Tangled Realities (Ot7xreader)

The world around you has started to blur.

It’s not just exhaustion—it’s something deeper. A fog settling over your mind, making every movement sluggish, every thought heavy.

Days pass in a strange, disconnected haze. You forget to eat, your stomach twisting in on itself until hunger no longer feels like hunger but an ache you’ve grown used to. Sleep is an afterthought, and the dark circles beneath your eyes deepen, a silent testament to how little you care anymore.

No one notices. Or if they do, they don’t say anything.

And why would they?

You’re barely present anymore.

The morning air is cold when you step outside. The kind of cold that should wake you up, sink into your bones, remind you that you’re alive.

It doesn’t.

You’re heading to Jin’s bakery, not because you’re hungry but because the idea of sitting alone in the house for another second makes your skin crawl.

The streets are busy, but it all feels distant—like you’re walking through a memory instead of reality. The bells above the bakery door chime softly as you step inside, the scent of fresh bread and sugar wrapping around you.

Jin is behind the counter, laughing.

It’s a warm sound, one that should bring comfort.

But it doesn’t.

Because he isn’t laughing at something you said.

He’s laughing at her.

At first, you don’t recognize her.

She’s standing at the counter, a soft smile on her lips as she chats with Jin. She’s older than you by a few years, her confidence effortless, her voice smooth.

It isn’t until she tilts her head—just slightly—that realization slams into you.

Your breath catches.

It’s her.

Namjoon’s ex-girlfriend.

The one he rarely talked about.

The one whose stories were never good.

The one you hated.

"She never really listened," Namjoon had admitted once, his voice quieter than usual. You had been curled up beside him, tracing idle patterns on his arm. "It always felt like I had to be someone else around her. Like who I actually was... wasn’t enough."

"Did you love her?" you had asked, hesitant.

He was silent for a long time before sighing. "I think I wanted to. But love isn’t supposed to make you feel small."

You had felt protective of him then—of his quiet kindness, his thoughtful heart. The idea of someone making him feel less had infuriated you.

"She used to get jealous a lot," he had mentioned another time. "Tried to control who I talked to. Even my own friends."

You had scoffed, rolling your eyes. "Sounds like a nightmare."

He had only chuckled, but it hadn’t reached his eyes. "It was... exhausting."

And yet here she was.

Standing in his bakery.

Smiling at him.

And Jin—sweet, affectionate Jin—was glowing.

You watch in silence as he laughs at something she says, his eyes shining like she’s the most interesting person he’s spoken to all week.

Your hands curl into fists at your sides.

You know you’re being irrational.

You know it’s ridiculous to feel betrayed over this.

But you do.

And when Jin reaches out to grab her hand, offering a polite shake, you feel something in your chest snap.

Because when his fingers brush against yours, they are always warm—gentle, steady, comforting.

But when he offers her his hand, it feels different.

Colder. Distant.

Like maybe you were never special at all.

Before you can stop yourself, you move.

You step forward, forcing a smile that feels wrong on your face as you join them at the counter.

Jin notices you first, his expression softening. "Oh, hey, you’re here—"

And then—

"You should come over sometime."

The words come from his lips so easily, directed at her.

Your heart drops.

"Over?" you repeat, your voice hollow. Jin never invited people over so easily. The home you all shared was yours, a space that had always felt like a safe haven. And yet, here he was, offering it up to her—the woman you had spent years resenting without ever meeting.

Jin nods, oblivious. "Yeah. I mean, it’s been forever, right?" He grins at her. "I don’t think you ever saw the place after we all moved in together."

We.

Like you weren’t standing right here.

Your stomach twists, nausea creeping up your throat.

She smiles, tilting her head. "That would be nice."

She looks at you then, as if just noticing your presence.

"I don’t think we’ve met properly before."

You force a smile. "No, we haven’t."

But I know who you are.

And I hate you.

Not because you were with Namjoon first.

Not because you were once part of his past.

But because he never looked happy when he spoke about you.

Because the stories he told were full of exhaustion, not love.

Because he tried so hard to make it work, and you made him feel small.

And yet—

Here you are.

Being invited into a place that was supposed to be ours. What would Namjoon say?

Jin is still smiling, still looking at her like she’s some long-lost friend.

You can’t breathe.

You need to get out of here.

"I have to go."

The words tumble from your lips before you realize you’ve even spoken.

Jin blinks. "Wait, what—?"

You don’t let him finish.

You turn on your heel and walk out, ignoring the way your vision blurs at the edges.

The cold air outside doesn’t help.

Your pulse is pounding, your head spinning.

Everything feels wrong.

You don’t remember the walk home.

But when you get there, you shut the door behind you and collapse onto the floor, your breathing uneven.

Your stomach twists with hunger, but you ignore it.

Your limbs are heavy, but you don’t move.

Your heart is aching, but no one notices.

No one ever does.

And maybe—

Maybe you’re finally realizing why.