Taehkook

At 5:30 p.m., the gym was almost always busy.

The sound of weights hitting the racks, the soft background music, and the monotonous hum of the cardio machines had everything sinking into a repetitive rhythm; a rhythm that would be boring for most people, but for Jungkook it had become part of his day.

Not because of the workout.

Because of one person.

Taehyung.

He had first seen him completely by accident.

Taehyung always came in at about the same time; headphones in, water bottle in hand, and that strange calm that made even the busiest part of the gym seem deserted.

At first, Jungkook had only noticed his presence.

Then he noticed the time he had arrived.

Then the machine he usually used.

Then he would stay on the treadmill for a few minutes.

And then, without realizing it, he had arranged his entire workout schedule to arrive at the gym five minutes earlier than her.

But he had one rule:

He couldn’t let it slip.

That’s why he never looked at her directly.

At least not when Taehyung was likely to notice.

That day, everything started as usual.

Jungkook was working out when he heard the door open.

He didn’t need to look.

The few slow, familiar footsteps of his shoes were enough.

Taehyung had arrived.

Jungkook stopped for a few seconds, but immediately collected himself and started working out again, as if nothing had happened.

Taehyung walked past him.

He didn’t even notice.

And that was the strangest part.

Jungkook was glad that Taehyung hadn’t figured it out yet.

But at the same time, he was a little sad.

Because all this time, he had been noticing Taehyung’s presence more and more every day, and Taehyung didn’t even know he was there.

A few weeks passed.

Five thirty.

The same treadmills.

The same dumbbells.

The same distance of a few meters.

Until one day, Taehyung’s favorite treadmill broke down.

Taehyung looked around and found the nearest empty machine; right next to Jungkook.

For the first time, the distance between them was almost closer than ever.

Jungkook tried to act completely normal.

But his focus was no longer the same as before.

Taehyung put on his headphones and started running.

Jungkook also stared at his own device’s screen.

No extra glances.

No words.

No unusual movements.

Just two people, apparently busy with their own training.

But for Jungkook, those few minutes had become more important than the whole day.

The next day, the same thing happened again.

And the day after that.

Taehyung slowly got used to the same part.

Without knowing why.

And Jungkook just realized that maybe this time he didn’t have to keep his distance all the time.

Maybe he could let this acquaintance happen very slowly and naturally.

No rush.

No sudden confession.

Just the same five and a half in the evening.

Where one person still didn’t know that the other was coming to see him early every day.

And the other person, despite his best efforts to hide his feelings, was getting a little more hopeful every day that maybe Taehyung would finally notice him. Taehyung gripped the dumbbells tightly and began moving in a slow, controlled rhythm. With each repetition, his forearms and upper arms became more defined under the strain of the workout, and the veins in his hands became slightly more visible.

A few minutes later, his forehead and the sides of his face were soaked with sweat from the workout. His breathing was regular but heavier; however, he maintained his form and finished the set without rushing.

Over there, Jungkook had picked up his pace a little on the treadmill. The steady sound of his footsteps blended with the gym music, and after a few minutes, his hair was slightly stuck to his forehead from the heat of the workout.

When he got off the treadmill, he picked up his towel and took a deep breath.

Taehyung was already adjusting the weights on the side machine.

Jungkook just glanced at him briefly.

Then he quickly looked away and pretended not to see anything.

For Taehyung, it was just a normal evening at the gym.

But for Jungkook, these small details were starting to become part of the main reason he came at five-thirty.

(Jungkook is a soft, oppressed omega/Taehyung is an enigma, cold and arrogant) (Jungkook secretly loves Taehyung, he wants to go and confess to her but he can't) (Taehyung only thinks about the gym and keeps quiet)