Chapter 14: 13.Fated

Jaybum wasted no time, eagerly sipping the milk with a satisfied smile on his face. Taehyung helped him hold the glass, his focus entirely on the child despite the chatter around the table.

Jungkook, seated beside Taehyung with Jaybum in the middle, quietly observed the scene. He couldn’t help but notice how attentive Taehyung was, his eyes constantly darting to Jaybum, even as he sipped his own drink.

*Maybe Taehyung as Jaybum’s babysitter wasn’t a bad idea after all,* Jungkook thought to himself.

Jin, after serving the others’ drinks, was persuaded to sit down with the group. The table erupted into light conversation as they chatted about mundane things.

Jaybum, having finished his drink, darted off to the kid’s section filled with toys. Even from a distance, Taehyung’s sharp gaze followed him, ensuring he was safe.

“So, Taehyung,” Hoseok said, leaning forward slightly, “tell us more about yourself. You’re a vampire, right?”

Taehyung chuckled lightly, brushing his hair away from his face. "Yeah, I am."

"Must be nice, huh?" Jimin chimed in, curiosity shining in his eyes. "With all those sharp senses, you probably notice things no one else does."

"It has its perks," Taehyung admitted, smiling. "But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Imagine being in a room full of food you can’t eat. That’s what it feels like sometimes."

Jungkook, who had been quietly listening, perked up at that. His gaze flickered to Taehyung for a moment before he looked away, his thoughts unreadable.

"But we’ve learned to control it," Taehyung continued. "Most of us survive on animal blood now. It’s sustainable and doesn’t harm humans."

Everyone nodded, impressed by his honesty.

"But what about mates?" Hoseok asked suddenly, his tone curious. "Do vampires have mates like werewolves?"

Taehyung smiled faintly. "It’s rare for us. Mates are a precious concept, almost mythical in our world. Most of us don’t find them easily."

Jimin sighed dramatically. "Werewolves are lucky, though. After turning 18, you can sense your fated mate."

"Luck?" Namjoon scoffed, breaking his silence. His tone was sharp, almost bitter. "It’s not luck when your mate betrays you."

His words hung heavy in the air, and everyone fell silent. Namjoon’s gaze flickered to Jin for the briefest moment, his expression cold and unreadable.

Jin, who had been quietly listening, stiffened. He quickly stood, forcing a smile. "I’ll check on your orders," he said before walking briskly to the counter.

Taehyung’s sharp senses didn’t miss the way Jin’s hands trembled slightly as he walked away.

Nor did he miss the faint redness in Jin’s eyes when he returned moments later, pretending to clean the counter.

The cozy atmosphere in Jin’s café momentarily grew heavy with Namjoon’s words.

Taehyung, seated beside Jungkook, couldn’t help but glance at Jin’s  figure.

Hoseok quickly tried to ease the tension, clapping his hands lightly. "Wow, Joon, way to kill the mood," he teased with a forced chuckle, but the tension in the air was palpable.

"Truth hurts, doesn’t it?" Namjoon muttered, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his seat. His tone was cold, but his eyes betrayed the storm brewing within him.

Taehyung tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued. He wasn’t blind to the way Namjoon’s harsh words seemed directed at Jin. And Jin’s reaction? It spoke volumes.

"Let’s not ruin the  morning," Jimin interjected softly, his tone light but firm.

Jungkook, who had been silently observing, nodded in agreement. "Let’s keep it light."

His voice was calm, but his eyes flickered toward Taehyung, catching the small frown that marred his face.

As the lightheartedness returned, Jin emerged from the kitchen with a tray of their orders.

His usual warm smile was plastered on his face, but Taehyung noticed the slight redness around his eyes. Something had definitely happened between him and Namjoon.

"Here you go," Jin said, placing their orders on the table. He avoided looking at Namjoon entirely, focusing instead on the others.

Taehyung waited for Jin to return to the counter before leaning toward Namjoon slightly. "Hyung," he said softly, his tone curious but cautious, "is everything alright?"

Namjoon’s jaw tightened, and he looked away. "It’s none of your business, Tae."

Jungkook, who had been silently observing, frowned. "Namjoon, don’t take your frustration out on him. If you don’t want to talk, fine, but don’t be rude."

Namjoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry, Bear. I didn’t mean to snap."

Taehyung nodded, though his mind was still on Jin. He glanced at the counter again,watching as Jin busied himself with cleaning up, his movements almost mechanical.

Something was definitely off, and Taehyung couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this story. The bond between Namjoon and Jin was fractured, but why?

The whole group again got  into their conversation trying to light up the atmosphere. Jin got busy with other customers again.

"But you know what Taehyung i think vampires are cool"Jimin said taking a bite of his cake.

But before anyone else could agree, Jungkook scoffed, setting his coffee cup down. "I bet werewolves are better."

Taehyung’s head snapped toward Jungkook, his gaze narrowing. "Yeah? And what exactly are werewolves good for? Sniffing around like dogs? You’re just overgrown puppies."

Jungkook turned to face him, his eyes narrowing as well. "At least we don’t sneak around sucking blood like parasites. You’re basically wingless bats."

Taehyung crossed his arms, leaning slightly forward. "Better than howling at the moon and losing control every full moon. Sounds like a fun time being a beast."

Jungkook smirked, his tone biting. "And what about you? Hiding in the shadows because you can’t handle sunlight? At least we don’t burst into flames."The group fell silent, watching the back-and-forth like a tennis match, unsure whether to intervene or let them go at it.

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "For your information, not all vampires burn in sunlight. We’ve evolved, unlike some primitive species who still chase their tails."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "At least we have tails, unlike some soulless creatures who don’t even cast reflections."

"Okay, okay," Hoseok finally interrupted, laughing nervously. "Let’s not turn this into a supernatural showdown. We’re here to relax, remember?"

Taehyung and Jungkook exchanged one last glare before leaning back in their seats, neither willing to back down completely.

Jimin whispered to Hoseok, "I swear, if they weren’t bickering, they’d probably get along."

Hoseok chuckled softly, "Or kill each other."

After their bickering subsided, the group finished their meal in no time. Jaybum, still enthralled by the toys in the kids' section, outright refused to leave when Jungkook tried to convince him it was time to go back.

Seeing no other option, Taehyung and Jimin offered to stay behind at the cafe with Jaybum while Jungkook and Namjoon returned to work. Hoseok excused himself as well, heading home to recover from his long flight.

"Do you want another slice of cake, Chim?" Jin asked as he cleared the table.

Jimin’s eyes sparkled as he nodded eagerly, clearly unable to resist Jin’s desserts. Jin chuckled and headed back to the kitchen to grab another piece.

As they waited, Taehyung leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Jimin, why did Namjoon hyung react like that earlier? About mates?"

Jimin froze mid-sip of his coffee, carefully placing the cup down before sighing.

"Do you know something?" Taehyung pressed, genuinely concerned for his cousin.

Jimin nodded slowly, his expression tinged with sadness. "I  certainly do."

He hesitated but eventually spoke. "Namjoon hyung was the one who introduced us to Jin hyung two years ago, along with this cafe. They... they were mates, Tae. Fated mates."

Taehyung’s eyes widened in shock. "What? They were each other's mates?"

Jimin gave a faint, bitter smile. "Yes. Everything was fine until last year. Jin hyung suddenly told Namjoon hyung  that he didn’t want to continue their relationship anymore. He said... he said he liked someone else."

Taehyung blinked, trying to process this revelation.

"But why? If they’re fated mates..."

"Exactly," Jimin said, his voice tinged with frustration. "It doesn’t make sense. None of us believed it, but Namjoon hyung refused to ask questions. He just walked away, and things have been this way ever since."

Before Taehyung could say more, Jin returned to their table, carrying a slice of cake for Jimin and a small, neatly wrapped box.

"Jimin, here’s your cake." Jin placed the slice on the table with a soft smile before holding out the box. "And this... give it to Namjoon, will you? He didn’t eat his cake, but... please don’t tell him it’s from me. Just say it was from you."

Jimin’s smile faltered slightly, but he nodded. "Sure, hyung. I’ll give it to him."

Taehyung, however, had sharp senses that didn’t miss details others might. As Jin handed over the box, his sleeve shifted slightly, and Taehyung’s eyes locked onto something .......

faint but unmistakable on Jin’s neck—a faded mark.

A mating mark.

But was it from Namjoon? Or ..... someone else?