Stars Off The Stage

⊹𝖥𝗈𝗋𝗍ɣ 𝖲ꪱᜒ𝗑⊹

The parking lot fell silent as Jungkook froze.

His breath hitched, the fury in his eyes replaced by disbelief. Every muscle in his body stiffened, and the blood drained from his face as Ariana’s words echoed in his ears:

"Aaron Alexander is my twin brother."

For a few painful seconds, no one moved. The gravity of the misunderstanding settled like a lead blanket over everyone. Even the ever-composed Yoongi looked stunned. Namjoon's mouth opened slightly as if to speak, but he couldn't find the right words.

Jungkook’s gaze flicked between Ariana and Alexander—Aaron, rather. The resemblance was there. The same sharp jawline, the eyes, even their posture. How had he missed it?

The rage that had consumed Jungkook moments ago ebbed away, replaced by something far worse—shame.

“I…” he began, but his voice failed him. His hand still hovered near the spot where her slap had landed, burning hotter than fire.

Ariana’s eyes welled with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall—not now. She had bared the truth, been humiliated, accused, and torn down by the one person who was supposed to know her best.

"You didn’t even ask," she said quietly, voice cracking. "You just assumed the worst of me. Weeks of silence, of shutting me out… and this is how you choose to confront me?"

Jungkook opened his mouth again, but Namjoon stepped in, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. “Don’t,” he said firmly, eyes filled with disappointment. “Not right now.”

Aaron moved closer to Ariana, subtly placing himself between her and Jungkook, not out of hostility, but protection. Ariana didn’t lean into him—but the gesture was enough. It said everything.

“I think we should go,” Alexander said gently, glancing at Ariana for permission. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

The members stood still, the air heavy with guilt, awkwardness, and regret. As Ariana turned to leave, Jungkook took a small step forward.

“Ariana,” he whispered, but she didn’t stop.

Not this time.

She didn’t owe him that.

The weight of her name hung in the air, fragile and broken—like the pieces of Jungkook’s heart as he watched her walk away.

Each step she took felt like a thousand needles dragging across his skin. But he didn’t move. He couldn’t. His feet felt bolted to the pavement, and his voice—so powerful on stage—was utterly useless now.

Taehyung finally broke the silence.

“Jungkook-ah” he muttered, looking at Jungkook with something that was equal parts pity and frustration. “What the hell did you just do?”

Jungkook didn’t answer. He was still staring at the spot where Ariana had stood just moments ago, her tear-glossed eyes seared into his memory.

Yoongi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “This could’ve been avoided. You could’ve asked. One damn question.”

“I thought I was protecting her,” Jungkook murmured, more to himself than anyone else. “I thought he was—”

“A threat?” Jimin interjected, stepping forward. “You thought a guy who clearly looks like her was a threat?”

“She never said she had a brother,” Jungkook said weakly, like he was trying to justify the storm he had unleashed.

“And did you ever give her the chance to?” Namjoon asked sharply, voice rising. “You ghosted her, avoided her, twisted every moment into a scenario where she was the villain. Meanwhile when you are the villian, the culprit. You didn’t just not ask—you didn’t trust her.”