chapter 5

Jungkook decided, very seriously, that having a crush was the most inconvenient thing in the world.

It made his stomach feel weird at the worst times. It made his ears burn whenever Taehyung laughed too loudly near him. It made him suddenly forget how doors worked when Taehyung was the one opening them.

And worst of all, it made him think about small, useless things. Like the way Taehyung's sleeves were always pushed up a little, or how his voice softened when he talked to Grandma, or how he smelled faintly like laundry soap and something warm Jungkook couldn't name.

None of these things were important.

Unfortunately, Jungkook's heart disagreed.

It was a Saturday afternoon when the realization truly hit him, sitting cross-legged on his bedroom floor, textbooks open but untouched, pencil abandoned somewhere near his knee. Outside, laughter floated in through the open window.

Taehyung's laughter.

Jungkook froze.

He scooted closer to the window without meaning to, peeking out carefully like the world might scold him for being curious. Next door, Taehyung was in the yard with Jimin and Hobi.

Jin was perched on the low fence, animatedly talking about something while Namjoon listened with a fond smile, nodding like he always did.

They looked... comfortable. Easy. Like they belonged together in this space.

Taehyung threw his head back when he laughed, sunlight catching in his hair. He clapped his hands once, dramatic as ever, and said something that made Jimin shove him lightly.

Jungkook's chest felt tight.

Not bad-tight. Just... full.

He pressed his chin against the windowsill, eyes following Taehyung without thinking. Taehyung moved a lot when he talked, hands, shoulders, whole body involved. He was bright like that. Like he couldn't help spilling warmth everywhere.

Jungkook swallowed.

"Stupid," he muttered softly to himself.

As if on cue, Taehyung turned his head.

Their eyes met.

Jungkook panicked.

He ducked down instantly, heart slamming so hard it felt like it might actually be heard through the walls. He scrambled backward, bumping into his bed, then sat there frozen, hands clutched in his sleeves.

He waited.

Three seconds. Five. Ten.

Nothing happened.

He slowly exhaled, pressing a hand to his chest. "Why am I like this," he whispered to the empty room, voice small and embarrassed.

A knock sounded downstairs.

Jungkook flinched.

Then he heard Grandma's voice, warm and welcoming, and Taehyung's voice answering back, cheerful as always.

Jungkook groaned softly and collapsed face-first onto his bed.

Of course.

Of course Taehyung would come over.

Grandma loved him. Everyone loved him. He brought groceries sometimes. Fixed the squeaky gate. Sat with her in the evenings and listened to her stories like they mattered.

Jungkook's parents were kind, but busy, always moving, always working, always tired. Taehyung was... present.

Jungkook rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling.

Get it together, Jeon Jungkook. He's just Taehyung-hyung. Your neighbor. That's it.

The word hyung made his face heat up.

A soft knock came at his bedroom door.

"Jungkookie?" Taehyung's voice, gentle and sing-song. "You in there?"

Jungkook shot upright so fast he got dizzy. "Y-Yes!"

The door opened slowly. Taehyung peeked in, smiling. "Hey. You disappeared earlier. Thought you might be studying."

Jungkook nodded too fast. "I am. Studying."

Taehyung glanced at the untouched books, then back at Jungkook. His smile turned fond instead of teasing. "Uh-huh."

Jungkook tugged at his sleeves. "Did you need something?"

"Grandma asked me to bring you some tteok," Taehyung said, holding up a small plate. "She said you forget to eat when you're 'thinking too hard.'"

Jungkook's ears burned. "She didn't have to."

"She wanted to," Taehyung replied simply, stepping in and setting the plate on Jungkook's desk. "You okay? You look... red."

"I'm fine," Jungkook squeaked.

Taehyung tilted his head, studying him for a moment. Not in a scary way. Just... noticing. Like he always did.

"You know," Taehyung said casually, "when I was your age, I used to hide in my room a lot too."

Jungkook blinked. "You did?"

"Yeah," Taehyung chuckled softly. "People think I've always been loud, but I wasn't. I just... learned how to be."

Jungkook processed this quietly. He liked learning things about Taehyung. Little things. Soft things.

Taehyung leaned against the desk. "If you ever don't feel like talking, that's okay. You don't have to force yourself."

Jungkook nodded. His voice came out small but honest. "I like listening."

Taehyung smiled wider. "I noticed."

Silence settled between them, not awkward, just gentle. Jungkook picked up a piece of tteok and nibbled it slowly.

After a moment, Taehyung said, "We're going to the convenience store later. Jimin wants ice cream. Do you want to come?"

Jungkook hesitated. Crowds. Noise. Talking.

Taehyung noticed immediately. "We can go later. Or just you and me. Or not at all," he added quickly. "Whatever you want."

Jungkook's heart did that thing again.

"Can it be just us?" he asked quietly, eyes fixed on the plate.

Taehyung didn't tease. Didn't react big.

He just smiled and said, "Of course. Little bunny"

That smile stayed with Jungkook long after Taehyung left the room.

That night, Jungkook lay in bed, staring at the dark, replaying the day in his mind. The way Taehyung had said his name. The way he'd waited. The way he made space instead of pushing.

Jungkook hugged his pillow, face warm, replaying the nickname little bunny from Taehyung's mouth, heart thudding gently.

It wasn't loud. It wasn't dramatic.

It was just a small, quiet feeling, soft and fluttery and entirely his.

And somewhere deep down, Jungkook knew,

This crush wasn't going away anytime soon.

.

.

.

End of the chapter....

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