Fake smile

This ever-cheerful guy flew into Jungkook’s life like a whirlwind. On his way, he managed to capture dozens of hearts that were thrown at his feet: girls, boys - it doesn’t matter. Although their first meeting did not go well. Is this due to a bad first impression or Jungkook’s distrust, who knows? But the fact is that Taehyung literally fell at his feet right at the freshman meeting. - Sorry! — the guy raises his hand up, capitulating. Taking all the laughs from his future classmates, he quickly gets up, without even shaking off his dusty pants, and meets Jungkook’s frowning eyebrows. His caramel-colored hair is a mess, and his clothes don’t look at all like the required uniform; the long-sleeved sweatshirt alone is worth it in twenty-five degree heat. “You were late and made a scene,” Chon immediately shows his firm position regarding such tricks. “Yes, boss,” the stranger salutes in response with a smile from ear to ear, as if he hadn’t just scraped his knees off the floor, “this won’t happen again.” My name is Kim Taehyung, I’m new,” he holds out his hand and removes it with a sigh when Jungkook doesn’t shake it back. This asshole not only violated the routine, but also dares to smile with all his teeth right in the face of the one in front of whom he made a mistake. People like him always do things against the rules. Jungkook doesn't tolerate this. “Pak,” Chon calls to one of his classmates, “take Mr. Kim to the infirmary, and then let him help organize the freshman competition I was talking about.”“Come on, I’m fine, I don’t need a doctor,” the guy quickly waves it off and again displeases Jungkook. - Puck, did you hear me? I don't need those shot down in the ranks. - Okay, Jungkook. It seems to Jeongguk that for an invisible split second Taehyung’s smile thins, but he chooses not to notice it, returning to his speech. Jungkook is carrying heavy boxes of suits when he sees the misfortune that has fallen on his head for the second time. Taehyung sneaks up quietly, like a ghost, and takes him by surprise, jumping out in front of Jeongguk with the same wide smile on his face. “So that’s your name, big boss.” Jungkook, right? “Don’t call me that,” the older student walks by, trying his best to ignore the younger one. But he doesn’t lag behind. - How? Jungkook? Okay, big boss! - Taehyung giggles cheerfully, following on his heels. Jungkook snorts, quickening his pace. He also dares to mock. “Okay, wait, wait,” he quickly catches up, putting his hands in front of him, and Jungkook, he doesn’t know why, stops. Perhaps due to the fact that the smile on the other person’s face finally faded, and his eyes ran from side to side, trying to escape his gaze. - Well? I have business here, if you can’t see,” he hurries up the long pause. - Oh, exactly. I heard you are accepting registration for a boxing club, can I join? Jungkook looks him up and down. Thin legs, which are covered with light jeans, and probably the same arms, hidden under another colorful sweatshirt.He definitely doesn't look like a fighter, but who is Jungkook to refuse someone? — Is it enough strength? They won’t stand on ceremony with you just because you’re new,” he lies with a teasing smile on his face. “I can handle it, big boss,” and runs away as quickly as he appeared, only managing to mock Jungkook once again when he puts his straight palm to his temple. Chon rolls his eyes. It’s still strange, not as simple as it seems at first glance. Jungkook is sure that he will still have time to mess with him. “You don’t change your habits, Kim Taehyung,” Jungkook, now in the role of assistant coach, towers over Kim lying on the floor like a large rock. Clicking his tongue, he offers his hand to this misunderstanding, who was late again and kissed the floor. - At least something in this life should be permanent! Taehyung laughs loudly, which seems almost fake, and, grabbing his hand, almost jumps on the unexpected Chon. The latter only manages to hold him by the waist so as not to fall together, but Kim suddenly frowns, as if in pain. And he jumps away from the senior student at lightning speed. - Hey, are you okay? “Jungkook doesn’t understand this reaction.” - Does something hurt you? However, Kim only quickly shakes her head at this, hiding everything behind a giggle, and begins to parody the boxers in the ring, cutting the air with her fists to prove her words. - Do you see? I'm ready to go into battle, even now. Just give me the equipment. - Take it easy, Muhammad Ali. It’s too early for you to go up there,” Jungkook eloquently points his chin towards the ring, “you can’t even stand on your feet.” Taehyung’s enthusiasm doesn’t waver for a moment, although Chon is no longer sure of anything. In the eyes of the younger one, he sees a faint glimmer of hope, but for what? - There's your equipment over there, fighter. You should like the jump rope the most. Change clothes and get started, the locker room is right down the corridor and to the end,” Chon already wants to go to his boxing partners, but again he hears someone else’s voice. “I’ll do this, it’s more convenient,” he says more quietly than usual, not so confidently, even somehow ashamed, and the older man is even frightened by such a change in mood. It frightens only until the moment he does not understand the meaning of what was said. - How are you going to deal with this? — Jungkook skeptically looks at his dark turtleneck with a high neck and sweatpants. “Are you going to stink up everything here later?” — Do boxing trainings have any special dress code? Taehyung arches an eyebrow and quips. Again. However, now Jungkook is tormented by doubts. Is it really a matter of his character and spoiled behavior, or is this boy just skillfully switching from defense to attack? - Okay, it's your business, but don't say I didn't warn you when you're drenched in streams of sweat. Jungkook leaves, but instinctively throughout the training, his eyes keep catching a figure practicing in the corner. He performs jumping rope, standing on one leg, and absolutely all the tasks given by the coach to improve coordination with particular ardor. Jeongwoo would be proud of him and glad that he’s not being a philanderer, but inside there’s only an incomprehensible anxiety.What is the goal of this cheerful boy with a secret hidden in his sandy eyes? The day turned out to be quite sunny for the second month of autumn. And it was on this day that Jungkook first realized that Taehyung was lying. Usually this did not happen, but when the senior year received an invitation from the junior for a short walk, Chon unexpectedly agreed. It was an ordinary trip to a restaurant with a continuation in an amusement park, and it seemed that nothing could hook Jungkook so much, but he heard familiar laughter everywhere. It was as if, even being several tens of meters above the ground, his ears were ringing. Jungkook noticed that he was no longer irritated, now he was drawn to him like sunflowers to the sun. He himself does not notice how he is looking for its source with his eyes, and finds it next to the stand with winning toys. Taehyung stands happy with his victory with a huge pig in his hands, and his smile makes his cheeks look like a plush patch. And then Kim catches his gaze, and the senior student’s heart involuntarily skips a beat. Jungkook hurries to turn away, but does not have time, because the very next second he runs closer, hearing someone scream. “What a horror, Taehyung, please forgive me, I didn’t mean to,” Sujin’s plaintive voice is heard. - What happened? — Jungkook almost flies up to them, stopping himself from colliding with his heels. - Oppa, I accidentally turned around, and the machine gun was in my hand, so I hit Taehyung. I tore his sweater, I’m so sorry – there are tears in her eyes, and the people crowding around her are not helping to calm her down.“It’s okay, Sujin, it’s a pity, of course, but not fatal, I’ll survive,” Taehyung pats her on her thin shoulder, hidden under a not at all autumn dress. Jungkook is amazed at how calm he is while Jung himself is in a hurricane inside. “Oh, Taehyung, you have a bruise here, did unnie hurt you?” – Lisa screams, causing droplets to soon fall from Sujin’s eyes. “Let me see,” Jungkook finally can’t stand it and, pushing through the onlookers, approaches Taehyung to examine his hand. The bruise on his arm is fresh, as if it was placed yesterday. - No, that's not true. Don’t worry, Sujin, you know that I go to boxing, and this is a sport where you can’t do without injuries,” he chuckles, as if there is no wound above his elbow, which probably hurts terribly. As soon as Kim says these words, Chon immediately glances up at him and sees that he is looking back. There is no fun in other people's eyes now, and the smile is as false as all his excuses. Jungkook, like no one else, knows that Taehyung did not enter the ring, much less fight, having spent the entire month practicing coordination, reaction and attentiveness. In the pupils of the younger one there is prayer, fear, a mix of various emotions and not a single positive one. - Right. Hwasa, please take Sujin to another place and calm him down, while I find an ointment for Taehyung. Jungkook plays along with Kim, hearing a quiet sigh of relief. But does he really think that Chon will just let something like this happen? “Today you are training with me in the ring,” is the first thing Jungkook says at the next lesson, receiving widened eyes in response. - Wait, are you serious? Did the big boss really deign to spar with me? — he says sarcastically, raising his eyebrows, but you can see from his enthusiastic face how pleased he is. “You can’t still wipe your ass on a yoga mat,” Jungkook doesn’t lag behind, throwing red boxing gloves to Kim. “And who put me there, pray tell,” when Taehyung easily catches them, the elder grins. Reaction training was not in vain. Later in the ring, it seems like Kim's excitement knows no bounds. He springs back on the mats, looks around in all directions, and only noticing Jungkook’s arms crossed over his chest, he approaches the right place. “Stand at one hundred and fifty degrees towards me, spread your legs and bend them at the knees,” Taehyung repeats unconditionally, “that’s right.” What's wrong with your posture, Taehyung? Keep your head straight,” Jungkook runs from his Adam’s apple to his chin, and seems to feel a trembling under his fingers, “try to lightly hit me in the shoulder with your left hand and hit me until I tell you to stop.” - Beat? But why? — Taehyung, who raised his voice for the first time in the last ten minutes, frowns. Jungkook doesn’t want to admit that he has already missed this sound. - Did you think we were going to dance here? — the senior student snorts, but instantly takes on a serious look. “Now this is just training, if you want to protect yourself, you’ll have to hit really and hard.”Jungkook thought about it all day, evening and night. It is obvious that Taehyung does not want interference in his situation, so all that the elder can offer him is the ability to fight back against offenders. Bruises don't appear out of nowhere. Now he just hopes that Kim caught the hint in his words. An expression appears on his face for just ten seconds, as if he is about to decide to tell everything, to let in help in solving the problem, but he puts on the mask again. One moment he will do this, but for now Jungkook can only be content with rare glimpses of his true feelings hidden behind the veil of happiness. - Got you, big boss. So be able to protect yourself, Kim Taehyung. A week of studying and training passes unnoticed, and Jungkook also hardly notices the next one. But he notices how Taehyung hisses in pain during training, although the elder tries to barely touch him. One day, when they are left alone late, Jungkook breaks down. He takes off his blue gloves, and Taehyung’s red ones, which he liked so much, and, grabbing his wrist, drags him from the ring to the bench. He leaves an uncomprehending Kim sitting there until he returns with a first aid kit. - Take off your turtleneck, Taehyung, objections will not be accepted. But who is Kim if he doesn’t object? “But why, I’m completely fine,” he says, covering himself with his hands. “Before you say something like that, first stop grimacing in pain,” and in order to maintain the appearance of ignorance, although both are already aware of each other’s secrets, he adds, “I don’t want to leave you with the bruises that I gave in training.” Let me help.And either Taehyung had been thinking about giving in for a long time, or something in Jungkook’s eyes convinced him, but after a minute he gives up. He takes off his turtleneck, and Chon can barely restrain himself from sighing heavily. Bruises are scattered all over the body, some have already turned yellow, others are fresh and bright. The elder clenches his jaw forcefully. He would tear the people who did this to pieces. However, now only Taehyung is important, who shudders from every touch of the cold ointment on the wounds. Jungkook processes everything with special care, not forgetting a single place. When he raises his eyes, he encounters bottomless strangers. Taehyung, not paying attention to his hands, kept an eye on his face. - Taehyung, that's all... He doesn’t have time to come to an agreement. The younger one leans forward and covers his lips with his own. Jungkook freezes in shock, but, feeling that Taehyung wants to pull away, he pulls him closer to him by the neck, as carefully as possible so as not to cause pain. They taste each other, intertwine their tongues at first slowly and awkwardly, but, having adapted, they succumb to the feeling and warmth in their chests. Kim's fingers tangle in the hair at the back of his neck, he's trying so hard to press into Jungkook. But it all ends as quickly as it began. Opening his eyes, the elder sees guilt in others. And then Taehyung, grabbing clothes and things, disappears behind the doors of the hall, loudly slamming the door. And this sound is nothing compared to the frantic beating of the heart. Taehyung is not visible at the university the entire next day. Jungkook looks for him in every passing person, but everything is meaningless. She sincerely hopes to meet him at training, but he doesn’t come there either. A storm of excitement and fear arises in your chest. Chon could have attributed the sudden disappearance to shame because of last night, if he had not seen with his own eyes the bruises blooming on his body. Something must have happened. As luck would have it, the management established a rule: “We do not give out the addresses of other students unless absolutely necessary.” So all Jungkook does is take out his anger and other emotions on the punching bag until late at night. Until he hears the door slam and a sob from behind. Turning around, he sees Taehyung, wet from the rain that he didn’t even notice. His eyes, red from tears, are visible even through droplets of water, but besides them, there is a new wound on his cheekbone. Jungkook jumps up and wraps the younger boy in a warm embrace. Although they are unlikely to help now. - Who did this, Taehyung. I’ll kill them, believe me,” Chon almost growls into the top of Kim’s head. “You’re doing enough now, let’s stand like this for a little longer, and then I’ll tell you everything,” he buries himself deeper into Jungkook’s chest, not paying any attention to the sweat after the workout. They stand like that for a minute, maybe five, maybe an entire hour, but Taehyung eventually stops sobbing and falls exhausted onto the bench. Jungkook sits in front of him and waits. - Do you know why I came here? - Kim suddenly asks, sniffling, and the elder carefully takes his hand.- To hide the bruises? “Not only,” Taehyung grins doomedly, and this sound makes Jungkook’s heart clench in a vice, “to know: I can’t fight back, not because I’m weak, but because I don’t want to be like him.” Do you see this bruise? - He picks up the sweatshirt, which he seems to have pulled on without looking, and Jeongguk nods. “It’s because I was doing my homework too late in the evening and didn’t turn off the light, this,” he points to a hand where someone’s fingers are clearly imprinted, “because he appeared in the room when his friends were there.” And this one,” he points to his face, “because he came late last night.” “Damn it,” Jungkook grabs his head. He wants to tear his hair out from the realization that his own father did this to him - didn’t you run away before nine yesterday? A sad smile appears on Taehyung’s face, and he reaches out his hand, placing it on the elder’s cheek. “I didn’t want to give up the emotions of our first kiss so quickly.” Like every day, I try to live them in such a way that I don’t feel bad for crying at night. Jungkook either wants to smile or cry like a baby right here. “I won’t let you in there anymore, and we’ll call the police,” he still decides to remain a sane adult, but like a kitten he cuddles up to Taehyung’s palm. -Can we talk about this later? Perhaps during the day I would have refused, but now... please take me to your bachelor pad, big boss,” for the first time today there is a sincere, albeit tired smile on his face. Jungkook can’t resist and kisses her pink lips, catching a relieved sigh.Later, in their future common home, he will cover every bruise left on his own body with his kisses. And no one will ever hurt Taehyung again in his life.