Jeongguk got home from practice, feeling utterly exhausted and drained.

He got his ass kicked at practiced, feeling absolutely weak from everything. His body was craving a nice warm shower and some well needed bed rest.

When he walked in, he didn't even bother greeting Taehyung and Jeongguk who were indulged in a movie.

He heard them ask how he was but he decided he didn't want to deal with it. He just continued past them and carried his aching body to his bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

Jeongguk had a long practice and it look basically the whole day. He had to condition, practice plays, go over errors he made in his previous game, and more.

He wasn't in the mood to talk or to discuss how horrid his day was.

Instead, he wanted to be left alone for the rest of the night, just dwell in his own solitude.

It probably wasn't the healthiest thing to do when feeling as Jeongguk did but he definitely didn't care on what was considered healthy.

     He huffed, dragging his weight over to his closet. He needed a shower before the end of the night, regardless of how exhausted his aching body felt.

Jeongguk pulled out a casual pajama set which consisted of black sweatpants and a grey T-shirt. It was just some clothes he wanted to throw on after his shower.

Jeongguk then went back through his closet to find a hoodie and he came across a very special item all the way in the back of his closet.

It was his Panthers jersey but not the one he would wear for games, no, it was the one Taehyung had spent so much money on back then.

It was custom and the first jersey he's owned. His high school jerseys didn't count, those were never his to keep but this one, this was his.

The twin pulled it off the basic hanger and looked at it in his hands, feeling the quality of it. It was cold to the touch, looking just a bit faded from sitting in his closet for so many untouched years.

He walked over to his bed and sat on the edge, eyes scanning every little detail. Jeongguk could feel the corners of his lips twitch upward, almost smiling but the frown was stronger.

The NFL player brought the jersey to his chest and hugged it close to his body, squeezing his eyes shut as he embraced it — almost like it was an actual person he was hugging.

Jeongguk was so caught up in the moment that he didn't hear his door open, the quiet footsteps growing closer until the person stood nothing but a few feet away.

"Gguk?"

Jeongguk jumped and shoved away the jersey as if it was suddenly burning his skin. He looked up and was greeted by Jungkook, his brother a bit confused.

"Why are you in my room?" Jeongguk looked away, pushing back up and grabbing the clothes he prepared for his after shower.

"You looked upset, just wanted to check on you. Why're your holding your jersey?" Jungkook questioned and walked to where it was discarded, picking it up in his own hands.

"Kook-"

"Wait," Jungkook turned it around and looked all over it, sudden realization. "Is this the one Taehyung got you?" He wondered.

"Stop touching my shit, get out." Jeongguk yanked it away from Jungkook, shaking his head. "I hate when you touch my things." He added on, becoming really annoyed. Jeongguk returned to his closet and grabbed the hanger, hanging it back up.

"You kept it after all these years? I didn't think you kept anything he gave you."

Jeongguk tried to ignore what his brother was saying, figuring it would be best to just see if he could get away.

He exited his bedroom but Jungkook followed suit.

"Why did you keep it? Why were you hugging it? I don't know which I want to know first." The younger twin said, almost as if he were talking to himself with the last sentence.

"I just needed a hug, 'kay? And I saw it in my closet and I forgot all about it. Just felt nice in my hands." Jeongguk spat out. "Now leave me alone, you're making my attitude a hell of a lot worse."

"As if I actually give a shit," said Jungkook. "But that doesn't answer why you kept it after so long."

Jeongguk stood at the entrance of the bathroom, really not up for engaging in conversation but here he stood.

He huffed and turned, looking at Jungkook who looked back at him, waiting patiently for an acceptable answer.

"It was meaningful." Jeongguk replied dryly, a dull look playing his features. He then realized he forgot something in his bedroom, making him sigh to himself.

"Nothing else was?" Jungkook wondered, moving aside so Jeongguk could walk back to his room but definitely not alone.

"He broke my heart, the other things didn't mean shit to me but the jersey . . . When it came to throwing it out, I couldn't. That jersey means more to me than anyone will ever know." Jeongguk replied, the answer being better than Jungkook thought he was going to get. "It pushed me to work harder; made me want to play football in college."

Jungkook listened to Jeongguk intently before he sighed, humming a bit to himself in thought. Jeongguk picked up the hoodie off his bed and was about to leave but Jungkook had other plans.

The younger was grabbing the jersey to look back over it, wanting to see it more. His eyes scanned all over the faded pretty colors and then he flipped it, seeing 'Jeon' embroidered across the top.

"Does it even still fit you? You're an adult now that can bench about two-hundred pounds, no way this men's medium fits you still." Jungkook chuckled lightheartedly, looking at the two-minute older brother.

"Oh, can it," Jeongguk rolled his eyes, a bland look still lingering on his face. "Regardless, I don't want to rid of it. I love it beyond the shit he's put us through."

"I wouldn't either. What if you have a son one day? I'm sure he would like to get the hand-me-down from his papa." Jungkook shrugged, letting Jeongguk hang it up once again. He kept his eyes on the other's back, watching him closely. He could feel the moods and the dryness.

     The two then remained silent, both leaving the room, one after the other.

There was clearly something more Jeongguk wanted to say but he seemed to be biting his tongue; holding back.

Jungkook knew this, he could tell. He grew up with his brother and knew his other half better than he knew himself.

     "You good? Just going to go shower?" Asked the slightly younger Jeon Twin, stopping in his place while the other continued to walk to the bathroom.

"Um, about . . . About Taehyung's offer," he started, not making eye contact. It seemed as if he was ready to spit it out while being hesitant. He seemed to think hard about his choice of words. "I don't mind going on whatever 'date' he's talking about but I don't know if I can stay there and dedicate giving him a second chance."

"Second chance?" Jungkook cocked a brow. "Like, relationship wise?"

"Or friendship wise. I get it, everyone deserves a second chance and I'm not mad at him anymore but . . . I don't know. I don't think I can." Jeongguk spoke softly, pushing open the bathroom door and walking on inside. He didn't give the chance for Jungkook to speak.

     Jungkook sighed and turned away, knowing Jeongguk didn't exactly have the best day today and probably was speaking out of emotion. He would ask him another time; a time where the other was a bit calmer and perhaps well rested.

Jungkook knew his brother and knew he wasn't totally opposed to the idea. He missed Taehyung; he knows he did. He just sucked when it came to coping and dealing with such strong and vast emotion.

He dragged his body back down the steps, Taehyung already looking up at him from where he sat down.

"Is he okay?" Asked the elder adult, brows furrowed in worry and concern. "You guys were up there for awhile."

"Just long day," Jungkook replied. "I wouldn't recommend bothering him. Just let him have his space and let him come around to you." He weakly and forcibly smiled.

". . ." Taehyung frowned. "Jungkook, I can't express just how sorry I am." He uttered. "It was a mistake, one I'll never live down and will regret as long as I'm on this earth."

     It didn't take a genius to know what Taehyung was talking about. Jungkook knew that Taehyung knew there was something about him thrown in the conversation upstairs. That or he had heard somehow.

He just sighed and looked at the ground, trying to think of what he could say. "He's going through a lot whether you want to believe it or not. He just needs a break; some time to get use to you being around again and accepting what happened."

"And if he never does?"

Jungkook looked back up at Taehyung, seeing the expectant look on the other's face. "Then he never does. You can't expect him to just let you back in like nothing happened. He's always been stubborn; always had his own way, you know that. But, if for some reason he doesn't give you the chance you want, trust and believe me when I say I will." Jungkook told.

This made the corner of Taehyung's slightly pull upward but they fell, causing him to look away.

Jungkook walked closer and sat beside Taehyung, taking his hand in his own. "Please don't be down,"

"I'm not, really. I'm glad you're willing to give me a chance, glad you can look past what I did." Taehyung began, looking at Jungkook. "I missed you guys so much while I was gone, it killed me and once I started to get over it, I saw Yoongi hyung and the memories came all right back."

Jungkook was listening and then suddenly, shock arose. That shock eased to confusion, a single brow cocked.

"What?" He asked, Taehyung's lips pressing tightly together and a look of guilt showing on his features.

Taehyung sat there silently, leaning back a few inches. He knew he said something bad, the moment the name slipped his lips and went into the out.

"Yoongi? As in Min Yoongi? Our friend?" Jungkook questioned. "He knew?"

"Well, no, not really—"

"Then why would say when you saw Yoongi? Do you mean in Daegu when you saw Yoongi or did you see Yoongi another time; a time before this one?" Jungkook mused, wanting Taehyung to reflect on his words. "Don't lie to me, Tae."

Taehyung frowned. "I saw Yoongi not too long after I left. He was in Daegu for some reason and we ran into each other. I told him not to tell anyone he saw me and he told me the same thing. We pretended that we didn't even see one another at all." He rambled on, trying to make the situation better but Jungkook wasn't sure what hurt more.

The fact Taehyung and Yoongi ran into one another while he mourned or the fact they promised not to tell anyone.

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why didn't you want to tell anyone?" Jungkook asked, his face contouring emotions like betrayal, hurt, confusion, and pain. He wanted to figure this out before he let the anger take control like Jeongguk would the moment he found out.

"Because the whole point was for no one to see me. I had to explain to him why I left and it was so hard to explain it to him . . . I couldn't tell you guys, I couldn't even bring myself to have Yoongi hyung tell you guys. I hate it and . . . Fuck," Taehyung huffed, shaking his head. He felt like that was another thing for him not to be forgiven.

Jungkook sat there, hearing Taehyung take a deep breath and try to start again, wanting to explain himself and his side.

"I wish I could take back what I did and if couldn't take that back, I would take back the way I handled it. I can't express how sorry I am . . . I sound like a broke record but . . . I just couldn't fathom I did something that terrible and to people I loved so much at that. I couldn't deal with it and I panicked. I panicked and drove myself away and to me, at that time, it was the only possible way out of that situation. I thought I was doing everyone better." Taehyung told.

He told that story for what felt like the millionth time. He's said it time and time again but it felt more emotional with each time he had to explain it.

     Jungkook sighed and shook his head, giving Taehyung's hand a light squeeze. "I said it before, I'll say it again, I forgive you," he breathed. "It really bothers me though that Yoongi knew this entire time. That he knew before I knew."

"He only kept shut because I told him to but since I made him shut up, he knew it would be bad if others found out he knew so he told me not to tell either. I made that choice, it's not his fault." Taehyung said, feeling regretful.

"I get that much, just still hurts, ya know?" Jungkook uttered, keeping the eye contact. "I'm so happy you came back, I'm glad you took my offer and was willing to tell us what happened." Jungkook told, sighing faintly. "Just . . . Shit like that, fess up a bit earlier to because it will take from what you built back on."

"I'm sorry,"

"It's okay," Jungkook understood.

     The two sat there quietly, both unsure on what to say next but it wasn't too much longer before Jungkook opened his mouth.

     "I know I told you to tell us things all at the same time, but this . . . You can't tell Jeongguk. He would flip his shit and whatever chance you do have would be annihilated right there and then." Jungkook warned, gulping some.

"I wasn't going to. I know how he is, I know too well." Taehyung responded, shaking his head just barely. "I want to tell him, really, just to be honest, but he . . . I can't."

Jungkook nodded, seeing Taehyung look down in shame. He couldn't stay mad at Taehyung forever, even if the boy broke his heart a million times over.

     The younger released Taehyung's hand and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close to his body. He placed a soft kiss on the boys temple before placing his chin on the top of Taehyung's head.

He could feel their hearts beating together; the warmth between their bodies. It felt almost like home.

Like a welcome back.

_________
A/N:

Sorry for the slow updates. I don't want to give excuses but I've just been busy and stressed out. I hope you guys liked the chapter, I made it longer than usual for you all!