It was late. Past midnight again.
Taehyung had taken sleeping pills. The pharmacy kind. Not strong but enough to make his eyelids heavy. He needed rest. His body could not keep going like this.
He was almost asleep when he heard it.
A sound. Low. Through the wall.
His room was next to Jungkook's. The walls in this old house were thin. He had never really noticed before. But now the sound came through clear.
A moan.
Taehyung opened his eyes. His heart was already racing.
Another moan. Deeper this time. Breathless.
Taehyung told himself to ignore it. Jungkook was a grown boy. He had his own needs. It was not Taehyung's business. He should just close his eyes and go back to sleep.
But then he heard his name.
"Taehyung..."
The voice was soft. Barely above a whisper. But there was no mistaking it.
Taehyung's whole body went stiff.
"Taehyung... ah... Taehyung..."
Again. And again. Breathing hard between each word. The rhythm was sickening. Slow. Intentional.
Taehyung pressed his hand over his mouth. His stomach turned. He told himself he misheard. Maybe Jungkook said something else. Maybe it was just a dream bleeding into the pills.
But he knew. He knew what he heard.
For a long time he lay there. Silent. Paralyzed. The sounds from the other room became clearer. Breathing that sped up and slowed down. That name leaving those lips like it belonged there.
---
In the morning Taehyung could barely look at Jungkook.
He sat at the table and stared at his rice without eating. The chopsticks felt heavy in his shaking fingers.
Kookie noticed but he was distracted with his science homework. Lucky thing.
Jungkook came down slowly. Walked past Taehyung on the way to the counter. Brushed his shoulder as he went by.
"Morning, dad."
"You were up late," Taehyung said softly before he could stop himself.
Jungkook looked at him with those dark bright eyes. For a second something passed across his face. Surprise. Interest.
"What makes you say that?"
Taehyung swallowed. Say it. Ask him what he was doing last night. Ask why he said that name.
"Just wondering. The music late at night again?"
Jungkook nodded slowly. "Right. Yeah. Must have been the music."
When Jungkook looked at him this time there was no warm smile. Just those still even eyes looking through him.
"Sorry. Didn't realize it bothered you. Won't happen again."
"It's okay."
"Really." He reached across the table for a piece of toast sitting in front of Taehyung. His fingers barely touched Taehyung's.
