A subtle romance lingered in the air, expressed through exchanged gazes, as the desire for their fingertips to intertwine simmered beneath the surface. Yet, a hesitation prevailed, the unspoken question lingering: What if their feelings were unrequited? They were surely not aware of each other's intentions but well aware of how they grew inseparably closer to each other within a while.

A month had passed since Taehyung began his extra art classes with his favourite artist, Jungkook. With the deal for learning settled with a predetermined payment, an agreed-upon amount was resting securely in Taehyung's bag. They were at Jungkook's home like always, giggling joyfully while painting together. The two were settled on the wooden floor together, working on a huge canvas laying on top of it which they filled with a field of daisies. It was about to be completed, just a little bit of final touch required to consider the painting to be done. Taehyung's unwavering dedication to his work made him look irresistibly cute, prompting a smile from Jungkook, who found himself completely captivated and utterly enamoured.

"Hah… I think it's done." Jungkook sat back after a while of utmost work, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand and the brunet followed his actions.

"Is it?" He asked, looking down at the result and Jungkook nodded in agreement.

"It is."

Taehyung smiled satisfied, looking down at his canvas which seemed like a real scene depicted on the canvas, capturing a real life scene.

"Mr. Kang will be so happy to see it."

"Yes he surely will." Jungkook added and the brunet smiled, unknowingly brushing his permed bangs to the side and ended up painting his cheek and nose with his previously messy hand out of oblivion. Jungkook chuckled softly while looking at his face and Taehyung only furrowed his eyebrows, raising them in a questioning manner.

"Your hands were messy." Jungkook shared and the brunet looked down at his hands and realised before bursting out into a soft giggle.

"Ah… I must be looking like a joker then."

Jungkook shook his head in denial of his words, standing up to get a clean piece of paper towel before squatting down next to Taehyung again whose head moved in the directions everywhere Jungkook would go. Innocent hazel eyes peered through permed bangs as Jungkook looked down at Taehyung, gently tapping the paper against his skin and delicately wiping, treating it as if it were the most fragile surface that could break. Instinctively, Taehyung's eyes closed at Jungkook's touch, revealing long, curvy eyelashes that rested against his rosy cheeks.

The artist found himself breathless, momentarily lost in the proximity of Taehyung. His mind, captivated, focused on the close gaze. Prevented only by his own dirty hands, Jungkook resisted the urge to caress those tempting cheeks. Taehyung left a heavy breath through his slightly parted lips and Jungkook was always debating with his thoughts, reminding himself that he should not look at those luring lips.

Once he was done cleaning Taehyung's face he let his hand go and Taehyung could finally open up his eyes to stare at Jungkook's dark charcoal black eyes already admiring him. The brunet always marvelled at Jungkook's perfection – his youthful, dashing face and silky, raven-black long hair, often tied up but with a few delicate strands falling gracefully against his face, as they did in that very moment. Taehyung's hand involuntarily raised up to remove the strands obstructing the elder's sight but Jungkook remained unflinching unlike Taehyung. His stern gaze locked onto Taehyung's, who, in turn, looked up at Jungkook's hair. With his clean fingers he tucked the thin strands back on Jungkook's ear. The finger tracing the outline of the ear and the tiny earrings fixed through the piercings on the elder's ear.

"Wow." Taehyung whispered in awe, mesmerizingly gazing at them with curious eyes.

"Did it hurt?" Taehyung asked out of curiosity, one of the most distinct features about him —his undying curiosity and Jungkook chuckled softly at his question.

"Yours did?"

"I just have one, you have so many."

"How many do I have?" Jungkook asked and Taehyung started counting the holes of piercings on his ear, softly holding Jungkook's jaw to turn his head to count the piercings on the other ear.

"Seven...eight...nine… huh? Nine?" Taehyung gasped in shock and Jungkook smiled widely.

"Is it too much?"

"But it really suits you." Taehyung replied honestly and Jungkook finally felt it was worth having them.

"Why don't you wear in all the holes? Some are just empty." Taehyung insisted and Jungkook gave him a smile of agreement.

"Okay if you say so."

With this they were back to staring at each other in pure admiration until the honks of the car interrupted them, again.

"Ah, maybe it's time to leave." Taehyung reminded the other and Jungkook stood up firstly, giving his hand for Taehyung to stand up who did effortlessly with all that support from the stronger male. The brunet walked towards the table to carry his bag and essentials to stuff inside it.

"Oh yes, Jungkook-nim." Taehyung then got reminded of something and decided to take out an envelope from his bag, giving it to Jungkook who looked down at it with an eyebrow raised, interrogating it.

"What's this?"

"Something you deserve for teaching me for a month." Taehyung said and Jungkook got an idea of what it could be.

"Bold of you to assume that I'll take this." Jungkook instantly denied and the brunet frowned, stretching his hand more towards the elder who raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, refusing to accept it.

"But you deserve this. I told you I'll pay you in return for teaching me."

"Did I ever agree to this? No." Jungkook turned himself around and Taehyung huffed in annoyance.

"But this is yours and you completely deserve this. The art that you taught me is worthless and this is just a little reward in return. Please accept it." With this Taehyung placed his envelope full of grands on Jungkook's table before leaving but the artist clutched his hand, resisting him from walking away.

"Exactly Taehyung, art is worthless and I didn't inherit this from my mother in return for any pay so you shouldn't either." Jungkook said in a serious tone and opened up the leather bag which was hanging against Taehyung's waist with the strap falling over his shoulder. The artist put the envelope right into it and Taehyung seemed so defeated.

"But Jungkook-nim…"

And another honk was heard in the background.

"It's time for you to leave, we'll meet again tomorrow." Jungkook ignored his attempts and went back to work on more creations in the free space of his living room and Taehyung had no choice but to leave. He felt incredibly terrible after this. Jungkook deserved so much more and Taehyung didn't understand how he could be so selfless. He should've demanded more but he didn't even take the least of it. Sighing roughly he turned himself around and left with his mind occupied in searching for another way for a payback because he couldn't just let it be. Jungkook deserves a reward.

~✿~

The brunet was thinking of better ways to pay back throughout his car ride but they all seemed useless knowing Jungkook would never agree. The cute male walked into his house after reaching his destination, welcomed in his exquisite spacious hall of the villa, just to only find his brother standing and judging a wall with some servants who were trying to fix a painting in it.

"Hyung?" Taehyung asked as he captured the sight of his brother, analysing the process of placing the painting and his dashing brother turned to face him with that mere call, lips adorning with a smile, intensifying his charms even more. It's in their blood, they are naturally captivating.

"Oh Woowoo, come here little artist. What do you think about this painting?" Jin asked, curling one arm around his brother's shoulder who looked up at it with wide eyes.

"Wow… it's beautiful. So so beautiful."

"Isn't it? These were my first thoughts too after watching it and I couldn't help myself from buying it."

"Really? For how much?"

"For 500 grand."

"For 500 grand? Wow."

"Yes but isn't this painting worth it?"

After nodding in acknowledgment, Taehyung gazed at the magnificent painting – a vast canvas vividly portraying a war zone and a small three surviving amid the chaos. Sending a message to the world how an ounce of goodness will always remain when everything else could be falling apart. Recognizing the artist's effort, he affirmed the deserved compensation. At that moment, an idea sparked in Taehyung's mind.

"Hyungie?"

"Yeah?"

"Where did you buy this though?"

"It's from an exhibition and then was sold to me through an auction. This masterpiece was the only one left there as the artist had already sold many of his creations. I just came across it and luckily it became mine." Jin shared his story with his brother and Taehyung's face brightened up.

"Hyung? Can you tell me how I can sell paintings too?"

"Why do you need to?" Jin questioned out of sheer curiosity and Taehyung wandered his eyes around searching for an answer.

"Ah, actually in my school there's a lot of artists who work really hard but don't get paid or appreciated enough so maybe I could propose this idea to them. Some are too good but their talent is unseen and this is unfair isn't it?" Taehyung confessed and his brother put his hand on his shoulder, looking at him proudly.

"It is my baby brother. If they really are into selling them then they should contact the exhibition authority."

"But how can we contact them?"

And as Taehyung asked Jin tried to search for something in the pocket of his expensive coat, remembering to put the card he received.

"Is that enough, Woowoo?" Jin asked, handing him the card that had the contact details of the exhibition and auction authority and Taehyung smiled widely.

"More than enough, hyungie. You're the best for a reason."

Jin was just as happy to see the wide smile across his brother's face who looked down at the card in his hands like a curious child, smiling happily before rushing towards his bedroom. Taehyung when decides something, he achieves it and this time he is determined to return Jungkook a reward he undoubtedly deserved.