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Exhausting. That sums up Taehyung’s life lately. His days consist of waking up, going to rehearsal, trying to remember to eat and drink water just to make sure he can keep himself alive just to be able to attend rehearsal the following day. Being part of his university’s orchestra is not easy. Even though there are 23 violins, each one of them always tries to be better than the other and that’s just how the artistic field works. Most days, Taehyung is filled with self-doubt and insecurity. He keeps questioning himself, wonders if he’s enough, if his love for music is enough for him to pursue his future dreams but then again if he got accepted into such a prestigious orchestra it was for a reason. That’s what he tries to keep in mind.
Thankfully, today’s Friday. Taehyung’s only off day. His plans consist of no more than laying in bed watching anything that passes on the tv. Peacefully. Of course, with a roommate like Jungkook that seems very unlikely. He doesn’t possess Taehyung’s amazing ability to temporarily hibernate whenever he feels like it.
“C’mon hyung, come hang out with the gang! Seokjin-hyung invited everyone to have a sleepover. We’re watching The Avengers!!!” Jungkook enthusiastically says while throwing himself to Taehyung’s bed. “I don’t know…that sounds tempting but you and Yoongi throwing spoilers at all times? I think I’ll pass.”
“We would never!” Jungkook gasps in a theatrical way. “Well…we can try our best.”
“I was just thinking of laying around all day but actually, I might head out to uni and practice a bit there. Recital day is coming up.”
“Oh right, it’s next week already! I’m excited for it but don’t overwork yourself hyung. Remember to breathe.” Jungkook says while he pats Taehyung’s back.
“Have fun tonight! See if you can snuggle up Namjoon while the movie is playing just to keep him company you know?” Taehyung jokes.
“Funny!! Hilarious!!” Jungkook ironically laughs while standing up and disappearing into their dorm.
“No matter what the future brings, as time goes by…” Taehyung quietly sings while he gathers his things, preparing to leave the practice room after two hours of perfecting the hardest pieces of his solo piece. The song is from Casablanca, a movie he recently watched but that had easily earned his place at Taehyung’s top 10 favourite movies.
Suddenly, he feels a hand on his shoulder, and he swears his soul leaves his body. “Fuck! You scared the shit out of me, d-don’t do that.” He says out of air due to the shock while turning around.
“Oh sorry! I’ve been trying to call you for quite a while but then I noticed the headphones and the singing…I just wanted to know if you were leaving? I want to practice here for a bit.”
Taehyung tries his best to listen but just gets distracted mid-sentence. Don’t judge, you probably would too if you were faced with such presence. Deep brown eyes, rosy pink full lips, petite body hugged by an oversized teddy bear hoodie…Taehyung swears he’s dreaming.
“Yeah, it’s fine, don’t worry about it. I wasn’t that scared actually, just caught off guard, it’s late and dark…well, I’ll leave you to it.” Taehyung rants while power walking to the door, urging to get out of the huge practice room that seems to have shrunken in just seconds.
“Hm…keys?” the grey-haired boy asks confused by Taehyung’s behaviour.
“Oh of course!” Taehyung throws the keys and the other boy catches them easily. “See you later.”
“Nice song. Singing department?” the boy questions while Taehyung reaches the door handle.
Taehyung turns around and replies: “Classical music department, actually.”
“That explains the violin, of course.” the other points to his instrument case and smiles while covering his face in embarrassment. Taehyung smiles back trying to keep the little amount of air left in his lungs, it feels like he ran a full marathon.
“Fine arts?” He asks.
“It’s the hair isn’t it? I’ve heard that one a couple of times.” The other boy laughs. Taehyung swears he gasps at the sound. He could hear it in replay for hours.
The boy seats on the floor, starting some warmup stretching exercises. “Wrong guess though. Dance department. Ballet.”
It was my second guess…those thighs don’t lie. Taehyung thinks to himself.
“Can you tell me your name or are we doing assumptions for that too?” the boy jokes.
“Taehyung... Kim Taehyung.”
“I’m Park Jimin. Nice to meet you Taehyung.”
“The world will always welcome lovers, as time goes by…” Taehyung keeps listening to the same song on his way back to the dorms. Something tells him he’s going to listen to it more often now.
“…then I reached out for his hand and he took it! I was feeling brave at the time, but I was so nervous. We held hands the whole movie, so I didn’t pay attention to it and it’s The Avengers we’re talking about! I even missed the “I love you 3000” part, Taehyung. It was so worth it though.” Over breakfast, Jungkook relates last night events almost without pausing to breath in-between sentences.
“It was about time! You have been crushing on Namjoon-hyung for how long now? 2 years?” Taehyung notices Jungkook’s genuine smile. “I’m so happy for you Jungkook. I really am. I hope things turn out good for both of you.”
“Thank you Taehyungie.” Jungkook back hugs Taehyung. “Don’t take me wrong but I think you made a good decision about not coming to the sleepover. It wasn’t just me that didn’t pay attention to the movie. Hoseok-hyung fell asleep almost immediately, I guess he was tired from dance practice…and Seokjin-hyung and Yoongi-hyung, well you might guess how they spent their time…” Jungkook laughs.
“Gross.” Taehyung states. All of them are used to their very regular display of affection and deep down all of them have grown fond of it. It’s kind of become their thing.
“Actually…I’m also glad I went to the practice room last night…” He adds.
“Oh?? Spill.” Jungkook stops eating his cereal, turning all his attention to Taehyung.
Jungkook can’t help but cheekily smile all the way through the story. Taehyung notices it. “I’m not making a big deal out of this and neither should you okay? I just think he’s cute.” Taehyung says and regrets it a bit afterwards. “Apart from that, I don’t think I’ll see him very often, he’s from the dance department.”
“What’s his name?” Jungkook asks.
“Park Jimin.” Taehyung remembers the way Jimin said his name and tries not to blush in front of the youngest.
“I’m pretty sure that’s Hoseok’s hyung friend! The one who assists him on our classes…the ones on Wednesday’s and Friday’s…at 4 p.m…on gym 4.” Jungkook winks.
“I’m calling Namjoon-hyung and telling him you have a full album of his selcas on your phone and that you’ve been doing research on bonsai trees for some weeks now.” Taehyung threatens.
“Don’t you dare.”
The week goes by extremely slowly. Taehyung feels very tempted to attend Hoseok’s class on Wednesday but decides against it since he’s still figuring out his thoughts on Jimin. Mainly, why he doesn’t seem to get out of his head. Only a few words were shared between the two and apart from his name and what he does, Taehyung doesn’t know a single thing about Jimin but something about him is just so captivating, so alluring. What was that something? That’s what Taehyung wants to find out.
Just like the previous Friday, Taehyung finds himself in front of the practice room. The recital is on Sunday, just two days away and he would be lying if he said that he wasn’t nervous. He is afraid of committing a mistake whilst playing or mixing up his music sheets but something bigger than that is what leaves him very uneasy. Within the big audience, are expected to be seated some very important names of the industry to select the better musicians, the ones that stand out and grant them with amazing opportunities such as travelling around the world, playing in various international orchestras. Every musician’s dream including Taehyung’s. He never was one of the lucky ones which only motivates him more to do his best this year.
His thoughts are interrupted by familiar music coming from the practice room. It’s a recording from the ballet suite from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Lake in the Moonlight. Part of the repertoire of Sunday’s recital. Taehyung lets his curiosity lead him inside and there he is.
Totally emerged in the beautiful melody, Jimin moves so delicately and gracefully and with so much precision and focus in every movement he makes. Taehyung remains still, leaning on the door frame, following Jimin with his eyes. He observes the changing positions of his feet, his strict posture, his gentle little hands but what leaves Taehyung in complete awe is Jimin’s expression while dancing, the way it follows the different dynamics of the music. His gaze is strong and determined when the melody grows into a fortissimo and his soft and light features are displayed when the instruments are almost inaudible playing in pianissimo.
Jimin stands right there in the centre of the room but his mind is somewhere else. He’s in his own little world, taking Taehyung alongside with him.
The suite comes to an end and Taehyung feels overwhelmed. He had watched ballet performances in the past but none of them had left him like that.
“What did you think?” Jimin, still out of breath, shyly asks.
Taehyung is surprised Jimin even noticed his presence from the start. “I can’t answer that. It’s way too difficult and unfair to describe your talent with just a few words.”
Oh gosh, that was a bit much…Too whipped, too soon. Taehyung tells himself but notices the way Jimin intensely blushes at his words and the way his eyes disappear with how big his smile is and Taehyung regrets nothing.
“You’re exaggerating!” Jimin laughs “I just really love it. Dancing. I love how it makes me feel.”
“I also loved how you made me feel.”
“Really?” Jimin questions and starts walking in Taehyung’s direction.
The atmosphere around the room changes completely. Taehyung is the closest he’s ever been to Jimin and now that he can clearly see every single beautiful detail of his face. “Cute” is definitely, an understatement.
“You know how you can repay me for how I made you feel?” Jimin confidently asks, looking deep into Taehyung’s eyes.
“Hm…no, not really.” Taehyung tries to avoid looking at the other’s plump pink lips.
“Teach me how to play the violin.” He cheekily smiles.
Taehyung’s heart beats so fast and loud in his chest, he fears Jimin can hear it. “You are dancing on the recital, right?” Taehyung almost whispers. “Meet me here after the performance.”
“You were amazing Tae.” Namjoon assures Taehyung after his solo performance. “All of us teared up all the way through your performance.” He laughs while looking around at the other four boys, all of them a bit embarrassed.
Hoseok rests an arm around Taehyung. “You were the best solo piece, for sure!”
“If I were you, I would start packing my bags.” Yoongi tells him.
“Yes, Taehyungie, if they don’t offer you an opportunity after what we saw from you today…they’re missing out. It’s their loss.” Jungkook hands Taehyung a beautiful bouquet of white roses to congratulate him.
Taehyung feels so lucky to be surrounded by such a loving and supportive group of friends. He still doesn’t know what he did in his previous life to deserve them, but he knows for sure that without them he would be so lost. He still has some difficulty at expressing his feelings vocally, so he’s used to it through playing so hearing his friends tell him how touched they were by his performance today leaves Taehyung more relieved. He hopes they all know how much he is grateful for them.
“Enough with this soppiness. I don’t want to cry again in front of you guys. As the oldest, I have a reputation to maintain.” Seokjin interrupts his thoughts. “Now, let’s go to my house. I’ll cook you a special meal to celebrate!”
“I could really get used to this special treatment.” Taehyung jokes. “But you guys can go first. I’ll meet you there. I have a place I have to go to.”
“I think you meant, you have a person you have to go see…” Jungkook adds. The elder’s cheeks now burning.
“Ahhh, Jungkookie told me about your crush on Jimin!” Hoseok giggles. Taehyung’s still embarrassed but he finds himself giggling as well. Damn you Hobi. “Jimin’s an amazing person Taehyungie. You guys would get along so well! He’s also very talented. Everyone did a standing ovation after his act.” Taehyung pictures how happy Jimin must be right now.
“It’s not a crush! Now, I’ll meet you at home okay?”
“No need to get all flustered.” Namjoon teases him. “Let’s go guys.”
All of them hug Taehyung leaving him and his nervousness behind.
“Look who it is! The star of the whole show!” Jimin tells him as soon as Taehyung enters the practice room, closing the door behind him.
Taehyung laughs. “Oh please! You were my biggest competition you know? We should be enemies and not friends.”
“What’s the fun in that?” Jimin teases him. “Friends. I like that.”
Taehyung’s heart is already racing. If things keep going this way, he’s sure he won’t make it out of this room alive.
A moment of comfortable silence goes by. Taehyung breaks it by taking his violin out of the case and starts playing. The same piece from earlier. Massenet’s Meditation from Thais. It’s a difficult piece but with all the work and time Taehyung invested in it, he plays it almost without a single imperfection. He opens his eyes as soon as he stops playing and notices how close Jimin to him Jimin was now standing. He could feel his warm breath on his skin.
“You are so amazing.” The older whispers and kisses his cheek. “Teach me.”
While still processing what just happened, Taehyung hands him his violin. Jimin positions the instrument under his chin. Taehyung goes behind him. Puts his two hands on either side of his tiny waist tilting Jimin’s body slightly to the right. Taehyung then, gently grabs Jimin's right hand moving it to the neck of the violin.
“You’re a natural.” Taehyung whispers in his ear. Jimin’s breath slightly hitches. Jimin’s left hand takes the bow putting it just over the four chords of the violin. Taehyung back hugs Jimin, noticing how petite the grey haired boy is in comparison with him. He smiles at that. As both of their bodies function as one, Taehyung holds Jimin’s tiny fingers, settling them in some of the chords while the bow frictions against the chords. Some notes are played, well not at all of them can be considered notes, mainly just sounds but both of them laugh at that.
“So, this is a do…” Taehyung plants a kiss just under Jimin’s ear. “A re…” Now, on his jaw. Jimin throws is head back, allowing Taehyung more access to his neck. “A mi…” He softly nibbles on his neck while he slowly removes his arms from over Jimin’s and turns him around. They face each other and Taehyung notices how slightly flushed Jimin’s cheeks are. So cute.
“These are some of the basics.” Taehyung tells him without leaving his eyes. “We’ll continue next class.”
“No.” Jimin says while closing the small space gap between them. “I can’t wait any longer.”
Their kiss is beyond what both of them expected it to be.
Soft. Jimin’s plump lips are so soft against Taehyung’s.
Desperate. Both of them are desperate for each other’s touch. Taehyung’s lips fall open, allowing Jimin’s tongue to explore his mouth.
Hot. Jimin’s backs Taehyung’s body up against the big mirrors that surround the room and his hands find their way through Taehyung’s curly hair. Their bodies are against each other leaving very little to the imagination. Little breathy sounds filling the space around them.
Tender. Taehyung breaks their intense kiss shifting it from the centre of Jimin’s mouth to the rest of his face, placing tiny pecks everywhere. The corner of his mouth, his nose, his forehead.
“That was….” Taehyung breathlessly says, trying to find the right words.
“…not how friends behave.” Jimin completes, softly giggling. “Now, I don’t think being friends is that nice.”A beautiful smile is plastered on his face.
Taehyung shares the same opinion.
On his way to meet his friends, Taehyung checks his phone. 2 messages, both from unknown numbers. He clicks on the first one that comes up:
*********: Let me know when we can schedule another class. I really want to improve and you’re a really nice teacher.
Jimin. He had given him his number before Taehyung left. His text leaves him both excited and flustered at the same time. He wants to get to know Jimin in every way possible so he hopes they meet again very soon. Before replying to Jimin, Taehyung checks his other message:
*********: Hello, Kim Taehyung. We’re glad to tell you that you have been one of the chosen students to earn a scholarship to study in the Berlin University of the Arts. Contact us as soon as possible, so we can inform you about all the details. Congratulations!
And just like that, Kim Taehyung’s life changes completely.