Chapter 46: 45.Eve

The morning sun streamed into Namjoon’s spacious home, but instead of a peaceful start, chaos ensued in the kitchen.

“You know what, hyung? Just sit down and let Yoongi hyung and me handle this!” Taehyung said, flustered, as he cleaned up the aftermath of Namjoon’s “help.”

“Tae, I just wanted to lend a hand,” Namjoon said defensively, though the sheepish look on his face gave him away.

“Oh, sure. By breaking two mugs and nearly burning our breakfast,” Taehyung teased, shaking his head. “Hyung, just stay here and relax. We’ll take care of everything.”

Namjoon sighed, defeated but grateful. Taehyung and Yoongi had arrived early that morning to finish the final touches for the New Year’s Eve party.

Though much of the work was done the day before, perfection was Taehyung’s middle name, and he wasn’t leaving anything to chance.

Namjoon, meanwhile, couldn’t stop worrying. His house, though spacious and inviting, had never hosted such a large gathering. Office employees, close friends, and a surprising number of plus-ones were all expected.

The sheer scale of the event left him a bundle of nerves.

It wasn’t until after lunch that Namjoon’s tension finally began to ease—thanks to Jin.

“Hey, Joonie,” Jin greeted warmly, pulling Namjoon into a comforting side hug as he stepped through the door.

Namjoon felt the tightness in his chest relax immediately. “Hey,” he replied, a genuine smile breaking through his worry.

Jin pulled back slightly, scanning Namjoon’s face. “You look stressed. What’s wrong?”

“Just the usual party anxiety,” Namjoon admitted. “What if something goes wrong?”

Jin flicked his imaginary hair, grinning confidently. “Don’t worry. Everything will be perfect. After all, I’m here now.”

Their soft moment was interrupted by a playful voice from across the room. “Gosh, get a room, you two,” Taehyung called out teasingly as he adjusted a misplaced string of lights.

Namjoon shot him a faux glare, while Jin smirked. “Jealous much, Tae?”

“Not in the slightest,” Taehyung retorted, sticking his tongue out. Then his expression shifted to curiosity. “Wait, where’s Jimin? Didn’t he say he was coming with you?”

Before Jin could answer, Jimin’s voice rang out from the doorway. “I see someone misses me!”

“Well, don’t know about me, but my brother definitely does,” Taehyung teased, pointing at Yoongi, whose ears immediately turned red.

Yoongi attempted to focus on organizing a stack of party supplies, avoiding everyone’s gaze. Jimin’s confident smirk only grew wider.

“Anyway, Chim, help me fix this lighting if you’re done making my brother blush,” Taehyung added with a mischievous grin.

“You! Just wait till I take my revenge,” Jimin muttered, though he joined Taehyung without protest.

While Taehyung and Jimin tackled the lights, Namjoon, Jin, and Yoongi worked with Jin’s catering team to finalize the food and drinks.

in moved effortlessly through the kitchen, instructing his employees with the ease of someone who had done this a thousand times.

It wasn’t until 4 p.m. that the house was finally ready, and Taehyung—being Taehyung—was the last one left to get ready.

“Taehyung, it’s almost time. Go get changed!” Jimin called out, pulling the younger man toward the stairs.

“Fine, fine, I’m going,” Taehyung grumbled good-naturedly, grabbing his clothes before heading to the shower.

The house buzzed with excitement as the final hour before the party approached.

Namjoon, Jin, Yoongi, and Jimin all exchanged knowing glances, anticipating the fun, drama, and maybe even a few surprises that the night was sure to bring.

The New Year’s Eve Gathering

Namjoon, Yoongi, and Jin stood near the entrance of Namjoon’s grand home, each donning warm smiles that reached their eyes as they helped Namjoon welcome the steady stream of guests.

The trio exuded charm and warmth, making every guest feel special. Jin, ever the social butterfly, cracked a joke here and there, eliciting laughter that lightened the mood.

Yoongi, quieter but no less welcoming, nodded and smiled politely while Namjoon did most of the talking, his voice tinged with excitement but also a hint of nervousness.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Taehyung was seated in front of a large mirror, frowning slightly as Jimin fussed over his appearance.

“Wait, why are you dressing me like I have some special errands to run?” Taehyung asked, narrowing his eyes at Jimin, who was meticulously adjusting the lapel of Taehyung’s blazer.

Jimin avoided his gaze, clearly flustered, but didn’t stop. “I...uh... Come on, Tae! It’s New Year’s Eve! Everyone needs to look good!” he stammered, focusing back on smoothing out invisible creases in Taehyung’s outfit.

Taehyung tilted his head, sensing something was off, but he decided not to push further. He sighed and let Jimin continue.

Fifteen minutes later, with his dark hair styled to perfection and his outfit radiating understated elegance, Taehyung stood up and gave Jimin a grateful smile.

“Okay, I’ll admit it. You did a good job,” Taehyung said, earning a smug grin from Jimin.

“Of course I did! Now, let’s go. Everyone’s downstairs already,” Jimin said, dragging Taehyung toward the staircase.

As they descended the stairs, Taehyung noticed that the house was already buzzing with energy.

Conversations and laughter filled the air as more guests arrived, mingling in the well-decorated space. Lights twinkled, casting a warm, festive glow over the room.

Before they reached the bottom of the stairs, a voice called out teasingly, “I thought you guys weren’t joining!”

Taehyung glanced toward the source and saw Hoseok, who was holding a glass of champagne and grinning.

“To remind you, hyung, we were here even before you showed up,” Jimin shot back with mock indignation.

“Fair enough,” Hoseok mumbled, laughing softly before taking another sip of his drink.

Namjoon, who had been greeting guests nonstop, suddenly let out a sigh. “God, I’m so worried! I just hope everything goes according to plan,” he muttered, his nerves showing.

Yoongi, standing beside him, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Stop worrying, Joon. Look around—everything’s already perfect. Everyone’s smiling. You’ve done a great job,” he said, his calm voice soothing.

Namjoon nodded, taking in the sight of the cheerful guests scattered throughout the space. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, and he allowed himself a small smile.

A Quiet Anticipation While the others were immersed in conversation, Taehyung’s eyes kept flickering toward the front door. His usual bright demeanor seemed a little subdued, as though he were preoccupied.

“What’s wrong, Tae? Are you waiting for someone?” Hoseok’s mate, who had been standing nearby, asked curiously.

Taehyung stiffened slightly before replying, “No...I...um...” He paused, avoiding eye contact. “I was just waiting for Jaybum. He should be here by now,” he added quickly, hoping his excuse would suffice.

But the next voice he heard from behind him made his breath catch.

“Oh? So you’re only waiting for Jaybum, then?”

The deep, familiar voice sent a shiver down Taehyung’s spine. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he turned around. There stood Jungkook,his hair swept back in an effortlessly handsome way. His sharp features were softened by the small, playful smile on his lips.

But Taehyung barely registered any of that because his eyes immediately landed on Jaybum, who was nestled securely in Jungkook’s arms, smiling brightly.

“taetae!” Jaybum squealed excitedly, reaching his small arms out toward Taehyung.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Taehyung stepped forward and took Jaybum into his arms, cradling the little boy gently.

“TaeTae! How do I look?” Jaybum asked, his big eyes sparkling with excitement.

Taehyung gasped dramatically, his lips curving into a warm smile. “Oh my! You look like a little prince charming!” he exclaimed, making Jaybum giggle happily.

Their friends couldn’t help but watch the interaction fondly. But their attention wasn’t just on Jaybum—it was on the subtle yet undeniable tension between Taehyung and Jungkook. They didn’t miss the way the two stole glances at each other, as if trying to gauge the other’s thoughts.

“You don’t look bad either, Kook,” Namjoon said teasingly, breaking the moment.

Jungkook turned to him with a smile. “Thanks, hyung.”

It was then that Taehyung noticed something that made his heart skip a beat. Jungkook was wearing it—the sweater he had knitted.

The black wool fit Jungkook perfectly, the fabric hugging his frame in all the right places.

Taehyung’s eyes lingered on the small detail stitched onto the side: a tiny wolf and bat, crossed swords between them, symbolizing their playful rivalry.

Taehyung swallowed hard, his chest tightening with a mix of emotions.

Seeing Jungkook wear the sweater, knowing the effort and care he had poured into it, filled him with an indescribable warmth.

The sweater hugged him just right, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean frame.

It didn’t take long for Hoseok to notice. His eyes narrowed as he approached Jungkook, his playful scolding tone cutting through the buzz of conversation.

“Yah! Kook! Why’d you tell me to buy a suit for tonight if you were going to wear *this*?” Hoseok exclaimed, gesturing toward the sweater.

Jungkook glanced at him, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Sorry, hyung,” he said softly, his voice low enough to be just between them. “But... this outfit felt right for the evening,” he added, his words carrying an undertone of meaning that Hoseok didn’t miss.

Hoseok tilted his head, observing Jungkook more closely. The younger man’s fingers brushed against the hem of the sweater almost absentmindedly, and his eyes seemed to flicker toward a certain someone nearby.

Standing not far away, Taehyung froze as the interaction reached his ears. He wasn’t actively part of the conversation, but he could feel every word in his chest. His cheeks began to burn as he realized what Jungkook meant.

The teasing didn’t stop there. Jin, always quick to pick up on subtle details, sauntered over with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Hmm, a sweater with a wolf and bat initial? I wonder what’s so special about it,” Jin said casually, but his tone was dripping with implication.

The group around them—Namjoon, Yoongi, Jimin, and Hoseok—turned their attention to Jungkook. They didn’t need an explanation.

The craftsmanship, the personal touch, and the unmistakable symbols were all clues leading to one person: Taehyung.

The atmosphere shifted as a collective smirk spread across their faces. They didn’t need to say it out loud—they all knew.

Taehyung, however, wanted the earth to swallow him whole. He stood stiffly, his gaze fixed on a point far away as if it could save him from the scrutiny of his friends. His hands clenched nervously at his sides, and his flushed face betrayed the turmoil inside him.

“Interesting choice, Jungkook,” Namjoon chimed in, his tone polite but his knowing smile giving him away.

“Yeah,” Yoongi added with his trademark calm. “Looks like it was made just for you.”

Jungkook didn’t look fazed by their comments. Instead, he crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening. “Well,i guess it was,” he said simply, his gaze flicking to Taehyung for the briefest moment.

That one glance was enough to set Taehyung’s heart racing. He bit his lip, trying to suppress the smile threatening to bloom on his face.

His eyes darted around the room, desperately avoiding Jungkook’s knowing stare.

The lively atmosphere of the party was a blend of soft music, cheerful chatter, and the sound of glasses clinking as guests mingled.

Namjoon, ever the host, clapped his hands to gather the group's attention, a broad smile lighting up his face.

“Okay, okay! You know what? Let’s officially start the party. I’ll go and make the announcement,” he said, his voice carrying over the noise.

The group that had gathered near the entrance nodded in agreement. They began moving toward the center of the room, falling into step behind Namjoon. Hoseok had taken charge of Jaybum, who clung happily to his hand, chatting animatedly about the decorations.

Taehyung, though part of the group, lingered a little further behind. His eyes flitted between the crowd and the floor, trying to blend in as best as he could.

But then, Jungkook’s voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks.

“You didn’t tell me how I’m looking, Tae.”