The trio spent the rest of the day playing, as Jaybum had insisted. Though still weak from his illness,
Jaybum rested frequently, his energy only allowing brief bursts of excitement. Taehyung made sure to keep him well-fed and on schedule with his medications, his care evident in every little thing he did.
By the end of the day, Jaybum had started to show signs of improvement, his fever almost gone, and his giggles less strained.
Around 8 p.m., Taehyung decided it was time to head home. He had rushed to the Jeon mansion the day before wearing nothing but his thin house clothes, and the cold weather had started to affect him despite being a vampire.
Gathering his things, he walked toward the living room, where Jungkook had just come downstairs after putting Jaybum to bed.
"Mr. Jeon, I'll be heading out now," Taehyung said, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder.
Jungkook paused mid-step. "Wait," he said abruptly, turning back upstairs. Taehyung blinked, confused, but stayed rooted in place.
A few minutes later, Jungkook reappeared, this time holding a large coat in his hands.
Without a word, Jungkook approached Taehyung and draped the coat over his shoulders, tugging it snugly around him. "It's cold outside," Jungkook murmured,his hands lingering for a second as he adjusted the lapels. "Don't get sick like us."
Taehyung's cheeks flushed faintly, and he quickly glanced away. "We vampires rarely get sick, Mr. Jeon," he replied, his tone light but avoiding Jungkook's gaze.
Jungkook smirked slightly. "As a trueblooded alpha, I rarely do either," he countered, gesturing upstairs, "but look at me now."
Taehyung nodded, understanding his point. "I'll keep that in mind. And... I've already served dinner. It's on the kitchen counter. Please make sure to eat."
Jungkook gave a small nod, his gaze softening.
Taehyung adjusted the coat one last time, gave Jungkook a polite bow, and hurriedly left the house. He didn't know why his steps were so quick or why his face felt unusually warm.
Jungkook, however, stood there for a moment, staring at the door where Taehyung had disappeared. A smile crept onto his lips-a rare, genuine smile that even surprised him.
Deciding to heed Taehyung's words, Jungkook made his way to the kitchen.
However, the sight that greeted him as he reached the counter stopped him dead in his tracks.
On top of a neatly arranged plate of rice, written in sauce, were the bold words: *"Vampires are still better than werewolves."*
Jungkook froze, then let out a loud,uncontrollable laugh. He leaned against the counter, the tension of the past few days melting away as Taehyung's mischievousness worked its magic. "That brat," he muttered between laughs, shaking his head.
Despite the playful jab, Jungkook sat down, grabbed the chopsticks, and took his first bite. The flavors of the meal hit him instantly, the care and effort Taehyung had poured into it unmistakable. Bite after bite, Jungkook found himself savoring every dish, a rare warmth spreading through him.
Somehow, the small kitchen felt less lonely tonight......
On the other hand,
Across the town,
The evening at Jin's café was quiet, the silence a welcome reprieve after a bustling day.
The workers had all left, and Jin was meticulously cleaning the counter, focused on the finishing touches before heading home. The soft hum of the streetlights outside and the occasional rustle of leaves were the only sounds accompanying him.
The sudden chime of the doorbell startled him, signaling someone had entered. Without looking up, Jin called out casually, "Sorry, we're closed. Come back tomorrow."
"I know," came a deep, familiar voice, calm yet tinged with an unyielding edge.
Jin's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the voice almost immediately. Slowly, he glanced up and saw Namjoon standing just across the counter, his hands tucked casually into his coat pockets,his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Jin. Jin quickly averted his eyes, his hands tightening around the cleaning cloth.
"If you want something, come back tomorrow," Jin said, trying to sound dismissive. "The café's closed."
Namjoon took a deliberate step forward,his tall frame imposing yet calm. "No, I don't need anything," he replied smoothly, his tone sharp. "I'm just here to check in on my ex long-lost mate, you know."
The words hit Jin like a tidal wave, his breath hitching momentarily. He dropped his gaze back to the counter, pretending to adjust a misplaced cup. "I don't think you staying here is a good idea, Mr. Kim," Jin said, his voice faltering slightly as he glanced outside to see if anyone watching. "I need to lock up and head home."
Namjoon chuckled humorlessly as he pulled out a stool and sat directly across from Jin. "Mr. Kim, huh? Formal, are we now?" he teased, raising an eyebrow. His tone was playful, but there was a faint undercurrent of bitterness that Jin didn't miss.
Jin remained silent, fidgeting nervously with the cloth in his hand, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Alright then," Namjoon said, leaning slightly closer, his voice dropping into something softer but no less piercing. "If you don't want to talk about yourself, tell me about your lover. How is he?"
Jin froze, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of the counter. "He's... he's fine," Jin managed to say, avoiding Namjoon's penetrating gaze.
"Yeah?" Namjoon's voice was laced with sarcasm. "Funny, I haven't seen him around. Doesn't he visit you?"
Jin swallowed hard, feeling a bead of sweat form on his temple.
"He does," he stammered, forcing a weak smile. "He's just been... busy lately. Work, you know."
Namjoon leaned back, a smug smile creeping onto his face. "Hmm. Busy, huh? Sad. But don't worry," he said, standing from his stool with an air of nonchalance, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "I'll drop by every evening until I get the honor of meeting your lovely boyfriend."
With that, Namjoon strode toward the door, his departure as calculated as his arrival. The doorbell chimed softly as he exited, leaving Jin frozen in place, his mind racing.
His heart pounded as he stared at the empty doorway, his chest tightening with anxiety.
How was he going to keep Namjoon at bay without unraveling the tangled web of lies he'd carefully spun?
Thus Namjoon kept his word. Every evening after work, he'd come to Jin's café, take a seat on one of the couches, and quietly wait with perhaps a newspaper or snacks.
His silence spoke volumes, louder than any words. It was a persistent reminder of his intention-to meet Jin's supposed lover.
Jin, on the other hand, throughout the weeks felt the weight of the situation grow heavier with each passing day.
Namjoon's quiet yet piercing presence was unnerving. Though they rarely exchanged words, Namjoon's constant gaze on him felt like a spotlight, exposing every hidden crack in his carefully constructed facade. Jin had no idea how much longer he could keep up the charade.