Jungkook placed a bouquet on the clean concrete of the grave, took a few steps back and clasped his hands in front of his body. As he stood there, he tried to imagine what Ryujin looked like. He imagined a face and all he could see was Jin.

Did they look alike? He wondered. Was he like Jin? Did they have the same personality? From what he'd heard, Ryujin had been strict but he couldn't help but feel he might have been friendlier and more cheerful than Jin. It reminded Jungkook of how Jin had been before they started dating, how he was always frowning, cussing and beating people up.

But Jin was no longer that person. He'd changed. A lot had changed over the past few months.

"Hi, Ryujin... Hyung. I don't know if I'm allowed to call you that," he said, awkwardly. He had never done this before; stood in front of a grave and tried to talk to the person under it.

Actually, he'd never been inside a cemetery before, let alone stand and talk to a grave.

"My name is Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook and I'm in a relationship with your brother. Was," he corrected immediately, it would take time for him to get used to the fact that he and Jin weren't together anymore. "I mean, I was, before I messed that up.

"I'm not here to narrate the circumstances surrounding our relationship or to bore you with long talks. I came here to confess to you about what I did and to ask for your forgiveness," he sniffled. "I wrote some untrue things about you, specifically about the way you..." He swallowed thickly. "The way you died."

He looked around forcing back the tears burning his eyes. Why had he done something like that? "I was wrong, and nothing I say justifies my actions. I didn't know who you were and I had no idea anything about your life. I made up a lot of stuff and I'm sorry. I know your death wasn't your fault. I know because Jin told me on his birthday. He told me how you were taken away from him and that day all I prayed for was powers to be able to bring you back to life for him.

"I didn't mean to intentionally smear dirt on your name. I didn't mean to put a dent in your legacy. I am truly sorry. You are someone who has become important to me because you are important to Jin, and I really hurt him for what I wrote. So, I'm begging you right now," he fell to his knees, sobbing, "to please forgive me. I know that I don't deserve it but I'm still going to ask for it from you.

"I'm not here to make Jin take me back. I know no matter what I do or say, his mind is already made up about me, but I want to tell you that I love your brother so much. I love him and I'm willing to do anything for him, so for that reason please look kindly on me and forgive me. I am truly, deeply sorry."

Jungkook buried his face in his hands and cried. His throat hurt and his head throbbed but he didn't stop crying. He needed Ryujin's forgiveness. He knew he would not get Jin's but Ryujin was older and hopefully more forgiving.

"Hyung, how can you be so quiet when someone is desperately begging for your forgiveness?"

Jungkook jumped, swivelling in fear at suddenly hearing a voice behind him in a cemetery, but he found Jin there, his gaze fixated on his brother's grave with a scowl on his face. He had tears in his eyes but he wouldn't look at Jungkook.

"Jin," he called, standing to his feet.

"I came to report you to my brother for breaking my heart and then showing up to my graduation to give me flowers," he said, his gaze still not meeting Jungkook's. "But you beat me to it and reported yourself instead."

"I came to ask for his forgiveness, even though I don't deserve it," he said.

From where he stood, Jungkook could hear how hard Jin was breathing, seeing how desperately he was trying not to blink so the tears in his eyes wouldn't fall. "You hurt me, Jungkook," he said. "You really hurt me."

Jungkook nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Stop saying sorry," he groaned, rolling his head in frustration. "I hate it when you say that word to me."

"What do you want me to say?" He asked pleadingly because he would say anything Jin wanted him to say.

"I don't know. But don't say sorry to me."

"I love you," he said.

Jin looked at him. "You love me," he said. It wasn't a question.

"I love you," he repeated. "I've loved you since the first day we met. You're the only good thing in my life. If it weren't for you, I don't think I'd be here today. I know I won't be here today."

Jin said nothing. He watched Jungkook with a tight frown.

Jungkook looked at the ground shaking his head and crying. "I did something so terrible and you're the last person who deserves it. I will do anything to make you happy. I would never want to hurt you."

"Then why did you break my heart?" Jin's voice shook.

"I don't know. I was confused, choked and overwhelmed with everything. I was a mess back then. But my action was never intended to hurt or insult you and your family. I swear to you, Jin," he cried.

"Did you have to write about him, as well?" He gestured towards the grave. "Did you have to be so detailed about everything?" Jin asked, drawing in a ragged breath.

"I was stupid. I have no excuse for what I did. It's unforgivable and I know I have no right to be here talking to your brother and begging for his forgiveness. I know I don't deserve to be forgiven."

Jin shook his head. He looked so conflicted like he was torn between what to do and say. "If you regretted it so much, why didn't you tell me about it? When you realized what you had done was wrong, why didn't you come to me and confess it all? The blow would have been less painful than hearing it from Bambam telling me that I'm nothing but a writing project to you."

Just like he'd suspected, it had been Bambam that had betrayed him. He'd promised to keep Jungkook's secret only to break it. He'd taken away the chance for Jungkook to come clean to Jin himself. He'd made fun of Jungkook and belittled his feelings for Jin, just because of his selfish, fucked up belief that Jin had brainwashed Jungkook.

After everything he'd done for Bambam, this was how he chose to pay him back. Fresh tears burned his eyes. His lips shook uncontrollably. He wanted to hurt Bambam so badly. He wanted to do something that would break Bambam into atomic bits. He wanted to take away the good life, security and stability he'd given Bambam—the person who had claimed to be his best friend—but he couldn't.

He was guilty, after all. He, too, had betrayed the person he claimed to love. He'd hurt and betrayed Jin just as Bambam had hurt and betrayed him.

So, in that moment, he had no right to punish anyone or apportion blame. He was going to take full responsibility for this because if he had not written or published that book, Bambam would have had nothing to use against him.

"You're not a writing project to me. You never were, Jin. You're my entire world."

"No. I'm just a drug dealer who fucks for money," Jin said, thickly.

"Jin," he called, pleadingly. What had he done to himself?

Jin sucked in a sharp breath. "If I asked you to go on the news and tell everybody that-"

"Yes." Jungkook nodded frantically, tears spilling from his eyes. "I would do it. I'll hold a press meeting and I'll tell everybody what I did. I promise."

"You'll do it without hesitation?"

"I'll do it right now," he said, and to show Jin he wasn't just bluffing, Jungkook fetched his phone from his pocket to call a media person he had on his contact.

But Jin snatched his phone from his hand. He groaned again, pressing the heel of his palms to his eyes. "Fuck! Why do I love you so much?" He grabbed Jungkook's hand and pulled him into an embrace. "I don't want to be away from you, Jungkook."

Jungkook hugged him back tightly. "I don't want to be away from you, too, Jin. Please, forgive me."

"God, Jungkook," Jin sobbed against him, his body shaking feverishly.

"Please. I can't live without you. I won't be able to," he said, desperately, his voice hoarse.

For a long moment, they stood there in front of Ryujin's grave, sobbing in each other's embrace. Jungkook felt moments away from a heart attack. His heart beat so fast, nervously.

"I will," Jin said eventually. He didn't say he had forgiven Jungkook but that he will. Someday he would but not in that moment. And Jungkook wasn't going to push him. He didn't dare ask for more. What he had received was more than he thought he would get. "Don't ever hurt me again. I'm not sure I'll be able to take it."

"I won't, I promise."

"You'll always be real with me," he pulled away to look at Jungkook, his expression pleading, eyes red and afraid, "I don't want you to ever hide anything from me. Honesty and loyalty are important to me and I want to be sure that I can get them from you because you have mine 100%."

"I'll never lie to you again, Jin, or betray you. I made a mistake but it'll never happen again. I'll do anything to make you see that you mean everything to me," he said, fighting back more tears that threatened to spill.

Again, Jin pulled him into a hug. His heart thrummed in his chest, matching Jungkook's racing heart. "I love you, Jungkook."

"I love you too," Jungkook cried. "I love you so much, Jin."

Jin took in a deep breath and let it out softly. His hug was soothing and comforting. It was home and Jungkook never wanted to be away from him again. "Also, forgive me as well, for leaving you outside my house and not meeting you."

"There's nothing to forgive," Jungkook answered. He would have stood outside Jin's place for a month under the snow or rain if it would show how sorry he truly was.

"There is," Jin insisted.

"I deserved it."

Jin shook his head. "You didn't." He leaned back to take Jungkook's face in his hands and scanned his features with wandering worried red eyes. "You didn't fall sick, did you?"

Jungkook shook his head.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded, unable to respond because his emotions were choking him. He didn't deserve Jin. Not even a little.

"Stop crying, please," Jin said, wiping his tears with his thumb. "I'm here, right?"

He struggled to swallow. "I feel so guilty-" Jin's lips met his, taking his words away in a soft, passionate kiss. Jungkook sighed into the kiss, moving his lips against Jin's, feeling his heart explode in his chest.

How long had it been since he kissed Jin? How long had it been since he'd been in his embrace? How long had it been since he'd been reassured of his love? He'd given up all hopes, certain that he'd lost Jin.

But he'd been wrong. He hadn't lost Jin. Jin was still his.

When Jin leaned away from the kiss, he gave Jungkook a look, his lips tugged up slightly. "Stop feeling that way. I meant it when I said I didn't want to be away from you. You made a mistake. We both got hurt. Let's move on now?"

Jungkook nodded. "Yes, please."

Jin chuckled softly, pulling him back into a hug. "Jesus Christ, baby. Our love is really dramatic," He exhaled deeply. A short moment later, he said, "You look really good, by the way. Did you dress up nicely for me?"

"Yes," he answered.

Jin placed a kiss on Jungkook's head just as his phone vibrated in his pocket, interrupting their moment. He did nothing to answer it, letting his arms stay around Jungkook's body.

"You don't want to get it?" Jungkook asked.

"I should but it's probably just Namjoon or Hoseok," he said.

"They'll probably be disappointed you took me back," Jungkook said, regrettably. "Especially Hoseok."

"You think so?"

Jungkook nodded. "And they'll be right to feel that way."

Smiling, Jin shook his head. "You have no idea how great you are, Young Master. You have a lot of fans rooting for you. As it seems, my loved ones are more on your side than they are on mine."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Hoseok and Namjoon tried getting me to meet you, call back and reply to your texts the entire week. Namjoon tried to guilt trip me into coming outside to talk to you. And today when you left the ceremony, Taehyung said he'd never talk to me again if I didn't hear you out while Jimin practically nodded the entire time."

Oh. "Oh!" Jungkook wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. He had been certain Jin's friends hated his guts more than anything. He felt eternally grateful to them. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. You have to know that I'm not the only one who loves you," he said. "Of course, I'm the only one who's crazy in love with you. I mean, me and Hanuel."

Jungkook groaned, rolling his eyes. "Don't ever say that name again, please."

Jin chuckled. "Yeah, even saying his name makes my blood boil," he said, cringing. "Anyway, Namjoon and Hoseok are throwing me a graduation party, that's why they're calling."

"They really enjoy throwing parties."

"Namjoon does. Hoseok just tolerates it," Jin explained. "With the club under repairs, it's going to be at my house."

Jungkook's father had paid for the damages and repairs of the club and added more for compensation and an apology. They had started work there only yesterday and it would still take a few weeks before the club would be up and running again. "You're coming, right?"

He nodded. "So, I get to enter your house for the first time, today?"

Jin kissed his cheek. "You get to enter my room for the first time today."

Jungkook blushed, biting his lower lip. "Are you going to entertain me?"

"I'll entertain you so well," he said, placing a kiss on the spot under Jungkook's ear.

"Maybe I'll get to give you your graduation gift as well."

Jin pulled away and gave him a look. "My graduation gift?" Jungkook blushed and nodded. "What is it?"

Jungkook bit his lip shyly. "You'll see," he said.

"I'll see? Okay, let's go," he said, hurriedly, tugging Jungkook's hand.

"Right now?" Jungkook asked, amused.

"Right now," he said, frantically and started to jog out of the cemetery pulling Jungkook with him.

"Are you that excited for the party?"

"No hate to Namjoon and Hoseok but fuck the party." Jin chuckled, then turned back swiftly. "Bye, hyung. I'll talk to you later!"

Oh, right! "Bye, Ryujin hyung! Thank you for listening!" Jungkook yelled over his shoulder, laughing and running through the cemetery with Jin.

For the first time in his life, Jungkook felt entirely happy, free and loved. Jin was his person and nothing was going to change that.

THE END

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to my beloved readers!

The support on this book was insane and I love every one of you who steadfastly cheered me on and followed this story excitedly.

There will be another chapter which is the epilogue, but this is officially the end of Hate To Love You 🥺💕

If you enjoyed this book, you can check out my other JinKook books if you like, for more drama-filled love stories!

See you in the next one, babsies! 🥰