Tangled Realities (Ot7xreader)

The walk to the bus stop felt longer than usual. The streets were dimly lit, the cool evening air brushing against your skin as you clutched your bag tighter. University had drained you today—not just physically, but mentally. You were exhausted in a way that sleep alone couldn’t fix.

Your internship had been a mess too. You hadn’t been performing well, and your manager had taken notice. The break they’d given you came with a strict warning, one that still echoed in your mind. You knew you had to do better, but even knowing that, the weight of everything felt suffocating.

You sighed, your breath visible in the cold air, waiting for the bus to arrive. But then—a sharp honk from behind made you flinch.

You turned quickly, startled, until your eyes landed on a familiar car—a sleek black sedan rolling up beside you. The window rolled down, and you recognized him immediately.

“Get in,” Yoongi called. His voice was neutral, but his eyes held something softer, something careful.

For a second, you hesitated. You hadn’t expected him. But before you could second-guess yourself, you opened the door and slid inside.

The interior of the car was warm, a faint scent of leather and cologne lingering in the air. A low instrumental track played through the speakers, its soft melody filling the silence.

Neither of you spoke for a few minutes. The city lights blurred past outside the window, the atmosphere between you quiet but not heavy.

Eventually, Yoongi spoke, his voice calm yet firm. “How was work?”

You exhaled, resting your head against the window for a moment before answering. “Not great. I’ve been messing up. My manager gave me a break… but it wasn’t exactly a kind gesture.”

Yoongi hummed, his fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel. “You’ll fix it.” His tone held no doubt. “Just don’t destroy yourself in the process.”

His words struck something deep in your chest.

You turned to him. “Why are you off early?”

Yoongi glanced at you briefly before smirking. “Decided to spend more time at home.”

The way he said it was lighthearted, but you caught the meaning beneath it.

When you finally pulled into the driveway, the house was dimly lit. The warm glow from the kitchen indicated that someone was home, but it wasn’t loud like it used to be. You could hear faint voices coming from inside.

You hesitated as you stepped out of the car, staring at the door. A part of you still wanted to retreat, to go upstairs and avoid everything. But another part of you—the part that had agreed to come back, to try—told you that if you wanted to move forward, you had to be present.

The moment you stepped inside, the familiar scent of food hit you. The faint aroma of something sweet lingered in the air, mixed with the smell of dinner being prepared.

Before you could disappear upstairs, Hoseok’s voice called out. “You’re home.”

You turned to see him sitting in the living room, stretched out on the couch. He patted the space beside him, an invitation. “Come sit. We’re waiting for dinner.”

You hesitated.

Jungkook, who was leaning against the kitchen counter, looked over and grinned. “Jin hyung brought you doughnuts.” He nodded toward the countertop. “They’re there. You should eat them before someone else does.”