| chapter 29

The doorbell rang.

Taehyung groaned.

"What time is it?", he mumbled.

"5:30 am", Jungkook answered from the floor.

Taehyung turned around, trying to find out why Jungkook's voice came from the floor.

He was working out.

Tae sank back into the bed when the door opened and Yong walked in.

"Yong?"

"Good morning babe. How was your night? Are you better today? Do you feel okay? And why is Jungkook here?"

The last sentence sounded a bit pointed.

"Because this is Jungkook's room. And I'm fine, thank you", Taehyung simply explained and Jungkook tried not to smile.

"Why are you in Jungkook's room?"

"Why not?"

"And have you been sleeping in the same bed?"

"Yeah? So what? We're very close."

"You always say that you don't like to share your space with people."

"It depends on the people I'm with", Tae said sassily.

"Tae? Do you want to join me to shower? I'm done with the workout."

"Sure", Taehyung said and jumped out of the bed.

As he was walking past Yong, he said "you can wait in the living room, if you want."

——

"Thanks."

"No problem. So do you actually want to join, or did you just say that to get away from her?"

"Both."

Jungkook laughed.

They undressed and hopped under the stream of hot water.

"You look good."

Taehyung looked at him.

"No I don't", he said.

"Look at me. My hair is down and flat because it's wet. I have a feeling I look rather disgusting."

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", Jungkook just said and winked at Tae before he washed his hair.

When they were done and came out of the bathroom, Yong was already waiting in front of it, so that Jungkook almost walked into her.

"Taehyung we are going out for breakfast", she said.

Taehyung scoffed. "No we're not."

"We need to keep up our reputation."

"Yong, raincheck. Can we please do that another time?"

She sighed.

"Taehyung I think it's rather good if you guys go out now. Maybe you can start a small argument in public so people see that the relationship might be coming to an end and then, in a few days you officially break up again. How does that sound?"

"Perfect", Yong said and pulled Taehyung by his hand outside the front door, barely leaving enough time for him to wave Jungkook goodbye.

—

"You know, you wouldn't have to be so.."

"So what?"

"Just- you act so intrusive sometimes."

"Intrusive? No I don't."

"Yes, you do! You didn't even let me say goodbye to the members and you also waited directly in front of the bathroom for me to come out. Such behavior is intrusive, believe it or not."

Yong mumbled something inaudible.

"Talking about your time in the bathroom.. what did you and Jungkook do inside?"

"What do you think? We showered."

"What did you do in the shower?"

Taehyung turned around. "You are very persistent."

"I'm your girlfriend, I'm allowed to be jealous."

"You are not my-"

"We're in public, be careful with what you say."

For the rest of the morning, until they were back at the dorm, Taehyung barely said a word. He was just sick of talking to her.

Standing in front of the door to his dorm, he searched for the keys in his pocket. Opening the door, Yong let herself in by walking past him.

"Yong, you cannot stay for long, we are going to drive to dance practice in a few minutes and I still want to go change."

"Okay, so I will get going", she replied.

Awesome, Taehyung thought.

He went to his room.

Jungkook who had just come out of his room, met Yong in the hallway right before she wanted to leave.

"Jungkook, I see what you are doing."

Jungkook, taking a last sip of his banana milk, looked at her, unbothered. "Come again?"

"You like Taehyung, don't you?"

The maknae frowned.

"Why would you think that?"

"I know I'm right. And I want you to stop manipulating him."

"Excuse me? He is a free man, he can do whatever he wants. He joined me from his own free will."

"Too bad you guys can never have something with each other."

"Pff", Jungkook made.

"You could never be official. You could never hold his hand in public. But I can. You can never kiss him in public. But I can."

"What are you trying to say?"

She stood straight up on her high-heels, so she was just a few centimeters taller than Jungkook. Then she walked forward. Her face was now right in front of Jungkook's.

"He is mine. I can do whatever I want with him in public. And there is nothing you can do about it." With that, she turned around and closed the door behind her.

"Gosh I hate her", Jimin said.

Jungkook looked at him. "But she's right."

His voice sounded a bit sad.

"No no, you won't let that girl into your head!"

Jungkook sighed.

"Sooner or later, Tae will want to be official. But I can't give him that. She can."

"Pardon me?", Jimin said. "She is fake. Maybe you and Taehyung aren't able to tell the world.. but what you guys have is real. That is all Taehyung would want."

Jungkook nodded. "You're probably right. Thank you."

"Hell yeah I am. Would you mind checking if he is ready to go by the way?"

Jungkook knocked on Taehyung's door.

"Come in."

"Hi. Are you ready to leave for dance practice?"

"Mhm", Tae hummed and turned another page in the magazine. He was standing in front of his bed, shirtless, but his eyes were glued to the paper in his hands.

Jungkook smiled. He walked up to him and put his arms around Taehyung's bare tummy and his head on Taehyung's shoulder, to see what he was looking at.

"Look at this", the older said, "they [the clothes] are all so pretty, don't you think?"

Jungkook didn't answer to that.

"One day, I want to model for Gucci too. Just look at these clothes, they are beautiful!"

"I think you're beautiful", Jungkook said and began kissing his neck softly.

"What is with all those compliments today?"

"Nothing", the younger chuckled. "Anyway, please hurry, the others are waiting."

"Yeah yeah."

Jungkook let go of him, grabbed a shirt from the drawer and threw it at Taehyung.

"Hey!"

"Get dressed, Tae, I mean it. The schedule is tight already."

—

"Hey guys. I found something under my seat."

Jungkook and Taehyung watched Jimin pull a big whine bottle from under his seat.

His eyes sparkled.

"No, Jimin. Put that back", Tae whispered.

They were sitting in the minibus on their way to the studio.

"Why? We could have some fun with that", the smile on his face grew.

Taehyung snapped it out of Jimin's hands.

"Show some responsibility, Jimin. We are going to dance practice, don't drink alcohol before dancing."

Jungkook took the bottle from Taehyung's hands. "Don't spoil the fun, Tae."

He opened the bottle and took a gigantic sip.

"You can't be serious, Jungkook."

But he was. To be completely honest, he just wanted Yong's voice to finally get out of his head.

And the taste of the wine was good, so that was definitely a bonus. He handed the bottle to Jimin who let the liquor slide into his mouth as well.

Tae just rolled his eyes. If they wanted to trip and break their ankles so be it. Fools.

And why even would Jungkook join that? He wasn't and idiot. Did something happen maybe? Now that he thought about it, Jungkook did seem to be acting weird ever since Tae had come back from breakfast. Did Yong say something to him?

She was very jealous, but as far as Tae knew, she wouldn't be mean to him again would she? After the first time, that Tae noticed Yong saying mean stuff to Jungkook, he had been scolding her and she said she wouldn't do it again. But it was Yong. She was capable of anything.

A few minutes later they arrived at the studio.

The now empty wine bottle stayed hidden under Jimin's seat as they stepped out.

The members were standing in front of the mirror, their dance instructor explaining the steps and them trying to copy.

Except Jimin and Jungkook. They were cluelessly giggling and joking around.

They were shushed twice but still couldn't stay silent. It only took Jimin to look at Jungkook and they immediately bursted out in laughter again.

"Okay enough, the both of you! Jungkook you're gonna come to my side and Jimin you will stay where you are. And please try to be quiet, there are at least 5 people in this room who are trying to concentrate", Namjoon warned.

Jungkook looked down and had to bite his tongue so he wouldn't laugh.

"Jungkook it's your turn, are you listening?"

Jungkook cleared his throat.

"Sorry what?"

Jimin started laughing again.

"That is it! Out, now."

The two boys walked passed their members and out of the room.

"Did you see their faces?", Jimin gasped.

Jungkook nodded energetic and giggled.

"They just don't know what fun is!"

"That's right! They probably never had as much fun in their whole lives than we do right now!"

Jungkook agreed laughing.

"We're invincible!" Jimin yelled and put his hands over his head and jumped up and down.

Jungkook clapped wildly into his hands and stumbled backwards when he lost his balance and fell right into their manager who was carrying multiple cups of coffee.

The hot liquid spread on his back and he screamed out of shock and surprise.

The members came running out of the room and saw Jungkook laying on the floor.

"Somebody get a towel and ice!", their manager yelled.

Taehyung ran through the kitchen grabbing a bag of ice and quickly kneeled down next to Jungkook, to strip of his clothing and put the ice on his back.

His back was burnt red and Jungkook was whimpering a little.

He flinched when the coldness hit the sensitive place.

"Careful there!", he hissed.

"Don't tell me to be careful! Idiot", Taehyung replied stressed.

Jimin just stood there and watched. The smile was wiped from his face. He now felt bad. He had been stupid. If they hadn't drank that whole bottle in the span of ten minutes it wouldn't have come so far.

"Can you stand up?"

Jungkook nodded and grabbed a few hands, who wanted to help him.

His back was aching badly.

"Do you think you can dance?"

Jungkook shook his head. "I think it's better to wait a bit", he said. The tone in his voice was slurry. "Jungkook? Are you drunk?", Namjoon asked.

"Jimin and I just cracked a few jokes and I lost my balance and fell."

Technically that wasn't even a lie.

He felt Taehyungs eyes on him and Jungkook responded with a begging look not to say anything.

Tae just rolled his eyes.

——

"Taehyung? Could you help me put lotion on my back?"

There were home again. Dance practice had been very exhausting for Jungkook. He did dance again after thirty minutes, because he knew they would be behind schedule and he didn't want that to happen but he wasn't able to concentrate as good. He had slipped maybe two or even three times because of the lasting effect of the alcohol but soon, he could associate with it. The day had been tough tho and he was very very glad that they were home again. His head hurt a little bit too.

"Tae?", Jungkook asked again.

He heard footsteps walking over to his bed and felt someone lift up his shirt.

"Take it off."

Jungkook did as he was told.

"Are you mad at me or something?"

Taehyung took a look at the reddish tone on Jungkook's back.

He grabbed a lotion from the nightstand and put some on his back without warning.

"Jeez! That's cold!"

"It's supposed to cool down the burn, what did you expect?"

"Don't be mean, hyung."

Taehyung stayed silent for a moment before he said "sorry".

"I just- why the hell do you even feel the need to get drunk? And then in the middle of the day?"

He continued to spread the lotion on the younger's shoulder blades, now in a more calming pace than before.

Jungkook shrugged his shoulders.

"Okay done. I'm going back to my own room. Good night, Koo", Taehyung said and put the lotion back.

He was just about to go out the door but Jungkook stopped him.

"Why do you want to go back?"

"Why did you drink?"

"You're mean."

"I don't care. What happened?"

Jungkook sighed.

————————————-

I'm sorry for taking so long to upload. I had a lot of exams in the last two weeks and even if I have free time, apparently I just can't write anymore. I almost hate everything that I write down but I am too tired and care too less to change this chapter again, so I guess I have to work with this now.

Thanks for reading!