Jealous Hearts

After the truth about their breakup came out, things between Taehyung and Jungkook changed.

Not dramatically.

Not overnight.

But the tension between them had softened.

They talked more.

Laughed more.

And for the first time in years, being together didn't feel painful.

It felt natural.

Almost like old times.

Almost.

One afternoon, Taehyung arrived home with a bright smile on his face.

Jungkook noticed immediately.

"You seem happy."

Taehyung grinned.

"I met someone interesting at work today."

The smile instantly disappeared from Jungkook's face.

"Oh."

The "interesting person" turned out to be a new designer named Park Minjae.

According to Taehyung, Minjae was funny, kind, and easy to talk to.

According to Jungkook, Minjae was annoying.

Very annoying.

Especially because Taehyung couldn't stop talking about him.

The next few days were even worse.

Taehyung's phone kept lighting up with messages.

Every time he looked at the screen, he smiled.

Every time he smiled, Jungkook became grumpier.

One evening, while they were eating dinner, Taehyung suddenly laughed at a text.

Jungkook narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What did he say?"

Taehyung blinked.

"Who?"

"Minjae."

The answer came too quickly.

Taehyung slowly put down his spoon.

"Were you just waiting for me to mention him?"

"No."

"You definitely were."

"No, I wasn't."

"You were."

Jungkook looked away.

Taehyung tried not to laugh.

Failed.

Completely.

A few days later, things reached their peak.

Taehyung invited Minjae to a small company gathering.

Unfortunately for Jungkook, Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jimin were there too.

And unfortunately for everyone, Jungkook was being obvious.

Painfully obvious.

Minjae was sitting beside Taehyung, making him laugh.

Jungkook sat across the table.

Staring.

Yoongi sighed.

"There he goes again."

Namjoon nodded.

"He's glaring."

"He's absolutely glaring."

Hoseok nearly choked on his drink.

Meanwhile, Taehyung was completely unaware.

Or pretending to be.

Jimin, however, noticed everything.

He leaned toward Jungkook.

"Are you jealous?"

"No."

"You're literally crushing your cup."

Jungkook looked down.

The plastic cup was indeed bent.

The final straw came when Minjae casually placed a hand on Taehyung's shoulder while telling a joke.

Jungkook stood up immediately.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"I need some air."

And then he walked out.

Outside, Jungkook stood alone on the balcony.

He knew he was being unreasonable.

Taehyung wasn't his boyfriend.

Not anymore.

He had no right to feel possessive.

No right to be upset.

No right to want Taehyung's attention all to himself.

Yet here he was.

Upset anyway.

A few minutes later, the balcony door opened.

Taehyung stepped outside.

"You're hiding."

"I'm not hiding."

"You're pouting."

"I'm not pouting."

"You absolutely are."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Taehyung smiled.

A soft smile.

The kind that always made Jungkook weak.

"You know Minjae has a boyfriend, right?"

Jungkook blinked.

"What?"

Taehyung nodded.

"He's been dating someone for three years."

Silence.

Jungkook stared.

Then stared some more.

And finally groaned.

"You could've told me earlier."

Taehyung burst out laughing.

"Oh my God."

The realization finally hit him.

"You were jealous!"

"I was not."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

"You totally were."

For the next several minutes, Taehyung laughed while Jungkook suffered.

And honestly?

He deserved it.

Eventually, the laughter faded.

Their eyes met.

The atmosphere suddenly shifted.

Becoming quieter.

Warmer.

More serious.

Taehyung took a small step closer.

"Jungkook."

"Hm?"

"Were you really jealous?"

This time, Jungkook didn't look away.

Didn't deny it.

Didn't run from it.

Instead, he gave a small smile.

A nervous one.

And whispered,

"Maybe a little."

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat.

Because somehow, that tiny confession meant more than he expected.

That night, neither could stop smiling.

And for the first time since becoming roommates, both began wondering the same thing.

Maybe they weren't moving toward friendship.

Maybe they were moving toward something much more dangerous.

Something called love.

Again.

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