Heartfelt Chronicles: Echoes Of Affection
"Hearts Across Eras"— 18
Taehyung took a few deep breaths. It had been a few hours since he locked himself in Jungkook's bedroom, and the sun had already set. He was just trying to figure out what he wanted to say to Jungkook.
At this moment in time, he wanted to heed Minho’s advice and not hold back with Jungkook. The more he thought about it, he realized that the prospect of losing Jungkook was far more daunting than the idea that he liked Jungkook. He was listening to Jungkook's movements on the other side of the door, hearing him shuffle around the safe house, going to the kitchen and preparing something, returning back to the couch and turning on the TV.
He could tell Jungkook's movements were slow and sluggish, as though he was only doing so to move around and nothing else. All movement outside the room had quieted. There was no music playing, the shuffling was at a minimum, and he couldn’t tell if Jungkook had fallen asleep or not.
He unlocked the door with a click and exited the room. Jungkook was nowhere in sight, and he approached the living room to see if Jungkook was laying on the couch, instead finding Jungkook sitting on the floor, with his back to the base of the couch. Jungkook tilted his head upwards to look at him upside down.
Jungkook called and then moved his head back down to look ahead. He had a bottle of whiskey in his hand and he lifted it to his lips, taking a sip. He hadn’t been drinking much of it, just occasionally taking swigs and feeling the burn as the rich liquid slipped down his throat.
Taehyung
Where’d you get that?
Taehyung asked as he moved around the couch to sit by Jungkook on the floor.
Jungkook replied and kept his gaze away from him. Jungkook was feeling depressed, his heart still not having recovered from the rejection that he felt when Taehyung told him that he had nothing to say.
The silence stretched awkwardly between the two of them as Jungkook thought of what to do. Instead of saying anything, Jungkook wordlessly thrüst the bottle of whiskey in Taehyung’s direction, still refusing to meet his eyes. Taehyung reached out to grab it, taking a swig from it and putting it down in between the two of them.
Taehyung
You figured out my feelings before I did, didn’t you?
Taehyung started with a murmur as he lowered his head. Jungkook turned to look at him, his profile looking defeated. Jungkook could practically hear his thoughts, since they probably mirrored his.
Taehyung
I just— *he stopped himself as he looked at the ground and then he scoffed* Jesus Christ…This is so fcking unprofessional and Jeon’s going to kill me.
He used the lower part of his palm to rub at his eye, trying to remove any trace of dreariness Jungkook might have been able to detect. Jungkook looked at him, his face unchanging as he spoke.
Jungkook
It’s okay. Just say what you feel and I’ll listen.
Jungkook told him and he nodded, still keeping his gaze away from him. Jungkook didn’t know what he was expecting him to say, but he knew that he was going to confirm his suspicions that he felt something for him. Another silence hung in between them as Jungkook looked at him with anticipation.
Taehyung
I think you’re super fcking annoying,
Taehyung’s harsh words cut through the air with a straight slice, and Jungkook raised his brows at him.
Jungkook
Wow. What a way to start.
Jungkook shook his head in disbelief, lips falling agape as he looked at him while he spoke.
Taehyung
It irritates me that you can read me so well. Even from the first second we met. I hate that you know literally everything about everything and you’re such a fcking smart asś.
Taehyung started to sound more harsh, and it sounded less like he was confirming Jungkook's suspicions and more like he was desperately trying to refute them. Jungkook felt a shard go through his heart at Taehyung's words, and he grimaced.
Jungkook breathed, his face riddled with shock and confusion. Taehyung clearly wasn’t finished, as he continued to speak.
Taehyung
I hate the way you talk, the way you walk,
Taehyung continued, and Jungkook felt himself start to feel dejected, looking away from him and to the ground.
Taehyung
I hate how interested I am in the way your mind works,
He then admitted, his tone becoming much softer, and Jungkook's head snapped up to his profile again, seeing his face relax and his normally ice-cold brown eyes glimmered with a gentle sweetness.
Taehyung
I hate how sweet you are to me. I hate how you understand how I feel so well. I hate how you seem to have me captivated by you.
Taehyung continued to list things that he hated about Jungkook, but the farther he went down the list, the more Jungkook's heart ached and fluttered at the same time.
Taehyung
And don’t get me started on how I hate how much I like you.
Taehyung finally admitted, and Jungkook's eyes glazed over, making his vision slightly blurry. He looked away from Taehyung and to the ground, trying to let his words sink in. It didn’t feel real.
This wasn’t what he expected to happen when Minho and Taehyung came to see him a month ago. Especially not with the sh!tty rules that Taehyung put in place.
They were there to prevent something like this from happening, and here the two of them were. Jungkook wondered if this was inevitable, the feelings that the two of them shared. Perhaps it would have always ended up this way, whether or not Taehyung tried to implement the rules.
He remained silent, still trying to process what was happening, and he almost couldn’t. This was a turn of events he didn’t think would ever happen.
Jungkook
What happened to you while you had locked yourself in my bedroom that you're fine with addressing your feelings?
Jungkook asked in a hushed tone, his voice barely above a whisper, and Taehyung interrupted his thoughts.
Taehyung
Are you going to say something back, or are you going to leave me hanging here?
Taehyung asked, and Jungkook ignored him, keeping his gaze on the ground as his eyes continued to water.
Taehyung called again, and Jungkook pressed his lips together, steeling himself and reaching his hand out towards Taehyung. After finding his hand, he put his in Taehyung's comfortably, and Taehyung froze, surprised at the softness of Jungkook's skin that had found his own calloused palm.
Taehyung readjusted his fingers and Jungkook's so that they interlocked. Jungkook's hand was so small in comparison to Taehyung's own, but he liked it. Taehyung leaned down to peer into Jungkook's face, and he turned away from him, allowing his hair to hide his features again.
Jungkook
Don’t look at me.
Jungkook said, and Taehyung's brows furrowed in confusion, trying to get closer to him so that he could look into his face.
Jungkook warned, and Taehyung stopped, waiting until he felt comfortable enough to say something. Jungkook's face was red up to his ears, and his eyes were spilling tears, and he couldn’t stop them, no matter how hard he tried.
Taehyung finally asked, and Jungkook sniffled.
Jungkook
Because… I don’t know what to say back,
Jungkook admitted, keeping his face away from Taehyung as he looked down at the wooden floors. He swallowed hard before speaking again.
Jungkook
You’re the first person I’ve met who’s managed to render me speechless.
Jungkook revealed, taking in a sharp inhale and a sniffle before he continued.
Jungkook
I don’t know what it is about you, but it drives me insane. Everything I can normally do goes out the window when I think about you or when I’m with you. When I was thinking about whether or not you thought about me, too, I couldn’t separate fact from wishful thinking, and I stopped knowing what was reality.
Jungkook explained, his voice becoming strained.
Jungkook
No one has ever managed to let me drop my guard entirely. No one has ever managed to narrow my field of vision to just them. No one has ever made me give them my genuinely undivided attention, so much so that it’s dangerous. Except you. And I fcking hate you for it,
Jungkook spat in frustration.
Jungkook
But… Even I know what that means. It means I have feelings for you, too.
Jungkook admitted, and Taehyung's hold on his hand tightened. Taehyung swallowed hard as he looked at the back of Jungkook's head.
Taehyung called gently, and Jungkook didn’t reply.
Taehyung tried, and Jungkook shook his head.
Taehyung asked, and Jungkook slowly looked at him, his eyes red, with tears pooling against his waterline. Taehyung's heart wrenched in his chest at the sight of Jungkook, and he let go of his hand to use both of his to wipe Jungkook's cheeks. The frigidness of the cool touch instantly cooled down Jungkook's warm face.
Taehyung
It’s okay to feel this way. At least we both know your feelings are real, right?
Taehyung asked, and Jungkook nodded, a pout coming upon his lips.
Taehyung
You think I don’t lose sight of things when I’m around you? There are times when I forgot I was supposed to be guarding you because I was having so much fun,
Taehyung revealed as he cradled Jungkook's face in his hands.
Taehyung
And I know that’s probably not great. But it also made me want to protect you even more.
The thumb on Taehyung's right hand was gently grazing over Jungkook's cheekbone, stroking it comfortingly.
Jungkook whispered back, and Taehyung smiled slightly, leaning down to press a kiss to Jungkook's head.
Taehyung
It’s so hard to hold back with you, you know?
Taehyung sighed, and Jungkook looked up at him.
Jungkook
Who told you I wanted you to hold back?
Jungkook asked him, and Taehyung stopped, his eyes boring holes into Jungkook's.
Taehyung
No one. But I don’t want to rush things with you.
Taehyung replied, moving his hand to push a stray strand of hair out of Jungkook's face. There was a pause between the two of them before Taehyung looked like he had a question.
Jungkook asked him, and Taehyung inhaled through his nose.
Taehyung
How did you know?
Taehyung asked, and Jungkook gave him a look of innocence.
Taehyung
Don’t look at me like that, I know you knew. *he said, and Jungkook giggled, his eyes beginning to water again*
Jungkook
It’s the one thing I wasn’t sure about.
Jungkook warned, and Taehyung shrugged.
Taehyung
Yeah, but you were right. So how’d you know?
Taehyung asked again, and Jungkook's hands grabbed his wrists gently as he continued to cradle Jungkook's face.
Jungkook
I took your pulse.
Jungkook whispered, and Taehyung furrowed his brows.
Taehyung
My pulse? When did you take my pulse? *he wondered, and Jungkook gave him a look*
Jungkook
In the parking lot. Your heart started to race when I hugged you.
Jungkook replied, and Taehyung sighed.
Taehyung
What am I going to do with you? *he jokingly asked*
Jungkook
I was hoping you would kiss me, but if you don’t want to do that—
Jungkook teased, and Taehyung chuckled.
Taehyung
Who said anything about me not wanting to?
He smirked, the fingers of his hand tracing a path down from where he was holding Jungkook's cheek to grip his chin between his thumb and index finger.
He tilted Jungkook's chin upwards and leaned down to press a kiss to his lips. Taehyung's plump lips were soft and gentle as they met with Jungkook's.
In that kiss was the sweetness of passion, a million loving thoughts condensed into a moment.
It was a seal; a confirmation that the two of them felt the same about each other, with all their hidden feelings pouring into the point where their bodies met. It was a vulnerable promise of support and understanding, made between two people when they were at their most vulnerable.
Comments
ms-sunflower
your writing is so beautiful author 😍
2024-11-15
1
Venizia
wooow what a confession what a kiss what a way to words the scene !! I read this chapter 3 times no joke ! it was...perfect
2024-03-31
0
Venizia
oh my Gosh I thought u talked about earlier 😱😱 u surprise me every time ❤❤❤
2024-03-31
0