You Never Know [JIKOOK]

40. Run

"Here," Taehyung said softly, handing Jungkook a glass of juice, his eyes filled with a quiet concern.

Jungkook accepted it with a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thank you," he murmured, taking a sip and savoring the coolness that did little to calm the turmoil inside him.

Taehyung settled into the other sofa in their cozy living area, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of a nearby lamp. "Jimin and Mrs. Park aren't here," he mentioned casually, swirling the juice in his glass. "It's just me and Minju right now."

Jungkook nodded, his thoughts distant. It had slipped his mind that today was the day Jimin visited the orphanage. He had even offered to accompany him, but Jimin had gently declined, insisting he could manage on his own.

"What's on your mind, though?" Taehyung asked, his voice laced with concern as he noticed Jungkook's distracted demeanor.

Jungkook hesitated, his fingers tracing the rim of the glass before he placed it down on the coffee table. He reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone and sliding it across the table toward Taehyung. "I got a message from someone," he said, his tone tight as he watched for Taehyung's reaction.

Taehyung's brow furrowed in curiosity. He glanced at Jungkook before picking up the phone. "What's it about?" he asked, sensing that whatever it was, it wasn't good.

Jungkook's expression darkened as he stared at the phone. "Nathalie messaged me again. This time, it's about Jimin."

At the mention of Jimin's name, Taehyung's posture straightened. He grabbed the phone, his eyes narrowing as he read the message. The number was unknown, but they both knew it was Nathalie-she was relentless and manipulative, capable of stirring trouble whenever it suited her.

Taehyung's frown deepened as he scrolled through the message, then clicked on a photo attached to it. He zoomed in, his heart sinking. "Mingyu?" he muttered, disbelief coloring his voice.

Jungkook's head snapped up at the mention of the name. "You know him?" he asked urgently, his eyes wide with anxiety.

Taehyung hesitated, his mind racing. He could see the worry etched on Jungkook's face, the tension in his shoulders. "Yeah," Taehyung finally admitted, the words heavy on his tongue.

"Who is he?" Jungkook pressed, his voice tinged with desperation. "Is he a friend of yours? Or... or Jimin's?" He was grasping at straws, trying to make sense of the uneasy feeling gnawing at him, but he believes to himself, that he would trust Jimin, always.

Taehyung sighed, biting his lower lip as he weighed his options. He could lie, but he knew Jungkook needed honesty now more than ever. "He was... Jimin's first crush," Taehyung confessed, watching the impact of his words on Jungkook's face.

Jungkook's heart clenched, the air suddenly feeling too thick to breathe. His chest tightened with an unfamiliar, painful sensation. "W-what?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't worry," Taehyung quickly interjected, seeing the panic flickering in Jungkook's eyes. "Jimin wouldn't do anything behind your back. He's not like that." Taehyung's tone was firm, trying to steady Jungkook's spiraling thoughts.

Jungkook blinked, his mind reeling, but he found himself unable to form any words in response. He wanted to believe Taehyung, to trust in Jimin completely, but the seeds of doubt Nathalie had planted were stubborn, refusing to be easily uprooted.

Taehyung glanced back at the phone screen, his mind racing for a way to alleviate Jungkook's fears. "They must have just bumped into each other at the park," he suggested, trying to sound optimistic. "It's probably nothing more than that."