Neighbor|Taekook - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Jungkook woke up around noon on Sunday. He slept well and felt fully rested.
I can't believe yesterday happened. He giggled and reached for his phone to reread the text messages. He spent several minutes just staring at the photos Taehyung sent him. Isn't it weird to send photos like this to someone he barely knows? It was me who texted him that late in the first place... so maybe it was me, who crossed the boundaries...I just... I'm trying to keep some distance...I should... it's what's right... but I can't... He moved to the edge of his bed, his feet touching the floor. He stretched his arms and yawned. It's almost like I've known him for years. But I wonder how he feels...
He got ready to be scolded by mom for waking up so late, so he changed his clothes and made his bed. I have to thank her for changing my beddings, maybe she won't be so harsh after that... He walked to the window, another sunny day. He knew that this wouldn't last for long. The autumn in Korea has always been very short, abruptly replaced by the cold winter season. He cracked opened the window to let fresh air in. Yeah right, there is no fresh air in Seoul... He went to the bathroom to splash his face with cold water.
I'm pretty sure mom will say that my face is puffy again... I'll just tell her that I'm fat and fake cry, letting her know how insensitive she is... He muffled his laugh into the towel.
His parents weren't there, there was a note on the kitchen table saying that they went grocery shopping. He didn't know whether to have breakfast or lunch so he ate some leftover rice with eggs and tofu, calling it a brunch.
I should text Taehyung-hyung about when I should come. I hope he hasn't changed his mind... It's probably better to wait for him to text first... I don't want to appear too desperate....Maybe I'm desperate... nobody likes me here...Well, there's Jimin-hyung... maybe I should text him instead.
--What are you up to, Jimin-hyung?-- he typed.
--Nothing much, just having lazy Sunday. And you Jungkookie?--
--The same...I'm a bit bored.--
--Let's meet up in school tomorrow.--
--Ok. I should start studying again. There are people who are far more hard working than me.--
--Are there? It's definitely not me kekeke.--
Yeah there is one particularly hard working boy...
--I think there are, or at least that's what I assume.--
--Let's stay motivated then, and be the most hard working ones. What do you say?--
--Deal.--
--I've gone to the library without you, Jungkookie. You have to catch up to me. Honestly you haven't been the best study buddy...--
--I'm sorry, hyung. I'll make it up to you. I'll be waiting for you after school.--
--I'm looking forward ;) --
What's up with that winky face... Anyway, Jimin-hyung was right... I wanted to study really hard...but then got distracted. And he was the first person here to come and talk to me, not judging me like the others... Since he's from Busan, he probably understands, what I'm going through... The things he's mentioned so far, I can feel that he'd experienced being an outsider... for whatever reasons... However the same would apply to Taehyung-hyung... Maybe I'm just meant to blend in with the outsiders...
Shortly after, his parents came back and to Jungkook's surprise, his mom didn't say a word about him sleeping so much. She was far more interested about, how the meeting with Taehyung went.
"I hope you didn't drink any alcohol."
"No, we didn't," Jungkook had to fight with himself, not to roll his eyes.
"Weren't you cold? The temperature dropped quite a bit last night.--
"Uh...no, not really. We went for a walk... so I warmed up."
I need to hide the jacket in my room. If mom sees it, she might think I stole it or something... Or should I return it to him in the evening? I kind of don't want to... I'll just say I forgot about it if he asks...
"I heard Taehyung-ssi is a good boy, so you should follow his example."
From the messages he sent me, he seems far from a good boy...
"We have another math lesson in the evening."
Or at least I hope...
"And I think I'll also study for other classes with him a bit," he continued.
His dad walked past him and squeezed his shoulder," hard work always pays off."
"Yeah, yeah," Jungkook sighed.
Everybody wants me to work hard... how nice of them...
In the afternoon he started to organize his math notes. He still hasn't heard from Taehyung. He woke up feeling so happy, but now it was the opposite and his mind was full of doubts.
I wonder... if it wasn't me suggesting to go out, or his mom asking my mom to come and help him with the math... would he himself have done anything to meet me? Maybe it would be impolite for him to refuse, so he just agreed to all of that. Maybe I interfered with his work schedule yesterday... and he didn't want to decline the offer...I might be too pushy... He won't send me a message, I'm sure of it. But actually he asked me to come over, ugh I'm overthinking it...
At that moment he heard his phone and got immediately excited.
--I hope you slept well. Can you come at seven?--
--Sure thing, hyung. Do you want another math lesson?--
"I would be thankful for that, you are such a good teacher Jungkookie.--
--Ok. Can I stay there and study a bit more afterwards ?--
--No problem :) --
Jungkook was back to the happy mood he had, when he woke up. He didn't forget about me... I hope I can study properly there... with him being so close... it's like my brain stops working. I need to focus more... He seems vey relaxed around me, likes to joke or tease me... that means... he sees me as just another dongsaeng. Dongsaeng, who happens to be his neighbor and goes to the same school. No reason to be nervous around me...
Jungkook started doubting himself again. Honestly, why would he be nervous? I'm nothing special... and he's so cool... everything he does looks so effortless... and manly. I'm probably like a child to him, that's why he said I'm cute. But I'm an adult, I'm a man... yeah right, that makes sense, his heart wouldn't flutter for a man. And mine shouldn't either... Maybe if I pretend that he's Jimin-hyung, the feeling would go away....
It was a dinner time and after eating a substantial amount of food, he took all his notes and got ready to knock on the neighbors' door. He made sure to not wear the striped T-shirt like last time. He didn't want to bring the girlfriend topic up again. He was planning to fake a breakup at some point and tell Taehyung, that he doesn't have a girlfriend anymore.
He knocked and this time it was Taehyung, who opened the door and greeted him with a smile. Jungkook noticed that his smile was shaped like a rectangle, making the older one look really adorable.
"Come in."
"I brought some Banana Kick as a snack, I don't know if you like it," Jungkook's back automatically lowered into a bow, but he stopped himself halfway.
Why am I so nervous again?
"You always bring something tasty to eat Jungkookie, I could get used to this."
"It's nothing."
Taehyung walked him to his room,"my mom is not here, so we can study in silence."
"Oh, what about your dad?"
"He's not here either. He's on a business trip overseas, for several months."
"Oh wow, you must miss him."
Taehyung just shrugged his shoulders,"anything you'd like to drink?"
"Whatever you have, I'm not picky."
Jungkook put down his notes and snacks on the table in Taehyung's room, while he went to the kitchen to fetch them some drinks. Once again the room smelled really nice, which Jungkook loved. He wanted to look around a bit more, but then his hyung retuned with two glasses.
"I found some Cherry Coke."
"Hyung aren't you bored on days like these? Do you have friends you hang out with," Jungkook took a glass of cold beverage from him.
"I'm busy most of the time, I try to do well in school and there is also the part-time job, you know."
"So you don't have many friends?"
Taehyung smiled faintly,"I'm not the most likeable one."
"Nonsense, you are great!" Jungkook said it louder, that he had intended.
Taehyung raised one eyebrow and looked at the younger one, amused,"what makes me great?"
Crimson color crept on Jungkook's cheeks and he took a large gulp of the carbonated drink. This resulted in a coughing fit, which seemed to always appear when he was with Taehyung.
Even my lungs stop working, when he's near me... I might just die here on the spot.
Taehyung approached him and patted him on the back,"are you okay?"
Jungkook didn't flinch like he would usually do, however he kept his gaze down. Taehyung stopped patting him and instead kept his hand resting in the middle of his back. Jungkook could feel how warm it is, his cheeks were burning and he was really thankful that most of his face was covered by his long bangs. The hand moved a bit up and then down and soon he realized that Taehyung was in fact stroking his back. Jungkook almost purred.
I have never ever been comforted by anyone's touch like this... his hand is so big and so warm... and he's standing so close... What is this feeling? He didn't dare to look up, his eyes were pinned to the carpet. The hand moved lower, to the small of his back. Jungkook freaked out, before he could swat his hand away, Taehyung withdrew it and turned away. The warm feeling disappeared, but Jungkook's panic remained.
There was a silence in the room.
"I...I think you are really cool, hyung. And... and if you don't have many friends, they... they are missing out," Jungkook broke the silence with weak voice.
"Let's start studying Jungkookie," Taehyung's voice sounded strained and even deeper that usual.
They started yet again with math, the atmosphere was somehow tense, unlike last time. Also the fact, that it was just two of them there alone, wasn't helping. Jungkook tried to imagine, that he's explaining the math problems to Jimin and ignore the tension. It wasn't helping. He tried to imagine being with Yugyeom, it wasn't helping. It was so hard to concentrate, but after two hours they've managed to go through everything.
"I think now I'll have the highest math score from my class," Taehyung chuckled as he stretched in his chair. "And it's all thanks to you."
"Don't mention it, hyung," Jungkook opened the snacks.
"Shall we take a break?" he said with full mouth.
"Yeah," Taehyung walked over to the window and opened the balcony door. It was completely dark outside and the room got filled with cold air. "It's still full moon," he walked out on the balcony.
Jungkook slowly followed, the lively sound of the city seemed far away.
"Isn't this breeze nice?" Taehyung looked at Jungkook.
The breeze ruffled Jungkook's hair," it makes me miss Busan."
"I've never been there."
"When I get the driver's license, I want to go with you to the beach. Busan has the best beaches."
"Why are you so cute?"
Jungkook got shy as always and rested his elbows on the railing next to Taehyung.
"I really meant what I said before... you are amazing, hyung," he wanted Taehyung to know, how he sees him.
"You still haven't given me the answer. Why do you say I'm great or amazing, huh?"
"Well... you just..." Are so handsome that it makes me want to lose my mind and choke. "You are so hard working and someone I want to look up to."
"You shouldn't."
"Why?"
"There are things... you wouldn't understand..."
"What things? Tell me."
"The details are not important, just don't strive to be like me. It's for the better... as I said, I'm not the most likeable person..."
"But I like you, hyung!" Jungkook said it with so much passion, such raw emotion, that Taehyung paused and looked at him. And kept looking, not saying anything... and then, there it was again... the hungry predatory look on his face.
"Don't test me," he growled silently and walked past Jungkook back inside.
Huh?! What did he say? Why the hell did he look at me that way? Did I say something wrong? Fuck, I know it slipped out of my mouth, but did he get offended? Ugh, way to go... I ruin everything once again. He looked one last time at the moon and walked to the room, closing the balcony door behind him.
Taehyung wasn't in the room, so Jungkook tip toed to the hallway and then to the living room. The lights were off, but he could see the dark outline of his hyung standing in the middle of the room.
"I'm sorry if I said something wrong," his voice strangely echoed in the silence.
Taehyung sighed,"don't apologize, it's me, who should."
His shadow turned to face Jungkook and looked almost eerie. "Believe it or not, I really don't have any friends. I don't want to. Or at least for the longest time I didn't want to. It's... it's easier that way... But you, Jungkookie... as I told you yesterday, you are different. And I think... some things might've changed for me."
Taehyung sat down on the couch and sighed again."Just promise me one thing, don't try to be like me... being like me... it will only harm you. You would make your life so much more difficult."
"I don't understand, I don't understand anything," Jungkook brushed his hand through his hair frustrated. "You keep saying all these things, I'm confused..."
"I'm sorry, that's all I can say. There are things about me... I can't talk about them. I totally understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore, it has happened so many times in the past, I'm used to it."
"This is so weird... shouldn't friends share their secrets?"
"You are right, but when I ask you, is there something, some secret you might have, that you wouldn't tell you parents, your best friend, anyone? Do you have something like that?"
I...I might...
"Something, which makes you ashamed, disgusted, something which makes you want to run away from everyone and live alone, so nobody judges you?" Taehyung continued.
Jungkook wanted to shake his head, but couldn't. It was almost like Taehyung was reading his mind. He wanted to scream, because it was exactly how he's been feeling ever since he moved to Seoul and saw Taehyung for the first time.
"So even if you don't understand, try to understand that I can't share some things. Because it's too hard for me."
I think I understand...
Jungkook turned on the light,"I will still be your friend. Heck I'm confused as fuck, pardon my language hyung, but I don't care."
Taehyung burst i to laugh,"you are definitely unpredictable Jungkookie, you should watch your mouth."
"But at least you're laughing."
"You really are different," Taehyung rubbed his eyes. "Come here," he patted, the spot next to him on the couch, still laughing.
Jungkook felt the most comfortable when he kept a good distance from his hyung. Every time he was physically close to him, he was suffering. He unwillingly sat down, as far as possible from Taehyung.
"You know, we should celebrate your birthday, so keep the next Friday free, okay?"
"It's not necessary, hyung. Really..."
"I told you to not look up to me, but I'm still older, so you should listen to me. Sometimes I really think that you are a very bad boy. Your parents probably don't punish you enough."
Jungkook almost choked again... How the hell would YOU punish me?! It's better not to know...
"I... I won't plan anything for Friday then... anything you say, hyung."
"Now that's a good boy," he ruffled the back of Jungkook's hair.
The younger one was frozen still, having difficulty breathing. He was desperately trying to break the tension. "Hyung, do you play computer games?"
"Sometimes... Why?"
"We... we can play Overwatch together... if you would want to."
"Sounds fun, but don't you spend your free time with other people? Like your girlfriend, don't you at least facetime with her? Or Jimin-hyung? You two seem pretty close," Taehyung's face got serious.
Oh here we go again.... I wonder if him and Jimin-hyung are friends... And why does it feel like an interrogation?
"The things with my... my girlfriend... aren't... aren't working out to be honest," he tried to look pitiful. He sighed and continued,"and Jimin-hyung, he's so nice and kind, yeah I think we are quite close."
"Do you study together?" Taehyung was not letting go of the questions.
"Yeah, we are study buddies."
"Wouldn't you prefer to study with him instead now?"
"I'm meeting him tomorrow."
"Oh," was the only thing Taehyung said.
"I... I don't prefer... or... I mean... I can concentrate with him quite well and..."
"Can't you concentrate, when you're with me?" that raised eyebrow again.
Shit! Think of something!
"I can... but... I worry... if I'm not bothering you."
"You? Never," he smiled and stood up,"even if you think you're bothering me, you're not." He grabbed Jungkook's arm and pulled him upright. "You can text me any time you want, we can play games online, I am pretty busy, but I can always find time for my cute neighbor," he pinched his cheek and dragged him back to his room. "Come on, let's study more."
They both buried their noses into books, staying quiet and concentrated. Jungkook found Taehyung's room very cozy and comfortable. It was balancing the nervousness he was feeling because of his hyung. They took several small breaks, it was mostly Taehyung teasing his dongsaeng. Jungkook didn't get mad, he was enjoying how much attention was Taehyung giving him.
Every time Taehyung would look away or down onto his notes, Jungkook would secretly observe him. He couldn't get enough of his handsome features.
"Hyung, when you mentioned, that you don't have friends, it made me wonder... How come you don't have a girlfriend?"
"How come?"
"Yeah, how come?"
"Do I have to have a girlfriend?"
"That's not what I meant, but... I... how come? How is that possible? I think you are very handsome," he admitted embarrassed.
Taehyung smirked," you think so?"
"Y... yeah. As a guy... I can... objectively tell," Jungkook stuttered.
"Well guess what Jungkookie, you are more handsome."
He must be kidding...
"Hyung, why do you always make fun of me?"
"I'm dead serious. You know if I was a girl, and had a chance to kiss you, I wouldn't hesitate," Taehyung's deep sensual voice resonated in Jungkook's insides.
He got even more shy, but the thought of Taehyung mentioning kissing him turned him on so much. He was very thankful, that there was a table separating them and Taehyung couldn't see what was happening under it, in his pants. His ears felt warm, his whole face warm, his whole body felt warm, especially his crotch area. He had to cover his face, he was so embarrassed.
"Jungkook-a, stop being so cute or I might kiss you for real."
Jungkook grabbed the largest of his textbooks, covered his belt area with it and stood up. "I need to go, we both have school tomorrow. And before you tease me any more hyung, you should know, that I'm an adult, no need to treat me as a child." He gathered all of his notes and papers.
"I can't help it, please understand," Taehyung followed him to the hallway. He wanted to take the books from Jungkook's arms, so he could put on his shoes, but Jungkook didn't let go. Instead he was trying his best to cover his erection, he bent down and grabbed his shoes with the other hand, not putting them on.
"Why put on shoes, my door is right next to yours," he said nervously. With books in one hand and shoes in the other, he tried to open the front door and escape to the safety of his apartment.
Taehyung stepped in and opened the door for him,"I hope you can still be my friend after everything I said today. I would really appreciate it."
"You know, we might be more similar, that you think, hyung. So don't worry."
The older one smiled ever so slightly, got closer and wrapped his arms slowly around Jungkook in a tight warm hug.
"Good night Kookie, sleep well," he whispered in his ear.
"Good night Tae."