~Taehyung pov~
“Haha, yeah.” Jungkook laughed, a sound that felt warm even through the screen of my own thoughts. I smiled back, unable to help the bloom of affection in my chest. His bunny teeth and wide, doe eyes made me want to pull him close, just to feel the softness of his presence.
“So, what do you do?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from my own rapidly escalating feelings. “Work-wise, I mean.”
“Dance instructor,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “You?”
“Waiter. Pretty boring,” I chuckled, self-deprecating as always.
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Jungkook said, shaking his head with a smile. “I’ve had more fun in the last few hours than I have with most friends.”
A blush crept onto my cheeks, warming them with a delicate pink flush. I couldn’t quite meet his gaze. “Really?”
He nodded, his smile widening. “Speaking of which, it’s getting late. I don’t want to impose any longer. I should head home now.”
“You… you don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” I blurted out, the words tumbling out before I could censor them.
He offered a grateful smile. “Thank you, but I should. I really appreciate you pushing me out of the path of that car.” He bowed again, a gesture that felt both formal and endearing.
“You’re welcome,” I replied, returning his smile. “It was nice meeting you, and… talking.”
“Same here,” he said, his voice soft. He stood up, reaching for his jacket. As he slipped it on, he looked back at me, his eyes holding mine for a moment longer than necessary. I walked with him to the door, my heart hammering against my ribs.
“Oh, you should take it easy on the concussion,” I reminded him, trying to sound casual.
“Thanks,” he said, offering another smile. I watched as he stepped out of the apartment and onto the sidewalk, my own smile foolishly lingering on my lips long after he disappeared around the corner. The air felt empty without his presence, and I found myself already replaying the conversation, hoping to see him again soon.