This Jungkook hug felt different.
As you lay on his bed, his warm body wrapped around you, your back pressed securely against him. The anticipation of dawn filled the room, a quiet promise that soon sunlight would break through and light up the space. You glanced around, searching for the security camera, and felt a slight lift in your heart when you saw it focused on the door, providing a subtle sense of safety in this delicate moment.
In his embrace, you found a comfort that felt almost new but was deeply needed. You sensed he was trying hard to be a source of comfort for you, even though it seemed like a challenge for him. Still, you couldn't push him away; the warmth of his presence was a solace you longed for.
But beneath the surface, you knew that the boy holding you felt different somehow. A shadow lingered in your mind, reminding you of a different time and a different boy who had once held you close on this same bed—this moment, though tender, couldn't fill the emptiness that remained. Tears slid silently down your cheek, a reminder of the pain that still clung to your heart. You missed how he would wrap his arms around you every night, the gentle gestures of affection that had once brought you peace. He would let you run your fingers through his hair; sometimes, you would lean in for tender kisses, finding comfort in his presence. Yet, deep down, you understood that even during those moments, he was masking his true intentions.
"Please stop crying," Jungkook murmured, concern evident as he pulled you closer. His arms tightened gently around your waist, and his warmth contrasted sharply with the sadness surrounding you. "I don't know what to do. I'm not great with these kinds of things."
"This is the first time," you replied, your voice wavering slightly. "Everything feels so overwhelming. But... this is your first time holding me like this." You turned a bit, feeling the weight of the moment.
"Yes," he said softly, as if beginning to understand how significant this was.
"That day you came up to me, touched my cheek, and said, 'your brain is damaged'—those words still echo in my mind. It was the truth you shared…"
"It was me," he answered quietly, a blend of guilt and honesty in his tone.
"Then who hugged me after that…" you trailed off, letting the question linger in the air, filled with unspoken memories and shadows of the past.
Jungkook let out a heavy sigh, filled with deep emotion, and everything clicked for you at that moment. It wasn't the boy holding you now; it was the other one who had kept you close each night, needing you in a way you couldn't ignore.
How could he feel so warm and gentle? An unexpected softness about him clashed with the wild chaos he had shown before. In your mind, he was everything you shouldn't want: a heartbreaker, a guy known for avoiding commitment and treating feelings like a game. He was like a charming monster.
You found yourself wondering about him. Was this softer side real? What did he want? Did he take pleasure in playing with people's emotions just for fun? Was it all just a cruel game to him?
"Y/N," he said softly, breaking through your thoughts with a tone of defeat. "I need you to understand that… I can't handle this kind of stuff. Just look at me and what I've become. How can I think about letting someone into my life when I'm like this?"
Frustration and compassion swelled inside you, making you turn in his arms, wanting to stop him from saying such hurtful things. But he was quick, speaking before you could respond.
"I am not normal," he confessed quietly, chilling you. Your heart ached at the pain behind his sad smile. His eyes showed vulnerability, glistening with unshed tears in the dim light. "Please, don't make me hate myself more than I already do… don't make my heart act so strangely whenever I see you."
"Jungkook," you started, but his words weighed down your voice.
"That time… when I reached out to touch your cheek," he continued, pausing as if it was hard to share. "I wanted to kiss you, but I'm glad we didn't. Honestly, it would have been too overwhelming for me."
A thick silence fell between you two as your eyes locked, hearts racing in the stillness. You were so close, his warmth enveloping you like a cozy blanket. You took in every detail of his face, searching for understanding in his expression while he looked away, hiding his fear.
Feeling embarrassed for sharing such deep emotions, he said, "But… you've already fallen for someone else. How foolish of me even to say that," a wave of regret washed over him.
The air around you grew heavy. A wave of emotion swept over you, and without thinking, you wrapped your arms around him, pulling him close. The warmth of his body against yours brought a sense of comfort, but still, your curiosity kept nagging at you.
"Why do you smell like chocolate all the time?" you whispered into the cozy space between you, your nose brushing against his neck as you breathed in deeply, enjoying the sweet, rich scent that seemed to surround him.
He chuckled lightly, a sound you could feel in the hug, and replied, "I'm not sure. … every day, I wake up with this chocolate taste lingering in my mouth." His words filled the air with mystery, making you wonder what hidden stories were behind that delightful aroma.
***
Taehyung couldn't tear his eyes away from the flickering monitor before him. The small, grainy screen captured the entrance of Jungkook's cell, but it offered no view of the two of you inside. Time seemed to stretch as he watched the minutes tick by, each one amplifying his growing anxiety. The longer you remained there, the more his mind spiraled with worry.
He felt a surge of frustration coursing through his veins, his fingers balling into tight fists on the table. His anger simmered just beneath the surface with every passing second, threatening to boil over. Glancing at his watch, the tick of the second hand felt like a taunt, each click a reminder of how much time you spent with the one person he despised most.
As his throat tightened, Taehyung swallowed hard, his heart racing erratically like a wild drummer. He struggled to take steady breaths; each inhales feeling heavier as he grappled with his mounting unease. All he wanted was for you to walk through that door, away from the influence of a man who had hurt him deeply.
His thoughts veered back to those bitter memories—the way Jungkook had mocked him, laughter ringing in his ears after stealing his girlfriend right out from under him. The betrayal clawed at his insides, fueling the hatred he felt. Terrified by the idea of what could be happening behind those closed doors, Taehyung's heart ached with anger and an overwhelming desperation to protect what was his.
Tears filled his eyes, sparkling like morning dew, as he saw you step outside just a few minutes later. A rush of relief washed over him, each tear reflecting the whirlwind of emotions inside him. As the door closed behind you, he experienced a brief sense of lightness, only to be pulled back to reality by Jungkook, who stood quietly behind the cold, hard bars, watching you intently.
With each heartbeat, the tightness in his chest grew stronger, a feeling that was both painful and emotional, as the truth of the situation hit him harder.
**Flashback**
Jimin, looking worried, turned to Tae, who had a determined look in his eyes.
"Are you talking about Y/N?" Jimin asked, trying to sort through Tae's feelings amidst the chaos.
"Just stop," Tae replied sharply, his urgency revealing his inner struggle. "Don't say that! I knew she meant something special to me from the moment she came into my life."
The conversation turned as Jimin leaned in closer, gently asking, "What hurts you the most, Tae? Is it that your girlfriend chose Jungkook instead… or is it the fact that Jungkook chose her over you?"
The weight of Jimin's question filled the air, deepening the ache in Tae's heart as he battled feelings of betrayal and longing.