"Don't look at me like that" - part1

Jungkook had been warned about Kim Taehyung.

Not directly—no one ever said his name out loud unless necessary—but in the way people went quiet when he passed, in the way even seniors straightened up around him. He wasn’t loud. He wasn’t aggressive.

That was the problem.

Kim Taehyung didn’t need to do anything to be intimidating.

And yet, Jungkook couldn’t stop staring.

It started on a random Monday morning. Jungkook was late, running down the hallway with his bag half-open, hair a mess, heart racing—not because of fear, but because he hated being late.

That’s when he crashed into someone.

Hard.

His books scattered across the floor.

“Ah—sorry!” Jungkook dropped to his knees immediately, scrambling to pick everything up. “I didn’t see—”

Silence.

Not normal silence. Heavy silence.

Jungkook slowly looked up.

And froze.

Kim Taehyung.

Standing there like he hadn’t moved an inch. Tall, composed, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on Jungkook with a gaze that felt like it could see straight through him.

Jungkook swallowed.

“Oh… uh… I’m really sorry,” he said again, softer this time.

Taehyung didn’t reply.

He simply bent down, picked up one of Jungkook’s notebooks, and handed it to him. Their fingers brushed—just slightly—but it was enough to send something strange up Jungkook’s spine.

“Watch where you’re going,” Taehyung said, voice low, calm… cold.

Then he walked away.

Just like that.

Jungkook stayed there for a second longer than necessary, staring after him.

“…weird,” he muttered.

But his heart wouldn’t slow down

After that, Jungkook started noticing him everywhere.

Leaning against the wall outside class.

Sitting alone in the cafeteria.

Walking past like he owned every space he stepped into.

And every time—

Jungkook looked.

At first, it was curiosity.

Then it became something else.

“Why do you keep staring at him?” Jimin whispered one afternoon, following Jungkook’s gaze across the cafeteria.

Jungkook blinked. “I’m not staring.”

“You are,” Jimin deadpanned. “And if he notices, you’re dead.”

Jungkook scoffed. “He’s not scary.”

As if on cue, Taehyung lifted his eyes.

And locked onto Jungkook.

Direct. Unmoving. Sharp.

Jungkook’s breath caught.

But instead of looking away—

He smiled.

Small. Playful. A little challenging.

Jimin nearly choked. “Are you insane?”

Taehyung didn’t smile back.

But something in his expression shifted. Just slightly.

Then he looked away.

Jungkook leaned back in his chair, trying to ignore how fast his heart was beating.

“…okay, maybe a little scary.”

It didn’t stop there.

If anything, Jungkook got worse.

He’d walk past Taehyung a little slower than needed.

Sit where he could see him.

Even answer questions in class louder—just to get a reaction.

But Taehyung stayed the same.

Cold. Distant. Untouchable.

Until one night.

Jungkook had stayed late for practice. By the time he left, the campus was almost empty, the air quiet and heavy.

He took a shortcut behind the building.

Big mistake.

Voices echoed in the dark—low, aggressive.

Jungkook slowed.

“…you think this is a joke?” someone snapped.

Another voice responded, tense.

Jungkook shouldn’t have stayed.

But he did.

And then—

He saw him.

Taehyung.

Standing under the dim light, facing three other guys. His posture relaxed, but his eyes sharp—dangerous.

Not the quiet kind of dangerous.

The real kind.

Jungkook’s chest tightened.

He didn’t know what was happening, but he knew one thing—

Taehyung wasn’t losing.

One of the guys stepped forward.

Taehyung didn’t move.

Didn’t flinch.

Just tilted his head slightly, like he was bored.

“Are you done?” he asked, voice almost mocking.

That was it.

The tension snapped.

Jungkook didn’t even realize he had stepped forward until—

“Taehyung!”

Everything froze.

Three pairs of eyes turned to him.

And Taehyung’s expression—

Changed.

For the first time since Jungkook had met him—

It cracked.

“Go back,” Taehyung said immediately. Sharp. Urgent.

Jungkook shook his head. “I’m not leaving you—”

“I said go.”

The tone hit harder this time.

But Jungkook stood his ground.

Stubborn.

Annoying.

Unmoving.

The guys scoffed. “Cute. You got a fan?”

Taehyung’s jaw tightened.

And suddenly—

Everything shifted.

He stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of Jungkook.

Protective.

Instinctive.

“…don’t talk about him,” Taehyung said quietly.

That was the moment Jungkook realized—

Taehyung wasn’t just cold.

He was holding something back.

Something dangerous.

Something that… cared.

Later, after everything had calmed down, after the others had left—

It was just the two of them.

Silence filled the space again.

But this time—

It felt different.

“Why didn’t you leave?” Taehyung asked, not looking at him.

Jungkook crossed his arms. “Because you told me to.”

Taehyung glanced at him. “…you’re annoying.”

Jungkook grinned. “You noticed.”

A pause.

Then—

A small exhale from Taehyung.

Almost like a laugh.

Almost.

“Don’t come near me anymore,” Taehyung said.

Jungkook’s smile faded slightly. “Why?”

“…because I’m not someone you should be around.”

Jungkook stepped closer.

Closer than he ever had before.

“Too late,” he said softly.

Taehyung’s eyes flickered.

Jungkook held his gaze.

Steady.

Fearless.

Stupid.

“…you keep looking at me like that,” Taehyung murmured.

“Like what?”

“…like I’m not going to ruin you.”

Jungkook smiled again.

Gentler this time.

“Then don’t.”

And for the first time—

Kim Taehyung didn’t look away.

TBC....

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