Taehyung's unpredictable behaviour instilled fear in Jungkook, and as tears fell on his shoulder for unknown reasons, questions lingered in the artist's mind. They remained attached for a while until Jungkook decided to separate.

"Baby, what happened? You're not okay." Jungkook whispered, staring at Taehyung's face with deep concern.

"I am." Taehyung lied, sniffling.

"I want to hear everything, everything, Tae." Jungkook emphasised his words, gently wiping the tears off Taehyung's cheeks. It pierced through Taehyung's heart how much Jungkook cared. And it became a reason that he couldn't find the words to describe the events of last night. He knew Jungkook might act out of aggression or try something that could endanger him, whether it be his career or even his life. Taehyung mustered all the courage to untangle his heartstrings and let them play for him that day. Taehyung never had specific thoughts about his future when he first saw Jungkook or when for the first time he touched him, kissed him, or made love with him. He welcomed Jungkook wholeheartedly, without contemplating if this 'welcome' would lead to a departure. And then he found himself blaming his mind for not seeing it coming, for choosing not to acknowledge where everything was heading. He felt seized and drowned in Jungkook, struggling to breathe at the bottom, and returning to the shore seemed overwhelmingly difficult now. They know drowning only takes away the privilege to breathe and we can not survive without breathing and the question haunted both of them – why hadn't they realised this sooner?

With no choice left, Taehyung faked a smile, allowing his heart and head to work against their will as he flashed a teeth-filled smile with crinkled eyes, attempting to ease his lover's worries. Jungkook frowned, not fully convinced. "I'm fine, Kookie. You seem worried, but don't be." Taehyung reassured, suddenly adopting his usual act.

"Tae, drop this drama," Jungkook whispered seriously, refusing to accept any of Taehyung's fake attempts to act fine.

"Kookie, I'm fine. It's just because- I'm a bit distressed, but watching you again lessened it all. Now, can I get a kiss?" Taehyung asked, sounding composed. However, it didn't convince Jungkook, who turned his head when Taehyung attempted to kiss him, unknowingly shooting metaphorical bullets into the brunet's heart.

"Not until you tell me why you are distressed." Jungkook demanded, looking down seriously at Taehyung's face. With each passing moment, it became harder for Taehyung to maintain his act.

"It's because…" he finally began.

"Because?"

"Because I'll have finals. Might have to paint and work on a lot of projects all the time because of which I won't be able to come to your place for a while now." Taehyung explained, not exactly sharing the exact reason.

"Love… it's okay. You should be focused on your finals more than anything," Jungkook said, displaying his mature side.

"I know. I just won't be able to meet you for some time." Taehyung whispered, trying his best to keep his voice stable. Jungkook gently pressed his palm against Taehyung's cheek.

"But this doesn't explain you ignoring me in the morning." Jungkook pointed out, looking him in the eyes with sternness, weakening Taehyung more and more. Taehyung kept his heartstrings too tight to let his heart play along, but Jungkook was making it very difficult.

"Because I missed you, and it's tough to act cool when we have so many eyes on us. And you're not even kissing me now when I need it so bad." Saying this, tears in his eyes suddenly became visible, which Jungkook feared the most. The artist was all too soft with this, choosing to drop his toughness and get as soft as he could to kiss him as per his demand. Jungkook's weakness includes, of course, Taehyung's demands, for which he could do anything. He was suddenly overwhelmed with remorse for being even a little tough on Taehyung. Jungkook kissed him with the utmost gentleness, wrapping his arm around the back of Taehyung's shoulders. Taehyung allowed himself to melt into Jungkook's arms, savouring the kiss. His heart soared; he didn't want to detach, he loathed the idea of letting go. Reality felt unbearable, and he despised being in this emotional state. The silence weighed heavy on him, a pain he had to endure.

He wouldn't reveal it, but every article published about Jungkook found its place, meticulously cut and pasted into his personal journal. Taehyung's obsession was witnessing Jungkook's growth and ensuring he achieved what he truly deserved; for this, he was prepared to sacrifice it all. In those moments, they were oblivious to their surroundings and the time when their lips danced together. If there was a way to preserve a feeling indefinitely, Taehyung was more than willing to encapsulate the emotions of this very moment. He yearned to feel this way for an eternity. If given the chance to save anything, he would unquestionably choose to safeguard their love.

Soon the need for air prompted Jungkook to detach, yet Taehyung still kept his eyes closed. He knew that if he opened them, he wouldn't be able to look at Jungkook the same way, he would cry. He didn't want to give him any clues. Jungkook stared down at him, mesmerised by his face, gestures, and the way his mysterious expression looked vulnerable, especially when those long eyelashes rested against his cheeks. Jungkook couldn't pinpoint why some part of him remained unsatisfied, and the uneasiness didn't completely settle within him. Maybe because he, too, wasn't prepared to not see Taehyung around him at his place for a while? Or perhaps he, too, was unsure about what comes next. Will things remain the same for them once Taehyung gets his diploma? What he didn't have an idea about was that their story, for now, had to take a break here. Despite all those insecurities and fears, they were deeply engrossed in each other at that moment. But soon, footsteps echoed in the corridor outside, prompting Jungkook to detach completely and let Taehyung go.

"I'll see you later, yeah?" Jungkook uttered one last time, gently pulling away as he took steps backward, his hand still in Taehyung's grip. The brunet resisted the departure, loathing how his grip on Jungkook gradually loosened with each passing moment. Taehyung held onto his hand a bit too firmly, reluctant to let go as Jungkook continued to walk back.

"Don't worry. You'll do your best. Okay?" Jungkook summoned courage for his finals, but Taehyung couldn't imagine giving his best without him.

"I love you." Jungkook whispered, finally pulling his hand back as he stepped backward until he had to leave. The moment Taehyung lost his grip on him, an overwhelming desire to turn back time seized him. He just yearned to start everything all over again. Jungkook, entirely oblivious, simply waved and flashed a smile, leaving the brunet completely smitten. He continued to gaze at Jungkook with longing eyes until he walked away, contemplating the prospect of meeting Taehyung soon, yet reality painted a different picture. No, it won't happen.

~✿~

And soon for Taehyung, everything almost came to a standstill. A new schedule for his finals awaited him, demanding assignments and projects to showcase the culmination of all he had learned. His regular classes, even in art school, came to an end that day as he delved into preparations for his diploma. Yet, he didn't want it anymore. Anything that kept him away from Jungkook was undesired, but he felt helpless. Summoning the facade of a living corpse, Taehyung somehow made it back to his home. It was the first time in a while that Taehyung returned home so early, a time he'd usually spent with Jungkook was taken away from him. But he couldn't endure any longer. He didn't greet his mother, nor did he bother asking for anything. He simply climbed the stairs to enter his bedroom, where he lay on the mattress, dropping his act and letting vulnerability consume him. He screamed, but it muffled into his pillow, sobbing silently like last night. He allowed his heart to pour, yet the weight didn't seem to lift. The intense longing for Jungkook consumed him, and it wasn't just a matter of a few hours apart. How would he manage the distance?

~✿~

On the other hand, Jungkook felt a profound emptiness, as if a vast void had taken over his day, making it challenging to fill. Alone at his place, the home suddenly lacked the warmth that Taehyung's presence brought. With Taehyung absent, there was nothing particularly captivating to do, nothing to engage his mind and heart. Whether Taehyung was near or far, he remained a constant presence in Jungkook's thoughts. The artist decided to channel his focus into something that required meticulous attention and time, something he couldn't dedicate to the masterpiece when Taehyung was around. And that masterpiece was a sculpture of Taehyung. Jungkook had meticulously designed Taehyung's face, head, body, and limbs for his sculpture. Soon, it was time to assemble the pieces properly, connecting them with wires and adding more clay to fill the gaps of attachment. Lost in thoughts of Taehyung once again, Jungkook started the assembly process. He delicately added more clay into the cracks, smoothing it gently and enhancing the details of Taehyung's body, limbs, head, and the sculpted blanket that seemed to drape from one shoulder to his feet. The sculpture revealed one leg, with some fabric artistically fallen at the bottom of the other foot. Every touch or gaze upon Taehyung's bare body, whether in reality or through the eyes of his sculpture, felt like a pursuit of perfection for Jungkook's masterpiece. It appeared as if Taehyung was posing gracefully, a blanket draped over his shoulder, artfully covering part of his body, including one leg and his privates, while leaving the rest exposed. The expressions on his sculpted face were soft, emanating elegance and sophistication. Jungkook had impeccably captured Taehyung's true and pure beauty in that piece of clay, showcasing his remarkable craftsmanship. For a moment, as Jungkook touched the sculpture, it felt like he was reaching out to Taehyung himself. Every detail, from the perfect slender fingers to the minutest veins designed on the sculpture's hand, made it seem as if Taehyung was about to come to life and hold Jungkook's hand. Jungkook would occasionally smile, step back to admire the sculpture, and diligently search for any flaws to refine. When it came to Taehyung's creations, perfection left no room for flaws. Whether it was noon, evening, or night, Jungkook was so engrossed in sculpting that he managed to pass the time effortlessly for that day. Before meeting Taehyung, Jungkook filled his days with various activities, but after spending so much time together, he found it challenging to pass time in any other way. Regardless, Jungkook's day never felt complete without Taehyung. Even at midnight, the artist tirelessly refined the sculpture, meticulously perfecting the minutest details, driven by a desperate desire to showcase it to Taehyung. Yearning to gauge Taehyung's reaction to a clone crafted by his devoted lover, Jungkook saw Taehyung's approval as the ultimate validation of his identity as an artist. Without pause, he persevered, working relentlessly until he breathed life into the sculpture, cherishing the solace that it, at least, would be with him. Yet, the living embodiment of Taehyung would remain far from his reach.