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TW // Slight Homophobia
(nothing harsh)

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The engagement party was in a fairly small venue. Since it was to celebrate their engagement, Heejin and Jun-ha, her fiancé, only had a small gathering.

When they entered, they signed a book— a signature to show that they came. Jungkook had to tell Seokjin that yes, he should sign it as well.

It looked quite nice and simple.

The couple wanted a nice little get-together, so that's what they did. Round tables set around the room, people gathered around, chatting already.

So many familiar and unfamiliar faces, Jungkook immediately noticed. Poor Seokjin wouldn't notice a single face.

"Oh my gosh!"

Jungkook flinched at the familiar voice— his aunt. Lord, his aunt.

"It's so nice to see you, little Koo!" She walked up and gave him a big hug, his cheeks flamed as Seokjin bit back a smile at the sight.

She pulled away and kissed him on the cheek. "It's been so long! I didn't know you were coming."

Jungkook pursed his lips as he backed away from her, falling into Seokjin's arm, which caught him before moving too far.

"Yeah," he pursed his lips again, this time into a thin smile. "Nice to see you, too."

Seokjin cleared his throat and bowed to her. "I'm Kim Seokjin. Nice to meet you..."

"Ah, I'm Koo's aunt." She smiled up at him. "Yona. It's nice to meet you! Gotta go set stuff up, though. I'll see you two later?"

Jungkook chewed his lip. "Yeah. See you later."

But she walked away as he spoke, his voice too small to hear.

"Little Koo," Seokjin muttered.

Jungkook frowned as he stepped away from him. Instead of responding to that, he carried Seokjin towards the chattering group of people.

He wanted to get it over with.

Heejin was even more eager to see Jungkook, embarrassing the poor boy by squeezing him even tighter and then nudging him away right after.

"You brat," she tsked at him. "I haven't seen you in years. Surprised you came, honestly. Funny to see your big cousin all dolled up?"

She presented her face full of makeup— she used to barely wear any at all.

"Yeah, yeah. You look beautiful."

"Who's the guy?" she asked, eyes shifting to Seokjin, who was standing there, just watching. "Bodyguard?"

Jungkook rolled his eyes. "This," he wrapped his arm around Seokjin's after the older gave her a quick bow.

"Kim Seokjin," he finished for him. "Congratulations on your engagement."

Heejin gave a suggestive look to Jungkook. "I see." She bit back a smile to the youngest. Always acting like a fool. "Thank you very much, Seokjin-ssi. Nice to meet you." She turned to Jungkook. "Not a bodyguard, right?"

Jungkook shook his head.

"Don't you have better things to gossip about during your engagement party?" he pouted.

Heejin sighed. "You're right. Better get back to talking to old folks. Thanks for coming. Maybe Jun-ha will stop talking to others long enough where you can meet him. See you later, Koo."

As she walked back to the group of people, Seokjin faced him.

"Does everyone in your family call you that?" he asked.

Jungkook pouted more. "Don't make fun of me for it. Stop smiling~"

The older was snickering teasingly at him. Jungkook was embarrassed, going to playfully swat at Seokjin, but—

"I see you've brought a friend."

He halted.

Seokjin's eyes met the voice behind Jungkook, but Jungkook so painfully wished that he hadn't even done that.

He felt an adrenaline rush, having that woman's voice in his ears. But still, he turned to her, the person he hadn't seen in— in how long now?

"E-Eomma," he stuttered.

Damn him and his stupid stutters.

At the mention of his mother, he could almost feel, with just how speechless Seokjin went, that he was caught off guard. Jungkook was too, though.

She had a few greys in her hair, still about the same height, not too tall or short. That same bitchy look in her eye as she looked Seokjin up and down.

"Uhm." Seokjin stepped a bit forward and cleared his throat. He then tilted his head into a bow. "Hi. I'm Kim Seokjin—"

"Why haven't you brought a woman to this event, son?" she cut Seokjin off.

Jungkook could so awfully tell that Seokjin was lost. Confused. So, without a second thought, Jungkook slid his hand around Seokjin's wrist and found his hand. Upset that she rudely cut him off like that.

"Eomma," he spoke up, "this is my boyfriend. Please be nice to him."

She furrowed her eyebrows, even more of a bitch as she glared at her son. "This is a formal event, Jeon Jungkook."

"Actually, Heejin told us to not be so formal. Looks pretty casual to me," Jungkook told her. That only made Seokjin squeeze his hand tighter.

But Jungkook didn't want that. Seokjin shouldn't worry about this.

He pulled his boyfriend behind him and forced his arms around his waist, making Seokjin hug him from behind. Seokjin gulped, but still rested his chin on Jungkook's shoulder to look over at her.

His mother was completely narrowing her eyes, giving Jungkook the same look she gave him when he first came out to her. The day he moved out.

"Fine." She shook her head in disappointment as she turned away. "Nothing but a dirty pornstar, this boy," she muttered as she walked off.

That time, Jungkook was the one clenching onto Seokjin's hands. Fists balled, wishing he could just punch the words from her throat.

"Baby?" Seokjin whispered as she walked away.

Jungkook dragged him towards the wall, away from the group of people. Hopefully, nobody overheard.

"I'm sorry," he told Seokjin. "I didn't think she'd even want to talk to me. She did that on purpose to piss me off."

A sweet smile came from the older. "Bun, it's okay. I didn't know that that was going to happen, but hey, I love you. Don't listen to her."

He glanced at Jungkook's lips and the younger nodded, pulling Seokjin in by his neck and pecking his lips just before Seokjin pulled him into a hug.

"Hyung, I'm okay." But Seokjin squeezed tighter before letting go. "I don't care what she says. That's why I live alone now."

"So you're okay, right?"

Jungkook chuckled. "If anything, I just want to sit down and show off more. I know she'll hate it."

Seokjin let out a small laugh as he was urged to sit down at one of the tables. Jungkook sat next to him, obnoxiously holding his hand and then rubbing at his thigh.

"Touchy bunny."

"Yep," Jungkook giggled. "Let's just sit here 'til it's over. My family hasn't seen me in forever. Honestly, I wouldn't care if they never saw me. I'm here for Heejin."

It's true.

The rest of his family isn't exactly the best. He likes Heejin and her mom, but that's about it. That's the only reason he decided to come down here.

Seokjin tightened his hold on their intertwined fingers, earning his attention again.

"Maybe that can be us someday." Jin's eyes shifted to the couple in the crowd, laughing, a man's arm wrapped around Heejin's waist.

Heejin must've felt eyes on her because her eyes instantly met Jungkook's. She smiled and waved, so Jungkook smiled back, then let his eyes fall back onto his boyfriend.

But Seokjin's gaze was already back on him, a warm smile settled on his face.

Jungkook's heart beats once, for himself. Twice, for the warmth tingling in his chest. Three times as he thinks about Seokjin's words.

Yeah.

Maybe that can be them someday.

~

👀 🥰