† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟱 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟱†❝𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗘𝗦❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

༺ ☠︎ †  𝖁 𝖎 𝖘 𝖎 𝖔 𝖓  𝖎 𝖓  𝕯 𝖆 𝖗 𝖐  † ☠︎ ༻

Taehyung carefully helped Evie into the empty classroom, making sure she didn't put too much pressure on her injured foot.

The room was silent, with only the distant sounds of students outside echoing through the open windows. It was their free period, which meant no one would be here for a while, giving them a moment of quiet away from everything else.

Guiding her toward one of the chairs, Taehyung gently eased her down before kneeling in front of her, his brows furrowing in concern as he reached for her foot. Evie winced slightly as his fingers lightly brushed over the swollen area, making him pause immediately.

"Sorry," he said quickly, his voice filled with guilt. "I didn't mean to hurt you more."

Evie shook her head, offering a small smile despite the pain. "It's fine, Taehyung. It was just an accident."

But Taehyung didn't look convinced. He remained crouched in front of her, his eyes scanning her ankle as if trying to determine just how bad it was. After a moment, he sighed and straightened up slightly. "Wait here. I'll go get some pain relief gel from the medical room."

Evie blinked at him in surprise. "That's not necessary. It's not that bad—"

Taehyung gave her a pointed look, cutting her off before she could finish. "Just sit still and be quiet, Evie. I'll be back in a few minutes."

There was something about the way he said it–firm but still gentle–that made her stop arguing. Instead, she found herself watching him as he got up and left the room, his long strides carrying him quickly down the hall.

And without realizing it, a soft smile tugged at her lips.

She had always known Taehyung was kind, but moments like these reminded her just how genuine he truly was. He had a way of making people feel important, of making them feel like they mattered, even in the smallest ways.

A few minutes later, he returned, slightly out of breath but holding a small tube of pain relief gel in his hand. Without wasting any time, he crouched down in front of her again, his hands moving to untie her shoes carefully.

His fingers worked with such care, as if he was afraid of hurting her more, and Evie could only watch as he removed the shoe and sock, revealing her ankle.

"This might be a little cold," he murmured as he squeezed some of the gel onto his fingertips before gently rubbing it onto her skin. His touch was soft, almost hesitant, as if he was afraid of pressing too hard.

Evie sucked in a quiet breath, not just from the cool sensation but from the way his fingers moved–gentle, slow, almost soothing.

For a moment, she forgot about everything else.

Forgot about the slight ache in her foot.

Forgot about the fact that Taehyung had a match coming up.

And as if reading her mind, Taehyung suddenly spoke. "Don't worry. There's still time before the match."

Evie blinked, realizing that he hadn't even checked the time once since they had entered the classroom. He had completely forgotten about his match the moment she got hurt, choosing instead to stay here with her.

Something about that made her heart feel strange–warm, yet heavy all at once.

Taehyung had always been important to her. A friend, someone she laughed with, someone who had been there from the very beginning. But lately, something had changed. She could feel it deep inside her, a shift so subtle yet impossible to ignore.

And as she watched him now, his face focused, his hands still carefully massaging the gel into her skin, she couldn't deny it any longer.

Taehyung meant more to her than just a friend.

She wasn't sure when it had started or how it had happened, but the truth was clear–she had fallen for him.

And for the first time, she didn't regret it.

As Taehyung carefully tended to her injury, his touch gentle and reassuring, time seemed to slip away without either of them noticing.

He focused only on making sure she was comfortable, his presence warm and steady, while Evie found herself completely lost in the way he cared for her.

The world outside the classroom no longer mattered....his upcoming match, the passing minutes, everything else faded into the background.

In that quiet moment, nothing felt more important than being there together, wrapped in an unspoken understanding that neither of them needed to put into words.

†

The atmosphere on the football ground was tense as the teams gathered, the excitement of the match filling the air.

Today marked the beginning of the long-awaited football series, and both teams were expected to give their best.

The opposing team stood in position, fully prepared, their expressions confident as they awaited the kickoff.

But on the other side of the field, Jungkook and his teammates were anything but ready. Anxiety hung over them like a dark cloud, and the reason was clear–one of their main players was missing.

Taehyung, one of the strongest and most crucial members of their team, was nowhere to be seen.

The team had waited for him, hoping he was just running late, but with each passing minute, the tension grew.

Jungkook stood still, his arms crossed over his chest, his jaw clenched as he fought to keep his emotions in check. But inside, he was furious. The thought that Taehyung could actually ditch such an important match was something he couldn’t even begin to process.

He had trusted him, depended on him–not just as a teammate, but as a friend. And if Taehyung had truly decided not to show up, it would be beyond betrayal.

"Where the hell is he?" one of their teammates muttered, his frustration mirroring everyone else's.

Another one scoffed, shaking his head. "What if he's with that girl? You all saw how close he's been getting to her lately."

Jungkook's expression darkened at those words, his grip tightening around his own arms. It wasn't like Taehyung to prioritize something else over football–especially not on the day of the match.

They had trained for this for an entire year, pouring their sweat and effort into every practice session. It was impossible to believe that he would throw all of that away just to spend time with a girl.

"That's ridiculous," another teammate argued, shaking his head. "Taehyung wouldn't do that. He knows how important this match is. There's no way he would ignore it just because of some girl."

But despite the reassurance, the doubt remained. The fact was, Taehyung was missing, and no one knew where he was.

Just then, the voice of the match invigilator cut through the growing discussions. "Your time is up. If your team isn't complete, you won't be allowed to play."

Jungkook immediately turned toward him, his expression hardening. "Just wait a little longer. He'll be here."

But even as he said the words, doubt crept into his mind. Would Taehyung actually come?

The team continued to wait, their patience wearing thin with each passing second. The tension on the field was unbearable, and the longer they stood there without Taehyung, the more anxious they became.

Jungkook's fists were clenched tightly at his sides, his eyes scanning the entrance to the field as if Taehyung would appear any moment. But he didn't. The empty spot in their lineup was undeniable, and their chances of playing were slipping away with every passing second.

The opposing team stood on the other side of the field, already prepared, watching with mild amusement. The officials, growing impatient, exchanged glances before one of them finally stepped forward. "Your time is up. If your team is not complete, you will not be allowed to play."

Jungkook's jaw tensed, his breathing heavy with frustration. "Just wait a little longer," he insisted, his voice sharp. "He'll be here."

But even as he said it, doubt crept into his mind. The reality of the situation was becoming painfully clear–Taehyung wasn't coming.

Minutes dragged on, but the result remained the same. The team stood in silence, shifting uneasily as they realized there was nothing they could do.

The rules were strict–a team must be complete to compete. Without Taehyung, they didn't qualify to play. The referee checked his watch one last time before looking up with finality. "Your team is incomplete. As per the rules, you are eliminated from today's match. Your opponent wins by default."

A heavy silence fell over the team. The weight of those words sank into Jungkook's chest.

They had lost–not because they weren't good enough, not because they lacked skill, but because one of their own had abandoned them. Their team was officially out of today's match, and they would lose the points they had worked so hard to earn.

All the training, all the effort–it meant nothing now.

Jungkook's breathing grew heavier, his frustration boiling into pure anger. His hands curled into fists, nails digging into his palms as he fought the urge to explode right there on the field.

His teammates stood around him, some shaking their heads in disbelief, others looking at him, waiting to see what he would do next.

Just then, one of their team members ran up to them, panting as if he had sprinted all the way. "I saw him!" he blurted out.

Jungkook turned sharply, his eyes burning with rage. "Where?"

The boy hesitated before answering. "I saw Taehyung... He was with a girl. They were heading toward the classrooms."

For a moment, Jungkook just stared at him, his mind refusing to process what he had just heard. "What?" His voice was low, controlled, but dangerously cold.

The boy swallowed nervously. "I tried to stop him–to tell him about the match but he was in a rush. He didn't even stop to listen."

The boy looked down, unsure how to respond as seeing Jungkook fury.

"You're useless," Jungkook snapped, his patience completely gone. His voice was laced with frustration, his anger no longer contained. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Taehyung, his own teammate, his friend, had ignored the match completely–for a girl.

The thought made Jungkook's blood boil. This wasn't just a simple mistake. This wasn't a misunderstanding.

Taehyung had made a choice and that choice had cost them the match.

Their team had lost. Without even stepping onto the field.

As the match ended and their defeat was officially declared, Jungkook and his team walked off the field, their footsteps heavy with frustration and disappointment.

The once lively ground was now almost empty, but the weight of humiliation. They hadn't even been given a chance to play, and yet, they had lost.

It wasn't just a defeat—it was a disgrace.

A complete failure.

And the worst part?

It wasn't because of their skills or their opponent's strength.

It was because their own teammate had abandoned them.

Jungkook's fists clenched tightly as he walked, his entire body tense with suppressed rage. His teammates were silent, but their faces said everything–anger, frustration, and a deep sense of betrayal.

No one could believe what had just happened. Losing was one thing, but losing without even setting foot on the field?

That was something else entirely. It was a slap to their pride.

It was humiliating. And it was all because of Taehyung.

Just as they reached the edge of the field, a sound caught their attention–the hurried, uneven footsteps of someone running towards them. Jungkook turned his head sharply, and his eyes locked onto the familiar figure sprinting in their direction.

It was Taehyung.

He was panting heavily, his breath ragged from running, and the guilt on his face was unmistakable. His usually composed expression was now filled with panic as he finally reached them, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He knew.

He knew he had fucked up—badly.

Jungkook and the rest of the team stopped in their tracks, their eyes fixed on Taehyung as he approached. No one spoke. Their silence alone was enough to make Taehyung hesitate. He swallowed hard, glancing at their furious expressions before taking a deep breath to steady himself.

"Where are you all going?" he asked, still out of breath. "The match—" He paused, trying to catch his breath before continuing. "I know I got late, I swear I'm really sorry. I got caught up in something important, and I lost track of time. I feel awful about it, but let's go to the ground now, we can—"

One of their teammates cut him off with a harsh, bitter mocking laugh. "The match is over, Taehyung," he said, his voice laced with frustration. "We lost. We got eliminated because we didn't have a full team."

Taehyung's expression froze. The color drained from his face as he processed those words. He had known he was late, but he hadn't realized just how bad it was. His stomach twisted painfully, and his hands clenched at his sides as he struggled to find the right words.

He turned toward Jungkook, searching his face for any sign of understanding, but there was none. Jungkook's expression was unreadable, but the tightness in his jaw and the fire in his eyes spoke volumes.

Taehyung swallowed hard. "Jungkook, I—I'm really sorry," he said quietly. "I swear I didn't mean for this to happen. I got caught up in something, and—"

Jungkook's voice was dangerously quiet when he finally spoke. "Where were you?" he asked, his tone sharp, controlled, but filled with underlying fury. "And don't give me any bullshit. Just answer the damn question honestly."

Taehyung shifted uncomfortably, his nerves making his throat dry. "Listen, I was really stuck—"

"Just say it," Jungkook snapped, his patience completely gone. "No excuses. No twisting your words. Just tell me where the hell you were."

Taehyung exhaled, realizing there was no way around it. "I was with Evie," he admitted, his voice hesitant but truthful. "She got hurt, and I was just helping her. I didn't ditch the match, I just—"

Jungkook's face hardened instantly. His eyes darkened with an emotion that was beyond anger. "You did it again," he said, his voice colder than ever. "You ditched us. Again. For her."

Taehyung's heart pounded in his chest as he quickly shook his head. "No, Jungkook, listen to me," he tried to explain. "I didn't ditch the match, I swear. It just—"

"Shut the fuck up," Jungkook snapped in anger. "Just shut up. Stop making excuses, Taehyung. Do you even fucking understand what you did? We lost. We didn't even get to play. All because of you."

Taehyung tried to explain himself, his voice desperate, but Jungkook wasn't having it. His anger had reached its breaking point, and he had no patience left to hear whatever excuse Taehyung was trying to come up with.

"You don't get it, do you?" Jungkook snapped, his eyes burning with fury. "We never forced you to be in this fucking team, Taehyung. If you didn't want to play, you could have just said so. If your so-called girl was more important, you should have told us beforehand instead of wasting our time and humiliating us like this." His voice was sharp, each word filled with frustration and betrayal.

Taehyung shook his head, trying to make Jungkook understand. "Jungkook, please, just listen to me—"

But Jungkook cut him off before he could finish. "No, you listen to me," he snapped, stepping closer. His whole body was tense, fists clenched at his sides as he glared at Taehyung.

"You left us in the middle of the damn tournament. You ditched us at the last fucking moment. Do you even realize what you did? "

Taehyung opened his mouth to say something, but Jungkook didn't give him the chance. "You chose her over us," he said, his voice laced with disbelief. "Over me. Over your own team. Over your childhood friends."

He was disbelief , shaking his head. "For what, Taehyung? So you could play hero to some girl while we stood there like fucking idiots waiting for you?"

The weight of Jungkook's words hit Taehyung hard, but he couldn't say anything. He knew no matter what he said right now, Jungkook wouldn't believe him. The damage was already done.

Jungkook let out a scoff, running a hand through his hair in frustration before turning back to Taehyung. His voice was laced with disbelief, anger, and betrayal all at once.

"We've been friends since we were kids, man. We grew up together, played together, fought together. You know what kind of person I am, and I'll admit, I'm a shitty guy. But no matter how messed up I am, I never put a girl before my friends. Never. And yet, here you are, throwing everything away for her."

Taehyung exhaled sharply, already sensing where this was going. He tried to keep his voice calm. "Jungkook, don't take it to another direction, if you have something to say, say it to me. Leave her out of this. She has nothing to do with—"

"Nothing to do with it?" Jungkook snapped, stepping forward, his eyes blazing. "Are you fucking serious right now? You're standing here defending her when you just threw away everything we worked for? All because of a girl you barely even know?" He scoffed.

"We've known each other for years, Taehyung. But her? What has it been? A month? Maybe two? And yet, she's the one you ran to while we stood there like fucking idiots waiting for you to show up!"

Taehyung clenched his jaw, trying to keep his composure. "I'm telling you, she had nothing to do with this. You're taking it out on the wrong person."

Jungkook let out another scoff, shaking his head. "Nothing to do with this? You actually believe that?" His voice turned mocking. "Of course, you do. That's how manipulative that bitch is. She's got you so fucking wrapped around her little finger that you can't even see what's happening. She's turning you against us, and you don't even realize it!"

Taehyung's eyes darkened, his hands balling into fists at Jungkook's words. "Jungkook keep your words in check," he said firmly, his voice still measured but warning.

Jungkook ignored him. "Open your fucking eyes, Taehyung! She's a middle-class gold digger who saw an opportunity and took it. She knew exactly what she was doing when she latched onto you. She's using you, man! Do you really think she gives a shit about you? She doesn't. She's just another girl looking for a way to climb up, and you're dumb enough to fall for it!"

Taehyung's patience was wearing thin. His jaw was tight, his body stiff. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. He knew Jungkook well enough to understand that when he was furious, he said things he didn't mean.

He crossed lines without thinking.

But this—this was too much.

"Jungkook," he said slowly, his voice dangerously low, "say whatever the hell you want to me. Scream at me, curse me, I don't care. But don’t drag her into this. She never did anything to you."

But Jungkook just smirked coldly, shaking his head. "And that's exactly what she wants you to believe," he muttered. "You really think she’s innocent in all this? She's playing you, and you're too fucking blind to see it."

Taehyung exhaled through his nose, his grip tightening at his sides. He was trying—really trying—to control himself. But Jungkook wasn’t stopping, and every word he spat was crossing a line that Taehyung wasn't willing to let him cross.

Jungkook wasn't done. He was fuming, his emotions spiraling, his anger fueling words that should have never left his mouth. He wanted to hurt Taehyung the way he felt hurt. And if Taehyung was too blind to see the truth, then Jungkook was going to make him see it—even if it meant crossing a line.

He scoffed, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. You're actually standing here defending that whore like she's worth something."

The moment the word left Jungkook's mouth, everything stopped.

Taehyung's entire body stiffened, his breath caught in his throat, and for a split second, he didn't move. His mind went blank. The word rang in his ears like a gunshot.

Then, something inside him snapped.

Before anyone could react, Taehyung moved.

He lunged at Jungkook, his hands grabbing the collar of his shirt with a force that made Jungkook stumble back. The raw fury in Taehyung's eyes was unlike anything they had ever seen before. His entire body was tense, his breathing ragged, and his grip was so tight that his knuckles turned white.

"Keep your fucking mouth in check," Taehyung seethed, his voice low and shaking with anger. "Say that again, and I swear to God, I'll break your damn jaw."

Jungkook was stunned.

He had seen Taehyung mad before. Frustrated, irritated, even pissed off. But this—this was something different. This wasn't just anger. This was pure rage. And for the first time, Jungkook felt himself hesitate.

The intensity in Taehyung's eyes was real.

Deadly real.

For a moment, no one moved. The air was thick with tension and heavy.

Then, their friends rushed in.

"Taehyung, let go!" One of them grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. Another pushed between them, forcing space between the two. "That's enough, both of you!"

Taehyung didn’t let go at first. His grip remained firm, his breathing unsteady, his glare locked onto Jungkook like he was daring him to say another word.

"Taehyung, enough!" someone else shouted.

Finally, with a sharp inhale, Taehyung's grip loosened, and he shoved Jungkook back before stepping away, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His hands were still shaking.

Jungkook stood there, unmoving. He was still trying to process what had just happened. He had never expected Taehyung of all people to snap like that—to come at him with such raw, uncontrolled anger.

And for what?

For her?

Jungkook clenched his jaw, his own rage burning under his skin.

★ ★ ★

—𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗏𝗈𝗍𝖾         𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍···୨ৎ