Jungkook, curled up into a ball on the couch, stared blankly at the TV screen. The low hum of the program played in the background, but his mind was adrift, floating through dreary clouds that had Taehyung’s face carved into them. The harsh words and torturous sight of Taehyung crying yesterday pressed down on him, clenching his heart and leaving him numb.

He didn’t stir when the door creaked open, nor when familiar footsteps echoed through the room.

“Jungkookie,” Sung Ryung called and only received a dull hum in response. “Is it okay if Taehyung joins us for lunch?”

At the mention of Taehyung’s name, the dimness shrouding Jungkook’s face drained away, along with its color. He jerked upright, his eyes wide and swimming in shock. He stared in big, stupefied circles at Taehyung, who stood just inside the doorway with a hesitant yet warm smile. Taehyung’s presence seemed almost surreal, a jarring contrast to the dreary clouds that had occupied Jungkook’s mind moments before.

The blanket that had cocooned Jungkook slipped to the floor as he struggled to process the unexpected sight. His heart pounded, each beat reverberating through his chest.

“Jungkookie oppa?” Jiyu uttered in his extended silence, a pout dangling at the corner of her lips.

His sister’s worried voice snapped Jungkook’s bubble of stupefaction, and he dropped his head. “Um, yes. It’s... It’s okay.” His voice was a quivery whisper, as if speaking louder would make the moment even more real. His hazy eyes focused on his outfit and a spate of absolute shame shocked through him. He was still in his pajamas, an old set adorned with a big stamp of a teddy bear’s face right in the center of his chest.

The absurdity of the situation hit him hard, like a smack across his face. Here was Taehyung, looking effortlessly gorgeous and stunning, while he sat there in childish pajamas. He could feel the heat rise to his cheeks, a flush of embarrassment coloring his previously pale face.

Jungkook sprang up from his seat, scuttling towards his room, his quick steps mirroring the pounding of his heart.

A soft chuckle fell from Sung Ryung’s lips as she watched him scurry away. “Even after so many years, he still wants to look good for you,” she whispered close to Taehyung’s ear, then made her way to the kitchen.

Taehyung’s little smile grew into a warmer one with fondness outlining it as he followed Sung Ryung and Jiyu to the kitchen. He bowed his head respectfully to Minji, the housekeeper. “Hello, Minji-ssi.”

“Hello,” Minji greeted with a gentle smile. “Will you join the family for lunch?”

“Yes,” Sung Ryung replied for him. “Bring him a plate as well, please.”

“Of course.”

“Thank you,” Taehyung said.

They took their seats at the table, which was already packed with a variety of plates filled with delicious food. The spread was impressive — steaming bowls of savory soup, colorful salads with fresh greens and vibrant vegetables, and trays of fragrant dishes that tinged the air with mouthwatering aromas.

Taehyung’s eyes flung to Jungkook as soon as he entered, tracking his every move until he settled into the chair across from him. The softest of smiles clung to Taehyung’s face as he perceived the tentative glances Jungkook cast him, as if afraid to maintain eye contact.

“Hey,” Taehyung uttered, his voice flavored with a delicate reassurance. He leaned slightly forward, his expression open and inviting, wanting to bridge the gap that had separated them even by an inch. Wanting to let him know that they didn’t have to fight anymore.

Jungkook could swear his heart lurched at the gentle greeting and soft gaze Taehyung held steadfast on him. His stomach suddenly turned into a whirl of tautness, twisting and leaping with a mixture of shyness and surprise. He couldn’t believe his eyes, his ears; everything felt like a dream. Taehyung had never greeted him properly since his return.

Jungkook hesitated, his gaze flickering with a multitude of emotions — astonishment, gratitude, relief even, and a shade of vulnerability. “Um, hey.”

Taehyung allowed his eyes to drift to Jungkook’s outfit, taking in the plain, black shirt he wore. His lips curved into a playful smile, a twinkle of mischief dancing up in his gaze. “I prefer your previous outfit, to be honest.”

Taehyung’s teasing remark added a lightness to the atmosphere, easing the tension that had clasped Jungkook’s existence. He lowered his head with the muted chuckle that jumped out of him, feeling another round of embarrassment and timidity undulate across his insides. “I never expected to see you here today.”

“I know,” Taehyung said softly. “How’s your head?”

“Better. A lot better.”

“I’m glad.”

Jungkook blinked at him dumbly, struck by a paralyzing torpor. He had to be dreaming. Because why else would Taehyung smile at him and talk to him so casually? So warmly? It felt like a moment pulled from the past when things were simpler, and their relationship was free of misunderstandings, pain, or time apart.

The room around them seemed to wear off, leaving just the two of them in this fragile yet precious exchange. Jungkook’s mind worked overtime to catch up with his emotions, struggling to fit the Taehyung before him with the one who spewed such harsh words yesterday. The warmth in Taehyung’s eyes and the sincerity in his voice broke down the barriers of Jungkook’s despair, flooding him with pleasant emotions he hadn’t experienced in years.

Jungkook sighed, his heart a vortex of hope and uncertainty. The unexpected kindness from Taehyung was like a remedy for his bruised heart, soothing the despair that had engulfed him. It was as if a small light had pierced through the darkness that had cloaked him for so long.

Sung Ryung noticed the awkward silence and cleared her throat to draw their attention. “Let’s eat. The food is getting cold.”

Her delicate reminder brought them back to the present. Jungkook nodded, his gaze shifting from Taehyung to the array of dishes spread out on the table. He picked up his chopsticks, feeling a bit more composed, and began to serve himself some of the delicious food Minji had prepared.

Taehyung followed suit, the earlier tension mollifying as they focused on the meal. The atmosphere around the table grew warmer, filled with the familiar sounds of family enjoying a meal together. Jiyu chatted blithely, sharing stories from her day, while Sung Ryung often chimed in with her own comments.

Jungkook glanced at Taehyung across the table, who was listening intently to Jiyu’s story about a cute kitty she had encountered on her way to school earlier. There was an easy smile on Taehyung’s face, one that reached his eyes and softened his features. One that suited him the most.

As the meal continued, Jungkook felt the tightness in his chest gradually loosen. The simple act of sharing food, of being in the presence of Taehyung while he seemed so normal, chatting cheerfully and throwing frequent glances at him, was slowly healing the wounds of yesterday’s events. A glimmer of hope budded in Jungkook’s core that maybe, just maybe, things could be different from now on.

For the first time in what felt like ages, he allowed himself to believe that maybe everything would just turn out alright.

The meal ended with laughter and contentment, any shred of awkwardness or pain for Jungkook a distant memory. His lighthearted smile, that had embellished his features throughout their lunch, hardened as he detected Taehyung rising to his feet.

“Thank you for the food, but I have to go now,” Taehyung said, traces of gloom shadowing his mirth.

Jungkook’s heart sank at his words, the joy of the time spent together threatened by the imminent departure. The coziness that had enclosed him ebbed away, replaced by a gnawing notion of loss. He had hoped this moment would last a little longer, that they could continue to repair the damage between them, even though they didn’t exchange many words.

“Why don’t you stay for some coffee?” Sung Ryung suggested, her tone hopeful. “You start work at eight, right? It’s still early.”

“Yes, Taehyungie oppa! Stay, stay,” Jiyu whined, stomping her feet on repeat as she presented him with her most endearing puppy eyes.

A grin cut Taehyung’s face wide open as he dipped down to cup her rosy cheeks. “You’ll see me again, sweetie. Don’t worry.” He pressed a feathery kiss on her forehead, stroking his thumbs across her soft skin, and straightened his posture. “I have to go two hours earlier to work today. Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Sung Ryung uttered. “Jungkook, accompany him to the door.”

Mild lines of mystification crazed Jungkook’s forehead at her bizarre remark that held an inkling of urgency, although he would have done that, anyway. He had to ask him what changed so suddenly.

“Well, thank you again,” Taehyung said, smiling at Sung Ryung. “Bye. Bye, love.” He planted another kiss on Jiyu’s cheek and headed toward the exit with Jungkook tailing him.

A mildly charged silence floated around them along their way, the atmosphere thick with unspoken words. Jungkook shot consecutive peeks at Taehyung’s back, gathering his courage to speak. His heart sped up its rhythm, each step feeling heavier than the last. “Can I... ask you something?”

Taehyung halted as he reached the door, turning to face him, his eyes filled with an openness Jungkook hadn’t seen in a while. “Sure.”

Jungkook glanced behind him toward the kitchen where his family lingered. The words were at the tip of his tongue, but he hesitated. Deciding it was better to talk outside, he walked past Taehyung to open the door and waited until he stepped outside, then joined him and closed it behind them.

Jungkook viewed him in a moment’s quietness, hesitation clawing at his throat. He studied Taehyung’s features — the slight crinkle of his brows, the gentleness in his gaze that seemed to hold a world of unsaid emotions. “You’re... different today.”

Taehyung’s eyes moved in a circle of thought before fixing on him, a small, enigmatic smile tugging at the edges of his lips. “That’s not a question.”

A subdued snort emitted from Jungkook, the firmness in his muscles loosening. He found comfort in Taehyung’s familiar demeanor, but the question still burdened his chest. “You know what I mean. Why? What changed?”

Taehyung sighed, a soft sound that barely reached Jungkook’s ears. “Nothing,” he replied, though the single word was coiled around an intricacy that Jungkook could feel but not fully comprehend. “Sung Ryung asked me to have lunch with you. She said you weren’t doing that well.”

“Oh.” A sullen cloud loomed over Jungkook’s expression that had the corners of his eyes sagging with disappointment. “So it wasn’t your initiative to, you know, cheer me up.”

“No.” Taehyung considered the shadow of gloom that sat heavy on his features, underlined with dregs of bitterness. He sighed again, this time more deeply, as if unburdening himself of a cumbersome load. “But... I’ve been cruel to you. I know. I can’t help it.”

The gently spoken words cradled a part of Jungkook’s vile emotions, soothing them until they were replaced with something warm and sweet. Taehyung’s honesty and the acknowledgment of his behavior were redeeming. “You’re right to be cruel,” he whispered. “It’s just... It hurts so much I can’t handle it sometimes.”

The serenity that overlay Taehyung’s traits wavered, as if a wave of darkness had passed over them. He looked away, his expression guarded. “Look,” Taehyung began, his voice tinted with an undercurrent of resignation threaded with softness. “Even if we broke up, we have Jiyu, who will always connect us. So let’s try to have a normal relationship instead of fighting each other.”

“Tae...” Jungkook let out, his name a soft yet grievous caress on his lips. “I don’t want a normal relationship with you. I want you. All of you.” His gaze bore into Taehyung’s, pleading silently for a second chance — a chance to fix their destroyed relationship.

For a moment, Taehyung seemed to weigh his words, the internal struggle clear on his face. He forced a smile to his lips, though the melancholy in his gaze lingered. “I’m sorry, Jungkook. I don’t see you romantically anymore. This thing between us... It’s not romantic in my head anymore.”

Realization bombarded Jungkook ruthlessly, twisting his features into a pained frown of devastation. The weight of understanding crashed down on him like a merciless wave, leaving him reeling in disbelief and heartache. That was why Taehyung had been so normal, so composed — because he wanted to maintain a friendly relationship, not attempt to mend what was broken between them.

The admission was like a sharp blade cutting through the fragile hope that had begun to bloom within Jungkook, and the realization razed him to the ground. “How... How can you call the seven years we spent together just this thing between us?” he asked in a wrecked whisper, his eyes burning with a familiar wetness. “You said it yourself, Taehyung. We were about to get married. It wasn’t just a thing. It was our whole life.”

The pain in Jungkook’s words resonated in the air, punctuating the depth of his heartache and the shattered dreams that lay scattered between them. He searched Taehyung’s face, desperate for some semblance of mendacity, or of recognition of what they had once shared.

Taehyung held his gaze, giving him a distinct view of the aching turbulence within his soul. “Exactly. It was. It isn’t anymore,” he said, the tone delicate, almost fragile, as if he feared the fortress of his composure would collapse at any minute. “You need time to tell me the truth. And I need time to think about my feelings. Right now, I really don’t see you romantically anymore. I only feel pain when I look at you. This pain has taken away all the romantic love I once felt for you. I’m sorry if this hurts you and if I’m being cruel again. I’m just telling the truth.”

A suffocating heaviness formed at the back of Jungkook’s throat, a burning knot that foreboded tears. He endeavored to keep the wetness fenced in as a comforting understanding came to settle over his shoulders like a fuzzy blanket. “No, I get it. You’re right. As much as it pains me, you’re right. I can’t just demand from you to forget about everything and be with me again. I hurt you more than anyone. But I also loved you more than anyone. I still do. And I always will.”

Taehyung witnessed the tears bubbling up in Jungkook’s eyes until they spilled over. A rueful smile barely lifted the tips of his lips as he dared to near him with an unsteady step. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly, and brushed his knuckle over Jungkook’s smooth cheek to wipe away the wetness.

Jungkook’s tears increased to a vehement gush, though no sounds escaped him. The touch on his cheek, velvety and loving, felt like a tender caress to his scarred heart, soothing some of the ache that was rooted deep within him.

Taehyung’s fingers traced lightly over Jungkook’s skin, leaving behind a trail of warmth that seemed to seep into his very soul. It was an ephemeral moment of tenderness within the torturous chaos, a reminiscence of the bond they had once shared and the love that still lingered despite everything.

For a beat, time held still as they stood there, their silent exchange speaking volumes that words couldn’t convey. Jungkook closed his eyes, allowing himself to absorb the comfort of Taehyung’s touch, even though he struggled to fathom the pain of their current reality.

Jungkook’s wet eyes split open as he felt the warmth on his cheek recede. He clasped Taehyung’s hand before it could fully retract. “Can I hug you now?” he asked, his voice tremoring with a tangle of vulnerability and uncertainty.

Taehyung’s hand tensed within Jungkook’s grasp, but he didn’t pull away. He filled his lungs with much-needed air, a long inhalation designed to tame the tsunami of blustering emotions in his gut and steady himself. His eyes, that carried a melancholic sheen, rested on their intertwined hands. “I’m not ready yet.”

“Maybe,” Jungkook uttered, caressing the back of his hand with a delicate thumb, “you’ll love me again if you let me hold you.”

Exactly. Taehyung sighed softly, expelling his thoughts along with the silent release of breath. “If you want me to wait for you, you have to wait for me too. Time will tell... if I can love you again like before.” He took a small step back, his eyes resting on their hands as they slowly parted, fingers brushing together until the very last moment of the touch.

As their fingers finally separated, a palpable sadness dropped between them. Taehyung turned to leave without another word, allowing the tears he had strove to contain before to stream down his face freely.

Jungkook could feel the pang in his chest deepen, the space where Taehyung’s warmth had been now cold and empty. He watched him go, his own tears blurring his vision and dripping down in a steady trickle. He felt as if a part of him was being torn away, the realization of their separation hitting him with renewed force. Despite the pain, he knew that giving Taehyung the time and space he needed was the only way they could ever hope to heal.

Alone once more, Jungkook stood rooted in the quiet aftermath of their contact, the comfort of Taehyung’s touch cocooning him in a loving embrace. One last day, and everything would end. Woosung had one last day to tell Taehyung everything, and if he didn’t, Jungkook would.

Everything would end tomorrow, and the journey of mending what was broken between them would begin with no more lies and secrets.

───⭒───༺🖤༻───⭒───

Yay, double update🥰

We're getting somewhere...? Can you relate to Taehyung with everything he said to Jungkook?

Also, Jungkook finally understood that he needs to give Taehyung time too! Let's see what will happen tomorrow🤗