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Of course Jungkook was hurt.

He trusted Jwan, who promised to try and protect him from all evil in the world, yet it was Jwan himself who was the only person who ever gave him a hard time.

And it wasn't like Seokjin had done one huge terrible thing to him (besides being rude unprovoked), but Jwan did. Jwan lied. He had led it on for weeks. He used their private conversations and projected them into Seokjin, who secretly sent him flowers and asked for potions and...

He had even talked about Seokjin to his face and Seokjin- Jwan- never mentioned it when he had the chance.

It just didn't feel great.

One of the worst parts about it all was the flirting. God, the flirting.

The amount of roses and cards and candies he had received was one thing, but Jwan— no, Seokjin calling him baby and teasing and caring for Jungkook had the bunny feeling something. Something he'd never feel for Seokjin, he thought, yet there he was, a fool.

Such a fool.

That's what Seokjin made him look and feel like, at least. An absolute fool for letting himself fall into that trap that fate and Seokjin had set for him.

Over seven billion people in the world and it just had to be Kim Seokjin.

Sure, he was shocked when he realized, but he was more hurt by the fact that Seokjin so clearly knew all along. He knew who Jungkook was and he didn't bother to say a word. Why? It wasn't fair. Not at all.

If Jungkook had known earlier, he wouldn't have continued talking to Jwan. He would've left it at that; nothing else. Nothing special. But Seokjin let it continue and for what? What was he going to accomplish?

Seokjin is the fool.

Or maybe they both are.

———

Two days later, Jungkook was wiping the coffee shop counter down, dazed as he had been ignoring Hoseok and Jimin's questions all morning and trying to forget about the whole thing. They finally decided to leave him be, but it didn't feel great. He did want to talk. Just not now.

"Oh my gosh," he heard someone in shock, someone who was standing close to the shop. They were talking to a friend— they were wolves. "He wasn't in class yesterday either. Wonder what's wrong?"

"I don't know," the other wolf spoke up. "You feel it too right? He's totally hopeless right now. I haven't even seen him online or anything." They both shrug. "I've never seen the alpha upset before. He's always so cold."

Alpha. The alpha, to be exact. They're talking about Seokjin.

"I think he's sad," the other wolf said. "When you walk by his room, it smells weird. I heard he's not even left the room. Maybe it's because his rut is soon?"

"Nah, what if he's like- heartbroken? Or both? Heartbroken alphas during rut is bad, you know. He's gonna be hard on himself the entire time. Sucks, huh?"

"That sounds awful!"

Jungkook scoffs to himself, but the two werewolves turn to him and he stops, their eyes harsh and judgeful as they meet his. They turned away and Jungkook's head dropped in defeat.

"I don't know," the one on the right muttered out, "I think the alpha deserves more than this. We'll talk about this somewhere else. Let's go, babe."

With that, the two wolves glance back at Jungkook before walking off. For the first time, he feels like he's swallowing golf balls around the wolves. They didn't seem to like him listening in to their conversation.

He had no reason to anyways.

But what they were saying was that Seokjin was locked in his dorm for the past few days, and he couldn't help but think of the worst case— that being that it's Jungkook's fault.

He had no reason to feel bad for Seokjin and Seokjin had no reason to be upset over him of all people, but his stupid gut told him otherwise. This time, he decided to listen to it.

"Um..." He turned to Hoseok, who was waiting for work to do. "Hyung?" Hoseok looked up at him with a hum. "Is um- Seokjin. Those wolves, were they talking about him?"

Hoseok looked surprised by the question, but he pursed his lips and raised his hands to circle them around as if he was trying to form an answer.

"Well. Hyung hasn't talked to me. He won't reply to his messages and they won't deliver. I think his phone is off." That didn't sound good at all. "And Namjoon told me his scent is strong, but not in a good way. I don't know what's wrong, but..."

The older paused, only looking at Jungkook as if to ask for answers himself. "But what?" Jungkook asked, to which the hybrid shrugged.

"Do you know what's wrong with him? I mean... You know."

Does he know?

Had it really gotten to the point where one of Seokjin's best friends is asking him that sort of question? How the hell was Jungkook supposed to know? Why would Hoseok even think he knew?

Because. Well, simply because it was obvious to both Jungkook and Hoseok.

The other wolves likely didn't witness the mess that was Jungkook's realization and Seokjin's fear-stricken face from the other day.

A part of Jungkook feels bad for that part. Yeah, Seokjin deserved the way he became suddenly little and the fear and panic in his eyes as Jungkook threw their friendship away, but at the same time, he didn't think Seokjin would be upset over it.

He didn't think he would be, either.

Seokjin deserved to be regretful and all cooped up in his dorm, but Jeon Jungkook is no asshole. He never has been. He can't help but feel bad even if he isn't positive that he's the reason why.

Or maybe he just felt bad in general. Jwan was his friend and Jwan was so kind. So nice and lovely and Jungkook felt warm even thinking about him before... before this.

But now Jwan— Jin is upset? Mad? Sad? Ashamed..? Whatever it was, it shouldn't have affected Jungkook. It won't. He won't let it.

"I don't know," he half lied to Hoseok. He really didn't know, but at the same time he felt like he did. So, he only shrugged in response. "I was just curious. I don't really care anyways."

Hoseok's shoulders fell in defeat and he frowned, but Jungkook ignored it.

Seokjin just isn't his problem anymore.

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