Jungkook dragged his heavy legs toward the bus stop. He sat down while waiting for the bus he usually took to go home. He was about to pull out his phone of the pocket when someone handed him a cigarette. Jungkook looked up and gazed at the 20 something-man in suit who’s smiling at him.

“Cigarette?” The stranger asked politely.

Jungkook shook his head and smiled,politely refused it. “Sorry,I don’t smoke.”

The stranger seemed confused. “But I saw you were smoking two months ago.”

Jungkook looked at the strange whie trying his best to not seemed creeped out. “I’ve quitted smoking 2 months ago.” Jungkook decided to quit smoking  for the reason that he wouldn’t admit himself.

The stranger nodded. “I see.” He fixed his tie. “Um,so,I knew this sounds creepy. You really drew my attention since three months ago. Uh,I really wish that I could get to know you better. So,uh,can I get your number?”

Jungkook froze. He didn’t expect he’d be hit out of the blue by a stranger who’d watched him for 3 months,which sounded creepy for Jungkook. He tried to find a polite way to reject the stranger. “I am sorry,I can’t. I-“ Jungkook was about to give an excuse when he saw a friendly figure walked toward him.

But the stranger didn’t notice it. “Ah,I see. You’ve had someone in your heart?”

Jungkook was still staring at the man who walked toward him while waving excitedly. He answered the stranger without taking his eyes off from that man. “Yes.”

The stranger chuckled awkwardly and said goodbye. And it snapped Jungkook back to his sense. He turned around only to found the stranger had gone. He mentally apologized to the stranger for ignoring him.

Who’s that man?” The brown haired man sat next to Jungkook who moved 3 inches farther.

Jungkook gulped. “A-a stranger. What are you doing here?” He asked Taehyung without looking at the older.

“I just came back from the supermarket to buy Kookie a food.” Taehyung lifted a plastic he’s holding and show it to Jungkook.

Jungkook frowned. “What about the food that I gave?”

Taehyung sighed. “Jungkook,you gave me that food 2 months ago.”

Jungkook frowned even more. “I thought it was enough for 4 months. How many times did you feed her per day?”

Taehyung giggled. “I don’t know. Six or seven?”

Jungkook couldn’t help but smiling as he saw Taehyung giggled like a little kid. There’s something about Taehyung’s rectangular smile that fluttered Jungkook’s heart  everytime he saw it. But Jungkook always denied the feeling and convinced himself that he shouldn’t feel that way.

Jungkook nervously glanced at his watch which read 9.05. It meant there was 5 minutes left before the next bus came. He gathered the courage and spoke up. “Uh,hyung. Can you buy me a coffee? It’s too cold and my feet felt frozen.”

Taehyung frowned. “Isn’t your bus about to arrive?”

“No,it’d arrive in 10 minutes. There’s enough time.” Jungkook lied

Taehyung nodded and stood up. “I’ll get you the americano.”

Jungkook cracked a smile as he satisfied with his ability to lie. “I’ll protect Kookie’s food.”

Taehyung smiled and walked away,leaving Jungkook who’s smiling brightly now. But the smile fell of as a bus made its appearance. The panic started to attacking him. He was about to hide. But he then remembered that the driver would wait for him since Jungkook was a regular passenger.

The door was opened and the ahjussi driver looked at Jungkook who’s still sitting. “You’re not going?”

Jungkook cleared his throat. “Ahjussi,You can go first. I-I need to meet my friends.”

The ahjussi driver smiled. “I can wait. There’s no one in the bus,anyway.”

Jungkook screamed. “DON’T!” He then realized what he just did as trhe ahjussi gasp in horror. “Sorry. Uh,I mean,I would take another bus. You can go first. You must be tired.”

The ahjussi frowned. “But you have to wait for an hour.”

“That’s okay. You can go home now.” Pretty please with cherry on top. Jungkook glanced at the coffee shop where Taehyung was at.

After some pleads,the bus finally drove off. Right after that,Taehyung came back with 2 cups of coffee on his hands.

“See? The bus had gone. I’ve told you it would take so long.” Taehyung said as he hand Jungkook the americano.

Jungkook hid his stupid grin and sipped the americano. “I can take another bus.”  

Taehyung nodded and stared at Jungkook. He pulled out two hotpacks and slipped them into Jungkook’s pocket. “You forgot to bring hotpacks with you again,didn’t you?”

Jungkook smiled. He always admired how Taehyung had known everything about him despite the fact they only met 3 months ago. Taehyung knew what time Jungkook went to the office. Taehyung knew which bus Jungkook always took to go home. He knew that Jungkook dislike winter so he always texted Jungkook in the morning,reminding Jungkook to bring hotpacks with him.

But Jungkook barely knew Taehyung. He only knew that Taehyung lived in apartment not far from Jungkook’s office. He knew that Taehyung worked as a free lance writer. And that’s all that Jungkook knew about Taehyung.

There are so many things about Taehyung that Jungkook wanted to know. But there’s one thing that Jungkook was dying to know. And tonight,he gathered the courage to ask the older.

Jungkook gulped. “Hyung-I knew this is a bit bizzare question. Uh,do you have-“

A car suddenly stopped in front of them. A familiar one. Both of them looked at car. Jungkook sighed as he realized whose car it was.

“Geez. Do you really have to make me come here just to take you home? Why did you skip the bus?” Jimin asked as soon as he got out of the car.

Jungkook rolled his eyes. “I didn’t ask you to.”

Jimin stared at Taehyung and hugged him tight. “Man,it’s been awhile. You become more handsome since the last time I saw you. Something like,um,3 months ago?”

Taehyung nodded. “I guess so. How’s your relationship with Yoongi hyung?”

Jimin giggled. “Beside the little fight that we had as I found out that his name is Yoongi,we’re doing fine.”

Taehyung laughed. “Wow. What a relief to hear that the ship that I created is still sailing.”

Jimin blushed. “I really need to go home now. We really have to meet again soon,okay? Thanks for taking care of our Jungkookie.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes. “Hyung..”

Jimin smirked. “We need to go home now. See you next time!”

Taehyung waved at Jimin who’s dragging Jungkook into the car.

-----------------

Jungkook remained silent as they went home. But Jimin smirked in return.

“What? Upset that you couldn’t spend the night with  Taehyung?” Jimin giggled.

Jungkook stunned. “What? What are you talking about?”

Jimin laughed this time. “Really Jungkook? How can you be so bad at hiding your feelings?”

Jungkook gulped. “What feeling? I don’t hide anything.”

Jimin smirked. “Your feeling toward Taehyung. It’s so obvious. The way you stare at him. The way you skip the bus just to spend another hour with him. The way you asked him to stay for one more month to help you. I bet you’d ask him to stay for another month soon when the contract was over.”

Jungkook was taken aback. He tried to proceed what Jimin said. “I-why-did I do it?”

Jimin stared at Jungkook and felt sorry for the younger. “It’s your first time feeling such thing,right? Let me make it clear for you,Jungkook. You like Taehyung.”

Jungkook clutched the hotpacks inside his pocket while staring blankly at the road. “What should I do,hyung?”

Jimin tried his best to not laughing at Jungkook’s cuteness. “Sometimes I wonder how old are you actually.” He patted Jungkook on the back. “Confess.”

Jungkook looked at Jimin. “Huh? What if I got rejected?”

Jimin sighed. “That useless pride finally made its appearance again after 2 months. Listen,I don’t say this because I am trying to comfort you. I am sure Taehyung likes you as well.”

Jungkook frowned. “Huh?”

Jimin nodded. “He likes you. I am positive. How could I know,you ask? He agreed to extend the contract when he actually was about to go back to Daegu. Why? Because you ask him to.”

Jungkook’s mind took him back a month ago,when their contract was about to end on the next day. Taehyung rejected the offer to extend the contract which left Jungkook frustated. But the very next day,Jungkook found Taehyung stood in front of his house and said that he agreed to stay for one more month.

Jimin nudged Jungkook. “Ya! Look at that smile on your face. Seriously!”

Jungkook snapped back into the present. “Hyung,are you sure?”

Jimin sighed. “I am 100% sure. Taehyung likes you. And I am sure he does know you like him. unless he’s playing dumb or he’s truly dumb.”

jungkook couldn’t help but smiling. He had decided to meet Taehyung earlier tomorrow.

-------------------

Jungkook sat in the coffee shop where he and Taehyung met for the first time. He took a deep breath several times while looking at the entrance door. He nervously glanced at the watch which read 4 p.m. Taehyung’s supposed to come within 5 minutes.

The person he’d been waiting for finally made his appearance. Taehyung walked toward Jungkook while taking off his coat. He pulled out the chair and sat in front of Jungkook.

“How long have you waited?” Taehyung asked while glancing at his watch.

“I just got here.” Jungkook lied.

Taehyung nodded and look around. “Why did you suggest us to come here? And you sounded so serious last night when you call me.”

Jungkook stared at Taehyung for a second before look down. “I-I have to say something.”

Taehyung narrowed his eyebrow. “What is it? Why are you acting like this?”

“Our contract is about to over in 2 days,isn’t it?” Jungkook took a deep breath “I don’t want to extend the contract.”

Taehyung seemed confused. But then he nodded. “I see. You have found someone?”

The question made Jungkook nervous even more. “I have.”

Jungkook noticed how Taehyung stared at him for a second before looking away whikle biting his lip. And Jungkook couldn’t help feeling the sparks in his heart as he saw the older’s reaction.

Taehyung cleared his throat. “Wow. Congratulation! You really have to introduce that person to me.”

Jungkook pursed his lips. “It’s you.”

Taehyung paused. And Jungkook took the chance to said the words he’d been dying to say since last night.

“I never saw it coming,you know. When we first met,I didn’t care about you at all. But then as the days passed,I learned that you’re different. I became comfortable yet awkward everytime you were around. I used to live for nothing. Just went to work and made money. There was no life back then. But since I met you,I woke up and thought that there’s something that’s waiting for me. There’s something to look forward. The useless talks that we had,they filled the space between the day I was born and the day I’ll die.”

Jungkook waited for Taehyung’s respond,but the older just stayed quiet. Jungkook decided to make it clearer for Taehyung. “You’re supposed to help me to fall for someone. But I fall for you instead. I like you,hyung. I really do like you. I don’t care if you’re dying. I like you.”

Taehyung gulped. He looked down the floor. “Give me time to think about it.”

Jungkook slowly nodded. “You can take your time,hyung.”

They spent an hour sharing the silence and sipping coffees.

-----------------------------

Jungkook couldn’t sleep that night. He kept rolling his body over the bed,waiting for a call or text that seemed wouldn’t come. His head kept playing the scene when he confessed to Taehyung. He slowly closed his eyes,trying to erase the nerve-wrecking moment,but a sound from his phone immediately made his jump out of the bed and reach for the phone.

His heart was about to explode when he saw the name that texted him.

Hello,Jungkook. I really don’t know how to start nor to end it.

As what happened today at coffee shop,I have to heartlessly say that I’ve done my job.

I know you’re so confused right now,aren’t you?

Let me clear it for you. Remember the contract written?

In that contract,it was written that once I’d done my job,in this case,helping you fall for someone,you’d give me the money that was said.

I think it’s clear for you,right?

I knew I sound nasty and pathetic. But have you ever heard about a quote that say “Love will make you do the stupid things you thought you’d never do.” ?

I did it for my girlfriend. It’s not me who’s dying but her.  She is struggling to fight the terminal-ill right now. And we’re running out of money for her surgery.

I knew this is such a shame.

I truly wanted to help you out at first. But on the 3rd month,when you showed no sign that you fell for someone,I got frustated because I really need the money for my girlfriend whose condition got worse.

So,I decided to make you fall for me instead. I kept appearing in your life. I made sure there’s no day without you and me. I learned everything about you. I tried my best to make you fall for me without seemed so. I tried to get you to say,”I like you”,which means the mission is finally completed.

And you did.

I hope you can bring the money tonight. I’ll be waiting in front of the coffee shop. You can beat me there if you want. I truly deserve it.

Jungkook tried to proceed what he just read. But once he got it,he laughed and the laughter soon turned into sob. He opened the drawer,reached for an empty check and wrote on it. He then walked out of the apartment,leaving Jimin who asked him tons of questions about his tears.

-------------------------

Jungkook got out of the car and walked toward the man that made him dump his car,so he could take the bus and got to talk to that man for an extra one hour.

Jungkook took a deep breath,trying to not break into another pathetic sob. He stared at Taehyung who had his head down,and handed Taehyung a paper of check.

Taehyung quietly took the check and held it. He stood still,while staring at Jungkook.

Jungkook hated staring at those eyes that he used to fall for. He sighed and look away. “You can go now. I won’t beat you.”

But Taehyung stayed still. “You have to.”

Jungkook let out another sigh. “How could I beat you when you told me the truth as you’re the victim here? HOW?”

The tears started falling as soon as he shouted at the older,meanwhile Taehyung didn’t say any words.

“Why did you have to tell me about your dying girlfriend? Why didn’t you just tell me that you need the money to buy drugs and women? How could I beat you when you came out with a sad love story that made me sick? How?”

Jungkook closed his eyes,while fighting the urge to cry. He whispered “I couldn’t hate you if you’re like this,hyung. And it made me hate myself for being so stupid.”

Taehyung took of his coat. “Then I’ll make you hate me.” He put his coat on Jungkook’s trembling body. He  slowly touched Jungkook’s face,and kissed the younger’s lips slowly and muttered through the gentle kiss. “I love you. I really do love you.”

Jungkook pushed Taehyung away. He stared at Taehyung in disgust. Meanwhile Taehyung pursed his lips. “Did it help?”

It took five seconds for Jungkook to hit Taehyung’s face with his fist. And the hit left Taehyung bleeding, He took off the coat and quickly got into his car and drove away. Through the rearview mirror,he could see Taehyung running toward the opposite direction.  Taehyung’s heading to the hospital.

----COMPLETED----