Neighbor|Taekook - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Jungkook turned on the TV, because the apartment was too quiet for his liking. This week I can do whatever I want... I should make some plans... Definitely eat a lot, sleep a lot, play a lot of games... He grabbed a seaweed snack and plopped onto the couch in front of the TV.
--How are you feeling? Are you sad?-- Taehyung sent him another message.
--I'm fine.--
Jungkook felt bad for creating this whole lie, but at the same time it wasn't far from truth. He did break up with his girlfriend and she did live in Busan. The breakup just happened over a month ago. And she obviously doesn't miss me... probably doesn't even think about me at all... Well, I don't think about her that much either... Lately, my mind has been occupied mainly with him...
--Are your parents gone?--
--Yeah.-- He finished his seaweed, then dug out some kimchi and rice.
--So we are both on our own this week...--
--Yeah.--
--You seem upset.--
I'm just stuffing my face...
--Maybe a little bit.-- Subconsciously, Jungkook was trying to spend more time with Taehyung.
--Do you need company? I'm at home, I have no work this week either.--
It's YOU who needs company, that's why I'm choosing you over my family...
--Do you want to watch a movie?-- Jungkook suggested.
--Sure. Your place or my place?--
--You haven't been in mine yet, it's about time.--
--Ok. Can I come now?--
Jungkook put a huge spoonful of rice in his mouth, then quickly hid the evidence, putting the dishes in the dishwasher, throwing away the seaweed packaging.
---Yeah.--
I should've thought this through a bit more... damn it! He ran to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Should I change my clothes? God knows for how long I've been wearing this T-shirt. My room is a total mess... maybe I have a bit of time to... There was a knock on the door. Instead of brushing his teeth, he took a swig of mouthwash, swishing it around in his mouth for two seconds, then spitting it out. He then ran to open the door.
Do I act sad, depressed, angry? Oh God, what do I do? He's going to be here! Just two of us alone... no parents... This was a bad idea... I can't panic though... He opened the door, behaving as calmly as he could.
"Give me a hand Jungkookie," Taehyung was holding several boxes.
"What in the..."
"Help your hyung."
Jungkook grabbed one of the cardboard boxes.
"Are you moving in, hyung?"
"Oh, would you want me to?"
"I... I think being neighbors is enough," Jungkook was getting used to being teased all the time.
"I've been rejected, it hurts, Jungkookie," he made a silly face.
Jungkook laughed, he couldn't believe that the same predatory looking guy from a month ago was being like this.
"It seems both of our apartments are almost identical," Taehyung noticed.
"Yeah...What's in the boxes?"
"Snacks," Taehyung answered proudly.
"For like entire year?"
"Well, you eat a lot, so I figured it might be an appropriate amount."
"Are you calling me fat?"
"Just want to feed the bunny."
"What bunny?"
"You, of course."
"Huh? I'm bunny?"
"Yes."
"I'm not."
"Yes you are."
"Hell no."
"And you are cute."
"Absolutely not."
"The more you try to deny it, the cuter you get."
"Nope."
"Are you being a bad boy again?"
What the fuck?! Why is he starting with this again... I can't defend myself... He seems to know my weak spot perfectly...
"I can be whatever I want to be. Thank you very much."
"No one is saying, that you can't, Jungkookie," Taehyung chuckled and carried the boxes to the kitchen. "I just want to say, that I'm sorry for what happened between you and your girlfriend. I know that separating from someone you love... is... difficult to say the least. Your heart... it will take a long time to heal."
"I knew it wouldn't last..." Jungkook tried to act at least a little bit sad.
"You seem to be very rational about these things."
When it comes to you, rational is the last thing I am...
"I actually don't know if..."
"If what?"
"How do you know if you love someone?"
Jungkook sat back on the couch and Taehyung followed him.
"It's not easy to say... You think about them a lot, you are always happy to see them. They are your priority and you'd do anything for them. Yet at the same time you don't expect anything back, it's unconditional. You love them the way they are, with all their flaws. That being said, I think you can be totally unaware that you're in love with someone, that's why it's not easy."
I don't think... I really don't think it was love... I just...went with it... I didn't want to reject her... I was happy that I finally had someone who cared about me...I cared about her too, but... I think that was all...
"Yeah, I'm...not sure, if I...what my feelings were...We've been together just for few months...," Jungkook mused.
"Don't worry Kookie, you'll find someone else. I'm sure of it," Taehyung encouraged him.
"I don't think I'm capable of love," Jungkook confessed.
"Why do you say that?"
"I... I don't feel anything."
Now he was almost certain, that he has never been in love.
"I've witnessed you expressing at least fifty different emotions over the past weeks, I think you feel enough," Taehyung laughed.
"It's not that...maybe, just love isn't for me...It's confusing..."
What am I even saying?!
Taehyung scanned his face,"you are still very young, things might change as you get older...Anyway I'm here to make you feel better. Anything you need, I'm here. I felt pretty bad about last Friday... it didn't go as I wanted... So I hope I can fix everything."
I just wanted to help him and now  he is helping me... way to go Jungkook, great... I suppose him, keeping me company will make him less lonely, though...
"What do you want to watch?" Jungkook asked.
"Whatever you like."
"How about Iron Man?"
"Okay," Taehyung went back to the kitchen to grab an assortment of snacks, while Jungkook was preparing the movie.
"Do you have any plans for this week?"
"No, not really. My parents return on Sunday," Jungkook responded.
"We can spend some time together, if you want," he pushed a bowl of chips in front of Jungkook and laid down more bowls and plates.
"Doing what?"
Why is my mind going to the wrong places...
"Leave that to me, I'll plan something," Taehyung winked.
The intro rolled and the movie has begun. They were watching it, with crunching of snacks being the only sounds they were making. Jungkook couldn't help but feel nervous once again. They were sitting so close. The lights were dimmed, so he could sneakily look at Taehyung from time to time. From the profile, he noticed that his eyelashes are very long, looking like fans over his eyes. His nose was also prominent, giving him very defined and handsome features. Jungkook's eyes glided to his lips, slightly parted as he was focusing on the movie.
I had felt those lips before...on my cheek they were so soft... I wonder if he's a good kisser... His eyes moved lower, tracing the outline of his neck, his Adam's apple, down to his collarbones. The light from the TV was making his skin almost silvery. Why are collarbones suddenly so attractive to me? He started to feel the familiar wave of heat. His eyes went over his chest and moved lower and lower. He kept staring at his groin area. I wonder how bi...
"That was cool, wasn't it?"
Jungkook got startled,"yeah, yeah..." He didn't notice the movie has ended.
"I need some water," he peeled himself from the couch to escape the embarrassment and hid in the kitchen.
Was I really looking at THAT?! And thinking those things... He saw some leftover watermelon in the fridge, probably the last one for this season. Oh, I need some refreshment, something to cool me down...
I would actually like to see how he looks like naked... nothing wrong with that... it's a human body... and no matter what the gender is, its beauty should be appreciated. Right? Of course... maybe I should go and ask him right away... Hyung, can you do a striptease for me? Of course... of fucking course... the usual stuff...I'm going insane...
"Hyung, do you want some watermelon?" he shouted instead.
He heard Taehyung's steps,"I love watermelon, thank you."
"What do you usually do on a night like this?" asked Jungkook cutting a slice for Taehyung.
"I spend most of my time working."
"Why do you work so much, hyung?"
"I have my reasons."
The same old closed book again... I'm not getting anything out of him...
"Wait, so you work during the night too?"
"I have two part-time jobs."
"What the hell?! Isn't it too much?! With school and everything?!"
"It is exhausting indeed."
"Hyung! You cannot be doing this! At night too?!"
"Yeah."
"Wait a minute... so that business you had, when we went out for the first time... you went to work?!"
"That's right."
What?! Is he trying to kill himself?!
"No, no, no, that's not right. It's everything but right. Why do you do it? Because of the money? I thought your family is well off..."
"As I said, I have my reasons."
"Stop doing it, seriously. You are going to destroy your health. When do you sleep?!"
"I'm used to it."
"Do you even attend the classes? I haven't seen you in school or even going to school. Please tell me you're not skipping classes."
"I'm not, don't worry Jungkookie."
"Oh yeah, I fucking worry, alright?! I worry about your ass everyday, I don't even know why! And I fucking don't want you to be doing that! Understand?! Yah, I don't care if I'm younger, now you have to listen Taehyung-a!" Jungkook's face was all red, he was furious.
"So the baby boy can get passionate... interesting," Taehyung remarked dryly and took a bite of the watermelon.
"Are you even listening?!"
"Yes I am."
"I'm so done with you hyung..." Jungkook suddenly got shy and turned away.
Think before you speak... how many times do I have to remind myself that...
"I'm sorry for speaking informally... and for the language," he mumbled.
"Tell me Jungkookie, how much do you care about me?"
Oh, so he's going to torture me now...
"I care a lot about friends," he answered.
"Look at me and tell me how much you care," he ordered.
Jungkook obeyed and slowly turned to face him. "I care about you a lot, hyung," he said quietly, having difficulty looking into his eyes.
"Why?" Taehyung kept is authoritative tone of voice.
You would never want to be friends with me if I told you why...
"I... I care about Jimin-hyung too. I just care about my friends, that's all. I... I don't want you to work so much, it's not good for you."
"Is that really all?"
I can't tell you, I really can't...
"Yes, that's all."
Taehyung threw the watermelon rind into the bin and washed his hands in the kitchen sink. "Has anybody ever told you, that you're a bad liar?" Taehyung pierced him with his eyes.
"Wh... what? Uh... Y... Yugyeom has mentioned it..."
"How close are you with this Yugyeom."
"I've known him since I was five... We are very close. Why?"
"That proves it... I have this feeling, Jungkookie, like I've known you for a long time... I feel like I know and can sense things about you, which I wouldn't normally know. It's like I've known you forever."
Oh my God! He feels the same... but what does he know?! What can he sense?
"I might have a theory...," Taehyung continued,"but I think it is too far-fetched... It's... I can't believe it... Jungkook, please be honest with me, have you just for a moment felt the same? When you have a feeling like you've known me forever? Just for a fleeting moment, have you ever felt like that?"
"What are you talking about, hyung? You're saying some strange stuff..."
"I know it's weird... but... So you've never felt like that?" Taehyung asked, disappointment audible in his voice.
"Uhh, I don't think so."
What the hell is going on here... This doesn't make sense...
"I'm sorry Jungkookie... Once again, I'm sorry... I can't wrap my own head around it..."
Jungkook felt uncomfortable, he respected Taehyung's privacy, he knew that he had things he didn't want to talk about. However he felt like he's getting deeper and deeper into a maze, which doesn't have an exit and one can never return to it's start. He started to be cautious of what he revealed in front of him. He'd still overshare his thoughts, mostly because of a habit. Now he knew he had to pay more attention...
"About what you were saying earlier...You were right hyung, I feel...something. I always explode in front of you. You bring that in me... I'm not usually like that. Let's just forget this... what kind of snacks are in this one?" He pointed to unopened box to change the topic.
It was getting late, they settled into the couch again, trying the different snacks, whilst another movie was on.
"Jungkook-a don't make any plans this week."
"Do you really think I have a life interesting enough, to make some huge plans?"
"I'm just saying. I'll make sure you'll get over the heart break fast."
"I'm not heartbroken..."
"I know you better than you think, there's some serious denial happening inside you."
"Oh, now you're an expert in psychology?" Jungkook giggled.
"No, I'm just telling you, that you should accept the truth."
What denial is he talking about?!
"Okay, okay I'm very heartbroken. Please hyung, take care of me. Please heal my broken heart," he started to mock Taehyung.
Out of knowhere, Taehyung lounched himself at him and started wrestling him," I knew your parents don't punish you enough. This child doesn't know how to behave," he tickled Jungkook everywhere he could.
"Stop!" Jungkook couldn't help, but laugh.
"Okay, but you need to behave."
"Never," Jungkook curled and protected his face, ready for another attack.
With Taehyung on top of him, he used the strength in his arms and flipped them both. Now he was on top of his hyung, pinning him down, holding his wrists.
"What are people feeding children these days... How are you so strong?!" Taehyung panted.
"You talk like ahjussi,"Jungkook felt the thrill of victory, breathing hard.
"Here I thought, that you are a fragile, gentle boy... And you turn out to be a muscle pig..."he was trying to wiggle his wrists from Jungkook's grip.
Jungkook had his thick thighs on the sides of Taehyung's torso, making sure that he couldn't move. Taehyung quit resisting and just gave up. For a minute they were just staring at each other, catching their breath. Jungkook was suddenly very aware of their position and how awkward it was, he let go off of Taehyung's wrists. However his body refused to move, he felt blood rushing to his crotch area, his breath hitched. He couldn't take his eyes off of Taehyung.
Is that...is he blushing? Taehyung's cheeks and ears were unmistakably red and his eyes closed.
"Get off me," Taehyung opened his eyes and growled, rolling to the side. Jungkook lost his balance and tumbled from the couch to the floor. "Don't do that ever again," he warned him, his voice sounding menacing.
"S...sorry," Taehyung was scary when he was using that tone of voice.
"Can I use your bathroom?" he asked.
"Yeah, sure," Jungkook was glad that he was crouching on the floor and didn't have to stand up. His pants were painfully tight.
Taehyung quickly turned around and went to the bathroom. Jungkook ran his hand through his hair, still sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch.
Did he... he liked it?! That face... Oh God... Nope, nope, nope... innocent thoughts, innocent thoughts... Watashi wa nihongo... japanese... need to revise japanese... I'm not thinking, what I'm thinking... The more he tried to focus on other things, the more difficult it was. He tried to stand up, having a very apparent problem...
Thank God he's in the bathroom for so long... This is a normal bodily response... I haven't... touched myself in a long time... it's normal... At least for me... it's normal... It's because he... he's teasing me all the time, yeah that's it... But him... he definitely liked it... at least a little bit... Or he thought, that me sitting on top of him like that is embarrassing... Him embarrassed? That would be the first time I'm seeing that... It seems that there are ways, how to get beyond his cold facade... He smirked... Very unconventional ways though...Maybe I should explore them more...
He went to the kitchen and chose to hand wash the dishes, putting an apron on and hiding behind the kitchen counter was the best solution for him now. He heard the bathroom door being opened and he started to fear the confrontation.
Taehyung found him in the kitchen,"you know, you'd be a good husband one day, washing dishes so well," he remarked.
"Uhh... thanks," he got shy again. Why is he saying things like that?!
Taehyung got closer, standing behind him.
"D...do you like washing dishes?" Jungkook was really nervous again.
What kind of dumb question is that?!
He heard no answer, only the splashing of the water in the sink. Out of nowhere, he felt Taehyung's chest on his back. The older one moved closer, leaning over him. He slid his arms around Jungkook's sides and reached around, clasping his hands on Jungkook's stomach. He was basically back hugging Jungkook, putting his head on his shoulder.
"H...hyung... wh... what are you doing?" He didn't want to admit, that he was enjoying the comforting warmth of the hug.
Taehyung sighed and let go immediately,"I'm sorry... I promised to not do this again... my bad...I'm...I'm sleepy, I'll go back to the living room, okay?"
"O..okay."
He is... he is so sweet? Where does it come from?... I can't... believe I'm actually falling for him... This can't be happening... He's definitely unpredictable, I'll give him that... Still, I have to keep my distance...
When he finished washing the dishes, he looked at the kitchen clock, it was already 1am. Yeah, I need to go to bed if I want to fulfill my plan to sleep a lot...
"Hyung?" he called.
He didn't get a response, so he went to check on what Taehyung was doing. He couldn't see him in the living room.
Did he go to his place already?
"Hy...," he was about to call again, when he saw Taehyung sleeping on the couch.
Awww, he must be so tired... Should I wake him up? Instead, Jungkook turned off the TV and the lights, then went to his room. He washed himself and changed into his sleeping clothes. He went back to see if Taehyung was still sleeping.
He looks so peaceful... I'm not going to wake him up. He brought a large, soft blanket and carefully draped it over Taehyung. He stood beside the couch looking at his hyung.
I wish I could've told you, why I care so much... Would you understand? Would you run away? He kneeled down and gently brushed a loose strand of hair from his forehead. Maybe one day... one day we...
He moved his face closer, hearing Taehyung's even breaths. He leaned over and ever so slightly kissed his forehead. After that he went back to his room and fell asleep.