Jungkook's cheeks turned pink. "Well, um... Is it alright if I could stay the night with you in your room?"

Jimin's eyes blinked rapidly, his heart pounding in his chest. If he hadn't taken his regular medicine, he would have had an attack from the sheer surprise.

He stammered, his cheeks flushed. "Yeah, but… why, all of a sudden?"

Jungkook also stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to sleep alone... I just... I want to cuddle someone..." His cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink as he finished his sentence.

Yoongi couldn't suppress his chuckles, finding the situation more entertaining.

Meanwhile, Jimin was a blushing mess, trying to process the request. He didn't know Jungkook's real intentions and thought it might be a lie. But he still believed him and didn't want to say no. Sighing to himself, he nodded. "Okay, if that's what yo--"

Just then, his phone rang, interrupting him. It was someone from the company. He quickly excused himself, saying, "I will go to my room now, you come along," and went to attend the call.

Before Jungkook could follow him, Yoongi called out, "Jungkook," He motioned for him to come towards him.

Jungkook looked at Jimin, then back at Yoongi, and slowly walked over, looking innocent.

Yoongi crossed his arms. He eyed him for a brief moment, making the younger fidget under his gaze.

With a raised eyebrow, he asked, "Are you trying to cheat on Taehyung with my Jiminie?"

Jungkook's face flushed immediately. "Wai-- What?! No! I would never do that! What the hell are you talking about, hyung?!"

Yoongi chuckled to himself, clearly enjoying his flustered reaction, though his tone suddenly turned cold.

The maknae tensed slightly, sensing the shift. Yoongi, now his hands in his pockets, pressed his tongue against his left cheek from the inside.

"If you try something funny with my Jimin without his permission..." His voice was icy as he paused, bringing a hand up to his neck and motioning a cutting gesture-- a clear threat.

Jungkook shivered, but he maintained his composure. "Of course, I won't. I'm loyal to my Taehyungie, duh," he huffed, crossing his arms defensively.

Yoongi raised an eyebrow, still looking suspicious but tilting his head slightly. "Then, you can go."

Jungkook nodded, quickly saying, "Good night," before heading upstairs.

He went to Jimin's room and stood outside, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart. He knocked gently on the door.

"Come in," Jimin's voice called from inside.

Jungkook opened the door and stepped in, his heart beating even faster as he took in the serene beauty of Jimin. The elder was sitting on one side of the bed, still talking on the phone.

Jimin glanced up and saw Kook, smiling a bit as he patted the bed beside him, motioning for him to come sit.

Jungkook hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat down, still looking nervous.

Soon, Jimin ended the call and set his phone aside, the room suddenly feeling quieter. They both looked at each other for a brief moment before quickly glancing away, the tension palpable.

Jimin cleared his throat while Jungkook fidgeted with his fingers, his face flushing red.

Jimin's cheeks were just as pink, and he gave a nervous chuckle. "So, um, you said wanted to stay here tonight?" he asked softly.

Jungkook nodded, still avoiding eye contact. "Yeah, if that's okay with you, hyung. I... I just didn't want to be alone..."

Jimin smiled, the awkwardness still lingering but softened. "Of course, it's okay, Jungkookie. You can stay here."

He cleared his throat again and spoke up, "I'm going to take a shower. If you want, you can take one in the other room as well." He paused, then added, "I-- I also have many extra-sized pajamas. I can lend some to you if you need them."

Jungkook looked away, feeling a bit shy. "Thanks, hyung," he said, nodding.

"Alright, I will be back in a bit." He grabbed his things, set some extra clothes for Jungkook on the bed, and headed to the bathroom in the room.

As the door clicked shut, Jungkook let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He stared at the neatly folded clothes on the bed, his hand resting lightly on them, feeling the soft fabric under his palm. His mind raced, his thoughts scattered like pieces of a puzzle he was struggling to put together. He had no idea what had come over him earlier, asking to stay with Jimin tonight. It was as though something inside him snapped-- his desire to confess, to make things right, to somehow break free from the guilt that had been gnawing at him for so long.

Why did he want to sleep with Jimin? What was he expecting? The answer was painfully clear: He wanted to say everything, to get it off his chest.

He wanted to tell Jimin that he loved him, that his feelings weren't just a passing fancy, that the guilt of loving him had driven him to the breaking point. But he knew it was a risky move-- he could lose everything. The rules he lived by-- they weren't just laws to him, they were the entire world for a sub.

Subs mustn't love anyone other than their doms.

Jungkook mustn't love anyone else but Taehyung. That was the rule. But Jimin... Jimin had gotten under his skin in a way he never saw it coming.

He didn't even know how to begin. How could he explain the complicated mess of emotions? And what if Jimin didn't feel the same? What if he just made everything more awkward than it already was?

Jungkook sighed, his fingers curling tighter around the soft fabric of the pajamas. He had made up his mind. He wasn't going to run from this anymore. He would face it. Even if Jimin didn’t return his feelings, he needed to say it-- to confess, to finally confront the truth. That was what Taehyung had always taught him-- to always confront the truth, no matter what.

The bathroom door clicked open, breaking his train of thoughts. Jimin stepped out, his face slightly flushed, his wet hair clinging to his forehead. He looked softer, almost angelic. He caught the younger staring, and for a split second, their eyes locked.

Jungkook quickly looked away, his heart thudding louder in his chest. He stood up, grabbing the clothes from the bed.

"Do you need a minute to go change?" Jimin asked. He hesitated before continuing, "There's no rush. You can take your time."

Jungkook nodded but didn't answer, quickly heading to the bathroom to change. He needed a moment to breathe, to gather himself. Standing in front of the mirror, he stared at his reflection. He had never been this nervous before. He had never been so uncertain about anything in his life.

When he came out with the new set of clothes, he was surprised to find that Jimin had already climbed into bed, the covers pulled up to his waist, leaving an empty space beside him. The elder patted the spot, smiling hesitantly, but didn't want to make things awkward.

Jungkook stood there for a moment, unsure whether to go over, but eventually, he found himself walking toward the bed. He slid in next to Jimin, the space between them.

They both lay there in silence. The tension was almost unbearable, both of them afraid to make the first move.

Finally, Jimin spoke, his voice quiet. "Jungkook, if you want to talk about anything… you can. I'm here, okay? It feels like you wanna say something, but holding yourself back."

Jungkook blinked, unsure of how to respond. He turned to face Jimin, their faces inches apart. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat, while Jimin waited, curious.

Jungkook swallowed hard, his hands fumbling with the blanket between them. "I... I don't know how to say this, hyung," he murmured.

"It's okay," Jimin said. "Just... Just say what's on your mind? I will listen."

Jungkook closed his eyes, letting out a soft exhale. His heart was pounding so loudly, it felt like it would explode. He didn't know what he was expecting, but there was no turning back now.

"I think... I think I am in love with you," he whispered.

The minute the words left his mouth, Jimin froze. His body went still, and for a moment, there was only silence.

Jungkook immediately regretted it.

The words felt wrong, too heavy. "I... I am sorry," he muttered quickly, looking away. "I shouldn't have said that. I just... I have been feeling guilty about it for so long, and I... I didn't know how to handle it."

Jimin blinked. "But-- But why now? What changed?"

Jungkook looked into Jimin's eyes. "I... I don't want to keep pretending like everything is fine. I have been pretending that I can just follow the rules, that I can be happy with Taehyung. But it's... It's hard, you know. I love him, but I... I love you, too. And I don’t know what to do about it."

The words hung in the air, a confession that felt both freeing and suffocating at the same time.

Jimin's mind was spinning. His heart was thundering in his chest, so loud that he could barely hear his own thoughts. Jungkook, the always sassy and strong-willed Jungkook, just told him that he loved him?

No, it couldn't be true. Jimin couldn’t comprehend it. He blinked rapidly, his mind scrambling to make sense of the words that had just pierced through the silence of the room.

What is he even saying? Jimin thought, his thoughts chaotic. This doesn't make any sense. He's Taehyung's sub. He can't love me, can he?

The realization hitting him like a wave crashing against the shore. Jungkook had confessed-- Jungkook loves him.

How was that even possible?

Jimin had always thought of him as this fierce, troublesome person. The Jungkook whom he always found it hard to talk with, whom he knew he would never get along with. The thought that this same person could feel this way about him made Jimin feel like his world was tilting off its axis.

But then the panic set in. What does this mean for me? What do I do now?

His heart continued to race, faster and faster. I have feelings for Taehyung. I do. But... Do I love Jungkook? I don't know... As Taehyung's sub, Jungkook isn't allowed to have feelings for anyone else. The connection, the bond, is supposed to be one-sided, directed only toward Taehyung, his dom.

But Jungkook... he's saying he loves me--? What in the holy macaroni is this..?

He bit his lip, desperately trying to calm himself. He opened his mouth to speak, to offer something-- anything-- that would make the moment less suffocating. But nothing came out. No comforting words, no acknowledgment of what Jungkook had said.

He glanced at Jungkook, whose gaze was filled with uncertainty. The situation made Jimin feel like he was standing on the edge of a precipice, unsure whether to jump or retreat.

What was he supposed to say? Could he reject Jungkook? Could he tell him that it wasn't possible, that they couldn't be together, that it was forbidden? He didn’t want to hurt Jungkook. Not now, not after hearing those words.

But at the same time, Jimin knew the reality. Jungkook was Taehyung's sub. It didn't matter how much Jungkook liked him. He wasn't supposed to cross those boundaries.

Still, the confusion lingered. Could they really just pretend nothing had happened?

The room felt suffocating, neither of them were saying anything. Jimin wanted to speak, to clear thimgs out, but each word he thought of felt wrong, too final, too harsh. His mind was a marathon of thoughts and possible replies, but nothing seemed right.

Finally, he opened his mouth, his voice shaking just a little. "Jungkook, I… I don't know what to say."

He could see the nervousness in the younger's eyes. The silence between them was unbearable.

Jungkook, sensing his hesitation, shifted a little. "Hyung, I--"

"No-- I am not rejecting you," Jimin quickly interrupted, his hands now nervously twisting the blanket between them. "I just… I don't know what this means. I don't know how to feel about all this. I have feelings for Taehyung, yes. But… but you… you are Taehyung's, Jungkook. You can't love me. You can't--"

Jimin's voice broke off, not knowing how to make things right. He had no idea if he had said the right thing or not. The truth was, he wanted to feel something for Jungkook. He wanted to tell him that he was okay with this-- whatever it was-- but he couldn't.

Jungkook's face softened, and for a moment, it seemed like he understood the confusion Jimin was feeling.

"I know," he whispered, almost apologetic. "I am not asking you to love me back. I just… I needed to tell you. I don't want to keep pretending that I don't feel this way."

Jimin felt his heart soften at the honesty. He swallowed hard. "But… Jungkook," he began, "You are Taehyung's. You can't just…"

"I know," Jungkook interrupted. "But that's the thing, hyung. I am trying to figure it out too. I don't want to hurt anyone, but I can't ignore how I feel about you."

Jimin blinked. It wasn't just about love-- it was about something deeper, something neither of them knew how to understand.

Jungkook spoke again, "I… I just feel really guilty, hyung," he muttered. "Guilty for loving someone other than my dom." He paused.

Jimin laid still, listening to his words. He wanted to say something, to comfort him, but there was nothing he could say that would make this easier. He knew this was hard for Jungkook, just as it was for him.

"I know the rule. A sub can't love anyone other than their dom. I... I understand that. It's just..." Jungkook's voice cracked slightly. "I can't stop it. I can't hide how I feel. And I… I feel like I was betraying Taehyung. I don't want to, but I don't know how to stop feeling this way, hyung. I just can't ignore these feelings like they never existed."

Jimin didn't know how to respond to such raw honesty. He could hear the desperation in the younger's words. It was the first time he had ever seen him so exposed, so vulnerable.

"And then," Jungkook whispered, "Taehyung found out." He met Jimin's eyes for a brief moment before quickly looking away again, as if ashamed. "He confronted me about it. He knew what I was feeling, even though I tried to hide it. And… and he was the one who said I should confront my feelings to you, to make things right..."

Jimin knew Taehyung had always cared for the younger, but now, hearing that Jungkook had been struggling with these feelings, he realized how much more complicated things had become.

Jungkook exhaled slowly. "Taehyung then told me... He said that he loved you too, in the past...

... He told me he still does, but... he had been hiding it, pretending like he didn't. He didn't want to hurt me, hyung. He didn't want to make me feel betrayed. He didn't want to make me think that... that I was being replaced..."

Jimin's eyes widened in shock. His heart skipped a beat as he processed what Jungkook had just revealed.

Taehyung loved him? And he still does?!

PEOPLE-- HOW ARE Y'ALL?😭

I can't believe it's been 4 months and 9 days since I last updated!😭 I missed y'all so much😭

I can't believe this book reached over 25.4k views and 2.43k votes already!😭 Thank you so much!!!😭♥️

I had already half-written this chapter months ago, but I really wanted to update today because CelestialNarrator has been asking for updates for months 😭 thank you so much for your love and support for this book!😭♥️