Secrecy Untold

Dates are about connection.

Hoseok's fingers fumbled with the sheets, trying to smooth them out. The air in the room felt thick with unspoken tension, each creak of the old house amplifying his nerves. As he reached for the window, a thunderclap split the sky, sending a tremor through the floor. He flinched, stepping back instinctively.

He peered out into the storm. Black clouds, heavy with rain, choked out the sky. The wind howled, whipping the trees into a frenzy. Hoseok felt a chill crawl up his spine, despite the stuffy room. It was like the world itself was mirroring his own inner turmoil.

Another flash of lightning illuminated the sky, momentarily blinding him. A tear escaped his eye, unbidden, and slid down his cheek. The memory of August, his boyfriend, was a sharp, painful pang in his chest. He saw August's face, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint, as he begrudgingly agreed to join Hoseok for a walk in the rain. It was always a struggle; August hated the damp, the chill. But Hoseok's puppy  eyes, his pleading smile, were impossible to resist.

'You're such a baby, you know that?' August had muttered, his voice laced with fondness, as he pulled Hoseok's jacket tighter around him. 'But you're my baby, so I can't say no.'

The memory faded, leaving Hoseok with a hollow ache. August was gone, miles away, and the weight of his absence pressed down on him. He wrapped his arms around himself, clutching at his shirt as if trying to hold onto something tangible, something real.

'Come back soon, Augie…' he whispered, his voice a choked sob. 'Come back soon…'

He looked back out at the storm, the sky still a menacing black. The rain had started, a steady, relentless beat. Hoseok knew Yoongi would be back soon, and the charade would resume. But for now, he allowed himself to grieve for August, for the happiness that felt so far out of reach, for a love that was ripped away by circumstances beyond his control.

The rain hammered against the balcony railing, each drop a tiny echo of Hoseok's own tears. He clutched the wrought iron, the chill of the metal a welcome contrast to the heat that built in his chest. His mind was a storm, filled with images of August, his smile, his laugh, his touch, all so impossibly far away.

A hand gently landed on his shoulder, and Hoseok spun around, grabbing the arm instinctively, burying his face in the crook of the other person's neck. the familiar scent of cinnamon and rain instantly soothing him. Jungkook, his solace in this forced marriage, held him tight, his hand tracing soothing circles on Hoseok's back.

Jungkook tilted his head, his voice low. “Is this about tonight?” he asked, a sigh escaping his lips. “Is it… because of Yoongi?”

Hoseok pulled back, wiping his eyes, his gaze downcast. “I… I just…” His voice cracked.

“Don’t overthink it, Hobi,” Jungkook said, his voice soft but firm. “Look, I know Yoongi can be… difficult. He’s a stoic soul, you know? He wears his heart on his sleeve, but his sleeve’s made of granite. He doesn’t know how to show affection, how to… be a family.”

Jungkook paused, a flicker of sadness in his eyes. “He doesn’t know what it feels like to truly love and be loved. He hasn’t had that… warmth. He’s lost, Hobi. Lost in his own cold world.”

He met Hoseok’s gaze, his eyes filled with hope. “But you… you can help him. You can be the light that breaks through his walls. You can teach him what it means to be loved, what it means to be a family. Only you can do that, Hobi. Only you.”

Hoseok's gaze wandered to the dimly lit courtyard below, the rain painting streaks of grey across the stone. He stared at the water cascading down, the weight of Jungkook's words heavy on his heart.