Sojourn ♣ JiKook|VMin

"Reflection"

-edited 2026-

Chapter Ten

"Reflection"

•

"Hello?" Taehyung answered as he picked up his phone.

"Hi, love!!"

A smile immediately tugged at his lips at the excitement in Jimin's voice.

"Soooo," Jimin continued, drawing the word out, "I was thinking of inviting Hoseok hyung and Namjoon hyung over for dinner. Is that okay?"

Taehyung's smile slowly faded. "Tonight?"

"Yep!" Jimin chirped cheerfully.

Taehyung closed his eyes and ran a hand down his face before letting out a quiet breath. "Ah... sure, love."

"Okay! See you later!" Jimin said. Then, almost as an afterthought, "Oh—and I love you."

At the sudden confession, Taehyung felt himself relax. "I love you too, baby."

He heard Jimin giggle before the call ended.

Taehyung stared at his phone for a moment before running a hand through his hair. His gaze drifted to a contact saved as Alien Guy. His thumb hovered over the call button, hesitation weighing heavy on his chest.

Shit.

He pressed it anyway.

"Hey," he began, sinking onto the couch and shifting uncomfortably. "I need help."

"Why weren't you replying to my messages?!" the voice on the other end snapped, irritation clear.

Taehyung pressed his lips together, gathering his thoughts. "I was preoccupied."

"Ha. How preoccupied could you be to completely ignore me?!"

"You told me to do my best to take care of Jimin," Taehyung shot back as he stood up, frustration rising. "That's exactly what I'm doing—so stop raising your voice at me!"

The other person sighed. "As long as he's okay. I'm just... frustrated."

"No shit. Anyway, how's work?"

"Hell," the other groaned. "I can't understand half of this business stuff. Thank God Yoongi hyung is here to help me, or I would've fled already."

Taehyung could hear the exhaustion in his voice.

"Then there's nothing to worry about," Taehyung said. "Just pretend you know what you're doing and let Yoongi hyung handle the rest. Remember—we can't ruin each other's lives."

"Yeah, yeah. Easy for you to say," the other replied bitterly. "You were born to be a CEO. Not me." He sighed heavily. "I miss Jimin. Hey... do you think I can meet him? Even briefly—"

A sharp tug hit Taehyung's chest.

The thought of their secret being exposed—and of losing Jimin—terrified him to his core.

"Not a chance," Taehyung said firmly. "Just like we agreed. We live each other's lives normally. Eventually, we'll go back to who we were before. We just need to figure out why this happened."

"...Okay. Okay," the other muttered in defeat.

"Oh—and I'll be meeting Ji-won."

There was a pause. "What did Jimin say?"

"Huh?" Taehyung frowned slightly. "You mean how he reacted? He said it's fine." He exhaled. "Also, we're meeting Namjoon tonight. I honestly have no idea how to talk to the guy."

"Namjoon's pretty chill," the other replied. "Just act like yourself—but maybe more cheerful." He paused. "You were cheerful with Jimin, right?"

"Not really," Taehyung admitted. "I don't know... it just comes naturally with him."

"Right. Just don't act suspicious. Jimin's smart—you know that." He continued, "As for Namjoon, he likes bears and cute animals. He's endearing, really. He doesn't usually interrogate people. And if he ever asks something you don't know, just blame the accident."

Taehyung nodded even though the other couldn't see him.

There was something he wanted to ask—but it felt like crossing a line.

"Uh... Taehyung?"

"What?" the other responded.

"After all of this... do you plan on continuing your relationship with Jimin?"

"I thought of it, for the past weeks. Jimin was the only person keeping me sane. I realized how much I love him. so yes. Oh, and you can't touch him alright? Just play along with what I told you. Pretend you're new to everything you'd do. I know it might be weird or it might hurt Jimin a bit but try to distance yourself from him even if just a little. Got it, Jungkook?"

Hearing his real name felt like being yanked back into a cruel reality.

He kissed Jimin.
He crossed the line.

"...Sure," he replied quietly.

"I'll update you if Yoongi hyung finds anything about our situation. I think it'll make sense soon... hopefully."

"Okay. Good."

Taehyung lowered his phone, his gaze drifting to the floor.

His emotions felt tangled, heavy.

He looked toward the window and caught his reflection. For a split second, he thought he saw himself—his real self.

And silently, he wished that Jimin could see him too. Love him for who he truly was.

A man named Jeon Jungkook.

But he knew better.

Once they found a solution, he and the real Taehyung had already agreed—no crossing paths. Pretend this never happened.

His heart ached.

When the time came, when he woke up in his own body... could he really pretend he never met Jimin? Could he live as if this love never existed?

To Jimin, it would be as though he never existed at all. No matter what he said or did, all Jimin would ever see was the man reflected in the mirror.

He turned away, shaking his head slightly.

"Forget it," he muttered to himself. "Forget your feelings. Damn it."

•

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