† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟵 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟵†❝𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗦❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

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

Taehyung stood there in silence for a moment, just looking at her. His chest was rising and falling as if he was struggling to breathe, as if holding in everything for too long had finally caught up with him.

Slowly, almost hesitantly, his hands reached up and cupped her face, so gently it felt like a feather's touch. His palms were trembling, and so were his fingers, but he did not pull away. He just stood there, holding her face as if she was the most precious thing in the world.

His thumbs brushed along her cheeks, and his gaze met hers–soft yet intense, filled with a thousand unsaid things. His lips parted slightly, and when he finally spoke, his voice was thick with emotion.

"I fell for you, Evie," he said, barely above a whisper. "I really did. And I want this... I want us. I want to take this further. I want to be more than someone who just walks beside you to the bus stop. I want to matter."

Evie's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes shimmered under the light, and her heart was pounding so loudly she could feel it in her ears. She reached up without thinking, her hands gently resting over his where they held her face, her fingers brushing against the trembling warmth of his skin.

His touch made her feel warm all over. Her skin tingled, her legs felt weak, and for a second, she wondered if she was dreaming. Because this moment—the way he was looking at her, the way he was touching her—it felt like the kind of scene she used to watch in romantic movies and quietly dream about when she was alone in bed at night, thinking maybe someday someone might look at her this way too.

"Really... f..for me?" she whispered, her voice soft, her lips trembling just slightly.

Taehyung let out a shaky breath, nodding slowly. "Only you," he said, like a vow, like it had always been obvious.

He leaned in closer, closing the tiny space between them. Their foreheads nearly touched. Their noses brushed, and both of their eyes slowly drifted shut.

Their breaths mixed in the space between them, warm and uneven, fanning softly against each other's lips. It was quiet, but not empty. There was a hum in the air, a kind of invisible pull drawing them closer and closer.

Evie's voice came out almost as a whisper, fragile and unsure, but honest. "W... why me?" she asked.

Taehyung let out a soft chuckle under his breath, one that felt more like a sigh. His voice was barely there when he spoke next. "I don't really know," he admitted. "Maybe it's because you're a little like me. Maybe it's the way you understand me without trying too hard. Maybe it's just the way your silence speaks louder than your words ever could."

She whispered his name, her voice unsteady but full of something she couldn't hide anymore.

"Taehyung..."

His name had never sounded like that before. It made his chest tighten. His own voice came out rough and quiet as he answered, like it was pulled straight from his heart.

"Evie..."

They were already close, so close that her breath touched his lips and his hands still held her face like she was something delicate. Her hands were resting over his, gripping his wrists as if grounding herself. Their faces were only inches apart, the tension thick between them.

Taehyung's gaze dropped to her lips for a second, and when his eyes returned to hers, they were soft but burning with something deeper.

"Can I kiss you?" he whispered.

Evie's breath hitched. Her lips parted, and her chest rose as if the air had suddenly turned heavier. She didn't answer with words but she didn't need to. The way she leaned in, the way her grip on his hands loosened and her eyes fluttered shut—it was enough.

Taehyung moved in slowly, like he was stepping into something sacred, and then his lips met hers.

The kiss was warm and tender at first, unsteady, like both of them were learning how to breathe through it.

It was their first kiss—neither of them had done this before, and it showed.

But that made it better. More real.

Their mouths moved against each other in soft, unsure motions, but it deepened quickly, naturally, as though everything they had been holding back for so long was finally spilling out.

Evie's hands slowly slipped down from his wrists, trembling slightly as they dropped to his sides and then she wrapped them around his waist, pulling herself closer.

Taehyung let out a soft breath against her lips, like he had been holding it in for too long. His right hand stayed cradling her cheek while his left slid around her waist, pulling her to him.

He tilted his head slightly, kissing her again, deeper this time. His lips moved with more purpose now, and she responded–just as breathless, just as lost.

Her fingers gripped the back of his hoodie tightly, clinging to him like she was afraid the moment might vanish. Taehyung's thumb gently stroked her cheek, his touch warm and steady, but the rest of him trembled just like her.

Their mouths moved slowly but fully, and for a few moments, nothing else mattered. Not the cars passing by. Not the fact that they were still standing on a public footpath. Not even the bus they were supposed to catch. The rest of the world blurred out around them.

When they finally broke the kiss, their foreheads rested against each other, their noses brushing. Evie's lips were slightly swollen, her eyes still closed, and Taehyung's chest rose and fell as he tried to calm the storm inside him.

Neither of them spoke right away.

There was no need.

Everything had already been said between their lips.

As soon as they heard footsteps nearby and the soft chatter of people passing behind them, both Evie and Taehyung suddenly pulled away from each other like reality had hit them in the face.

They looked around, embarrassed, both of their cheeks burning hot. A few people were glancing at them with raised brows, while others passed by trying to pretend they had not seen anything.

Still, the looks were enough to make Evie drop her head slightly, brushing her hair behind her ear in a shy attempt to hide her face. Taehyung scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and cleared his throat as he took a small step back.

They straightened their clothes, fixed their hair, and slowly walked toward the bus stop–without saying a word. But as soon as they reached, they saw the bus had already left. Gone.

Evie blinked and then looked at the road. The disappointment was clear on her face. Taehyung glanced at her, gave a tiny smile, and simply said, "Come on, let's catch the next one."

They didn't complain. Neither of them mentioned the kiss or what just happened. Their bodies were still slightly stiff from nerves and excitement.

Without needing to discuss it, they walked together to a different bus stop nearby.

Taehyung, just like always, followed her even though his house was in the completely opposite direction. He never mentioned it. And he never let her go alone.

Once the next bus arrived, they both got in and found two empty seats beside each other. They sat down, still quiet. The air between them felt warmer now, softer. A little charged.

Evie kept staring out the window, still trying to understand everything that had just happened. Her heart hadn't calmed down yet. Her lips still tingled. She was shy, nervous, and giddy all at once.

Taehyung sat beside her, glancing at her now and then. After a few minutes, without saying anything, he slowly reached down and slid his hand into hers.

Evie turned to look at him, surprised at first. But when she saw his eyes gently looking ahead, pretending like it was nothing, a small smile spread on her lips. She squeezed his hand softly. It felt nice. Like reassurance. Like something real.

The ride continued in silence. But this silence was different. It wasn't awkward. It was full. Full of unspoken things. Full of new feelings. Full of comfort.

When the bus reached Taehyung's stop, he stood up slowly, but before getting down, he turned back to her. His fingers reached for her jaw gently and he leaned in again, without hesitation this time.

He kissed her.

Right there, in the middle of the bus.

It wasn't rushed or messy. It was slow and confident. His lips pressed against hers with just the right amount of pressure–not too soft, not too intense, just enough to make her eyes flutter shut and her heart skip a beat. His thumb brushed her cheek lightly as their lips stayed together for a few seconds.

It was warm. Sweet. Steady. And bold.

When he pulled back, he was smiling faintly. His voice dropped to a quiet whisper meant only for her.

"Message me when you reach. Don't ignore it. And I'm waiting for you tomorrow. In college."

Evie blinked, her lips still slightly parted, her heart beating too fast to respond right away. She nodded slowly.

Taehyung gave her one last look. He wasn't smiling with his mouth but his eyes held something deep and fond. Something that felt like more than just a crush.

He took a step down from the bus, then leaned back toward the door before it closed.

"Be careful at your stop, alright? Go home safe."

And then he was gone.

Evie sat frozen in her seat for a few seconds, hand still tingling where he held it, lips still warm from his kiss, and chest full of things she didn't yet have words for.

She watched the road, but her mind wasn't on the road anymore.

It was on him.

And on what had just started between them.

Evie sat in the bus with her fingers pressed over her lips, trying not to smile like a complete idiot. Her heart was racing so fast it felt like it could burst out of her chest at any moment. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

Oh my God...

Taehyung kissed her.

And not just that - he confessed. He really said it. He said he liked her. The same Taehyung she had crushed on quietly, thinking he was just being nice because that was his nature. She had convinced herself for weeks that he couldn't possibly feel anything more. But he did.

She wanted to scream into her hands, kick her feet in the air, or just yell "I kissed Taehyung!" right there in the middle of the bus. Her whole body felt light, like she was floating. Her cheeks were hurting from smiling so much, and yet she couldn't stop.

It felt like a dream. A pure, beautiful dream.

And it was her first kiss too.

She had always wondered how it would feel - if it would be weird or awkward. But this? This felt right. Warm. Real. Her lips still tingled slightly, and every time she thought about it, her face grew hotter.

The bus stopped. It was her turn to get off.

She stood up slowly, trying to calm herself down and not look too obvious. She could barely walk straight because her knees were weak with excitement. She stepped off the bus and took a deep breath, but nothing helped. Her mind kept playing everything over and over again like a movie stuck on the best part.

She reached home.

As always, her dad opened the door. He gave her a curious look the moment he saw her.

Evie walked in like she was floating on clouds. Her smile was too wide, and she looked like she had just won the lottery. She didn't even notice the way she bumped into the edge of the table or dropped her bag without caring.

Her dad raised an eyebrow.

"You okay?" he asked, watching her closely.

"Yeah! Why?" she said a little too quickly, brushing past him.

He looked at her like she had grown a second head. Something about her was definitely off. She was glowing. She wasn't acting normal. Too quiet, too dreamy, and for the first time, she didn't complain about being tired or ask what was for dinner.

She walked straight to her room and closed the door.

Her dad stood there for a second, smiling to himself.

Something had happened.

Something good.

And even though she didn't say anything, he could tell—something special happened to her .

†

Taehyung sat in another bus, his head leaning back against the seat as he stared out the window, completely lost in thought. His lips were curved in a soft smile he couldn't wipe off no matter how hard he tried. His cheeks were still slightly flushed, and every time he thought about what just happened, his stomach flipped all over again.

He kissed her.

He actually kissed Evie.

Not only that—he confessed to her.

Out loud. Face to face. No hiding. No hesitating.

God, he couldn't believe he had that much confidence in him.

It was his first kiss. And it wasn't planned, not even for a second. It just happened so naturally. So suddenly. But it didn't feel wrong–not even a little. It felt like something he had been waiting to do for a long time.

And he didn't regret a second of it.

It wasn't because of the heated fight he had earlier with Jungkook either. No. His feelings had been growing long before that. What happened with Jungkook only pushed him to stop holding back.

Evie deserved to know. She deserved someone who wasn't afraid to show how much he wanted her—not just as a friend but as someone who truly saw her, respected her, and cherished her.

She was too pure. Too kind.

Especially after what Jungkook said–those disgusting, heartless things thrown at her just because of his own wounded ego. It made Taehyung sick to his stomach.

Jungkook didn't even know her. He didn't understand her, or how strong she was underneath that soft smile. He just saw her as a threat to his pride.

Taehyung could still hear Jungkook's cruel words ringing in his ears. He still couldn't believe the person he used to call his best friend could stoop that low. The mask Jungkook wore for so many years finally slipped and what was underneath it was ugly.

Jealous. Arrogant. Inhuman.

That punch he gave Jungkook? He didn't regret it either.

But he knew Jungkook.

His silence after that hit wasn't forgiveness. It was warning.

Jungkook might have stayed quiet, but Taehyung knew the storm was coming. That silence? It was more dangerous than his outburst. And when Jungkook struck back, he wouldn't play fair.

But that didn't matter now.

He would protect Evie.

He didn't want her anywhere near that toxicity. Taehyung promised himself he'd never let her get dragged into that mess again.

He glanced down at his hands, still warm from when he held hers, and smiled again.

In just a few months, college would be over. They would graduate and walk into a new chapter of their lives. And when that day came, he wanted to be by her side–not just as a lover, but as her safe place.

All he needed to do now was stay strong.

And love her.

⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆𝔙 𝔦 𝔰 𝔦 𝔬 𝔫  𝔦 𝔫  𝔇 𝔞 𝔯 𝔨⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆

It was a fresh morning at college.

The campus was slowly filling up, students walking across the courtyard, some yawning, others chatting with their friends about class or plans for the weekend. The usual morning buzz.

Evie stood in front of her locker, smiling softly to herself as she organized her books. Her mood was too good to care about the chaos around her. Her heart still hadn't settled from last night.

She didn't get a minute of proper sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she could still feel Taehyung's lips on hers, the way his hand held hers inside the bus, the way he whispered to her.

Just thinking about him made her cheeks heat up.

She had taken extra time to get ready this morning. She wore one of her favorite tops that hugged her figure just right, paired with jeans andmakeup as she put more effort than usual.

She wanted to look good—no, she wanted to look really good. Maybe she was being silly, but the thought of seeing Taehyung again made her feel like a teenager in love.

Still focused on her locker, she reached in to pull out a few books, totally unaware of the shift in atmosphere around her.

A few girls near her had gasped, some had backed off to the side, whispering, but Evie didn't notice. She was too lost in her thoughts, smiling quietly and humming under her breath.

Until it happened.

Out of nowhere, her locker door slammed shut with a loud bang, echoing through the hallway.

Evie flinched and immediately took a step back, startled. Her heartbeat spiked from the sudden noise, and her eyes darted to the source.

There, leaning casually against the lockers right beside hers, was—

Jungkook.

His arms were crossed over his chest, and a cocky smirk played on his lips. He looked different today–his poster wasn't casual, it was calculated.

His eyes weren't cold, but they weren't warm either. They were unreadable. Amused. Like he had just stepped into the scene on purpose, ready to stir something up.

Evie froze. Her eyes widened as her whole body went still.

Her throat went dry. She tried to speak, but her voice cracked at first. Then, finally, she managed to get the words out.

"W..What are you doing here—why are you even here...?"

Jungkook didn't answer right away.

He tilted his head slightly and bit his lower lip in a way that seemed deliberate, almost playful. His eyes slowly dropped to her shoes, and then dragged upward, slowly scanning her legs, her waist, her chest, her face—every inch of her.

It made Evie uncomfortable.

He was looking at her differently.

Not like how he did when met him earlier, he was uninterested at that time.

But, now.

This was... invasive. Way too personal.

Jungkook leaned closer, his voice low and casual, but with something smug hiding behind it.

"Can I talk to you, pretty? Just for a few minutes?"

Evie stiffened.

She didn't like his tone. She didn't like how close he was. She didn't like any of this.

Her jaw clenched as she replied, her voice sharper now.

"What are you doing here... I don't want to talk to you."

She stepped aside, trying to move past him and leave. Her body screamed for distance. But before she could take another step, he reached out and grabbed her shoulder–not harshly, but firmly enough to keep her from walking away.

She froze.

His grip kept her in place as he leaned in just a little more. His other hand rested against the locker beside her, blocking her escape. She felt her back hit the cold metal.

"Come on, girl", he said, his voice low and lazy like he wasn't even trying to hide his arrogance.

"I'm interested in talking to you. Just give me a minute."

★ ★ ★

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