Taehyung's POV
The touch lingered. Jungkook's fingers on his arm, a feather-light brush of his thumb against the fabric of his suit jacket. It was such a small gesture, yet it sent a jolt of raw electricity straight through Taehyung, igniting every nerve ending. His breath hitched, his eyes fixed on where their skin was almost, almost touching. The world outside the car, the drumming rain, Jennie's face – it all faded into a distant hum. There was only Jungkook, and the electrifying tension humming between them.
He felt himself leaning in, a desperate, unconscious movement. His gaze dropped to Jungkook's lips, soft and slightly parted, an unspoken invitation. Every cell in his body screamed to close the distance, to finally taste the forbidden fruit that Jungkook represented. The air was thick with longing, with years of unaddressed feelings, with the unspoken promise of "forever" that now felt dangerously close to being fulfilled.
Jungkook's eyes, dark and intense, were locked onto his. Taehyung saw the mirror of his own desire there, a raw, undeniable hunger that sent a shiver straight to his core. This wasn't just friendship. This was a force of nature, a magnetic pull so powerful it defied logic, defied his carefully constructed life, defied Jennie.
Then, a sudden, bright flash of headlights cut through the darkness, sweeping across the car. A vehicle was turning into the secluded parking lot, its beams briefly illuminating their intimate tableau.
The spell shattered.
Taehyung flinched back, pulling his arm away as if burned. He instinctively created a sudden, jarring distance, the warmth of Jungkook's touch abruptly replaced by a chilling void. He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, the image of their faces inches apart, the raw desire in Jungkook's eyes, burned behind his eyelids. What was he doing? What were they doing?
When he opened his eyes, Jungkook had pulled his hand back, his expression a carefully guarded mask. But Taehyung could still see the lingering intensity in his gaze, the slight tremor in his jaw. The moment had passed, but the unspoken truth of it hung heavy in the air, a potent, dangerous secret.
"Sorry," Taehyung mumbled, his voice hoarse, avoiding Jungkook's gaze. He felt a flush of shame creep up his neck. "I... I should probably head home. Jennie will be wondering." The lie felt like ash in his mouth. Jennie wasn't wondering; she was probably just settling into her evening routine. He was using her as a shield, as an excuse to escape the terrifying intimacy that had just threatened to consume him.
Jungkook nodded slowly, his eyes still studying Taehyung, making him squirm. "Right. Of course. Let me drop you off." His voice was quiet, almost flat, but Taehyung could hear the underlying disappointment, the subtle hurt.
The drive to Taehyung's apartment building was agonizingly silent. The comfortable hum of the engine from earlier now felt oppressive, each second dragging, thick with unspoken tension and shattered longing. Taehyung kept his gaze fixed out the window, unable to meet Jungkook's eyes, keenly aware of his proximity.
When Jungkook pulled up to the curb, Taehyung practically leaped out of the car. "Thanks for the ride, Kook. And... for the talk." He tried to make his voice sound normal, casual, but it cracked on the last word.
Jungkook simply nodded, his gaze unwavering, deep and knowing. "Anytime, hyung. Stay safe."
As Taehyung hurried towards the entrance of his building, he didn't look back. But he felt Jungkook's eyes on his back, a burning sensation that followed him until he was safely inside, the heavy lobby door closing between them. He leaned against it, breathing heavily, his heart still thrumming from the near-miss. He had pulled away. He had put the brakes on. He had done the right thing.
But the intoxicating taste of what almost happened lingered on his tongue, promising to haunt his dreams and slowly, relentlessly, pull him back.