Jaybum and Hoseok returned not long after, the little boy's hands brimming with chocolates gifted by Uncle Hobi. Hoseok trailed behind, burdened with numerous shopping bags-most of them, presumably, filled with Jaybum's birthday outfits.
"Dadda, TaeTae, look!" Jaybum exclaimed, holding up the chocolates for everyone to see.
"Oh my, who gave you all of these!" Taehyung asked dramatically, leaning forward with an exaggerated gasp.
"Uncle Hobi!" Jaybum replied enthusiastically, his face glowing with excitement.
Taehyung straightened, his expression quickly turning serious. "Hmm, but you can't eat more than two per day. Am I understood?"
Jaybum's face faltered momentarily before he nodded. "Okay, TaeTae," he mumbled in defeat.
Hoseok, having set the shopping bags beside the couch, dusted his hands and glanced at Jungkook. "Kook, Tae, I'll head out now."
"Hyung, why don't you stay for some snacks?" Jungkook offered, stepping toward him.
"I'd love to, but I've got so much work left to do! Bye bye!" Hoseok chirped, already making his way out the door with a wave.
As the door shut, Taehyung turned his attention to the bags Hoseok had left behind. "So, what did you buy? Let me see!" he said, reaching toward one of them, curiosity written all over his face.
Jaybum gasped dramatically, quickly rushing over and snatching the bag away. "No, TaeTae! It's a surprise!"
Taehyung pouted, crossing his arms. "Fine," he muttered, though the hint of a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
Jaybum, unable to bear seeing Taehyung even pretend to be sad, exclaimed, "But I can show you the toys I bought!" His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Really?" Taehyung asked, his eyes widening with delight.
"Yes! Let's go to my room!" Jaybum declared, already tugging at Taehyung's hand as he led him upstairs.
Jungkook, who had been silently observing the exchange, smiled to himself. The warmth and playfulness between Taehyung and Jaybum had become one of his favorite sights.
Once they disappeared upstairs, Jungkook turned his attention back to the work that still needed to be done. There were arrangements to finish, decorations to plan, and a checklist to review.
However, just as he was about to leave the living room, he heard the faint buzz of Taehyung's phone vibrating on the table. Jungkook turned to grab it, noticing the caller ID flashing the name "Yoonie."
The call ended just as he picked up the phone. He stared at it for a second, debating whether to bring it upstairs to Taehyung.
That's when his eyes landed on the wallpaper. His heart sank at the sight...
The screen lit up, and there it was-a photo of Taehyung hugging someone else......
Taehyung's wallpaper in question ~
Jungkook's heart sank deeper.
The image was simple, yet it stirred something uncomfortably sharp in his chest.
Taehyung stood in the photo with his arms wrapped around another man, his signature boxy smile lighting up his face. The other man seem to be fond of Taehyung,even with a frown face.
Jungkook didn't know what bothered him more-the closeness they shared in the photo or the joy on Taehyung's face as he stood next to someone else.
He exhaled sharply, setting the phone down a little too quickly. His chest felt tight, "Did Taehyung found his mate?" Jungkook thought.
His earlier lighthearted mood now soured by the sudden wave of emotions he didn't quite know how to process.
Was it jealousy? Annoyance? Or something deeper?
He shook his head, muttering under his breath. "It doesn't matter," he told himself. "Why should it?"
But as he walked away, the image of Taehyung's smile lingered in his mind like a shadow, refusing to leave.
"Mr. Jeon?" Taehyung's voice cut through Jungkook's thoughts, louder this time.
Jungkook blinked, startled, realizing he had been lost in his own head. He hadn't even noticed when Taehyung and Jaybum had returned and started calling him.
"Huh? Yes?" Jungkook finally responded, clearing his throat to mask his daze.
"I'll be heading out now," Taehyung informed him, adjusting the strap of his bag. "Don't worry, the decorators will be here in a few hours."
Jungkook nodded silently, his gaze following Taehyung as he moved toward the door.
Just then, Taehyung's phone buzzed again. He pulled it out casually, glancing at the screen. "Yes, Yoonie?" Taehyung answered, his tone light and familiar as he packed his bag.
Jungkook's jaw tightened. He didn't know why,but hearing that name-*Yoonie*-made his chest tighten even further. Was it the same person from Taehyung's wallpaper?
"Yeah, I'm heading back now. I'll see you soon," Taehyung said before ending the call.
As he tucked his phone away, Jaybum's voice piped up excitedly.
"TaeTae, was it Kitty Vampie?" he asked, his little eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Taehyung chuckled, crouching down to Jaybum's level. "Yes, bun, it was Kitty Vampie."
Jaybum's face lit up as he clapped his hands. "TaeTae! Why don't you bring him to my birthday party tomorrow? I wanna meet him!"
Jaybum and Yoongi only talked with each other through Taehyung's phone and to say Yoongi was fond of Jaybum ever since. And so was Jaybum.
Taehyung smiled warmly, ruffling Jaybum's hair. "I'll talk to him about it, bun. Let's see, okay?"
Jaybum bounced on his toes, visibly excited at the thought. Taehyung gave him a small wave before heading out the door.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Jaybum continued to jump around excitedly. "It's my day tomorrow, dadda! I'm so excited!"
Jungkook watched him, but his mind was elsewhere. After a moment, he called out softly, "Jaybum, bun, come here."
Jaybum stopped jumping and walked over, his wide, doe eyes looking up at his father curiously. "Yes, dadda?"
Jungkook hesitated for a moment, unsure if he even wanted to know the answer to his question. But curiosity and a sinking feeling pushed him to ask. "I... um... who's Kitty Vampie?"
Jaybum giggled. "You're so silly, dadda! Kitty Vampie and TaeTae live together!"
Jungkook froze, the words hitting him harder than he expected. Jaybum's innocent comment shouldn't have meant anything-he was just a child, after all-but Jungkook couldn't help the sharp pang in his chest.
To Jaybum, it was simple: Kitty Vampie and TaeTae lived together.
But to Jungkook, it felt like confirmation.
Taehyung had found his mate.
The idea twisted something deep inside Jungkook, though he couldn't quite understand why it hurt so much.
"Dadda?" Jaybum's voice broke through his thoughts again.
Jungkook forced a small smile, reaching out to gently ruffle Jaybum's hair. "It's nothing, bun. Go on now, get ready for tomorrow."
That night, Jaybum fell asleep early, his little body tucked snugly under the blankets, his face glowing with excitement even in his dreams.
Tomorrow was his special day, and he couldn't afford to be late for his own party.
Taehyung, too, drifted off with a warm smile on his face. The thoughts of Jaybum's birthday party swirled in his mind-his little bun's joy, the decorations, and the laughter that would fill the room. It all made him feel content, his heart light and at ease.
But Jungkook?
Jungkook sat alone in his study, the soft glow of a desk lamp casting shadows across the room.
His hands rested on a stack of unopened files, but his mind wasn't on work. Yes, he was happy-thrilled even-for his son's big day. Jaybum's joy was everything to him.
Yet, amidst that happiness, something else lingered.
A tightness gripped his chest, refusing to let go. The image of Taehyung's phone wallpaper flashed through his mind again, unbidden.
The sight of Taehyung holding someone else, smiling so brightly-it wouldn't leave him.
And that name... Yoonie.
Jungkook leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn't understand it.
Why did it bother him so much? Why did the thought of Taehyung with someone else leave him feeling so unsettled?
As the night deepened, the house grew silent. Jaybum was dreaming happily, Taehyung was resting peacefully, but Jungkook?
He stared out the window, his heart weighed down by an ache he didn't know how to name.