Bound by fate

Jungkook stared at the elegant white envelope in his hands, the wedding invitation glaring up at him like it held the weight of the world. The intricate gold lettering spelled out names that should have filled him with joy. Jeon Yuri & Park Jimin. The words felt heavy on his chest, as though they were choking the very breath out of him. His sister’s wedding was approaching, a moment meant to celebrate love, unity, and happiness, but all Jungkook could feel was a deep, sinking pit of despair forming in his stomach.

His sister, Yuri, had always been the more outgoing one, the type of person who could light up any room she entered. Jimin, on the other hand, was soft-spoken yet carried a warmth that drew people in effortlessly. Jungkook had never been one to feel jealous of his sister. But when Jimin entered their lives, everything changed. From the very first moment Jungkook had met him, he felt something stir inside—a flutter, an inexplicable pull, and the gnawing ache of emotions he had tried so desperately to suppress.

Jungkook tried to rationalize it away at first. It was just admiration, he told himself. Jimin was charming, kind, and patient—traits anyone would admire. But admiration didn’t explain the way his heartbeat would race whenever Jimin was near, how his hands would tremble with the urge to reach out, to touch. And it certainly didn’t explain the sleepless nights Jungkook spent thinking about what it would feel like to hold Jimin, to call him his own.

But Jimin wasn’t his. Jimin belonged to Yuri.

---

The preparations for the wedding were in full swing, and Jungkook found himself being roped into helping more and more often. It wasn’t unusual; Yuri trusted her little brother to help plan one of the most important days of her life. What she didn’t know—what no one knew—was that every errand, every task that brought him closer to Jimin felt like torture. Each moment spent with Jimin was both a blessing and a curse, a reminder of the man he could never have.

One afternoon, Yuri had asked Jungkook to accompany Jimin to the tailor’s to pick out a suit for the wedding. Jungkook agreed, swallowing down the lump in his throat. He told himself it was just another task, just another way to help his sister. But the thought of seeing Jimin in a groom’s suit—a suit meant to marry someone else—made his chest tighten painfully.

They arrived at the tailor’s shop, and Jimin was ushered into the dressing room to try on his suit. Jungkook sat on a plush chair, his leg bouncing nervously as he waited. When Jimin emerged, dressed in a sleek black suit that fit him perfectly, Jungkook’s breath caught in his throat.

Jimin looked breathtaking. The suit hugged his form in all the right ways, accentuating his broad shoulders and slender waist. The tie hung loosely around his neck, and Jimin fiddled with it, clearly unsure of how to tie it properly.

“What do you think?” Jimin asked, turning to face Jungkook with a soft smile. His dark eyes were bright, filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

Jungkook swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. “It… It looks good,” he managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jimin chuckled lightly, the sound sending a shiver down Jungkook’s spine. “You don’t sound too convinced. Can you help me with this tie?”

Without thinking, Jungkook stood and crossed the room. His hands shook as he reached for the tie, his fingers brushing against the soft fabric of Jimin’s suit. As he adjusted the tie, Jungkook tried to focus on the task at hand, but the proximity, the warmth radiating from Jimin’s body, was overwhelming. His hand lingered on Jimin’s chest for a moment longer than necessary, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath his palm.

Jungkook’s pulse quickened, and he pulled away quickly, clearing his throat. “There. You’re good to go.”

Jimin’s gaze lingered on him, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Thanks, Jungkook. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Jungkook’s heart ached at the sincerity in Jimin’s voice. He forced a tight-lipped smile in return, nodding before turning away. Little did Jimin know that Jungkook wished he could do so much more for him—more than just fix a tie, more than just be the helpful little brother.

---

As the weeks passed and the wedding drew nearer, Jungkook found it harder and harder to distance himself from Jimin. Despite his best efforts, Jimin always seemed to find a way to be close to him, seeking him out for company even when Yuri wasn’t around. Jungkook found himself laughing more, smiling more, but it was all bittersweet. The more time they spent together, the more Jungkook’s heart longed for something he knew he could never have.

It was late one evening when everything came to a head. They were in the Jeon family’s garden, surrounded by blooming flowers and the soft glow of the stars. It was peaceful, quiet, the kind of setting that should have made Jungkook feel at ease. But tonight, it felt suffocating. Jimin stood beside him, leaning against the wooden railing of the gazebo, his gaze fixed on the night sky.

“It’s beautiful tonight,” Jimin murmured, his voice soft and contemplative.

Jungkook nodded, his eyes focused on the ground, too afraid to look at Jimin, afraid of what he might see in his expression. “Yeah, it is.”

There was a long, uncomfortable silence before Jimin turned to face him, his eyes searching. “You’ve been distant lately, Jungkook. I thought we were friends.”

Jungkook’s heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing. He had been distant—deliberately so. He had been trying to build a wall between them, to protect his own heart from breaking any further. But Jimin was persistent, and now there was nowhere left to run.

“I’ve just been busy,” Jungkook mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Busy avoiding me?” Jimin’s question was direct, his gaze unwavering.

Jungkook’s breath hitched. He could feel the weight of Jimin’s eyes on him, piercing through every layer of defense he had tried to build. He couldn’t lie—not anymore.

“I’m not… I can’t…” Jungkook stammered, his voice cracking under the pressure of the emotions he had been holding back for so long. “You’re my sister’s fiancé, Jimin. I can’t touch you.”

The words tasted bitter on his tongue, each one more painful than the last. He had been repeating that mantra to himself for months, hoping it would be enough to keep him away. But now, standing here, facing the one person he had been trying to avoid, it felt like a fragile excuse.

Jimin’s eyes softened, and he took a small step closer, his voice gentle but firm. “Who are you trying to convince, Jungkook? Me or you?”

Jungkook’s breath faltered, his heart beating erratically in his chest. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. Jimin’s question cut through every lie he had told himself, every wall he had built. He wasn’t convincing anyone, least of all himself. The truth was, he couldn’t stay away from Jimin, no matter how hard he tried.

“I’ve tried,” Jungkook whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. “I’ve tried to stay away, but I can’t. I don’t want to ruin anything between you and Yuri, but…”

Jimin reached out, gently cupping Jungkook’s cheek with his hand. His touch was warm, comforting, but it sent a wave of conflicting emotions through Jungkook. He wanted to lean into it, to melt into Jimin’s embrace, but guilt gnawed at him.

“Jungkook,” Jimin said softly, his thumb brushing lightly against Jungkook’s cheek. “I’ve felt something between us from the very beginning. And I’ve been struggling with it, too. But this isn’t just about Yuri.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened, confusion and hope swirling in his chest. “What do you mean?”

Jimin sighed, his gaze never leaving Jungkook’s. “I care about your sister, I do. But I’m not in love with her. I thought maybe I could be, but… the truth is, it’s you I’ve been falling for.”

Jungkook’s world tilted on its axis. Jimin’s words hung in the air, heavy and filled with meaning. Jungkook felt like he was dreaming, like this couldn’t possibly be real. But the look in Jimin’s eyes, the sincerity in his voice—it was real.

“What… What are we supposed to do?” Jungkook asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Jimin’s thumb continued to trace soft circles against Jungkook’s cheek. “I don’t know. But I can’t marry her, not when my heart belongs to you.”

---

The aftermath of Jimin’s confession was a whirlwind of emotions and difficult decisions. Breaking the engagement was heartbreaking for Yuri, and Jungkook couldn’t help but feel the weight of guilt crushing him. But Jimin had been honest with her, telling her that he couldn’t go through with the wedding because his heart was somewhere else. Yuri had cried, devastated by the revelation, but in the end, she had understood.

Yuri had always been strong, even in the face of pain. She deserved someone who loved her fully, and though Jimin had cared for her, he wasn’t in love with her. Jimin’s honesty had been a painful gift, but it was what Yuri needed. The days after the breakup were difficult—Yuri avoided both Jimin and Jungkook, retreating into her own world of hurt. Jungkook had tried to give her space, all the while grappling with the guilt of being part of the reason for her heartbreak.

But even amidst the guilt, there was a sense of relief—relief that Jimin had chosen to be honest, and that Jungkook no longer had to carry the weight of unspoken feelings. Still, there was no rushing into anything between them. The wound left by the broken engagement had to heal, and Jungkook knew that, more than anything, they needed time.

---

The months following the canceled wedding were a blur of adjustment. Jungkook and Jimin kept their distance from each other at first, both uncertain of how to proceed after the emotional whirlwind. Jimin moved out of the Jeon family’s social circles to give Yuri some space, and the two of them communicated sparingly, unsure of how to navigate this new terrain.

But as time passed, things slowly began to settle. Yuri, though still nursing her wounds, eventually came to understand that Jimin’s decision had been for the best. She had seen the way Jimin’s eyes lingered on Jungkook, had noticed the tension between them that neither could hide. After months of silence, Yuri reached out to Jungkook, assuring him that while it hurt, she didn’t blame him or Jimin for how things turned out. She wanted them both to be happy.

Jungkook had cried when she said those words, the relief overwhelming him. Yuri was stronger than he’d ever given her credit for, and she was ready to move on with her life, leaving the past behind. With that burden lifted, Jungkook felt like he could finally breathe again. And with Yuri’s blessing, he knew he could take the next step with Jimin.

---

One evening, a full year after the engagement had been called off, Jungkook found himself standing in front of Jimin’s apartment door. His heart pounded in his chest, his palms sweaty as he raised his hand to knock. It had been so long since they had been truly alone together, and Jungkook was filled with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

The door swung open, revealing Jimin, his face lighting up with a soft smile at the sight of Jungkook. “Hey,” Jimin greeted, stepping aside to let him in.

“Hey,” Jungkook replied, stepping inside and taking a deep breath. The familiar warmth of Jimin’s presence enveloped him, and for a moment, all his nerves seemed to vanish.

They sat on the couch, the air between them filled with unspoken words. After a long pause, Jimin finally broke the silence.

“I’ve missed you,” Jimin said, his voice soft but filled with emotion. “I wasn’t sure if you were ready to talk yet, but… I’ve been waiting.”

Jungkook looked up at him, his heart swelling with a mix of love and fear. “I’ve missed you too,” he admitted. “I just… didn’t know how to handle everything after what happened. I didn’t want to rush you, or make things more complicated.”

Jimin nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. “I get it. But I’m here, Jungkook. I’ve been waiting for you. And if you’re ready… we can finally start being honest with each other. No more running.”

Jungkook took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the last year lift off his shoulders. He reached out, his hand finding Jimin’s. “I don’t want to run anymore, Jimin. I just want to be with you. I’ve wanted that for so long.”

Jimin’s eyes softened, and he leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to Jungkook’s lips. It was soft, tentative, filled with the promise of something more. Jungkook melted into the kiss, his heart soaring as all the tension, all the pain of the past, seemed to dissolve in that one moment.

---

Their relationship didn’t begin with fireworks or grand declarations. It started with quiet moments—shared smiles, lingering touches, whispered words of affection. They took things slow, knowing that they had all the time in the world now. And with each passing day, their bond deepened. Jimin wasn’t just Jungkook’s sister’s ex-fiancé anymore. He was his best friend, his confidant, his love.

Eventually, the world around them began to accept their relationship. Jungkook’s family, initially hesitant, saw how happy Jimin made him, and they embraced the couple with open arms. Even Yuri, though it took time, found a new path for herself, moving on from the past and finding her own happiness.

---

Years later, Jungkook stood at an altar once again, his heart racing as he waited for the love of his life. But this time, he wasn’t watching someone else take his place. He wasn’t standing on the sidelines, hiding his feelings. This time, it was him who was about to be married, and it was Jimin walking toward him down the aisle.

Jimin looked stunning in his white suit, his smile brighter than ever as he made his way toward Jungkook. The memories of the past—the confusion, the guilt, the heartache—seemed distant now. All that mattered was this moment.

Jungkook couldn’t take his eyes off Jimin as he walked down the aisle, his heart swelling with a happiness so pure it almost brought him to tears. This was the man he loved, the man he had fought so hard to be with, and now, nothing was standing in their way.

When Jimin reached the altar, he took Jungkook’s hands in his, and they exchanged vows filled with promises of love, loyalty, and forever. Their love had been tested in ways they never expected, but it had survived. It had grown stronger, deeper, and now, it was unbreakable.

As they kissed for the first time as husbands, the world around them seemed to fade away. It was just the two of them, bound together by love, by fate. Their journey had been long, filled with twists and turns, but they had found their way to each other in the end.

And as they walked hand in hand down the aisle, surrounded by their family and friends, Jungkook knew one thing for sure: this was only the beginning of their forever.

Jungkook glanced at Jimin, his heart full of love. “I love you,” he whispered.

Jimin smiled, squeezing his hand. “I love you too, always.”