Lifetime

Amends

Jungkook interrupted me several times, releasing heavy scoffs and questions while I told him almost everything about the prophecy. I recanted discovering the box, the revelation that it was all real, and traveling to Texas during grad school. I left out details about each of my soulmates, already able to see the anger in his eyes as I talked about my past. I'd promised to answer all of his questions once I finished but he was silent in a way that alarmed me. I couldn't deal with both of them shutting me out.

"Jungkook." I prompted him, his muscles tensed. He sat with his arms crossed, staring blankly past the terrace instead of looking at me.

More silence passed before he blinked, studying me before speaking. "I don't believe it."

"What?" My reply was automatic.

He stood abruptly, looking down at me. "I don't believe it. Just say you've been in love with a bunch of men and that you want to keep being in love with a bunch of men. Don't bullshit." The clip of his voice after every sentence was harsh.

"I'm not, it's real." I stood, offended that he thought me a liar and with his tone.

He rolled his eyes. "It is. You don't get to have and leave all these relationships and pretend it's some magical thing pulling you to the next guy."

My face heated with my own irritation. "You don't know anything about my relationships." I refuted.

"You're right, but I know about this one and you just–" His voice cracked when he halted his statement. An ire filled look crossed his glassy eyes and he cursed to himself before turning into the apartment, the tiny windowpanes to the balcony door trembling as he slammed it shut.

It took me a minute to reenter the apartment, biting back the emotion that begged to be let out. I could hear Jungkook from the bedroom, ranting to Taehyung loudly but with the wall muffling his words. I walked down the hallway, pressing my ear gently against the door to hear him explaining everything to Taehyung. While I would have liked the choice to tell him myself, a part of me was relieved that it gave me the chance to avoid the sure double dose of anger he'd be holding inside.

I already knew what I needed to do and moved quickly to my closet. I tugged out the same old box, the corners dull and edges held together by tape, and placed it in front of their bedroom door. I racked my knuckles against the wood twice before turning back down the hall, grabbing my keys and wallet from the table and heading into the city in search of alternative comfort.

I found it by indulging in all of my favorite foods, having a bowl of amatriciana so large that I usually would have halved it to take home and going for a hunk of tiramisu directly after. As soon as I took the last bite I realized I'd eaten well past the point of being full, making the walk back to the apartment so uncomfortable that I unbuttoned my pants for some relief while standing in the elevator.

It was nightfall by the time I stepped back into the apartment, stripping myself of my pants in the living room and pulling my hair through the elastic that I kept on my wrist. I brushed my teeth and switched my t-shirt for a fresh one from the dryer to sleep in, noticing that the box was no longer on the floor where I left it.

The lack of sound throughout the apartment told me that they were either stewing or had fallen asleep. I was tempted to go to their room, to crawl into bed between them like always, but I feared they'd reject me and that it'd ruin me more.

I was relieved by the lump underneath the covers in my bedroom. I pulled them back before climbing from the bottom into my side against the wall next to Jungkook. We apologized to each other with only a look, his arm snaking around my waist and lips brushing against mine as he talked.