Taehyung was once the bright light in every room-the boy who's laughs had the power to light up another's world, who spread positivity and warmth to everyone around him. He was the friend you could count on, the one who never let anything dull his s...
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It had been a week since Taehyung stopped trying to reach out to Jungkook, stopped lingering around their usual spots, hoping for a glimpse of him. The shift was small at first-fewer texts, fewer attempts to meet up-and eventually, he simply...stopped. He was tired of always waiting, always hoping for even a shred of the friendship they once had. And maybe, just maybe, he was finally ready to move on.
Jungkook noticed the silence almost immediately. Each day that Taehyung didn't approach him, didn't hover nearby, left an unsettling void. He'd catch himself glancing toward the places he knew Taehyung usually was, only to find them empty. And as the days stretched into a week, Jungkook's irritation turned to something deeper, something that made his chest feel heavy with a strange pang he couldn't quite name.
--
A new student with a warm smile and an easygoing confidence, Jimin quickly caught everyone's attention, including Taehyung's. It wasn't long before the two started spending time together, sharing laughs, studying together, even sitting close during lunch. To anyone watching, they looked inseparable. And to Jungkook, it was maddening.
He hated the way Taehyung smiled so easily around Jimin, the way his laughter filled the halls without a care in the world, as if Jungkook had never mattered. Each sight of them together made his stomach twist with jealousy-a feeling he barely recognized until now.
After school one day, Jungkook caught sight of Taehyung and Jimin chatting near the front gate. His feet moved almost on instinct, his mind urging him to close the distance, to say something-anything-to Taehyung. But just as he started forward, he heard the familiar voices of his friends behind him.
"Oh look," Hyun sneered, nudging Jungkook. "Your little puppy's found a new owner."
Minseok smirked. "Think he's already forgotten about you, man. Guess that's what happens when you treat 'em too nice, huh?"
The mocking laughs grated on Jungkook's nerves, and he clenched his fists, forcing himself to laugh along, even though it made his skin crawl. He couldn't explain it, couldn't admit-especially to himself-that he wanted to walk over to Taehyung, to drag him away from Jimin, and make him see that he still cared.
But each time he felt himself soften, the taunts echoed in his mind, and his own pride twisted his heart, making him look away. He couldn't stand the thought of admitting how much he'd started to regret the distance he'd put between them. He hated the idea of showing weakness, of letting Taehyung know how much he still mattered.
So he buried it, suppressing the jealousy, the anger, the longing-until it all started to build up, like a storm waiting to break.
---
That weekend, Jungkook tried to shake it off, telling himself it didn't matter. But the sight of Jimin with Taehyung stayed in his mind, haunting him. On Monday, when he spotted Taehyung laughing with Jimin near the lockers, he couldn't stop himself. He made his way over, trying to act casual, but the tension in his voice was undeniable.
"Hey, Taehyung. Been a while," Jungkook said, shoving his hands in his pockets, forcing a smirk. "Guess you've been busy."
Taehyung looked up, his expression calm, almost indifferent. "Yeah, I guess I have." His tone was polite, but there was a subtle edge to it, like he was done pretending everything was okay.
Jimin glanced between the two of them, sensing the unspoken tension, but he offered a friendly smile. "We were just heading out for coffee. You're welcome to join if you want, Jungkook."
Jungkook's jaw tightened, but he forced a laugh. "Nah, I'm good. You two have...fun."
With that, he turned on his heel, storming off before he could give away how much it hurt to see Taehyung with someone else. His friends caught up to him soon after, making more jokes, more digs at Taehyung's "new friend," each word digging deeper into Jungkook's already fragile resolve.
But in the back of his mind, a voice whispered that he'd regret this-every careless word, every ignored message, every broken promise. And yet, his pride wouldn't let him turn back, wouldn't let him admit the truth he'd been avoiding: that losing Taehyung was tearing him apart from the inside, even if he could never say it out loud.
