Chapter 2

The universe had a cruel sense of humor.

Taehyung had barely finished questioning every decision that had led him to this moment when his phone lit up with the name of the very person responsible for the newest disaster in his life. Or rather, the person who was completely innocent and unaware of the disaster currently unfolding around him.

[Jeon Jungkook]

Taehyung stared at the screen as if refusing to answer might somehow solve everything.

It wouldn’t.

If anything, Jungkook would become suspicious.

Over the last ten years, there were very few people capable of reading Taehyung as easily as a book, and unfortunately Jungkook sat firmly at the top of that list. They had known each other since they were fifteen years old. A decade of friendship had created the sort of understanding that couldn’t be replicated.

Jungkook could identify Taehyung’s mood from a single text message. Taehyung could tell when Jungkook was stressed simply by the way he answered a phone call. Avoiding him was impossible.

With a sigh of resignation, Taehyung accepted the call.

He hadn’t even managed a greeting before Jungkook’s familiar voice filled the car.

“That bad?”

Taehyung immediately frowned.

“What?”

“The family dinner.”

The response came without hesitation.

“You sound exhausted.”

Taehyung closed his eyes and let his forehead rest against the steering wheel once more. Somehow hearing Jungkook’s voice made the entire evening feel even more ridiculous.

“Maybe I’m dying.”

“You say that every time you visit your family.”

“This time I mean it.”

Jungkook laughed softly. The sound was familiar enough to ease some of the tension knotting Taehyung’s shoulders.

“Should I start planning the funeral?”

“Make sure there’s good food.”

“Naturally.”

Despite everything, Taehyung smiled.

Moments like these were exactly why their friendship had lasted so long. There was never any pressure between them. No need to explain every emotion. Jungkook simply understood.

Ten years ago they had met during their first year of high school when Jungkook transferred schools midway through the semester. Most people expected them to dislike each other immediately. At the time, Taehyung had been one of the most popular students in their year, while Jungkook’s arrival had created an entirely new wave of attention.

Instead of becoming rivals, they had somehow ended up sharing lunch.

Then homework.

Then weekends.

Then practically every major moment of their lives. Looking back, Taehyung couldn’t pinpoint exactly when Jungkook had become his best friend.

He simply always had been.

“How many times did your aunt try setting you up this time?” Jungkook asked.

The question made Taehyung groan dramatically.

“You don’t want to know.”

“That many?”

“There were photographs.”

The silence on the other end lasted exactly two seconds before Jungkook burst into laughter. The kind that immediately made Taehyung regret mentioning it.

“You’re laughing.”

“Because that’s insane.”

“She had them organized.”

That only made Jungkook laugh harder. By the time the laughter finally subsided, Taehyung had started driving home.

“So,” Jungkook said once he’d recovered, “what’s your survival plan?”

“I don’t have one.”

“That’s concerning.”

“My current plan involves moving to another country.”

“Hm.”

“Hm?”

“I was thinking food.”

Taehyung rolled his eyes. Of course Jungkook’s answer involved food.

“I can hear your disappointment.”

“You suggested food.”

“Food solves most problems.”

“It really doesn’t.”

“It solves enough of them.”

A comfortable silence settled between them. Not an awkward silence. Neither of them had ever experienced one of those. Just the sort of quiet that naturally existed between people who had known each other for years.

Eventually Jungkook spoke again.

“Are you home yet?”

“Almost.”

“Good.”

Something about his tone immediately made Taehyung suspicious. “What are you planning?”

“Nothing.”

“You always say that before doing something.”

“That’s because you assume I’m planning things.”

“You are planning something.”

Jungkook laughed again. “I’m bringing dinner.”

Taehyung blinked. “You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you?”

“Because you sound miserable.”

The answer arrived so casually that Taehyung didn’t know what to say for a moment. It wasn’t unusual.

This was simply how Jungkook was.

Whenever Taehyung worked too much, Jungkook showed up with food. Whenever Jungkook was stressed about business, Taehyung dragged him out for coffee.

It had always been like this.

Years of friendship had created habits neither of them thought about anymore. Unfortunately, those habits were exactly why everyone constantly assumed they were secretly dating.

Not because they flirted, not because they acted romantic. But because they cared a lot.

More than most people expected friends to care.

Taehyung remembered a conversation from university when one of his classmates had stared at him in disbelief after learning Jungkook had driven nearly three hours during a storm just to pick him up when his car broke down.

“What do you mean he’s just your friend?”

At the time, Taehyung had laughed.

Now, thinking back, maybe people have a point. Not because they were in love. They absolutely weren’t. But because they had built their lives around each other in ways neither of them noticed anymore.

Jungkook knew exactly how Taehyung liked his strawberry milkshake.

Taehyung knew every password Jungkook had ever created because the man reused the same variations constantly.

Jungkook remembered important dates better than Taehyung’s own relatives.

Taehyung could identify Jungkook’s moods faster than anyone else.

If one of them was sick, the other appeared with medicine. If one of them had a bad day, the other showed up without being asked.

To them, it was normal. To everyone else, apparently, it looked suspiciously like a relationship. By the time Taehyung arrived home, Jungkook had already ended the call with a simple promise to be there soon.

Less than ten minutes later, the familiar sound of a knock echoed through the apartment.

Taehyung opened the door and immediately found himself face-to-face with a large paper bag carrying the unmistakable smell of fried chicken.

His favorite.

Of course.

“You bought too much.”

Jungkook stepped inside. “I bought the correct amount.”

“You absolutely didn’t.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

Taehyung glanced at the bag. There was enough food for four people.

Maybe five.

Jungkook ignored his judgment and headed directly toward the kitchen as though he owned the apartment.

Which, honestly, wasn’t unusual.

Over the years, both of them had reached a point where knocking was only there when the door was locked.

Jungkook knew where everything was.

The plates.
The glasses.

Even the extra chopsticks hidden inside a drawer most visitors couldn’t find. Watching him move around the apartment felt strangely familiar.

Comfortable.
Like routine.

“Okay,” Jungkook finally said after setting everything on the table. “Tell me what happened.”

Taehyung immediately considered lying. Then remembered who he was talking to.

Impossible.

Jungkook would notice.

For a moment, Taehyung contemplated how to explain the situation without sounding completely insane. Unfortunately, there was no version of the story that didn’t make him sound insane.

Which left only one option. The truth.

“I might have done something stupid.”

Jungkook sat down. The expression on his face suggested he was already preparing for disaster.

“How stupid?”

“Pretty stupid.”

“Define pretty.”

Taehyung inhaled deeply then slowly released the breath. This was humiliating, deeply humiliating. Perhaps one of the most humiliating moments of his entire life. When he finally spoke, the words came out far quieter than intended.

“I told my family I have a boyfriend.”

For a moment, Jungkook simply stared. The reaction wasn’t immediate. There was a brief pause where his brain appeared to process the information.

And suddenly he started laughing.

Not chuckling.

Not smiling.

Actually laughing.

The sort of uncontrollable laughter that forced him to lean forward in his chair. Taehyung immediately regretted everything.

“You’re supposed to support me.”

“I am supporting you.”

“No, you’re laughing at me.”

“Because this is ridiculous.”

“It isn’t funny.”

“It absolutely is.”

Taehyung crossed his arms. Jungkook continued laughing. Several minutes passed before he finally managed to calm down. Unfortunately, the grin remained.

“Okay,” Jungkook said. “Who’s the boyfriend?”

Taehyung looked away immediately. Jungkook narrowed his eyes. The grin slowly disappeared.

“Taehyung.”

“No.”

“What did you do?”

“It wasn’t intentional.”

“What did you do?”

Taehyung suddenly found the wall extremely interesting.

“Taehyung.”

The suspicion in Jungkook’s voice grew stronger. When Taehyung still refused to answer, realization slowly dawned across Jungkook’s face.

His eyes widened.

Then widened even further.

“No.”

Taehyung buried his face in his hands.

“Oh my God.” Jungkook looked genuinely horrified. “Don’t tell me you used my name?”

The apartment fell silent. Taehyung wished he could disappear. Unfortunately, disappearing wasn’t an option. Which meant he eventually nodded.

Very slowly.

The silence that followed was somehow worse than the laughter.

Much, much worse.

Because Jungkook was now staring at him like he’d personally caused a natural disaster.

And honestly?

Maybe he had.

TO BE CONTINUED
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