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Jeongguk should have anticipated something like this the moment Taehyung told him that Jimin, his manager, texted him saying he got the job.
Taehyung had been ecstatic, literally jumping into Jeongguk's lap as he spluttered out the latest news. Taehyung's eyes had gone glassy, as they did whenever he was overwhelmed with emotion, and the smile that he had on made the living room seemed at least two times brighter. Jeongguk was genuinely happy about Taehyung's career prospects; how could he not when Taehyung was positively glowing?
What he didn't foresee at that point in time, was how much the Etude House campaign would blow up Taehyung's reputation and popularity, which was quite unnecessary (and annoying) to Jeongguk because Taehyung was already well-known enough from previous adverts for Nivea and Lancome. The extra attention just meant more people ogling at his boyfriend and more insecurity for Jeongguk.
Taehyung teases Jeongguk about his possessive tendencies being slightly ridiculous since Jeongguk himself was a rising big-shot in the underwear model scape.
"You do know that you draw as much or more attention than I do on a daily basis right?"
"At least I don't get picked up while standing on the street because I look intimidating enough."
"I can't help that my bread-and-butter is so cute, can I?"
Taehyung's giggles are silenced by Jeongguk's open-mouthed kiss, which attempts to brand Taehyung as his and his only from the inside out. Taehyung melts, as he always does, and kisses back like he knows.
Now however, Jeongguk tries to convey the same message to the other college students that stare at Taehyung's radiant features as he rattles off about a recent shoot by shooting them his best glares.
"And then this intern spilled- Jeongguk? Jeongguk!"
"Yeah I'm listening, what."
"Stop doing that."
"What? Doing what?"
"Looking like you want to burn everybody's faces off. Turn that frown upside down!"
Honestly Jeongguk does want to burn the faces off the staring on-lookers, but when Taehyung's fingers push into his cheeks to force a smile onto his face and he's faced with a blindingly gorgeous smile, Jeongguk forces his homicidal tendencies to the back of his head.
"Jeongguk."
Jeongguk cocks his head to acknowledge his mint-haired course mate (and manager), eyes not leaving his doodles on the notepad.
".....What did the world do to you again?"
Jeongguk eyes Yoongi and blinks.
"You have been frowning since I met you for lunch. Like, more than your usual bitch-face."
For a human that is only awake and moving when necessary, Yoongi is amazingly perceptive.
"...Nothing."
"Nothing my ass. Spill it kid."
Jeongguk sighs. As Shrek said, better out than in right?
"It's Tae. Did you see his Etude House ads?"
"No shit. They're like everywhere I go. I see his face so much that I'm getting a bit sick of it."
Jeongguk shoots him a look (which has no effect because Yoongi knows Jeongguk is all bark, no bite)
"More and more people are looking at him now, and Taehyung doesn't even realise it! What if more people try to pick him up? What if I'm not there when it happens? What if he decides to just go with-"
"Jeongguk, Jeongguk! Yah, chill the fuck down."
A quarter of the lecture hall has turned to look at Jeongguk when his volume increased as he worked himself up, shooting him dirty looks to indirectly tell him to shut up and let the world be at peace again.
"He's not going to do that, Taehyung's not that kind of person. Besides why are you, of all people, worried about this kind of shit? You've modeled for freaking Calvin Klein for fuck's sake, how many can top that?"
Jeongguk would be lying if his ego didn't preen at Yoongi's last words.
"But-"
The exasperation on Yoongi's face was enough for Jeongguk to snap his mouth shut.
Taehyung let out a screech unfitting of his face as a pair of arms suddenly lifted him up from behind, the sound reverberating through the hallway.
"WHAT THE FU-"
Taehyung stops short of his outburst as he hears the familiar tinkle of laughter coming from the mass of muscle holding him.
"Jeon Jeongguk I seriously thought my heart was going to stop! Not funny!"
Jeongguk laughs even harder at that, vibrations from his body shaking Taehyung as well. Looking at the crinkled eyes and unrestrained grin of Jeongguk's, Taehyung can't help but smile despite his annoyance.
Jeongguk puts him back on the ground and Taehyung plasters himself on Jeongguk's firm torso, winding his arms securely around Jeongguk's neck and pressing a kiss to the side of Jeongguk's ear. Jeongguk encases Taehyung within him, biceps bulging through the short sleeves of his V-neck as he holds Taehyung by the waist. People stare at the blatant show of affection as they pass by, and Jeongguk smirks at them when they blush and speed up their pace.
For the next few days, Jeongguk sticks by Taehyung as closely as he can, accompanying him to his classes across campus and driving him to photoshoots, staying there until Jimin calls Yoongi to "take the lover-boy back because he's scaring the hell out of everybody on set."
Taehyung notices, but doesn't seem to mind the increase of Jeongguk's clinginess, even reciprocates the sudden hugs and pecks. He doesn't bring it up either, until both of them have a rare free day off to be together a week after the campaign was launched.
Jeongguk stops his game on his phone when Taehyung crawls onto the bed and snuggles close into his side, turning to the head of strawberry-blonde hair. Taehyung breathes in the smell of lavender detergent from Jeongguk's sweater, relishing in the body heat Jeongguk emanated.
The silence was broken by Taehyung's soft question.
"Have you been fretting over the campaign? About... me?"
Jeongguk freezes slightly, not expecting Taehyung's words, but sighs and relaxes a few moments later.
"It's just.... I don't like how more people take interest in you. Not that I wish for the campaign to be a flop but I wish that I have... I have more of you to myself. I don't want a repeat of what happened at the club previously."
Taehyung's eyes soften and he cups Jeongguk's face, touch gentle. He knows how Jeongguk, despite all broad shoulders, big biceps and washboard abs, has a tendency to put himself down and lower his self-confidence. He knows how Jeongguk needs to feel that Taehyung wants him as much as he does. He knows how much it scares Jeongguk to commit himself and he loves the fragile boy for loving Taehyung so much to be able to do so.
"I only look at you and will only be able to look at you. I hope you'd know that Jeongguk-ah."
Jeongguk's heart stutters as he takes in the pure, unadulterated love in Taehyung's words and gaze.
That night, Jeongguk is awoken by the chiming of his phone.
"Hello..? Yoongi-hyung."
"Hey Jeongguk. Guess what, I managed to land you a spot in Armani's new line. Your first shoot is next week."
"Holy shit."
He could feel Yoongi's smug smirk over the phone.
Taehyung shifted and sat up, awake from having overheard the conversation.
"Guk ah."
"Yeah?"
"Guess it's my turn to show PDA in school now."