long.
Because someone else might confess first.
Because Jungkook might fall for someone else.
And Taehyung would have no right to stop it.
That evening Jungkook called him.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
Worry.
Finally, near midnight, Jungkook found Taehyung sitting alone on the rooftop.
The city lights sparkled below.
jeon jungkook
"Why weren't you answering?"
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung shrugged**
jeon jungkook
**Jungkook frowned**
"Did I do something wrong?"
Kim taehyung
**The hurt in his voice made Taehyung look up immediately**
"No."
jeon jungkook
"Then what's wrong?"
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
The kind that carried too many emotions.
Kim taehyung
"You looked happy today."
jeon jungkook
**Jungkook blinked**
"What?"
Kim taehyung
"At the café."
jeon jungkook
**Realization hit him**
"Oh."
Kim taehyung
**Taehyung laughed bitterly**
"She likes you, doesn't she?"
Before Taehyung could leave, Jungkook grabbed his wrist.
The touch froze them both.
The night suddenly felt too quiet.
Too small.
Too intimate.
jeon jungkook
"Why do you care?"**Jungkook asked softly**
Taehyung's heart stopped.
Because he couldn't answer.
Not honestly.
Not yet.
So he looked away.
And whispered,
Jungkook stared at him.
His pulse racing.
His heart pounding.
Because for some reason...
Those three words felt more like a confession than an answer.
And for the first time...
Jungkook started wondering if Taehyung's feelings for him were more than friendship.
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