The circumstances surrounding how Jungkook got hold of Taehyung felt difficult to explain, especially with that sudden knock. The longing for Taehyung had been intense, but seeing him in reality felt surreal. Lightning struck, the thunderstorm raged on, and it was late in the night—far from an ordinary moment for Taehyung to visit. Yet, they didn't care. They connected like two magnets, drawn together with a force that seemed destined to keep them close, never meant to pull apart. Jungkook reluctantly paused the hug, gently separating from Taehyung to look into his eyes. The younger one kept his arms curled around Jungkook's waist as the elder one held Taehyung's face in his hands, their eyes locked. Feeling Jungkook's warm palms against his cheek, Taehyung melted and weakened. At that moment, a paper bag slipped from his hand, but neither of them paid any attention. Within that bag held something Taehyung had always wanted to give his lover, yet also something he wished to never give. 

"Tae..." Jungkook's breathy whisper, full of disbelief and yearning, escaped his mouth. He longed to kiss Taehyung immediately, but there was something in his eyes that raised the alarm. The same intensity of pain and fear lingered in Taehyung's eyes, and the setting mirrored a familiar place, time, and situation. The weather outside mirrored the outrageousness of it all. It hit Jungkook hard, like a déjà vu or perhaps a dream coming true right before his eyes. The longer he gazed into those mysterious eyes, the more breathless he felt. His chest carried a heavy load, witnessing Taehyung in such a state, as if he had been crying, a lot, for a long time.

"Tae, my baby… my love," Jungkook whispered, holding onto him as if fearing he might let go. This time, Taehyung didn't, leaning his head closer until his temple was against Jungkook's lips, and the artist instinctively kissed it.

"I missed you, Kookie. I missed you so much. I wanted to see you so bad." Taehyung confessed.

"Tae, is everything okay? At home? School or anywhere else? I… I don't feel alright… it's… it's getting weird. I don't know… I am scared. So scared." Jungkook's voice, full of worries, resonated with a thud feeling in Taehyung's chest. He didn't want a goodbye filled with tears. Taehyung remained silent, attempting to suppress his tears and adopting a blank, mysterious expression that only heightened Jungkook's fear.

"Tae… how did you come here? At this time? You could call me. I tried so many times. Where were you, my love? I was so worried, and I still am. Please just say something," Jungkook pleaded with concern.

"Eomma… p-please… I beg you. I beg you, please, just for one last time. I… I promise I'll come back before morning. I beg you, please, just for once, I want to meet him."

Taehyung's plea left his mother torn between societal norms and her love for her son. Witnessing him sobbing and joining his hands, she couldn't bear to see him in such anguish.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she gently held his hands. In that moment, she set aside societal expectations and norms. She didn't care about what was deemed right or wrong; all that mattered was her son's happiness.

"Go… I'll handle things here." She said, allowing Taehyung a moment of respite. He could finally meet his lover, hold him, hug him, or kiss him before they had to part ways—an opportunity to savour the last moments of their beautiful phase together. Until he leaves.

"I got… I got busy with admissions and I couldn't meet you. I'm sorry. I know you must have missed me. I did too. I wanted to see you." Taehyung explained, attempting to ease Jungkook's worries.

"Do they know at home that you're here right now?" Jungkook questioned, and Taehyung shook his head.

"Only eomma does."

"She does?" Jungkook asked, surprised, and Taehyung nodded.

"I don't wanna talk about it… I just want a kiss, and you're not even kissing me." Taehyung demanded, bringing back his usual playful request. However, Jungkook couldn't ignore the mismatch between Taehyung's eyes and mouth. Something seemed off.

"Kiss me, please…" Taehyung whispered, placing both his hands on Jungkook's shoulders, his pleading eyes red and intense.

"Tae…" Jungkook whispered, concern laced his voice. He searched something in Taehyung's eyes, as if questioning him, but Taehyung avoided the gaze.

"I'll leave if you won't-" Taehyung warned, attempting to back away, but Jungkook pulled him closer by his waist.

"You're not doing what I asked you for yet you expect me to do what you want? Tell me what's wrong. You're lying. I can see in your eyes that you are." Jungkook whispered seriously, making Taehyung's heart race inside his chest. The gleam in Taehyung's eyes intensified, tears on the brink of rushing down. He couldn't hold back anymore, and the struggle within him became evident. Why was it so tough?

"S-so you won't kiss me?" Taehyung's voice trembled, his lips almost quivering, causing Jungkook's heart to skip a beat. At that moment, Jungkook gave in. He relinquished everything that stood against Taehyung's will. Despite Taehyung's attempt to step back, Jungkook held him tighter. The tears of true pain streamed down Taehyung's cheeks, and Jungkook sensed that his earlier words had deeply upset him. Jungkook was unaware of the actual reason for Taehyung's pain but still felt a deep sense of remorse, wishing he could scold himself for inadvertently hurting his beloved by refusing to kiss him. Little did he know, poor Jungkook was being played instead, not the other way round. 

Holding Taehyung's waist tighter, Jungkook pressed him slightly against the shut door. "Baby… look at me. Look at me in the eyes," the artist demanded. Taehyung, tears streaming down, tried not to burst into more intense sobs because he would miss Jungkook terribly.

How could he even contemplate ending it so easily? How would he survive without Jungkook? How could anything be okay? It didn't feel right.

Taehyung wanted to run away, escape this reality, and fly away with nothing but Jungkook by his side. He had reached a point of utter frustration with everything. As the internal struggle intensified for Taehyung, he realised if he chose Jungkook, he'd already lose him through his father who might attempt to not only take away Jungkook’s but Taehyung's life all along by taking his so he rather sacrifice his all alone and spare Jungkook with his. The thought of Jungkook having his life flourishing as an artist, while Taehyung tried to forge his own path seemed like the only option. Yet, a life without Jungkook didn't feel like much of a life at all. Tears continued to flow as these thoughts consumed Taehyung, and Jungkook, holding his face in his hands, desperately tried to make him look up.

"Tae, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Tae… I... I didn't mean not to kiss you, I was just worried. Hey… I'm so sorry," Jungkook panicked, his words only causing Taehyung to cry even more, feeling a profound sense of weakness permeating his bones. The more Jungkook spoke, the heavier the emotional burden became.

"Baby… I'm sorry. I'll kiss you. Okay? I'll kiss you a lot. As much as my baby wants but we are talking after this okay? I'll kiss you, please don't cry." 

Jungkook attempted to console Taehyung, but he remained momentarily blinded by his tears and deafened by his sobs. This left the artist drowning in pure lament and guilt. It was heart-wrenching to witness, and Jungkook was only blaming himself for the emotional breakdown and felt completely devastated. Unable to bear seeing Taehyung in such anguish, Jungkook bent down, positioning one arm beneath his legs and the other around his waist. Gently lifting him into his arms, the brunet instinctively encircled his arms around Jungkook's neck, burying his face onto his shoulder to cry. Together, they climbed the stairs to Jungkook's room. Taehyung continued crying against Jungkook's chest until they entered the dark room, illuminated only by the dim light of the lamp on the artist's nightstand. Carefully, Jungkook laid Taehyung down on the bed. Taehyung didn't want to detach himself, keeping his arms tightly around Jungkook, who tried to comfort him by rubbing his back.

"I'm sorry. I won't ever say anything like this, baby. I didn't mean to say it like that. Now stop crying if you really want kisses." Jungkook pleaded, pulling back slightly to look at Taehyung's face.

"Please… for me?" he begged this time. Taehyung tried his best to stop, but it seemed like an involuntary reflex; he felt weak and vulnerable.

"Baby…?" Jungkook asked as Taehyung started crying again, even harder.

"Hey… stop, baby. Please… it hurts me," Jungkook's voice was on the verge of cracking, revealing his struggle not to cry. Watching Taehyung cling to him and crying made it challenging for him to stay strong.

"I'll cry if you do too. Now stop. Or maybe you don't want kisses anymore." Jungkook gently parted away, wiping Taehyung's tears from his cheeks while his own eyes teared up.

"I won't say stuff like that ever again. I'm so so sorry, now please stop crying for me."

Taehyung earnestly tried to stop himself, gripping the strings of his heart and mind tightly. Despite his efforts, hiccups persisted, betraying the emotional turmoil within him and he couldn't stop. Jungkook's gaze softened with pure compassion, his heart aching to witness Taehyung in such distress. He wanted to give him the world, to give him anything that would bring a smile to his face. At that moment, he decided to give Taehyung what he needed—a kiss. 

The artist wiped Taehyung's tears and gently pushed him back onto the mattress to lay properly, the brunet sniffling. Jungkook leaned over him, careful not to press too heavily upon him. Lying on the side and hovering above Taehyung, Jungkook delicately connected their lips. The kiss wasn't rushed or forced, but it carried a stirring quality that made Taehyung gasp. His hands instinctively encircled Jungkook's neck. A tender touch of their lips sent a current through Taehyung's body. He had missed it so much, and the realisation of missing it even more tugged at his heart.

Taehyung, after crying extensively, was running out of breath, so the kiss couldn't be prolonged. Jungkook broke the kiss, allowing him to stabilise his breath. As their gazes met, a spark ignited between them. Hunger, thirst, and a deep craving for each other were evident in their eyes, as if they had starved for this connection. Taehyung's parted lips released heavy, deep breaths as he stared at Jungkook. His eyes welled up even more as he gazed at the most beautiful miracle before him. The miracle that had happened to him on a fine day, and it had transformed into Taehyung's life, his everything. Jungkook continued to shower Taehyung with affection, pressing gentle kisses on his cheek, tracing a path down to his jaw and neck. Tender kisses adorned Taehyung's warm, soft skin. The blend of Taehyung's perfume and natural scent proved to be an intoxicating blend. As Jungkook delved deeper, the aroma settled on his skin, creating an irresistible allure. He paused by Taehyung's neck, planting kisses and occasionally sucking and licking gently. In those moments, Taehyung momentarily forgot his tears, lifted by Jungkook's actions. Fisting his hand gently into Jungkook's hair, Taehyung attempted to guide him back to face him. In that moment, Jungkook looked breathtakingly handsome—too good to be true, like a dream Taehyung never wanted to wake up from.

His appealing lips were tempting the brunet more, he just wanted them against his own. He just wanted to kiss him again and so he pulled Jungkook for a kiss again. The artist was weakened by it and Taehyung kept weakening him by completely tightening his arms around him, pulling him closer as he deepened the kiss. The kiss was sloppy yet firm, detachement just didn't seem like an option as they tried to quench each other's thirst. Just like the thunderstorm outside, they wanted to rain on each other's dry lands and Jungkook got the signal to initiate everything when Taehyung began to moan into the kiss, breaking it slowly to gasp for air. Taehyung was firmly held in Jungkook's arms but the elder slightly broke apart after he gently licked Taehyung's strawberry lips. Their noses nuzzled together, their breaths mingling with each other. Taehyung wanted to savour every moment with Jungkook, trying to possess as much of him as he could during this night. His hands remained in Jungkook's hair, moving slowly as they shared this intimate position, both trying to catch their breaths together. And Jungkook knew what was coming.

"Make love to me… please." Taehyung requested, closing the mere gap between them again by hugging Jungkook tightly with both his limbs. And who was Jungkook to ever deny?