Chapter 4 The Beginning of Jealousy

The dangerous thing about feelings was that they rarely announced themselves properly.

They arrived quietly.

In lingering stares.

In unnecessary concern.

In disappointment that felt far too personal.

Jeon Jungkook realized this on a Thursday afternoon while watching Kim Taehyung laugh at somebody else.

And unfortunately for everyone involved, jealousy looked terrible on him.

“You’re glaring,” Jimin informed him.

“I’m observing.”

“You look like you’re planning a crime.”

Jungkook ignored him completely.

Across the school courtyard, Taehyung stood near the photography club display board talking to a tall university student named Minho, who had returned to Willowbrook for a guest workshop.

Minho was handsome.

That fact irritated Jungkook immediately.

The older boy leaned slightly closer while looking through Taehyung’s camera photos.

Taehyung smiled faintly at something he said.

And there it was again—

That ugly tightening in Jungkook’s chest.

Jimin followed his gaze before sighing dramatically.

“Oh no.”

“What?”

“You’ve reached stage three.”

Jungkook frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Jealousy.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“You just looked at Minho like he personally insulted your ancestors.”

Jungkook crossed his arms stubbornly.

“I just don’t trust people with perfect hair.”

“That’s the weakest excuse I’ve ever heard.”

Jungkook hated how easily Taehyung talked to Minho.

Not because Taehyung looked happier.

Because Jungkook suddenly became terrified that someone else could understand Taehyung the same way he did.

Or worse—

Better.

That thought alone ruined his mood completely.

Jimin watched him carefully.

“You know,” he said slowly, “normal friends don’t react like this.”

Jungkook looked away immediately.

“Maybe I’m just protective.”

Jimin snorted loudly. “Protective my ass.”

Before Jungkook could respond, Taehyung finally noticed them standing nearby.

His expression softened almost instantly.

And annoyingly, that tiny reaction made Jungkook feel better immediately.

Taehyung walked toward them with his camera hanging around his neck.

“You skipped practice again,” he told Jungkook calmly.

Jungkook shrugged. “Sports are oppressive.”

“You said basketball was your passion last month.”

“My passions are temporary.”

Jimin pointed between them dramatically. “Unlike whatever this is.”

Taehyung ignored him professionally.

Unfortunately, Minho followed behind him a moment later.

“You’re Jungkook, right?” Minho asked politely.

Jungkook nodded once.

“Taehyung talks about you a lot.”

Jungkook froze.

Taehyung looked equally startled.

“He does?” Jungkook asked carefully.

Minho smiled casually. “Mostly complaints.”

Taehyung looked genuinely offended. “That’s not true.”

Jungkook stared at him with fake betrayal.

“You discuss me behind my back?”

“You’re impossible not to discuss.”

“That sounds romantic.”

Taehyung looked away too quickly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Minho watched the interaction between them with obvious amusement.

Then he casually asked Taehyung:

“Are you still coming tomorrow evening?”

Jungkook immediately looked at Taehyung.

“Coming where?”

Taehyung adjusted the camera strap awkwardly.

“The photography workshop.”

“Oh.”

That uncomfortable feeling returned instantly.

“You didn’t mention it.”

“You didn’t ask.”

Jungkook hated how childish the disappointment inside him felt.

He had no right to feel upset.

Taehyung was allowed to spend time with other people.

Still…

The thought of Taehyung laughing like that beside someone else made something bitter settle in Jungkook’s chest.

Minho checked his phone before speaking again.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

Taehyung nodded politely.

The older boy walked away after that.

Silence immediately settled between the remaining three.

Then Jimin whispered:

“Well. That was emotionally ugly.”

“Shut up,” Jungkook muttered.

Taehyung looked at him quietly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“That answer usually means something.”

Jungkook sighed heavily.

“It’s just weird.”

“What is?”

“You spending time with someone I don’t know.”

The honesty slipped out before Jungkook could stop it.

Taehyung blinked slowly.

Then something unreadable passed through his expression.

“Jungkook,” he said softly, “you don’t own my time.”

The words weren’t cruel.

But they hurt anyway.

“I know that,” Jungkook replied quickly.

Taehyung looked at him carefully for a moment.

Then sighed.

“You’re acting strange today.”

“Maybe you’re acting strange too.”

“That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Neither do feelings,” Jimin mumbled under his breath.

Both of them ignored him.

Taehyung adjusted his grip on the camera.

“I should go home.”

Jungkook nodded stiffly. “Sure.”

For a second, Taehyung looked like he wanted to say something else.

But instead, he simply walked away.

Jungkook watched him leave with frustration twisting painfully inside him.

Jimin sat beside him quietly after a while.

“So,” he said carefully.

“So what?”

“You’re in trouble.”

Jungkook let out a humorless laugh.

“I know.”

Because somewhere between river walks, shared silence, and Taehyung’s rare smiles…

Friendship had already stopped being enough for him.

And that realization terrified him more than anything else.

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