Beautiful Chaos

Taehyung is jELlY

The day was winding down after a chaotic series of events, and Taehyung, who'd been unusually quiet during the day, was now watching from across the courtyard as Jungkook chatted animatedly with Minho. They were sitting on the low brick wall, laughing over some inside joke that only the two of them seemed to get. Taehyung could feel an unfamiliar tug in his chest, a knot tightening the more he watched them.

Normally, Taehyung would've joined them without a second thought, but today, something was different. Jungkook's laughter sounded too carefree, too... familiar with Minho. Taehyung's gaze flicked between the two—Jungkook, with his bright smile that could light up an entire room, and Minho, who seemed a little too interested in every word Jungkook said.

"Why is he laughing so much with him?" Taehyung muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for his own ears to catch. His fingers tightened around the strap of his bag. He wasn't sure why, but something about the way Minho was leaning closer, casually brushing his arm against Jungkook's, felt like an intrusion. A small voice in the back of Taehyung's mind whispered: He's my best friend. No one else gets to make him laugh like that.

Jungkook caught sight of him then, his face lighting up as he waved enthusiastically. "Hey, Tae!" he called out, his voice all sunshine and warmth. But Taehyung didn't immediately smile back. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing for a fraction of a second.

Jungkook, ever the optimist, didn't notice the shift and hopped off the brick wall to jog toward him. As he approached, Taehyung couldn't help but watch the way Jungkook moved, the effortless grace in his every step that only seemed to draw people in. His heart skipped a beat when Jungkook reached him, his hand reaching out for Taehyung's shoulder in that familiar, comfortable way they'd done a thousand times.

But this time, Taehyung flinched.

"Hey, what's up?" Jungkook asked, clearly oblivious to the strange tension in the air. He smiled that signature smile of his, all brightness and joy, but Taehyung couldn't shake the feeling in his chest. He cleared his throat, trying to mask it, but his voice was a little rougher than usual.

"Nothing. Just... I don't know." He shrugged, trying to play it off, but his eyes were still fixed on Minho, who was watching the two of them from a distance, leaning casually against a tree with a smirk that Taehyung didn't like at all.

Jungkook, noticing the direction of his gaze, laughed. "Oh, don't be jelly, Tae. Minho's a cool guy. We're just talking."

"Talking, huh?" Taehyung's tone came out sharper than he intended. "Just talking, huh?" He repeated, voice dripping with something that sounded almost possessive. Jungkook didn't seem to catch the weight behind his words, though.

"Yeah, just talking." Jungkook waved it off casually, still unaware of the storm brewing in Taehyung's chest. He turned his attention back to Minho, who was now walking towards them with a confident swagger.

Taehyung's eyes followed Minho, his jaw tightening. There was that smile again—flashing, too friendly, as if they'd been friends for years. Something stirred uncomfortably in Taehyung's gut, and before he could stop himself, he found himself muttering under his breath. "He's always so close to you."

Jungkook blinked at him, caught off guard. "What?"

Taehyung shook his head quickly, trying to regain his composure. "Nothing." He smiled a little too brightly, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's fine, really. It's just you and me, right?" He clapped Jungkook on the back in an attempt to mask the sudden insecurity creeping up his spine.

But Jungkook didn't miss the shift. The way Taehyung's smile didn't quite match the tone of his words. He raised an eyebrow, studying his friend closely. "You sure? You seem a little off."

"I'm fine." Taehyung's smile softened, but there was a distinct edge to his voice. He was trying so hard to keep the jealousy in check, but it was like trying to hold back a tidal wave with a single hand.

Jungkook was about to say something when Minho approached them, all easy charm and confidence, as if he hadn't noticed the tension. "Hey, Tae," Minho greeted casually, before his eyes flickered to Jungkook. "Are you guys heading over to the main building for the event soon?"

Jungkook was about to respond, but before he could, Taehyung, without even thinking, cut in. "No," he said quickly, his voice much colder than usual. "We're just going to hang out here. Alone."

Minho blinked, caught off guard by Taehyung's sudden change in tone. He opened his mouth to say something, but Taehyung just shot him a pointed look that made him hesitate. After a beat, Minho just nodded, his lips twitching upward in a knowing smirk before walking off.

Jungkook watched the interaction with wide eyes, completely confused. "Dude, what the hell? Why'd you—"

"I don't like it," Taehyung interrupted, his voice low and serious. "I don't like him getting so close to you." His words hung in the air, raw and unfiltered.

Jungkook blinked, a flutter of realization suddenly hitting him like a ton of bricks. "Tae..." He reached for Taehyung's arm, his heart pounding in his chest. "Are you... are you jealous?"

Taehyung didn't answer immediately. His gaze flickered to the ground, his lips tight. When he finally looked back up, there was a faint blush on his cheeks, and his eyes—usually so full of mischief—were clouded with something softer, something that made Jungkook's heart skip a beat.

"Maybe," Taehyung admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe I don't like sharing you."

Jungkook felt his stomach drop, his chest tightening with a mix of surprise and something warmer, something that made him feel giddy and nervous all at once.

"You're my best friend, Tae," Jungkook said softly, moving closer, almost as if instinctively. "No one else gets to be as close to me as you."

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat at the words. He looked up, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, but it was a smile that made Jungkook feel like he had just been handed the most precious thing in the world.

And for a brief moment, the world seemed to disappear around them, leaving just the two of them standing there—no teasing, no distractions, just the undeniable connection between them.

Jungkook, swallowing the nervous lump in his throat, finally said what he'd been meaning to say for so long. "Tae, I think you're the only one who'll ever matter to me."

Taehyung's smile was the kind that made Jungkook feel like he was soaring. And without another word, Taehyung pulled him into a hug, tighter than usual, as if holding on to something—no, someone—he never wanted to let go of.

Jungkook's heart raced as he sank into the embrace, his own arms tightening around Taehyung, silently promising that no one, not even Minho, would ever come between them.