"Jungkook-ah," Jimin's voice was soft but steady, and his eyes held a strange calm that made Jungkook’s heart flutter with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

Jimin had been so distant for weeks, trapped in a silence Jungkook couldn’t break, no matter how hard he tried. He had missed the warmth of his husband’s smile, the playful glint in his eyes. But today, Jimin had called him, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he had asked to talk.

Jungkook's heart leapt as he hurried into the dining room, his mind racing with thoughts. Was Jimin finally coming back to him? Would this be the day they’d start healing together? As Jungkook sat down, he couldn’t help but smile, his eyes lighting up with a flicker of the joy that had been missing for so long.

Jimin smiled back, but there was something different in his expression. Something that made Jungkook’s smile falter ever so slightly. Still, he tried to stay positive. He was just so happy to see Jimin wanting to talk again.

"Jungkook-ah, can we talk?" Jimin asked, his voice calm and even.

"Of course, Jimin," Jungkook said quickly, leaning forward. "Anything. I’ve been waiting for this moment."

Jimin nodded slowly, taking a deep breath as if he was preparing himself for what he was about to say. Jungkook watched him closely, his smile fading a little as he noticed the sadness that still lingered in Jimin’s eyes. But he waited, holding his breath, hoping for something—anything—that could bring them closer again.

"I’ve been thinking a lot," Jimin began, his gaze dropping to his hands, which were nervously twisting a napkin on the table. "About everything. About us, our families, and the future."

Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat, his hands trembling slightly. "Jimin, whatever it is, we’ll face it together. You know that, right?"

Jimin looked up, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears, but his smile remained. "I know, Jungkook. And that’s why I need to do this. I need to make things right."

Jungkook’s brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

Jimin took another deep breath, steadying himself. "I’ve already made a decision. For us. For the Jeon family. It’s the right thing to do, Jungkook. And I know... I know it will make everyone happy."

Jungkook’s chest tightened with an inexplicable sense of dread. "Jimin, what are you saying? You don’t have to do anything to make anyone happy but yourself. Our families... they don’t need—"

"They need an heir, Jungkook," Jimin cut in softly but firmly, his voice cracking slightly. "They need a grandchild, someone to carry on the Jeon name. And I can’t give that to them anymore."

Jungkook's eyes widened, his pulse racing. "Jimin, no! We’ve been through this. You don’t need to give them anything. You don’t have to carry that burden. We’ll figure things out together."

But Jimin shook his head, tears now slipping down his cheeks. "I’ve already made up my mind, Jungkook. I’m going to step back. I... I’m leaving."

The world seemed to tilt beneath Jungkook's feet, and he felt as if the air had been knocked out of him. His hands clenched the edge of the table, knuckles white. "Leaving? What do you mean leaving? Jimin, you can’t—"

"I can," Jimin whispered, his voice broken yet resolute. "I’ve thought about this for so long, and I know it’s the right thing to do. You deserve a family, Jungkook. You deserve children. And I can’t... I can’t give you that. I don’t want to hold you back from the life you deserve."

Jungkook’s heart shattered in that moment, his mind struggling to comprehend what Jimin was saying. He reached out, grabbing Jimin’s hands tightly. "No, Jimin, please. You’re not holding me back from anything. I don’t care about heirs or any of that. I care about you. We can adopt, we can—"

"Jungkook, stop," Jimin interrupted, his voice trembling. "I’m not doing this just for the family. I’m doing it for you. I can’t bear to see you suffer because of me. I see the pain in your eyes every day, and it kills me."

"Jimin, please..." Jungkook’s voice broke as tears streamed down his face. "I love you. I don’t want anyone else. I don’t care about children or heirs. I just want you. Please, don’t leave me."

Jimin’s resolve wavered, and he choked back a sob. "I love you too, Jungkook. More than anything. But I... I can’t stay. I don’t know how to live with this guilt, how to move forward after everything."

Jungkook pulled Jimin into his arms, holding him tightly as if he could keep him from slipping away. "We’ll find a way together, Jimin. Please, don’t give up on us. Don’t give up on me."

They stayed like that for a long time, wrapped in each other’s arms, their sobs filling the quiet room. Neither of them knew what the future held, but in that moment, all they had was each other, and that was all that mattered.

Jungkook wasn’t going to let go—not now, not ever.