*JUNGKOOK POV*

jungkook slumped back into the couch, mind racing with unwanted thoughts. perhaps he was blowing things out of proportion, but it was evident something was off.

taehyung had not left his room for two whole days straight. his door was locked shut and he chose to communicate with jungkook only by text. it was weird, if jungkook might say.

there was no trace of light that could lead jungkook to the right solution. he even tried breaking taehyung's door open, but only got small whines and groans in response. was the dude pregnant?

"fuck," he groaned out. jungkook never knew finding interest in someone would be this difficult.

jungkook felt someone lightly shove his body to the opposite side of the couch, intending to make room for themself. he took a quick look at dokyeom and proceeded to stare at the wall.

"what's with you?" dokyeom asked with a hint of humor in his tone.

it was obvious that there was a tenseness in jungkook's muscles. he explained to dokyeom that taehyung was being awfully moody, but more than usual. jungkook had not once seen him step foot out of the guest bedroom.

the stress spread through jungkook's mind like paint on a canvas. "did i do something?"

"i doubt it," dokyeom hummed, picking at his cuticles. "maybe it was him."

jungkook glanced upward before examining dokyeom's face. he didn't know whether it was his words or actions, but one could easily tell dokyeom was suppressing his actual thoughts on the situation.

"what do you mean?"

and that was when dokyeom let loose.

"we both know how smart taehyung's mouth can get," he addressed. the tone in his voice was light and calm, yet passive aggressive. "he might've messed with the wrong person this time and now he regrets it."

jungkook disagreed. hands slipped in pockets, he continued thinking. "nah, i don't think so. taehyung's a pretty nice person unless provoked."

"i disagree."

"what?"

"sometimes he isn't that nic—"

"can you shut the fuck up?"

words left the both of them. the two searched their mind for something reasonable to say, but nothing came up.

jungkook had been working hard to keep his temper in tact, but there was no way he would allow dokyeom to talk about taehyung that way.

"you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, huh?" dokyeom remarked.

"what the hell is your problem with taehyung? you've been acting weird ever since that one day i got pissed at you for rubbing his back."

dokyeom only chuckled in reply.

"what's so fucking hilarious?" jungkook's face almost reddened out of anger. his eyes were completely empty in regards to empathy and his heart hammered erratically.

he expected dokyeom to be intimidated, but dokyeom simply grinned as if they were play-fighting. the dude could pass as a psychopath.

"can you relax?" dokyeom playfully scowled.

jungkook drew in a deep breath. if there's one thing he despised, it was not being taken seriously when angry.

he suddenly slammed dokyeom's head into the glass table. any more force would've completely caused the table to shatter. dokyeom lost the grin on his face and began gritting his teeth.

"jungkook, let me go."

"tell me why taehyung has you so bothered. what, you jealous that someone else is living with us for a change?"

"jealous?!" he spat out. he tried raising his body up, but fell limp. jungkook was noticeably the stronger out of the two.

"nobody's jealous, dumbass. i'm just being honest." dokyeom gave jungkook a burning stare and it was unbreakable. "taehyung needs to fucking get rid of his slick mouth. that's probably why he's up there all depressed, because his stupid shit caught up with him."

dokyeom didn't stop there. "just because he's your quick fuck doesn't mean he shouldn't be called out on his bullshit."

jungkook felt his blood drain. it was after a few seconds that jungkook finally rammed his fist into dokyeom's lip.

"say that shit again. say it!" he growled.

dokyeom gasped for air. "wait—"

he slammed his fist into dokyeom's face again, this time targeting his left eye. jungkook had formed multiple bruises on the elder in the time span of two minutes.

"p-please," dokyeom quivered. he attempted to spit blood in the younger's face out of bitterness, but jungkook simply dodged it.

jungkook lifted dokyeom's head up from the blood-stained table and threw his body against the couch. it was almost amusing to see how quickly that smile disappeared from dokyeom's face after getting punched.

"i'm done with you," jungkook confirmed. he examined his slightly bruised fist before kicking dokyeom's leg out of his way. "don't ever talk about tae that way again."

dokyeom's chest gently rose and sank with each breath he took "i-i don't care about that taehyung dude. him and i don't even speak." the pain he felt in his face was indescribable. "i was just trying to help—"

"i don't need your help."

jungkook left the bloody mess, traveling up the staircase. he planned on dealing with taehyung once and for all, and him being fired up already gave him the boost he needed.

he immediately pounded on the door in a demanding manner. "open the door, kid."

taehyung whimpered.

jungkook sighed at the elder's stubbornness. "look, things can't be like this anymore. i didn't bring you into my house just for us to avoid each other. what did i even do?"

there was silence.

"come on. is it your fucking hormones or something?"

still silence.

"kim taehyung. i know you hate when i curse, but you better open this fucking door right now!"

yes, you guessed it. silence.

jungkook was spiraling into exhaustion. he forgot where the master key was, so he was basically left hopeless. the only option he had was to mislead the elder.

"hey, i have a huge gallon of strawberry ice cream!"

he didn't know how, but he could just feel the positive energy radiate from taehyung after saying those words. the two were separated by the white door but the sudden excitement taehyung felt bounced onto jungkook.

the door slowly opened, and taehyung shyly stuck his head out. his blue hair stuck out in different directions, untamable and unruly. jungkook fought the urge to ruffle the small male's hair, but knew it wasn't the time.

"where's the ice cream?" taehyung instantly inquired.

ignoring him, jungkook trudged in the room. everything was surprisingly neat. he expected dirty clothes to be piled up and unorganized papers to overwhelm him as soon as he entered, but it seemed taehyung had put good use into having a presentable room.

taehyung, on the other hand, looked fatigued.
his drooping eyes were begging for at least an hour of sleep and his face was stained with tears. jungkook assumed now was the appropriate time to get an explanation.

"so, you wanna tell me why you locked yourself in your room for two days straight?"

taehyung hummed. "just felt like it."

"you just felt like it?" jungkook narrowed his eyes. it was hard for taehyung to annoy him, but the elder was really pushing it. "did i upset you or something?"

"no."

"so what was this whole self-isolation thing about, corona?"

taehyung giggled. it was obviously forced. "i just didn't feel well so i needed time alone. i'm good now, i think."

jungkook fell deep in thought about what left taehyung this way. if things were his fault he would've known, but taehyung showed absolutely no animosity towards him.

something bad happened, and jungkook was going to find out.

"get ready."

"for what?" taehyung asked. he was still searching for his strawberry ice cream.

"we're going on a date."

taehyung's eyebrows arched to the sky and his mouth gaped open. it took a few seconds for the information to properly sink into his brain. jungkook had probably been on millions of dates so the words easily slipped out. unlike him, taehyung was inexperienced.

"but i'm an ugly eater! you're gonna watch me eat a hamburger and run away," taehyung complained. jungkook could tell his nerves got the best of him.

"doesn't matter. we're leaving the house."

the blue-haired male groaned. "but, kook—"

"i'll bring the car out. you have twenty minutes to get ready."

taehyung sighed. there was no use to argue.

jungkook left the room, now standing in the middle of the hallway. his lips stretched wide into a cavernous grin. nobody would've guessed it'd be that simple to lead taehyung out of his room.

he advanced down the stairs to leave his house and start the car. he caught sight of dokyeom, who was laying in the same position jungkook left him helpless in. it was an interesting view.

"hey, dok?"

"y-yes?" there was a crack in his timid, compliant voice. he was avoiding trouble.

jungkook inspected the blood on the glass table and carpet.

"get this mess cleaned up before i get back."