26 – V focus
Jungkook slid his hand around the back of Taehyung's neck, the contact against his hot skin making him shudder. He looked at Jimin for some kind of support and tried to think of someplace to go, but his mind drew a blank.
"I-I don't know. Jimin?" He cringed at his stammer and flicked his eyes towards Jimin, praying for help. Jimin looked back at him and silently reassured him.
"We could try under the stairs," he suggested and Taehyung sighed at the suggestion, despite not having any better ideas.
"Jimin, it's like 1000 degrees under the stairs." Taehyung always felt like he was suffocating, but at least if he was there, he would have an excuse to blush and sweat and choke like Jungkook made him do anyway. Jimin just smiled and rolled his eyes. He was right. At least they could hear each other speak there.
"So? This school is freezing; we could do with a little heat, don't you think, Jungkook?" he said and Taehyung swore he winked before walking away. Jungkook's hand slipped into his to start him walking and Taehyung felt his stomach flutter before he dropped his hand, not wanting to let on that he needed him.
They reached the small seating space under the stairs and Taehyung turned on his torch to shed some light on them. He could swear Jungkook was glowing. The younger boy took off his blazer, and Taehyung watched subconsciously.
"Wow, you were not kidding when you said 1000 degrees," he said and Taehyung nodded in agreement, already being suffocated by the change in temperature. He would normally be fine by now, but Jungkook was messing with his body in more ways than one.
"Yeah," said Jimin, his calmness accentuating Taehyung's lack thereof, "the heating pipes run straight through here and there's barely any ventilation. Comfy, though." Taehyung agreed with that. "So, Taehyung, where have you been all lunch?" Taehyung sat back and tried to remember.
"I was just in the music block working on…something." He had almost forgotten that Jungkook was there and let slip about the song he had been writing for him. Jungkook didn't ask, thankfully. "Also Namjoon asked me if I wanted to join this project that Hoseok started. I think it's like songwriting or something." Jimin smiled, impressed and Jungkook looked at him with those eyes that made Taehyung want to claim him, just like his dream. It was not helping that he was flapping his shirt to keep him cool and Taehyung could clearly see his perfectly toned muscles underneath his uniform.
"Hyung, you can write songs? That's so cool!" Taehyung blushed, invisible to the others, and swore he was going to kill the kid if he got a hyung kink out of this. "Can I hear one?" Taehyung was about to think of some excuse before he realised that he wanted Jungkook to hear his song more than anything. But it wasn't finished. He remembered the lyrics sheet he had in his pocket, untitled and totally free of any mention of Jungkook.
"No, it's too hot to sing properly. Hell, I can barely breathe." Jungkook pouted and Taehyung smiled and offered, "You can have the lyrics, though, I-I don't mind." He handed the paper to Jungkook, who took it gratefully. Jungkook rested his head on Taehyung's shoulder and, although it made his body temperature skyrocket, he let him. It was hard not to wrap his arms around his shoulders or lace his fingers through his hair and Taehyung thanked the stars that Jimin was there.
Jungkook read in silence and Taehyung waited anxiously for the verdict. He watched as Jungkook's eyes found his own and his admiring, awe-filled gaze said everything that needed to be said. Just in time, too, as the bell rang after mere seconds of the silent exchange. Taehyung genuinely thought the bell had something against him. They turned off their phones and left into the cool air of the corridors and went to their separate classes. Sort of.
Jimin left for his History class up the stairs and Taehyung, sure that Jungkook had followed, cursed under his breath before he felt a hand brush against his arm. It was Jungkook, looking less sure of himself than he had done earlier. Maybe Taehyung wasn't the only one who relied on Jimin for confidence. Taehyung pushed the thought away when Jungkook started talking.
"Hyung, that was…it was really beautiful. I-I didn't know you could write like that." He sounded a bit shaken and Taehyung wondered if he'd accidentally left Jungkook's name on the paper before realising that it was probably just the heat. Taehyung acted very casually (and it was acting at that point) and replied,
"Me neither, I guess. I don't…I'm not good at telling people my actual feelings, so writing it down in flowery words was actually kind of nice. It's not finished yet, but it will be; I don't want to give it up." Taehyung took the paper back from Jungkook's outstretched hand and walked with him until he disappeared into a classroom. Taehyung kept walking but didn't go to his class. He went to the bathroom and locked himself in one of the stalls. He turned his back to the door and slid to the ground. He cried, not really knowing why. He just cried.
After missing just under half of his lesson, Taehyung stood up and fixed his hair and makeup before leaving to join his class. He knew he still looked awful and he didn't have an excuse for being gone for such a long time, but he didn't care. He just wanted to go home, see his dog, eat dinner and go to bed, just like in middle school. Was that really too much to ask?
Taehyung walked into his classroom and slunk onto his seat, acting as if he hadn't been gone for the better part of 25 minutes. He earned some strange looks from his classmates, but no one spoke to him or said anything. Good. Two more lessons passed and he didn't talk during either of them. A handful of people asked if he was okay, noticing something missing from his usual goofy self, but he just nodded and they left him alone. Only when he was on the bus with Jimin did he finally say something.
"I can't do this anymore. I can't deal with him. It's too hard and he's killing me." Jimin was speechless and for the second time that week, no words needed nor wanted to be said and they sat in silence, just enjoying each other's company and support. Jimin smiled at him as he got up and Taehyung genuinely smiled back before going home.
