Three Years Later…

Jungkook’s fist was clenched tight, knuckles pressed hard against his teeth, drawing blood. His breaths came in shaky, ragged pants as he stared at the screen of his phone. The messages from "soulmate" glared back at him, a cruel reminder of what had once been. The lump in his throat was growing, and he struggled to swallow past it, trying to hold back the sobs that were threatening to break free.

It had all started at a concert. Jungkook had met him backstage—an energetic, charming guy who had seemed to light up the room. They clicked instantly. With a few laughs and shared stories, Jungkook felt a rare connection. When he gave Jungkook his public handle and started texting him, Jungkook was thrilled. The conversations were effortless, filled with laughter and easy-going banter. He always asked if Jungkook had eaten properly and if he was taking care of himself.

They would talk for hours, sometimes making last-minute plans to meet up. Their time together was always a whirlwind of fun—karaoke nights, spontaneous outings, and mischievous laughter. It felt natural and freeing.

Then came that one evening, when they were both relaxing with beers in hand. He looked at Jungkook with a warm smile and said, “It feels like we’re soulmates.”

Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat. He had felt the same way but hadn’t dared to say it out loud. “Yeah, we could be. I’ve never been so open with someone before. You really bring out this extroverted side of me,” he admitted.

The other man laughed, his eyes sparkling. “You do the same for me,” he said. “We are totally soulmates.”

When Jungkook heard those words, his happiness soared. He could barely contain his excitement. That night, he bounded into Jimin’s room, practically leaping onto the bed and squishing himself between Taehyung and Jimin, who both protested in surprise.

“I have a soulmate!” Jungkook declared triumphantly.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow at Jimin, who was smiling fondly. “You do, huh?” Jimin asked, patting Jungkook’s head gently.

Jungkook went on, blabbering about how amazing the guy was—how much he cared, how much fun they had, and how perfect everything felt. Eventually, sleep claimed him, his head resting contentedly against Jimin’s shoulder.

Taehyung looked down at the sleeping Jungkook, amusement in his eyes. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy before.”

“Neither have I,” Jimin agreed softly, ruffling Jungkook’s hair.

Tears brimmed in Jungkook’s eyes as he sank down against the cold bathroom wall.

In the beginning, everything had seemed perfect. They had their little arguments, but nothing they couldn’t resolve. Slowly, though, too slowly for Jungkook to even notice, things began to change.

One night, an argument occurred—one Jungkook couldn’t fully remember. It ended with him being blocked on their text chats. At the time, Jungkook was away from Korea, traveling with the hyungs for an international concert. With just ten minutes left before they were to take the stage, he was hit with the crushing reality of being shut out. The blocking felt like a final, decisive end to what they had.

His heart ached, not just from the argument, but from the finality of it all. As Hoseok barked out orders about their dance positions, Jungkook struggled to concentrate. The weight of the emotional turmoil made it hard to focus. He had to perform, had to push through a three-hour concert before he could even think about trying to resolve things.

On stage, his performance lacked the usual energy. Hoseok, ever the dance pro, noticed immediately. Backstage, Hoseok's voice cut through Jungkook’s fog of emotions. “Focus, Jungkook.”

Jungkook bit his lip, barely meeting Hoseok’s gaze. “Right, I’m sorry,” he said softly.

Jimin, sensing something was wrong, rubbed Jungkook’s back. He could tell Jungkook was distressed but chose not to push him further. Jungkook tried to push away the thoughts swirling in his mind, focusing all his hurt and anger into his performance. Each movement was a release, a way to express what he couldn’t say.

When the performance finally ended, Hoseok pulled Jungkook aside. “I hope you didn’t take offense at what I said earlier. I was harsh because I needed you to focus, and you weren’t. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

Jungkook shook his head and gave Hoseok a quick hug. “No, hyung. It’s okay. I needed that,” he said, trying to smile through the pain. Hoseok nodded and walked away, leaving Jungkook alone with his thoughts.

Jungkook tried calling his soulmate three times, but each call went unanswered. Feeling deeply hurt and frustrated, he told the rest of the members to enjoy their night out, but that he was heading back to the hotel. He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

Hoseok noticed Jungkook’s sudden departure and looked concerned, but Jungkook didn’t wait for any questions. He simply left, feeling a mixture of sadness and resignation.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Jungkook whimpered to himself, a soft sob escaping him.

Why was he calling himself stupid?

Because deep down, he knew something was wrong. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to fully acknowledge it. Jinwoo was his soulmate. He had made a promise—a belief that he couldn’t abandon this man, no matter how difficult things got. Jinwoo's past made him wary. He didn’t want to be just another person who walked away, especially from someone with a history of abandonment. Jungkook himself having had a past of abandonment would never wish for his pain to be felt by Jinwoo and so he aimed to be the best person he could to his soulmate.

Jungkook had always held onto the idea that soulmates find their way back to each other, no matter how tough things get. Despite their fights growing more intense, and Jinwoo increasingly blocking or ignoring him, Jungkook remained committed. Each time Jinwoo’s anger flared, he took jabs at Jungkook’s insecurities, using private things Jungkook had shared in confidence as ammunition.

It hurt. It hurt deeply. Jungkook tried to distance himself, hoping that pulling away would protect his heart from the unbearable pain. He tried to detach for his own sake, but Jinwoo always managed to draw him back in. His belief that soulmates would eventually reconcile seemed to strengthen each time Jinwoo returned.

Jinwoo would come back, tears in his eyes, apologizing profusely. He’d tell Jungkook that he didn’t deserve him, that he was always causing pain, and that he should never have hurt him. Jungkook’s heart would ache even more for Jinwoo, and he’d find himself abandon his own broken heart to nurse Jinwoo's.

“It’s okay. I’m here,” Jungkook would say, though his own heart was breaking. “I told you, no matter what happens, I’ll always be here for you. I’m not going anywhere.”

Jungkook would spend hours comforting Jinwoo, often losing sleep and pushing aside work to make sure Jinwoo wasn’t alone with his negative thoughts. He was there to mend Jinwoo’s broken heart, even as his own remained fractured.

“I’m such a fool,” Jungkook growled, his hands gripping his hair tight, pulling at it in frustration. The pain was a small relief from the emotional turmoil inside him.

Jinwoo often sent him expensive gifts—something Jungkook had repeatedly scolded him for.

“I don’t want gifts. I just want your love,” Jungkook said.

“Yuck, you cheesy asshole,” Jinwoo teased with a laugh.

Jungkook would pout playfully. “You love me though.”

“No, I hate you,” Jinwoo would reply with a smirk.

“I love you too,” Jungkook would chirp, his voice filled with affection before bouncing off to join his bandmates at dinner.

Jin, noticing Jungkook’s bright smile that night, commented, “You look happy.”

“We made up,” Jungkook said, his smile a stark contrast to the distress that had been etched on his face just that morning. Jin had seen the switch in Jungkook’s mood—the stress, the fatigue, the constant running around to please Jinwoo. Though Jin felt Jinwoo might be bad news, he couldn’t bring himself to tell Jungkook. The young man was deeply attached, and Jin didn’t want to be the bearer of harsh truths.

Sadly, Jin’s instincts proved correct. Things soon turned sour again.

“You don’t tell me anything these days,” Jinwoo said one evening, his tone accusing. “It’s like you don’t even trust me.”

“I do trust you,” Jungkook responded, trying to keep his voice steady. “There’s just not much to share. I’ve been on break, just playing Overwatch and sleeping. It’s been a good break from our usual routine.”

“Just admit you don’t want to tell me anything,” Jinwoo pressed.

“That’s not true.”

“Oh please, Jungkook. You don’t share with me the way you used to.”

Jungkook knew Jinwoo was partly right, but he had his reasons. The way their fights would escalate, with Jinwoo using his insecurities against him, made Jungkook wary. He didn’t want to be too attached, didn’t want to open up only to have it used against him.

“I’m sorry,” Jungkook said, the guilt gnawing at him. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

They managed to patch things up, and Jungkook promised himself he wouldn’t let Jinwoo cry or get hurt again. But just a few days later, when Jungkook was venting his frustrations, Jinwoo’s response stung deeply.

“As someone who cares about you, I really think you should talk to a professional,” Jinwoo said dismissively. “I’m no professional, and I can’t help you.”

“I’m not asking you to solve my problems,” Jungkook replied, frustration creeping into his voice. “I’m just trying to vent.”

An argument quickly brewed, Jinwoo’s words cutting to the core. “Just admit it—you love being weak. You enjoy the attention, don’t you?”

Jungkook felt his heart crack under the weight of Jinwoo's accusation.

"Do you really think that low of me?" Jungkook asked, his voice cracking.

No matter how hard Jungkook tried to keep their relationship afloat, it felt like he was the only one putting in the effort to prevent it from falling apart. The constant strain left him feeling utterly drained, and his hyungs were starting to notice.

“Hey, Kookie. You okay?” Namjoon asked one evening, concern evident in his voice.

“Yeah, just… talking to Jinwoo,” Jungkook replied, his exhaustion clear.

“Alright. Make sure you get some sleep. We’ve got an early start tomorrow,” Namjoon reminded him.

“I know. I’ll be fine,” Jungkook said, forcing a smile.

After their conversation, Jungkook texted Jinwoo, letting him know he needed to head to bed. The response he received was a discouraging “Hmm,” making his heart sink. It was obvious that Jinwoo was upset.

“I’m really sorry,” Jungkook typed back. “I wish I could stay and chat longer, but I have a hectic schedule tomorrow. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Gn” was all Jinwoo replied with. Jungkook sighed heavily, feeling too drained to continue the conversation. He set his phone aside and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Their arguments had become a common feature of their relationship, often blown out of proportion. Although Jungkook overthought things, he was never as blunt or hurtful as Jinwoo. Yet, the harsh words and toxic labels Jinwoo used cut deeply, especially since Jungkook had shared personal insecurities with him.

After one particularly painful fight, Jinwoo called Jungkook “toxic” and “obsessed.” Those words struck a nerve, hitting on old wounds from Jungkook’s past. That night, he broke down and cried, the weight of Jinwoo’s cruelty becoming almost unbearable.

Seeing how much Jungkook was suffering, Jin finally decided it was time to intervene. He pulled Jungkook into the living room and sat him down. “This isn’t okay, Jungkook. He’s hurting you.”

“He’s been through so much, Hyung,” Jungkook defended. “I know how difficult his life has been. I can’t just abandon him. I care about him, and I believe he cares about me too. He just… struggles with his temper and words sometimes.”

“Jungkook, it’s not okay for him to hurt you like this. I see how much pain you’re in,” Jin said gently but firmly. “Even if he has his own issues, you don’t have to sacrifice yourself for him. A good soulmate wouldn’t tear you down like this.”

Jungkook’s eyes filled with tears as he nodded, the truth of Jin’s words sinking in.

“Think about it, alright?” Jin urged. “Just consider what’s best for you.”

“Okay,” Jungkook replied quietly, feeling a mix of hope and despair.

He did think about it, but then Jinwoo reached out again. When Jungkook hesitantly suggested they might need to reconsider their relationship, Jinwoo’s tearful response made his heart ache. Jungkook’s guilt soared, and he found himself apologizing once more, unable to escape the cycle of pain and regret.

Despite Jin’s advice, Jungkook went against his words. For a while, it seemed like things were back to their initial charm. Everything felt good again, and Jungkook held onto that hope tightly.

When Jinwoo’s birthday arrived, Jungkook poured his heart into a gift that carried more meaning than words could express. He used his art skills to create something special, hoping it would convey his feelings. When Jinwoo opened it, his reaction made Jungkook’s heart soar.

“Aye soulmate, I love you. Thank you for the gift,” Jinwoo said, his voice warm.

“I love you too,” Jungkook replied, smiling as he teased Jinwoo. They spent hours on the phone, Jinwoo sharing how much fun he had, and Jungkook soaked in every moment.

But, as always, these moments came to an end. Jinwoo had expressed his dislike for Jungkook’s hyungs before, and Jungkook chose to accept that. He couldn’t force Jinwoo to like them, but he always tried to emphasize how important they were to him. Whenever Jinwoo spoke negatively about them, Jungkook would feel uncomfortable and quickly change the subject.

When you love someone, it’s hard to hear them speak ill of others you care about. Jungkook never shared Jinwoo’s comments with his hyungs. He did his best to keep his hyungs out of a conversation with Jinwoo. It should have been a red flag that Jinwoo didn’t respect Jungkook's feelings. If he did, he wouldn’t make threats like “I’ll kill them. I hate them.” Jungkook tried to brush it off, but it hurt deeply.

One day, Jinwoo called three times while Jungkook was in the shower. When Jungkook called back, Jinwoo ignored him and texted that he wasn’t in the mood to talk anymore. Jungkook was stunned and frustrated. “

Are you kidding me? I was in the shower. How was I supposed to take your call?” But Jinwoo remained silent, and Jungkook’s heart ached with every moment of their argument. He hated fighting with anyone, especially Jinwoo.

Then, Jinwoo called back ten minutes later. He was upset, and Jungkook spent an hour or two apologizing and trying to distract him. Jinwoo refused to let Jungkook end the call. “You want to spend time with your hyungs? That’s why you’re trying to cut my call, right? I hope you have to go solo so they don’t get to be around you as much, and I can talk to you freely.”

Jungkook swallowed hard. He loved his hyungs deeply and couldn’t imagine leaving them behind. He tried to steer the conversation away, but Jinwoo kept returning to the same point.

“I hate your hyungs. I hate them so much,” Jinwoo said again.

“I know,” Jungkook replied, his voice tight. “Are you sleepy?”

“You want to disconnect the call?” Jinwoo demanded, his voice whiny.

“No, no. You sound sleepy,” Jungkook said, trying to keep the conversation light.

“I’m not,” Jinwoo giggled, then mumbled, “I’ll kill them. I don’t like them. I’ll kill them.”

Despite Jungkook’s attempts to change the subject, Jinwoo wouldn’t stop. Finally, Jungkook had enough. His heart raced as he spoke.

“You should sleep. Please sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow,” Jungkook said firmly.

Jinwoo’s only response was a simple “Hmm,” and Jungkook didn’t wait for more. He ended the call, feeling a mix of anger and sorrow. Jinwoo’s casual threats against his hyungs were unbearable. They were Jungkook’s family, and hearing such things about them was painful beyond words.

Tears welled up as Jungkook struggled with the restless feeling inside him. He decided he needed to express how he felt. In a message, he typed out his emotions.

“Please don’t say things like that. When you say you’ll kill them and stuff, it really hurts me. Please stop doing that.”

Jinwoo responded with a curt “sorry” and “gn.” Jungkook felt a deep sense of emptiness as he put his phone away. He needed a break from the emotional turmoil.

Jungkook’s phone buzzed with a new message from Jinwoo: “We don’t have anything to talk about anymore.” His heart sank as he read it, his frustration bubbling up.

Jungkook quickly typed back, “That’s not true.” He continued, his fingers shaking slightly as he expressed his hurt: “Was bashing my hyungs the only thing you could talk about? We can talk about other things, like we used to. Why are you talking like this?”

The conversation quickly escalated, with Jungkook’s anger mingling with the pain he felt. “I have always been here for you, Jinwoo. I’m the one who’s put in all the effort to keep us from falling apart.”

“Who asked you to do that? I didn’t,” Jinwoo replied, and Jungkook’s heart ached.

“You didn’t,” Jungkook shot back. “I love you, Jinwoo. You’re my soulmate, and I wanted to be there for you. Just because I am doesn’t mean you can take me for granted.”

“You’re emotionally manipulative,” Jinwoo’s message came through, and Jungkook’s heart dropped.

“Me?” Jungkook typed, disbelief evident in his words. “Are you sure you’re not referring to yourself?”

The argument continued to spiral. “I got angry. It’s like you don’t trust me. Just because I say I’ll kill them doesn’t mean I will. You don’t trust me!”

“I don’t like it when you say that, and I’ve told you so.”

“I don’t like them. So what if I say that? I said the truth. And what if I say I’ll kill them? It's not like I would actually do it. But you act as though I would kill them literally.”

Jungkook felt panic rising, his heart racing. “Please… I don’t want to fight with you. I’d rather fight for you.”

But Jinwoo’s words cut deep. “You know what? Leave me the fuck alone. You’re a thorn. The more I hold on to you, the more I bleed. You’re not worth holding on to.”

That was it. Jungkook’s world shattered. He felt himself crack, his resolve crumbling.

“Okay,” he texted, hands shaking, palms sweating. “Sorry I hurt you. I’ll take myself out of your hands then.”

Without waiting for a response, Jungkook blocked Jinwoo’s contact. The weight of the decision felt immense, making his knees weak. He shared a room with Namjoon and didn’t want to wake him with his sobs, so he stumbled out of bed and rushed to the bathroom.

And now, here he was struggling to breathe, teeth clamped tight onto his knuckles.