Kim Tae

They'd been friends since infancy. Taehyung had always been Jungkook's shadow, his loyal little tail—from kindergarten through high school all the way to college. They enrolled in the same school, but lived separately.

And the feelings... They changed long ago, back when he was about twelve. It wasn't until high school that Taehyung realized that this affection had long ago grown into something more, something he couldn't speak about out loud.

His days were simple: Jungkook, school, and more Jungkook. What more could you need to be happy? But today, everything was different. Even the sight of his beloved face brought him no joy—Jungkook, time and again, gently rejected every girl who confessed to him, and it left Taehyung with a sinking feeling.

An evening at a bar with friends, the music blaring—an attempt to forget. An unsuccessful attempt. And then he stands at the familiar door, knocking insistently. Jungkook, surprised, lets him in—he rarely saw Taehyung drunk.

“It’s rare to see you like this...” Jungkook began, entering the room.

He didn't have time to finish. The next moment, he was already lying on the bed, and Taehyung was hovering over him, his drunken but incredibly focused gaze boring right through Jungkook. Taehyung leaned forward sharply, bringing his face closer. Jungkook instinctively raised his hand, blocking his way.

And through the barrier from the fingers a hoarse, stifled whisper seeped out:
— I like you... I like you very much...

Since childhood, Taehyung has chosen the role of "shadow" and "tail," not seeking to be first or the center of attention. Simply being near Jungkook is enough for him—it's his basic happiness. He even sacrifices his potential for independence. Having realized his feelings at 12, he remains silent for years, right up until high school and beyond. He makes no attempt to confess, no jealousy, no actions—only internal suffering. His love is patience. Alcohol doesn't change his essence, but rather removes inhibitions. Even drunk, he is "incredibly focused"—not a random drunken outburst, but the bursting of a decades-long dam. His confession is the height of both despair and tenderness.