Chapter Text
The moment Jeon Jungkook met Kim Taehyung, he knew. This was it. The one for him. He didn't care where life took him after school, because as far as he was concerned he had found his purpose already.
When they bunked school to spend the day at the beach, he could only marvel at how gorgeous he looked - ethereal and mesmerizing, beckoning to Jungkook to come and play with him in the waves. Even when they actually did attend classes, the only thing he thought about more than "fuck this shit" was Taehyung. He would sneak glances at him every minute, whether he was just sleeping or paying close attention to what the teacher was saying. When Jimin teased him about how whipped he was, he never even denied it; just shrugged and smiled.
Kim Taehyung filled Jeon Jungkook's world with color.
Until one ominous morning in January, when Jungkook's world went black.
The first time Jungkook realized there was some shady shit going on, he was waiting for his first senior year class to begin. Sometimes he wondered why the hell he was even taking Advanced Lit., when he could have gotten an easy A over at Physical Education, filled with jocks and future drug dealers.
Jimin slid into the seat next to him, eyes sparkling. "Hey, muscle pig.", he greeted him as usual before proceeding to rant about whatever annoying thing Hobi had done.
Jungkook had known Jimin since they were in diapers, but he always felt this strange urge to push him off the seat whenever he got too close. It wasn't because he was a anti-social, but he always had this weird subconscious feeling, like there was someone else, someone instead of Jimin who had the right to crowd his personal space . It was like an itch he couldn't scratch.
10 minutes after the morning bell, he couldn't remember how he'd fallen asleep. All around him students were taking advantage of the teacher's tardiness, chattering away or, like Jungkook, trying to fit in a whole night's sleep in a short snooze, until the door dramatically swung open. "Wait is this 304? Oh THANK GOD, I've been wandering around for half an hour." Before he even looked up, Jungkook felt his stomach swoop. He'd recognize that voice anywhere.
The new teacher walked into the classroom, a bright smile gracing his face - the smile that used to be reserved for only Jungkook. It was like a fog had been lifted off his mind, memories rushing in to fill the hole. Images of orange hair and boxy smiles. The feeling of bear hugs and stolen kisses. There was this inexplicable feeling drawing him to this stranger(?). He was 100% sure they had never met. Well, not in this lifetime anyway.
Said stranger walked into the class, muted brown hair matching with his aesthetically pleasing outfit of black pants and oversized white sweater. Jungkook was about to have an aneurysm. What, was he supposed to just sit there when his whole life just flashed before his eyes?
He did. He fidgeted throughout the class, during which he learned that his teacher's name was Kim Taehyung, he was 24, he liked Faster than a Kiss and rollercoasters, he was gay, he loves anything yellow, oh and the scar on arm was from a car accident when he was in high school. Nothing new.
Except for the fact that this was the guy. Who should have been dead, but the important thing was he wasn't. Life was clearly having fun fucking with him.
The bell rang for the end of class. It was now or never.
Jungkook casually slung his bag over his shoulder (he was a one strap kind of guy), and walked up to the front of the class, where Taehyung was waving off a bunch of giggly girls. Clearly New Taehyung was as much of a social butterfly as Old Taehyung.
He turned to the front. "Right, how can i help you Mr..." He gave him a questioning look.
"Jungkook, Jeon Jungkook, I mean, Jungkook's fine yeah!" Shit. He clearly hadn't thought this though. What was he gonna say? "Hi, I think you're my soulmate, but you died in a freak accident when we were teenagers in some alternate universe and now here we are isn't that weird hahaha"?
"So, um, Mr Kim, haven't we met before?" Sounded like a lame pick-up line but he had to start somewhere. Taehyung merely gave him a confused smile, hands busy packing his stuff up. "Hm? I dont think so? I mean I'm sure I would have remembered a face as handsome as yours. No homo though." Taehyung laughed. Classic Taehyung behaviour, making ironic puns.
Jungkook was starting to get a little frustrated now. It was bad enough that he didn't show a hint of recognition by his face alone. "No, that isn't it, I mean, ugh, how do I say this - Taehyung don't you remember me? I mean, what's happening?" He gave him a pleading look.
Taehyung stopped moving, his eyes hardening a bit. "What happened where? Jungkook, I may be new but I'm still your teacher. I don't think calling me by my first name is the way to do it." Jungkook's heart sunk. Taehyung was never like this.
"So..you really don't remember anything?" Jungkook whispered, resignation and despair coloring his voice.
Taehyung was starting to look a little freaked out. "Woah, are you ok? I mean, are you like hungover or something, cause I remember the crazy high school parties I used to go to-" His phone rang just then, Very Very Very blaring from his pocket. He shot him an apologetic look. "Sorry, must be my mom- Hello? Oh hey honey, just give me a minute I'll be right down." He slipped his phone back ino his pocket. "I'm so sorry Jungkook, but I have to go. Can we do this another time?" He gave him a small upturn of the lips, slightly relieved this time.
Jungkook heart broke just a little bit when he said the word. "Boyfriend?" he asked, trying not to let his voice shake. Damn, the universe was making his really hard for him. Taehyung didn't notice. Instead his face broke into a smile that could have rivalled the sun.
"Yeah, Seokjin's my high school sweeatheart. We got engaged last month, It took him long enough." he laughed, uncharacteristically coy.
Jungkook heart broke completely. It should have been him, shouldn't it? It shouldn't have been Jimin and Jungkook, or Taehyung and Seokjin but Jungkook and Taehyung.
But he really didn't remember.
Without a word, he walked straight past the still talking teacher and exited the room. It was over. He had been so close, yet he was still too far. He never stood a chance.