the return

The night was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that makes your heart feel uneasy. Park Jimin stood in the doorway of their small apartment, staring at the spot where Jeon Jungkook had just been. The door was left ajar, swaying slightly with the breeze, much like Jimin’s emotions. Jungkook was gone, without a word, without a reason.

The last thing Jimin remembered was the warmth of Jungkook’s hand slipping out of his as they walked home together. No goodbyes, no explanations—just an empty space where Jungkook had been.

Jimin's heart shattered, but he knew better than to chase after someone who didn’t want to be caught. So, he did what he had to do—he moved on. Or at least, he tried to. He buried himself in his work, in his friends, in anything that would numb the pain of Jungkook’s sudden departure.

Years passed. Jimin built a life for himself, a life that didn’t include Jeon Jungkook. He became a successful choreographer, his love for dance driving him forward when nothing else could. On the outside, he was happy, radiant even, but inside, there was always a small part of him that wondered why Jungkook had left.

He never got an answer.

Jimin dated a few people, tried to find someone who could fill the void Jungkook left, but it was always the same. No one compared. No one made him feel the way Jungkook did. It was as if his heart had been locked away, with Jungkook holding the only key.

It was a rainy afternoon when Jungkook returned. Jimin was in the middle of a dance rehearsal when he saw him—standing at the back of the studio, watching with that same intense gaze Jimin remembered all too well.

Jimin’s heart stopped for a moment, his body frozen as he stared at the man who had once been his everything. Jungkook looked different—older, more mature, but his eyes... his eyes were the same.

As the rehearsal ended, Jungkook approached him, hesitant, as if afraid of the reaction he might receive.

“Jimin,” Jungkook’s voice was soft, almost pleading. “Can we talk?”

Jimin’s first instinct was to turn away, to protect himself from the pain that came rushing back, but something in Jungkook’s eyes made him pause. He nodded, leading Jungkook to a small café nearby, a place where they used to spend their time together.

They sat in silence for a while, the tension between them thick. Finally, Jungkook spoke, his voice shaky. “I’m sorry, Jimin. For everything. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to know why I left.”

Jimin remained silent, his eyes locked on Jungkook’s, waiting for the explanation that had haunted him for years.

Jungkook took a deep breath. “I was scared. Scared of how much I loved you. I thought... I thought if I stayed, I’d end up hurting you more. I wasn’t in a good place back then. I needed to figure myself out, to become someone who deserved you.”

Jimin’s heart clenched at the raw emotion in Jungkook’s voice. “And did you? Figure yourself out?”

Jungkook nodded slowly. “I did. And I realized that leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life. I’ve spent every day since regretting it.”

Tears welled up in Jimin’s eyes. He had dreamed of this moment, but now that it was here, he didn’t know what to feel. “You hurt me, Jungkook. You left without a word. How am I supposed to trust you again?”

“I know,” Jungkook whispered, reaching across the table to take Jimin’s hand. “But I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere. I want to make things right, if you’ll let me.

It wasn’t easy. Jimin didn’t forgive Jungkook overnight. There were days when the pain was too much, when the memories of being left alone consumed him. But Jungkook was patient. He stayed, he listened, he did everything he could to prove that he was different now.

Slowly, Jimin began to let his walls down. They started spending more time together, rediscovering the things they loved about each other. It was awkward at first, but eventually, it felt natural, like they were picking up right where they left off.

Jungkook made Jimin laugh again, the way he used to, and Jimin realized that despite everything, his love for Jungkook had never really gone away. It had just been buried, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

Months passed, and the wounds between them began to heal. Jimin saw the changes in Jungkook, saw how hard he was working to be the man Jimin deserved. Slowly but surely, the trust they had once lost was rebuilt.

One evening, as they walked along the Han River, Jungkook stopped and turned to Jimin, a serious look on his face.

“Jimin,” he began, taking both of Jimin’s hands in his, “I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but I want to spend the rest of my life proving to you that I’m worth it. Will you let me?”

Jimin looked into Jungkook’s eyes, the sincerity in them undeniable. The pain of the past was still there, but so was the love—the love that had never really gone away.

With a tearful smile, Jimin nodded. “Yes, Jungkook. I’ll give us another chance.”

And as they kissed under the soft glow of the city lights, Jimin knew that this time, they would get it right. They had been through too much to let each other go again. This time, it was forever.

Years later, as they danced together in the living room of their shared apartment, Jimin realized that sometimes, love wasn’t about never leaving. It was about finding your way back, no matter how long it took. And as Jungkook held him close, Jimin knew that they had finally found their way home.

They were each other’s forever, and nothing could change that.