🥀 𝟐𝟎. 𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Enjoy

Jungkook cursed herself under her breath, her heart pounding as she stared at the shattered pieces of the ceramic vase scattered across the floor. The broken pieces mock her under the soft glow of the hallway light, reminding her of her clumsiness. Her hands instinctively pressed against the cool surface of the pillar behind her, seeking refuge in the shadows, as if the walls could hide her from what was about to unfold.

Her breaths were shallow and uneven. Her heart hammered against her chest as she desperately tried to calm herself. Jungkook squeezed her eyes shut, hoping—praying—that the noise hadn't carried too far.

He must've heard that, she thought, biting her lower lip in a vain attempt to control the tremor in her hands. Oh no, what am I going to do?

Jungkook stayed frozen, her body tense as her eyes darted toward the door to the balcony. From where she stood, she could barely hear anything.

I shouldn't have come here.

A Few Minutes Earlier:

Jungkook stomped down the hallway, her hand clutching Taehyung's phone, which had been ringing incessantly until moments ago. She glared at the now-silent screen, her face scrunched up in frustration as she muttered to herself.

"Where on earth did he vanish to?" she whispered angrily, her cheeks puffing out in annoyance. "Of course, he'd just disappear without his phone. Who does that in this day and age?"

She huffed, her pace quickening as she searched every room she passed, her lips curling into a cute but irritated pout.

"This man... honestly," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes darting left and right as she searched for him.

"How can he forget his phone like this? It's been ringing non-stop for the past ten minutes. What if it's something important?"

She pressed her back against the wall as she neared the balcony, still grumbling. "What if I just toss his phone into the laundry basket? No, wait... what if I hide it under the couch? Then he'll have to crawl around looking for it."

Jungkook giggled mischievously at the thought but quickly bit her lip, trying to stay serious. Finally, she heard faint voices coming from the balcony.

"Aha! There you are!" she whispered her tone light with a hint of victory. She tiptoed closer, still muttering under her breath.

She had taken a few tentative steps forward when she heard the unmistakable sound of voices, low and serious. Instinctively, she paused, peeking from behind the pillar to see Taehyung standing on the balcony.

And then she heard Soomin's voice.

The sound of her mother-in-law's words was laced with a distance that Jungkook had grown painfully accustomed to. the conversation drew her closer. She stood still, listening quietly, her fingers tightening around the phone as she tried to steady her breathing.

"I don't want to lose you But I also can't keep ignoring the way things are."

"You brought this on yourself, Taehyung. By bringing her into this house, you invited all this trouble. Don't think you can shift the blame onto me."

"This is why we keep drifting further apart," Taehyung said quietly, "You keep pushing me away."

Jungkook's heart clenched at his words, she could feel the pain in his tone. She could hear the frustration, the vulnerability and the exhaustion in him and it made her chest ache. She knew Taehyung had been caught between trying to please his mother and forging his path but hearing it openly—hearing the struggle in his voice—felt like a dagger twisting inside her.

"He's hurting because of me," Jungkook thought, her stomach tightening. A wave of guilt washed over her. She hated that he was torn between his loyalty to his mother and her. It pained her that no matter how much he gave, Soomin refused to acknowledge the life they were trying to build together.

Jungkook bit her lip harder, her mind racing. She wanted to reach out, to comfort him, but this was a deeply personal conversation, one she had no right to intrude upon. it tore her apart to feel so helpless, just an observer in the corner.

Quietly, Jungkook steps back, retreating into the shadows. But in her haste, her foot accidentally brushed against the stand near the pillar.

Her breath hitched.

Her wide eyes followed the trajectory of the small ceramic vase perched on top. It wobbled once, deciding whether to stay or fall. Time seemed to slow down as Jungkook watched in horror, her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach.

"No, no, no—" she mouthed silently, reaching out instinctively but it was too late. The vase tipped over the edge and plummeted to the floor, shattering with a piercing crash that echoed through the balcony.

The sharp sound was deafening to her ears, cutting the stillness of the night like a knife. Her heart stopped, panic flooding her system as she stared down at the mess of shattered porcelain.

Present:

Please don't come out, please don't come out, Jungkook silently begged, biting down hard on her lower lip. Her mind raced as she considered her options. Should I leave? Should I run? Maybe he didn't hear it—

But she knew better. The crash had been too loud to ignore. Her eyes flickered toward the balcony doors, her pulse quickening as she strained to hear if they had noticed. She held her breath, every nerve in her body on edge, waiting for the sound of footsteps.

For a moment, nothing happened. There was no movement, no reaction. But the silence only made her more anxious.

Jungkook squeezed her eyes shut, her heart pounding in her chest. She crouched lower behind the pillar, silently begging for the universe to come to her rescue.

"God, please hide me. Please, Arathron, anyone, anything. Jimin told me I have magic... maybe just a little magic... please, please hide me." Her whispers were almost inaudible, as if saying them too loud would give her away.

She peeked out from her hiding spot, just enough to see if Taehyung had noticed the noise. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw his shadow shifting, his gaze moving in her direction.

No, no, no! she thought in a panic, clutching the phone tightly. I don't want to be caught like this!

Jungkook cursed herself again. Of all times to think about magic... she pouted internally. But in this moment of sheer panic, she desperately hoped for something—anything—that would help her disappear from view.

"Mrs. Kim," Taehyung's deep voice echoed through the quiet night, snapping Jungkook out of her panicked thoughts.

Taehyung's eyes landed on Jungkook.

Jungkook stood pressed against the wall, her petite frame looking even smaller as she squeezed herself tightly against the surface, hoping to merge into it. Her eyes were shut firmly, long lashes resting on her flushed cheeks. Her plump pink lips were caught between her teeth.

Jungkook looked like a startled kitten caught doing something naughty—innocent yet guilty, with her hands fidgeting nervously against the cool wall.

Taehyung noticed her cheeks puffed slightly, her lips pursed in what he assumed was frustration—no doubt cursing herself for being clumsy.

Jungkook winced, cursing under her breath as she slowly opened one eye, then the other. Her gaze hesitantly met her husband, standing just a few feet away, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.

She blinked innocently, her mind racing for an escape plan.

"Can you see me?" she asked, trying to act as if she was oblivious, her voice filled with faux innocence. She blinked again, tilting her head slightly as if she genuinely didn't know she'd been caught.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, staring at her with amusement and disbelief. After living with her for exactly 54 hours, 45 minutes and 34 seconds as Jungkook's husband, he had learned a thing or two about how to handle her antics.

Without a word, he reached a nearby table and picked up a small hand mirror. He turned it towards her, where her reflection was visible. The look on her face, a mix of surprise and embarrassment, was crystal clear in the glass.

"There you are," Taehyung said, his lips twitching into a smirk.

Jungkook's eyes widened as she saw her reflection, her cover completely blown. She pouted, crossing her arms dramatically. "Well, that didn't go as planned," she muttered, puffing her cheeks in frustration.

"You do realize you're not invisible, right?" Taehyung asked putting the mirror back in its place.

Jungkook bit her lip, pretending to look around in confusion before sheepishly standing up from her hiding spot behind the pillar.

"Oh... I guess that magic trick Jimin talked about didn't work, huh?" She pouted, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly.

"No, Mrs. Kim, it didn't work." He watched her standing there, trying to recover from her failed attempt at stealth.

Jungkook scrunched her nose, her pout deepening as she looked up at him. "It's not funny," she huffed crossing her arms in frustration.

Taehyung shook his head, "You were eavesdropping, weren't you?"

Jungkook opened her mouth, ready to protest, but instead, she muttered quietly, "I... just came to return your phone." She held it out with both hands, like a peace offering, her eyes wide and a little too innocent for the situation.

Taehyung took the phone from her hands, his fingers brushing against hers and even in the middle of the mess, she felt that tiny spark of warmth gushing through her veins. He tilted his head and looked at her flushed embarrassed face.

"Thank you," His eyes held hers a little longer before he glanced at the broken vase. "But next time, try not to break the house while returning it. No more sneaking here and there."

Jungkook puffed her cheeks again, her pout deepening. "It wasn't on purpose...," she muttered, her voice was small.

her eyes sneaking glances at his handsome features, her gaze lingering just a little too long. A soft pout formed on her lips and she muttered under her breath, "I wasn't sneaking. I was just... walking very carefully."

Jungkook took a step, still lost in her daze, her mind swirling with thoughts of Taehyung's soft voice and the gentle brush of his hand. But in the next moment, a sharp sting shot through her foot. She hissed quietly, biting her lip to stifle the pain as she looked down.

A small piece of the broken ceramic vase had pierced the bottom of her foot.

"Ow..." she muttered softly, blinking down at the shard. Her eyes watered slightly, more from the surprise than the pain itself and she quickly lifted her foot, wincing as she tried to balance on one leg.

Taehyung's eyes flickered with concern, instantly noticing her discomfort. He was beside her in a second, gripping her arm to steady her.

"Mrs Kim," he said, his voice low but filled with concern.

"Sit down," Taehyung ordered, guiding her toward the nearest chair without giving her a choice.

Jungkook couldn't help but feel embarrassment and warmth at how quickly he had reacted. She muttered quietly, "I'm fine, really..." but there was no stopping him now.

Taehyung knelt, carefully lifting Jungkook's foot to inspect the wound. His brow furrowed as he saw the small shard of ceramic embedded in her skin, a tiny line of blood seeping from the cut.

Taehyung's fingers brushed softly against her ankle, sending an unexpected shiver up Jungkook's spine. She watched as his brows furrowed in concentration, the muscles in his forearm flexing slightly as he removed the ceramic piece. His touch made her breath catch for a moment, her eyes flicking to the small, almost invisible details of him—how his hand moved.

Jungkook winced again when the shard came out, but Taehyung didn't look up, his gaze fixed on her foot.

"It's bleeding," Taehyung muttered, more to himself than to her, as he looked at the small crimson stain on her skin.

She bit her lip, feeling the slight sting, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "I-I'm fine, really," she mumbled, feeling small under his concerned gaze. But before she could say another word, she felt the world tilt.

Taehyung scooped her up, his arm supporting her back while the other cradled her legs. The soft material of his black shirt brushed against her skin, and his musky scent filled her senses.

Jungkook's heart raced, eyes wide with surprise as she instinctively clung to him, her arms wrapping around his neck. "M-Mr. Kim, I can—"

"Quiet," he interrupted softly. His tone left no room for argument.

Although his voice was gentle, there was a protective edge to it that sent a flutter through her chest. His eyes didn't leave the path ahead, but his grip on her was steady as if carrying her was the most natural thing in the world.

"You're not walking on that foot."

Her cheeks flushed, her head pressing lightly against his shoulder, his warm body calming her. Jungkook could feel the faint thud of his heartbeat as she shyly peered up at him. The light from the nearby lamp highlighted the sharp line of his jaw and the hidden care in his eyes. His hair fell slightly across his forehead, a lock of it moving with every step he took but he didn't seem to notice.

Jungkook's fingers unconsciously tightened around his collar, the fabric warm under her touch. She felt the heat rising in her cheeks. Her voice was barely a whisper as she spoke, her eyes lowering shyly, "Thank you."

Taehyung didn't respond with words, but the small squeeze of his arm around her waist was answered enough. It was a gesture that spoke volumes.

A silent promise that, as long as Taehyung was there, Jungkook didn't need to worry.

Jungkook blinked, biting her lip to suppress the flutter of emotions swirling inside her.

"You're really strong..." she mumbled under her breath, her voice barely audible.

Taehyung's lips quirked up slightly but he didn't respond, his focus entirely on getting her somewhere safe where he could properly tend to her wound.

When Taehyung carried Jungkook through the hallway, he felt awareness, that subtle instinct telling him they weren't alone. He frowned and turned his head slightly, glancing over his shoulder.

His brother was barely crouched behind the armchair, his face poking out just enough for anyone to notice. And his grandma? She was behind the curtain, her bright eyes peeking through the small opening like a child sneaking a glance. It was beyond obvious and Taehyung couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Taehyung let out a long sigh, rolling his eyes. "Seriously?" he muttered under his breath.

Jungkook noticed the sudden change in his expression. She tilted her head, curious. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Taehyung replied, his voice filled with irritation. "Just... some nosy siblings who don't know how to mind their business."

Jungkook blinked, turning her head slightly to see the culprits. When she spotted them, her eyes widened in surprise and she had to bite back a giggle.

"Oh... They're just curious," she whispered, trying to keep her voice soft.

"They're always curious," Taehyung muttered, shaking his head. "And incredibly bad at hiding."

His eyes were focused ahead but his movements were quick, frustration was pushing him forward.

Taehyung turned to continue down the hallway, but a chorus of soft "aww"s erupted from his hidden siblings, causing him to halt in his tracks.

"Oh God" he groaned, his brows furrowing into an annoyed expression as he shot them an exasperated look over his shoulder. "What are you, five?"

Jungkook felt her cheeks flush a deep pink, caught off guard by their reaction. She looked up at Taehyung, bewildered.

Taehyung turned again, aiming to shoo them away with a glare. "You guys need to learn how to keep it down!"

His siblings exchanged wide-eyed glances, clearly enjoying the moment far too much. Jungkook couldn't help but bite her lip to suppress a giggle, the warmth on her cheeks deepening.

Jungkook glanced up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

"Why are you always so angry?" Jungkook asked in a soft, almost childlike tone, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout.

Taehyung abruptly stopped in his tracks. His grip around her tightened and he slowly turned his gaze to meet hers, locking his intense eyes onto her soft, questioning ones. His expression was unreadable, the depth of his emotions swirling just beneath the surface.

For a moment, silence hung between them, thick and charged. Then, his voice dropped low, almost a growl.

"Shut up."

Jungkook's pout deepened, her lips pressing together in response to the unexpected command. She blinked, her heartbeat quickening at the closeness of his face, at the way his dark eyes bore into hers. She had expected a sharp retort, not...this. Her thoughts began to spiral, her cheeks heating under his unwavering gaze.

Taehyung's eyes softened, "You don't understand everything yet. So don't push."

Jungkook, still pouting, couldn't help but feel a strange flutter in her chest despite his harsh words. She lowered her eyes, her lips quivering slightly as she muttered under her breath, "You're meanie..."

Without another word, Taehyung resumed walking. Jungkook, still pouting from his "shut up" remark, shifted slightly in his arms. She let out a tiny huff, her eyes avoiding his.

"You're really a meanie," she mumbled again, louder this time, glancing up at him through her lashes.

Taehyung didn't respond immediately. His jaw tightened for a moment, but then he sighed.

"You're too reckless," he finally said, his voice softer than before. "Do you even think before doing things?"

Jungkook frowned at his words. "I wasn't being reckless! I just wanted to return your phone... I wasn't spying," she defended herself, her voice growing small by the end, feeling his scolding.

He glanced down at her briefly, "You could've gotten hurt worse than you did," he said sternly, his eyes darting to the slight cut on her foot, still bleeding faintly.

Jungkook felt guilt but her stubbornness won over. She wriggled slightly in his arms, trying to shift her position. "Well, I didn't!" she said, her pout returning full force. "I'm fine, see?"

Taehyung stopped in front of their bedroom and carefully placed her down on the edge of the bed. He knelt in front of her, his fingers gently lifting her foot to inspect the wound more closely. His touch was gentle, completely contrasting the hard exterior he tried to maintain.

Jungkook's breath hitched slightly as his fingers brushed against her skin. She could feel her heart beating faster, the proximity making her flustered.

"Does it hurt?" he asked quietly, his eyes focused on her injury.

"N-no..." she stammered, though the flutter in her chest was growing stronger. The way he cared for her, even through his frustration, made her cheeks warm.

Taehyung stood up after making sure her foot wasn't too badly hurt. "You don't think about your safety," he muttered, reaching for a bandage on the nearby table.

Jungkook watched him silently, feeling a sudden warmth at the sight of his care. He wasn't just cold and harsh—he cared, in his rough way.

Jungkook squeaked when she found herself again in her husband's arms.

Taehyung gently laid Jungkook on the bed, his hands carefully supporting her back as she sank into the soft sheets. Her fingers slowly slid down, tracing the outline of his collarbone before coming to rest against his chest.

Taehyung pressed her lightly against the bed, his body inclined toward hers, close enough that she could feel the heat from him, but not quite touching yet. Jungkook's breath caught, her chest rising and falling more rapidly. Her hands were splayed on his firm chest and she could feel his heartbeat beneath her fingertips.

Taehyung's movements were slow. His fingers brushed over her waist, sending shivers down her spine as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His other hand slid down her side, the tips of his fingers grazing the curve of her hip before resting there, just barely.

Jungkook's eyes shut, her lips parting slightly as she exhaled, her hands instinctively tightening their grip on his shirt. The room felt smaller, they were enclosed in their private space, a bubble where nothing else mattered.

Taehyung leaned in closer, his breath warming her skin. Jungkook's fingers slid from his chest to his shoulders, clinging to him. Taehyung's body moulded to hers, the soft bed beneath them dipped. Taehyung's gaze held hers, he brought his hand to rest gently on her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly across her skin.

In response, Jungkook leaned into his touch, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks. Her heart raced and she couldn't help but smile shyly, the corner of her mouth twitching.

"what are you doing?"

Jungkook and Taehyung froze when Minjun's innocent voice broke the moment. In an instant, they both sat up on the bed.

Jungkook's hands instinctively flew to her cheeks, feeling the heat radiate from them. She bit her lip, her wide eyes darting between Minjun and Taehyung.

Taehyung quickly cleared his throat, He brushed his hair back, trying to regain his composure. "Uh, we were just... uh... fixing the pillows!" he said, his voice slightly strained.

Minjun tilted his head, his wide eyes darting between them. "Fixing the pillows?" he repeated, clearly not buying it.

Jungkook felt her cheeks heat up, and she awkwardly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, trying to act casual.

"Yeah! Just making sure everything's cosy!" she added with a nervous laugh, her hands fidgeting with the edge of the blanket.

Minjun's eyes lit up with excitement as he turned to Taehyung, bouncing on his little feet. "Can you tell me a story? Pleeease?" His enthusiasm was infectious, and Taehyung couldn't help but smile at the eager request.

"Of course," Taehyung replied, ruffling Minjun's hair playfully. "But first, you need to go call everyone. I'll tell the story once everyone is in the library okay?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Minjun nodded vigorously, his cheeks flushed with excitement. "Okay!" he exclaimed, then dashed out of the room like a bolt of lightning, his laughter echoing down the hallway.

As soon as Minjun scampered off, Taehyung and Jungkook fell into silence, the flashbacks of their earlier moment returning. Taehyung cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to push away the heat rising to his cheeks. He stood up, straightening his shirt.

"You should rest," he muttered, his voice gruff, "I'll go read Minjun his story."

Before he could take a step, Jungkook's small hand gently grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, stopping him in his tracks. Taehyung froze, turning his head slightly to glance at her.

Jungkook bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushed as her eyes fluttered shyly. She could barely look up at him, her fingers nervously playing with the fabric of his sleeve.

"C-can you... um... can you call them here?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Taehyung's brows arched in surprise, his gaze shifting to her hand holding him. Jungkook continued, her tone soft and a little bashful. "I... I want to hear the story too."

Her words hung in the air, innocent and sweet. She looked up at him through her long lashes, her shyness almost making Taehyung's heart skip a beat.

For a moment, Taehyung just stared at her, speechless. His stern demeanour softened as he let out a quiet sigh, unable to resist the adorable way she asked.

"Alright," he finally said, his voice gentler now.

Jungkook smiled, her heart feeling a little lighter as she let go of his sleeve. She sat up eagerly, waiting for the others, his presence comforting her.