CHAPTER 37

"Taetae, that was so cool of you!" Yoongi wraps an arm around his shoulder. "Have you all noticed Bang PD's face? That was hilarious."Seokjin shakes his head with a smile at Yoongi's excitement towards how Taehyung spoke to Bang PD back in the office.He stops walking for a moment until Namjoon walks pass him. "Joonie, are you sure about coming back all by yourself? I can come with you."Namjoon cups his cheeks briefly. "Don't worry, he won't hurt me.""Hey, I'm gonna make dinner tonight." Jungkook announces out of the blue, standing next to the sofa while the others already lay around on the sofa, some on top of the other. "Taehyung, wanna help me?""Uh—yeah."They leave the living room while Hoseok whispers loud enough for all the boys to hear, "That talk must have worked."Jungkook closes the kitchen door to have a bit of privacy, one that sometimes is hard to find in this household."Holy moly, Tiger! What are you doing here?""Taehyung got scared of -" Jungkook hugs him tightly for a moment. He stays still, not processing what's going on. Is he hugging me?"I missed you. It's been almost a month since the last time you came. How's my best buddy doing?"Tiger blinks, followed by a chuckle. "Bunny, you're unbelievable. I've been. . ." he scratches the back of his neck, "good?"Jungkook ruffles his hair and Tiger shakes his head to put them unsuccessfully back into place. "Of course you've been good. Anyway, what were you saying? Taehyung what?""I guess he got scared of Bang PD." he runs a hand through his hair. "Did you recognise me in the company?""How could I not? Taehyung would never talk to Bang PD like that—unless he actually sees Bang PD hurting his Chimmy." he grins at the annoying but cute famous nickname. Jimin-ssi is so much better.Tiger lets out a small laugh. "He'll come back soon though. Anyway, will you force me to help you make dinner because you decided to use it as an excuse to talk to me?""So we're beginning to know each other, huh?" his grin intensifies. "But now that we're here lets make it. What do you want to eat?""What do you want to eat? Taehyung will have taken control by then. Besides, I don't know how to cook and as far as I know Taehyung's skills are horrible. Can I just watch you cook?""Can you stay longer?"Tiger shrugs a shoulder as in saying it is what it is. "As long as Taehyung lets me. Because it hurts like hell fighting with him."Jungkook removes his hand from the cabinet and turns to him with a slight frown. "Huh? What do you mean?""Every time Taehyung's about to take control and I suppress him down and he refuses, it hurts. It feels like my brain is going to leave my skull. Hope you never feel this type of pain, Bunny."Jungkook suddenly remembers the day they came back from the convenience store when Mimi chased them. Tiger did talk to him like he was in some sort of pain, but back then Jungkook thought he was just exhausted from the run."I'm sorry, I didn't know that. Don't suppress him down if he wants to come back, I would like to talk to him again—ah, let's make some soup, Taehyung will like that." Jungkook opens the cabinet to grab some utensils.Tiger raises an eyebrow. "Since when do you care about him?""Well, we had a talk."Tiger scratches his neck. "About what?""I just told him something that luckily will stop his delusions, and if his delusions stop so will his hate towards me.""Oh, I see." Tiger mutters, looking at his feet for a moment. He clears his throat and meets Jungkook's eyes again. "Anyway, what were you all doing there with Bang PD? What's going on? Why do you want to leave?""Cool, right? Actually, there's something you should know -""Guys, what are you cooking? Do you need my help? Oh god, did you two finally become friends? Hobi said so.""Um, well, we're working things out." Jungkook takes a glance to Tiger, who has his black eyes fixed on the blonde guy."Yeah, we're working things out alone, we don't need you here.""Taetae, what's wrong?" Jimin pouts, slightly tilting his head. "I - I thought you would like to have me here."Tiger rolls his eyes and turns his back to Jimin. The petite boy looks at Jungkook and the younger gives him a small smile."Since when?""The office. The one that talked wasn't Taehyung but Tiger."Jimin nods his head. "W - when he comes back, let me know.""Don't worry Jimin, he'll come running back to you. But may I steal him for a moment? I would like to talk to him first, then I promise he's all yours."Jimin sits on one of the stools, forgetting for a moment Tiger's presence in the room. "About what you talked to him the other day?""Yeah, kinda.""Can I know what is it about?""Soon. I promise you'll know soon. Just . . . why don't you try to remember? Perhaps you already know what's everything about."Jimin narrows his eyebrows and stares at him for almost a minute, Tiger even turns to them at the sudden silence. "What do you mean?"Jungkook shakes his head with a nervous smile. "Nothing, I was just messing around with you."Jimin nods, blinking at him. His attention comes back to Tiger, feeling his eyes on him. Why he despises me so much? He disliked me first, am I not allowed to dislike him too? "I think I'm going to take a nap in my room.""Rest well, I'll let you know when dinner's ready."Tiger bombards Jungkook with questions the moment Jimin leaves. "What was that? What does he know? And what the hell do you have to talk with Taehyung? Can I know?"Jungkook displays his famous bunny smile. "Of course you can know, I was about to tell you when Jimin came in, but thinking it twice," he licks his lips, "I'll tell you the next time I see you. I want you to have a reason to come back."Tiger sighs. "Bunny, you know I can't choose that . . . Can you tell me now?""Can you stay longer?"Tiger lowers his head and shakes his head, defeated. Jungkook won't tell him anything and he won't last long, Jimin already made Taehyung's presence stronger. But what if he could find something that pulled Taehyung back? Is there something he can do to stay longer?"Fight with me.""Huh?" Jungkook blinks rapidly. "What nonsense are you saying, Tiger? Why would I fight with you? You're my best friend now.""Just do it. Piss me off." he blurs out, hoping that will make Taehyung stay low for a few more hours."Tell me why." Jungkook insists. "Do you want to try me or something?"No. "Yes."Junkook inhales filling his cheeks, holds the air, and exhales heavily. "I won't do that. I don't want to fight with you now that we're good. If you tell me why, I might think about it."Tiger shakes his head and sits on the island kitchen. "Forget it."Jungkook walks closer to him, letting a comfortable distance between them. "Are you okay? Is there something you want to tell me? You can talk to me, you know? Like that day on the balcony.""No," Tiger clears his throat, "I think you should start making dinner before it gets too late."Jungkook holds the eye contact as he walks closer to him. Carefully, he rests both hands right next to Tiger's body on the cold marble and leans forward, preventing him from running away. Jungkook's breath caresses his skin and Tiger's eyes widen. He gulps, holding his breath as neither of them make the next move—whatever that might be, Tiger isn't sure."Stay. Don't do anything that can bring Taehyung back. At least until tomorrow, okay?" Jungkook's deep voice gives goosebumps to Tiger.He unconsciously nods, unable to form a sentence and barely processing what his friend said."Good." Jungkook smirks, aware of the whirlwind he's creating inside Tiger.Somehow, he likes it, because he can feel it too.Jungkook's eyes unconsciously travel to Tiger's slightly parted lips. He wonders how they taste, how warm they must be against his lips. But he quickly pulls away after realising what he just thought. Holy moly, what am I doing?"You can set the table, I'll come back soon."With that being said, he lets a beyond startled Tiger alone in the kitchen.Tiger lets out the air he held and brings a hand to his chest, wishing it returns to its normal rhythm before Jungkook comes back.