The Festival of Almosts

The school was buzzing.

Every hallway was strung with glittering fairy lights and paper lanterns. The annual Spring Festival was a big deal—music, food stalls, talent shows, games, and—for some unfortunate souls—forced emotions.

Taehyung was one of those souls.

He walked past the music room, trying to ignore the way his heart fluttered every time he thought about Jungkook. About the way their hands had brushed. About the silence after.

It meant something… right?

But Jungkook hadn’t messaged him all week.

Meanwhile, Jimin was dancing under the sakura tree in the courtyard, phone in hand, cheeks red. “He’s coming,” he whispered into the receiver, beaming.

Yoongi had agreed to meet him.

It had taken two days and one very vulnerable text:

> “If you’re at the festival… I’ll come. Just… don’t expect much from me.”

–Yoongi

Jimin didn’t need “much.” He just needed him.

---

📍6:32 PM – Spring Festival Grounds

The air smelled like caramel popcorn and sweet tteok skewers. Laughter floated in the background, and music from the main stage boomed across the courtyard.

Jungkook stood at the edge of it all, hands stuffed in his hoodie pockets, scanning the crowd for one person.

Taehyung.

Why was this so hard?

It wasn’t like Taehyung had confessed or anything… but he didn’t have to. The way he looked at Jungkook—it was like being seen completely.

And that terrified him.

He spotted Taehyung near the lantern booth, laughing with a group of classmates. His boxy smile was on full display, eyes crinkled, head tilted back.

Jungkook had never seen anyone so bright.

He started walking toward him.

Then he saw someone else walk up beside Taehyung.

A tall boy. Handsome. Familiar.

Haneul. The theater kid with an easy smile and too much confidence.

He watched him lean in close, whisper something. Taehyung laughed again—but this time, it looked different.

Jungkook froze.

A hand on his chest. Cold. Tight.

He turned around and walked the other way.

---

Meanwhile, near the quieter part of the school garden, Jimin waited beneath the lanterns.

Yoongi was late—but not unusually so.

Jimin was just about to leave when he heard slow footsteps behind him.

“You waited.”

Jimin turned and smiled softly. “I said I would.”

Yoongi stood there awkwardly, hands in his coat pockets, looking more like a lost poet than a high schooler. “I almost didn’t come.”

“But you did.” Jimin stepped closer. “That’s all that matters.”

Yoongi looked up at the cherry blossoms. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“Me either,” Jimin whispered. “Let’s learn together.”

A soft wind blew between them, but they didn’t move.

Jimin’s pinky reached out.

It barely brushed against Yoongi’s.

And Yoongi didn’t pull away.

---

Back near the lantern booth, Taehyung finally slipped away from his classmates, chewing his bottom lip. He hadn’t seen Jungkook all evening.

He walked toward the snack stalls, eyes scanning.

And that’s when he saw him.

Leaning against the fence near the gym.

Alone. Silent. Watching him.

Their eyes met.

For a second, everything paused.

Taehyung walked up. “You left.”

Jungkook shrugged. “Didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Interrupt what?”

Jungkook hesitated. “You looked happy. With him.”

Taehyung frowned. “That was just Haneul. We were talking about his stupid role in the play.”

“You laughed,” Jungkook said. “Like you used to laugh with me.”

Taehyung’s voice broke on the next word. “So what? You decided I didn’t need you anymore?”

Jungkook didn’t answer. He just looked away.

“Why do you keep walking away from me, Jungkook?”

“Because I like you,” Jungkook snapped suddenly, louder than he meant. “And I don’t know how.”

Taehyung froze.

People passed around them, laughter in the background, but their world had gone still.

“You could’ve just said that,” Taehyung whispered.

Jungkook looked at him, eyes full of stormclouds. “I’m scared.”

Taehyung smiled, soft and sad. “So am I.”

And without another word, he reached out.

This time, he let his pinky hook around Jungkook’s.

No words. Just the touch.

And somehow, it felt like everything they’d been afraid to say was understood.

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