𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗚 || ᴛᴀᴇᴋᴏᴏᴋ

• C H A P T E R 15 •

Jungkook felt his anxiety rising, his pulse racing. He could feel the heat of Taehyung’s presence—his warmth, his breath—like a heavy weight pressing down on him. He closed his eyes, trying to keep himself steady, but it was hard when every part of him screamed to escape.

He’s never going to stop.

Suddenly, Taehyung’s voice softened, his tone mockingly sweet. “Come on, Kookie... You don’t want me to feel neglected, do you?” He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against the younger’s ear. “I might just start getting mean if you don’t give me what I want.”

Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat, his entire body tensing in fear. “W-what do you mean?” he whispered, the words escaping before he could stop them.

“Oh, you’ll see.” Taehyung chuckled darkly, a playful menace creeping into his voice. “But I don’t want to be cruel, so just... one kiss. On my cheek. Please.”

Jungkook’s breathing became shallow as his head swirled with conflicting emotions. He was scared—so scared of what would happen if he didn’t comply. But he also hated how much he wanted to do it, even if he didn’t want to admit it. The tension was unbearable, and the last thing he wanted was for Taehyung to turn this into something worse.

“Just one,” Taehyung coaxed again, his voice dangerously low. “Come on, Kookie. Don’t make me beg.”

Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out everything. His hands were trembling so violently now that he was afraid Taehyung could see them. He could feel his resolve crumbling. He didn’t want to be weak. He didn’t want to give in.

But Taehyung... Taehyung wasn't giving up.

“Please, hyung,” Jungkook said, his voice breaking as he took a shaky step forward, feeling cornered. I don’t want to be bullied like this anymore, he thought to himself, but he knew better than to say it out loud.

With one final push, Jungkook leaned forward and hesitantly kissed Taehyung’s cheek. The feeling of the older’s soft skin against his lips made his stomach twist uncomfortably, but there was no turning back now.

As soon as the kiss landed, Taehyung’s cold demeanor vanished. His smirk returned, wide and satisfied.

“See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Jungkook stood there, eyes wide, his chest heaving with a mix of shame, anger, and confusion. He didn’t know whether to feel relieved or worse.

But he was done. He couldn’t take much more of this.

With a quick, desperate breath, he turned on his heel and bolted down the hallway, tears already threatening to spill from his eyes.

Taehyung watched him go, a mix of amusement and something unreadable flickering in his gaze.

“You’ll come back for more eventually,” he muttered to himself, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

Jungkook didn’t stop running until he reached the furthest, emptiest stairwell on campus—the one nobody used except when they wanted to disappear.

He slammed the door behind him, pressing his back against the cold wall, chest rising and falling as he tried to breathe. His hands trembled as he covered his face, willing himself not to cry—but it was too late.

The tears came fast and quiet, falling down his cheeks as frustration burned in his chest.

Why does he do this? Why me? Why does he act like he cares, then pushes me like that? Like I’m just some game?

Jungkook slid down the wall, curling into himself. His chest hurt—not just from embarrassment, not just from being pushed around—but from the confusion that had taken root in his heart.

He liked Taehyung.
He hated him.
He was scared of him.
He missed him the second he walked away.

“I hate him,” he whispered into his sleeve, wiping his eyes. “I really… really hate him.”
But even he didn’t believe that.

Meanwhile...

Taehyung sat on a bench under a tree outside the campus cafe, a can of soda loosely in his hand, his usual smirk nowhere in sight. His eyes were fixed on the walkway, watching, waiting

He sighed, letting his head fall back against the tree trunk. His expression had hardened again, cold, emotionless—but only on the surface.

Did I go too far?

He scoffed at himself. “What, you getting soft now, Taehyung?” he muttered, taking a long sip of his drink.

But no matter how many jokes he cracked to himself, he couldn’t shake the image of Jungkook’s wide eyes—full of hurt. Full of fear.

That wasn’t supposed to happen.

He wasn’t supposed to actually cry.

He thought Jungkook would push back, roll his eyes, call him annoying. Not run away like that. Not tremble.

He hadn’t meant to scare him.

Just tease him.
Just make him flustered.
Just keep him close.

Because... if he didn’t do that, if he didn’t mess with him every day… Jungkook might stop paying attention to him. And that scared Taehyung more than anything.

His jaw clenched.

“I’m such a dick,” he muttered.

He pulled out his phone and stared at Jungkook’s contact. His thumb hovered over the call button.

Just call him. Say sorry. Say something. Anything.

It was his mistake in first place, isn't it?

But his pride held him back. Instead, he threw his phone on the bench and covered his face with one hand, groaning into it.

“Shit.”

TO BE CONTINUED