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It's time. Taehyung steels himself staring at his locker, hoping the bout of courage he so needs would just jump out.
But no, it's just him, his large specs, retainers, and various text books cheering him on to finally go and confess to his crush.
Said crush is the school's very own soccer team captain and MVP Jeon Jungkook, most popular in the school; swooned by many, asked out by a handful of people too. He also remembers the onslaught of chocolate that had fallen from Jungkook's locker last Valentines day- Ah who is Taehyung kidding? Even if he did confess, nothing would come out of it. Jungkook wouldn't return his feelings, as he apparently had with many others who had confessed before Taehyung. With a heavy sigh he closes his locker and grips the straps of his backpack.
He's prepared for this day for a long time, ever since he realized his feelings for the soccer jock. But Taehyung isn't sure Jungkook remembers the reason why he fell for the athlete in the first place: Taehyung had dropped the books he brought from the library in the middle of the busy hallway. It was nearing the next period so it was understandable why nobody stopped to help him. He thinks he would have done the same if he was in a hurry to get to class.
Suddenly someone else picked up his books for him. When he looked up a kind bunny-like smile greeted him.
And then he fell hard.
Taehyung sighs. It's been... what? Two years since then? Stretch it out for longer and he'll never be able to tell Jungkook how he feels even after they graduate. And it's not like Taehyung expects something in return. He just wants to tell Jungkook out of good heart.
But Jungkook had probably heard the same thing a hundred times already. Taehyung's words would probably mean nothing new to him.
Maybe the café would be a good place to bemoan his pathetic excuse of courage.
But before he could step away from his locker, someone taps on his shoulder.
To his surprise its one of the soccer team's players, Park Jimin. They share a few classes, and they do speak every so often, so he thinks Jimin is here to ask for something he didn't quite get from the lesson they had earlier.
"Hey, Tae!" Jimin says with a friendly smile.
"Hey, Jimin. What's up?" Taehyung greets returning his smile rather awkwardly.
"Oh nothing just..." Jimin chuckles. "Someone wanted to give you this."
He his hand extends something to Taehyung and he looks down to what Jimin is holding out. It's a rose with a note attached to its smooth stem.
"Wh-what is this?" Taehyung blushes, eyes going wide in surprise because who would give him a rose?
"It's a clue, silly," Jimin giggles as he hands him the rose and Taehyung takes it gingerly. "They're not really hard riddles, though. Plus you're smart I'm sure you'll be able to finish it before five. See ya!" Jimin gives a two finger salute.
"J-Jimin, wait..." Taehyung calls but the other is already skipping towards the school exit.
He looks down at the rose again and takes the small note to read it.
What has many keys but can’t open a single lock?
Taehyung furrows his brows at the riddle. This is something his friend from the music club said to him. He hikes his back up higher his back and goes to the music room, despite not really knowing what this is for.
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
"Hello?" Taehyung calls as he peeks his head into the music room. It's empty, save for one person on the piano.
"Ah, you're here," he gets up from the piano as if he had been expecting Taehyung this whole time.
"Yoongi-hyung, what is this for?" Taehyung asks as Yoongi does the same thing Jimin had except this time it's a small old iPod.
"Just go with it, Tae," Yoongi rolls his eyes but with a fond smile. "That's another clue. I was supposed to head home but the brat begged for my help."
"Who?"
"Sorry, can't tell. That's what the riddles are for. Good luck, Tae!" Yoongi waves a hand with a smile before walking past Taehyung and out of the door.
He watches as Yoongi's back goes further and further down the hall. He was hoping the elder would stay and explain some more, but knowing his hyung the precious minutes he could have taken for a nap have been wasted.
He slides back into the music room where he sets his bag down, curiosity for the device peaking more than his curiosity for the note.
There is only one song listed on the ancient device. He clicks the play button until a sweet melody of a piano comes and not long a soft voice starts to sing.
As the song comes to a close, Taehyung's heart clenches. The voice sounds familiar, so close to home yet so blurred in his memory.
There's only one way to find out. He looks at the little note that came with the player.
What has a bottom at the top?
Someone else would have thought of an innuendo. Taehyung, though, thinks this game is too easy.
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
He gets to the track field where only a few people are. It's Friday, and even athletes get excited for their needed time off the field.
A few though, this person he is looking for included, likes to spend some time warming up.
"Taehyungie-ah!" he hears a familiar voice call for him and turns to the source to find his childhood friend Hoseok come running up to him.
"Hobi-hyung! I thought you go home early on Fridays."
"I do, but there's an upcoming track meet and I wanna be in my best form," he doesn't stop jogging in place even as he stops in front of Taehyung. "Ah, right... Where was that," he digs into the pocket of his jogging pants and fishes out what looks like a plastic bookmark, one Taehyung silently pined for at the bookstore on his way home (His mother wouldn't let him buy it. He had way too many bookmarks at home already).
With it is another note.
"I'm gonna continue my laps," Hoseok gives him a two fingered salute and a wink. "Good luck, Taehyungie!"
"Wait, hyung, can you at least tell me-"
"Sorry, not allowed to answer," Hoseok calls back, likely figuring what Taehyung was going to say. By the time Taehyung wishes to say more Hoseok has already sprinted to the other side of the field.
He looks down at the bookmark and looks at it from front to back. It's a strange bookmark, plastic flat body with a hand on top, so when you use it it appears as if someone's hand it sticking out from the pages, desperately trying to pull his way out of the book.
It's sweet how someone knew he wanted this. He has told a few about his strange need for this very bookmark. He's even more curious now on whose sending these notes.
Biting his lower lip in excitement he reads the next note.
What has words but never speaks?
A giggle escapes his lips. He figures this bookmark is going to be used sooner than he expected.
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
"Hey, Taehyung," the student volunteer at the library, Namjoon, smiles flashing his dimples as Taehyung enters the library.
"Hi, hyung," Taehyung smiles at the other before looking around for someone who would perk up at his entrance. There aren't much students inside, so it would be easy to notice who has been expecting him.
A giggle sounds in front of him and Taehyung turns in time to see Namjoon handing him something hard bound.
"I see this excites you," he says sliding a note with the hardbound book as well.
Taehyung eyes are trained to the book resting on top of the circulating desk. Never in his life did he ever imagine owning such a rare gem at this age.
"Th-This is..."
"Before you react," Namjoon stops him. "Your secret admirer bought this off second hand and he wanted you to know that. If you don't want it he said-"
"Are you kidding me? I don't care if they got this off a ghost," Taehyung rests his hands on the table, book in between his arms as touching it would be akin to burning his house. "Hold on... Did you say secret admirer," he looks back up to Namjoon confusingly as he realizes the full sentence.
Namjoon chuckles. "You got most of the riddles right but didn't figure out that all of this is being done by your secret admirer?"
"Well, the riddles are easy," Taehyung shrugs.
"Well Ju.... stin," Namjoon laughs nervously. "He's a simple kind of guy. Or well.. he thinks he's simple."
"Justin? Do I know this guy?"
"Do you know a Justin?"
"No, I don't. Hold up... I know this person?"
"Alright, I think I've said enough," Namjoon takes the book and shoves it straight to Taehyung arms.
He thinks he skips a heartbeat when he almost doesn't keep it from falling. Thankfully it doesn't. He's about to scold Namjoon but the other is already on his way to the backroom where he knows Taehyung couldn't catch him.
Oh well, it seems like this little game isn't over. But now knowing who started it (rather having an idea of who) makes Taehyung heart skip in anticipation.
He reads the next note.
I have lakes with no water, mountains with no stone and cities with no buildings. What am I?
He furrows his brow in confusion, not because he doesn't know the answer but because he doesn't know where to find it. He tries to go to the social studies classrooms but they're all closed and empty. Scratching his head, he thinks harder on where to...
Oh...
OH.
The school gate.
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
"About time," the senior rolls his eyes and huffs in relief upon seeing Taehyung approach. "He said you would have figured this out easily."
"I did," Taehyung smiles up at his cousin, Seokjin, who he isn't surprised to find jumping into this little bandwagon. "Do you even know how many maps there are in school?"
"Ask that to your secret admirer," Seokjin says as he lazily hands out a chocolate bar to Taehyung. "Ya know he wanted to give these to you during valentines but chickened out."
The information shocks Taehyung. Someone wanted to give him chocolates?
"Yah, don't act like you're unlikeable," Seokjin flicks his forehead lightly but it still makes him flinch. "You're really good looking, even when you still had braces. You just lack self confidence."
"No I don't," Taehyung pouts.
"No I don't to what?" Seokjin raises a brow with a smirk but before Taehyung could answer, Seokjin raises a hand and turns waving Taehyung goodbye. "I'll see you at Sunday barbeque, cousin dear. Hopefully you'll have a boyfriend to show off by then."
Taehyung sputters his reply and he hears Seokjin's windshield wiper like laugh as he slowly retreats.
The chocolate looks expensive, but Seokjin did say this was supposed to be given last valentines. People did tend to go overboard with what to buy for people the liked... or loved. Ah, the idea makes Taehyung's cheeks flush. He's never had anyone go such lengths to show their affection for him. For a second his mind imagines his crush doing these things, but immediately drops the thought because Jeon Jungkook probably doesn't even know him.
Sure Taehyung is a common face in the field once the soccer team's practice goes on, but he's usually alone an away from Jungkook's other 'fans'. They share one or two classes, but it's not like they're seated close. Besides, Jungkook always had people surround him. It would be impossible for him to see anyone else out of the many circles he's fit himself into.
He sighs. Since it's impossible for Jungkook to do this, Taehyung will have to prepare a whole speech of turning his admirer down. But maybe given a chance, Taehyung will fall for them, too. Argh, he doesn't know.
He might as well finish the little game, though.
What invention lets you look right through a wall?
Just like the previous riddle, it's easy but the answer to this can be found all over their school. There are three buildings filled with these. Where is he supposed to look first?
His secret admirer is not so sweet anymore, Taehyung thinks with a pout. He huffs as his eyes roam through the windows of the building, the afternoon sky starting to look a tad bit darker indicating the sun would be ready to set in about an hour.
If he goes through the whole campus, then Jimin's prediction that he could finish before five would be thrown right out the window... literally.
But he still thinks. What would connect with him and this thing? Is it in the cafeteria? No, he eats near a wall but not a...
Hold on...
His thoughts bring him to the many days he sighs in a bit of envy as people flock Jungkook's seat at the opposite side of the room. To ignore such feelings he glances to his left where the outdoor scenery is pleasant.
He knows where he has to go.
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
Literature is one of the two subjects Taehyung takes with Jungkook. And in literature he sits on the front row by the window.
As he gets to the classroom he peeks by the door to see if anyone is there and he doesn't know if it's to his relief, because his heart is racing a mile a minute, someone is standing by the window, his back to Taehyung.
He takes a deep breath in. He tells himself he can handle this. And whoever it is he could try and see where it goes. Maybe go on a few dates and...
He thoughts run a mile a minute that he doesn't notice the person inside had turned around. As Taehyung looks up in time to see it, his wide eyes meet surprised orbs as well.
Oh...
OH.
Inside... He... He... Does eyes... Tall and broad... Just like in the field... oh boy... Oh boy... OH BOY...
Panicking, Taehyung crouches down in hiding, his back to the door. His hands fly to his face feeling how warm it has gotten. In his chest, he feels his heart freeze then when the thinks about the person inside, it feels like it explodes then starts blasting itself to the moon.
And he's sure this wasn't the reaction he expected to have. Because he dropped the idea of Jeon Jungkook being the secret admirer the minute he thought of it.
But now Jungkook is inside... He goes through the notes with the riddles... Any indication that this might be the last...
Oh... This might not be the last. Jungkook must be helping his secret admirer was well.
Alright... no need to freak out. No need to panic.
He slowly gets up from his crouching positions and turns to see Jungkook still in the same position but with an expression that looks almost... hopeful.
Taehyung adjusts his glasses to make sure he's seeing that correctly.
With another deep breath in, he enters the classroom and forces a smile. It comes out more awkward.
"H-Hi, Jungkook-ssi," he says through a toothy smile.
"Hi," Jungkook says releasing a breath and oh does his voice sound pleasant. Tahyung only ever hears his voice when he passes. Now Jungkook is talking to him.
"S-So," Jungkook scratches the back of his head. He almost looks awkward. "You uh... Got the gifts?"
"Y-Yeah," Taehyung nods sheepishly. "The riddles too."
Jungkook hums with a nod and they fall into silence... Heavy and awkward with something unspoken hanging up the air.
Plus Jungkook almost looks... shy. Nothing like how outgoing and easy to speak with Jungkook usually is.
"So..." Taehyung decides to break the silence first. "You have another note with a riddle for me?"
"No.. I mean yes... I mean..." Jungkook purses his lips before handing him another note. The only difference this time is that there's no gift that goes with it.
But Taehyung isn't going to ask. He's thankful enough for the gifts his secret admirer got for him.
"Its a note... but not really a riddle," Jungkook says before Taehyung could read.
He chuckles lowly thinking of the other riddles he got. "The ones before this were pretty easy to figure out."
"That... You dont have to figure this one out," Jungkook says putting on a brave expression, but still with worry creasing his brows. "It just... The answer has to be true to your heart."
"True to my..." Taehyung then looks down at the note, eyes slowly widening as he goes through the words more than once to process if this really is real.
Will you go out with me?
"Y-Y-You're my secret admirer?" Taehyung points a shaky finger to Jungkook who nods slowly, a small smile on his face. "B-but... Huh?... How... I... I'm lame."
Jungkook's brows pinch together, like a puppy had just been kicked in front of him.
"Where did you get that idea?"
Taehyung shrugs. Nobody gave him that idea except for himself. "I just... Never would have expected for you to ever like someone like me."
"And why wouldn't I?" Jungkook says stepping closer to Taehyung. "Taehyung, you're the smartest, kindest person I know. You always have a smile ready for anybody, a hand ready to help even when others don't. You have appreciate the smallest of things so greatly, and you're so expressive when you read it's kind of cute."
"W-When did you see me read?" Taehyung's face flushes even more, because hes not unaware of how he reads. He got scolded by his dad more than a handful of times because he yells or even chuckles dreamily when he reads. To be aware that Jungkook knows of his habit makes him dread over the fact that Jungkook might have seen him flinga book across the room.
But when Jungkook giggles lightly at his question, it somewhat tells him it's nothing bad. In fact, Jungkook almost looks fond.
"I see you sitting alone by the bleachers during soccer practice," Jungkook says softly. "You always have a book with you, always reading and I always thought how it's really cute of you when you pout and how you light up while you read. I like seeing you enjoying the story and... yeah, it makes me happy to see you happy."
Jungkook is close, the closest he's ever been and they're not even touching. Taehyung feels that one move will determine whether space that's left in between them will be gone or not.
"You don't have to give me an answer now," Jungkook pulls him out of his small stupor. "I understand if you're not ready for this kind of thing, or maybe you don't like me at all and-"
"But I do like you."
He realizes he just blurted out his thoughts like that out in the open. Jungkook's look of shock makes Taehyung gasp and throw a hand up to cover his mouth.
"Wh-What did you say?"
And Jungkook looks hopeful, its not just am assumption from Taehyung's thoughts. When Jungkook's does eyes sparkle, Taehyung throws his guard out and thinks, fuck it.
"I... I do like you," Taehyung says as he draws his own hand back. "I really, really like you, Jeon Jungkook. I have for a long time now and... I was looking for a right time to confess but..." Taehyung giggles. "You beat me to it."
Jungkook's wide open mouth in shock slowly curls up to the brightest smile Taehyung has ever seen. The next he knows his Jungkook hopping around like an excited bunny.
"I can't believe this. You... You actually like me? The feeling is mutual?"
Taehyung nods back shyly. "I should be saying that. I never... I never thought you would like someone like me."
Jungkook's smile drops a fraction and Taehyung wonders if he said anything wrong.
"Don't sell yourself short," Jungkook says. "You're amazing, Taehyung. I wish you could see yourself the same way I see you."
"I... I should be telling you that," the way it comes out sounds like a small whine making Jungkook giggle.
"How about this," he gingerly reaches for Taehyungs hand, only the pads of their fingers touching. "Let's praise each other more until we see ourselves the same way we see the other."
"Sounds like a good idea," Taehyung easily replies because when Jungkook looks at him so softly he thinks maybe his self perception can change.
Jungkook steps closer and Taehyung heart thuds heavily in his chest.
"May I?" Jungkook asks lowly, eyes moving down to his lips.
And Taehyung wants what Jungkook wants. He nods slowly closing his eyes as Jungkook comes closer and closer until their lips touch.
Its nothing like the fireworks and sparks he's read in books. What Taehyung feels is a pause all around him and the slightest move as it all moving in fast motion. It applies to his heart, to their hands that are now completely interlaced, to the hand snaking around his waist to pulk him closer.
Until they part and stare at each others eyes, smiling at how they loved the feeling.
They exchange a few more kisses in the classroom until the sun visibly sets behind the window.
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
Together they walk out of the school building hand in hand, with the sky turning a beautiful canvas of oranges and yellows.
It is then when Taehyung asks, "How'd you get the others to help you by the way?"
"Well Jimin offered, of course, he's my best friend," Jungkook chuckles. "As for the hyungs, Namjoon is my neighbor and Hoseok and I usually see each other in the field, so it was easy to ask them. Then Hoseokie-hyung suggested I get you cousin's help. He was the hardest to ask for help from. He wouldnt stop interrogating me."
"Sounds just like Jinnie-hyung," Taehyung giggles as he presses closer to Jungkook. "What did he tell you."
"Something along the lines of castrating me if I ever hurt you, and always repeating the same question if Im even good for you."
"Awe," Taehyung coos. "I think Jin-hyung just wanted to make fun you of. He always knew I liked you."
"Really?" Jungkook smirks and Taehyung nods.
"And you and I both know you're good for me."
"The same goes for you."
So yeah, Taehyung never expected to be able to confess to Jungkook. But what he also fidnt expect was for his crush to pull out a cliche stunt straight out of a YA novel. But Taehyung doesn't mind. It makes him feel all sort of giddy.
And with the warmth of Jungkook's and in his, he feels that the two of them together, like this, feels all kinds of right.
He wouldn't change it for the world