The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of freshly bloomed flowers as Jungkook drove toward the kindergarten. Sunlight streamed through the car windows, painting soft golden streaks over Jungsoo’s tiny face. He sat in the backseat, feet swinging excitedly, his eyes brimming with curiosity as he watched the world pass by.

"Eomma, Appa," Jungsoo suddenly piped up, his voice filled with anticipation, "do they have swings there? And big slides ?"

Arin turned in her seat, smiling as she reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind his ear. "Yes, baby. They have swings, slides, and even a big playground where you can run and play."

Jungkook glanced at his son through the rearview mirror, his lips curving into a small smile. "And there will be lots of other kids, too. You’ll make new friends."

Jungsoo gasped, his little hands clutching his seatbelt strap. "Like  Mun’s friends?"

"Yes, just like So Mun’s friends," Jungkook confirmed.

Jungsoo’s eyes sparkled. "Then I can play and study like him too!" His voice was filled with innocent determination. "I also want to make friends like  Mun!"

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As they pulled into the school’s parking lot, Jungsoo practically bounced in his seat. The moment Jungkook opened the car door for him, he scrambled out, his tiny hands clutching his father’s fingers as he took in his surroundings.

The kindergarten was a lively place, filled with laughter and movement. Children ran across the play area, their giggles echoing through the air. Some were on the swings, soaring high with delighted shrieks, while others were climbing on jungle gyms or racing each other across the soft grass. The colorful play structures, the bright murals painted on the school walls—everything was designed to feel warm, safe, and welcoming.

Jungsoo’s mouth fell open in awe. "Wow!" He pointed at the slides, eyes wide. "Eomma, Appa, look! It’s so big!"

Arin crouched beside him, brushing her fingers gently over his soft cheek. "Do you like it, sweetheart?"

Jungsoo nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I love it!" His voice was a mixture of excitement and disbelief, as if he had just discovered a whole new world.

Jungkook chuckled, watching his son’s sheer joy. "You’ll be playing here every day soon."

Jungsoo’s small fingers tightened around Jungkook’s hand. "Can I play now?"

Arin laughed softly, shaking her head. "Not today, baby. First, we need to finish all the paperwork. After that, you’ll start coming here regularly."

A staff member approached them with a kind smile. "Mr. Jeon and Mrs. Min? You must be here for Jungsoo’s enrollment."

Jungkook nodded, standing tall beside his wife. "Yes, we have an appointment with Mrs. Lee."

"Right this way," the staff member gestured, leading them inside.

Jungsoo followed, his head constantly turning as he observed every little detail—the colorful paintings on the walls, the children walking hand in hand with their teachers, the shelves filled with picture books and toys. His excitement was palpable, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to touch everything.

Finally, they reached a door with a polished nameplate: Mrs. Lee – Head Principal.

The staff member knocked before opening the door. "Mrs. Lee, Mr. Jeon and Mrs. Min are here."

Inside, an elegant yet warm-looking woman in her late fifties stood up from behind her desk. She had silver-streaked hair pulled into a neat bun and kind brown eyes that immediately softened as she saw the little boy standing between his parents.

"Ah, welcome!" she greeted, stepping forward. Her gaze fell to Jungsoo, and she bent slightly, offering him a warm smile. "And you must be Jungsoo."

Jungsoo blinked up at her before quickly bowing, just like his parents had taught him. "Hello, Mrs. Lee!" His voice was soft but filled with childlike charm.

Mrs. Lee chuckled, clearly delighted. "Oh my, such good manners! It’s wonderful to meet you, Jungsoo."

Jungkook and Arin exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of pride.

"Please, have a seat," Mrs. Lee gestured toward the chairs in front of her desk.

As they settled down, she handed over the enrollment forms. "These are the necessary documents. Once these are signed, Jungsoo will officially be a part of our kindergarten family."

While Jungkook and Arin focused on filling out the paperwork, Mrs. Lee turned to Jungsoo, who was swinging his little legs as he sat.

"Are you excited about starting school, Jungsoo?" she asked with a gentle smile.

Jungsoo nodded so fast that his hair bounced. "Yes! I want to study and play! I also want to make lots of friends!"

Mrs. Lee chuckled. "That’s a wonderful attitude! Making new friends is very important."

Jungsoo tilted his head, his big, round eyes filled with curiosity. "Will they like me?"

Arin’s heart clenched at the innocence in his voice. She reached over, gently taking his little hand in hers. "Of course they will, baby. You’re so sweet and kind. Everyone will love you."

Jungkook ruffled his son’s hair. "And if anyone doesn’t, just be yourself. The right friends will always find you."

Mrs. Lee watched the interaction with warmth in her eyes. "I can already tell that Jungsoo is going to be a wonderful addition to our kindergarten."

Jungsoo beamed, his tiny fingers squeezing Arin’s hand.

Once the paperwork was completed, Mrs. Lee stood up. "That’s everything. Jungsoo will officially start school next week." She looked at the little boy. "We’re all very excited to have you with us, Jungsoo."

Jungsoo clapped his hands together. "I’m excited too!"

As they left the office and walked back outside, Jungsoo suddenly tugged on Jungkook’s sleeve. "Appa, can we come here again tomorrow?"

Jungkook let out a soft laugh. "You’ll be coming here every day starting next week, buddy."

Jungsoo pouted playfully. "But I want to come now!"

Arin giggled, scooping him into her arms. "One more week, sweetheart. Then you’ll have so much fun here."

Jungkook, watching the two of them, let out a quiet sigh. "He’s really looking forward to this," he murmured.

Arin nodded, her fingers brushing through Jungsoo’s soft hair. "It’s a big step for him."

Jungkook glanced at her, his voice softer now. "And for us too."

Arin didn’t reply immediately. She looked at Jungsoo, who was still excitedly chattering about all the things he had seen. A bittersweet feeling settled in her chest.

As much as she told herself she was doing this for Jungsoo, moments like these made her wonder—was she truly prepared for everything the future held?

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Time had a way of slipping through one's fingers when life moved at a steady rhythm. Weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and before anyone realized it, Jungsoo had already been attending kindergarten for a week.

From the very first day, Jungkook had made one thing crystal clear—he would be the one to drop off and pick up Jungsoo. No exceptions.

At first, Arin had hesitated, concern etched into her delicate features.

"Jungkook, your job isn’t something you can just step away from whenever you want. What if you’re called for a case? What if—"

Jungkook’s sharp gaze silenced her. His voice was calm, but there was a finality in it that left no room for argument.

"I’ll make time."

"But—"

"I will make time, Arin," he repeated, firmer this time. "No matter how busy I am, no matter how unpredictable my job is—Jungsoo is my son. It’s not about making time for him. It’s about the fact that he comes first—before everything else.Taking care of him is not an obligation—it's my responsibility."

Jungkook had always been a man of few words. His actions spoke louder than anything he could ever say. And now, more than ever, his love for Jungsoo was evident—not in grand gestures, but in the small, quiet ways that only a child could truly understand.

Arin could see that there was no convincing him otherwise. She could argue, but what was the point when the conviction in his voice made it clear that this was his decision? So, she relented, nodding silently. Only for Jungsoo's first day of kindergarten Arin join him to drop and pickup jungsoo.

And thus, their routine was set.

Even though his job as a detective was demanding—even though cases pulled him away at odd hours—he never let them interfere with his son’s routine. No matter what, Jungsoo is his first priority.

But beyond his fatherly duties, Jungkook remained the same—silent, reserved, and careful around Arin.

He didn’t speak unless necessary. Their conversations were short, polite, and distant.

Yet, there were moments—fleeting, almost invisible—where his gaze lingered on her a second too long, where his fingers twitched as if wanting to reach out.

But he never did.

He kept his distance, as if unsure of what step to take next.

Every morning, as the golden hues of dawn spilled across the sky, Jungkook would wake up first, getting ready for the day.  His morning started the same way every day—rolling out of bed, washing his face, and slipping into his usual attire before heading straight to Jungsoo’s room. Where little boy was always curled up under his blankets, his tiny hands gripping his plush toy.

Jungkook crouched beside the bed, brushing a few strands of dark hair from Jungsoo’s forehead.

"Time to wake up, bud," he murmured.

Jungsoo whined, scrunching his nose. "Five more minutes, Appa…"

Jungkook smirked, shaking his head. "If you sleep for five more minutes, all the swings at school will be taken."

That had the desired effect. Jungsoo’s eyes shot open, blinking rapidly before he sat up in an instant. "No! I have to get the swings first!"

Jungkook chuckled, ruffling his son’s hair. "Then come on, let’s get you ready."

He helped Jungsoo brush his teeth, wash his face, and pick out his favorite clothes. Once he was dressed, they made their way towards kitchen, where Arin was already in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Eomma!" Jungsoo greeted with his usual enthusiasm.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Arin replied, bending down to press a kiss to his forehead. "Did you sleep well?"

Jungsoo nodded vigorously. "Yes! I had a dream that I was flying with a cape like a superhero!"

Arin laughed softly, setting a plate of pancakes in front of him. "That sounds like an amazing dream."

Jungkook pulled out a chair, sitting down beside Jungsoo, and silently grabbed his own coffee. His mornings were quiet—he didn’t talk much, but he made sure to be present, watching over his son as he ate.

Then, at precisely 7:30 AM, Jungkook would grab his car keys, sling Jungsoo’s backpack over his shoulder, and usher him toward the door.

"Say bye to Eomma," he’d remind.

Jungsoo would turn back, waving enthusiastically. "Bye-bye, Eomma! See you later!"

"Bye, baby," Arin called back, watching as Jungkook took Jungsoo’s small hand in his much larger one and led him out the door.

The moment the car doors shut, Jungsoo turned to Jungkook with sparkling eyes.

"Appa, today I’m going to play on the monkey bars! So Mun said he can do it, so I wanna try too!"

Jungkook raised a brow. "You sure? You weren’t too fond of heights last time we went to the playground."

Jungsoo huffed, puffing out his tiny chest. "I’m brave now! I wanna have lots of friends too!"

Jungkook’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. A small ache settled in his chest. His son… wanted what every child deserved—companionship, laughter, memories.

"You’ll make lots of friends, bud," Jungkook said after a pause, voice softer than before. "You’re a good kid. People will like you."

Jungsoo beamed. "Really?"

"Really," Jungkook reassured, glancing at him briefly. "Just be yourself. That’s more than enough."

When they arrived, Jungkook would park, get out, and open the door for Jungsoo. Then, crouching down to his level, he would fix his son’s uniform collar, making sure everything was in place.

"You remember what I said?" Jungkook would ask every morning.

"Yes!" Jungsoo would nod eagerly. "Be nice to my friends, listen to my teacher, and don't fight unless they start it first!"

Jungkook exhaled a short laugh, shaking his head. "You don’t fight at all, kid. Got it?"

"Got it!"

"Good." Jungkook would then squeeze his shoulder. "Go on. Have fun."

Jungsoo would grin, running off to join his classmates while Jungkook watched for a few moments before heading to work.

At exactly 12:30 PM, during his lunch break, Jungkook would return to the kindergarten to pick Jungsoo up.

He would lean against his car, arms crossed, as he watched the little kids spill out of the school gates. Then, a familiar tiny figure would come running toward him.

"Appa!"

Jungkook barely had time to react before his son crashed into his legs, gripping onto him with tiny hands.

"Whoa," Jungkook chuckled, crouching down. "What’s with the sudden attack?"

Jungsoo pulled back, his eyes practically glowing. "I had so much fun today! We learned a new song! And we painted! And—"

He went on and on, barely stopping to breathe as he excitedly narrated his day. Telling how he played on the swings, how his friend Minho gave him half of his snack, and how the teacher praised his drawing.

Jungkook would listen intently, responding here and there,  before leading him to the car and buckling Jungsoo into the backseat before driving toward Arin’s company.

When they pulled up in front of the glass skyscraper, Arin was already waiting at the entrance.

Jungkook stepped out, unbuckled Jungsoo, and handed him over.

"Did he eat properly?" Arin asked, looking at Jungsoo before turning to Jungkook.

Jungkook sighed. "He ate his snack but didn’t finish his lunch."

Arin frowned, crouching down. "Baby, you have to eat your lunch. You need to eat properly."

Jungsoo pouted. "But I wasn’t hungry…"

Arin shook her head before looking up at Jungkook. "I’ll make sure he eats later. Thanks for picking him up."

Jungkook gave a curt nod. "See you at home."

Then, with a short glance at them, he would get back into his car and drive away—returning to the world of crime and cases, to a job that no longer felt as exhausting as it once did.

Arin picked up Jungsoo from Jungkook every afternoon, bringing him to her office when she had unfinished tasks. She would set up a small space for him in the corner, filled with coloring books and snacks, watching as he hummed happily while doodling.

Evenings followed the same rhythm.

Arin and Jungsoo would come home first. They would spend time together—either playing, watching cartoons, or finishing his kindergarten assignments. She made sure he ate properly, bathed on time, and got enough sleep.

Jungkook arrived later, usually after dark. He didn’t announce his presence. He simply walked in, set down his keys, talk with jungsoo and made his way to the dining table, where dinner was already served.

They ate together—Jungkook, Arin, and Jungsoo—yet there was a distance between the two adults.

It was a fragile picture of a family—one that wasn’t perfect, one that still had gaps and silences between them, but one that Jungsoo cherished with all his little heart.

And so, Arin tried. Arin had always been strong. She had learned to bury her emotions, to smile when needed, to move forward even when life pulled her back.

Now, she played the role of the perfect mother—not because it was forced, but because she wanted to.

For Jungsoo’s sake, she tried to smile when they sat together. She tried to act like they were a real family.

Because at the end of the day, it wasn’t about her or Jungkook—it was about the small boy between them, the one who deserved a home, a family.

Even if there was an invisible wall between her and Jungkook, even if she wasn’t sure where their marriage truly stood—she tried.

Because, at the end of the day, Jungsoo deserved this.

A family. A home. Two parents who loved him.

Even if she and Jungkook had yet to figure out the rest. Even if she and Jungkook still had wounds that hadn't healed, even if their marriage was filled with unanswered questions—

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Days turned into weeks, and life settled into an effortless rhythm.

Jungsoo thrived in kindergarten. Every day, he came home with newfound excitement, his chubby cheeks flushed as he chattered endlessly about his friends,  He always returned from kindergarten brimming with excitement, his tiny hands waving in the air as he eagerly recounted stories of his friends, the songs they sang, and the games they played. His laughter echoed through the house, bringing warmth into spaces that once felt cold.

Arin and Jungkook had both noticed the change in him—he was growing more confident, more independent, and infinitely happier.

Jungkook and Arin had developed an unspoken routine, coexisting for the sake of their son. Mornings began with Jungkook dropping Jungsoo off at school, afternoons meant Arin picking him up after Jungkook dropped him at her company, and evenings always led them back home—to their quiet, fragmented family dinners.

There was still an unspoken awkwardness between Arin and Jungkook, a distance that neither of them knew how to bridge.

But at least, for Jungsoo, they tried.

Everything was going smoothly.

Until one evening—when a single innocent question threw their world into uncertainty.

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Dinner was always a quiet affair, with Jungsoo being the only one who truly filled the silence.

That evening was no different. Jungkook sat at the head of the table, silently eating, while Arin helped Jungsoo with his side dishes, cutting them into smaller bites. The dining room was filled with the soft clinking of chopsticks against ceramic bowls. The warm scent of rice, grilled fish, and soup wrapped the small family in a cozy atmosphere. Jungsoo, happily swinging his little legs under the table, took tiny bites of his food, humming the song he learned at kindergarten that day. 

Jungkook sat at the head of the table, quietly eating, while Arin, seated beside Jungsoo, made sure he had enough food on his plate. Even though everything looked peaceful, there was always a thin veil of awkwardness between the two adults—one neither of them dared to acknowledge. 

"Mmm! Eomma, this is so yummy!" Jungsoo chirped, stuffing his cheeks with food.

Arin chuckled. "Eat slowly, baby."

Jungkook simply watched, the corner of his lips twitching at how animated his son was.

And then—

C

ompletely unaware of his parents’ unspoken tension, Jungsoo suddenly spoke up. 

"Eomma, Appa!"

Arin looked at him with a soft smile, tucking his hair behind his ear. "Yes, baby?" 

Jungkook also glanced at him, chewing slowly, waiting for him to continue. 

Jungsoo scrunched his little nose, poking at his rice with his spoon. "Why do you and Appa sleep in different rooms?"

Silence. 

Jungkook’s chopsticks froze mid-air. Arin’s fingers instinctively gripped her spoon tighter. 

Neither of them had expected this. 

Jungkook cleared his throat. "What do you mean, bud?"

Jungsoo tilted his head completely oblivious to the sudden stiffness in the air, continued in a curious voice. "Today, at school, we were playing family house!  Jae said that his eomma and appa sleep together in the same room. Then, Jiwon said her parents do the same! Everyone's parents sleep together! And even teacher said all mommies and daddies sleep together. But…" He blinked innocently. "You and Eomma don't."

Jungkook cleared his throat, setting his chopsticks down. "Jungsoo… why are you asking that?" 

Jungsoo puffed out his tiny chest, as if what he was about to say was very, very important. "Because everyone’s parents do that! But you and Eomma don’t! Why?"

Arin quickly tried to come up with an answer. "Baby, it’s because you’re still small. We don’t want you to feel lonely or scared at night, so I sleep with you." 

Jungkook nodded, backing her up. "Yeah, we just want you to feel safe, buddy." 

Jungsoo blinked at them with big, round eyes before shaking his head. 

"But I’m not small anymore! I’m big! I can even pour my own milk now!" he said proudly, even though just yesterday, he spilled half the carton on the kitchen floor. 

Jungkook chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Oh yeah? Since when did you become so big?" 

Jungsoo grinned, wiggling in his seat. "Since my birthday! I’m five now, Appa! That’s very big!"

Arin laughed softly, patting his cheek. "Yes, sweetheart, you’re growing up so well." 

Jungsoo nodded, completely serious. "So now I can sleep alone! I’m not scared anymore!"

Arin hesitated. "That’s very brave of you, baby, but—" 

"But I used to sleep alone before Appa came!" Jungsoo cut her off, his small brows furrowing in confusion. "So why do I need you now, Eomma? And why don’t you and Appa sleep together?"

Arin and Jungkook exchanged a quick glance, panic flickering in their eyes. 

Jungkook sighed, trying again. "Well… sometimes, even big boys want their Eomma with them." 

Jungsoo frowned, resting his chubby cheek on his palm. "Mmm… But I don't! I want both of you to sleep together! I don’t want my Appa to be alone!"

Jungkook glanced at Arin helplessly. She exhaled, realizing there was no way out of this conversation.

"Jungsoo—" 

Jungsoo pouted, shaking his head. "And! And! If I sleep alone, then you and Appa can sleep together like all the other mommies and daddies! Jae said his eomma and appa sleep together because they love each other! Jiwon said the same thing! And my teacher said that too!" 

Jungkook rubbed his temple. This was getting more difficult than he thought. 

Arin forced a small smile. "Baby, it’s not that simple—" 

Jungsoo gasped dramatically, covering his mouth with his tiny hands. "EHH?! Then… does that mean you and Appa don’t love each other?!"

Jungkook’s eyes widened slightly. "What? No, that’s not—" 

"Because Jae said if mommies and daddies love each other, they sleep together! But if they don’t, they sleep far away!" Jungsoo’s lips wobbled as he looked between them. "Do you and Appa not love each other?!"

Arin’s heart twisted painfully. "No, baby, that’s not true." 

Jungkook nodded quickly. "Yeah, of course we love each other, Jungsoo. We’re a family, right?" 

Jungsoo narrowed his eyes at them, looking unconvinced. "Then prove it!"

Arin blinked. "Huh?" 

Jungkook sighed. "Prove it… how?" 

Jungsoo beamed. "Sleep together!" 

Arin nearly choked on her own breath. "Jungsoo—" 

"It’s TRUE!" he huffed, crossing his arms. "If everyone’s parents do that, why not you? I’ll sleep in my room, and you two will sleep in yours! That way, we’ll be like other families!"

Jungkook pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. 

Jungsoo stared at them with the most determined expression his tiny face could manage. "You have to sleep together, okay? Okay?!"

Arin bit her lip. She could already see the unwavering determination in his eyes.

Jungkook attempted one last time, "Jungsoo, sometimes, parents—"

"No!" Jungsoo interrupted, shaking his head furiously. "No more excuses! You both have to sleep together, okay? Okay?!"

The sheer innocence in his demand made both Jungkook and Arin sigh in defeat.

There was no winning against their son.

Arin sighed, knowing there was no way out of this. She looked at Jungkook before finally relenting. "Fine." 

Jungkook’s eyes widened. "Wait, what?" 

Arin turned to Jungsoo, smiling gently. "If that’s what you want, Eomma and Appa will sleep in the same room." 

Jungsoo’s entire face lit up like a Christmas tree. "REALLY?! REALLY REALLY?!"

Jungkook hesitated but, seeing Arin’s resigned expression, he knew they had no other choice. "Yeah, really."

"YAAAYYY!!" Jungsoo threw his hands up in pure joy. "Now, we’re a real family!!"

Silence. 

Jungkook and Arin didn’t know how to respond to that. 

A real family. 

Jungkook swallowed thickly, while Arin’s fingers trembled slightly. 

They both forced smiles for Jungsoo’s sake. 

But neither of them could ignore the weight of his innocent words.

    🅂🄷🄰🅃🅃🄴🅁🄴🄳 🅅🄾🅆🅂

After dinner, they followed their usual bedtime routine—bathing Jungsoo, reading him a short story, and tucking him into bed.

"Goodnight, my love," Arin whispered, kissing his forehead.

Jungkook bent down, ruffling his son's hair. "Sleep tight, bud."

"Goodnight, Eomma! Goodnight, Appa!" Jungsoo grinned sleepily.

Jungkook reached over, switching on the night light. A soft, warm glow filled the room, chasing away any darkness that might frighten their son.

Once they were sure he was asleep, they stepped out, gently closing the door behind them.

As the door to Jungsoo’s room clicked shut, silence settled between Arin and Jungkook. The only sound was the faint hum of the nightlight inside, casting soft, warm glows over their sleeping son. Jungsoo’s innocent excitement from earlier still lingered in the air, making the atmosphere between them heavier.

Jungkook exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck as they stood in the dimly lit hallway. Jungkook turned to Arin. “I can sleep on the couch, you know. Jungsoo won’t know.”

Arin let out a small sigh. "That’s not the point, Jungkook. What if he wakes up first and comes looking for you? What if he sees you there," She gave him a pointed look. "What am I supposed to tell him then?"  

Jungkook hesitated. "I’ll figure something out."

Arin arched a brow. "Every single night?"

Jungkook shut his mouth. She had a point.

"And until when?" Arin crossed her arms. "You have work, Jungkook. You can’t sleep uncomfortably every night."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, finally giving in. "Alright, fine. But… Are you okay with this?"

Arin pressed her lips together, as if weighing her words. Finally, she looked up at him. "It’s just sleeping in the same room, Jungkook. We’re not strangers."

Jungkook scoffed lightly. "Could’ve fooled me."

Arin shot him a look, but he wasn’t wrong. They still felt like two people coexisting under the same roof rather than a married couple.

After another moment of hesitation, she straightened up. "We should just go in. Standing here all night won’t change anything."

Jungkook nodded, following her toward their bedroom.

The atmosphere in the bedroom was already awkward.

Jungkook sat on his side of the bed, leaning slightly against the headboard while scrolling mindlessly through his phone. Arin, on the other hand, was sitting stiffly on her side, pretending to adjust the blanket even though it was already perfectly fine. Neither of them spoke, but the silence wasn’t comfortable—it was the type that made every little sound feel too loud.

Jungkook could feel the tension like an invisible weight pressing on his shoulders. He wasn’t usually the type to initiate small talk, but for some reason, he felt the urge to say something—anything—to make this situation feel less suffocating.

And before his brain could fully process what he was about to say, the words left his mouth.

"Well, at least this isn’t the first time we’re sleeping together."

Arin froze.

Jungkook immediately realized his mistake, but it was too late to take it back.

He tried to cover it up. "I mean— You know, it’s not like this is the first time we’re sharing a same bed , We've done this many times in past."

Arin’s eyes widened.

Jungkook leaned back against the pillows, his lips twitching. "I mean… if we hadn’t slept together, Jungsoo wouldn’t even exist, right?"

The silence that followed was deafening..

Arin blinked.

Was he… joking?

Since when did Jeon Jungkook joke?

Her lips parted in shock.

Arin’s hand, which had been lightly gripping the edge of the blanket, went completely still. Slowly, she turned her head to look at him, her expression unreadable.

Jungkook blinked. "Uh… You know, I was just—"

"Jungkook!" Arin finally exclaimed, her voice a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Jungkook winced. Oh, great. Now it’s even worse.

Arin looked genuinely baffled, as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. "Did you really just—?"

Jungkook scratched the back of his neck, suddenly regretting his entire existence. "I was trying to… lighten the mood?"

Arin just stared at him.

Jungkook sighed, rubbing his face with both hands. "Okay, yeah. That was a bad idea."

"Terrible idea," Arin deadpanned.

Jungkook groaned. "Can we just pretend that never happened?"

Arin shook her head. "Yeah sure."

Jungkook flopped back against the pillows, exhaling dramatically. "You’re never letting this go, are you?"

Arin gave him a pointed look. "Oh,  never."

A small chuckle escaped Jungkook before he could stop it. And to his surprise, after a moment, Arin’s lips twitched, almost as if she was trying to suppress a smile.

Silence stretched between them again.

Then—

"...Sorry," Jungkook muttered.

Arin turned her head slightly. "For?"

"For making it weird."

She sighed. "...It’s fine. Let’s just sleep."

Jungkook nodded. "Yeah."

They both lay down, facing opposite sides.

The first night was awkward.

But as the days went by, the awkwardness gradually dulled.

Each night, after tucking Jungsoo in, they both followed their unspoken routine—going to their respective corners of the room, finishing up whatever tasks they had, and eventually settling into bed.

The first few nights, Jungkook was overly cautious with his movements, making sure he didn’t accidentally brush against Arin. But after a week, he stopped thinking so much about it. He realized that she wasn’t reacting as stiffly anymore, either.

They still slept facing opposite sides, but the heavy awkwardness that had once filled the room began to fade.

The silence between them wasn’t as suffocating.

There were even moments—small, fleeting ones—where it almost felt… normal.

Like the night Jungkook had been reviewing a case file late into the night, his brows furrowed in frustration, and Arin had casually placed a cup of warm tea on his nightstand before climbing into bed without a word.

Or the morning when Arin’s alarm hadn’t gone off, and Jungkook, on instinct, had knocked on the bathroom door while brushing his teeth, reminding her before she was late for work.

They weren’t close.

But they weren’t as distant as before, either.

And somehow, unknowingly, they had started to fall into a rhythm—a quiet, fragile understanding that, for now, this was their new normal.

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Author’s Note:

Hey, everyone! ❤️

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Things are slowly changing between Jungkook and Arin, and their dynamic is starting to shift. What do you think about their growing familiarity? Do you think this will bring them closer, or will more challenges arise?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Your feedback and support mean the world to me. Stay tuned for the next update! ✨💜