Threads of fate

Jin's lips trembled as he pulled away from the kiss, his hands still cradling Jungkook's face. Their breaths mingled in the space between them, warm and unsteady, as if neither of them could fully grasp the reality of this moment.

Jin swallowed hard, his emotions overwhelming him. "These past years... I thought you were happy," he whispered. "I convinced myself that you were living the life you wanted, and I tried to move on. But even when I told myself I was okay, I still thought about you, and it always hurt." His voice cracked. "So I stopped thinking about everything. I told myself I was fine... until I saw you at the wedding."

Jungkook's gaze softened, but he said nothing, letting Jin pour his heart out.

Jin let out a shaky breath. "That night shattered everything I believed. When you told me the truth, I was so upset and angry. I kept thinking about my pain, my hurt... but I never once think about yours." His eyes filled with fresh tears. "I never thought about how much you suffered, how much you were hurting too. I was selfish, Jungkook. I only saw my own pain and ignored yours." His voice broke completely as he grabbed Jungkook's hands tightly. "I'm so sorry. Please, please forgive me."

Jungkook shook his head and squeezed Jin's hands gently. "Please don't think about the past anymore," he murmured. "Just be with me now. That's all I want."

Jin searched Jungkook's face, and in those eyes, he saw nothing but sincerity-no resentment, no anger, just love.

Jungkook hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Will you stay with me?"

Jin's heart ached at the desperation in his voice. Without a second thought, he nodded. "Yes. I'll stay."

Jungkook exhaled in relief, as if he had been holding his breath for years. Without another word, he gently took Jin's hand and led him toward the bedroom.

The moment Jin stepped inside, he froze. His eyes roamed the familiar space, and a wave of emotions crashed over him. Everything was the same. The furniture, the scent, even the arrangement of things-it was as if time had never moved here. It felt like stepping into their past.

Jungkook, who had been walking behind him, stopped too. He could see the way Jin's shoulders tensed, the way his fingers trembled slightly. He didn't say anything-he didn't need to. He knew what Jin was feeling because he had felt it too, countless times, standing alone in this very room.

Jin didn’t speak. He simply walked to the bed and sat down slowly, resting his head against the headboard with a deep, shaky breath. Then, with a quiet vulnerability, he lifted his arms—an invitation only meant for Jungkook.

Without hesitation, Jungkook moved toward him, climbing onto the bed with soft, unhurried movements. He settled himself between Jin’s legs, gently lowering his body until his chest was flush against Jin’s, his head nestled under Jin’s chin. His arms wrapped tightly around Jin’s waist, clinging to him like he was afraid he might disappear again.

Jin let out a breath that trembled as he wrapped his arms around Jungkook, holding him just as tightly. One hand slid into Jungkook’s hair, fingers threading through the strands, the other splayed across his back, grounding them both in the moment.

He pressed a lingering kiss to the top of Jungkook's head, his lips trembling against the warmth of his skin.

Neither of them spoke.

But in the silence, a thousand words were spoken.

Apologies. Regrets. Longing. Love.

And finally, peace.

After a long silence, Jungkook finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I missed you so much," he said, his breath warm against Jin's skin. "I didn't know what to do with my life... but I held on to one hope-that one day, we'd be together again. That was the only thing keeping me going."