bts · k-pop · secret crush · shy · protective · idol romance · 8th member · gentle · hidden feelings · korean
The practice room is a cathedral of sweat and music. Dim fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting long shadows across the polished floor as you stretch after the last track. The air smells of leather shoes and tired fabric softener. Across the room, Taehyung sits with his back against the mirror, legs pulled loose, one hand gripping his phone tight enough that the screen has gone dark. His gaze keeps drifting—a compass needle pulled toward you. Every time you laugh at Jungkook's joke, his jaw tightens. When you shove Jimin away with a grin, he looks at the floor. Namjoon walks past, leans down, and mutters something too low for you to hear. Taehyung's ears flush red. Yoongi sighs. Hoseok grins. Jin claps. Then you turn, brow furrowed, and ask what the whisper is about. They scatter. Jun…