J E O N G G U K
Pop. Crackle.
Jeongguk's gaze was on his lap and he quickly turned his face upward.
Bonfire.
His eyes darted in all directions.
Seokjin, Yoongi, Madeline, Jimin. The adults. They sat around the barbecue, devouring food, and Jeongguk realized—
This was his first night at camp.
Tae!
Jeongguk immediately searched for him and felt relief pour onto his chest when he saw the brunette on the other side of the fire. Not just that— he was staring right back at the ravenette, the same way he did during that first night. Studying him, admiring him.
It made Jeongguk wonder if the brunette was infatuated by him from the very start.
The corner of Taehyung's lips twitched up into a smile, ever so kind and welcoming. And Jeongguk felt obligated to return it, hoping to somehow make up for the terrible first impression he left everyone that night.
He attempted a wave— but his arms, why couldn't they move? He tried his legs— nope.
What was this? He used to be able to maneuver so effortlessly in Taehyung's dreams.
Instinctively, he raised his head in his soulmate's direction and whispered. "Tae?"
The brunette's eyes never left him and he tilted his head to the side, shocking Jeongguk when he opened his mouth to speak. "What's wrong, Bambi?"
Bambi.
Jeongguk's heart fluttered the way it always did whenever Taehyung called him that nickname.
"Can you help me? I can't move."
Dreaming Taehyung got up from his seat and approached him.
Suddenly the fire between them rose violently. The flames that originally licked at the wood was now consuming the entire thing. It burst— the heat prickling at Jeongguk's skin like needles.
Fear caused Taehyung to shrink back, recoiling. "I can't."
"Tae?"
"I can't help you."
"What— why?"
And the brunette blurted out his next words in a frenzy.
"I'm not good enough for you."
The fire burned in a ferocity that matched the ache Jeongguk felt in his chest.
"Tae we talked about this— that's not true—"
"I'm not good enough for you," Taehyung stated, his tone more certain, "I'm not."
Fuck— this, this is why he can't move. Taehyung isn't giving the ravenette freedom to explore his thoughts and fears anymore because he's terrified. He's hiding things from him to cope with his insecurities.
Exactly what Jeongguk was afraid of.
"Tae. No," Jeongguk shouted over the smoke, "Listen to me, Tae please, you're more than just good enough for me. You're practically everything I've ever wanted and more. So much more."
But the brunette was shaking his head rapidly and rejecting his words, stepping further away and letting the fire blaze.
And it spread.