Chapter Text
Prologue
I love you, I promise (Fic Playlist)
“Okay, I’m going to say this one last time. You need to concentrate, Jungkookie. We seal it with a promise. Let me show you, it’s that simple. Then we do this little dance, be our goofy selves, and it’ll be so much fun to do during concerts, right?”
On a rainy day, after almost ten hours of practice, Taehyung comes up with the genius idea of creating an intricate handshake and runs to Jungkook like his life depends on it.
Taehyung starts teaching him with the serious expression he always gets whenever he discovers something new, his eyes shining ever so brightly. Little does he know that Jungkook isn’t following his lead at all, because all Jungkook can do in that moment is take him in.
The way Taehyung’s eyes shine like the brightest stars in the universe whenever he gets excited about something. The way his smile lights up the entire room, just like the sun greeting the world after a long, cold winter and taking away all the sadness.
How is Jungkook supposed to not get reeled into Taehyung’s entire being when it is all he has known for the past five years?
I love you, I promise.
The words keep replaying in his mind like a tape recorder, keeping him awake and distracted throughout the day. Did he really mean it? Or was it just because he was friendly with everyone?
Jungkook didn’t have the courage to ask him, so he simply went along with it. That’s what he did almost all the time. There was nothing new about it. And just when he finally decides to stop thinking about it and get some sleep so he can wake up on time for early morning practice, he is jolted awake by a warm presence beside him.
He doesn’t need to look to know who it is. He has memorized the scent, the warmth.
“What are you doing here, hyung?”
“I can’t sleep, and you know I can’t sleep without hugging someone.”
Taehyung starts rubbing Jungkook’s ears like it’s the most natural thing in the world, and Jungkook melts into the moment.
Finally, he musters up the courage to ask the question that has been bothering him the entire day.
“Hyung, how did you come up with that handshake? Do you do that with all your friends?”
“No, of course not. This is our special handshake.”
“Do you really love me?”
“Why are you asking such a silly question?”
Taehyung lets out a big yawn before giving the answer Jungkook has always wanted to hear.
“Of course I love you, dummy. I promise.”
And with that, he starts snoring while still rubbing Jungkook’s ears. In his sleepy daze, he doesn’t realize that the boy beside him is silently crying. Jungkook turns to face Taehyung, careful not to wake him, and quietly caresses his cheek while tears continue to fall down his face.
In a trembling whisper, he says,
“Hyung, I know you only love me as a friend. I wish that wasn’t the case, but if it means I get to have you in my life forever, then I’m ready to die a thousand deaths just to hold you like this.”
And then he drifts off to sleep. Little does he know that ten years later, the promise they made as teenagers would still remain unbroken. Only now, it would mean far more than either of them had ever imagined.