Threads of fate

Chapter 32

Suddenly, a group of girls wandered closer to Jin, their curiosity piqued by the tall, well-dressed man standing quietly by himself. He looked effortlessly elegant-broad shoulders, soft eyes, and a calm aura that made him stand out even in a crowd filled with celebrities.

One girl, clearly the boldest of the group, stepped forward with a playful grin. "Hi there," she began, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Are you part of the groom's side or the bride's?"

Another girl chimed in with a giggle. "Or are you the groom himself? You look like you just stepped out of a magazine shoot."

Jin gave them a polite smile but didn't say much. He didn't want to be rude, but he wasn't particularly interested in entertaining the attention.

"You're not going to say anything?" the first girl teased. "Mysterious type, huh? I like that."

"Are you a model?" another asked, genuinely curious but still flirty. "Or maybe an actor? You have that vibe."

The first girl bit her lip and looked him up and down subtly. "So... are you single?" she finally asked, smiling up at him with hope in her eyes.

Before Jin could respond, Seokjoon, who had been quietly observing the situation, couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. "Jin? Oh, he's very much single!" he said, teasing his brother in front of the girls. The group giggled, clearly interested in getting to know more about him. But the moment was quickly interrupted by a soft but firm voice.

Jiwon, who had been observing from a distance, approached the group. Her protective instincts kicked in as she walked confidently toward her father, standing between him and the girls. With a serious look on her face, she looked at the girl who had asked the question and said, "Will you stop flirting with my appa? And for your question, no, he is not single. He's married and has two children."

The girl, clearly not satisfied with the answer, scoffed and replied, "Don't lie."

Jiwon, undeterred, raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "I don't need to show you my ID card to prove it," she said coldly. "Now, go away from my appa."

Jiho, who had been watching from the corner of his eye, walked over to stand beside his sister. With a glare that could send chills down anyone's spine, he looked at the girl and said, "Don't ever approach my appa again. You should be careful with who you talk to like that."

The girl, clearly intimidated by the twins' intensity, quickly realized she had overstayed her welcome. With a flushed face, she mumbled an apology before grabbing her friends and walking away.

Jin watched the whole scene unfold, a small smile tugging at his lips. He was proud of his children-especially how they always had his back.

Seokjoon chuckled softly, raising his drink. "Guess you're not as single as you thought, huh?"

Jin just shook his head, amused. "They sure know how to take care of things."

Jiwon and Jiho returned to their playful selves, but Jin couldn't help but feel a sense of relief knowing his kids were always so protective of him. It was moments like these that reminded him of how important family was-and how much he valued the bond they shared.

As the commotion settled, the BTS members couldn't help but smile at the scene before them. Jiho and Jiwon stood protectively beside Jin, their small yet determined figures exuding confidence. The way they defended their father without hesitation struck a chord with everyone. Their bond was unbreakable, and the love they had for Jin was evident in every action.

Taehyung whispered to Yoongi, "They're like little warriors, aren't they?"

Yoongi nodded, his lips curving into a rare smile. "They've got Jin's fire, that's for sure."

But Jungkook didn't notice any of it. He wasn't paying attention to the playful comments or the laughter of his friends. His eyes were fixed on Jin.

To Jungkook, the commotion, the guests, the chatter-all of it blurred into the background. All he could see was Jin, standing there with his usual elegance, radiating an aura that made him seem untouchable. His heart twisted painfully as he watched Jin gently pat Jiho's head, reassuring him, and then kneeling slightly to fix Jiwon's hair. Jin's soft smile toward his children was a smile Jungkook hadn't seen in years, and he felt a pang of longing so sharp it left him breathless.

"Jungkook," Taehyung's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Jungkook turned to see Taehyung looking at him curiously.

"You've been staring at Jin hyung for a while now," Taehyung said, his voice low so the others wouldn't hear.

Jungkook glanced away, trying to mask his emotions, but Taehyung wasn't fooled. "Whatever you're thinking, you better figure it out soon," Taehyung said before walking away to join the others.

Jin, on the other hand, was aware of Jungkook's gaze. He could feel it, burning through the noise of the party. But he refused to meet it. His mind was in turmoil, trying to focus on his children and his family while ignoring the man who had once meant everything to him.

Jiho and Jiwon's laughter brought him back to the present. As he glanced down at his children, he reminded himself why he was here, why he had built a new life away from the pain. Whatever unresolved emotions lingered between him and Jungkook, Jin had made his choice long ago.

But for Jungkook, the sight of Jin-happy, surrounded by his children, and so far out of reach-was a reminder of everything he had lost. He couldn't look away, even as his chest tightened with regret. To him, Jin wasn't just a person from his past. Jin was the person, the one he could never forget.

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