The days blurred together as Jungkook worked as Taehyung's Personal Assistant. At first, it felt like a strange dreamâa nightmare, perhaps. Every day, he walked through those gleaming, polished halls, seeing Taehyung, the man who had once been everything to him, sitting just a few feet away at his desk. But Taehyung was a stranger now. A stranger who didn't remember the years they had spent together, or the love that had once burned brightly between them.
But it wasn't just the man in front of him who made it impossible for Jungkook to focus. It was the strange feeling that Taehyung was noticing him in ways that shouldn't matter. He was attentive in ways that felt... familiar. Too familiar.
One late afternoon, as Jungkook was organizing papers on Taehyung's desk, he felt a familiar presence looming behind him. He froze, instinctively straightening up, before he turned to find Taehyung watching him.
"You're always so careful with the documents, Jungkook." Taehyung's voice was soft, a hint of admiration in his tone.
Jungkook's breath caught in his throat. He wasn't used to hearing his name from Taehyung like thisâsoft and intimate. It made his heart ache, even though he tried to push the feeling away. "It's just part of the job." He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
Taehyung's gaze lingered, something unreadable in his eyes. Why does he keep looking at me like that? Jungkook thought, forcing himself to look away. He doesn't remember.
"You've been doing a great job, Jungkook." Taehyung continued, his voice warm. "I've noticed."
Jungkook felt the weight of his words, and for the first time in a long while, something inside him softened. He wanted to respondâwanted to tell Taehyung that the kindness, the care in his words, was tearing him apart. But he couldn't. He didn't have the strength to be vulnerable again.
"Thank you, Mr. Kim." Jungkook said quickly, before turning away and walking out of the office, his heart pounding in his chest.
Later in the afternoon, as he sat in his cabin, exhausted from the day's work, Jungkook's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at itâJimin.
"Jungkook, I just heard something. Hani's school called me today. They said she fainted during class. She's okay now.
Jungkook's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. His hands shook as he gripped the phone, his mind racing. How could this happen? Why didn't they call me?"
"They tried to call you but your number was not reachable, so they called me. They must have messaged you." said Jimin.
He quickly checked his messages and there it was a message from school.
"Mr. Jeon, we've had an incident. Your daughter, Hani. She's stable now, but we recommend you come pick her up immediately." He again dialled Jimin back, his voice barely audible. "I am on my way to school hyung."
Jungkook closed his eyes, the weight of Jimin's words sinking in. His daughter was hurting, and he hadn't even known.
Jungkook barely made it through his cabin as his mind constantly preoccupied with Hani's situation. He had to fix this. He had to protect her.He saw Taehyung, out of the corner of his eye, walking toward him. There was a slight frown on his face as he approached, but it was a frown mixed with... concern?
"Jungkook, Iâ"
Before Taehyung could finish his sentence, Jungkook cut him off, trying to sound composed despite the panic building in his chest. "I need to go pick up my daughter. She fainted hat school."
Taehyung raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the sudden urgency in Jungkook's voice and the news that he had a daughter ""Is everything okay?"
Jungkook hesitated, unsure of how to explain. "It's fine. I just... I need to get to her." He was about to turn away when Taehyung's voice stopped him.
"I'll drive you."
Jungkook looked at him, stunned. "What? No, you don't have toâ"
Taehyung, however, had already grabbed his coat. "You shouldn't go alone. Let me help."
Jungkook's heart pounded in his chest, but he couldn't argue. He was too exhausted, too scared for Hani. And, despite everything, Taehyung's offer felt like a lifeline.
As they drove in silence, the weight of everything settled over Jungkook. He couldn't keep running from the feelings that still lingered, despite his best efforts. Taehyung's kindness was breaking down the walls he'd so carefully built.
When they arrived at Hani's school, they were greeted by a frazzled teacher who quickly apologized and explained the situation. As soon as Hani saw Jungkook, she ran toward him, tears streaming down her face.
"Papa! I'm sorry!" Hani sobbed, her tiny frame trembling in his arms. "I didn't mean to make you sad!"
Jungkook's heart shattered. He held her close, whispering softly, "Sweetheart, it's okay. I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere."
He glanced at Taehyung, who had been standing back, watching quietly. There was a warmth in his eyesâa tendernessâas he watched father and daughter.
It was then that Hani, still clutching onto her father, whispered, "Papa who is he ?
Jungkook froze, looking down at his daughter. What was he supposed to say ? But then somehow he controlled his emotions and said," Hani, he is my boos Mr. Kim Taehyung."
Taehyung smiled gently, kneeling down to her level. "Hi there , Hani right ? How are you feeling now ?"
"I am feeling better now, Sir, thank you for asking." Hani politely replied.
Taehyung could see how tired she looked and her complexion was pale. But still she was trying to smile. "Please don't call me Sir. You can call me Uncle Tae." He said.
"Ok then, I will call you Uncle Tae." Hani replied giving her charming smile which immediately melted their hearts.
Jungkook watched the interaction, an overwhelming flood of emotions washing over him and a question What If.
As they left the school, Taehyung didn't ask questions. He didn't need to. He simply drove them home in silence. But Jungkook noticed something. Taehyung's hand, which rested casually on the steering wheel, twitched once, and Jungkook realized he was probably holding back too. The pull between them had always been undeniable, and now it seemed even stronger, now that Hani was involved.
Later that evening, after Hani had gone to bed, Jungkook sat alone in his living room, his thoughts tangled and complex. He was so close to breaking. He could feel itâthe way Taehyung was slipping back into his heart. The way his kindness and warmth were making it harder and harder to keep the walls up.
And then, just as he was about to bury his emotions again, his phone buzzed with a message from Taehyung.
"I'm glad Hani's okay. I'm here if you need anything. Take care, Jungkook."
Jungkook stared at the message, his fingers trembling as he typed back, "Thank you. For everything."
But even as he sent the message, he knew that things were changing. Slowly. Gradually. The distance he'd tried to keep between them was slipping away. And with it, the painful truth: he was falling in love with Taehyung again.