Winter’s Serenade

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The next afternoon, Taehyung found himself once again in a quiet café, his usual corner near the window now occupied by someone else. He glanced around, scanning the room, when his gaze landed on Jungkook, seated at a table in the far corner, his camera resting on the table beside him. Taehyung couldn't help but feel a flutter in his chest at the sight.

When Jungkook saw him, his face lit up with a warm smile that made Taehyung's heart race. He stood and waved, his hand drawing Taehyung's attention as it lingered in the air for a moment.

"Taehyung! Over here!" Jungkook called out.

Taehyung smiled back, his nerves momentarily easing as he walked over to the table. "Hey, Jungkook," he greeted, his voice softer than usual.

Jungkook motioned to the seat across from him. "I thought we could catch up over coffee. I promise, I won't take any more pictures." His tone was playful, but there was a glint of sincerity in his eyes.

"Thanks," Taehyung replied, sitting down. He felt a little self-conscious but tried to push the feeling aside. The conversation started easily, as if they hadn't missed a beat since their first meeting. They talked about everything and nothing at all—life, work, the weather—but underneath the surface, Taehyung could feel a quiet tension building between them, something unspoken but present.

After a few moments, Jungkook slid his camera toward Taehyung. "I've been experimenting with some new techniques. Want to see?"

Taehyung picked up the camera, feeling the weight of it in his hands. He scrolled through the photos, surprised by the collection of images that captured fleeting moments—people in motion, the quiet beauty of everyday life, and, to his surprise, more than a few shots of Taehyung himself.

Jungkook chuckled softly as he leaned back in his chair. "You seem to show up in my shots more often than I expected."

Taehyung's eyes lingered on one of the photos, a candid shot of him looking out the window with snowflakes in his hair. It was raw and vulnerable, yet there was something incredibly captivating about it. His heart skipped a beat as he met Jungkook's gaze. "I guess I didn't realize I'd be so photogenic," he said, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

Jungkook smiled back, his eyes warm and sincere. "You're more than just photogenic. You've got something... real. Something that makes the picture come alive."

Taehyung swallowed, his chest tight. The compliment hit deeper than he expected. There was a sincerity in Jungkook's words that made his heart flutter. For the first time in a long while, Taehyung felt like he was seeing something beyond the surface, something worth exploring.

The conversation shifted to other topics, but Taehyung's mind lingered on the photo he had just seen. Something about the way Jungkook looked at him, the way he saw him, felt different from anyone else. Taehyung was drawn in, though he wasn't ready to admit it just yet.

☼ Continuation...✫