The grand chandelier in the Jeon family mansion glittered like stars, casting soft light on the floor where two toddlers were tangled together, laughing as they rolled on the carpet. One had a quiet aura, dark eyes full of wonder and an easy smile that rarely left his lips. The other was fire—unruly brown curls, a bruised knee from climbing the garden wall, and the sharpest baby teeth you’d ever seen.

That was how their story began.

Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook—names spoken in the same breath since the day their fathers shook hands and merged companies. They were the heirs to a business empire and, unknowingly, to each other’s hearts.

Even at the age of four, Taehyung had taken it upon himself to guard Jungkook like a dragon over treasure. When Jungkook cried, Taehyung bit the shins of the one responsible. When Jungkook laughed, Taehyung glowed. They were inseparable—Taehyung the chaos, Jungkook the calm.

The years passed. Their playdates turned into sleepovers, then shared tutoring sessions. While other kids ran wild, they remained in their own world, built on whispered secrets and fierce stares no one else dared interrupt.

By middle school, Taehyung’s reputation had already begun to harden.

"He's unhinged," someone whispered in the hall. "Don't even look at him."

"He sent a kid to the nurse for borrowing his pencil without asking."

And yet, Jeon Jungkook walked beside him every day. Quiet, composed, always with a book under his arm or a pair of earbuds tucked in. He would smile politely to everyone but never linger long.

It wasn’t that Jungkook needed protection—he was smart, fast, and surprisingly good at martial arts. But it became clear that something shifted when Taehyung wasn't around. The predators of adolescence could smell vulnerability like blood in the water.

And one day, it all snapped.

It was a Tuesday.

The hallway outside the science lab was unusually empty. Jungkook had stayed back to finish his practical report. When he finally stepped out, he found himself cornered by three upperclassmen.

“Pretty boy’s always hiding behind Taehyung, huh?” one of them sneered, pushing Jungkook against the lockers.

“Let’s see what you’re really made of without your watchdog.”

Jungkook didn’t flinch. He stared straight ahead, clutching his notebook.

“I don’t want trouble,” he said softly. “Please move.”

That only made them laugh harder. One of them grabbed his bag and tossed it aside. The other reached to grab Jungkook’s shirt—

Crash!

The doors slammed open like thunder. A voice, low and venomous, echoed down the hallway.

“I dare you to touch him again.”

Taehyung.

Not the quiet, teasing Taehyung Jungkook knew when they were alone. This was a storm. A living, breathing storm.

He stalked forward with murder in his eyes. The first boy barely had time to blink before Taehyung’s fist connected with his face. Blood splattered across the lockers.

“Run,” the second one whispered, but it was too late. Taehyung was a blur—merciless, fast, wild. Jungkook’s name echoed between gritted teeth as he took them down one by one.

Jungkook watched in stunned silence. Not because Taehyung fought—he’d seen him fight before. But because in that moment, he realized something.

This wasn’t just friendship. This wasn’t just possessiveness. It was something darker, deeper, something that clawed at both of their hearts.

When the hallway was quiet again, Taehyung stood over the last groaning body, chest heaving.

Then he turned, and all that fury melted the moment his eyes met Jungkook’s.

“Did they hurt you?” he asked, voice barely a whisper.

Jungkook shook his head. “You didn’t have to go that far.”

“I did.”

And then, without thinking, Taehyung closed the space between them and cupped Jungkook’s face.

“I can’t breathe when I think of you getting hurt,” he said, raw and exposed. “I’d destroy the world before I let someone break you.”

Their faces were inches apart. Jungkook could feel Taehyung’s breath on his lips. His heart thudded violently in his chest.

“Tae…”

“I don’t care what this is anymore. Obsession. Love. Whatever. You’re mine.”

The air was thick between them. Something fragile snapped.

Jungkook leaned forward. Just a little.

And then Taehyung kissed him.

It wasn’t sweet or shy. It was desperate, angry, a declaration.

When they pulled apart, Jungkook whispered, “So… we’re doing this now?”

Taehyung smirked, the mischief returning to his eyes. “Hell yes, we are.”

That night, they returned home in silence. But under the stars, lying on the rooftop of Jungkook’s house, their fingers found each other.

“I guess I always knew,” Jungkook said. “I just didn’t know how much I needed you until today.”

Taehyung didn’t reply. He just kissed his knuckles and smiled.

Somewhere in the distance, a soft breeze blew through the city, carrying with it the promise of chaos, comedy, heartbreak—and love.

Their story had only just begun.

The air between them the next morning was electric, a dangerous kind of charged. It wasn’t awkward, but it was... different. Like something had shifted. Like they’d crossed a line they couldn’t return from—and neither of them wanted to.

Taehyung strolled into the campus courtyard like a man who owned the world. Black leather jacket, hair artfully tousled, and a smirk that spelled nothing but trouble. Jungkook, beside him, wore an oversized hoodie that swallowed him whole and avoided eye contact like his life depended on it. His cheeks were still tinged pink from the memory of the kiss—their first kiss.

The campus was buzzing—not from what happened between them, but from the aftermath of the fight the day before.

“Did you hear? Taehyung nearly killed someone.”

“Three people. Over Jungkook.”

“I swear, that boy’s in love.”

Jungkook’s ears burned. He could feel eyes following him, whispers floating just out of earshot. But Taehyung? He didn’t even flinch. He walked like he was untouchable, like Jungkook’s hand in his was the most natural thing in the world.

They reached the campus café where their friends usually met, and sure enough, all six were already there—loud, chaotic, and as nosey as ever.

“Wow, look who finally shows up,” Jimin teased, raising an eyebrow and nudging Yoongi. “We were betting on whether you’d be late because of a makeout session or a jail visit.”

“Both,” Yoongi muttered under his breath, sipping his coffee without looking up.

Seokjin clapped dramatically like he was watching a drama unfold. “Boys! We live for the chaos.”

Lisa smirked from behind her iced latte, eyes glinting. “Did the little bunny finally confess to the tiger?”

Jungkook groaned and buried his face in his hands. Taehyung, ever the embodiment of confidence, dropped into the chair beside him and casually slung an arm over his shoulder.

“He didn’t have to confess,” Taehyung said, like it was the simplest truth in the world. “I already knew.”

Jungkook turned to him, eyes wide. “Yah!” he hissed.

Everyone burst out laughing.

Hoseok wiped a tear, grinning. “God, you two are exhausting. Just sleep together already and spare us the tension.”

Jimin leaned closer, eyes twinkling with mischief. “So… did you?”

Taehyung smirked and sipped Jungkook’s drink like he owned it.

“Oh my God,” Lisa said, pointing. “He just drank from his cup. That’s basically marriage.”

“Shut up!” Jungkook groaned again, redder than a tomato.

Yoongi looked up briefly from his phone, eyes flicking to Jimin. “Leave them alone,” he said quietly. “They’re cute.”

Jimin blinked, slightly surprised by the softness in Yoongi’s tone. Then he smirked and nudged him again. “You think I’m cute too, don’t you?”

Yoongi rolled his eyes, but there was the faintest tint of pink on his ears. “In your dreams.”

“Every night,” Jimin shot back, and Lisa nearly spit out her coffee.

Later that day, Taehyung and Jungkook found themselves in the quiet reading room of the library. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting a golden glow across the wooden desks. Students were scattered throughout, nose-deep in books or furiously typing away.

Taehyung was supposed to be working on his philosophy essay. Instead, he was doodling Jungkook’s name in the margins of his notebook.

Jungkook leaned over and whispered, “Are you seriously drawing hearts right now?”

Taehyung didn’t look up. “I’d draw them on your skin if you let me.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“You love it.”

“I really don’t.”

“Then why are you smiling?”

Jungkook quickly looked away, lips tugging upward despite himself.

After a few minutes of silence, Taehyung spoke again—softer this time. “You know… I meant what I said yesterday. About not being able to breathe when I think about you getting hurt.”

Jungkook turned to him, eyes filled with something unreadable. “I know.”

“I’ve felt this way for a long time,” Taehyung admitted. “I just didn’t know how to say it without ruining everything.”

“You didn’t ruin anything,” Jungkook said. “You... made it clear.”

Taehyung chuckled. “That’s the first time someone’s ever called me clear.”

That evening, as twilight painted the sky in hues of purple and gold, Taehyung dragged Jungkook to the rooftop of the music building.

“Why are we here?” Jungkook asked, slightly out of breath.

“I like watching you under the stars. You look... honest.”

Jungkook blinked at him. “That’s the weirdest compliment I’ve ever gotten.”

Taehyung grinned. “I’m weird. You knew this.”

They sat down side by side, backs against the brick wall. The city lights flickered in the distance, and the stars slowly blinked into view above them. For a while, neither spoke.

Then Taehyung turned, took Jungkook’s hand in his, and said, “Let’s be stupid together. Wild, reckless, head-over-heels kind of stupid.”

Jungkook stared at him for a long moment. His heart was pounding. He wasn’t sure if it was nerves or excitement—or maybe something bigger than either.

“Okay,” he whispered.

And as they lay side by side on the rooftop, fingers tangled, the sky stretched above them like a promise yet to be fulfilled.

They were falling—and maybe that was the point.

Inside the dorms, the rest of the group was gathered for movie night. Jimin, legs over Yoongi’s lap, was fake-arguing about which movie to pick.

“Rom-com,” Jimin insisted.

“No way,” Yoongi said. “I’m not watching people cry and kiss over coffee.”

“You’re just afraid it’ll remind you of me.”

Yoongi blinked. “That’s not how that sentence works.”

“You’re not denying it, though.”

Lisa snorted. “God, I ship it.”

“Shut up and press play,” Seokjin said, tossing popcorn.

Outside, under the stars, Taehyung leaned closer to Jungkook and kissed his temple.

“I’m yours,” he murmured.

Jungkook closed his eyes.

“I always have been.”

It was Friday night, and as per tradition, the group decided to ditch their textbooks and host a dorm party in Seokjin’s oversized suite. Thanks to his older brother being an alumni donor, Seokjin had a common room big enough for eight friends, a flat-screen TV, a fully-stocked mini-fridge, and a giant L-shaped couch that could fit at least ten.

“Tonight,” Jimin announced dramatically, standing on the coffee table with a bottle of soda like it was champagne, “we play the most sacred of college traditions—Truth or Flirt.”

Lisa raised an eyebrow. “Is that a real thing?”

“It is now,” Jimin replied, grinning. “You either answer a brutally honest question or you flirt outrageously with the person of my choice. No chickening out.”

“Oh, this is going to be good,” Seokjin said, rubbing his hands.

Yoongi groaned. “I should’ve stayed in the library.”

“You wouldn’t have gotten this show there,” Jimin teased, plopping into Yoongi’s lap like he belonged there.

Yoongi opened his mouth to protest, then sighed, resigned.

Taehyung and Jungkook took the loveseat. Jungkook looked like he wanted to melt into the cushions. Taehyung, on the other hand, looked like a predator eyeing prey.

Lisa spun the empty soda bottle in the center of the circle. It landed on Taehyung first.

“Truth or Flirt?” she asked, eyes sparkling.

Taehyung smirked. “Flirt.”

Lisa giggled. “With… Jungkook, obviously.”

Jungkook was already red.

Taehyung leaned closer, brushing his fingers under Jungkook’s chin. “If kisses were stars, I’d give you the sky.”

Jungkook blinked.

Yoongi gagged. “Gross.”

“Effective,” Seokjin commented. “Your turn, Jungkook.”

Jungkook spun the bottle and groaned when it landed on Jimin.

“Truth,” Jungkook said quickly.

Jimin grinned. “Have you ever fantasized about Taehyung?”

Taehyung grinned like a Cheshire cat.

Jungkook tried to cover his face. “I hate you.”

“That’s not a no!” Hoseok shouted.

“Fine! Yes, okay?” Jungkook muttered.

Everyone cheered.

Lisa nearly cried laughing. “You’re both hopeless.”

The game went on, chaos increasing with each round. Lisa flirted shamelessly with Seokjin, who played along with dramatic swoons. Hoseok flirted with Lisa and got smacked with a cushion. Yoongi, when dared to flirt with Jimin, leaned in and whispered something into his ear that made Jimin’s face light up like fireworks.

Later, after the game, Jungkook stepped outside to get some air. Taehyung followed quietly.

They stood in the hallway, bathed in the soft glow of dorm lights.

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Taehyung said softly.

Jungkook turned to him. “You didn’t. I just… I wasn’t ready to say that out loud.”

Taehyung stepped closer. “But you’ve thought about me.”

Jungkook looked into his eyes, heart racing. “Every day.”

Taehyung touched his cheek. “Me too.”

This time, the kiss wasn’t a surprise.

It was soft. Certain. Like they were rewriting the rules of who they were, right there in the hallway.

Inside, Yoongi and Jimin shared a look.

“He really kissed me earlier,” Jimin whispered.

Yoongi smirked. “You didn’t complain.”

“I will if you don’t do it again.”

Yoongi leaned in.

“Oh my God,” Lisa whispered from the couch. “Is everyone falling in love?”

Seokjin raised his soda in salute. “To love. And college.”

Laughter filled the suite.

But outside, Taehyung and Jungkook held each other like the world had finally aligned.

And maybe, just maybe—it had.