Chapter 19: chapter 18

Jungkook sits on the couch, knees drawn up, a half-empty bottle of soju on the coffee table in front of him. They come straight to Taehyung's apartment from the café.

Taehyung stands near the kitchen, watching him.

Neither of them has spoken much since they got here.

It’s strange.

Jungkook is always talking.

Always filling the silence with something stories, complaints, laughter.

But tonight, he’s quiet.

And Taehyung doesn’t know what to do with that.

So he does what he always does.

He watches.

Jungkook sighs, tilting his head back against the couch. “You know, hyung… You always act like you don’t care about anything.”

Taehyung blinks. “I don’t.”

Jungkook turns to him, a small, tired smile on his lips. “But you do.”

Taehyung doesn’t respond.

Because he doesn’t know if that’s true.

Jungkook exhales. “You came to meet me today.”

Taehyung nods.

“You said you wanted to understand.”

Another nod.

Jungkook studies him, eyes dark and unreadable. “Why?”

Taehyung doesn’t answer immediately.

Because he doesn’t know.

But after a moment, he says, “Because it matters to you.”

Jungkook stills.

His fingers tighten slightly around the bottle.

Then, softly, he asks, “Do I matter to you, hyung?”

Taehyung feels something shift inside him.

It’s unfamiliar.

Uncomfortable.

But he doesn’t look away.

And he doesn’t lie.

“Yes.”

Jungkook stares at him.

His expression is unreadable.

Then, without a word, he takes another sip of soju.

And Taehyung knows

They’re far from done talking.

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Taehyung sits in a board meeting, but he isn’t paying attention.

Jungkook’s question from last night keeps playing in his head.

Do I matter to you, hyung?

And his own answer.

Yes.

He meant it.

He just doesn’t know what it means.

“Sir?”

Taehyung looks up.

His assistant, Jimin, is watching him expectantly.

“Your thoughts on the new proposal?”

Taehyung exhales, flipping through the documents. “We’ll discuss it later.”

Jimin nods, but there’s something curious in his gaze.

Taehyung ignores it.

His mind is elsewhere.

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.

.

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Jungkook is in bed, staring at the ceiling.

He should be studying. Or visiting Taehyung.

But his mind is stuck on last night.

Yes.

It’s the first time Taehyung has ever admitted something like that.

But it doesn’t change anything.

Taehyung still doesn’t understand.

And Jungkook is getting tired of waiting.

He closes his eyes.

Tomorrow, he’ll act like nothing happened.

Like he always does.

Because pretending is easier.

And he’s been pretending for a long time.

🐻🐰