My Professor Agent

chapter 21

Chapter 21 – Words That Shouldn’t Have Been Said

The atmosphere at the dining table was suffocating.
Taehyung hated it—hated the way silence pressed down on him, hated the way his throat felt tight every time his eyes met Jungkook’s. The soft clinking of utensils and the occasional scrape of plates were the only sounds filling the room. No laughter. No conversation. Just awkward air, heavy enough to choke.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Jeon noticed it. They weren’t blind—anyone could see something unspoken was weighing between the two boys. The tension was sharp, almost visible. But still, they said nothing. They simply exchanged quiet glances, silently agreeing not to intrude.

Jungkook sat across from Taehyung, his gaze flicking to him every few seconds. It wasn’t obvious, but it wasn’t hidden either. He kept glancing, then looking away as if caught. Inside, though, his chest burned. He hated this distance. Hated how Taehyung refused to look at him properly. Right now, more than anything, he just wanted to vanish from the table. To escape this unbearable quiet.

Dinner ended quickly. Too quickly.

As the plates were cleared, Taehyung pushed back his chair politely. “Well… thank you for having me today. And… sorry for taking your time.”

“Taehyung, no,” Mr. Jeon said immediately, standing as well, his face apologetic. “If anything, I should be the one apologizing. For lying. I only wanted you here because I wanted you to feel at home with us.”

Taehyung shook his head lightly. “It’s okay, uncle. Really.” He turned, offering Mrs. Jeon a small smile. “Thank you for the dinner, aunty. It was… very tasty.”

Mrs. Jeon’s heart softened at his words. She stepped forward without hesitation and wrapped her arms around him.

Taehyung froze. His body went rigid—skinship wasn’t something he allowed easily. But then… something strange happened. Slowly, he let himself melt into the embrace, his arms coming up to return the hug. A warmth seeped into his chest, soft and motherly. A warmth he hadn’t felt in years.

When they pulled back, Mrs. Jeon noticed the shine in his eyes. Her brows furrowed in worry.
“What happened, dear? Did I do something wrong?”

Taehyung quickly shook his head, blinking the tears back. His voice was soft, trembling.
“No… it’s just… it felt good. It’s been so long since I felt something like that. I… I forgot what a mother’s warmth feels like.”

Mrs. Jeon’s heart ached. She cupped his cheek with both hands, her eyes gentle.
“Then don’t hold back, Taehyung. You can always ask me for a hug. Don’t forget, I’m like a mother to you too—just like to Jungkook.”

Taehyung’s lips curved into the smallest, most fragile smile. For once, he was glad he came. For once, he felt something he thought he had lost forever.

But that moment shattered with a single sentence.

“Why don’t you go and ask your real mom for a hug?”

The words came from Jungkook. Sharp. Careless. His tone was harsher than even he intended.

Taehyung’s smile disappeared instantly. His chest tightened, eyes dropping to the floor. It wasn’t the words alone that hurt—it was who said them. From Jungkook, they cut deeper than any blade.

“Jungkook! What are you saying?” Mr. Jeon’s voice boomed across the room. “Apologize to Taehyung right now!”

Jungkook only leaned back on the sofa, a bitter smirk tugging at his lips as his eyes flicked to Taehyung. To him, it was just a joke—nothing more. But Taehyung’s stiffened posture told another story.