What happened between them was inevitable. Despite being aware of the strangers, they remained unfazed. Jungkook's greatest fear wasn't the scrutiny of strangers, but the potential detachment from his beloved, Taehyung. His attempts to protect their bond inadvertently led to misunderstanding. But he was determined to set things right. Passing the letter to Taehyung was a significant step, knowing how sensitive he was about the situation. Yet, as he paused midway on the staircase, another urge gripped him, compelling him to freeze momentarily.

Always struggling to put his emotions into simple words, Jungkook ended up writing him a letter. Yet, deep within, he yearned for something more—a driving force fueled by the constant joy of his love, his sole delight which was absent from his life for far too long. 

Despite knowing he shouldn't give rise to such thoughts, his heart relentlessly cried out for that remedy. Out of his mind and overwhelmed, he turned abruptly, sprinting back upstairs to where he had been moments before with Taehyung. Hesitating briefly upon seeing Taehyung reading his letter, Jungkook swallowed roughly, fists clenched at his sides, a lump forming in his throat.

Haunted by the anguish in Taehyung's eyes, Jungkook was overfilled with the pain of potentially being the cause. How could he convey his love in a way that wouldn't be met with rejection? As Taehyung finally noticed him, tears welling up in his brown eyes, Jungkook inhaled a sharp breath, casting aside his doubts. Stepping closer, he reached out to gently cup Taehyung's delicate face, pulling him closer. In an instant, he leaned in, pressing his lips passionately against Taehyung's, pouring all his unspoken love into the kiss.

Taehyung was caught off guard, his widened eyes betraying him as he was surprised and fell under Jungkook's spell, allowing himself to be kissed passionately. The intensity of the moment surged through his veins, overwhelming his senses as he melted into the embrace, molding his lips to Jungkook's desires. Jungkook's hunger for more was palpable, driving Taehyung to surrender himself and let the other one take control and letting himself be swept away by the exchange of love and devotion through the kiss. And maybe deep down, he craved this connection just as much as Jungkook did.

Their hearts raced in a rhythm, yet a sense of peace enveloped them as their kiss blossomed into something sublime. Students in the corridor walked by in astonishment, witnessing Taehyung, a familiar face from their department, entwined with another student in a passionate embrace. But Jungkook remained undeterred by the scrutiny, his focus solely on his only one, Taehyung.

With lips locked in a tender way and hearts resonating with unspoken emotions, their love was an undeniable force, boundless and fervent.

As Taehyung drifted into a trance-like state, lost in the depths of his mind with closed eyes, Jungkook savored the moment, gently opening his own eyes to take in the intoxicating scent lingering in the air. With a soft lick of his lips, he relished the taste of their shared kiss, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty about their fragile situation. Yet, in that fleeting moment, the notion of what was right or wrong seemed insignificant compared to the overwhelming essence of their connection.

"And one more thing... I might forget to mention it in the letter." Jungkook whispered softly, causing Taehyung to gently open his captivating brown eyes, meeting Jungkook's tender gaze filled with love.

"I was never ashamed to be with you. You're my pride, something I cherish and want to protect from the world," Jungkook confessed, his words laced with sincerity. Overwhelmed by emotions, Taehyung found himself unable to respond, consumed by the whirlwind of feelings stirred by Jungkook's confession.

"Because I love you… so fucking much." Jungkook whispered, sealing his declaration with a gentle kiss on Taehyung's forehead. Taehyung instinctively closed his eyes at the touch, feeling his heartbeat gradually returning to its normal rhythm. However, when he opened his eyes, Jungkook had already stepped back, turning to leave once more.

Taehyung stood frozen, unable to react as Jungkook hurried off into the distance. The crumpled letter remained clenched in his hand, unnoticed by the passing students, as his gaze remained fixed on the spot where Jungkook had vanished.

~♡~

"You always had me, Jimin! Always! What part of me I needed to lay in your feet to prove to you I was always there?!" 

"You never were, Dowoo. If you were to be with me then you would have known how much I- I always thought about you, talked about you, always it was just you and you… Y-you have always known that I have loved you… a-always… but you- you have just used it against me you-... you humiliated me for it, you did everything you could to break me into pieces." 

"I admit I was wrong. I might still be but don't just pretend you were right. Did you ever come to me and said that you loved me? It's easy to blame. You still have no idea how loaded this thing is for me, you-" 

"What was there for you to know? And what if I had said it to your face, what would you do? Make a bigger fool out of myself? You built those fucking big walls around you that it almost got impossible for me to get in there, how would I even care saying I did. If you have been seeing it and knowing it all your life then why do you even care asking? Why!?"

"I cared about asking because not everyone can see love. Probably you never did, Jimin." 

"What love are you even talking about, Dowoo? What does love even mean to you? Huh?" 

"I wish I knew it myself."

Jimin couldn't shake the feeling that pretending was his only way of surviving, especially as he found himself back in the kitchen, meticulously preparing V's lunch. As he ladled soup into a bowl, he couldn't escape the mental tug-of-war. Every clash with Dowoo felt like a replay of their past arguments, turning their worlds upside down. He yearned for peace with Dowoo, yet it seemed impossible, with Dowoo's behavior resembling that of a stubborn child.

Engrossed in his thoughts, Jimin found it impossible to shake off the conversation that had etched itself into his mind. Their lives had taken a huge turn off course, and they seemed unable to find their way back. Yet, amidst the turmoil, Jimin realized he rarely dwelled on the night that nearly tore his love away from him. And this would always haunt him to this day.

Unaware and lost in his thoughts, Jimin couldn't notice how V walked out from his room with deliberate slowness, masking the pain he felt. Meanwhile, Jimin's back remained turned, focused on arranging the food on V's plate, unaware of the emotions swirling around him.

"DOWOO! No! Noooo! No!"

"J-jimin…" 

"N-nothing will happen to you- nothing. I j-just called the ambulance- they'll get here… Dowoo you hear me right?" 

"Jimin…" 

"I- I'm right here… I'm here, nothing will happen to you-" 

"Ji-"

"Dowoo! Dowoo!" Dowoo! Dowoo talk to me! Dowoo?!"

To Jimin's surprise, his hand collided with the bowl as a result of those triggering flood of flashbacks that consumed him, resulting in the scalding soup meeting his belly. With a loud wince, he snapped out of his trance, only to find V rushing towards him, rescuing him from further harm by holding the bowl back and swiftly grabbing paper towels to clean up the spill.

Concern etched across his face, V scolded Jimin, demanding to know where his mind had wandered and what he had done. Despite the pain, Jimin could only wince in response.

"Are you alright? Does it hurt badly? You need to change your clothes." V asked with genuine worry, but Jimin couldn't help but tilt his head, silently questioning V's audacity.

Was this the same person who had adamantly refused Jimin's help earlier? The hypocrisy.

"Thank you for the concern, Mr. Patient, but I'll manage. Please, have a seat and enjoy your soup." Jimin retorted, gently pulling away from V's hold, causing his frown to deepen.

As Jimin started to turn away, V swiftly reached out, grasping Jimin's jaw to redirect his gaze.

"What's with that tone?" V whispered, his voice carrying a warning edge. But Jimin, with his puffy cheeks looking adorable, met V's serious gaze and retracted himself away from his grip.

"And what's with that attitude, may I ask?" Jimin countered, placing his hands on his hips. V's expression shifted to blank, masking his emotions.

"Why am I even here if you can dress yourself? Mr. Kim Dowoo couldn't put on his underwear earlier, but now he's fully dressed and groomed." Jimin remarked, frustration evident in his tone.

"It's because you were busy. Was I supposed to just stay naked?" V countered defensively.

"I'm here to help you with tasks you struggle with, but getting a call shouldn't have thrown you off so much, I don't understand how you get upset so easily." Jimin retorted, his irritation growing.

"Upset? Me?" V questioned incredulously, scoffing at Jimin.

"Yes, you, you giant baby," Jimin snapped back, his words tinged with exasperation.

"If I'm the one upset, then why are you the one throwing fits?" V countered, his tone tinged with confusion. "Why did it bother you so much when I dressed myself on my own?"

Jimin hesitated, feeling the weight of V's question. "It's not that it bothered me that you dressed yourself," he admitted, his voice softer now. "It's just... I want to help you. I want to be there for you, especially after everything we've been through together."

V was straightened up with his posture rigid, but then he softened, lowering his head towards Jimin, who felt his resolve beginning to waver in the face of V's vulnerability.

Despite the familiar fragrance, the piercing gaze of those dark eyes, and the striking features reminiscent of a Greek god, Jimin knew he had to remain strong.

A heavy silence enveloped them as V quietly stared at him. Jimin's face remained as soft as a ripe peach, his plum-colored lips forming a gentle curve downward with overwhelming emotions churning inside of him as he gently gazed up at V, silently pleading for reassurance. The vulnerability in his eyes only added to his undeniable adorableness, tugging at V's heartstrings and V was frozen, captivated and entirely blown away.

"Yes, we have been through a lot," V whispered, his voice carrying the weight of their shared experiences. Jimin couldn't help but be transported back to the night of the incident, the memories flooding his mind with a mixture of emotions, lost in the haunting replay of that tragic night.

To Jimin's wonder, V stepped even closer than before, causing Jimin to instinctively withdraw his gaze, lost in thought. Meanwhile, V's gentle hands tenderly brushed through Jimin's hair, effortlessly fixing them. It was a gesture that revealed V's inherently soft side, one that always seemed to surface in Jimin's presence.

"Jimin?" V whispered, attempting to reclaim his attention, but Jimin remained trapped in the grips of his memories. Suddenly, the vivid image of V bleeding on the road flashed before his eyes, causing him to flinch involuntarily, his body reacting to the dirty play of his mind and he quickly retracted himself away from V’s grip.

"I need to change my clothes, bye." Jimin  informed abruptly, turning on his heel to hurry back towards his bedroom. V watched in silence as Jimin disappeared from view, feeling a pang of helplessness wash over him.

"And don't touch the mess on the floor, it's my job to clean up. Sit down and have your soup, for heaven's sake. I spent all day making it!" Jimin's voice echoed from behind the closed bedroom door as he blabbered out of panic, leaving V to shake his head in defeat, letting out a weary sigh.

V sucked in his teeth, feeling the sting of Jimin's withdrawal. It seemed like Jimin was constantly pushing him away that day, leaving V with a sense of frustration and longing.

~♡~

"How is your brother now?" 

The question weighed heavily on Taehyung, yet he knew it was something he'd been asked all day. Setting his milkshake down, he lifted his head up to face his other two close friends sitting in the opposite, Wendy and Yeri, as they gathered for lunch in the cafeteria.

"He's better, thankfully. He's in the recovery phase, and we're doing everything we can to support him. Today, it's Jimin's turn to take care of him." Taehyung answered, his voice carrying a mix of relief and anxiety. Wendy and Yeri nodded in understanding, offering silent support to their friend.

"I might sound stupid, but we met today after that day you and your boyfriend had an argument so I couldn't ask you earlier. Are you two okay now?" Yeri blurted out, her words tinged with awkwardness. Wendy quickly intervened, trying to save the situation and prevent her girlfriend from causing any further discomfort.

"Yeri, don't you think he has more concerning things to focus on?" Wendy chided gently, shooting her girlfriend a warning glance.

"But I was just—" Yeri began, only to be interrupted by her own mischievous laughter as she pretended to spot Jungkook. "Oh hi, Jungkook! Over here!" she exclaimed, causing Taehyung to whip his head around in surprise.

"Kidding, he's not here." Yeri giggled, enjoying her own prank. Taehyung took a deep breath, shooting Wendy a pointed glare, while she looked back at him apologetically on behalf of her girlfriend.

"I don't think it's appropriate to ask right now, but are you two okay?" Wendy decided to ask, sensing the tension in the air. Taehyung sighed, the weight of the question evident in his expression.

As a moment of silence enveloped them, Taehyung reached into his pocket, retrieving something and handing it to Wendy, trusting her as a friend. Curiosity piqued, Wendy unfolded the paper with anticipation, while Yeri leaned in to read alongside her.

"What is it?" Yeri asked, her attention captured by Jungkook's handwriting on the paper. Together, the two girls quickly read the contents, their expressions shifting with understanding.

"Aww, is it like that? Ah, you guys," Wendy remarked softly after reading, offering Taehyung a comforting gesture by placing her hand on his. Taehyung met their gaze with gratitude, appreciating their support in his time of need.

"He loves you, there's no other way." Yeri added, her pout reflecting the sentiment of the words written in the letter.

"And he proceeded to kiss me after that, in front of everyone. I don't know what that even means..." Taehyung's voice trailed off softly, uncertainty evident in his tone. Wendy tightened her grip on his hand, offering silent support.

"Maybe he really is sorry? You mentioned earlier that he stuck around with you and your brother throughout everything. You two haven't had time to talk it out properly. I understand your anger, but maybe a conversation wouldn't hurt?" Wendy suggested earnestly, her sincerity evident in her expression. Taehyung looked at her, feeling reassured by her words.

"Yes, me and Wendy always talk after fighting, it helps." Yeri chimed in, her tone endearing. Taehyung felt a wave of relief wash over him, grateful for the support and understanding of his friends.

"I wanted to talk too... but it's never easy. Maybe because I'm still upset. Do you think what I faced for months will be forgiven in a few days?" Taehyung poured out his uncertainties, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

"Of course not," Wendy replied firmly, understanding the gravity of Taehyung's situation.

"Then again, I miss him, and his face makes me weak, let alone that kiss now hovering over my mind. I'm upset because I don't want him to treat me like how my ex treated me. That was the most traumatic phase of my life. Is he ashamed of me too?" Taehyung's insecurities spilled out, his fears laid bare.

"Hey... he is anything but ashamed. You're thinking a little too much. Maybe he was a bit skeptical about revealing your relationship, but that doesn't mean he was ashamed." Wendy reassured him, standing up from her place and moving to sit closer to Taehyung in a gesture of support.

"Right, when Wendy and I started dating, we didn't reveal it to others until we were ready because it was new to us. We wanted to focus on each other without external interference." Yeri spoke up, offering her perspective.

As Yeri spoke, Taehyung's gaze drifted away, lost in thought, wrestling with his doubts.

"Was I wrong all this time?" Taehyung questioned, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"No, that doesn't make you wrong, nor him," Wendy interjected, offering reassurance. "I remember being there when Jungkook introduced you as a friend to almost everyone he knew. I felt bad for you, but pretending to be friends for the sake of others isn't necessarily a bad thing, right? Maybe it's just something that needs to be communicated. Most importantly, you both need to find common ground and be comfortable with each other's choices."

"Yes, everything in a relationship or even friendship goes through multiple phases. Take them as a testament of time, but it only strengthens you." Yeri explained, her choice of words impressing Taehyung, who rarely heard her speak so profoundly.

"That's my girl, you're getting smarter day by day, huh?" Wendy said proudly, prompting Yeri to blush and smile brightly.

"Right? Perks of having a smart girlfriend, maybe?" Yeri quipped, before getting up to rush and sit next to Wendy, pulling her into a warm hug. Not wanting to leave Taehyung out, she extended her arms to include him as well. Taehyung smiled warmly and hugged them both back.

"You guys are the best." Taehyung expressed, feeling grateful for their support and friendship which he thought he was lacking.

~♡~

The soup didn't seem as bad as V had expected when he slurped it, and he couldn't resist sneaking a glance back before daring to steal a bite of rice from Jimin's bowl, despite being strictly prohibited from having solid foods.

Returning his attention to his soup, V was startled by the shuffling sound behind him, prompting him to concentrate on his meal until the approaching footsteps grew louder.

Jimin started by cleaning the mess on the floor which was created earlier and after doing so, finally, Jimin took a seat next to him on the chair in his completely changed attire, and V couldn't help but steal a quick glance at him, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence.

V casually glanced at Jimin but had to do a double take when he noticed Jimin wearing the same cream-colored cardigan he kept in his cupboard. Surprised beyond words, V choked on his soup, causing Jimin to drop his chopsticks in alarm. Jimin quickly passed him a glass of water, which V accepted gratefully, turning his head away to drink slowly.

Jimin was aware of V's reaction but decided, as usual, to play along with his act of pretending not to notice, letting the moment pass without comment.

V then winced as he put the glass down, his hand instinctively moving to his wounded belly over the bandages, feeling the burning sensation spreading through his throat. Concern flashed across Jimin's face as he grew serious, shifting closer to hold one of V's hands.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Jimin bombarded V with questions, his tone filled with genuine care. V offered a reassuring smile, trying to alleviate Jimin's worry, before lifting his spoon again to resume eating, signaling that he was fine despite the discomfort.

V resumed slurping his soup, trying to distract himself from the discomfort, while Jimin observed him closely, aware of what might have caused his reaction but Jimin chose to play along and focus on his own meal, allowing silence to settle between them once more as they both concentrated on eating.

As V reached for the glass of water again, Jimin noticed that V was purposefully avoiding his gaze, focusing solely on his own needs. Sensing V's desire for space, Jimin respected his silent request and continued eating without pressing further, letting the moment pass until he saw how V was only drinking water not the soup. Was he really okay?

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, what even happened?" V asked, breaking the silence, his curiosity evident.

Jimin couldn't help but smirk in response, enjoying the opportunity to tease V.

"Who even chokes on their soup, seriously?" Jimin playfully scolded V, turning the tables on him just as V had done earlier.

"I spent days being fed through drips, then my mother rescued me with her delicious soups until you did a disaster in my kitchen and made a potion that was hard to swallow. What else do you expect?" V teased casually, unaware of the effect his words had on Jimin, who put his fork down and shifted to a slightly offended expression.

"Okay... it seems like you don't need my help," Jimin responded, his tone tinged with hurt. "I wonder why Taehyung even gave me the responsibility to look after you when Mr. Dowoo can dress himself, doesn't like what I cook, and certainly just doesn't appreciate my presence around him for a moment." He added, his anguish evident in his words.

"Doesn't appreciate your presence? Who's saying?" V mocked Jimin's words casually, brushing off his concerns. Jimin exhaled heavily, feeling tested, and decided to respond with silence for the moment. He resumed eating, turning slightly on his chair to avoid facing V directly, each swallow feeling difficult.

Meanwhile, V finished his bowl and sent sneaky glances towards Jimin, hesitating for a moment before extending his hand to hold Jimin's arm, gently turning him around to face him.

"Hey..." V began softly, reaching out to Jimin, but before he could continue, Jimin burst out, unable to contain his emotions any longer.

"You know what, Dowoo? Sometimes you don't watch your mouth while it keeps cutting through people's hearts, and don't come at me when I speak the same way to you, which eventually becomes intolerable to you," Jimin exclaimed, his frustration evident.

"Now what did I do?" V asked, genuinely confused.

"What did you do? How can you say that so easily?" Jimin countered, his voice trembling with emotion. "I wanted to be with you, take care of you, and just..." he trailed off, struggling to keep his composure.

"Maybe you just don't want me as a person, as the whole me with my feelings. Maybe just the idea of me is what you want. That's why you kept my cardigan in your cupboard, right? That's why your heart beats faster when I'm around, right? If my presence isn't what you want, then why were you sulking like a giant baby when I couldn't meet you yesterday?" Jimin's words poured out, filled with hurt and longing.

"You saved my life, yet you're acting like I can never help you out, like I can never be enough for you. What are you trying to prove? What are your intentions?" Jimin's voice cracked with emotion as he poured out his frustrations and confusion to V, desperately seeking answers.

But V remained tongue-tied. He felt a surge of frustration and confusion within himself, grappling with his own unanswered questions. Why was he acting the way he was? What was driving him to behave this way? And why was Jimin wearing that cardigan? What was he trying to prove?

In that moment of silence, both V and Jimin found themselves trapped in a tangled web of uncertainty, each desperately seeking answers to their own inner turmoil.

Tears welled up in Jimin's eyes as he stared at V's usual blank expression, feeling the weight of his silence like a heavy blow to his heart. The lack of response from V only added to Jimin's pain, deepening the sense of hurt and frustration within him.

"And here we are again, fighting and just fighting. You don't understand me, and I don't understand you, and it feels like we can never understand each other. It's always this way, no matter what we go through, no matter what we do— we're just..." Jimin's voice trailed off, choked with emotion as he struggled to articulate the frustration and despair he felt in that moment.

V's usual blank expression softened into one of remorse as he looked at Jimin, his gaze filled with sorrow for the pain he had caused. Despite his efforts to conceal his anguish, his words betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Maybe I'll never understand why you keep pushing me away." V finally spoke, breaking the silence. His words caused Jimin to freeze, his confusion evident in the furrow of his brow.

"Me? I'm the one pushing you away?" Jimin responded, his voice tinged with disbelief at V's unexpected accusation.

Unable to maintain eye contact any longer, V averted his gaze and silently moved to clear the plates from the table, carrying them to the sink. Jimin remained standing, watching him with a mixture of confusion and frustration, unable to comprehend V's actions or the emotions swirling beneath the surface. The distance between them felt palpable, leaving Jimin feeling more isolated and uncertain than ever before.

Before anything else could happen, the door to the house swung open, both Jimin and V turned their attention towards the entrance, expecting to see someone else. However, it was only Taehyung who walked in, greeted by the sight of Jimin standing near the dining area and V standing in the kitchen. The silence in the house seemed to amplify the tension between them, leaving Taehyung to wonder what had transpired in his absence.

"I decided to come early since there's a match later and no classes. But why are you in the kitchen, Dowoo? And what's happening, guys?" Taehyung sensed that something was off and decided to step in, noticing the tension between Jimin and V. Jimin, struggling to hold back his tears, quickly composed himself.

"Jimin? What happened?" Taehyung's concern was evident in his voice.

"Nothing, how was your day?" Jimin quickly faked a smile, hoping to deflect the attention away from the tension between him and V. Taehyung looked between the two of them, sensing that there was more to the situation.

"It was fine... but..." Taehyung's response was cut short as the doorbell rang again, signaling the arrival of someone else. Jimin seized the opportunity to rush towards the door and open it, only to find Jungkook standing on the other side which Taehyung didn't know was right behind him all the way through.

"Is V awake?" Jungkook asked, and Jimin wordlessly widened the door to let him in. Jungkook entered hesitantly, but his steps faltered as he noticed Taehyung's presence. Taehyung's eyes softened at the sight of Jungkook, while V let out a sigh of relief.

However, despite the reunion of the four friends, a palpable tension filled the air, enveloping not only Jimin and V but also Taehyung and Jungkook. The house bore witness to the complexities of two critical relationships and two important friendships, each needing resolution and understanding more than ever before.

───♡───

I was so excited to update this chapter and I am just as excited for the next one. Ahh, SPOILER ALERT! A lot of confrontation and confessions will be on the way!!!! I'm so excited but at the same time I'm obsessed with slow burns, bear with me, lol.

Keep commenting!

Hope you guys enjoyed!