[ 13. in the closet (again) ]
J E O N G G U K

gotta love those frequent updates ✊

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Jeongguk and Grace go downstairs together when dinner is ready. It's no surprise their mothers are holding hands, ready to pray before their meal like they usually do. The duo sit on opposite sides, making sure to face each other, the atmosphere from their previous conversation giving them matching wide smiles.

"It's nice to see you two getting along," Jeongguk's mom says cheerfully as she reaches for her son's hand. Jeongguk nods, noticing how Grace remains silent, her expression unbothered.

Her gaze meets Jeongguk's, and the smile she bears brightens. He chuckles softly, finding it amusing how she winks teasingly at him, mouthing a rather silly 'let's date'.

"Thank you God for the food, our families, and for the lovely day," Grace's mom's eyes fall shut, signaling them all to follow her.

"Please Lord, help guide us away from sin to continue to live in your grace," Jeongguk's mom adds, and with that they all say a final 'amen' before digging in to the food.

Under the table, Jeongguk feels Grace's foot kick his. His eyebrows raise over at Grace who's trying her best to keep in her laughter. He lowers his fork back onto his plate and kicks her, smirking when she jumps a little in her seat.

"It's on," She mouths silently, her lips pressing into a devilish smirk. Jeongguk simply shrugs, challenging Grace with a small smile as he shoves a forkful of ham into his mouth.

"So Mom," Grace interrupts the silence, making sure to kick his foot extra hard. Jeongguk winces, nearly choking on his food before he kicks her back.

Grace's mom is thankfully oblivious to it, but his own mother seems to notice their antics. Jeongguk doesn't mind the looks of approval his mother shoots at him. Grace is just a friend to him and nothing more. Taehyung is who he can't stop thinking about. Sucks he can't come to their dinner tonight.

"You know how I'm visiting Dad this weekend right?" Her mom hums, prompting her to continue. "Well, he's taking me to Chicago to go to a parade again. Can Jeongguk and his friend come with us?"

"What kind of parade?" Jeongguk's mom asks curiously, trying to sound like a responsible parent but it's obvious she's matchmaking them in her head.

"Dan always takes Grace to these big culture parades in big cities that happen every month," She replies, sounding bored. His mom only nods, silently considering the idea with herself.

Grace, on the other hand, is practically bouncing with excitement in her seat. Even Jeongguk can't help but smile giddily, hoping his mom will allow him to go with Grace and Taehyung. She's told him stories of how they wear bright, colorful clothing, paint their faces with makeup despite their gender, and carry around signs of positivity while parading the streets and celebrating their pride.

All of it sounds like a whole other world to Jeongguk. He hasn't been outside of Memphis, and his town isn't populated by open-minded people. Most of his life, he's been stuck in the eyes of the public,
constantly being watched by the religious community for any slip up to deem him unholy or a child of sin.

Sinning still scares him to be honest. As a child, his father used to tell him if he is to sin God won't love him anymore. During church, when he didn't pray, the older folks will be sure to scold him and tell him he will go to Hell for hiding his sins.

Every big or small mistake he makes, people will warn him if he is to stray even a little bit from God, sin will engulf him whole. To him, sin is a force capable of destroying his life, and with that he fears sin.

But in those parades Grace tell hims about, they don't think having absurd thoughts about the same gender is wrong. In fact, they embrace it and celebrate it.

It sounds like Heaven where everyone is loved by God equally, and Jeongguk just wants a taste of it.

"It doesn't sound like a bad idea," A gentle smile appears on his mother's features. Jeongguk and Grace look at each other, and never in his life has he smiled so wide his cheeks hurt.

"But, one condition," the two freeze, their mini celebration coming to a stop. Jeongguk's mom points her fork at Jeongguk. "I trust you both to not do anything bad," She says solemnly.

"Ma'am, don't worry. Jeongguk's scrawny butt won't be able to touch me any time soon," Grace teases, giggling when Jeongguk scoffs in protest.

"I'm not scrawny! I weigh more than you," Jeongguk argues, though he's smiling just as wide as she is.

"Suuuure dude. Who knows, you might be sneaking rocks into your pockets-," Grace shrieks in laughter when Jeongguk kicks her underneath the table.

"Kids," Grace's mom mutters, shaking her head in mock disappointment while the two are in a competition to see who can kick eachother the hardest.

Jeongguk's mom chuckles. "More like young love," She whispers, but Jeongguk and Grace are quick to counter her with complaints about how the other is not their type the rest of the dinner.

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When Jeongguk opens the door to the janitor's closet next morning with Grace by his side, he's caught off guard when Taehyung rushes to him and kisses him with enough force it has him stumbling backwards a little bit.

It takes a moment for him to register what's going on, but his hands curl around Taehyung's wrists as he kisses him back, his lips curling into a smile.

"Ya'll are too cute," Grace sighs, causing them to break apart. Jeongguk smiles shyly, his cheeks feeling hot realizing he's done that right in front of his new friend.

Taehyung's brow furrows, "Why are you here?" He scowls, anger sparking in his dark irises.

"Don't worry, she won't expose us," Jeongguk assures him by placing his small hand on his chest. Taehyung's frown falls, his gaze flitting between Jeongguk's hand and Grace.

"I'm lesbian, bitch," She says proudly as she shuts the door behind them. "Also, why is this place so cramped?" Her nose crinkles in disgust when one of her princess curls gets caught in a cobweb.

"This place is meant for two people," Taehyung replies dryly, and with that Jeongguk smacks his arm.

"Be nice," He scolds him lightly. Taehyung rolls his eyes and wraps his arm around Jeongguk's small waist to pull him close. Jeongguk's heart does little flips in his chest when he feels Taehyung's thumb trace up and down his side.

"You're like a dog," Grace points out, gesturing to Taehyung. He raises an eyebrow at the girl, the edges of his mouth drooping into a frown.

"Like if your master, or well, Jeongguk, tells you to be a good boy, you'll be a good boy," She explains, shrugging. Jeongguk's face contorts with disgust.

"Now that's just wrong," He frowns, pulling himself away from Taehyung to stand in between them.

"Not really. At least we know who's Scooby in the Scooby Gang," Grace chuckles, sticking her tongue out at Taehyung who clearly doesn't appreciate the nickname.

"Please don't compare me to a dog who inhales food with his owner," Taehyung's nose crinkles, his discomfort evident in his narrowed eyes.

"I mean, it's accurate. I bet if you had the chance you'd eat Jeongguk-,"

"-Okay this is where it stops."

"-But we can all agree I'm a good fit for Daphne, but like a lesbian Daphne. Then Jeongguk could be Velma," Grace taps her chin in thought, "but wait, doesn't Velma like Shaggy?"

"Fuck this, we all know I'm not Scooby. I'm obviously Fred," Taehyung jumps into the arguement, but before either one of them can continue the nonsense Jeongguk covers both of their mouths with his palm.

"Shut up! We're not gonna discuss our Scooby Doo personalities right now," He scolds them both to silence them. Right after, he quickly removes his hand just in case one of them comes up with the idea to lick his hand.

"Alright, Velma-," Jeongguk shoots Grace a death glare, and she sighs, raising her hands up in surrender, "-Fine Jeongguk. We came here to ask if you wanna go to a pride parade with us this weekened in Chicago."

"Isn't Chicago seven hours away from Memphis though?" Taehyung's brows knit together. Grace rolls her eyes, unimpressed.

"Yeah, you dimwit. Accept our invite or else I'll kidnap Jeonggukie to Chicago by myself~," She winks at Jeongguk, making the smaller boy of the two blush. Taehyung notices this and scoffs.

"I thought you were lesbian," He mimics her voice in a higher tone and even tries to flip his hair like all the girls in their school do. Grace smacks his arm, her jaw wide open, offended.

"Hell yeah I am! I have a girlfriend back in California who is more masculine than you can ever be, bitch," She scowls, crossing her arms over chest. Taehyung looks like he's on the verge of snapping, his jaw clenched way too tight.

Jeongguk sighs. He feels like he's getting older watching them bicker. If it's only Taehyung and Grace in here together, he swears they will kill one another.

"Guys, we're straying from the point," Jeongguk whines, his small hand tugging Taehyung's sweater sleeve. Taehyung's gaze falls on him, his anger easing when Jeongguk pecks him on the cheek.

"Whipped," Grace whispers loudly, but Jeongguk's quick to stop Taehyung from saying something back. Grace mocks Taehyung with a silly smile, silently testing him to try her again.

Running a hand through his sandy locks, Taehyung inhales sharply. "You two are exhausting," He grumbles. "And to answer your question, I don't know if I can go." Taehyung admits quietly.

"What do you mean?" Jeongguk asks, slightly confused when Taehyung won't look at him. He can't ignore the way his heart lurches as he tries to get his attention and Taehyung stays silent.

"I have...stuff to do every weekend," He explains, his voice a bit uneven. Jeongguk frowns, his brows furrowing.

"What do you mean? We don't have much to do on Saturday," Jeongguk reasons. He looks over at Grace to help, but she isn't saying anything. Her expression is just as puzzled as his own.

"C'mon, if you don't wanna go then just say it," Disappointment creases Grace's thin eyebrows. She steps closer to Taehyung with her arms crossed over her chest, and despite her height, Jeongguk's sure she can probably beat Taehyung in a fight.

Taehyung rolls his eyes, scowling at the girl. "I do want to go. You're just not understanding--"

"Alright then," She claps her hands together, the mood not really easing with her enthusiasm. "Mission get Taehyung out of whatever he's doing on Saturday for the trip starts now." She announces, pumping her fist in the air.

Taehyung sighs in defeat, realizing Grace won't listen to him. "Sounds good to me," He says sarcastically, though Jeongguk can't help notice a glimmer of fear spark in his eyes. However, he doesn't mention it, guessing he's probably just seeing things.

"You good with spending the night at my place on Friday?" Jeongguk asks the boy, hoping the idea doesn't sound so bad. "If we do that, we can leave early in the morning with Grace?"

"That doesn't sound too bad," Grace agrees, nodding eagerly. "I can pick you both up at Jeongguk's and we can dash outta this place as fast as possible."

"Wait," Jeongguk's lips fall into a frown, realizing the only flaw in their plan. "What about your parents?"

Taehyung shrugs, seeming to be unbothered, "I don't care. Rachel has done way more horrible shit than this."

"Great!" Grace cheers, nearly bouncining up and down from excitement. "It's settled! We'll go to Chicago this weekend for our first pride parade! Maybe I should phone my girlfriend to take a flight so we can all meet up!"

"Sounds good," Jeongguk and Taehyung say at the same time, smiling shyly at one another. They all high-five (or well, Grace makes them high-five), and the excitement to finally leave Tennessee bubbles in their veins.

For once, Jeongguk can finally see whats waiting for him beyond this small little town. It's about time for a change.

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ahhh i love this trio 😔 we can
all agree Grace is another president
of the taekook fan club ✊

hopefully ya'll like this chapter!
also, a question- do you think jk
will accept his sexuality soon?

i love you guys to infinity 💛