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Jungkook is running late to class — not super late, but close enough that there is some actual running involved — when he turns a corner and nearly bumps into someone holding a sign.
Jungkook squawks, arms flailing a little until he regains his footing, and Sign Person turns around, looking Jungkook up and down with wide eyes.
From the back, all Jungkook saw was an oversized cardigan patterned with autumn colors, short silver hair, and the fact the person was holding a sign in their hands. When they turn around, though, Jungkook promptly forgets how to breathe.
A startlingly deep voice asks, "Hey, are you okay?" and Jungkook's brain delays for a good five seconds while he takes in how unbelievably handsome the stranger is, silver hair falling over his forehead, eyes big and pretty, dark eyebrows a little furrowed in concern. Jungkook's gaze darts to the point of his chin, to his one dangling earring, to the glimpse of sharp collarbones and then to the freckle on his nose.
Jungkook takes all of it in, and then wants to die a little because college students the week before final exams shouldn't be allowed to look this beautiful. Was he a model, maybe? Did Jungkook just accidentally very nearly run over an idol?
"No," Jungkook blurts out, and when the stranger's face grows more concerned, he quickly corrects, "I mean, yes? Um, I forgot— I'm sorry, I'm late. Goodbye. Thank you." Jungkook bows and hurries away.
As soon as he's in his usual seat in the back of the lecture hall with just a few seconds to spare, Jungkook drops his forehead to the table with a painful thunk.
Holy shit, that couldn't have gone worse. His ears are hot with embarrassment — did he really bow, did that actually happen — and just before the professor starts speaking, he recalls what the sign said.
Free Hugs.
The worst part, even with the burning humiliation and the making a fool out of himself in front of the hottest guy he's ever seen, is that Jungkook really, really could have used a hug.
—
A couple days go by, and Jungkook can't help but pay more attention when he walks through the campus, hoping he'll see the silver-haired guy again, but he doesn't.
And it's probably for the best, because Jungkook's life is kind of falling apart. He's slept a total of maybe four hours in three days and has skipped enough meals that even the nice hyung who works at Jungkook's favorite coffee shop has noticed.
"Jungkook-ah," Jimin says, sitting down across from him and snapping his fingers until he gets a dazed Jungkook's attention. "Your face is looking too skinny, please tell me you've had more than coffee all day."
Jimin is on the smaller side — petite and lean, practically built to be a dancer — but he cares for others with a fierceness bigger than his size. Jungkook found comfort in the traces of his Busan accent at first, at his charming eye-smile and the fact he recognized Jungkook from a dance class rehearsal he sat in on.
Over the course of the semester Jimin's never stopped asking after him, giving him free snacks with his coffee and giggling when Jungkook refused to call him hyung at first, referring to him as Jimin-ssi in a way that was purposefully bratty to make Jimin laugh. He thinks part of it is because he reminds Jimin of his younger brother back home, but he doesn't mind. It's nice having someone who cares beyond a friendly hello between classes.
"Um, I had a protein bar this morning. Does 3 a.m. count as this morning?"
Jimin frowns, but it comes off as more of a pout than anything. "You need to take care of yourself. There's free food in the lobby of the library right now, you know, because of finals week. Go eat something and then rest, okay? You can study after."
The idea of resting is laughable — Jungkook is stuck with a nightmare of a roommate in the first year dorms — but the promise of free food is too tempting to ignore.
"Thanks, hyung," Jungkook mutters, and Jimin brushes his fingers under Jungkook's chin, giving him a soft smile before he returns to work.
—
It turns out the free food in question is pizza, which probably isn't much better for his diet than instant ramen in the grand scheme of things, but Jungkook grabs a slice and mumbles his thanks to the student volunteers anyway.
He steps out of the lobby after eating, hands shoved into the pocket of his hoodie because of the chilly winter air, and he almost misses the head of silver hair at a bench in front of the campus coffee shop.
Jungkook's heart starts to thud faster in his chest.
He's thought a lot about what he would say if he ever saw the Free Hugs stranger again, about apologizing, maybe working up the courage to actually ask for a hug. Now that he's faced with the possibility, though, his mind is frustratingly blank, even when his feet start carrying him forward to the bench.
Jungkook has no idea what he's doing but it feels— right, somehow. He's shy about a lot of things, but he doesn't want this to be one of them.
"Hi," Jungkook says, and his stomach flips when the other student lifts his head. His hair looks fluffier today, swept slightly off his forehead so his striking dark eyebrows show. His lips part in surprise when he sees Jungkook, and they look red enough that he might be wearing some kind of lip product.
Jungkook realizes he's staring a second too late to be chill about it and quickly drags his gaze away from the stranger's smirking mouth.
"Hello." The deep voice sounds just as good as Jungkook remembers. God.
"I— my name's Jungkook," he says, holding out his hand, and the stranger quirks an eyebrow and takes it. His fingers are long, elegant, and somehow warm even though it's getting colder outside.
"Taehyung. Nice to meet you," he adds, and there's a glint in his eyes that makes Jungkook think, just for a second, that Taehyung remembers their meeting a few days ago. "Do we have a class together, or—"
"The other day, um, you had a sign? Offering free hugs?" Jungkook is talking too fast, too nervous, but recognition floods Taehyung's face so he must still catch the words.
"Oh, that, I— yeah, I lost a bet with my roommate and that was my punishment."
"Punishment," Jungkook echoes, feeling his stomach sink, feeling like the human equivalent of a balloon that's just been stabbed with scissors and is rapidly deflating. "Fuck, I'm— so sorry, let's just pretend this never happened, Taehyung-ssi, I apologize for wasting your time—"
"Oh," Taehyung interrupts, eyes widening, but humiliation has Jungkook shaking his head and already turning away. "Wait, did you want—?"
Truthfully, the only thing Jungkook wants right now is to go back to his dorm and drown himself in the shitty communal showers. "No, I'm seriously so sorry for bothering you—"
"Jungkook-ssi," Taehyung calls out, and the firmness of his voice has Jungkook turning back around.
Taehyung looks... heartbreakingly sincere, and so beautiful in another oversized sweater and loose black pants, all lanky, ethereal handsomeness as the wind blows through his hair. It feels a bit like a scene from an anime, and the thought makes Jungkook's heart ache stupidly. "Would you like a hug?"
"You—You don't have to do that just because you feel bad for me, it's cool, I'm fine." He is totally not fine, but that's not Taehyung's fault.
Taehyung huffs out a sigh, and Jungkook's eyes widen in surprise when Taehyung says, a smile tugging at his lips, "Jungkook-ah, do you want a hug or not?"
Jungkook actually doesn't mind being called so familiarly by someone he just met — Taehyung looks a year or two older, and Jungkook knows he must look every bit the panicked first year student he is — but even if he did, there's something warm in the way Taehyung says it, something playful. He's not annoyed. He almost looks eager, smile growing when Jungkook takes a step forward.
"You really don't have to do this," Jungkook says once more in a small voice, for good measure, and Taehyung just hums.
"You were the one that bowed to me the other day, right? It was cute. I recognize your lip mole. So I think I owe you anyway."
Jungkook's stomach gives a flip, eyes widening, ears burning hot. Taehyung remembering the embarrassing mess that was Jungkook's deep bow isn't too surprising, but recognizing his lip mole? He was staring at his mouth long enough to notice it? Holy shit. Okay. That's cool, Jungkook is chill.
"C'mere already," Taehyung says, amusement in his voice, and finally he's pulling Jungkook into his arms.
It's not at all a half-assed hug, even from the start, and Jungkook melts. It's cold outside, of course, but suddenly all he feels is warmth — the kind of warmth that goes bone-deep, a weird mix of the prickly heat of embarrassment and then something more pleasant, a settling kind of warm comfort despite how awkward the situation should be.
Taehyung's long arms wrap around Jungkook's shoulders, hugging him tightly, and Jungkook holds Taehyung around the middle and tucks his chin over Taehyung's shoulder and just breathes. Taehyung smells unfairly good, like clean laundry and the fainter smell of something like lavender and chamomile, not strong enough to be a perfume, and not overbearingly masculine enough to be cologne. Maybe it's a lotion? Whatever it is, it's nice, and Jungkook is more than a little horrified when he realizes he's started to cry.
Taehyung must be able to feel his shoulders shake, hear his sniffles, because his hands start to rub over Jungkook's back, wide and soothing. "Hey, hey, what's wrong, Jungkookie?"
"I don't know, fuck, I'm so sorry," Jungkook blurts out, watery and embarrassed beyond belief. "You smell so good. And I'm just— under a lot of stress right now, I've already thought about changing my major like four times and I don't even know if I can pass all my classes and I hate my roommate so much, he's a homophobic asshole, and I miss my dad's cooking like every day and, seriously, why do you smell so good?" Jungkook finishes with a sob, clinging tighter when Taehyung makes soft shushing noises.
"Jungkookie," Taehyung repeats in that same deep, calming voice. "Hey, you're okay. Struggling in college, feeling homesick... you're allowed to feel sad about these things, everyone does. When was the last time someone hugged you?"
Jungkook hiccups out a sob. "My—My mom, right before I left for university."
"Oh, sweetheart," Taehyung coos. He hugs Jungkook a little tighter, doesn't seem at all concerned that the shoulder of his sweater must be covered in Jungkook's tears now. "You know, I wasn't going to ask, but— my roommate, he talks about a handsome Jungkookie who visits his work every now and then. How he wishes he could do more to help him, because he seems a little stressed out and lonely."
Jungkook finally pulls back, eyes widening, hands reaching up to scrub the tears from his face. Taehyung reaches out too, brushes Jungkook's cheeks with his long thumbs, giving him a look so soft and genuine that Jungkook's chest aches warmly under the weight of it. He can't imagine what a mess he must look like right now, but Taehyung doesn't seem to mind. "Your roommate is Jiminie-hyung?"
Taehyung laughs. "Aigoo, Jiminie-hyung. He'd melt if he heard you call him that. And yeah, he's my roommate and platonic soulmate."
"He never mentioned you..."
"Ah, he probably was trying to keep you a secret from me," Taehyung says with a grin, leaning in so he can lower his voice when he adds, "He knows my type, after all."
Jungkook blinks, stomach giving a sudden, hopeful little lurch. Does Taehyung mean...? But Taehyung barrels on, doesn't let Jungkook get lost in what the words could mean.
"Anyway, we have room for one more in our apartment, you should stop by some time and check it out. Maybe it'd be a nice change from your dorm, for the new semester?"
Tears are welling up in Jungkook's eyes again before he can try to stop them. "Taehyung-ssi, you really don't have to—"
"Yah, call me hyung, don't be so formal. I want to, okay? Jimin would agree. But only if you want to."
It's too good to be true. That's all Jungkook can think, shaking his head and feeling his stomach sink with guilt when Taehyung's expression falls. "No, it's not— I want to. I do. But I don't know— how could I repay your kindness? You've both done so much, I don't know—"
"Jungkook-ah," Taehyung interrupts with his lovely deep voice, stepping close and pulling Jungkook back in for another hug. Jungkook's breath hitches, arms wrapping around Taehyung's waist again instinctively. He's surprised at his own boldness, already seeking out Taehyung's comforting touches when they've only just really met. "You don't have to repay anything, you idiot. Maybe Jimin and I just want to look after a friend, hm?"
"Hyung, you... you're going to make me fucking cry again," Jungkook sniffles, and Taehyung's laugh is deep and warm, arms rocking Jungkook a little where they stand.
"C'mon, do you like hot chocolate? Let's get some hot chocolate and talk, okay?"
Taehyung pulls away but his long fingers find Jungkook's, linking them together without a care for how it might look to anyone passing by, and guiding him inside the coffee shop with a playful tug.
Jungkook catches a glimpse of his reflection in the window, of his red nose and ears, unsure if it's from the cold, or from blushing, or (most likely) from crying. Taehyung follows his gaze and huffs out a laugh, leaning in to nuzzle his nose across Jungkook's cheek, like that's something people normally do. Not that Jungkook minds.
Is it even cold outside, still? All Jungkook feels is warm.
"So cute, Jungkook-ah," Taehyung says happily, and Jungkook melts just a little bit more.
—
Taehyung treats him — he brags about how he's a famous artist, and Jungkook isn't sure if he's joking or not? — and they talk. First about school, and Jimin, and Jungkook's situation. But then about video games, and music, and art, and photography. And dogs. Taehyung really loves talking about dogs.
Taehyung is easy to talk to, expression always open and patient and without judgment. Jungkook finds himself endeared with the way Taehyung's smile stretches across his face, the delicate way he sips his hot chocolate, his cute giggle and the way his face lights up when he gets excited about something. The more they talk, the more Taehyung comes across less like an unapproachable model and more like someone he could be friends with, someone who loves juice and sleeps hugging a pillow and who lost a bet for how long he could go without biting. (Which... Jungkook is still trying not to think about, for the sake of his crush.)
When Jungkook leaves the coffee shop two hours later with Taehyung's number in his phone (under Tae-Tae hyung) and another long hug, his chest feels a hundred times lighter, and he's maybe half in love with Taehyung already.
Unfortunately for him, Jimin is one perceptive motherfucker.
—
"Jeon Jungkook," Jimin yells, in a tone that is much more frightening than Jungkook ever thought Jimin's higher voice was capable of.
He tries to hide behind a plant, but Jimin's already out from behind the counter, grabbing Jungkook's arm and dragging him to the break room.
"Hyung, shouldn't you be working? Aren't you going to get in trouble?" Jungkook sputters, letting Jimin lead him away anyway.
"Jin-hyung will cover for me, it's time for my break anyway." Jimin shoves at Jungkook's shoulder until he sits at a small table, staring up at Jimin with wide eyes.
Jimin's frown deepens. "Don't give me that."
"What? Give you what?"
"Puppy eyes."
"But I'm not, these are my normal eyes," Jungkook says, grinning when Jimin's mouth finally quirks at the corner with amusement.
"Jungkook-ah," Jimin says, softer then, slumping down in a chair across from the one Jungkook is sitting in. "You look happier. Meeting Taehyungie helped?"
Jungkook feels himself flush, an unfortunately automatic reaction every time he remembers Taehyung and his hugs and his red lips and the devastatingly hot selfies he keeps sending Jungkook now that they're casually texting each other.
"Yeah, he's—he's really nice."
Jimin sighs, glancing up to the ceiling. "I knew this would happen."
Jungkook's stomach tightens. "Knew what would happen?"
"He can't stop talking about you, you know. He's—" Jimin cuts off, considering his words. "He likes people, he's good with people, but he doesn't get crushes like this. You mean a lot to him."
"Hyung," Jungkook says, voice a little strangled. He feels like maybe Jimin shouldn't be telling him this, but then again... Taehyung did tell Jungkook he was his type when they first met. Maybe Jungkook has just been careful not to let himself hope.
"I just want you both to be happy, and to know what you're doing. I... I think you should both know where you stand before you move in with us. What your relationship is."
"We're friends," Jungkook blurts out, because they are. They haven't discussed being more than that, because— why would they? He likes having Taehyung as a friend, doesn't mind telling himself to ignore the flutter in his chest whenever he hears Taehyung's voice or the guilty thoughts he sometimes has before bed, imagining more.
"Jungkook," Jimin deadpans, "I saw him text you this morning saying he wants to kiss all your moles hello next time he sees you."
Jungkook flushes hotter, knowing his face must be bright red by now. "He's just really nice," he says. I want to kiss his moles too, he thinks. As if on cue, his phones vibrates with a text message, and Jungkook glances down to see Taehyung's just sent him another selfie. He's gazing darkly into the camera and, oh yeah, he's wearing a lip ring.
"Oh my god," Jungkook squeaks.
"Alright, well, I tried," Jimin says with a sigh, standing up and ruffling Jungkook's hair before abandoning him to stare at Taehyung and his lip ring some more. "That's fake, by the way."
"Oh my god."
—
The lip ring is fake, which Taehyung happily shows Jungkook when they meet up at the library later, killing time between exam review sessions. Jungkook doesn't mind, though, because it gives him an excuse to stare at Taehyung's mouth for a good five minutes, finally glancing away when Taehyung tilts his head at Jungkook in question.
Jungkook can feel his face already warming. Fuck, he's never blushed so much in his life.
Maybe Jimin has a point. Maybe Jungkook owes it to Taehyung to be completely honest about his feelings before moving in with them. The thought of being rejected terrifies him — Taehyung would almost certainly be gentle about it but it would hurt so badly — but lying is worse, isn't it?
"What are you thinking about that's making you all frowny?" Taehyung asks, flicking a tiny crumpled-up piece of paper at Jungkook's nose.
Jungkook blinks, nose wrinkling. "You."
Taehyung's face falls a little, and Jungkook bites back a whine.
"No, not like that! Ah, it's just—" Jungkook stares down at his fingers so he doesn't have to see Taehyung's concerned gaze, and something warm and almost painful tugs in his chest when Taehyung reaches across the table, fingers sliding over Jungkook's, a gentle touch that grounds him. Jungkook really hopes he doesn't start crying.
"Jungkook-ah, hey, what is it?"
"Um, I know it's— This is weird, but can I hug you again? And then tell you?"
Taehyung smiles, wide and genuine. "What? Of course, you don't have to ask. C'mere."
Jungkook gets up and walks around the table, letting out a startled noise when he's pulled into Taehyung's lap, arms going around Taehyung's shoulders, face tucking against his neck.
"Hyung, I'm— too heavy—"
Taehyung's hands are wide on Jungkook's hips as he helps him shift over his lap until he's straddling Taehyung on the chair, knees on either side of his thighs, chests pressed together as they hug.
God, he's in Taehyung's lap, surrounded by his arms and his warmth and his sweet scent. Is he dreaming? He's sure he's had at least two dreams like this in the past week.
"Talk when you're ready, okay?" Taehyung whispers, and Jungkook's heart clenches.
"Why do you have to be so nice?" Jungkook mumbles miserably, not really intending for Taehyung to hear him, but suddenly Taehyung is leaning away, cupping Jungkook's face between his hands and staring at him with a weirdly intense expression that makes Jungkook want to squirm.
"Jungkook-ah," he says, voice deep and serious. "Do I need to remind you that you deserve to be treated well?"
Jungkook shakes his head, smiling a little despite his nerves when Taehyung refuses to let go of his cheeks. "No, that's not— It's just hard to tell you about, um, stuff. When you're so nice to me no matter what."
Taehyung tilts his head, a little bit like a curious puppy. "Stuff?"
"Hyung," Jungkook says, heart beating so fast all of a sudden, face undoubtedly warm under Taehyung's palms. He doesn't feel like crying anymore, but it's also possible he might have a heart attack in the next ten seconds. "I just— I like you a lot. Fuck."
"Oh," Taehyung says. He doesn't ask Jungkook to clarify. He doesn't say anything else for a few seconds, either, and Jungkook tries to duck his head and hide but Taehyung doesn't let go of him, a wide smile slowly stretching across his face. "Holy shit."
Taehyung's still smiling, and Jungkook's stomach is the most confusing mess of nervous butterflies. "So, yeah."
"Jeon Jungkook," Taehyung says, dragging Jungkook's head forward until their noses bump into each other. Jungkook sucks in a sharp breath, going a little cross-eyed before his eyes flutter shut, and then warmth floods his chest when Taehyung presses the gentlest of kisses to the mole just below Jungkook's bottom lip. "Hey, open your eyes."
"No," Jungkook gasps out, mind still refusing to grasp what's happening, even when he can hear the smile in Taehyung's voice, can imagine his eyes are curved up happily when more kisses are brushed over Jungkook's cheek, over the tip of his nose. Taehyung is— god, is he really kissing all of Jungkook's moles?
"Aigoo, I just want to see your eyes and make sure you're not sad. Kook-ah. Is this okay? Can I kiss you?"
"You—You already are," Jungkook says, dazed. And then, with a low, happy humming noise, Taehyung's soft lips are covering his own, kissing him for real. So slowly and gently at first, and then a little firmer when Jungkook doesn't shy away. The sudden warm swoop in Jungkook's belly is quite possibly the best thing he's ever felt in his life.
"Hyung," Jungkook breathes out between gliding kisses, kissing back with clumsy eagerness, tilting his head and letting Taehyung suck at his lip and then— oh, okay, that would probably be Taehyung's biting kink, right there.
"Shit, sorry, I was supposed to save that for the second date," Taehyung mumbles, brushing a soothing kiss over the part of Jungkook's lip that his teeth just tugged at.
Jungkook is dizzy. He is also definitely on his way to half-hard, which is going to be a problem if he doesn't move off Taehyung's lap soon.
"Library," Jungkook blurts out, pulling back, finally opening his eyes and reeling from the heat he finds in Taehyung's gaze, the sharp tug in the pit of his belly that accompanies Taehyung's dark look.
"Is library your safe word?"
Jungkook laughs, a startled cackle of a noise. "No, we're— Taehyung we're still in public."
"Oh." Taehyung finally lets go of Jungkook's face, slowly licking his lips — there's another hot tug in Jungkook's belly, fuck — and smiling shyly. "Okay, that's valid."
"You said— second date," Jungkook says, officially not in control of the words that leave his mouth. Something about the kissing, about the way Taehyung stares at him, makes him bold, apparently. And maybe a little stupid.
"Yeah. You said you liked me."
"Yeah," Jungkook echoes, smiling a little, stomach fluttering. "Jimin-hyung told me to—to be open about my feelings, if I wanted to live with you both."
"Ah, protective Jiminie," Taehyung says sagely, and when he rests his hands on Jungkook's hips, the touch is as hot as it is pleasant and grounding. "He worries. Or he's just allergic to unresolved sexual tension." Jungkook snorts. "Jungkook-ah. I like you a whole lot, and I want to date you too."
"Cool," Jungkook replies, and then he brings his hands up to hide his face, groaning in embarrassment. "Okay, pretend I didn't just say that, holy shit."
Taehyung laughs, a giddy little heehee, and the sound of it warms Jungkook all the way down to his toes. "Yah, you think dating me isn't cool?"
"You literally almost swallowed your fake lip ring earlier—" Jungkook starts to say, finally standing up from Taehyung's lap, aware of how lucky they are that they haven't been caught by anyone else in the library yet.
"The disrespect," Taehyung mumbles, smiling. He stands up as well, and Jungkook swallows back a surprised noise when Taehyung's arms are wrapping around him again, hugging him tightly. Jungkook tucks his chin over Taehyung's shoulder without thinking. They hold each other like that for a few long moments before Taehyung finally says, "I'm sorry for biting you without your consent."
"It's— it's fine, really," Jungkook says, muffled into Taehyung's shoulder, face probably burning red at the memory of their kiss. He's almost definitely still half-hard. He hopes Taehyung can't feel it. "I, um. Liked it."
Taehyung groans, then, and Jungkook lets himself laugh, being the first to pull back from the hug because he does hear some noise from other students now.
"Sorry."
"You're not," Taehyung says, but he grins, reaching up to brush his fingers affectionately under Jungkook's chin. "But that's okay. The lip ring thing was definitely just me trying to rile you up."
"Ah, hyung, you should know it doesn't take much—" Jungkook whines, face still warm. Taehyung coos.
They settle back down to study, even though Taehyung teases him a little more, even though Jungkook looks at Taehyung more than he looks at his notes. It's bewildering, how comfortable Jungkook is with someone he's known for just a week, and how wonderfully uncomplicated things are now that Taehyung knows how he feels, and Jungkook knows Taehyung feels the same. He hopes Jimin would be proud of him for opening up.
"Oh, shit," Jungkook says, reaching into his pocket for his phone, "should we tell Jimin? You know, that we, um. Worked things out."
Taehyung raises his eyebrows before a smirk settles onto his face. "Nah, let's just go visit him at work and start making out in front of him."
"Taehyung—"
"You know he's totally in love with his manager, Seokjinnie-hyung, right? I swear, a coffee shop worker romance, what kind of drama scenario is that..."
Jungkook feels his face scrunch up with a smile, packing up his things and embracing the warm flutter in his chest when Taehyung takes his hand, bold and wide-eyed, face lighting up when Jungkook gives a tiny nod that he's okay with the gesture.
"Yeah, who experiences romantic drama scenarios in real life? Definitely not us."
Taehyung laughs, deep and happy, and gives Jungkook's hand a little squeeze. "You brat, you're the one who ran into me like some kind of a clumsy female lead—"
"You hugged a stranger in the middle of campus!"
"A ridiculously attractive stranger, yeah," Taehyung shoots back, gaze sweeping shamelessly down Jungkook's body. A minute ago, Jungkook was definitely not on board with making out in public when they get to Jimin's workplace, but. It's starting to sound a little bit tempting. Maybe.
Taehyung doesn't let go of Jungkook's hand but he does sneak a slow, firm stroke down the center of Jungkook's palm with his thumb, and Jungkook is both startled and helplessly turned on by the touch, by the way it makes his palm tingle and makes heat tighten in his belly.
Fuck it, he's totally kissing Taehyung in front of Jimin.