Chapter 4 – Run Faster

“Last one’s a rotten egg!”

The shout rang out across the playground like a starter pistol.

Kids bolted in every direction—tiny legs pumping, laughter echoing through the warm afternoon air.

Jungkook was already sprinting ahead, fast like the wind, hair flying, arms outstretched like wings.

Jimin wasn’t far behind, shoes slapping the dirt, tongue poking out in concentration.

Taehyung?

Taehyung was still at the starting line.

His legs moved, but slowly.

He hated running.

He hated the way his chest burned and how his breath caught too fast.

And more than anything, he hated how everyone always noticed.

“Aww, look at the princess jog,” someone snickered from the sidelines.

“Maybe if he stopped fixing his hair every two seconds, he could actually run.”

Laughter.

Snide. Loud. Ugly.

Taehyung froze, mid-step.

He could feel their eyes on him.

Their sneers clung to him like mud.

He bit his lip and looked down, hair falling into his eyes.

The lace on his shoe was undone.

Typical.

Just typical.

Then—

“I said shut up.”

Jungkook’s voice cracked through the chatter like thunder.

Everyone turned.

He was standing between Taehyung and the boys now, fists clenched.

His cheeks were red, not from running — from anger.

“You wanna say something?” Jungkook growled, eyes blazing.

The other kids backed off, hands raised in mock surrender.

“Jeez, relax! We were just joking.”

“Well, it’s not funny.”

Jungkook didn’t look away until they shuffled off.

Then he turned.

Kneeled in front of Taehyung.

And quietly tied his shoelaces.

“Double knot,” he said, looking up with a smile. “So they don’t come undone again.”

Taehyung’s eyes were wide. “You didn’t have to…”

“I wanted to,” Jungkook shrugged. “They were being mean.”

Taehyung’s throat tightened. “You always run so fast.”

“Yeah,” Jungkook said, grinning proudly. “I wanna be the fastest in school.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be fast,” Taehyung murmured.

“That’s okay,” Jungkook said. “You don’t have to be.”

A pause.

“Just… run with me next time.”

Taehyung looked at his outstretched hand.

Warm. Honest. Waiting.

He reached for it.

Their fingers met like puzzle pieces.

From a few feet away, Jimin watched them.

He hadn’t said anything during the whole exchange.

But he’d seen everything.

The teasing.

The hurt in Taehyung’s eyes.

The fire in Jungkook’s.

Jimin wasn’t cruel. Not really.

But sometimes, he didn’t know what to do with all the feelings in his chest.

So he laughed them off. Teased them away.

Now, though… something was curling deep in his gut.

Something uncomfortable.

He walked over, hands in his pockets.

“You know,” he said casually, “Kook’s only mad ‘cause he likes you.”

Taehyung looked up, startled.

Jungkook flushed. “Do not.”

“What?” Jimin shrugged. “It’s obvious. He defends you like a knight.”

“I’m not a princess,” Taehyung mumbled.

Jimin blinked.

For a second, he forgot to smile.

“No,” he said quietly. “You’re not.”

Something shifted in the silence between them.

A thread pulled tighter.

Then Jungkook ruined it, like always.

“Come on!” he said. “Race to the tree and back?”

Taehyung’s eyes widened. “Me?”

“All of us.”

Jimin raised an eyebrow. “Even me?”

“You’re just scared I’ll win,” Jungkook smirked.

Jimin snorted. “Please.”

Taehyung bit his lip. “I’m not fast…”

“So?” Jungkook said. “We’ll run together.”

Taehyung hesitated.

Then nodded.

One.

Two.

Three.

They took off—feet thudding, arms swinging, breath puffing into the golden air.

Jungkook ran ahead like always.

Jimin stayed close to Taehyung this time, slowing just enough.

Taehyung’s cheeks were flushed, hair flying wildly, eyes bright.

And for once, he didn’t care about being last.

Because when he slowed, Jungkook looped back to grab his hand.

Because Jimin grinned and said, “Come on, slowpoke, you’re not getting rid of us that easy.”

Because, for the first time, running didn’t feel like something he had to endure.

It felt like belonging.

It felt like warmth.

They collapsed onto the grass afterward, limbs tangled.

Hearts racing.

Laughter bubbling out of them like a fizzy drink.

Jungkook sprawled with his arms wide. “We were so fast.”

Jimin flopped on his stomach. “I was still faster than you.”

“Was not.”

“Was too.”

Taehyung lay between them, quiet but smiling.

His chest rose and fell, matching their rhythm.

He felt… light.

Like maybe, just maybe, he was allowed to take up space.

Later that day, he found a tiny note folded in his cubby.

Written in green crayon.

"You're fast in other ways.

– JK 🐰"

Taehyung didn’t know what that meant.

Not yet.

But he held the note like it was something precious.

And kept it tucked in his pocket the whole way home.

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