Neighbor|Taekook - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

"You taste like peaches," Taehyung whispered after he moved his lips away from Jungkook's.
Jungkook didn't know how to process what just happened. Did I just ask him to kiss me?! What the fuck...
"Hyung, this isn't right..."
"I would like to say, that I'm not really someone who cares about what's right or wrong. But it's not true. However in this situation it might be..."
"I... I don't like this..."
"Too bad Jungkookie, I can't even count how many times I've warned you about not testing me. Kissing me last night was a huge mistake. And unfortunately I enjoyed it."
"I could never understand what you meant by that... I still don't understand..."
"You don't need to understand... but this is what you get for that. And it will be like this every time from now on."
"This is too much..."
"If it is, then why did you kiss me last night, hmm?
"I wanted to make hyung feel better."
Taehyung, still cupping Jungkook's cheeks nuzzled his nose,"you are dangerously cute."
"I wasn't thinking back then, so let's just forget about it, please."
"Are you telling me that you don't like kissing me? I dare to disagree...your face betrays you."
Every time... every time he has an upper hand...
Jungkook grabbed Taehyung's wrists and pulled his hands down, away from his face. " You think you can read me like a book, hyung? Am I that simple? Then think again." He turned away and started walking down the Fortress path back.
Shit! This is bad... really bad...His face felt burning hot, he could swear that the scattered rain droplets turned into vapor right after they had touched his skin. He didn't look back, he wanted to get away from the embarrassing situation.
Taehyung caught up with him,"is baby Jungkookie sulking?"he chuckled.
He really doesn't know when to stop...
"Maybe after punching you in the face, you would know whether I'm sulking or not, hyung," he could feel his rage boiling.
Taehyung was taken aback,"then try it Jungkook, hit me... You know, your anger is just another proof of denial..."
"What the fuck are you talking about? Leave me alone, I'm going home."
"Unfortunately we live in the same building. I'm afraid you're stuck with me."
"Don't talk to me," he tried to get away.
"Just a minute ago you were such a good boy and now..."Jungkook swing his fist at Taehyung's face, the older one skillfully dodged, raindrops flying away from his hair.
Enough is enough... I'm so done with him...
"If you want to fight, then be it... if anger helps you..." Jungkook jutted his hands into Taehyung's chest and pushed him away.
"I'm not angry!" he snarled.
Taehyung stumbled, but regained his balance on the wet ground," stop bottling your feelings," he had to dodge Jungkook's fist again.
"I said I'm not fucking angry," mud was splashing everywhere.
"Are you angry at me Jungkookie? Do you hate me?"
Yeah, I fucking hate you!
Jungkook grabbed the front of Taehyung's jacket, his knuckles white,"I said I'm not..."
"Are you angry at yourself? Taehyung wasn't resisting.
Jungkook loosened his grip. Ugh, what is he saying?! Myself?! Why would I be...angry... I'm not...maybe... I hate myself. I fucking hate myself... for feeling this way... for being this way. I can't be like this... this is all just a bad dream, it can't be true...
"Yah! Shut your mouth! You're so annoying!"he shouted, his grip tightened again.
"Come on, punch me then. Look at my face... do it..."Taehyung was provoking him.
Jungkook's face was all scrunched in a grimace, he looked at Taehyung. There was no anger showing on his face, his eyes were looking at him with no hate, just kindness. This annoying face... I hate it... if he's asking for it, then... He held his fist, ready to show Taehyung, that enough is enough. But he couldn't... This fucking face... I can't stand the way he's looking at me...He doesn't see me as disgusting... doesn't want to avert his eyes... There has always been nothing but affection visible on that face...
Jungkook pushed him again, this time Taehyung slipped, taking Jungkook to the ground with him. Taehyung ended up splayed in the mud, Jungkook right on top of him.
"Fucking hell," Jungkook couldn't handle his anger and frustration any more.
"Why did you hesitate?"
Jungkook punched muddy ground next to his face and lowered his head,"I can't," he whispered.
"That's right, you can't."
Why is this happening? This anger inside me, this hate...
"Be truthful to yourself," Taehyung continued.
"Don't act like you know me," he was trembling with rage.
"You obviously refuse to know yourself well," rain was falling at Taehyung's face.
"Shut up," he grabbed the front of his jacket again.
"You may not remember, but when you were drunk...you mentioned that you've had dreams about me. I was also aware of you kissing my forehead that night... Don't fight it."
Jungkook looked at him wide eyed,"what... did I..."
Taehyung smiled at him,"you don't have to pretend in front of me...it's okay..."
It's okay? Is it?! Is it really okay?! Taehyung's expression wasn't changing, his face was peaceful and kind. There was no judgement whatsoever... He really means it...
Jungkook let go of off his jacket, he gave up. His head dropped on Taehyung's chest and he started sobbing.
"I'm not..." he whispered.
No way... never...
"It's okay Jungkookie," Taehyung hugged him, and stroked his hair with one hand.
"It's not..."
"It's okay with me."
"It shouldn't..."
"Shush."
"Don't tell anyone, hyung."
"Ah, pabo... Come on, we're getting soaking wet,"Taehyung pushed Jungkook away. "Well, thank you for the mud bath, Jungkookie, I guess I deserved it," he smiled.
"S...sorry," Jungkook couldn't look at him.
Taehyung grabbed his hand and both of them started walking down the path. "And here I wanted to go for a nice walk..."
"It's your fault, hyung," he kept his head down.
"I take the full responsibility," he giggled. "Thank God for my quick reflexes, I'm pretty sure your right hook would knock me out."
"That's what I was aiming for," he admitted embarrassed.
"I will have to talk to your parents about good manners."
"Are you... not mad at me?"
"Not in the slightest. I don't tend to hold grudges much..."
"You're too nice, hyung."
"When it comes to you, there's no such thing as being too nice."
"But seriously, please don't get mad... I'm ashamed now..."
"I won't get mad under one condition. You probably don't remember it, but you owe me a piggyback ride, so..." he jumped on Jungkook's back," go forth my steed!"
Taehyung was quietly humming in his ear as he was carrying him down the path. After he got tired, Taehyung took his hand and they walked side by side.
"We will soon be at the subway station,"Taehyung said. "You can take the subway first and I'll wait for the next one... if you want to be alone."
Jungkook shook his head and squeezed Taehyung's hand,"I taste like peaches because of my lip balm..."
Taehyung laughed," what do I taste like, then?"
Jungkook thought about it for a moment, then answered,"rain".
In the light of the subway station they finally saw the full impact of their fight. They were soaking wet and covered in mud, Taehyung's jacket was ripped in the front. Luckily not many people witnessed that and they soon made it back home.
In front on his door, Jungkook was searching for his keys. Please don't tell me that I had lost them... He searched through every pocket and then, finally found them.
"So..." he turned to face Taehyung. "Uhh, goodnight, hyung."
"Goodnight Kookie," the mud has dried on his clothes.
"I'm sorry... for overreacting..."
"It's okay, don't worry. I suppose you don't want a goodnight kiss."
What? Another kiss? M...maybe?
Jungkook shook his head.
Taehyung nodded,"I... I have one favor to ask you... Would you... would you mind sleeping in my bed tonight?"
Jungkook was ready to refuse, but when he took a closer look at Taehyung, he looked so lonely once again. He wasn't sure, what to say.
"I slept so well during that storm... and I think it's only because of you... you made me feel better."
"I don't know..."
"It's fine..." Taehyung nodded," so... sleep tight Kookie," he smiled one last time and turned to unlock his door.
Looking at his muddy back, he noticed how hunched over his shoulders were, how he lowered his head. "Wait... if... if you want, then I'll sleep with you, hyung."
Taehyung didn't look back at him, only sighed,"I have a feeling, that I will regret all of this one day." He opened the door and let Jungkook in.
"Care for a hot tea?"
"Yeah, I'm so cold...Hyung, can we order a pizza?"
"You are reading my mind."
Taehyung went to his room to change and came back carrying some clean clothes for Jungkook,"I think we're roughly the same size."
"Thank you," Jungkook took the soft cotton sweatpants and a long sleeve top. He went to Taehyung's room, while the older one was making tea. He peeled away the soaked and dirty clothes and slipped on the clean ones, which had a faint smell of some nice fabric softener. He saw Taehyung's dirty clothes piled in the corner, so he tossed his there too. Taehyung's bed was perfectly made, with cushions neatly arranged, it looked so comfortable. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea...
When he returned to the living room, Taehyung looked him up and down. Then nodded approvingly,"they look good on you."
"Do they?" Jungkook blushed a bit. His underwear got wet too, so he wasn't wearing anything underneath Taehyung's clothes.
"Pizza will be here any minute, come tea is ready."
Jungkook accepted the mug filled with steaming liquid and sat down next to him on the couch.
"Let me tell you Jungkookie, I definitely wasn't bored this evening," he laughed.
Jungkook rubbed his forehead,"if that was an entertainment that you like, then you have some pretty messed up sense of humor..."
"I'm messed up in many ways..."
"In what ways?"
"Well, you know..."
Does he mean...
"I know."
"We both know," Taehyung winked.
Do we?
The pizza has arrived and they hungrily started eating like a pair of wolves. "I wouldn't mind having evenings like this quite often," Taehyung remarked with full mouth.
"You're right... this isn't so bad...Pizza and you are the ultimate remedy."
"Me?"
"Yes you, hyung. I had told you before, you make me very happy"
"But also unhappy."
"Without the evil, you wouldn't know the goodness exists..."
"So I have to make you feel miserable, before you can be happy?"
"Aish, you know what I mean..."
"It's like the time you have to wait for the pizza to be delivered, before you can eat it and be happy."
"Something like that," Jungkook sighed.
They had finished their pizza and happily lounged in the living room. Taehyung went to throw away the pizza box and came back with a bottle.
"Jungkook-a, have you ever tried wine?"
"No, never."
"Today is your lucky day, then. This is a really nice red wine."
"Is this okay? Wouldn't your parents mind? Us drinking here?"
"Don't worry," he put down the bottle and went looking for the opener.
"This week has been probably the most eventful week of my life, hyung. I'm trying so many new things."
"That's how it should be," he put down two round wine glasses and started opening the bottle. After removing the cork, he tipped the bottle and the crimson liquid poured into the glass.
"Wine is supposed to be sipped not drunk as a shot. Swirl in around in the glass, look at its color, smell it..."
Jungkook did as he was told to.
Taehyung clinked his glass with Jungkook's,"on many nights like this... and no more fights."
Jungkook nodded and took a sip,"whoah, it's sweet."
"I figured you'd like his one."
"I... I don't want to get drunk though..."
I seem to say too much when I'm drunk and remember none of it...
"Don't worry, one glass won't get you drunk. As I've learned you handle the alcohol well."
"Hyung, after today... Do you... do you still want to be my friend?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"I would assume that... well, I guess I was expecting a negative reaction."
Taehyung ruffled his hair,"not from me." He pulled at his hair," wait you have mud in your hair." He took out a small lump of dried mud.
"You're not the cleanest either, hyung..."
"I guess I have to take a shower... and you too..."he smirked and took a sip from his glass.
Is he suggesting, what I think he's suggesting? Hell no...
"Y... yeah...I'll... I'll take shower..."
"Feel free...Actually, to save time and water, maybe we can..."
Jungkook turned his glass upside down and quickly gulped down its entire content.
"Yah! That's not how you drink wine!"
"Sorry, I guess I wasn't listening to how I'm supposed to do it..."he coughed.
Please let him forget about showering together. Please, please, please...
Taehyung shook his head displeased and filled his glass again. Jungkook took it immediately and started sipping as fast as he could.
"You're more of a wine person, rather than soju person, aren't you Jungkookie?"
"Definitely... I... love... wine. Wine... is the best... hahaha... yeah... it's great..."he got nervous and started sweating.
Forget about the shower hyung, please...
"Hey, are you not wearing any underwear?"he pointed at Jungkook's crotch, the sweatpants were showing more than he wanted.
Jungkook choked on the wine, now his face was crimson colored.
"Look at you, I didn't know you were so free minded," Taehyung nudged him with his elbow.
"My underwear was wet, so I took it off... sorry I should've asked about that."
"Nah, I'm not wearing any either..."
Jungkook almost spit out the wine in his mouth. Why the fuck is he telling me that... I don't need to hear the details...
"I'll go and shower first, don't drink the whole bottle." Taehyung spared Jungkook of more suffering.
Phew... He definitely knows how to trigger me... Why did I snap so much earlier... I'm so ashamed... I always try to seem composed in front of him, but this time it was so hard... I should've never kissed him in the first place, that was a mistake... After all of this, can we still be friends? He started to feel tipsy, so he put his glass away.
How would he react if ... I went to spy on him? There were only few moments, when I made him shy... but I loved those... He smirked and determined to execute his plan, he started sneaking towards Taehyung's room. He couldn't hear the water in the shower properly. Maybe he's lathering up his body wash now... Jungkook was standing front of the bathroom door, with hand on the handle. I should live more freely... without regrets... He was about to push down the handle, when suddenly Taehyung did it for him and appeared in front of him.
"What are you doing... wait, were you spying on me Jungkookie? Looking through the keyhole?"
"N...no, I was just about to ask you if you're done..."
"I know a pervert when I see one."
"Hyung!"
"Bathroom is free now..."he walked past him with a satisfied grin on his face.
Jungkook locked the bathroom door behind him and took a quick shower, making sure to wash away all the dried bits of mud from his hair. After that he felt like a new person. Taehyung was already in his bed, obviously waiting for him.
"Here," Taehyung patted the space on the bed next to him.
Jungkook reluctantly walked to his bed and slowly lied down beside Taehyung. "I still don't know how I feel about this..."
"After our night out, you asked me to spoon you."
"No fucking way."
"What did I say about those ugly words... not suitable for that pretty mouth... Now, would you want me to spoon you?"
"N... no thanks... I'm good."
"Then, would you... be the big spoon?"
"If it makes hyung happy..." Jungkook carefully positioned himself closer and wrapped his arm around Taehyung. "Like this?"
Taehyung took Jungkook's hand and pressed it against his chest," can you feel how fast you make my heart beat, Junkookie?"
The younger one wanted to withdrew his hand immediately, but Taehyung kept it firmly pressed there.
"Yes, this is the power you have, Kookie... you make me lose my breath, make my heart beat fast, make me speechless... You probably haven't been aware of it so far, but it's really hard to control myself around you. That's why I would always remind you to not test me. You, doing just the most subtle things can make me lose my composure... That's why you're different and special, not many people can do that.
Taehyung's heart was beating strong and fast against his palm. "I had no idea..."he whispered.
"Yes, it beats like this for you...You had told me, that you'd be by my side even if I rip your heart out."
"I meant it."
"As far as my heart goes... the only thing you need to know is... that it is owned by you."