( Present Day )
The Seoul sun warmed the city, a gentle breeze hinting at possible rain. But Jungkook’s mind wasn’t on the weather. He was consumed by Taehyung.
He wanted—needed—Taehyung to *choose* him, beyond their easy friendship. They already shared a closeness, a comfortable intimacy, but it wasn’t a couple’s bond. Taehyung hesitated, afraid to risk their friendship.
Jungkook would give Taehyung everything he wanted, even if it meant enduring his own quiet sadness.
A sharp *knock knock* broke his thoughts. Jungkook frowned, remembering no scheduled visits. He opened the door to reveal the familiar, radiant smile he’d been aching to see.
“Kookie!” Taehyung practically launched himself into Jungkook’s arms, a whirlwind of affection.
“Hey Tae,” Jungkook murmured, holding him tight.
“I missed you so much, Kook!”
“I saw you yesterday.”
“That’s a long time to be away from my best friend!”
The word ‘friend’ felt like a dull ache in Jungkook’s chest. He hated it, yet knew it was the only label Taehyung would accept.
“Lips,” Taehyung demanded, his voice a playful whine.
Jungkook and Taehyung existed in a space beyond typical friendship. They shared tender pecks, lingering cuddles. Their kisses sometimes stretched beyond five seconds, testing the boundaries of their unspoken desires. Jungkook had even timed them once—the longest lasted fifteen seconds.
“Kookie, I asked for lips?” Taehyung pressed, his eyes sparkling.
Jungkook leaned in, offering a soft peck. Taehyung’s smile widened.
“Kookie, let’s cuddle!”
Without a word, Taehyung tugged on Jungkook’s arm, pulling him onto the couch.
“Tae?”
“Yes, Kookie?”
“Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t let anyone else do this to you. The cuddles, the kisses…they’re mine. You belong to me. You’re my property.” The words slipped out, raw and possessive.
“I promise, Kookie.” Taehyung’s voice was soft, unwavering.
“Because if anyone else touches you, I’ll tear them apart.” Jungkook’s voice was a low growl.
Taehyung rolled over, gazing up at Jungkook’s face, his smile tender.
“Lips!”
Jungkook cupped Taehyung’s face, pressing a kiss to his lips. He began to pull away, but Taehyung held him back, deepening the kiss.
“K-Kookie, stop,” Taehyung gasped, struggling to break free.
“Jungkook! Stop, I mean it!”
Jungkook didn’t listen, his desire overriding Taehyung’s hesitation. He pressed closer, demanding a response.
Finally, Taehyung surrendered, melting into the kiss. Jungkook closed the gap, his lips pressing against Taehyung’s with a desperate hunger. He bit Taehyung’s lips, eliciting a moan. Jungkook seized the opportunity, sliding his tongue into Taehyung’s mouth.
Taehyung tasted like candy, sweet and addictive. Jungkook had wanted this for so long, and now that he had it, he couldn’t stop himself. He moved down to Taehyung’s neck, hearing a soft moan escape his lips.
It was then that Jungkook realized he’d crossed a line. He’d taken advantage of Taehyung’s willingness, pushing him further than he’d ever allowed before.
He broke the kiss, stepping back. He felt sick with self-loathing.
He stumbled to the kitchen, pacing anxiously.
“Tae?”
“Kookie, I’m sorry. I messed up. I’m horrible—”
“Jungkook!” Taehyung’s voice cut through his self-recrimination.
“I know you want to make this something, but it’ll ruin—”
“Ruin the friendship, Tae. I get it!”
Taehyung’s voice was laced with shock. He’d never seen Jungkook so distraught, so utterly consumed by guilt.
Over him.
Taehyung walked to Jungkook and hugged him tightly.
“Kookie, I love you, and you know that. I’ll never let anyone love me as much as you do. But you have to remember that if we do this, our friendship will never be the same. And I like how it is right now.”
Jungkook didn’t respond, his mind racing.
“Tae,” he finally said, a new idea forming. “I have an idea.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s be friends…with benefits.”
“Benefits?”
“Yeah. We can do couple things—kiss, cuddle—but without an official title. You want to be close, and I want that too.”
Taehyung nodded, encouraging Jungkook to continue.
“Give me two months.”
“Two months for what?”
“To make you mine. To earn the right to call you my boyfriend.”
Jungkook rushed to the calendar, his fingers tracing the date.
May 14th. Perfect.
“On July 14th, the anniversary of the day we met, I’ll ask you to be mine. If you say no, I’ll never ask again. You can take this relationship—or whatever it is—however you want.”
Taehyung was puzzled by Jungkook’s sudden intensity. But it was a good idea, a way to test their boundaries without risking their friendship.
“You have two months, Kookie. You want this, I want this…you just have to convince me.”
“Thank you, so much, Tae!”
Jungkook surged forward, wrapping Taehyung in a hug so tight he felt stars explode behind his eyes.
“K-Kookie!” Taehyung gasped, breathless.
“Sorry.” Jungkook loosened his grip.
“I can never be mad at you.”
Jungkook smiled his bunny smile and pulled Taehyung down for a cuddle session.
“I love you, Jeon Jungkook.”
“I love you too, Kim Taehyung.”
They collapsed into each other’s arms, exhaustion and relief washing over them.
“We need rules for this benefit thing,” Jungkook said, breaking the silence.
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.”
Jungkook grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, ready to outline their new boundaries.
“Okay, name some.”
“We can kiss—really kiss, not just pecks.”
Jungkook nodded, scribbling it down.
“We can go on dates, hold hands in public.”
Jungkook flushed crimson at the suggestion, but dutifully wrote it down.
“And Kook, what about sex?”
“No, Tae, not unless you want to.”
Taehyung nodded, and they continued, creating a list of guidelines.
Rules: 1. We kiss (sometimes make out) as a couple. 2. We can still cuddle like a couple. 3. We can go on dates, hold hands in public. 4. We can sleep together. 5. We don’t hook up with anyone else. 6. Don’t do the dirty unless we’re ready.
“Did you have to put ‘dirty,’ Kook?” Taehyung teased.
“Do you want me to put ‘sex’ in big, bold letters?” Jungkook retorted playfully.
Taehyung’s cheeks flushed crimson, and he launched into a tickle attack.
“Haha… Tae… Stop… Haha.”
Jungkook couldn’t breathe, laughing until his nose ran.
“Tae, I can’t breathe, stop!”
“Sorry, Kookie, I forgot.”
“It’s fine. I can never be mad at you.”
Jungkook smiled, pulling Taehyung down for another cuddle session.
“I love you, Jeon Jungkook.”
“I love you too, Kim Taehyung.”