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"I love you too, Koo~"

Jungkook's world came to a halt.

His eyes widened as the words sank in. Slowly, he rose from his kneeling position, stepping closer to Taehyung like he couldn't believe what he just heard.

His hands trembled slightly as he cupped Taehyung's face, searching his eyes-desperate for any sign that it was a joke.

"I love you like a lover, Koo."

Jungkook's breath hitched. He shook his head, stumbling back as if the ground beneath him had shifted.

Did he hear that right?

He looked around, disoriented, like he'd just wandered into a dream. His back hit the wall, and with a soft thud, he dropped to his knees, turning away from Taehyung.

He couldn't face him. Not yet. Not when his heart was spinning so fast it hurt.

Taehyung stood, watching him in silence for a moment before walking over gently. Kneeling beside him, he placed a soft, reassuring hand on Jungkook's shoulder.

"K-Koo?"

"Tell me you meant it, Hyung... I can't handle it if you didn't."

Jungkook whispered, voice trembling as he turned to face Taehyung. He grabbed his hand, clutching it like it was the only thing tethering him to reality.

Taehyung's breath caught. Without hesitation, he lowered himself onto his knees, gently taking Jungkook's face into his hands. Their eyes met-bare, vulnerable, exposed.

"I meant it," he whispered softly, firmly. "Every word."

And that was it.

Jungkook's lips quivered before breaking into a loud, uncontrollable sob. His heart, fractured and bruised so many times before, suddenly felt like it was trying to piece itself back together.

It beat-not because it had to, but because, for the first time, it wanted to.

"Hyung..."

His cry turned into a scream as he threw his head back, staring up at the sky. His tears finally broke free, streaming down his cheeks as if years of pain had been waiting for this exact moment to escape.

"I-I can't believe it..."

Jungkook's voice cracked with disbelief, his breath hitching with every word.

Taehyung gently cupped his face, thumbs brushing along his cheeks before they paused at the faint scar on Jungkook's cheekbone-one he had always wanted to kiss.

Slowly, Taehyung leaned in and pressed a soft kiss right on the scar, his lips lingering just for a second before he pulled away.

His gaze met Jungkook's, steady and full of unspoken emotion. The world seemed to freeze around them. For the first time, neither of them looked away.

They held the eye contact-raw, open, endless.

Jungkook sniffled, tears still streaming down his face as he raised his hands to cradle Taehyung's cheeks.

How could he ever put this happiness into words?

How could words ever be enough for this moment?

Overwhelmed, he threw his arms around Taehyung, burying his face in the crook of his neck, holding him like he never wanted to let go.

"I love you so much, my baby," he whispered, voice breaking, full of everything he couldn't say.

Taehyung sobbed, arms tightening around Jungkook as if he could mold their hearts together.

"I love you more..." he choked out, burying his face in the crook of Jungkook's neck.