emiimi

emi. she/her latam ot⁷

hii my loves!! i finally decided to make a blog and im reaaally excited

i‘m just a girl who wants to be a cool writer so you can ask me anything you want and i will give my best ♡ also eng is not my first language so im very sorry for the mistakes

pairing: ex!taehyung x reader

genre: angst to fluff, forgiveness, reconciliation.

warnings: alcohol mention, swearing, kissing.

summary: two exes play a stubborn game of pretend until he uses a "forgotten hoodie" as an excuse to break the silence—only to catch her hoarding it like her most prized possession, instantly shattering their facades and forcing them to admit they never stopped loving each other.

everyone talks about breakups like they’re something you just have to live through step-by-step—to feel everything you need to feel. but people always focus on the exact moment of the split, not the endless, exhausting months of actually trying to move on.

you were sick of it. tired of everyone telling you to just hate him, to delete his number, to force your brain to block out every single memory of taehyung. but did they really know how it felt? how utterly exhausting it was to sit through advice you couldn't possibly follow, pretending that a human heart has an off switch?

now, you found yourself sitting at a crowded bar with your friends, kaylee and ashlyn. even though it had been three months since you and taehyung called it quits, the weight of his absence still settled heavy against your chest every single day.

"what's with that face?" kaylee asked, leaning in to catch your gaze as it drifted, lost in thought.

your fingers were tracing slow, deliberate circles against the condensation on your glass. not even the alcohol was helping to quiet your overwhelmed brain.

hearing your best friend's voice pulled you back to the present. you blinked a few times to clear the haze, feeling the dull buzz of the drink settling in.

"ah... it's nothing," you paused, looking down at the amber liquid left at the bottom of your glass. "i was just thinking about... things," you murmured with a soft sigh. you closed your eyes for a brief second, but when you opened them, kaylee and ashlyn were already giving you knowing looks. "what?"

ashlyn, who was taking a sip from her drink, set her glass down against the cold surface of the bar's wooden counter. without a word, she reached across the space and gently took your hands in hers.

"are you thinking about him again?"

your breath caught slightly against your ribs. you bit your lip, staring down at your interlaced hands. you hated how painfully easy it was for them to read you.

"it's hard, you know?" you began after a long beat of silence, the noise of the bar fading into the background. "every time i tell myself that i'm finally moving on, he somehow finds a way back into my head."

a long, heavy sigh escaped your lips as the raw truth finally spilled out. maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was just the safety of being with people who loved you, but you couldn't keep the walls up anymore.

"i'm just so tired of pretending that i don't care, or that i don't miss him," you confessed softly, your voice cracking slightly. "i just can't stop thinking about him."

kaylee and ashlyn exchanged a heavy, sympathetic look—that familiar, tired glance that showed just how much it hurt them to see you carrying such a heavy pain. they paused, silently agreeing on how to handle the fragile mood without invalidating your pain.

"we know you're having a hard time, which is why we keep dragging you out of the house," kaylee started gently, choosing her words with care. "but maybe... maybe you don't have to force yourself to stop thinking about him. maybe you just have to let those thoughts be there for a while. eventually, they stop hurting and just turn into something soft—something nostalgic."

"kaylee's right," ashlyn added, squeezing your hands reassuringly. "fighting the memories just makes them louder. missing him is just part of the process, too."

maybe they were right. instead of constantly fighting the ghosts of your past with taehyung, maybe you just needed to let the waves hit you until the storm ran out of rain.

you let out a deep breath, shaking your head to clear the heaviness before clicking your tongue.

"okay," you said, slapping your hands lightly against the cool wood of the table. "let's drink. i really need to clear my head tonight."

your best friends offered you warm, relieved smiles, picking up their glasses to join you.

"text us when you reach home!" kaylee shouted from the bar's tall door as you approached the taxi waiting just in front.

the cool breeze of mid-winter hit your face the second you stepped outside, biting at your cheeks and moving your hair every which way. as you slid into the back seat of the car, everything immediately felt different. lonelier. colder.

it was always in quiet, fragile moments like this that you missed him the most. you missed his warm, calloused hands taking yours, the way he would pull you against his chest on freezing nights, seeking your comfort and wrapping you up in his warmth until the chill vanished completely.

even now, you couldn't fully wrap your head around why you two had ended on such awful terms. it had started as a stupid, insignificant disagreement—the kind that should have blown over in a day. but neither of you had been willing to back down. neither of you wanted to "lose." so the argument just escalated, burning through every boundary until it tore everything apart and dragged you straight here, into this empty present.

the bright, blurred city lights flashed against your eyes through the car windows, which were heavy with fog from the freezing air outside. every passing streetlamp made your eyelids feel heavier, your head spinning a little more with every second that ticked by. you had definitely overdone it with the alcohol tonight.

the soft hum of the taxi's tires against the pavement and the low, muffled melody playing from the radio helped settle your stomach a bit, but nothing could quiet the loud, chaotic thoughts racing through your mind.

the moment the taxi pulled up to your building, you quietly thanked the old driver, paid your fare, and made your way toward your apartment. but as you stepped into the main hallway, you noticed that all the overhead lights were completely turned off. the pitch-black corridor felt eerily quiet and tense, the dark shadows stretching out in a way that made your skin prickle. to make matters worse, your phone had died in the cab without you realizing, leaving you without a flashlight to navigate.

the walk up the stairs and down the hall was a genuine challenge, considering you were tipsy and had notoriously terrible night vision. you blindly pressed a hand against the wall, trying to gauge how close you were to your front door.

suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway.

they were growing louder, rapidly closing the distance right behind you. trying not to panic, you fumbled in your bag and jammed your keys between your knuckles. if someone was actually trying to mug or attack you, at least you had a improvised weapon—or that was what your alcohol-clouded brain convinced you, anyway.

just as you reached your door, the footsteps were practically on top of you, moving fast. instincts took over, and as a second nature, you took off running down the dark hall—not very fast, given your state, but you gave it your best effort.

"hey, wait!"

a deep, painfully familiar voice cut through the darkness, making you freeze dead in your tracks.

this isn't happening. no, this is not real.

you turned on your heel, your chest heaving as you stared at the tall silhouette standing just a few feet away. was that... taehyung? you could tell instantly by the resonance of his voice and that signature scent of soft wood and vanilla lingering in the air, even if your eyes couldn't fully cut through the pitch blackness.

time felt like it completely stopped. your heart hammered wildly against your ribs, and your throat felt so tight it was hard to swallow. every trace of the alcohol's dizziness instantly vanished, replaced by an overwhelming surge of emotions you couldn't even name. nervousness? panic? absolute, aching longing?

"taehyung?" your voice came out as a broken, barely audible murmur.

after three solid months of absolute radio silence, you had almost managed to convince yourself that you were starting to forget that ridiculously pretty face of his—wait, scratch that, what the hell—that horrendous face of his. but even if you missed him to the point of physical chest pain, you were absolutely, under no circumstances, going to admit it. especially not with him standing right in front of you.

"hey..." he said softly, his deep voice thick with embarrassment and hesitation. you could hear the subtle shift in his breath—it was clearly killing him to stand this close to you and not pull you into a tight, crushing embrace. "um... how have you been doing?" he asked, desperately trying to fill the heavy, awkward silence that swallowed you both.

was he actually serious right now? what in the world was he doing at your apartment door at three in the morning, acting like this was just a casual run-in?

you certainly weren't going to make this easy for him. who did he think he was, turning up unannounced in the middle of the night and acting like everything was fine?

"what are you doing here?" the words bit out of your mouth, harsh and defensive.

taehyung inhaled sharply, the sound echoing in the quiet hall as he tried to gather his words to excuse himself. little bitch, your brain provided bitterly.

"...i actually, um," he swallowed hard, his silhouette shifting in the dark. "i texted you about an hour ago, but... you didn't reply," he muttered. you couldn't see his face clearly, but you knew him well enough to picture him fidgeting with the hem of his jacket or biting his bottom lip out of anxiety.

"my phone died on the way home," you replied dryly, keeping your posture as stiff and unbothered as possible. "is that why you came all the way here? because i didn't reply?" a bitter laugh escaped you as you scoffed. "you could've just waited until morning."

a long, suffocating beat of silence stretched between you in the dark hallway.

"what do you want, anyway?" you demanded, crossing your arms tightly. what could possibly be so urgent that he couldn't wait?

"ah... i see," he said after the long pause, letting out a slow, heavy breath that sounded full of defeat. "i actually... i want my hoodie back. that's why i came."

you froze, the silence falling over you this time.

his hoodie? the oversized grey knit one that you literally wore every single night when the ache of missing him became too much to handle? the one that still smelled like him no matter how many times you aired it out? oh, you were absolutely, 100% not giving that back.

"that's really why you came?" you rolled your eyes dramatically, staring past him at the pitch-black wall. "well, i already got rid of it. my apologies," you lied smoothly. you would give him back every single gift he ever bought you before you handed over that hoodie.

"what?" his tone shifted instantly, sharp and disbelief cracking through his voice. you could practically feel the heat of his rising frustration. "you threw it away? what the fuck, it was my favorite and you know it!"

you hummed softly, taking a sick kind of pleasure in his anger. "yes, i know. that's exactly why i did it," you taunted, loving how easily you could still push his buttons. "what? did anger catch your little feelings?" you scoffed softly. "i'm sorry, I guess."

silence. pure, heavy silence fell over the corridor again.

"what? cat got your tongue?" you poked at him, a sharp smirk hidden by the dark.

"i don't believe you," taehyung said suddenly, his voice dropping an octave as he took a firm, deliberate step closer to you. the sudden shift in proximity made your breath catch. "i'll only believe it if you let me go inside and confirm it myself."

your eyes widened in the gloom. "you want to come inside my apartment?" you gasped, utterly incredulous at his audacity. "so fucking stubborn..." you whispered under your breath. then, tempting fate, you asked, "what if i don't want you to? would you finally just go away?"

please say no. please, please say no.

"actually, no," he clicked his tongue, completely unbothered by your attitude. a beat of silence passed before his tone softened into something suspicious. "are you drunk? i can literally smell the alcohol from here."

"what's it to you?" you snapped, crossing your arms tighter over your chest and tilting your head up defensively. "do you think that when i'm sober i'm gonna let you in? hah, you wish."

"why are you so fucking mouthy?" he retaliated, a slight, sassy bite returning to his deep voice. "you haven't changed at all. still the exact same brat."

you scoffed loudly, offended. "and you're not? look at yourself before you go around saying things like that!" you threw right back at him, turning your body back toward your lock. "if you don't have anything else stupid to say, then i'm going inside."

you cast him one last glare in the dark before reaching for your door handle.

"no, wait—"

before you could turn the key, his fingers wrapped tightly around your wrist. the touch sent an absolute shockwave straight up your arm, completely shattering your composure. another heavy, breathless pause fell over both of you, and you could swear there were literal electric sparks flying in the air between your eyes.

"i... actually," taehyung swallowed hard, his voice suddenly losing all its bite and dropping into something deeply fragile, almost desperate. "can we talk? please?"

he stared intensely down into your eyes, his grip around your wrist tightening—not enough to hurt you, because he would never hurt you, but just enough to keep you grounded right there with him.

"about everything..." he whispered.

you felt your heart completely stop. every single snappy comeback, every bit of petty anger, and every artificial wall you had built up over the last three months evaporated into thin air. all that remained was the weight of his gaze—the exact gaze you had cried yourself to sleep missing for ninety days straight.

"i..." you let out a long, shuddering sigh, finally letting your posture slump as you surrendered. "okay. let me open the door... let's go inside and talk."

the you from a few hours ago would have sworn that the second you reached home, you’d be a crying mess alone in your bed, hugging taehyung's hoodie for comfort. but fate definitely had a very different path laid out for you tonight.

how could you even begin to explain that right now you were crying—just as you thought you would be—but with one massive difference? you weren't alone.

how did you end up breaking down on taehyung's chest—your ex's chest—in the absolute middle of the night? pouring all your hot, heavy tears onto his soft shirt while he just let you, wrapped completely around you like a thick, warm blanket in the dead of a freezing winter?

you felt awful, honestly. after all, you were still tipsy, your head spinning lazily and a dull ache sitting in your stomach from the alcohol. but on top of the physical mess, you had been holding back an entire ocean of tears ever since that heavy conversation with your friends at the bar. the moment taehyung had pulled you inside and sat down next to you on the couch, the fragile dam inside you had simply shattered.

after a few long minutes, the heavy sobbing finally started to subside. your ragged breathing slowly decreased its velocity, settling into a quiet, rhythmic rise and fall against his chest. and taehyung noticed immediately. of course he did—he always, always noticed every little shift in you.

his long fingers moved to the back of your head, slowly and tenderly caressing your hair, while his other hand rested firmly at your waist, tracing slow, comforting circles against your skin through your clothes.

"are you feeling better?" he asked softly, his low voice vibrating right through his chest and into your cheek as he slightly pulled you closer.

if anyone were to ask taehyung what he had missed the most over these grueling three months, he would say moments like this without having to think twice.

you let out a low, muffled hum in agreement, nuzzling your face deeper into the warm crook of his neck. you had just missed him so much it felt like a physical ache in your ribs.

a long, peaceful beat of silence passed between you. it wasn't awkward in the slightest—in fact, it was the complete opposite. it was quiet, heavy with unspoken relief, and comfortable in a way only the two of you could ever be.

taehyung let out a soft, trembling sigh—a sound filled with overwhelming longing, relief, and the pure happiness of having you back in his arms.

"i'm really sorry for how we ended things," he started quietly, taking a deep, steadying breath. "i didn't mean to be so stubborn and full of myself. i just... i don't know what happened to me in that moment. i was just really pissed off and stupid," he admitted softly, a gentle, fond smile creeping onto his face as he looked down at how you were practically disappearing into his chest.

you felt the familiar, painful lump in your throat return, fresh tears threatening to spill over your eyelashes. everything was just so overwhelming, so raw and intense right now. your breath became uneven all over again.

"it's okay... i'm sorry too," you managed to choke out, your voice breaking slightly against his skin. "i shouldn't have said those harsh things back then. you know i didn't really mean any of it."

taehyung shifted his weight, tilting his head back so he could get a clear look at your tear-stained face. a blooming, golden warmth flushed straight through his system.

"i understand," he murmured softly. "i didn't mean anything i said either."

he reached up, his large, warm hand carefully cupping your cheek so you had no choice but to look at him. the sudden, direct contact of his palm against your flushed skin sent a sharp wave of electricity straight down your spine.

for a few breathless seconds, your eyes locked in the dim light of the apartment. all your mixed emotions, chaotic thoughts, and racing heartbeats seemed to synchronize in the space between your faces.

taehyung lowered his gaze briefly down to your lips, his body leaning in just an inch closer. then he looked back up into your eyes, silently and tenderly asking for your permission.

you gave a small, barely visible nod, your own eyes fluttering down to his lips before closing completely—closing both your eyes and the last bit of agonizing distance left between you.

the exact moment you felt his soft, familiar lips touch yours, fresh tears spilled over your cheeks. they weren't tears of sadness or regret this time; it was pure, unadulterated nostalgia and relief. the kiss was impossibly sweet, unhurried, slow, and deliberate—a quiet reunion of two people who had been starving for each other.

taehyung's hand gently slid from your cheek to the back of your head, pulling you in deeper, while your hands reached blindly for his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt like a anchor.

the kiss lingered for a few more magical seconds before taehyung was the first to pull back just a fraction. he rested his forehead against yours, smiling sweetly into the dark as his hands traveled down to find yours, lacing your fingers together.

"i missed you so much i can't even explain it," he admitted softly, his voice thick with emotion as he pulled you back into a tight, protective hug. "i ached for you. literally."

a soft, genuine smile finally bloomed across your face.

"i missed you too, tata," you whispered back, using the old, cherished nickname you had given him when you first started dating years ago.

taehyung's breath hitched, a bright smile lighting up his face the second he heard that name fall from your lips. he leaned back against the plush cushions of the couch, dragging you right along with him until you were completely tangled together.

time just melted away as the two of you stayed wrapped in each other's arms, completely swallowed by the warmth of the apartment and each other's presence.

"...you know," you started after a long while, your voice low and sweet against his neck. "i actually didn't throw your hoodie away. i keep it right by my bed and wear it whenever i miss you," you admitted softly, instantly burying your burning face into his neck as embarrassment flushed over you.

taehyung just let out a quiet, chest-rumbling laugh, his arms tightening around your waist. "i knew it. you would never throw it away, even if you hated me the most."

why did he have to know you so painfully well?

"i love you," he confessed gently, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of your head before tilting his chin to look down at you.

you smiled against the warm skin of his neck, your fingers gripping his shirt a little tighter.

"i love you too," you whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the exact sweet spot on his neck.

masterlist ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

jungkook

the early days, the late feelings 01. 02.

taehyung

— take it back (one-shot)

jimin

— nothing to see here yet.

hoseok

— nothing to see here yet.

yoongi

— nothing to see here yet.

jin

— nothing to see here yet.

namjoon

pairing: earlydebuted!jungkook x trainee!reader

genre: strangers to friends to lovers, shy!jk, teenage love, fluff, angst if you squint

warnings: none just awkward!jk

summary: 2013. jungkook is a newly debuted idol terrified of making mistakes. you are an experienced trainee fighting for your own future. the two of you were supposed to keep your heads down and focus on your dreams - not on each other. but in the dim light of empty practice rooms and rooftop stairwells, feelings have a way of catching up.

if someone had asked jungkook what he thought he would be doing the night after his debut, he would have guessed anything but this. and if someone had told him what was actually happening right now, he would have just laughed nervously and sworn it was nothing more than a dream.

but maybe dreams really did come true.

the cool midnight air whipped past as the two of you walked, cutting through the heavy exhaustion that had settled in his bones hours ago. the street was completely quiet, illuminated only by the faint, yellow glow of the streetlights overhead.

a careful distance between the two of you along the empty pavement, hands tucked deep into oversized hoodie pockets, the night was crisp, cooling down the flushed heat that had been burning on jungkook's neck ever since you first stepped out of that basement studio. the soft rustle of clothes and the tap of your sneakers broke the silence of the alleyway, and every few seconds, he found himself sneaking a quick glance at your profile in the dim light — still completely unable to process that this was actually happening.

you, on the other hand, were feeling pretty mellow. the cool air seemed to help your mind settle in the empty streets, leaving you free of complications or heavy thoughts — completely different from the boy at your side.

as if sensing the quiet tension in the atmosphere, you turned to him, a gentle tease slipping from your lips. "you know, you can relax. i won't bite, i promise." your eyes trailed off to the dark sky, watching the scattered stars above.

"how does it feel?" you asked softly. "like... the whole debut thing and everything. does it make you even more anxious than before?" it was pure curiosity on your part, but also a gentle attempt to help him unwind — giving jungkook a chance to finally open up.

he looked at you, taking a second to actually consider the question. he’d been so consumed by the sheer panic of being next to you that he hadn't even stopped to digest how monumental this day was for him.

he sighed, lowering his gaze to watch his shoes hit the cold pavement with every step.

"honestly... i haven't really had the time to think about it properly. but i guess it feels good." jungkook's eyes drifted back to you, only to find you already watching him — making his heart do absolute backflips in his chest.

"it feels like a dream." the whisper fell into the silence between you two, heavy with deep emotion, making the moment feel almost magical.

the soft exchange of glances hung in the air, weighted with unspoken thoughts that neither of you was ready to name just yet.

you were the first to look away, a faint smile tugging at the corner of your mouth as you exhaled. jungkook felt as though the air had suddenly turned heavy in his lungs, quickly redirecting his gaze back to the quiet Seoul streets ahead.

"you love performing, don't you?"

the question made jungkook stop in his tracks for a brief second. performance wasn't something he had to hide behind awkward gestures — it was the one thing he was completely, undeniably sure of.

"i do.," he said, and this time his voice didn't wobble. he unpocketed one hand to gesture vaguely toward the dark skyline. "when im on stage, or even just in the practice room with the music turned up all the way... everything else just shuts off. the doubts, the pressure... it all disappears."

a impressed hum hummed from your throat as you kept pace beside him. "I knew it. you can always tell when someone is just going through the motions versus someone who actually lives for it. you're the second one."

jungkook felt a warm sensation blossom in his chest — a completely different kind of warmth than his usual blush.

"what about the choreography?" you continued, tilting your head. "I saw your debut stage recording earlier. that center break dance was intense. how many hours did you guys spend perfecting that?"

"too many to count," he laughed softly, the sound coming out much lighter now. he was finally starting to breath naturally around you. "we practiced that specific transition until four in the morning last week. hoseok-hyung almost lost his mind with us."

"four in the morning?" you gasped lightly, a teasing grin spreading across your face. "no wonder you're up buying banana milk at two am. your internal clock is completely ruined."

"yeah, well..." jungkook smiled, looking down at his shoes again, but this time, he wasn't trying to hide. "I don't really mind it tonight."

the automatic doors slid open with a soft electronic chime, the sharp, fluorescent glow of the store instantly cutting through the dimness of the alleyway. the sudden brightness seemed to break jungkook out of his trance, his polite habits kicking right back in as he stepped behind you, carefully letting you navigate the narrow aisles first.

you headed straight toward the heated drink display, reaching in to grab a warm mocaccino to ward off the midnight chill. jungkook, without a single second of hesitation, made a beeline for the refrigerated section to grab his trusty bottle of banana milk.

holding your drink, you turned toward the counter and reached into your hoodie pocket to pull out some spare cash. but before you could even take a step forward, jungkook was somehow faster, cutting in front of you with a bill already in his hand.

"i-i've got it, please," he blurted out, his voice a fraction too loud for the quiet store before he caught himself, quickly clearing his throat and looking down.

you chuckled softly at his sudden urgency, stepping back to let him handle it. after the cashier handed over the change, jungkook turned around to pass your warm can to you.

as your fingers wrapped around the metal, your knuckles lightly brushed against his hand.

jungkook froze in the spot. his entire brain seemed to short-circuit right then and there, his grip on his banana milk tightening as a fresh wave of heat rushed straight to the tip of his ears. for two whole seconds, he forgot how to process basic human movement.

"thank you, jungkook-ah," you said softly, offering him a warm, effortless smile as you cradled the warm drink in your hands.

he swallowed hard, managing a tight, flustered nod. "y-yeah. no problem."

you started walking toward the door, which opened automatically with the soft chime once again.

as you both took a seat on the plastic chairs under the store’s bright lights, the conversation picked back up.

"so, tell me more," you said, opening the warm can and taking a slow sip before redirecting your gaze toward him. "how did it actually feel to see people cheering for you? were you terrified? excited?"

"oh, it was definitely a mix of both," jungkook replied, his fingers drumming nervously against the table. "you know, like... it’s so exciting watching people you don't even know root for you, but at the same time, you're so afraid of making mistakes. there's this heavy pressure that everything has to be perfect."

"mm... i understand," you said softly, setting your drink down on the table and staring at it, your thumb lightly tracing the top rim of the can. "it must be so overwhelming now that i think about it. you're never quite sure what people are thinking, but this is even crazier because it's so many people at once." your gaze found his again. "but you know... not everything has to be perfect. not all the time."

"but i want it to be," jungkook found himself answering before his brain could filter the thought. "it happens all the time... i just can't help it," he whispered, complete honesty lacing his tone.

"nobody's perfect," you murmured, your fingers pausing their movement. "you shouldn't blame yourself if something doesn't turn out exactly the way you wanted. if life worked like that, there wouldn't be any problems or frustrated people in the world." a soft sigh escaped your lips. "you're already perfect in your own way."

jungkook's eyes locked onto yours, getting completely lost in the quiet shift taking place between the two of you. a shy, helpless grin tugged at his lips when you offered him a warm smile.

"we should probably head back now. it's getting really late," you said, pushing yourself up from the plastic chair as jungkook quickly did the same.

as you both began the slow walk back, a sudden, sharp breeze swept through the alleyway. the cool night air cut straight through your clothes, making a sudden shiver run through you. instinctively, you wrapped your arms around yourself, trying to trap whatever warmth you had left.

jungkook noticed immediately — the way your shoulders hunched and how you shivered in the cold. without overthinking it for once, he unzipped his hoodie, pulled it off, and held it out toward you.

"here, put this on. you're gonna catch a cold," he said, clearing his throat and looking away to avoid your curious gaze.

"but you'll freeze out here too," you protested softly, fidgeting with the heavy fabric between your hands.

"i'm fine... you need it way more than i do anyway," jungkook tried to play it cool, even as the midnight chill started biting at his own exposed arms.

a soft smile bloomed on your face as you slipped into the oversized sweater. it swallowed you completely, easily three sizes too big, but it smelled like clean laundry detergent, fresh cotton, and a subtle hint of cologne that was definitely going to linger on your clothes long after tonight.

the rest of the walk turned quiet, filled only by the distant hum of night traffic and the rhythmic tap of your footsteps. it wasn't an awkward silence, but the exact opposite — a peaceful, shared calm in the middle of two chaotic lives.

when you finally reached the entrance of the agency building, you came to a sudden stop, making jungkook turn back to look at you.

"well... thank you for tonight. i had a really great time with you," you said, lacing your fingers together. "you're really good company, jungkook."

you paused, a light laugh slipping out. "we should definitely stay in touch. i’d really love it if we could be friends... if you want to, of course."

jungkook stood there, watching the night wind gently blow a strand of hair across your face, your nose slightly pink from the cold. you looked ridiculously cute standing under the entrance light, especially swallowed up in his hoodie.

"yeah, of course," he muttered, quickly dropping his eyes to his own hands. "i'd... i'd really like that too. i really like you..." he cleared his throat for what felt like the hundredth time that night. "...as company, i mean. yeah." he nervously tugged at the hem of his shirt.

you smiled softly at him. his constant nervousness was almost endearing, but tonight, at least, you'd gotten a glimpse of who he truly was when he talked about the things he loved.

"i should get going, and you should definitely get some sleep," you said, taking a few slow steps closer to him. "here, take your hoodie back. thank you for letting me borrow it."

as you reached up to pull it off, jungkook reached out, his hand gently wrapping around your wrist to stop you. his touch was warm and steady against your cold skin.

"no, keep it," he said softly, guiding your arms back down before letting go and smoothing down the sleeve. "it looks way better on you anyway," slipped past his lips before he could stop himself.

a sudden wave of warmth rushed to your cheeks — though you silently blamed it on the cozy hoodie — as your eyes dropped to where his hand had just been on your wrist.

"um... okay then. see you around, jungkook-ah," you said, offering a sweet, timid wave.

"goodnight," he whispered back, waving as he watched you turn and walk through the glass doors.

he stood there for a long moment, watching you disappear into the building with his hoodie wrapped around you. a whirlwind of emotions was crashing inside him, but above everything else, he was overwhelmingly, undeniably happy.

oh, he was going to have quite a story to tell his hyungs tomorrow. this was, without a doubt, the single best night of his life.

chapter 2 oh yes!!! tell me what you think about it my loves

loveyall

pairing: earlydebuted!jungkook x trainee!reader

genre: strangers to friends to lovers, shy!jk, teenage love, fluff, angst if you squint

warnings: none just awkward!jk

summary: 2013. jungkook is a newly debuted idol terrified of making mistakes. you are an experienced trainee fighting for your own future. the two of you were supposed to keep your heads down and focus on your dreams - not on each other. but in the dim light of empty practice rooms and rooftop stairwells, feelings have a way of catching up.

today was the day.

after years of training, late night practices, stress, anxiety, and so many other things, bts was finally debuting as a seven-member group. everything felt unreal, especially to jungkook — who, besides being absolutely euphoric about the debut, was currently standing in the exact same space as his year-long crush: you.

it had started in a simple, subtle way. he always tended to watch you from afar, noticing how you poured every piece of yourself into every dance routine and chorus, training tirelessly for your dreams.

eventually, he had to admit it to his members. the first to notice was namjoon, the leader and his most relied-upon hyung. jungkook still wondered how he had caught on so quickly; he could have sworn he was being subtle, but maybe he wasn't as clever as he thought. after namjoon interrogated him about his soft looks in your direction, jungkook couldn't do anything but confess to his massive crush on you.

it obviously didn't stop there. somehow, all the members ended up finding out and teased him endlessly for it — it was an absolute miracle that you hadn't realized it yourself, considering they were anything but subtle.

now back in the present, you — the most beautiful, kind, and hardworking person jungkook had ever met — were talking with them. well, not directly with him, but with jimin, who was standing right to his left.

you were known for being effortlessly sociable and sweet to everyone. it was just in your nature to greet every single person you passed, hold open doors, give building tours to new trainees, and so much more. at this point, practically everyone in the company knew you, and the bts members were no exception. maybe that's why nobody was surprised when they found out about jungkook’s crush — it was painfully easy to fall for someone like you.

"congratulations on your debut, guys! i'm so happy and excited for you," you said with a bright smile, clapping your hands together softly. "you really gave everything for this. you deserve it more than anyone."

"thank you so much," jimin replied, the tension in his shoulders melting away at your words. "that really means a lot to us. right, jungkook?" he nudged the poor boy, who looked more panicked than ever.

"oh... yeah. it- it really does. a lot," jungkook managed to get out in a rushed, low voice. he rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand, his eyes glued to the floor, completely incapable of holding your glance.

"well, i'm just really glad you made it. make sure to stay strong and healthy," you added with a soft smile. "don't forget to eat and drink plenty of water, okay? i'll always be rooting for you!" with a wave, you stepped past them to greet the rest of the group.

the second you were out of earshot, jimin elbowed jungkook's side, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

"you finally got to talk to her! how was it?" he whispered-shouted.

"ahh... i don't know. i almost passed out," jungkook groaned, burying his face in his hands. "she's so pretty..."

jimin giggled, patting his back with a mischievous wink. "well, at least she knows you exist now, right? your chances just jumped from 0 to 1 percent. keep grinding~”

it was currently 2:00 am, and jungkook hadn't closed his eyes for more than three seconds. the craziness of debut day was over and the other members were already fast asleep, but he was way too wired to even try.

as a way of shutting his brain off, he snuck down to the quiet basement practice room to dance off his nervous energy — or maybe just to wind down.

as he walked toward the door, he noticed the lights were already on, meaning someone was inside. not wanting to disturb whoever it was, he changed his mind and decided to head up to the rooftop instead. but just as he turned on his heel, the door swung open — revealing none other than you.

jungkook could have sworn time stopped right then and there. in that moment, it felt like a dream, as if the rest of the world had completely melted away and left only the two of you.

if anything, this did the exact opposite of calming him down. his face flushed with embarrassment as he felt his ears turning bright red and his palms starting to sweat. it was the ultimate you-effect.

you were just so effortlessly breathtaking to him — even at this hour, after hours of grueling training.

"oh, jungkook," you said, caught off guard. you definitely hadn't expected to run into him at this time of night. "what are you doing down here so late?"

he licked his dry lips and glanced around the empty hallway, frantically trying to construct a believable excuse so he wouldn't have to admit that his brief interaction with you earlier had left his heart racing all night.

"ah, nothing... just trying to, um, calm down a little. you know... with the debut and everything, it just made me... excited," he stammered, failing miserably at sounding nonchalant.

"i get it," you offered a warm, comforting smile, sensing his nerves. "it's totally normal to feel like that after a day like today. i'd probably be wired too." you paused for a second before continuing. "were you going to use the room? i was just about to head out, but i can keep you company if you want. i'm not even tired anyway."

jungkook almost passed out right there in the hallway.

you — his biggest, most overwhelming crush — were offering to hang out with him. at 2:00 am. alone in a practice room. just the two of you. okay, he was officially losing his mind.

"i'd love to — i mean," he cleared his throat quickly, trying to pull himself together. "if you want to. i'm fine with it." he blurted it out so fast it could have rivaled a rap line.

he desperately needed some air.

"but first, i think i should... i'm going to, um, get something to drink. yeah, a banana milk." he swallowed hard, finally building up the courage to meet your curious, expectant eyes. "i can bring you something too, if you'd like..."

"let's go together! i feel like some fresh night air would do us both good," you said, stepping past him into the hallway and looking back over your shoulder. "come on." you flashed him a bright smile.

jungkook was convinced he was dreaming.