“Don’t Look At Me Like That” (Part 2 – Final)

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After that night, things changed.

Not all at once.

Not in a way anyone else could notice.

But Jungkook felt it.

Taehyung didn’t tell him to stay away anymore.

He didn’t say much at all—but he stopped ignoring him. And somehow, that was worse.

Because now—

He watched back.

It started with small things.

Taehyung walking beside him instead of past him.

Standing just a little too close.

Eyes lingering longer than necessary.

And Jungkook?

He pushed.

Of course he did.

“Are you following me?” Jungkook asked one day, turning suddenly in the hallway.

Taehyung didn’t even blink. “No.”

“You’ve been behind me for five minutes.”

“Coincidence.”

Jungkook smirked. “You’re a bad liar.”

Taehyung stepped closer.

Too close.

Close enough that Jungkook had to tilt his head slightly to meet his eyes.

“…and you talk too much,” Taehyung murmured.

Jungkook’s breath hitched—

But he didn’t step back.

“Then make me stop.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Taehyung’s gaze dropped—just for a second—before he turned away.

“…don’t test me.”

But Jungkook already was.

The jealousy came quietly.

At first.

Jungkook didn’t even notice it.

Not until Jimin pointed it out.

“You’re gonna get yourself in trouble,” Jimin muttered, watching as Jungkook laughed with another classmate.

Jungkook frowned. “Why?”

Jimin nodded toward the door.

Taehyung was there.

Watching.

Not angry.

Not loud.

Just… staring.

And somehow—

That felt worse.

Later that day, Jungkook found himself pulled into an empty classroom.

The door shut behind him.

Click.

He turned—

And there Taehyung was.

Close.

Too close again.

“You’re having fun,” Taehyung said quietly.

Jungkook tilted his head. “What?”

“With him.”

Jungkook blinked.

Then smiled—slow, teasing.

“Are you jealous?”

Big mistake.

Taehyung’s jaw tightened.

His hand came up—not rough, but firm—gripping Jungkook’s wrist and pulling him closer.

“I don’t like it,” Taehyung said.

Simple.

Honest.

Dangerous.

Jungkook’s heart raced—but he didn’t pull away.

“Then what are you gonna do about it?” he whispered.

For a moment, Taehyung just looked at him.

Really looked at him.

Like he was trying to decide something.

Then—

He let go.

Stepped back.

And the distance hit harder than the touch.

“…nothing,” Taehyung said.

And walked out.

That was the beginning of the fall.

Taehyung started pulling away.

Again.

But this time—

It hurt.

Because Jungkook knew what it felt like when he didn’t.

The silence came back.

The distance.

The cold.

And Jungkook hated it.

“Why are you avoiding me?” Jungkook finally snapped one evening, catching Taehyung outside.

Taehyung didn’t stop walking.

“I’m not.”

“Stop lying!”

That did it.

Taehyung turned sharply. “What do you want from me?”

Jungkook froze.

“…you,” he said, softer now.

The word hung in the air.

Taehyung’s expression changed—just for a second.

Pain.

Real, raw pain.

“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Taehyung muttered.

“Yes, I do.”

“No, you don’t.” His voice hardened. “You like the idea of me. That’s it.”

Jungkook stepped closer. “Then prove me wrong.”

“…I can’t.”

“Why?”

Silence.

Then—

“Because I’ll ruin you.”

The same words.

But this time—

They sounded like a warning.

Not a threat.

Jungkook shook his head. “You don’t get to decide that.”

Taehyung laughed softly—bitter.

“I already have.”

And then he walked away.

Again.

Days passed.

Then weeks.

No Taehyung.

Not really.

He was there—but not for Jungkook.

No more waiting.

No more watching.

Nothing.

And Jungkook broke.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just… quietly.

Like something inside him gave up.

Until one night.

The same place.

Behind the building.

Jungkook didn’t even know why he went there.

Maybe habit.

Maybe hope.

And there he was.

Taehyung.

Standing alone this time.

“You always come back here,” Jungkook said softly.

Taehyung stiffened.

“…you shouldn’t be here.”

Jungkook let out a small laugh. “That’s all you ever say.”

Silence.

Then—

“Why did you push me away?” Jungkook asked.

No anger this time.

Just hurt.

Taehyung didn’t answer.

So Jungkook stepped closer.

And closer.

Until there was no space left between them.

“I meant it,” Jungkook whispered. “What I said before.”

Taehyung’s eyes flickered.

“…Jungkook—”

“I’m not scared of you.”

“You should be.”

“I’m not leaving.”

Taehyung clenched his jaw.

“…you don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand.”

That did it.

Something snapped.

Taehyung grabbed Jungkook’s shoulders—not hurting, just desperate.

“You make it hard!” he said, voice breaking for the first time. “You look at me like I’m something good—and I’m not!”

Jungkook didn’t flinch.

“You are to me.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Shaking.

“…why?” Taehyung whispered.

Jungkook smiled—small, tired, but real.

“Because you stayed.”

Taehyung frowned.

“That night,” Jungkook continued. “You could’ve walked away. But you didn’t.”

A pause.

“And you keep trying to push me away… but you always look back.”

Taehyung’s grip loosened.

Jungkook took his hand.

Gently.

“You don’t ruin me,” he said softly.

“You protect me.”

That was it.

That was the moment.

Taehyung’s walls—every single one—

Cracked.

“…you’re really not scared of me,” Taehyung murmured.

Jungkook shook his head.

“Good,” Taehyung said quietly.

“Because I don’t think I can stay away from you anymore.”

Jungkook’s heart skipped.

“…finally.”

Taehyung huffed a quiet laugh.

Then pulled him closer—slow, careful, like he was afraid Jungkook might disappear.

But he didn’t.

He stayed.

From then on—

Taehyung was still cold.

Still quiet.

Still intimidating to everyone else.

But not to Jungkook.

Never to Jungkook.

He waited outside his classes.

Walked him home.

Watched him like he mattered.

Because he did.

And sometimes—

When Jungkook smiled at him like that—

Taehyung would sigh softly and mutter,

“…don’t look at me like that.”

But this time—

He was smiling too.

🖤 End.

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