Chapter 11
pls vote and comment
✶————✶————✶

The doorbell rang, sharp and insistent, jolting Kai from his half-asleep state.

He glanced at the clock—it was nearly midnight. A frown creased his face as he got up, wondering who could be at his door at this hour.

When he opened the door, Jimin was there. His normally composed boyfriend looked utterly disheveled.

His shirt was wrinkled, one side of it untucked, and his hair was a tousled mess. His eyes were red and glassy, his face flushed from alcohol.

“Kai…” Jimin’s voice was slurred, his words tumbling over each other as he leaned heavily against the doorframe.

“I messed up, big time. I’m so sorry.”

Kai’s heart dropped, but he didn’t let it show. He reached out, steadying Jimin before he could fall. “Jimin, you’re drunk. Come inside.”

Jimin stumbled through the doorway, mumbling apologies under his breath. “I... I ruined everything,” he muttered, tears welling in his eyes. “I’m so—so stupid.”

Kai guided him to the couch, helping him sit down. “Jimin, what are you talking about?” he asked gently, crouching in front of him.

Jimin shook his head, his hands clumsily tugging at his hair. “You don’t understand,” he said, his voice cracking.

“I... I don’t deserve you. I—I messed everything up, Kai.”

His words broke off as a sob tore from his throat.

Kai’s chest tightened. He had never seen Jimin like this—so vulnerable, so broken.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he said softly, taking Jimin’s hands in his. “You’re okay. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”

“No!” Jimin cried, pulling his hands away. “It’s not okay. I—I fucked up, Kai.” His voice cracked, and his shoulders shook as the tears came harder.

“I hurt you. You don’t even know it yet, but I did, and I—I hate myself for it.”

Kai didn’t know what to say. Instead, he gently pulled Jimin into his arms, holding him as he cried.

“You’re drunk and exhausted,” he murmured. “Let me take care of you, okay?”

Jimin didn’t resist as Kai helped him to his feet and guided him toward the bathroom.

He stayed silent as Kai gently peeled off his shirt and jeans, his movements slow and careful, like handling a fragile piece of glass.

Kai turned on the shower, letting the warm water cascade down before guiding Jimin under the spray.

Jimin stood there, his head bowed, silent tears mixing with the water on his face.

Kai grabbed a washcloth, gently scrubbing away the remnants of makeup and the smell of whiskey clinging to Jimin’s skin.

That’s when he saw it—a faint red mark on the side of Jimin’s neck. It was almost hidden, but Kai’s sharp eyes didn’t miss it.

His hand paused for a moment, the washcloth hovering over the spot.

He knew what it was.

A hickey.

His heart clenched, and for a brief moment, an ache spread through his chest.

But then he took a deep breath, forcing himself to keep washing Jimin.

Whatever that hickey meant, he didn’t care. He knew Jimin wasn’t perfect.

He knew people made mistakes, and if Jimin had stumbled, if he’d gotten lost in some moment of weakness, it didn’t change how Kai felt.

He would forgive Jimin. Over and over again.

Because he loved him.

Kai wrapped Jimin in a towel, guiding him to the bedroom. Jimin collapsed onto the mattress, his eyes fluttering shut as exhaustion overtook him.

Kai slipped in beside him, pulling the covers over them both.

As Jimin nestled into his chest, Kai stared at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling.

The mark on Jimin’s neck wasn’t just a blemish—it was a reminder that love wasn’t perfect, that it came with pain, with heartbreak, with choices.

But he wasn’t going to let this ruin them.

He kissed the top of Jimin’s head, his arms tightening around him. Whatever it was, he would wait. He would let Jimin tell him when he was ready.

For now, he would hold him, offering what little comfort he could.

Because at the end of the day, Kai loved Jimin more than anything—even his pride.

✶————✶————✶

Kai layed awake, his fingers gently brushing through Jimin’s damp hair as the younger man murmured incoherently in his sleep.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but the weight of his thoughts kept him rooted in place.

Jimin shifted, curling further into Kai’s chest, his breaths coming slow and deep.

He looked peaceful now, his earlier anguish smoothed away by sleep. But Kai couldn’t forget the things Jimin had said—the raw, broken apology, the way he’d cried, the weight of guilt in his voice.

And that mark.

Kai clenched his jaw, his fingers pausing in Jimin’s hair. He didn’t want to overthink it, but it was impossible not to.

The evidence was right there, glaring at him like an unspoken confession.

Who?

The question whispered through his mind, unbidden and cruel. Kai squeezed his eyes shut, trying to push it away.

It didn’t matter.

Right ?

Jimin was here, in his arms, and whatever had happened, they could work through it.

But a darker thought crept in, insidious and sharp. What if this wasn’t a mistake? What if it meant something?

He hated himself for even considering it.

“Stop it,” he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over Jimin’s soft breathing.

Jimin stirred, his lips parting slightly as he whispered something under his breath.

Kai leaned closer, his heart tightening when he heard the name slip from Jimin’s lips.

“...Jungkook...”

Kai froze.

The name hit him like a punch to the gut, and suddenly, the mark on Jimin’s neck wasn’t just a mystery—it was a confirmation.

Jungkook.

He pulled back slightly, his mind racing. Jimin hadn’t said much, hadn’t explained anything, but now pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.

Jungkook, the man who’d always lingered just a little too close, whose name Jimin had never been able to say without a flicker of something Kai couldn’t quite name.

Kai felt sick.

He wanted to shake Jimin awake, to demand answers, but as he looked down at his boyfriend’s peaceful face, his resolve faltered.

Jimin looked so small, so fragile in that moment.

Kai exhaled shakily, pressing a soft kiss to Jimin’s forehead. “I’ll wait,” he murmured, his voice cracking slightly.

“But you owe me the truth, Jimin.”

The pain in his chest felt unbearable, but he shoved it down. He wasn’t going to let this break him, not yet.

Not unless Jimin gave him a reason to.

Every second ticked by with cruel precision, each one dragging him deeper into uncertainty.

He tried to close his eyes, to focus on the steady rhythm of Jimin’s breathing, but the weight of what he’d just heard wouldn’t let him rest.

Jungkook.

Kai’s chest tightened, a surge of anger and jealousy surging through him.

He hated that name right now. Hated how it seemed to haunt his every thought, how it had slipped so easily from Jimin’s lips.

And yet, Kai didn’t move. His arms stayed wrapped around Jimin, holding him close even as his mind screamed at him to pull away.

✶————✶————✶

When morning came, it was like the world shifted in slow motion. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room.

Jimin stirred first, his face scrunching slightly as he woke.

Kai stayed still, his body tense as Jimin blinked up at him, confusion flickering in his still-drowsy eyes.

“Kai?” Jimin murmured, his voice rough from sleep.

Kai forced a small smile, brushing a stray strand of hair from Jimin’s face. “Morning,” he said softly.

Jimin’s brows furrowed, and then his eyes widened slightly as if realizing where he was.

A faint flush crept up his cheeks, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he buried his face in Kai’s chest, letting out a shaky sigh.

“I’m sorry,” Jimin whispered, his voice muffled.

Kai’s heart twisted. He wanted to ask so many questions, wanted to demand answers, but he held back.

“I know,” he said instead, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his chest. “But Jimin...” He hesitated, trying to find the right words. “You have to talk to me. You have to tell me what’s going on.”

Jimin froze, his hands clutching at Kai’s shirt. For a moment, Kai thought he might actually say something, might finally give him the truth.

But then Jimin shook his head, pulling away slightly. “Not now,” he said quietly, his eyes avoiding Kai’s. “I... I can’t right now.”

Kai swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing himself to nod. “Okay,” he said, even though it wasn’t okay.

It definitely was not okay.

Every part of him wanted to demand more.

He watched as Jimin slid out of bed, his movements slow and deliberate as if every step was a struggle.

Kai stayed where he was, his hands clenched into fists as he fought to keep his emotions in check.

Jimin paused by the door, glancing back at him. “I’ll make us some coffee,” he said softly, before slipping out of the room.

Kai let out a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep this up—this act of pretending everything was fine when it was anything but.

But for now, he’d wait.

Because for all the pain, for all the uncertainty, he loved Jimin more than anything.

Even if it was breaking him.

The apartment was quiet—eerily so. The kind of silence that pressed against Kai’s chest like a weight.

He stood in the kitchen, fingers drumming against the counter as he stared at the cup of coffee he’d made for Jimin. It sat untouched, the steam long since disappeared.

Jimin hadn’t touched breakfast either.

Kai frowned, his gaze drifting to the empty hallway. He’d noticed it before—the way Jimin would disappear into himself lately.

But this time, it felt different. It wasn’t just his boyfriend’s usual quiet introspection; it was something deeper, heavier.

“Jimin?” Kai called softly, his voice echoing in the stillness.

No response.

Kai sighed and leaned against the counter, letting his eyes wander to the framed photo on the wall.

It was from their trip to Jeju Island—a candid shot of Jimin laughing, his head thrown back, the sunlight catching the delicate curve of his jaw.

Kai remembered snapping that picture and thinking how lucky he was to have someone like Jimin.

Now, that laughter felt like a distant memory.

The sound of footsteps broke his thoughts. He looked up to see Jimin walking into the room, his hair a mess, his shirt slightly wrinkled as if he’d been tossing and turning all night.

“Hey,” Kai said, forcing a smile. “Did you sleep okay?”

Jimin hesitated, his hand brushing through his hair. “Yeah, I guess.”

Kai’s smile faltered. “You didn’t eat your breakfast.”

“I wasn’t hungry,” Jimin replied quickly, too quickly. His eyes darted away, focusing on the window instead of Kai.

The unease Kai had been feeling for days surged again, sharper now. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Jimin said, but the tension in his voice betrayed him.

Kai frowned. “You’ve been distant lately. If something’s bothering you, you can tell me, you know that, right?”

Jimin’s shoulders tensed, his hands fidgeting at his sides. “It’s nothing, Kai. I’ve just... had a lot on my mind.”

Kai wanted to believe him, but something felt off. He studied Jimin’s face, searching for answers in the way his boyfriend refused to meet his gaze.

“Is it school? Your mom?” Kai pressed gently. “Or... is it something I did?”

That seemed to shake Jimin. His eyes snapped up to Kai’s, wide and almost panicked. “No! It’s not you.”

The denial came too fast, too loud, and Kai’s stomach twisted.

Before he could respond, Jimin brushed past him, mumbling something about needing to get ready for the day.

Kai stood frozen, watching him disappear down the hallway, the weight in his chest growing heavier.

Before Kai knew it, Jimin was bolting out the door. “My mom,” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper as he quickly closed the door behind him.

Almost too quickly.

Kai stood frozen, a tightness forming in his chest as he stared at the closed door.

"He didn't say i love you " Kai couldn't help but notice the missing words echoing in his mind.

“My mom.” ?

Was all Jimin had said. There was no warmth, no affection, not even a casual goodbye.

Kai’s heart sank as he couldn’t help but notice it—the absence of what used to come so easily between them.

The “I love you”s that Jimin always threw his way, no matter the moment, no matter the reason.

It had become a part of their rhythm, something that Kai took for granted. But now? Now, there was nothing.

Just “my mom”?

The words stung. Was it something wrong with him? Or had something happened between them that Kai hadn’t seen coming?

He swallowed hard, trying to push away the growing ache in his chest.

But it was there—unavoidable and sharp. Jimin had been his, in every way, and now? It felt like he was slipping right through Kai’s fingers, without a word, without a glance back.

✶————✶————✶

Later that morning, Kai had found himself alone in the living room. Jimin had gone back home.

His gaze fell on the couch, where a shirt had been tossed carelessly over the armrest.

He picked it up absentmindedly, the fabric soft and familiar. But as he brought it closer, a faint scent clung to it—a scent that wasn’t his own.

Kai froze, his breath catching in his throat. It was subtle, but unmistakable.

Cologne.

Not his. Not Jimin’s usual scent either.

His fingers tightened around the fabric as his mind raced. He tried to reason with himself, tried to dismiss it as nothing, but the doubt was already creeping in.

He tossed the shirt aside and sank onto the couch, running a hand through his hair.

Memories of the past few days flooded his mind—Jimin’s distant behavior, the way he avoided Kai’s touch, the way his smile no longer reached his eyes.

And now this.

Kai’s chest ached, the first flicker of fear blooming into something darker.

He glanced at his phone, the screen lighting up with the time. Jimin had been gone for over an hour. No texts.

Where was he?

With who?

Kai clenched his fists, the questions swirling in his mind like a storm. He didn’t want to think it—didn’t want to believe it—but the seeds of doubt had been planted.

He grabbed the photo of them from the coffee table, his thumb brushing over Jimin’s smiling face.

“Please don’t let this be what I think it is,” Kai whispered to the empty room, his voice barely audible.

But deep down, a part of him already knew.

✶————✶————✶

vote and comment peasentss 😔
✶————✶————✶