Eclipsed Hearts

8

Authors pov

Hoseok was halfway through his shift at the grocery store, lost in the monotony of scanning and bagging items, when he noticed two familiar figures approaching his register. He looked up and gasped audibly, his heart skipping a beat. It was his brother, Jimin, and his husband, Namjoon, with a little child in tow who looked about four years old.

Jimin's eyes widened in shock as he recognized Hoseok. "H-Hobi?" he stammered, his voice trembling.

Hoseok nodded, forcing a bright smile. "Jimin, Namjoon!" he greeted, trying to keep his tone cheerful.

Namjoon quickly handed their child to Jimin and approached Hoseok. "It's been so long," Namjoon said warmly.

Before Hoseok could respond, Jimin handed the child to Namjoon and rushed towards Hoseok, enveloping him in a tight hug. Hoseok flinched and hissed in pain, his fresh wounds protesting the sudden pressure. Jimin immediately pulled back, worry etched across his face.

"Hobi, what's wrong? Did I hurt you?" Jimin asked, his eyes searching Hoseok's for answers.

Hoseok shook his head, maintaining his smile. "It's nothing, really. I'm just a bit sore from work. It's been a busy day."

Jimin frowned but didn't press further. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Hoseok again, more gently this time. "I've missed you so much," Jimin whispered. "I was so angry at you for not coming to my wedding, but seeing you now... none of that matters. I just want my brother back."

Hoseok's eyes filled with tears, and he hugged Jimin back, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. "I'm so sorry, Jimin. I wanted to be there, but... things were complicated."

Namjoon stepped closer, their child clinging to his leg. "We understand, Hoseok. Life can be complicated. But we're here now, and we want to catch up with you."

Hoseok nodded, feeling overwhelmed. He glanced at the child, who was peering up at him with curious eyes. "Who's this little one?" he asked, trying to shift the focus.

Jimin smiled, wiping away his tears. "This is our daughter, Eunji. Eunji, say hi to your uncle Hoseok."

Eunji waved shyly, and Hoseok felt a pang of warmth in his chest. "Hi, Eunji. It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, Uncle," Eunji said softly, her voice filled with innocence.

The moment was interrupted by a customer clearing their throat, waiting to be served. Hoseok quickly composed himself and finished processing Jimin and Namjoon's items, his hands shaking slightly. "I'm on break soon. Can we talk outside?" he asked, handing them their bags.

Jimin nodded eagerly. "Of course. We'll wait for you."

Once his break started, Hoseok found Jimin and Namjoon sitting on a bench outside the store, Eunji playing nearby. He approached them, his heart heavy with the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future.

Jimin stood up and hugged Hoseok again, this time more carefully. "Hobi, what's going on? You seem... different. And why did you flinch earlier?"

Hoseok forced a chuckle, waving off his brother's concern. "Oh, it's nothing. I've just been working a lot lately. Jaeho's been amazing, really supportive. He's actually the one who encouraged me to take this job to keep myself busy."

Namjoon raised an eyebrow, clearly not entirely convinced. "That's good to hear, Hoseok. How is Jaeho?"

Hoseok plastered on his brightest smile, even as envy twisted in his gut seeing how happy Jimin was with Namjoon and their child. "He's great! He's been working hard too. We... we're doing really well. He's always looking out for me."

Jimin's eyes softened, and he reached out to squeeze Hoseok's hand. "I'm glad to hear that, Hobi. You deserve to be happy."

Hoseok nodded, though his heart ached with the lies he was telling. "Thanks, Jimin. I missed you guys a lot. It's so nice to see you all happy."

Eunji toddled over, holding a small flower she had found. She handed it to Hoseok with a shy smile. "For you, Uncle."

Hoseok took the flower, his smile genuine this time as he crouched down to Eunji's level. "Thank you, Eunji. It's beautiful, just like you."

They spent the rest of Hoseok's break catching up, Hoseok doing his best to keep the conversation light and cheerful. He listened to Jimin talk about their life, feeling a pang of longing for the happiness they shared. But he couldn't bring himself to shatter their image of his life. He didn't want them to worry, didn't want them to see the cracks in the facade he had so carefully constructed.

As his break ended and he said his goodbyes, Hoseok felt a hollow ache in his chest. He watched Jimin, Namjoon, and Eunji walk away, hand in hand, the perfect picture of a happy family. He envied them, wished he could have that kind of happiness, that kind of love.

But for now, all he could do was return to his work, his smile a little more strained, his heart a little heavier.