Threads of fate

The tension between Jin and Jungkook had been building for months, and it finally reached its breaking point before BTS's highly anticipated world tour. With their group schedules piling up and emotions at an all-time high, Jungkook approached Jin in their shared apartment one evening, his face solemn and his eyes carrying a heaviness Jin hadn't seen before.

"Hyung," Jungkook began, his voice barely above a whisper. Jin, who had been folding clothes on the couch, looked up. The tone in Jungkook's voice already told him something was wrong.

"What is it, Jungkook?" Jin asked, setting the clothes aside and giving him his full attention.

Jungkook hesitated, his hands fidgeting nervously. "I... I think we need to take a break. From... us."

The words hit Jin like a ton of bricks. For a moment, he couldn't process them. The weight of the statement sank in slowly, and he felt his chest tighten painfully. He blinked, forcing himself to stay calm, though his heart felt like it was shattering into pieces.

"Why?" Jin asked, his voice steady but laced with quiet pain. "Why do you want a break?"

Jungkook struggled to find the right words, his eyes darting around the room as if looking for an escape. "It's not you, hyung. It's... everything. The pressure, the schedules, the secrecy... I can't focus. I feel like I'm losing myself, and I don't want to drag you down with me."

Jin stared at him, his mind racing with questions he wanted to ask but couldn't. He wanted to tell Jungkook that they could face the struggles together, that their relationship was worth fighting for. But the look in Jungkook's eyes-so conflicted, so burdened-made him stop. Jin realized that pushing Jungkook now would only make things worse them and the team.

"Okay," Jin said quietly, his voice betraying none of the turmoil inside him. "If that's what you want."

Jungkook looked at him in surprise, almost as if he had expected Jin to argue or plead. But Jin wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing his heartbreak. Jin, ever the eldest, ever the responsible one, held his emotions in check and gave a small nod.

"I understand," Jin continued, standing up and picking up the folded clothes. "We'll take a break. But don't expect me to explain this to the others. If you want it to stay between us, then that's your responsibility."

Jungkook nodded, guilt flickering across his face. "Thank you, hyung."

"Don't thank me," Jin said, his voice firmer now. "Just... do what you need to do."

Jungkook opened his mouth to say something more, but Jin had already turned away, busying himself with putting away the laundry. The conversation was over, and Jin didn't want to prolong it any further.

That night, Jin lay awake in their bed, staring at the ceiling. The pain he had hidden so well earlier now consumed him. His chest ached, and his mind replayed the conversation over and over again. He felt betrayed, abandoned, and heartbroken. Yet, through it all, he reminded himself that he couldn't show weakness-not to Jungkook, not to the members, not to anyone.

The next morning, Jin carried on as if nothing had happened. He smiled, laughed, and joked with the members, masking the pain with the same energy that had earned him the title of BTS's "worldwide handsome" hyung. Jungkook, too, acted like everything was fine, though he avoided Jin's gaze more often than not.

As the tour kicked off, the distance between them grew. On stage, they were professional, performing with the same chemistry and synchronization that had made BTS a global phenomenon. But offstage, they were strangers. Jungkook stayed close to the maknae line, and Jin immersed himself in taking care of the other members, pouring his love and attention into them as a way to distract himself.