Neighbor|Taekook - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Jungkook woke up all sweaty and with a headache. He rolled to his back, looking at the ceiling. What happened yesterday? He looked around, his room looked as tidy as he remembered it to be. He saw his pajamas on the floor... Ouch... my head...
So this is how it feels to get drunk... But at least I'm alive... Where is hyung? How did I get home? I can't remember anything... He took off his sweaty clothes and slowly walked barefoot to the window, the glass panels were frosted and glistening in the morning sun. I'm so thirsty... and hungry... He slipped on new clothes and made his way to the kitchen.
"Good morning."
"Hyung! How did you get here?!"
Taehyung was in the kitchen cooking something.
"I stayed here through the night... for your...safety..."
Jungkook poured himself a large glass of cold water,"I don't remember anything... did I do something stupid?"
"You were just very, very, very confused... that's all."
"I feel horrible now."
"That's what hangover is... Is that...the T-shirt, your ex-girlfriend gave you?"
"Yeah."
"You should change then."
"It's just a T-shirt... it doesn't hold any meaning to me anymore..."
"I don't want you to be wearing it."
"Jeez...Honestly, you are so bossy, hyung," he finished his glass of water. "Did we... did we have fun at least yesterday?" he asked unsure.
"You definitely had fun Jungkookie..."
"Are... are you cooking breakfast?"
"I have this feeling, that you might want some eggs and toast."
"Oh my God, hyung how do you know?!"
Taehyung chuckled and shrugged,"I just know."
"Can you cook well?"
"Not at all, but I can do simple meals like this," he made Jungkook sit down at the table in the dining room. He put a plate of eggs and buttery toast in front of him, along with some orange juice. Taehyung sat down to eat too.
"Thank you, hyung," he took a bit of the toast,"by the way, where did you sleep?"
Taehyung stopped his fork halfway to his mouth. "Uh, I... actually... fell asleep in your bed... I was pretty drunk myself... and... just passed out there... sorry..."
Jungkook choked on the orange juice,"what?"
My fucking bed?! Oh my God... oh my God! Wh... how? What... did we do...?!
Taehyung laughed nervously," I...I don't remember much either..."
Good... if none of us remembers, then it's all good...
"I would like to do it again," Jungkook said out of nowhere,"I remember feeling free and careless..."
"I don't think it's a good idea."
"Why? I asked you hyung, if I did something stupid..."
Taehyung was silently chewing his food for a while, then he said,"you know what? Let's do it again... if we get a chance."
"Deal," Jungkook smiled.
"Jungkookie, you mentioned something... you said, that you would like to go on a trip..."
"Did I?"
"Yeah, you said you'd want to go with me... would you... would you really want to go?"
"Y...yeah, why not...I would have to ask my parents first..."
"Of course."
"But, I don't think my pocket money would cover a trip."
"I don't think money is a problem for you... remember...you have Tae," Taehyung laughed.
"Huh? I don't understand..."
"Just ignore me... I will plan a trip... for both of us..."
"But hyung, I really don't have much money... and you keep paying for everything... I feel bad... you work so much..."
"Don't worry Jungkookie, I've been saving for a while..."
"Just so you can waste everything on me?!"
"In my opinion, it's worth it."
"I keep wanting to do something for you, hyung... I fail every time..."
"You don't have to do anything... just me, spending time with you is a gift."
"Wow...that was cheesy..."
"Yah! Do you want to fight?!"
"Whatever... I know that I would win every time," Jungkook teased him.
"Here comes the tough Kook again..."
"Are you scared, hyung? I would beat your ass," he laughed.
"I have no doubt... Anyway what would you like to do today? Well... that is if you'd want to spend it with me of course... I'm not forcing you..."
"I will get bored by myself...Can I... can I cook for you instead? I'm not the greatest cook, but I want to do at least that for you."
"You don't have to ask me."
"I think I'll have to go shopping though, there's not much food in the fridge left."
"Let's go shopping together, then."
After finishing breakfast, Taehyung went back to his place to change his clothes and they agreed to meet in one hour. Jungkook looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. Shit! I look bad... how does hyung manage to look good even after a night of drinking?! He tripped on an empty can of beer. Even in the bathroom? It's really for the better to not remember...
He took a shower and washed his hair. I really hope I didn't do anything stupid... He shaved his stubble and blowdried his hair. I could get used to living on my own... having all this freedom... I could get used to living with hyung... This is so crazy, when I look back on that morning, when we were leaving Busan... and now... what am I doing? I can still remember that horrible feeling... that weight on my shoulders. And this guy... I would've never imagined to find someone like him in Seoul... to have a neighbor like him...
Seeing the frosted windows again, he put on some warm clothes and searched for his wallet. His mom left him money to buy food, it was more than enough for the entire week. I have to tell about him to Yugyeom, when he comes... Not all details though...I can't do it... Or maybe I should... out of all people, Yugyeom would judge me the least... He's coming next week... we have a lot to talk about...
Jungkook finished with everything quickly and had nothing to do, so he grabbed all his stuff and went to knock on Taehyung's door.
"Yes?" Taehyung asked from behind the closed door.
"It's me, hyung. Can I come in?"
Taehyung opened the door, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his hips.
"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to," Jungkook looked down right away.
"Come in, I just took a shower...it's taking me a while, sorry..."
Jungkook walked inside, keeping his eyes pinned to the floor.
"Well, well, well... who's shy now?"
"What are you talking about, hyung?"
"Is my lack of clothes making you nervous?"
"Not at all..."
Just a fucking tiny towel... How am I supposed to be not nervous?!
"Then why are you looking away?"
"I'm not," Jungkook fought against his will and made himself look at Taehyung. He didn't dare to look lower, than his face though.
"You can look all you want."
"No, thank you."
"Is my body not attractive enough for you?"
"I... I don't know... Are you fishing for compliments?"
"I just wanted to hear your opinion... but I guess my body is not worthy of your eyes..."
He behaves like a girl, seriously... so passive aggressive... Well, he asked for it, so let's see...
Jungkook gave him a very judgmental look and moved his eyes lower... To his neck and shoulders, his chest muscles... His upper body was surprisingly slender and bony. His skin was tan and golden and looked so smooth, covered in tiny water droplets. Now he forced himself to scan the rest of his body very, very slowly... Let's see if you have no shame... He looked lower, reaching his belly button. He didn't have abs, but that didn't take away from how nice his body looked like. He followed a straight line down, reaching the towel tied around his hips, then moved a little bit lower and his eyes stopped right there. Oh yes, Kim Taehyung, I'm looking there... He moved his eyes back up, to see Taehyung's face. He couldn't tell, what is going on in his hyung's mind, so he looked down there once again. Then he looked back up. This time Taehyung turned away.
"Are you shy, hyung?
"N...no, I'm...showing you my back."
Jungkook ran his eyes over his broad tan back and shoulders, then lower and then ended up looking at his butt. How come I hadn't noticed this butt before... He's definitely thicker on the bottom...
"You have a very nice body," Jungkook concluded," is that what you wanted to hear?"
"I just wanted to know, whether you...like it... I'll go and get dressed...be right back."
Taehyung emerged from his room, now wearing clothes,"so what are you planning to cook for me?"
"Just leave that to me."
They had to go to a large supermarket, quite far away from where they were living, as most stores closer to them were closed during Chuseok. The weather outside had a true autumn feel, the dark clouds on the sky were looking angry. They took a bus and even today, they were garnering looks of many people using the public transport.
"There are people looking at us again."
"Just ignore it."
"You are grabbing too much attention, hyung."
"Why is that?"
"You dress a little bit... well... eccentric."
"Do you hate it?"
"No... I find it interesting."
"I like fashion... It allows me to express myself... It is pretty much the only way I can truly express myself..."
"I think there are many ways..."
"For me, it is very limited, Jungkookie."
"Limited by what?"
"Society."
"What?" Jungkook laughed. "I can't see how society would limit you."
"Society, our culture... you name it... they are my handcuffs ..."
"You are talking in riddles again."
"Because I'm limited..."
"I don't understand you... am I limiting you?"
"I think you are becoming one of the reasons, why I...have to be limited."
"Okay, I already have headache since the morning... I don't need a migraine..."
They left the bus at a stop, which was nearby a large supermarket. Jungkook got a cart and got lost in the alleys filled with food, closely followed by Taehyung.
"Rice cake soup... what do you say, hyung?"
"It's not Seollal... Besides, isn't it too complicated?"
"Are you doubting my abilities?"
Taehyung shook his head and smiled,"so what ingredients do we need?"
"Rice cakes," Jungkook laughed. "Then meat, flour, eggs...I have an idea for the main dish..."
"Skewers."
"Whatever you say..."
"Do you like lamb skewers?"
"I'm not a huge fan..."
"Yoongi-hyung bought some for me few days ago."
"Yoongi-hyung? You mean Min Yoongi?"
"Yeah, do you know him?"
"Who doesn't know the student council president?! Of course I know him. How do YOU know him?! He bought you a meal?!"
"He just talked to me and invited me... is there anything wrong about it?"
"Freaking Min Yoongi... What did he want from you?"
"N...nothing... we just had those lamb skewers..."
"Did he... did he say anything weird to you?"
"No, we had a nice conversation." It was a bit weird...
"Did he invite you somewhere else? His place? Did he suggest that?"
"No... Hyung why are you asking all these questions?"
"I don't want you to hang out with him..."
"Why?"
"Because I know him..."
"You aren't my mom... so I can hang out with whoever I want."
"Please Jungkookie, you shouldn't go with him anywhere anymore."
"He called me Busan prince," Jungkook teased him.
"He can go to hell," Taehyung said with an obvious frustration.
"Wait... oh my God... hyung, are you... are you jealous?"
"Don't be stupid, why would I be jealous?"
"Just to let you know, I think Yoongi-hyung is really cool, I like him... Actually I would love to hang out with him again."
"Please don't."
"You aren't making any sense, hyung."
"I just... I just want to protect you..."
Jungkook laughed," protect me from what?"
"I don't want anything... anything happen to you."
"I don't need anyone to protect me."
"Act as tough as you want... you don't realize what a gem you are... and what some people would do just to... Ah... I don't think you need to know... Anyway, you're too stubborn... just be careful."
He thinks I'm a baby again... But not gonna lie seeing him this frustrated is fun...
"So back to the topic... no lamb skewers for you...Okay, we need clams, mushrooms, some veggies..."
"Alright."
"I think we are almost done."
"Good, I'm getting bored Jungkookie..."
"I'll just go and get soy sauce and that's it."
Taehyung offered to pay as always, but Jungkook had money from his mom and paid for everything himself.
They had put everything into bags and carried them to the bus stop. After that, they took a bus back home.
By the time they got home, it was past lunch time and both of them were hungry. Jungkook started with the preparation right away. He cut all the meat for the soup and set some aside for the kebab skewers. He put all the ingredients for Tteokguk into a large pot. Then he began slicing mushrooms and vegetables for the skewers.
"Hyung, can you help me with the skewers?"
Taehyung got hold of the simple task,"you know Jungkookie, kitchen suits you."
"I can't say the same about you," he laughed.
"What would I do without you, Kookie...You're a husband material."
"You are so fucking cheesy today."
"And you need to pay attention to what language you're using...Those ugly words don't suit this pretty mouth," he pointed straight at Jungkook's mouth.
Jungkook blushed slightly,"so... what suits my mouth then?"
He got no answer.
"Hyung, do you like girls who know how to cook?"
"Who wouldn't like that? It's a great plus."
"Do you think it's important for a guy to know how to cook?"
"I think it's nice, when a guy can cook for his girlfriend. Even if it's just once in a while. And you know what they say, love goes through stomach... So, it could also be an expression of love... showing affection, you name it."
What am I trying to express? I guess I just care about him... nothing more...
"Taste test," he had finished with pan frying last few skewers. It was already late afternoon and they were starving.
He grabbed a spoon and fed Taehyung," what do you think?"
"One day, Jungkookie you are going to make a girl fall for you because of your cooking skills."
"Is that all you think I have to offer?"
"How would I know, what else you have..."
Do you want me to show you?
"Actually I have nothing...Let's eat."
They sat down at the table and plated everything. The warm rice cake soup tasted equally as good. Jungkook was happy, that he chose Taehyung over his family. He wouldn't be able to stand it, knowing that Taehyung was all alone. Even though they weren't family and still relatively strangers, eating together bonded them closer. He was also happy, that he could finally do something for his hyung and realized, that taking care of him brings him a lot of joy.
"This isn't the worst way to spend Chuseok, isn't it?" he asked his hyung.
"Actually... I haven't enjoyed it this much in years..."
So after all it was worth it... staying here, just for him... He isn't lonely and that's all that matters... Shit! I hope he knows how much I care... I'm screwed... totally screwed... I don't know what to do anymore... I'm so happy and frustrated at the same time... Maybe suffering is my destiny... I hope he knows, but at the same time I hope he doesn't...if he does, it will ruin everything...
"So is it okay even when your family is not here?"
Taehyung put down his spoon, looked deeply into Jungkook's eyes, smiled and said," my family... is Jungkook."