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⭐ ⭐ ⭐
“Earth to JK?” Jimin waves his hand in front of JK’s dazed expression.
JK blinks himself back into consciousness just in time to see his friend and confidante, Park Jimin, roll his eyes at him. “Uh, yeah.” He clears his throat and tries to act nonchalant.
“Just go talk to Taehyung, since you’re so obsessed with him,” Jimin says, exasperated at his friend.
JK pouts, eyes quickly glancing at Kim Taehyung, Hogwarts’ famed quidditch seeker. He’s currently Taehyung surrounded by his fellow teammates, all of them crowding around the end of a long table in the Great Hall, teasing and laughing together. The thought of coming up to Taehyung and his group right now is downright intimidating to JK, who’s always been shy and reserved and tends to prefer sticking to smaller groups of friends. “I c-can’t.. He’d never speak to someone like me,” He huffs, finally digging into his lunch.
Jung Hoseok, or Hobi, as everyone else calls him, casts him a pitying look. Hobi, Jimin and JK have been inseparable since their freshman year in university and have each other’s backs no matter what. “And why not?” He challenges. “Is Taehyung a jerk?”
“No!” JK answers in a protest.
“Is he a snob who only interacts with people from his house and quidditch team?”
“No.”
“So then why wouldn’t he talk to you?”
“I’m just.. Me.” JK says quietly, playing with his food.
“That’s the problem, though? You’ve put him on so high a pedestal that you can’t seem to see past all the quidditch glamor to even notice that he’s just a human being like the rest of us.” Jimin pipes in. “Also there’s nothing wrong with you, JK. If it’s worth anything at all, and if you’ll even believe me, you’re also just as awesome and good-looking as he is.” Jimin talks about JK’s knack for everything magical, coming out at the top of their classes with minimal effort, and never failing to impress their professors with his quick thinking and unorthodox but effective solutions to complex problems. Sure, he tends to be a bit socially awkward and clumsy often at the most inopportune moments, but all of that can easily be overlooked when also taking into account his stunning visuals and rock solid physique - a result of his daily morning runs around the school grounds. “Have a bit more confidence!”
JK frowns at this, completely disregarding the compliments made about him. “You don’t understand, he’s-he’s perfect! Just look at him - his face looks like it was sculpted by the gods, his muscles chiseled and toned just the right way and in the right spots, and skin, oh my god, his tanned skin is so flawless and glowy. And his smile, when he smiles-”
“-His cheeks look like the most perfect pair of freshly baked bread buns. WE KNOW.” Jimin and Hobi both finish for him, exasperated.
“Seriously, just talk to him.” Hobi says softly, nodding towards Taehyung’s direction. At that moment, Taehyung and his friends are exchanging goodbyes, some of them probably on their way to their next class. Taehyung remains behind at the table, drinking a smoothie while he reads a book.
“Now’s your chance, JK, just do it.” Jimin urges, smiling softly at his friend. “It’ll be fine, you’re great.”
JK’s eyes widen at the prospect of approaching his crush. He doesn’t remember anything that happens in the next few seconds because the next thing he knows, he’s up on his feet and inching forward towards Taehyung. He stops right in front of Taehyung, standing without a word a bit awkwardly. Taehyung notices the presence next to him and raises his head from his book to regard JK curiously. JK nearly panics and throws a quick glance towards his friends. Fighting! , they seemed to say, with big smiles and a thumbs-up.
JK looks back at Taehyung, all wide-eyed, a deer in headlights. Then Taehyung smiles gently at him, and JK just melts. “Hi,” Taehyung says first.
“H-hi,” JK responds, his cheeks blushing. “Um, Taehyung, right?”
“That’s me,” Taehyung chuckles, his eyes sparkling as they crinkle up from his smile. “And you’re.. Jeongguk?”
JK feels like he could just die on the spot. “Yeah, but you can just call me JK. You.. You know my name?” He asks incredulously.
“Of course,” Taehyung says, rolling his eyes playfully. “We were in Mrs. Choi’s Divination class together last year. You were partnered up with Kim Mingyu-”
“Mingyu! That’s right!” JK finishes, all giddy as he remembers the class.
“You both couldn’t figure out what exactly you were seeing in your teacup dregs so you both moved it around to shape it into a puppy-”
“-But Mrs. Choi interpreted it as a wolf and looked like she was about to have a heart attack because it’s like the worst ill omen ever! Oh my god.” JK hides his face behind his hands, remembering the trouble he and his friend Mingyu got into after trying to calm down a tearful and petrified Mrs. Choi by telling her it was all staged.
“She kept asking why on earth would you two fake an ill omen about mass destruction, and your only explanation was ‘I just really love puppies’. Hilarious,” Taehyung says, still giggling as he watches JK try to regain his composure.
JK takes a deep breath and regards Taehyung shyly, feeling incredibly overwhelmed at the knowledge that Taehyung actually remembers his name and that embarrassing incident in full detail. “Yeah.. So embarrassing.” Is all he says good naturedly, his nose wrinkling as he smiles.
“It was so funny, it’s probably the good memory I have of that boring class.” Taehyung casually reaches over to a bowl of fruit and holds it out to JK. “Care for some fruit?”
JK shakes his head and head gently, whispering “no, thanks” so silently he wonders if Taehyung even heard. He is so composed and I’m just a blubbering mess, JK laments to himself. He feels the sudden urge to exit the building and maybe throw up behind some bushes.“So, uh.. I just came over to say hello.” He bites his bottom lip tentatively. “You’ve been doing amazing at all the matches this season. Especially the one against Durmstrang, when you caught the Snitch with just 5 seconds left on the timer. That was epic.” JK pauses, at a loss for what to say next as Taehyung just watches him fondly. “G-go Hogwarts!” He laughs nervously with an awkward fist pump.
Just then, Taehyung starts packing up his book and clearing out his table. JK, in a small disheartened voice, begins to say “Well, see you then..” When Taehyung says at the same time:
“Do you wanna, like, hang out? There’s this place in town that I’ve been wanting to check out. They sell a bunch of fun stuff, like antigravity hats and fanged frisbees..” He stands up and beams at JK. “I need to get to class now, but if you’re up for it, maybe we can go tomorrow after the pep rally?”
JK’s mouth hangs open in shock. “You want. Go.. With me?” He utters dumbly, pointing at himself with the biggest bambi eyes.
“Yeah, you.” Taehyung’s gaze falls. “Unless you don’t want to, I guess-”
“No- I, uh! I want!” JK says a little too loudly, making Taehyung flinch. JK clears his throat, realizing how stupid he must sound right now. “I wanna go with you. I’ve been wanting to check that store out too. Let’s go tomorrow!” He finally says with a big smile on his face.
“Cool, it’s a date then.” Taehyung beams and gets up. JK is still just smiling at him, shell shocked and unable to utter anything else. “I really need to go now. But I’ll see you tomorrow.” Taehyung chuckles and makes his way towards the main hall. After several steps, he glances over his shoulder to check if JK is watching him (which, of course, he is) and offers one last smile and a wave before disappearing behind the doors.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
“I feel like I’m gonna throw up,” JK whines, pacing restlessly across the floor of Kim Namjoon’s workshop. Namjoon, who graduated years ago from Hogwarts, now owns and runs an apothecary in the nearby town. He was the school’s Potions genius, ranked #1 in the country the year he graduated. Many expected him to join the ranks of the Ministry to ‘put his skills to good use’, but he smartly decided to do his own thing, resulting in a flourishing well-known establishment frequented by many for their various ailments and illnesses.
A few years back when he had just started his business, Namjoon briefly offered tutoring services for extra income. JK was one of those lucky students, whose skills improved tremendously after just one year of studying with Namjoon. Because of the methods and techniques that Namjoon taught him, JK now also consistently aces his Potions classes. Namjoon cultivated his love for learning, making university a much more meaningful experience for him. He makes it a point to regularly keep in touch with Namjoon, whom he regards as an older brother.
Namjoon clicks his tongue, shaking his head as he carefully sifts a neon greenish mixture into a vial. “It’ll be fine, Kookie. You stress yourself out way too much.”
“That’s exactly what I told him. He never listens, though.” Hobi chimed from where he sat on a stool, spinning around as he played with a dried calendula flower in his hands.
“Hyung, stop calling me Kookie. I’m not a kid anymore. It’s JK now,” JK scoffs moodily, pouting as he slumps on a nearby couch. Namjoon merely grunts at this, his concentration never wavering. JK feels a little guilty for acting like a brat, so he looks over to Namjoon and softens his tone. “Thanks for taking on my request on such short notice. I really owe you one.”
Namjoon holds the vial in his hand delicately and seals it with a stopper. He lets out a sigh of relief as he places it carefully in a rack with similar looking mixtures, his body visibly relaxing. “It’s not a problem, JK-” JK smiles as Namjoon emphasizes the nickname. “But really, you need to find better ways to calm your nerves without having to rely on my potions each time something huge happens in your life.”
“Jimin and I agree. We’ve been trying to get him to join our meditative airborne calisthenics class for so long now, we’ve essentially given up.” Hobi says sardonically.
JK rolls his eyes at Hobi. “But it looks so boring,” he mutters.
“It’s relaxing!” Hobi sputters indignantly as Namjoon chuckles at JK’s remark. “That’s the whole point of it, it’s to calm your mind and spirit through gentle aerial exercises that focus on your breath and effectively engage all your muscle groups-you know what, nevermind.” He throws his hands up in the air, dislodging some petals from the dried flower. He shakes his head at Namjoon, as if to demonstrate JK’s hopelessness.
Namjoon disapparates the protective gloves off his hands and hangs up his lab coat on the wall. “As long as you don’t become dependent on the potions, you should be fine.” He walks over to JK and pats his shoulder. He then takes the vial off the rack and places it in a carrying box for JK to bring home.
“I won’t, hyung, don’t worry.” JK reassures Namjoon, who smiles warmly at him. “I only need this for my first date with Taehyung so that I don’t end up ruining it by saying or doing stupid stuff. I should be fine afterwards.”
Namjoon beams at him. “So you’re saying you’re certain there will be a second date. That’s the spirit!” JK’s smile widens, bunny teeth on full display.
JK and Hobi say their goodbyes to Namjoon and leave him to tend to his shop. They walk around town for a bit, grabbing a bite to eat at the local diner before heading back to their dorm. With only one hour left until the pep rally and then his first date with Taehyung, JK decides to drink the potion to give it time to fully take effect. He’s got a good feeling about tonight.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The school field is filled with students dressed in the school’s colors. It’s a huge pep rally, meant to drum up support for the school’s various sports teams, including the quidditch team, which Taehyung is part of.
JK spots Taehyung on the far end of the field in his quidditch seeker uniform, chatting animatedly with his teammates. He looks so hot , JK finds himself saying mostly to himself, his stomach churning from excitement. He thinks the potion is starting to take effect since he no longer feels like he could hurl at any minute.
He spots Jimin and Hobi on the benches and squeezes in between them, offering them both some snacks that he picked up from the cafeteria. The pep rally then kicks off, with everyone in the field getting to their feet and belting out the various school chants with much enthusiasm. The event concludes with everyone in high spirits, including JK.
As they make their way back to the school grounds, JK starts to feel a strange tingling sensation crawling all over his skin. He hangs back to try to figure out what’s going on, as Hobi and Jimin walk ahead of him.
“Guys?” JK calls out, voice uncertain. Jimin and Hobi continue chatting. Jimin briefly looks back over his shoulder where JK is and looks around at the crowd, but refocuses his attention on Hobi. JK stops in his tracks and bends down to rub at his legs, where the tingling sensation has now spread. To his utter shock, he finds that his arm has disappeared.
Just as everything begins to quickly register in his head, a burly male student slams into him, nearly knocking him into the ground. JK stumbles forward but manages to regain his balance, but not without yelling at the student to watch where they’re going. The student looks around, bewildered, and continues walking.
“JK?” Jimin calls out from a few meters ahead of him. Jimin seems to be searching the crowd for him, and JK realizes what’s going on with startling clarity.
“Where the hell did he run off to?” Hobi says, mildly annoyed as he places a hand on his hip, also scanning the throngs of people.
“Guys, I’m-” JK starts to say, sounding like he’s choking back a sob.
“JK, where are you?! You brat!” Jimin shouts out, giggling. Hobi laughs along with him as they stand in the middle of the field waiting for their friend to emerge from the thinning crowd.
Words seem to escape JK at that moment, so he makes his way to where his two friends stood, and carefully places a hand on each of their shoulders.
“What the fuck?!” Hobi shrieks and jumps back at his touch. Jimin’s eyes widen in horror when he feels the fabric of his shirt rustle where JK places his hand.
“Guys, it’s me JK,” He tries again, this time in a softer voice, so as to not spook the two. Hobi and Jimin think they hear a sniffle from the empty spot just behind them, when JK manages to say: “I think.. I drank an invisibility potion by mistake.”
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
“Okay, calm down.” Hobi finally says after the three of them make their way to the gardens behind the school, where they’re certain nobody will be around to hear their conversation. “Let’s try to think this through.”
It’s bad enough that JK downed an invisibility potion by mistake (he thinks Namjoon might have packed the wrong vial for him at the shop), but invisibility, enabled either by the ingestion of potions or by the use of magical items, is subject to severe punishment by the school board.
“Calm down?! I have a date with Taehyung in exactly 15 minutes!” JK hisses from the space to the left of where Jimin stands.
Jimin flinches at his voice, as though he wasn't expecting JK to be standing there. “JK.. It’s not my intention to downplay your current predicament, but there are literally worse things at stake.” He mutters, choosing instead to stare at the ground while he addresses his friend.
“No! I don’t care! This is my one chance with Taehyung and it’s already doomed before it’s even supposed to begin!” Hobi can hear the panic in JK’s voice and the rapid breathing that signals the beginnings of hyperventilation.
“Breathe, Gguk.” Hobi urges calmly, addressing JK by his childhood name. “Jimin’s right, no one can know you went invisible while on school grounds. You’ll get a lengthy suspension for that. And it’ll go on your school records too.”
“Well, I can’t go back to the dorms either because I’ve put in my notice to head out to town tonight! Wouldn’t it be even more suspicious if I had stayed behind, only for the prefects to not even spot me during their rounds?” JK asks, desperation laced in his voice.
“You’re right, ugh,” Hobi holds a hand to his head. The three of them stay silent for a few moments, trying to figure out what to do next and how to keep JK safe (more Hobi and Jimin’s priority, as JK is still thinking of his date with Taehyung).
“Why don’t you just go on the date, then.” Jimin suggests. “Then you’ll be off school grounds which means nobody can catch you breaking rules, and by the time you get back to the dorm, you should be back to normal. And you still get to go on a date with Taehyung. That could work, right?”
Hobi and JK are silent for a few beats until they both shut down Jimin’s idea with, “That’s just insane.”
“Absolutely not,” Hobi says firmly.
“He’ll think I’m a freak!” JK says in a voice that comes out a little too squeaky.
“We don’t know if we can trust Taehyung with this information.” Hobi explains to Jimin, bewildered. “What if he blackmails JK?”
They hear JK gasp. “He wouldn’t do that.. Would he?”
Jimin sighs. “Listen, I’ve known Taehyung since we were seven, playing stupid pranks on the bullies in our neighborhood. You might think he’s this super popular guy because of his quidditch skills and good looks, but to me, he’s just Taehyung. He’s a good person and can be trusted.” He then looks at Hobi. “I trusted him with the stuff that went on with my family before, and he’s never told a soul.”
Hobi nods, seemingly convinced by this, knowing the full story of how Jimin’s family nearly lost his older sister, Jihoon.
Jihoon went through a rough patch in school where she was bullied nearly everyday, and attempted to take her own life one day. Jimin’s mother thankfully found her before it was too late, and was able to rush her to the infirmary just in time to save her. She’s doing well now, and the bullies were even dealt the appropriate punishments by the school, but it was an extremely difficult time that Jimin’s family went through. Jimin didn’t have anyone else to confide in, except Taehyung, his neighborhood friend, whom he regularly played gobstone with. To this day, nobody else outside Jimin’s family except Taehyung, Hobi and JK know about this story.
“Okay,” JK finally says after a moment of silence. Jimin and Hobi look up, waiting for him to continue. “I’ll go on the date. But someone else needs to explain the situation to Taehyung. I can’t just approach him while in this state.”
Jimin smiles. “Sure, I’d be glad to. Let’s head over to where he is, then.”
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
They spot Taehyung waiting at the bottom of the bell tower, which faces the north gate and leads directly to town. The three of them wave at him, including JK, who sheepishly puts his hand down once he realizes the futility of his gesture.
“H-hi? Jimin-ah? Hoseok-ssi?” Taehyung greets them tentatively, addressing Hobi formally as they aren’t exactly friends the way he and Jimin are.
“Hey, Taehyung-ah.” Jimin greets back. He hesitates for a moment. “We need to speak to you about JK.”
Jimin calmly tells Taehyung about JK’s potion mishap, making sure to also let him know that JK is in their company (JK pipes in with a small ‘hello’, startling Taehyung a little bit), with Hobi chiming in every now and then, mostly about how disastrous it would be if the school were to find out.
“So, yeah…” JK breaks the silence after Jimin stops speaking. “Would you still be ok with going on that date with me?”
Taehyung pauses, tilting his head slightly, digesting everything he just heard. “Yeah, of course I do, it’s just-”
JK audibly breathes out a sigh of relief.
Taehyung casts a quick glance towards his direction and the corner of his mouth quirks up with a tiny smile. “-how would we even pull that off in public though? Wouldn’t it be weird for people to see me talking and laughing by myself?” he wonders, index finger on his chin.
Hobi grumbles. “That’s a valid concern, actually. It’s probably best not to head into town where you’re bound to bump into people, too. It’s a busy time leading up to the holidays, so the streets are gonna be packed.”
Jimin hums cheerfully, and everyone turns to look at him. “Maybe you could instead go to a place where there aren’t any crowds? Or a place where people tend to be far apart from each other, like the botanical garden. It’s lovely this time of year. Are you still into botany, Taehyungie?”
Taehyung beams brightly. “I am, yeah! I plan to specialize in it next year, actually. Good memory, Jimin.”
“And I love the outdoors. Being in wide open spaces means there’s less chances of us running into other people!” JK pipes in excitedly. He’s suddenly thankful for his invisibility that nobody can see the flush that spreads warmly across his face at the prospect of being alone with just Taehyung.
“You’re both welcome.” Jimin makes a princely bow. Hobi pretends to slow clap, thoroughly impressed by his friend’s problem solving skills. “And with that, we leave the two of you to get on with your date. Bye, have fun!” He calls out, tugging Hobi by his sleeves back into the school.
Suddenly, it was just JK and Taehyung.
JK’s nerves set back in, making their conversation initially awkward as they head towards the gardens. Taehyung, however, remains relaxed and hangs onto JK’s every word, patient even as JK stutters.
JK feels his anxiety slowly ebb away, with the invisibility helping him mask his embarrassment. Instead of worrying that he’d look silly and clumsy, he can speak freely with Taehyung and focus more on what he has to say. He also finds Taehyung’s presence very soothing. He shows genuine interest as JK recounts his fun trip into town with Hobi the previous day, and smiles warmly as JK raves about how smart his Namjoon hyung is.
It turns out, having a date at the botanic gardens is very romantic. The gardens themselves are magnificent, with various plant life and trees arranged beautifully around the sprawling property, all explosions of colors and scents. And to top all that, JK is captivated by how Taehyung seems to transform into a new person, like someone truly in his own element. He’s confident and focused when on the Quidditch field, but in the gardens, JK notices how Taehyung’s eyes light up when seeing plants he’s studied in class, the way he talks quickly like he’s unable to contain his excitement.
JK is aware of how much more attracted he is to Taehyung, seeing this passionate side of him as he explains in detail the evolution of carnivorous plants, pointing out exactly which ones he finds the most fascinating out of the bunch. He sighs loudly, helplessly in love.
“...But the Nephentes plants are shaped like pitchers, so- oh my god, I’ve been babbling on and on, haven’t I? I’m sorry, that’s all probably so boring,” Taehyung apologizes, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. He smiles sheepishly at his feet. “When I was a kid, my mom would take me gardening with her and she’d tell me all about the flowers and plants she was growing. I guess that’s where I get it from.”
“Oh, no!” JK reaches out to touch Taehyung’s forearm. Taehyung’s lips quirk up in a tiny smile at the contact. “I wasn’t bored at all, I was just thinking about how fascinating it is to see you like this. I wish I was as passionate about something the way you are about botany. I’m actually really impressed, and, well, a little jealous if I’m being honest.” JK chuckles. “I think you’re really cool, and I enjoy listening to you.” JK knows he is blushing furiously by how warm his face feels right now. “Please continue.” He adds a little cutely, making Taehyung giggle.
The more they spend time together walking around the gardens, the more JK opens up to Taehyung as well, talking about his adventures on the southern coast with his siblings and dad, and how he developed his love for the outdoors through them. And how, whenever he went through a rough time with school during his younger years, he would join his mom in the kitchen to experiment on new recipes that he discovered while leafing through magazines or from a show that he watched. She seemed to know that he had a knack for it, and that cooking helped calm him. JK talks about his siblings too, mentioning how his older brother is the troublemaker of the bunch, constantly teasing him and his younger sister but is incredibly protective of them, and his younger sister who’s quite the genius at Arithmancy, “a tiny girl” who’s very sweet and thoughtful but can be quite terrifying when upset, like the time when she thought her brothers hid a favorite dress of hers as a prank, only to find it stashed in the back of her closet. JK shudders, remembering how she came up to them all furious, ready to beat their heads with a book.
“Your family sounds really lovely, Jungkookie.” Taehyung says fondly, bending down to sniff at a purple hibiscus ylang-ylang flower hybrid. Taehyung freezes and quickly corrects himself. “I mean, JK! Sorry, I know that’s the name you prefer to be called by.” He says, sheepish.
JK lets out a breathy chuckle. “No, no.. I-I like it when you say it. You can call me Jungkookie,” Taehyung is sure he can hear JK smile just by hearing him.
“You can call me hyung , if you’d like.”
“Okay… hyung .” JK giggles.
They continue walking around the gardens, with Taehyung constantly bumping into JK by mistake. JK, on the other hand, tries to stay close to Taehyung so as to hear him, Taehyung being soft-spoken and all. JK keeps apologizing for stepping into his space, and Taehyung keeps reassuring him that it’s all good.
“I’ve always wanted to hang out with you. Jimin used to tell me all these stories about you and Hobi, and when he’d talk about you, well.. I just thought you were so cool and interesting. There were times I’d try to find excuses to talk to you, but you always seemed to want to leave. I thought you were avoiding me.”
JK recalls all those times he either ducked out of sight or quickly left a room when it was apparent that Taehyung was near, out of sheer panic. He winces. “I was just intimidated by you. You’re so amazing.”
“So are you, though? I just happen to be good at doing things that are more… Visible, I guess? I kind of don’t really enjoy being in the spotlight, to be honest.” Taehyung purses his lips. “That’s why I suggested that we go to the knick knacks store for our date - I figured that’s the kind of stuff you’d like, and I wanted to make a good first impression. But instead we ended up at a place that’s more like the kind of stuff I’m into.” He chuckles, slightly embarrassed.
“But I’m the one who drank an invisibility potion, so that’s kind of on me too.”
Taehyung laughs. “You did that by mistake, it’s not your fault! Anyway, the short of it is, I’ve really enjoyed your company so far, JK, so I wish you wouldn’t be so shy around me.”
“Okay hyung, I’ll try not to be so shy. You’re just…” JK audibly breathes in, gathering up courage. “I really like you.”
JK stares in amazement as he watches Taehyung’s cheeks flush when he looks down at his shoes, bread cheeks puffing up as he smiles. “I really like you too.”
“..You do?” JK asks, stunned. “Are you sure?”
Taehyung laughs a little too loudly, making a couple a few meters ahead of them glance their way suspiciously. Taehyung composes himself and tries to muffle his giggles. “Yes, I’m sure, JK! You’re so silly. I like you.”
JK is speechless so he just whispers a tiny “okay”, giggling breathily as he draws his shoulders up, overwhelmed with so much emotion. His heart feels like it could explode.
They continue to walk side by side, their shoulders and arms occasionally brushing against each other. Taehyung feels the back of JK’s hand brush against his, and he takes the opportunity to take JK’s hand. He’s pretty sure he hears JK hitch his breath, before JK responds by clasping his own hand around Taehyung’s as well. They stroll in comfortable silence until they reach a low hill with a large gingko tree atop it, its bright yellow leaves swaying against the gentle breeze.
“Woah, this is my first time seeing this tree. I’ve never wandered this far down the path before. It’s beautiful,” JK breathes.
“This is my favorite of all the trees I’ve seen in the world,” Taehyung shares. “When I was a kid, my mom would bring me and my sister here and we’d spend the afternoon on a picnic blanket under the leaves playing board games or just telling stories.
“This is the best day ever,” sighs JK.
Just then, Taehyung glances towards his direction and is surprised to see JK slowly fading back into view, his skin taking on a translucent quality that, in the setting sun, looks like he’s golden.
JK turns his head and finds himself face to face with Taehyung, eyes locked on him. His heart swells at the way Taehyung watches him like he’s the only thing that exists in that moment, and doesn’t miss the way his eyes glance over his lips.
Why is he looking at my mouth? JK thinks to himself. Wait, he can see me?!
Before JK can process what’s happening, Taehyung leans to place a soft kiss on JK’s mouth. JK lets out a tiny muffled yelp, and quickly closes his eyes to savor the moment.
Taehyung breaks off the kiss, all red in the cheeks. He takes a step back and rubs the back of his neck, which JK now learns is a nervous habit of his. “I’m sorry, I should’ve asked first-”
JK is internally panicking about having regained visibility. But the entire afternoon with Taehyung had been so wonderful, talking like they’ve known each other for years. He’s always seen Taehyung as someone amazing in a way that one might fanboy over a celebrity - fawning over his exceptional quidditch skills, his charming personality and gorgeous physique. But today, Taehyung had let him into his own little world, showing JK different sides of him that he wouldn’t have otherwise known if he just continued admiring Taehyung from a distance. And it all started because he chose to muster up the courage to say hello. His heart yearns for more, more of Taehyung, more moments like today, to learn everything there is to know about Taehyung and to have moments where he can be vulnerable and open with Taehyung. Once again, he needs to be brave.
“No, it’s ok.” JK whispers, and wraps his hand around Taehyung’s wrist to tug him back in. This time, they share a searing kiss, more purposeful but equally intoxicating.
Taehyung cups JK’s face in his hands, his thumbs softly caressing JK’s cheekbones. Their lips move against each other slowly, tentatively.
JK reaches his hand up to clutch at the front of Taehyung’s shirt to pull him closer, overwhelmed by the sensation of having Taehyung this close to him, so close that he feels like he’s drowning.
They break apart minutes later, panting softly into each other’s faces, foreheads together and lips swollen.
In the moments that they spend staring at each other, JK becomes very aware that he is now fully visible, and begins to retreat into himself.
“Don’t hide.” Taehyung whispers, kissing his cheek, and then the other. “I want to see you. Let me see you.”
JK looks up at him, and feels like he could cry. “Okay, hyung.” And leans in to kiss Taehyung once again.