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They lived right across each other, their house gates just three feet away from each other due to the narrow alleyway separating their houses. Bicycles and motorcycles were the only mode of transportation that can pass through, and it was also where they learned how to ride their bikes. Taehyung was the first to learn, of course.
He was older by two years. He experienced a lot of firsts two years ahead of the younger. But Jungkook never minded, his hyung would always teach him what he learned. Learning to ride a bike was hard and Taehyung fell several times, scrapes on his knees and hands from catching himself whenever he fell down. And when it was time to teach Jungkook, he always had tips to make it easier for the younger. And Jungkook felt very special, because his hyung would always take special care of him, despite there being other kids in the neighborhood who wanted Taehyung’s attention.
At a very young age, Taehyung was already a bright child, shining brighter than the sun. Always so nice to everyone he meets and with a ready smile when meeting people for the first time, he had gathered a handful of friends in the neighborhood. It was something Jungkook always admired because he was always so shy and timid, not knowing how to make friends easily. Luckily Taehyung was there to make friends for him, too.
They probably wouldn’t even have been friends in the first place, what with Jungkook being so shy and afraid of going out of the house to play with the neighborhood kids. But his mom and Taehyung’s mom were the best of friends. Whenever the two mothers sat together at the pyeong-sang laid out on Jungkook’s garden to gossip or chop vegetables for their respective family’s side dishes, Taehyung and Jungkook were sat next to them. And Taehyung would always start playing with Jungkook, whether he liked it or not.
Jungkook doesn’t even remember what their first meeting was like. It had always been him and Taehyung ever since he could remember, partners-in-crime.
When Taehyung first started going to school, Jungkook cried on his first day out. Where was his best friend? Why wasn’t he at his house playing with his toys together? Did he forget about Jungkook and went out with the other neighborhood kids without him? He was wailing so hard, his mom had to soothe him for a full one hour, explaining that Taehyung had to go to school, a place for him to learn new things. Jungkook had asked why he couldn’t learn with Taehyung if it was such a wonderful place, but his mom just smiled and told him he’ll also go in two years when he’s old enough. And not to worry, because Taehyung would be coming home that afternoon if he just waited patiently.
And so Jungkook waited, but not patiently like his mom told him to. He couldn’t focus on the TV because it was playing a show that he always watched with Taehyung and he hated that he had to watch it alone. He kept staring at the clock, waiting for the big hand to strike twelve and the small hand strike one. His mom promised Taehyung would be coming home when the hands got to those exact numbers.
Finally, finally, when the hands were at the numbers his mom promised him were the magical numbers to bring Taehyung back, he ran out of his house and waited by the gate, looking out of the wide grills. Where was he?
Sure enough, he saw his best friend with his mom coming up the alleyway, Taehyung holding his mom’s hand and swinging it happily. He was wearing brown shorts, a white polo shirt, and black shoes and looked positively grown up that Jungkook felt a bit left out. He was biting his lip, worried that Taehyung would no longer want to play with him. But once Taehyung saw Jungkook peeking out of the gate, he waved frantically and broke free from his mom, running quickly to the gate and asked to be let in.
And so it happened that every day during the first two years that Taehyung was in school and Jungkook was held up at home for being too young, that Taehyung would always be coming to their house at one o’clock precisely, gangly arms hanging by the grills of their gate and yelling for Jungkook to come out. And without fail, Jungkook would always swing the door open, waiting by the window every one o’clock to wait for his hyung to arrive, run out to him, and give him a big hug.
Every day.
Until the time came that he too had to go to school. He was so excited, thinking that he could finally play with Taehyung all day. When he finally arrived at school with his mom, he looked around the classroom, searching for Taehyung and couldn’t understand why Taehyung wasn’t there. Didn’t they go to the same school?
Jungkook’s mom explained that Taehyung is two years older, so he went to a different school. But if he waits a little bit longer, he would also go to the same school as Taehyung does.
“How long, mom?” Jungkook asked, his lower lip trembling. There were too many kids in his class and he didn’t know how to talk to them. Taehyung always started the conversation with other kids and he’d slowly join in.
“Two years, baby,” she replied.
At seven years old, Jungkook didn’t have the best sense of time, but he already knew that that was too long.
And so he went to class that day, not speaking to anyone unless spoken to. He went home with a frown on his face at one o’clock, the same time Taehyung would always be back home and so he again waited by the gate for Taehyung to arrive. But Taehyung didn’t come.
“It’s four o’clock this time, baby,” his mom called out, watching her son sadly dangle by the gate waiting for his best friend to arrive.
And also at seven, Jungkook learned how to hate school for keeping him away from his best friend.
Taehyung, at the age of nine, already felt the need to always be there for his dongsaeng. So at four o’clock, he stood outside of the Jeon family gate and called for Jungkook. Faster than ever before, Jungkook came barreling outside to hug Taehyung.
And so it continued, this time at four instead of one in the afternoon, Jungkook would wait for his hyung until he came home and always had a ready embrace for him.
--
Taehyung is 15, Jungkook is 13
“Taaaaaaaeeeeee, nooooo,” Jungkook cried dramatically, flopping on top of Taehyung on his bed, and clutched at his chest pretending to have a heart attack.
“Whatcha doing Kookie?” Taehyung looked up from the manga he was reading to see his best friend’s head on top of his left shoulder having pretend seizures. “You should sign up for the school play, you look like you really know what you’re doing.”
“Shut up. It’s your last year of middle school, Tae Tae. You’re leaving me. Again.”
“It’s just high school, Kook. We both have bikes so we can see each other after school.”
“Yeah, but you’ll be doing important high school stuff and then you’ll be way too busy for me.”
“When have I ever been too busy for you?”
“I don’t know but you will be this time. You’re gonna be enrolled in cram school so you won’t have time to hang out after school. You and Sungjae-hyung will be the world’s most boring people.”
Taehyung swatted Jungkook on the forehead with the manga he was holding. “Like I could ever be boring. Sungjae maybe since he’s a little bit on the weird side. Now shut up, you know I got your back. I always do.”
Jungkook is quiet for a while. Taehyung was always there for Jungkook growing up. As he was older by two years, by the time Jungkook would catch up with him to be in the same school, he’d already paved the way for the younger. He’d make as much friends as possible in all the year levels to make sure Jungkook always had someone to hang out with when he’s not around, befriended the teachers to put in a good word for his friend who would be enrolling soon, and kept clean notes on all of his subjects to hand down to Jungkook in hopes he’d get better grades than Taehyung himself.
“Yeah,” Jungkook said softly. “I’m just going to miss seeing your ugly face every day at lunch.”
“Okay, first of all, yes offense,” Taehyung replied, sitting up, leaving Jungkook’s head to bounce on the mattress. “Second of all, we both know who the visual is in this friendship. Hint: it’s not you. And third, it’s not until next year. You shouldn’t even think about it.”
Jungkook sighed loudly. “But why must I always wait to have to catch up with you?”
“Not my fault you’re a little baby. Besides, I’m the one that has to keep waiting for you. You know how boring the first two years of middle school was?”
“You know, if you just repeated a grade as I have asked you several times, we wouldn’t be having this problem right now.”
“You know if you just stop getting Bs in math and skip a grade like I told you to, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”
“Shut up nerd and stop getting all As!”
“You stop being so stupid, it’s only math!”
That started a small war and they both started rolling on Taehyung’s bed wrestling with each other and trying get the other in a headlock, worries about school forgotten.
--
Taehyung is 17, Jungkook is 15
Jungkook sighed. He’d been in the library earlier that day studying for his tests with his friends Yugyeom and BamBam and then played video games for a little over two hours at Yugyeom’s home. Then on his way home, he passed Taehyung’s sunbae Bogum who insisted he treat him to ramyeon because he hadn’t seen Jungkook in a while and Taehyung always spoke highly of Jungkook when they were in middle school together.
He’d distracted himself for a full five hours already but he was still restless at home, sitting on the old pyeong-sang in their garden and looking up at the night sky. Maybe it was seeing Taehyung’s sunbae that made him miss his best friend, or maybe it was the fact that he didn’t get to see Taehyung at all in the past week. Either way, this was the longest he’d gone without seeing Taehyung, and a weird feeling pulled at his chest.
He directed his attention to the house across his and quickly located Taehyung’s window. His room had a dim light coming from his bedside lamp. It was late, just a little past eleven at night, and he knew that Taehyung would have just gotten back from cram school, and from the looks of it, he was most likely asleep. He didn’t want to disturb Taehyung since he knew his friend was tired from non-stop studying and they both still had classes tomorrow morning but he couldn’t help himself.
Getting up from the pyeong-sang, Jungkook headed back inside his house and into his bedroom to change into his pajamas. After washing his face and brushing his teeth, he went back down, outside the house, and crossed the alley.
They lived in a small neighborhood where everyone knew everyone and where hardly anyone really locked their doors. He quietly went past the Kim’s gate and again inside the Kim’s front door that he knew would be unlocked, then slowly climbed up the familiar steps to Taehyung’s room.
The door creaked a little, so he eased his way in through the small opening, not wanting the door to open fully and creak even more. Even so, Taehyung heard the noise as he wasn’t fully asleep yet and saw Jungkook by the entrance of his room barefoot and in his red pajamas. Without a word, Taehyung pulled up his bed covers and motioned for Jungkook to join him.
Jungkook padded softly towards the bed and got in next to Taehyung, who in turn placed the covers on top of him and made sure Jungkook is tucked in well. Taehyung pulled the younger boy closer to him and wrapped an arm around him.
“I’m sorry, Kook. I know I said I wouldn’t be too busy to hang out with you, but I guess I was wrong. High school is a bitch.”
“It’s okay, I understand,” Jungkook replied in a whisper. “I’m sorry too for coming over without saying anything, I just missed you this past week is all.”
“You’re always welcome here, you know that.”
“Thanks, hyung.”
“Hey, I’m free this weekend. Let’s go to the arcade, okay? I’m gonna beat your high score.”
“You wish. But okay,” Jungkook smiled for the first time that day.
“Good night Kook.”
“Good night hyung.”
--
Taehyung is 19, Jungkook is 17
Taehyung had just finished taking his national college exam and is lying spread eagle on the Jeon’s pyeong-sang, his eyes closed from exhaustion. He thinks he did well, but with so many others in his grade, what if his grade wasn’t at the percentile level he needed to get into Hongik University? He’d always wanted to take art classes and Hongdae was the place to go, and while his parents weren’t happy with his decision, so long as he minored in business as a fallback, they had no problem with their son fulfilling his dreams.
“I’m sure you did well, hyung,” Jungkook assured him, tightening his hold on Taehyung’s hand as the elder sighed, unsure if he did. “You practically lived in your cram school. If you didn’t do well, I would seriously question your teachers because they shouldn’t have made you pass your regular school exams.”
“Thanks, Kookie,” Taehyung smiled although his eyes are still closed. He could sleep for days after months of preparation. He barely got any sleep, especially in the days leading up to the exams. “I really hope so.”
“You did, I’m sure of it.”
Jungkook was so sure that Taehyung was suddenly feeling very sure of getting in himself. This made him smile a little.
“I don’t want you to think your hyung is stupid,” Taehyung said, finally opening his eyes and looked at Jungkook who was sitting next to him.
Jungkook scoffed. “Too late for that now, hyung,” he said with a snort. “I grew up with you, I know how stupid you really are.”
“Ya!” Taehyung laughed and sat up to pull Jungkook in a headlock. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
The younger laughed and straightened up, swatting Taehyung’s grabby hands away as he was still trying to keep Jungkook in a headlock. “Hey hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Because I know you’re gonna make it to Hongdae, I just want you to know I’m really gonna miss you.”
“Ah, jashik,” Taehyung ruffled his hair with an affectionate smile and rests his hand on the back of Jungkook’s neck. “That just means you gotta study hard too. I know your dream school is SNU and that’s not too far from Hongdae. You better be in Seoul in two years too, you hear?”
Jungkook smiled. “Yeah. I’m sure I’m gonna get a better college exam score than you.”
Taehyung laughed again and hits the back of Jungkook’s head. “Shut up.”
A beat of silence passed before Jungkook spoke up again. “Hey hyung?”
“Ya, Kookie, I’ll be four hours away in Seoul and I’ll visit during the holidays. Maybe even on weekends. You sound like I’m going away for good.”
“Once you’re in college, you’ll be too busy to even notice me, you might as well be.”
“I’m never gonna be too busy for you, you know that.”
“You said that too this year and you were basically living in cram school.”
“Yeah, but I always made it up to you on the weekends. I paid for all of your movies this year, so don’t you dare say I ignored you.”
Jungkook smiled. Taehyung did always feel guilty for not having enough time for his best friend that he went all out during his free time and treated Jungkook to a lot of food and movies. “Okay, okay,” he conceded. “But I just want to get this off my chest before you leave. I don’t know who else I can talk to once you’re a cool city guy and I’m still here sat here with my satoori.”
Taehyung squinted at Jungkook, shielding his eyes from the sunlight. “You can tell me anything,” he said, grabbing hold of Jungkook’s hand again and intertwined their fingers. “What’s up?”
“Well you know how you’re a guy…”
Taehyung laughed. “Yeah, I know. What about it?”
“And you’re expected to like girls…”
As Jungkook’s best friend and the person who could best read him, Taehyung could already see where this is going and so he gave Jungkook a reassuring smile. “You’re not expected to like anything, Kookie. You like whoever you like, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It’s gonna break you. Just be yourself and you’re gonna be fine.”
Jungkook lifts his head and looks at Taehyung pensively. “How do you know?”
Taehyung shrugged. “I don’t know much, really. I just know that if I were to feel forced to do something I don’t want to do, then that’s gonna hurt me.”
“Do – do you like guys, hyung?”
A bubble of laughter erupted from Taehyung’s wide smile and he turns to look at Jungkook and gave him a wink. “I like them all, Kookie. It doesn’t matter to me, so long as I like their personality enough.”
Jungkook smiled. “Thanks, Tae Tae.”
“For what?” Taehyung asked, but is glad that Jungkook had switched back to calling him his nickname. Jungkook only ever called him hyung when he’s in a serious mood and with him leaving, he only wanted Jungkook to be happy during his last few weeks home before he gets accepted to a college.
“For always knowing what to say. If you can do it, so can I.”
“Well of course you can, I didn’t waste all of these years teaching you everything I know for you to just throw it away.”
--
Taehyung is 21, Jungkook is 19
Taehyung had waited for Jungkook for the longest time in front of Seoul National University that he’s both worried he got the meet up place wrong (why are there so many campus entrances anyway?) or that Jungkook got in an accident and annoyed, thinking Jungkook was just messing with him by saying he enrolled in SNU. What if he suddenly decided to go to Yonsei instead? SNU had always been Jungkook’s dream school ever since he found out Kim Tae-Hee was an alumnus, but he did get into Yonsei too and that was the best school in the country, he could’ve been swayed.
“Tae Tae!” a voice came from his left and he turned to see Jungkook jogging up to him, his hair flopping up and down as he swiped a hand across to keep it off his face.
“Fucking finally, Jeon Jungkook,” Taehyung almost shouts, but is relieved that Jungkook is fine and not trampled under some bus on the road. “I’ve been waiting for almost half an hour and you haven’t once picked up your phone. I left like ten angry voice messages.”
“Hyung, it’s so good to see you again,” Jungkook wrapped Taehyung in a warm hug and broke out into uncharacteristic aegyo as a form of apology.
“Whatever. I spent the whole summer at your house so I know you don’t miss me that much. And don’t even try that aegyo with me, we both know you look ridiculous. Why are you late?”
“Dude, seriously, it’s my first time here and I haven’t been to the freshman orientation yet. I got lost okay? Everything looks the same. And my phone died.”
“Then fucking charge it.”
“No, like it literally died. I guess I dropped it too much, I don’t know,” Jungkook shrugged. “It won’t turn on. Come with me to the Apple Store?”
“Buy me lunch first. I wanted to be the first to welcome you to your college – even though I don’t go here – and to Seoul, and you have the audacity to meet me a half hour late. I’m hungry.”
His dongsaeng just laughed and grabbed a hold of his hand, as familiar and natural as it had always been. “So good to see you again Tae. Come on, lunch is on me. But you gotta tell me where, I don’t know shit about this city yet.”
--
Taehyung is 22, Jungkook is 20
“Is that the last of the boxes?” Taehyung asked, peering out the window to the truck five floors below them outside the building.
“Yeah, that’s all I got,” Jungkook replied, sinking in the couch on the living room and closed his eyes. It had been a rough week for him and he was thankful Taehyung always had his back, but right then, he needed to rest.
“Hey Chim Chim!” Taehyung shouted out the window, “Can you give them ten? I’ll pay you back!”
His friend nodded from below and gave him a thumbs up sign, handing the movers ten thousand won as instructed. They didn’t really tip, but Jungkook’s dumbass Iron Man life size figurine took so much of their time to move up the stairs because the apartment didn’t have an elevator that they felt sorry for the movers. How it fit in his dorm room before, Taehyung would never understand.
“Lunch now, or lunch later?” Taehyung sat himself next to Jungkook on the couch and nudged him lightly on the shoulder. He knew his need for some rest, but he also knew that food cheered Jungkook up like nothing else in the world.
“In ten minutes, hyung,” Jungkook adjusted himself to fit next to Taehyung and placed his head on the crook of his neck, like they always did when they were younger. “Wake me up in ten minutes.”
“Gotcha,” Taehyung responded, wrapping an arm around Jungkook and let the boy rest.
Jungkook, in his second year of college, had just come out from a stressful breakup – his first ever real relationship, something he has not yet fully confided in Taehyung yet, and he tells Taehyung everything – and arson in his dorm building. Not his dorm room specifically, but there was a weird student living in the room opposite his who finally snapped from too much studying and tried to burn the whole building down. His roommate was able to stop it and call the firemen and police immediately, but smoke smell was all over their floor, and Jungkook didn’t feel safe in the building anymore. Plus, with the anxiety he felt because of the recent breakup, it made sense for him to call Taehyung to help look for a place for him to move to. He should have known Taehyung wouldn’t allow him to live on his own after he told him about the fire and without thought, invited Jungkook to live with him in the off-campus apartment he shared with a friend of his from college. It was close enough to SNU that Jungkook agreed. He was just thankful Park Jimin, Taehyung’s friend, was very warm and welcoming when Taehyung dragged him to their apartment that day and announced that Jungkook will be living with them.
“I really don’t mind sleeping on the couch, Tae,” Jungkook said with a frown that night as he watched his hyung move things around on his bed to make space for Jungkook.
Laptop, charger, books, and used clothes were piled on the chair as Taehyung started changing the sheets. “I mind, okay? I don’t want you out there alone after what you’ve been through. Besides, Jimin has a habit of snacking at midnight and he’s not a fan of wearing clothes at night. I don’t want to scar you even more.”
“But I don’t want to take up more space than I already am,” Jungkook said, still unsure. Taehyung had gone to great lengths to help him, from letting him stay at their apartment in a moment’s notice to hiring movers to quickly pack his things so he doesn’t have to go inside his dorm building anymore. He didn’t want to burden Taehyung any more than he already had.
“Nonsense. You can never take up too much space. I asked you to move in because I miss spending time with you. We’re always so busy we hardly have time for each other anymore. Come on, it will be like old times when you used to sleep over at my house.”
“If you’re sure…” Jungkook trailed off.
“I am. Now make yourself useful and change that pillowcase,” Taehyung threw a clean pillowcase at him and together they made the bed.
Finally, after the bed was made, they both climb in under the covers. They had a long day, with Jimin taking them out for a welcome lunch for Jungkook and brought them to his friend’s music studio in Hongdae after because he knew Jungkook loved music, as Taehyung would always point out whenever they were at a music store and would exclaim, “oh, Jungkook would probably like this! I have to get this for him,” or when they’d go shopping and see Peace Minus One merch and he’d sadly shake his head saying Jungkook loved G-Dragon but he can’t afford any of the accessories.
“I missed you Tae Tae,” Jungkook said suddenly, out of the blue just as Taehyung was about to fall asleep.
Taehyung opened his eyes to see Jungkook staring up at the ceiling. “I missed you too,” he said, scooting over to wrap his arms and legs around Jungkook, just as he always did before. “What are you thinking about?”
Jungkook holds on to the arm Taehyung has around him and smiled. “That I missed this.”
“Aw Kookie. You know I’m always here for you. You could have come by any time.”
“Yeah, but I had too much to study for.”
“Is that the only reason why you’d drop by once a week? We used to see each other more than that.”
Jungkook was silent, wondering how he can explain his actions. When he was first starting out in Seoul, he used to come by almost every day to see Taehyung. Once coursework started piling up, it was understandable that he lessened his trips to Hongdae to only twice a week or whenever possible. But when he got his first boyfriend, he spent so much time with him that he only got to see Taehyung once a week. Or sometimes not at all.
“I heard you broke up with your boyfriend,” Taehyung said after a while, when Jungkook still wouldn’t speak.
The younger flushed red and turned to look at Taehyung. “How do you know?”
“Just because we’re in rival universities doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have other friends in SNU you know.”
“Are you mad?”
“Jungkook, you know I could never be mad at you. I just wonder if we’re growing so far apart that you no longer feel like you can tell me anything. You used to be able to tell me everything. Even that one time you accidentally killed a stray kitten by feeding it whole milk. I don’t know. I’d like to think I’m still your best friend.”
“Of course you are.”
“Good. You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to. I just want you to know that you’re always going to be my best friend even if you ignore me for the rest of your life. And that whatever happens, I’m always here for you.”
“I know. I’ll always be here for you too. I love you, hyung.”
“I love you too,” Taehyung said, snuggling closer, satisfied that he still had his best friend with him. It was a while after he had closed his eyes that Jungkook looked back up at the ceiling, forcing his tears to stop falling.
Taehyung was used to waiting for Jungkook. It came with the responsibility of being the older one. And Taehyung, being older and more patient, never pushed or prodded Jungkook to tell him about his ex. Jungkook was always shy and kept to himself, the complete opposite of Taehyung, so if he needed time then he can give him time. If he never wanted to tell Taehyung, then that was fine as well. Just living with Jungkook was enough for him because they were slowly going back to their old ritual of being the best of friends, telling each other every little thing, even that one time that Jungkook accidentally sneezed on the coffee Jimin asked him to make.
It was a two weeks after Jungkook moved in that he finally decided to confront Taehyung.
“Let’s take a walk, hyung,” he suggested after reading his textbook for two hours straight he was seeing numbers in the air.
“Where to?” Taehyung asked, not looking up from the manga he was reading on the couch.
“Anywhere. Just need to get fresh air.”
“Okay.”
They put on their jackets and wander around aimlessly in comfortable silence. When they arrived at a park, Jungkook sat on a bench and waited for Taehyung to take a seat next to him.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?” Taehyung asked, knowing Jungkook didn’t just want the fresh air. He had something else on his mind he wanted to let out.
“I broke up with the guy.”
“New guy?”
“No, the ex I never got around to tell you about.”
“Ah.”
Jungkook looked up nervously. “I’ll tell you everything but you have to promise not to get mad.”
“At you never. At the guy, I won’t make that promise.”
That made Jungkook smile. “Okay, well.”
Their relationship started in the library. Mark was a Chinese exchange student from the US. Quiet and timid, same as Jungkook. It was a miracle they even managed to talk to each other, but Mark really needed the extra pen. It wasn’t sparks and chemistry, it was really just companionship because they had a lot in common and it made sense to stick together. They ended up dating not long after, but Jungkook still never felt the spark he always thought he’d get when he finally had a boyfriend. Kissing him never felt right, but he chalked it up to being new in a relationship. But when they finally decided to take things to the next level, Jungkook clammed up. He apologized and left.
“I thought it was a bad break up,” Taehyung commented after Jungkook told his story. “Mark doesn’t seem like a bad guy.”
“No, he’s not,” Jungkook agreed. “If things were different I’d probably be really in love with him.”
“What’s holding you back then?”
“Hyung,” Jungkook said, a tremor in his voice. “Hyung, when we were about to do it, I don’t know, I just…”
“It’s okay, Kookie,” Taehyung said, holding his hand and gave him a warm smile.
“I just thought, this is wrong. I don’t love him.”
Taehyung squeezed his hand. “That’s fine. That’s good. You shouldn’t force yourself.”
“Hyung. I love you. I’m in love with you.”
Taehyung froze.
“Hyung, all this time we were together, it was as though I was trying to replace you because you’re here in Hongdae and Mark was there in campus with me. But the more time I spent with him, the more I wished it was you with me instead. And kissing him was nothing compared to just holding your hand. Hyung, the spark I was looking for was always there when you’re with me. I don’t want to ruin this friendship and you’re right, you’re always going to be my best friend, but I want you to know that I’m in love with you. And you don’t have to do anything about it, I totally understand, I just don’t like seeing you hurt when I sometimes avoid you. It’s just me trying to save myself, you know?”
“Kookie.”
Jungkook smiled. “I know it’s a lot to take. But I hope you don’t feel obligated to do anything. I just really needed to get it off my chest.” He gave his hyung some time to think it through, hoping he didn’t just scare his oldest and best friend off.
“Took you a while.”
“Huh?”
Taehyung raised his head, tears welling up in his eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you to say those words ever since I taught you how to ride a bike.”
Jungkook was floored. “Really?”
“Well, maybe not then. I’ve always loved you but I don’t know when I started being in love with you. I just knew I had to wait for you.” Taehyung laughed. “You don’t know how happy I was when you told me you liked guys before I left for college. Of course, it would have been better if you told me you liked this specific guy,” he said, pointing at himself. “But it was a step towards my direction.”
“But hyung, you’ve had a girlfriend!”
“And a boyfriend, kinda. I never told you about him because," Taehyung shuddered. "Gross. Just. Anyway, I was testing the waters. I’ve always been in love with you, I didn’t know how it felt not to be. So I tried dating, just to see if what I felt for you was normal since we grew up together. Turns out it’s not.”
Jungkook gave Taehyung a small smile, hope building in his chest. “So what do we do now?”
Taehyung shrugged. “I don’t know Kookie. Whatever we like, I guess.”
“But we’re dating, right?”
The elder laughed. “Yes, I would like to think that we are.”
“Exclusively?” Jungkook pressed.
Taehyung again laughed and gave Jungkook a serious face. “Yes, exclusively. So don’t go flirting with other guys anymore.”
“As if I even know how.”
Jungkook slid across the bench to be even closer to Taehyung.
“Hyung, one last favor?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you – “
Taehyung turned and caught Jungkook in a kiss, already knowing what he wanted. It wasn’t Jungkook’s first kiss but it felt like it was. His blood rushed to his ears when he felt Taehyung’s soft, warm lips on his. Years later, he’ll deny moaning sensually against the elder’s mouth, tasting the Milkis they had earlier from his tongue. This time kissing felt right. It felt like he can keep going on and on. And that if he can feel this way with just a kiss, he wonders what can happen in the bedroom.
“What was that you wanted?” Taehyung asked in a whisper, his nose touching the younger’s.
Jungkook was breathing in so deeply, still reeling from the unexpected kiss. “That. That was what I wanted. I want more.”
“We have the rest of our lives for that, Kookie.”
--
Taehyung is 29, Jungkook is 27
Taehyung never minded having to wait for Jungkook. They both were slow to rise and slow to dress, so he never really had to wait that long. But today, out of all days, how dare his better half and love of his life be late to the celebration of their self-proclaimed union? He had family and friends waiting in their living room, dressed to the nines.
“Babe, babe, my beautiful Tae bae,” Jungkook finally arrived, beads of sweat on his forehead.
Taehyung is just glad he’s dressed in the tux he picked out for him and not in his favorite ripped jeans and Timberlands.
“Really, Kookie? On the day of our self-proclaimed wedding?” Taehyung demands in a high-pitched whisper.
“Traffic was horrible, honestly, I’m only ten minutes late.”
“But it’s our wedding.”
“Technically not a wedding though…”
Taehyung glared. “Really?”
“I’m sorry, babe, I love you. I’ll make it up to you.”
“Okay, guys, before you beat each other up, maybe we can indulge the guests as to why they’re here?” Jimin asked, breaking up their argument.
“I honestly have no idea anymore why we’re here,” Taehyung deadpanned.
“My sunshine,” Jungkook started, picking up Taehyung’s hand to give it a kiss. “I’m so sorry for being late. I love you so much and I really hope you don’t kick me out of the room tonight. I have so many plans for us.”
Taehyung turned a bright red. “Oh my god, Kookie, not in front of our parents.”
“I’m sure they didn’t hear that,” Jungkook whispered, leaning closer to Taehyung’s ear to give it a lick right in the spot he knew would drive him wild.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Jimin’s voice called over the crowd of people. They noticed the other groom had finally arrived so they gathered around to face the couple. “We’re gathered today to celebrate Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook’s union. While it’s not yet legal in the country, they would still like to exchange vows in front of the people they love and care the most. They’re practically married anyway.”
Everyone was silent and looked at the two expectantly.
“I’d like to start,” Taehyung announced, holding Jungkook’s hand in his. “Jungkook has always kept me waiting. Exhibit A as seen today. I met him when we were babies on his mom’s pyeong-sang they keep in their garden. He was so cute and so chubby I wanted to eat his cheeks but my mom told me not to. So instead I engaged him with toys and food and soon enough, my little shy Kookie became my first friend in the neighborhood and then my best friend. I’ve loved him since we were kids and I remember being so frustrated that we weren’t the same age because I had to do things where he wasn’t around. When I had to go to school I had to count the hours before I can finally go home and play with my Kookie again. I can’t remember a time I wasn’t waiting to just be around him. And now we’re older, I’m so glad I stuck around. Life without Kookie is not a life I would like to live, so despite my having to wait for hours for you, I am so thankful you’re with me Kook. I love you. And I promise to spend the rest of my life with you, come what may.”
Jungkook stared at him, dumbfounded.
“It’s your turn now babe,” Taehyung reminded him. “Don’t tell me you don’t have your vows ready?”
Jungkook jumped up. “Of course I do.” He gets the flashdrive in his pocket and plugged it in their widescreen TV and picked the right file to load. He cleared his throat. “So the reason I’m late is because I was working on this video at the office because I can’t have Tae Tae finding it and ruining my hardwork. I asked mom for all of our home videos together and watching through all the footage, it dawned on me that I was always waiting for Tae to come to me. Always.”
He turned to face the video and watched with the rest of them as they saw a video of young Jungkook waiting by the window and lighting up once Taehyung comes to the picture, calling out for him at their front gate. It was a video montage of Jungkook and Taehyung growing up, with Jungkook waiting and Taehyung arriving, with Jungkook always being the first to fling his arms around the older. All throughout primary school, Jungkook would always greet Taehyung with a hug until the day he started going to the same elementary school that the hugs became going out hugs so they could go to school together instead of welcome home hugs. High school footage was scarce, due to the hectic life of high school students, but there was still some of it there. Then came footage of college-aged Taehyung coming home to visit from Seoul with high school aged Jungkook waiting just outside the KTX station.
“It’s weird because I guess my wedding speech is so similar to his, but Taehyung, ever since I could remember I was always waiting for you and you were always coming to me. I promise you, wherever life leads us, I’ll always wait for you because I know you’re always going to come for me. I love you.”
--
Taehyung is 31, Jungkook is 29
“I can’t believe you asked my mom for our pyeong-sang,” Jungkook said in disgust, looking at the old pyeong-sang out in their own garden and destroying the carefully laid out aesthetic he planned out months in advance before they moved in.
“It’s practical!”
“It’s an eyesore.”
“Sweetie, it’s where we first met.”
“I was two. I don’t remember. And I’m sure as hell that you don’t remember either.”
“I don’t care,” Taehyung replied stubbornly. “It’s where our first meeting took place. We have to have it.”
“You’re too sentimental.”
“You love me for it.”
“I can’t say I love you for it. I love you despite it.”
Taehyung crossed the garden and lay down on the pyeong-sang. “Shut up and just kiss me here.”
Jungkook sighed. It’s an eyesore and he hates it, but they did meet there first so he doesn’t mind so much. He joined his partner on the table and gave him a slow and tender kiss.