While the adults were caught up in the unexpected revelation, Jaybum had long since wandered off to play with the other kids. He couldn't be bothered with all the mushy grown-up talk-it was *his* day, and he was going to enjoy it.
The room buzzed with excitement and warmth, the once-shocking moment now morphing into a celebration of an unexpected bond.
Hoseok's life had taken an unexpected turn, but one look at Amy told him it was one he wouldn't trade for anything.
Soon enough The crowd gathered in front of the cake table, the decorations shimmering under the warm lights.
Jaybum sat perched in Jungkook's arms, his small hands gripping a plastic knife as everyone sang "Happy Birthday" in unison. His smile stretched ear to ear, eyes bright with joy.
Taehyung stood beside them, exactly where Jaybum had insisted he be. The warmth of his presence seemed to radiate toward Jungkook, though the latter tried to focus on the birthday boy in his arms.
When the song ended, Jaybum carefully cut the first slice of the cake and turned to Jungkook. "Dadda first!" he declared, holding up the piece with pride.
Jungkook smiled, leaning forward to take the bite, then reciprocated by feeding Jaybum a piece.
But as soon as Jungkook put him down, Jaybum turned to Taehyung. "TaeTae next!" he exclaimed, holding another piece up to Taehyung with his tiny hands.
Taehyung laughed, his boxy smile lighting up his face. "For me? Thank you, Bun!" He took the bite, then picked up another slice to feed Jaybum in return. The little boy happily accepted it, his cheeks puffing up with cake.
The moment was pure, filled with the kind of joy that only childhood birthdays could bring. Guests began feeding Jaybum and one another pieces of cake, laughter and chatter filling the air.
Just then,
"Mr. Jeon, here, say 'ah,'" Taehyung suddenly said, holding a small piece of cake in front of Jungkook with a playful grin.
Jungkook froze, his gaze finally locking onto Taehyung. Time seemed to slow, the laughter around him fading into the background. All he could see was Taehyung, standing there with that radiant smile, so close yet so far.....
"Mr. Jeon?" Taehyung called again, snapping Jungkook out of his trance.
Clearing his throat, Jungkook leaned forward,opening his mouth to accept the cake. As he bit down, his lips brushed against Taehyung's fingertips, sending a jolt through them both.
Jungkook's dark eyes held Taehyung's gaze, something unspoken swirling in their depths.
Taehyung's breath hitched, his hand trembling slightly as he pulled it back. But before either could dwell on the moment, Yoongi's voice broke the spell.
"Tae, here," Yoongi called, stepping forward with a piece of cake in hand. He smiled warmly as he held it out to Taehyung.
Taehyung turned toward him, his expression softening as he accepted the bite. Both of them shared a quiet chuckle, their bond evident in the ease of their interaction.
Jungkook clenched his fists at the sight, his jaw tightening. He couldn't take it anymore-the laughter, the smiles, Yoongi's presence. Quickly averting his gaze, he turned on his heel and walked away.
Taehyung noticed everything. His brows furrowed in concern as he watched Jungkook's retreating figure disappear toward the backyard. Handing his plate to Yoongi, he excused himself. "Hyung, I'll be right back."
He found Jungkook standing near the edge of the backyard, where the festive noise was faint, replaced by the soft rustling of leaves. His hands were buried in his pockets, his posture stiff.
"Mr. Jeon, are you alright? You don't look too well," Taehyung said gently as he approached.
Jungkook straightened, his expression hardening into neutrality. "I'm fine, Kim," he replied curtly, though the tightness in his voice betrayed him.
Taehyung frowned at the formal tone. Something was definitely wrong. "You know you can tell me if something's bothering you," he pressed softly.
Jungkook hesitated, his jaw working as if he was debating whether to speak. "It's nothing," he finally said, his voice low. "Just... overwhelmed. Jaybum's birthday, Hoseok getting his mate-it's a lot to take in."
Taehyung's lips curved into a small smile. "Yeah, Hobi-hyung was so happy. You know,you know they say finding your mate is the happiest thing in life."
Jungkook's throat tightened at those words. He swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper as he asked, "Are you happy?" as if asking something indirectly.
Taehyung blinked, confused by the sudden question. "Of course I am," he said, assuming Jungkook was referring to Hoseok and Amy. "It's a beautiful feeling ."
Jungkook nodded stiffly, avoiding eye contact as his heart ached with words left unsaid. His mind screamed at him to tell Taehyung how he felt, but his lips refused to move.
Clearing his throat, he forced a neutral tone. "Let's head back. Jaybum must be looking for us."
Taehyung hesitated, sensing there was more Jungkook wasn't saying. But he didn't push. "Alright," he said softly.
On the other side,
Jin was at the table, carefully slicing the large, extravagant cake into neat portions for the guests.
His focus was on the task at hand, ensuring each slice was perfect. He didn't notice when Namjoon quietly stepped up beside him.
"Your lover? Didn't he come today?" Namjoon's deep voice broke through the noise, startling Jin slightly.
Jin fumbled with the knife for a moment before regaining his composure. He didn't meet Namjoon's gaze as he replied, "I... he's busy." His tone was flat, guarded, as if he wanted to shut the conversation down.
Namjoon leaned casually against the table, watching Jin with a knowing smirk. "Hmm... I thought I'd finally get to meet him today," he said with a hint of teasing disappointment, though his eyes held a sharper glint.
Jin's hand faltered, and he avoided Namjoon's gaze even more fiercely. "Why do you even want to meet him, Namjoon?" he muttered, his voice tight. "Just let me and him be."
Namjoon chuckled, the sound low and almost predatory. "Oh, come on, Jin,"he drawled, leaning a bit closer. "You know it's my *duty* to make sure my ex-mate is in good hands. I can't be heartless, can I?"
The words stung more than Jin cared to admit. His grip on the knife tightened, but he didn't dare look up. "I..." Jin started, but his voice failed him.
Namjoon let out a soft sigh, his playful demeanor fading slightly.
He straightened, his gaze softening as he watched Jin struggle for words. "How long do I have to wait, Jin?" Namjoon asked quietly, his voice dropping to a whisper that only Jin could hear.
Jin finally looked up, their eyes meeting. The intensity in Namjoon's gaze was almost too much to bear, like he was searching for something Jin wasn't ready to give.
The silence stretched between them, heavy and loaded with unspoken words.
Jin's lips parted as if to speak, but nothing came out at first. He swallowed hard, his voice barely audible as he finally replied, "Not for long... Joon."
Namjoon's eyes flickered with something unreadable-relief, hope, maybe even a hint of longing. He nodded slowly, stepping back to give Jin some space.
Jin exhaled shakily, returning his attention to the cake, though his hands trembled slightly. The weight of their exchange lingered in the air, unacknowledged by the bustling party around them.