Threads of fate

Chapter 13

Jin hummed. “You know… That girl you had a crush on. You even told us you were going to propose to her once you became successful.” There was no accusation in his tone, only quiet curiosity.

Jungkook exhaled a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “She wasn’t my first love.”

Jin raised a brow. “No?”

Jungkook shifted slightly, their legs brushing under the blanket. “I thought she was,” he admitted. “At the time, I believed that what I felt for her was love. I wanted to be good enough for her, to prove myself before confessing. But…” He hesitated, his gaze softening as he looked at Jin. “When I saw her again, I realized I felt nothing.”

Jin’s breath hitched slightly. “You met her?”

Jungkook nodded. “I saw her when I went to Busan. Remember when we had that one-week break?”

Jin nodded slowly.

“I was eighteen. I went back home for a few days, and I saw her by chance,” Jungkook continued. “She was there, right in front of me. I could have walked up to her, said something… but I didn’t.”

Jin stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue.

Jungkook smiled, almost to himself. “Because when I saw her, the first thought in my head wasn’t about her—it was about you.”

Jin’s lips parted slightly in surprise, but he remained silent.

Jungkook chuckled softly, his thumb tracing slow circles on the back of Jin’s hand. “At that moment, I didn’t understand why. I kept thinking, ‘Why am I thinking about Jin right now? This is the girl I once wanted to confess to, right?’ But the more I stood there, the more I realized… she wasn’t important anymore. I didn’t feel anything. No excitement, no nervousness—nothing.”

Jin swallowed. “And now?”

Jungkook met his gaze, his dark eyes filled with something deeper, something unshakable. “Now I understand,” he said quietly. “Back then, I had already started falling for you.”

Jin’s heart pounded in his chest. He had always known how deeply Jungkook cared for him, but hearing this—knowing that even before Jungkook himself realized it, his heart had already belonged to him—felt overwhelming.

Jungkook smiled, his voice filled with warmth. “If what I feel for you is love, then she is nothing.”

Jin let out a small breath of laughter, his fingers tightening around Jungkook’s. “You really mean that?”

Jungkook nodded without hesitation. “I do.”

Jin shook his head, smiling. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against Jungkook’s cheek before settling against his shoulder again. “You’re unbelievable,” he murmured.

Jungkook grinned, resting his head against Jin’s. “Only for you.”

The movie played on, but neither of them was paying attention anymore. The only thing that mattered was the quiet realization between them—that Jungkook’s heart had been Jin’s long before either of them had put it into words.

The apartment quickly became Jin and Jungkook’s sanctuary. They spent their free time there, cooking meals together, watching movies, and simply enjoying each other’s company without worrying about being interrupted or judged.

On nights when the group had meetings or gatherings, they still returned to the dorm, ensuring they stayed connected with the members. But as soon as their responsibilities were done, they would retreat to their private haven.