A month had passed since the incident at Arin’s office, yet Jungkook couldn’t seem to shake it from his mind. He didn’t understand why, but that moment—standing before everyone, claiming Arin and Jungsoo as his own—had ignited something inside him. Something unfamiliar, something unsettling.

At first, he brushed it off as a fleeting thought, a mere reaction to the absurdity of the situation. But as the days stretched into weeks, he found himself unable to ignore the shift in his own behavior.

Something about that day had altered him, subtly at first, but now it was impossible to ignore. He felt different. He acted differently. And the most frustrating part? He didn't even know why.

Before, he would simply drop Jungsoo off at the building’s entrance and leave. But now? Now, he walked Jungsoo all the way to Arin’s office, opening the door to her cabin like it was the most natural thing in the world. It had started out as an impulse, something he hadn't thought too deeply about. But after the first time, he kept doing it. Again and again.

Arin had told him multiple times that it wasn’t necessary.

“"You don’t have to do this, Jungkook," she had told him one evening, standing beside her desk as Jungsoo ran to her with a bright grin. "I can send someone to bring him inside."

"It’s fine," Jungkook had replied easily, leaning against the doorway like he belonged there.

"You’re busy," she had tried again. "You don’t have to take the extra time."

"I don’t mind."

And that was the truth. He didn’t mind. If anything, he wanted to do it.

Because every time he stepped into that office, every time he stood beside Arin while Jungsoo excitedly talked about his day, he felt something strange settle inside him.

Possession.

A claim.

Arin hadn't pressed the issue after that, though he knew she still didn’t understand why he was doing it. Hell, he didn’t even understand it.

He didn't understand why, but he wanted to be seen, to be known. He wanted everyone in the building to know that he is Jungsoo’s father. He is Min Arin’s husband. It wasn’t about possession—it was about acknowledgment, a claim he wasn’t ready to let go of. A part of him almost felt like he was making a statement—letting the entire company know that Min Arin is his wife, that Jeon Jungsoo is his son.

All he knew was that now, he noticed everything about Arin.

The way she absently tapped her pen against her desk when she was deep in thought. The way her lips parted slightly when she concentrated on something important. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous.

Before, he had never paid attention. Or maybe he had, but he had never allowed himself to.

Now, he couldn't stop.

He saw the way she bit her lower lip when she was reading something particularly intense. The way she smoothed out invisible wrinkles on her skirt when she was preparing to say something difficult. The way she always exhaled quietly before answering a call, like she was mentally preparing herself for whatever conversation awaited.

They were all such small things, insignificant to anyone else. But to him, they were suddenly everything.

He didn’t know why.

Maybe it was because, for the first time in six years, he was seeing her not as a duty, not as a woman forced into his life by their parents, but as her.

Arin.

His wife.

And that realization was far more terrifying than he cared to admit.

It frustrated him—this newfound awareness, this… pull. But instead of pushing it away, he did something he hadn’t done in years.

    🅂🄷🄰🅃🅃🄴🅁🄴🄳 🅅🄾🅆🅂

Jungkook sat at his desk, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the smooth surface of the silver band on his ring finger. The same band he had deliberately removed every morning before heading to work—until today.

Today, he had left it on.

There was no grand reason, no sudden epiphany. Just an impulse.

Maybe it was because of the way he had been acting lately, the way he had been dropping Jungsoo inside Arin’s office every day, silently claiming his place. Or maybe it was because he was tired of pretending his marriage didn’t exist, of treating it like a secret he had to keep.

Whatever it was, when he had gotten dressed this morning, he hadn’t taken the ring off.

And now, sitting in his office, typing away at his report, he felt strangely… grounded. Like something had clicked into place.

The morning passed as usual—documents, reports, briefing with his team. Then came the meeting regarding an ongoing investigation. Jungkook focused on the case, presenting his insights with his usual sharpness, barely aware of the weight of the ring on his finger.

But someone else noticed.

As the team exited the conference room, Eunwoo, his colleague and longtime friend, walked beside him, his sharp eyes catching the glint of silver on Jungkook’s left hand.

“Wait a damn minute—” Eunwoo grabbed his wrist, halting him mid-step. “Is that what I think it is?”

Jungkook arched a brow. “Depends on what you think it is.”

Eunwoo grinned. “Looks like a wedding band. Unless you’re into accessorizing now?”

Jungkook shrugged, his voice casual. “It’s my wedding ring.”

Silence.

For a full three seconds, Eunwoo just stared at him. Then, he let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, right. Nice joke, man.”

Jungkook didn’t react.

Eunwoo’s laughter faded as realization dawned. His expression shifted from amusement to sheer disbelief. “Wait—hold on. You’re serious?”

Jungkook nodded, lips curling slightly at his friend’s slack-jawed reaction. “Yeah.”

Eunwoo’s mouth fell open slightly before he let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, you’re messing with me, right? Like, is this a joke? Because I swear if you tell me you’ve been secretly married all this time—”

“I have been,” Jungkook interrupted, his voice as casual as if he were discussing the weather.

The grin on Eunwoo’s face faltered. “…What?”

“What the actual hell—?” Eunwoo grabbed Jungkook’s wrist again, inspecting the ring as if it might disappear if he blinked.

Eunwoo’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. “Holy shit. You are married.”

Jungkook sighed. “Took you long enough to believe it.”

Eunwoo didn’t waste another second. He grabbed Jungkook’s arm and dragged him down the hallway.

“Where the hell are we going?” Jungkook asked, exasperated.

“My office.”

“Why?”

“Because I need a damn explanation.”

Before Jungkook could respond, Eunwoo grabbed his arm and dragged him toward his office. “You’re explaining. Right. Now.”

They reached Eunwoo’s office in record time, and before Jungkook could protest, Eunwoo pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

A few moments later, Hana, their fellow colleague, walked in with a confused frown. “What’s with the urgent summoning?”

Eunwoo turned to her dramatically. “Jungkook got married.”

Hana blinked. Then, she deadpanned, “That’s the worst joke I’ve heard today.”

Eunwoo’s grin didn’t fade as he turned to Hana, who still looked unimpressed. “I swear, I’m not joking. Jungkook’s actually married.”

Hana rolled her eyes. “You really expect me to believe that?” She let out a huff. “Sunbae? Married? What a terrible joke.”

Eunwoo sighed dramatically, then smirked. “Then see for yourself.”

He grabbed Jungkook’s left hand and held it up. “Look at this.”

Hana frowned and shifted her gaze to Jungkook’s hand. The moment her eyes landed on the silver band wrapped around his ring finger, her entire body went rigid.

She blinked once. Then twice.

Hana’s eyes widened as she leaned forward, staring at the wedding band. The weight of realization crashed onto her all at once.

“No way…” she breathed out. Her fingers traced the smooth metal, disbelief flooding her features. “This is… a wedding ring?”

Jungkook sighed. “Obviously.”

Eunwoo, still gripping Jungkook’s wrist, suddenly squinted at the ring, tilting it slightly to examine it more closely. Then his eyes caught something—an engraving on the inside.

His jaw slackened. “Wait a second… It’s engraved.”

He rotated Jungkook’s hand to read the text aloud.

Min Arin & Jeon Jungkook.

Eunwoo’s head snapped up. “Arin? Soooo.... That Busan girl’s name was Arin, right?”

Eunwoo’s grin widened mischievously. “So it was her. Why’d you marry her so suddenly? Don’t tell me—” His tone turned teasing. “Did you make her pregnant or something?”

The moment those words left his mouth, Jungkook’s entire demeanor changed.

His hand snatched away from Eunwoo’s grip, and his expression darkened.

“Never bring up anything related to Busan again.” Jungkook snapped, his voice low and firm.

Eunwoo blinked, his smirk instantly fading. “Dude, I was just—”

“I don’t care,” Jungkook cut him off coldly. His eyes were sharper than usual, his tone laced with something deeper than mere anger. “Don’t say anything about Busan. Ever. I already told you she was nothing.”

Eunwoo raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. No need to bite my head off.”

Jungkook exhaled sharply through his nose before muttering, “And for the record,  Arin is CEO of Kim corporation.”

Hana’s jaw tightened. “And you’ve been married for how long?”

Jungkook hesitated. “…Six years.”

The moment the words left his mouth, a loud gasp filled the room.

Hana.

If she was shocked before, now she looked like she had seen a ghost.

“SIX YEARS?! HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE? WHY DIDN’T WE KNOW ANYTHING?!” Hana’s voice shot up, but before she could yell, Eunwoo immediately slapped his hand over her mouth again, looking around wildly. “Hana, for God’s sake, do you want the entire department to know?”

Hana yanked his hand away. “Oh, now you’re worried about people finding out?! Sunbae hid a whole-ass marriage from us for six years, and you expect me to whisper?”

Jungkook ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Not that big of a deal?” Hana repeated in disbelief. “You, the guy who swore he’d never get married, the guy who rolled his eyes every time someone talked about relationships, actually got married—and you just decided to casually drop that on us six years later?”

Eunwoo crossed his arms. “Yeah, I’m with Hana on this one. Why the hell did you hide it?”

Hana  pointed at Jungkook. “Six years?! You’re actually married? For six whole years?”

Jungkook sighed, nodding.

“Explain. Now.” Her voice was lower this time, but no less demanding. “How the hell have you been married for six years, and we knew nothing about it?”

Eunwoo crossed his arms and nodded. “Yeah, man. What the hell?”

Jungkook exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had expected a reaction, but this was something else.

“Look, I know it’s sudden—”

“SUDDEN?!” Hana shrieked, making him sigh.

Eunwoo rubbed his temples. “Yeah, that’s not gonna work, buddy. You better start talking. Right now.”

Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright. I got married six years ago.”

Hana and Eunwoo both stared at him, unblinking.

He exhaled deeply before continuing. “But… for personal reasons, I didn’t want to acknowledge it.”

Hana frowned. “What do you mean?”

Jungkook leaned against his desk, crossing his arms. “I was the one who always said I’d never get married. That I didn’t believe in it. And yet… I ended up getting married.” His jaw tightened slightly. “It was because of my father.”

Eunwoo tilted his head. “Your father forced you?”

Jungkook scoffed. “Not exactly forced… but let’s just say he left me no choice.”

Eunwoo shook his head. “And you thought we’d judge you for that?”

Jungkook looked away. “I didn’t want you guys to think I had changed. That I’d turned into someone I swore I’d never be. And… at first, I thought it didn’t matter.”

Eunwoo sighed, placing a hand on his hip. “Jungkook, you’re an idiot.”

Jungkook glanced at him, eyebrows raised. “Excuse me?”

“We were never going to judge you,” Eunwoo said firmly. “Why the hell would you need to hide it? You could’ve told us back then, and we would’ve understood.”

Jungkook didn’t respond, but something in his expression softened slightly.

Eunwoo nudged Hana. “Right, Hana?”

But Hana wasn’t listening.

She was still frozen in place, her eyes unfocused like she was deep in thought. The news had completely blindsided her.

Eunwoo frowned and snapped his fingers in front of her face. “Earth to Hana?”

She didn’t react.

So he grabbed her shoulders and shook her lightly. “Hana!”

She finally blinked, snapping back to reality.

Then, Hana—who had been quiet for far too long—let out a breathy laugh. “You know what, Sunbae? If you’re confessing things today, why don’t you go ahead and tell us you have a child, too?” She shook her head. “Might as well get it all out at once.”

A beat of silence.

Jungkook scratched the back of his neck. “Actually… I do.”

Hana froze mid-laugh.

Eunwoo blinked. “Come again?”

Jungkook cleared his throat. “I have a five-year-old son. His name is Jungsoo.”

Eunwoo gaped. “You—you what?”

Silence.

Hana’s mouth slowly fell open.

Eunwoo blinked rapidly. “Wait. Wait. You’re telling me… not only have you been married for six years, but you also have a five-year-old son?”

Jungkook nodded.

Hana didn’t say anything.

She just silently walked to the nearest chair and sat down, staring at the floor like she needed a moment to process her entire life.

Eunwoo, on the other hand, let out a laugh of disbelief. “You’re serious?”

Jungkook hesitated before nodding again.

“Jungkook, you really held onto all this for six years?” Eunwoo shook his head. “I mean, come on, man. I feel like I’ve been lied to my whole life.”

Jungkook chuckled lightly. “It’s not like I planned to hide it forever.”

Eunwoo finally snapped out of his shock. “Alright, now I need to see this kid. You got pictures?”

Jungkook sighed but unlocked his phone. Scrolling through his gallery, he stopped at a recent picture of Jungsoo, one where he was grinning widely at the camera, dimples visible. He turned the phone around and showed them.

The reaction was instant.

“Holy—” Eunwoo let out a low whistle. “Damn, he looks just like you.”

Hana, still quiet from the earlier shock, leaned in to see. Her lips parted slightly. “Yeah… he really does.”

Eunwoo took the phone from Jungkook’s hand to get a closer look. “He’s literally a mini version of you, man. Same eyes, same nose, same little pout. If he had a police badge and a permanent scowl, he could pass as you.” He chuckled before swiping to the next picture.

Jungkook smirked slightly. “Yeah, I hear that a lot.”

Hana tilted her head, studying the photo. “But he has something softer about him.”

Jungkook’s expression unconsciously softened. “That’s probably because of Arin.”

Eunwoo hummed. “I gotta say, I didn’t expect this, but… he’s cute.” Then he grinned. “I mean, he has to be, considering he got his mother’s genes too.”

Jungkook shot him a glare, but Eunwoo just laughed.

Hana, on the other hand, finally spoke up. “What’s he like?”

Jungkook’s expression changed completely. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant yet fond. “He’s smart. Too smart, honestly. He’s always asking questions about everything, even things I don’t have answers for. He loves drawing, loves cars. And he’s got this way of looking at people, like he sees right through them.”

Eunwoo smirked. “Like father, like son?”

Jungkook let out a small chuckle. “Maybe. But he’s also got this energy—like he knows he can get away with anything if he smiles big enough.”

Hana found herself smiling slightly at that. “That… actually sounds really cute.”

Jungkook shrugged. “The reason I don't eat lunch with you both is because, I have to pick him up from school and drop him off at Arin’s office.”

Eunwoo raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you personally drop him off?”

“Yeah.”

Eunwoo nodded. “Yeah. Okay, so now I get it. This is why you keep ditching us at lunch, huh?”

Jungkook didn’t reply.

Eunwoo and Hana exchanged glances.

“Well—,” Eunwoo said, dragging the word out. “Anyway, show us more pictures.”

Jungkook sighed but complied, scrolling through more photos. Then, suddenly, a picture came up of the three of them—Jungkook, Arin, and Jungsoo. They were in a park, Jungkook’s arm resting casually around Arin while Jungsoo stood between them, grinning.

Eunwoo’s eyes lit up. “Ohhh, so this is your wife.” He whistled again. “Man, I’ve seen her on the news sometimes, but I never thought she’d be your wife.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes. “So?”

Eunwoo smirked. “So… she’s really beautiful.... Actually No, not only beautiful —Damn. She’s gorgeous. No wonder you—”

Jungkook shot him a warning glare.

Eunwoo laughed. “Relax. I’m just saying, you lucked out.”

Jungkook’s expression darkened slightly. “Watch it.”

Eunwoo held his hands up in mock surrender. “Relax, I’m just saying. She’s elegant, classy, and looks like she could kill a man with a single look. Exactly your type.”

Jungkook didn’t reply, but his ears turned slightly pink.

Hana, still staring at the picture, finally spoke. “She is beautiful.” Her tone was neutral, but her eyes lingered on the photo for a moment longer before she looked away.

Eunwoo nudged her. “What, still in shock?”

Hana shook her head, forcing a small smile. “Just… processing.”

Jungkook watched her carefully but said nothing.

Eunwoo, as usual, broke the tension. “Okay, so now that this bomb has been dropped, is there anything else you’ve been hiding from us? Do you secretly have another kid? Maybe a dog? A second wife?”

Jungkook sighed. “No.”

Eunwoo grinned. “Good, because I don’t think Hana can take another surprise today.”

Hana just groaned, rubbing her temples. “You have no idea.”

Eunwoo leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know, Jungkook, you've been hiding this for six years—your wife, your kid, everything. So why now? Why suddenly decide to reveal it? Or…” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Did you finally fall in love with your wife?”

Jungkook, who had been casually scrolling through his phone, suddenly stiffened.

The room went silent.

Hana, who had been quietly listening until now, glanced at Jungkook curiously. Even Eunwoo, though grinning, was watching him closely.

Jungkook took a slow breath, keeping his face neutral. He lifted his gaze and met Eunwoo’s teasing one with a calm expression. “One day, it was going to be revealed anyway. So why hide it?” His voice was steady, even indifferent.

Eunwoo raised an eyebrow. “That’s all?”

Jungkook nodded, slipping his phone into his pocket. “That’s all.”

Eunwoo hummed, clearly not convinced. "You sure? Because, man, you suddenly started wearing your wedding ring. It’s almost like—”

“Eunwoo.” Jungkook cut him off with a warning tone.

Eunwoo just grinned. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop.” He leaned forward again, propping his chin on his hand. “But still… wouldn’t be so bad if you did, you know?”

Jungkook didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. His silence was enough for both Eunwoo and Hana to exchange a knowing glance.

The conversation drifted into other topics after that—work, upcoming cases, even meaningless office gossip—but Jungkook’s mind wasn’t fully there.

The word love kept replaying in his head.

Did he…?

No.

No, he didn’t.

That wasn’t it.

It couldn’t be.

He was just… adjusting, that’s all. He was spending more time with Jungsoo, getting used to this whole “family” thing. That was why he felt different. Because of Jungsoo.

Not because of Arin.

Not because he wanted to be near her.

Not because he found himself watching her more closely—her habits, the way she tapped her fingers on her desk when thinking, the way she tilted her head while reading, the way her lips parted slightly before she spoke.

Not because he liked the way she smelled, or the way she made their house feel… warm.

No.

He had no feelings for her.

He respected her, that was all.

And yet, as he sat there, pretending to listen to Eunwoo’s chatter, his fingers absently brushed against the wedding band on his hand.

For the first time in six years, he hadn’t taken it off before work.

Eunwoo stretched his arms behind his head, smirking. “Well, since our dear Jungkook is already a married man and a father, I think it’s only fair that you give us a treat soon. And—” he pointed a finger at Jungkook, “—you need to introduce us to your family. Especially your son.”

Jungkook chuckled, shaking his head. “Sure, sure. I’ll treat you guys soon. Happy?”

Eunwoo grinned. “Very. But don’t think you can get away with just a meal. We want the full introduction.”

Hana, who had been quietly processing everything, finally chimed in. “Yeah, Sunbae. You’ve hidden this for six years. The least you can do is let us meet your family.”

Jungkook exhaled through his nose, amused. “You two act like I committed a crime.”

Eunwoo gasped dramatically. “You did! You deprived me of uncle privileges for five years. FIVE WHOLE YEARS!”

Jungkook laughed, shaking his head. “Alright, alright. You’ll meet Jungsoo soon. Happy now?”

Just then, his phone vibrated on the table, the alarm ringing softly. Jungkook glanced at the screen.

– Pick up Jungsoo.

He sighed, locking his phone before standing up. “Speaking of which, it’s time to pick him up.”

Eunwoo and Hana exchanged a look before grinning.

Eunwoo smirked. “And there he goes, like a responsible dad. Who would’ve thought, huh?”

Jungkook rolled his eyes but smiled. “Shut up.”

Hana chuckled. “Go, go. Your son is waiting. Mr. Family man”

Jungkook gave them a casual wave before heading toward the door.

But as he walked through the hallways of the station, his expression slowly changed.

That word—family.

It felt… strange.

He had a wife. He had a son. He knew that. It wasn’t new.

But today, hearing Eunwoo and Hana talk about it so naturally—like it was something normal, something he should be proud of—it made him feel something he couldn’t quite understand.

For the past six years, he had never let himself think too much about it.

Now, for some reason, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

He sighed as he got into his car, gripping the steering wheel.

Maybe he was just overthinking.

Maybe it was just because of Jungsoo.

Yeah. That had to be it.

With that thought, he started the car, driving toward his son’s school—his mind still swirling with confusion.

    🅂🄷🄰🅃🅃🄴🅁🄴🄳 🅅🄾🅆🅂

Jungkook didn’t understand his own behavior these days.

For years, he had been indifferent—distant, even—when it came to his marriage. Their relationship had been built on necessity rather than choice, an arrangement neither of them had desired. And yet, now… something was different. He was different.

It started subtly, almost too naturally for him to realize. A question here, a remark there. He would find himself asking Arin about her work, her day, whether she had eaten on time.

He never used to ask.

For six years, their conversations had been limited to necessary exchanges—about Jungsoo, about responsibilities, about nothing personal. And yet now, without meaning to, he found himself noticing things.

Like how she rubbed her temples when she was exhausted. How she preferred her coffee slightly warm rather than scalding hot. How she always arranged Jungsoo’s shoes neatly before bed, even though he would toss them aside again in the morning.

One night, as they settled into bed—him on his side, her on hers—he found himself hesitating before switching off the lamp.

Then, before he could think twice, he muttered, "Good night, Arin."

Silence.

For a moment, he thought she wouldn’t respond. That maybe she had fallen asleep. But then, softly, almost uncertainly, she replied, "Good night, Jungkook."

Something about it felt right.

And so it became a habit.

Each night, a quiet exchange of goodnights. Nothing extravagant, nothing out of the ordinary. But for some reason, it made his chest feel warm.

It wasn’t just that, either.

These days, he found himself there more.

On weekends, when Jungsoo made plans with Arin, Jungkook started joining them. He told himself it was because Jungsoo wanted him to. That it was only for their son.

But deep down, he knew it was a lie.

The amusement park trip had been the first.

Jungkook had never seen Jungsoo so happy, his small hands gripping his as they ran toward each ride. His son’s excitement was infectious, his laughter filling the air as they rode the carousel, the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel.

But it wasn’t just Jungsoo’s happiness that caught him off guard.

It was Arin’s. The way she laughed freely when Jungsoo dragged her to a carousel. The way her eyes softened whenever she watched their son play. The way she tilted her head in thought, completely unaware of how captivating the small gesture was.

And then there were the little things. The way she always carried an extra pack of tissues because Jungsoo was messy.

He had never paid attention before, but that day, he did. He noticed how her laughter was light, free, like a melody carried by the wind. He noticed how her eyes sparkled when she watched Jungsoo having fun.

And for a fleeting moment, Jungkook had found himself staring.

He didn’t know how long he had been looking until Arin suddenly turned to him, tilting her head.

"What?" she asked, raising a brow.

He blinked, clearing his throat. "Nothing," he muttered, looking away.

But it wasn’t nothing.

It was everything.

And that terrified him.

The next weekend, it was a picnic.

They spread out a blanket under a large oak tree, Jungsoo munching on sandwiches while rambling about his kindergarten stories. Jungkook listened, nodding occasionally, but his gaze kept drifting toward Arin.

She was reading, completely absorbed in her book. The soft sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting golden streaks across her hair. She absentmindedly tucked a loose strand behind her ear, her lips slightly parted in concentration.

The way she unconsciously hummed to herself while checking the picnic basket. The way she always made sure Jungsoo had fun but never forgot about Jungkook either—offering him a drink, asking if he was comfortable, making sure he was included.

He had never noticed these things before.

But now, he did.

And it made something inside him shift in ways he wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

And for the second time in a week, Jungkook found himself staring.

She’s beautiful.

The thought hit him so suddenly that he nearly cursed out loud.

"What the hell am I doing?" he scolded himself inwardly.

Shaking his head, he tore his gaze away, telling himself he was just tired. That it was nothing.

Yet, week after week, he kept joining them.

But what confused him the most was how much he wanted to be around her—how much he wanted to spend time with both her and Jungsoo.

Maybe it had started with Jungsoo. After all, their son was at the center of everything. Jungsoo wanted to go to an amusement park? Jungkook went along. Jungsoo wanted a picnic? He made sure he was there. Week after week, he joined them on their weekend outings, telling himself that it was all for Jungsoo.

Yet, deep down, he knew. It wasn’t just for Jungsoo. He wanted to be there for Arin too.

It was subtle at first. During their outings, he started paying more attention to her—not just as Jungsoo’s mother, not just as the woman he had married out of obligation, but as Arin.

At first, he convinced himself that it was only for Jungsoo. That it was about making their son happy.

But then why did he always find himself watching her?

Why did he start lingering in their conversations, listening to her thoughts, to the way she spoke?

Why did he start noticing the way she bit her lower lip when she was lost in thought? Or how her voice softened when she spoke to Jungsoo?

One evening, as they sat at the dinner table, Jungsoo animatedly talked about his day at kindergarten.

"And then, appa," Jungsoo grinned, "I told my friend that my Eomma and Appa are the best! Because we go out every weekend and have fun together!"

Jungkook felt Arin stiffen slightly beside him, but she quickly masked it with a smile. "That’s nice, baby," he said, gently patting Jungsoo’s head. "You like it when appa comes with us, right?"

Jungsoo nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I want appa to come every time!"

Jungkook glanced at Arin, who was looking down at her plate. His fingers unconsciously tightened around his chopsticks.

He shouldn’t have been affected by that.

But he was.

Later that night, as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind was restless.

He kept telling himself that this was all only for Jungsoo.

That he was just being a good father.

But then why did he feel this unfamiliar ache in his chest whenever he saw Arin smile at their son but not at him?

Why did he feel the urge to be close to her, to talk to her, to see her?

"No," he told himself firmly. "It’s nothing."

I don’t feel anything for her.

I can’t.

And yet, deep inside, he knew he was lying.

    🅂🄷🄰🅃🅃🄴🅁🄴🄳 🅅🄾🅆🅂

Author’s Note:

Hey, dear readers! ✨

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! You can probably tell that Jungkook is starting to change, even if he doesn’t fully realize it yet. His emotions are all over the place, and no matter how much he denies it, something is definitely shifting between him and Arin.

What do you think? Is he just being a good father, or is there something more? Let me know your thoughts! Your support and comments always mean the world to me.

Stay tuned for more drama, emotions, and slow-burn moments!

— StarlitWings 💙