jane doe

Chapter 26:

Jungkook stiffened. The question caught him off guard, and his grip on the glass tightened slightly. He hesitated, feeling a sudden rush of discomfort crawl up his spine. "I... I just do," he said, voice low and unconvincing, not looking up.

But Yoongi wasn't going to let the subject drop that easily. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he sipped his cappuccino, studying Jungkook carefully. "It's not like you to care what people think," he pressed, though his voice remained calm. "So, why hide them?"

Jungkook kept his eyes on the iced tea, swirling it a little as he avoided Yoongi's gaze. The directness of the question made him uneasy. He wasn't ready to explain why he kept his tattoos hidden—it wasn't something he wanted to share, not with Yoongi, not with anyone.

"I just don't like the attention," he finally said, his voice quiet but firm, making it clear he didn't want to go any deeper. His fingers drummed against the glass nervously, his eyes still downcast.

Yoongi raised an eyebrow, not quite convinced by the vague answer. "Attention or questions?" he asked, his tone soft but curious.

Jungkook swallowed hard, his heart beating a little faster. He couldn't tell if Yoongi was genuinely interested or if he was trying to get something out of him. Either way, Jungkook wasn't going to let it happen.

"I just don't want to talk about it," he muttered, a little more defensively than he intended. He glanced up briefly, meeting Yoongi's eyes for a second before quickly looking away again.

Yoongi studied him for a moment longer, then gave a small nod. "Alright," he said simply, leaning back in his chair again. "I won't push."

He took a sip of his iced tea, grateful for the cool liquid that calmed him, even if only a little.

"I saw that message you posted on Anonymity," Yoongi continued, leaning forward slightly, his voice calm but direct. "Replying to Taehyung's post. You sounded kind of... defensive. Do you hate talking about yourself that much?"

Jungkook froze mid-sip, nearly choking on his   as Yoongi's words hit him like a ton of bricks. His eyes widened for a second before he quickly composed himself, setting the glass down with a shaky hand. He didn't look up, trying to pretend the question hadn't just brought a whirlwind of anxiety with it.

Jungkook's heart pounded in his chest. He had hoped no one would connect the dots between his anonymous account and real life. It was supposed to be his space, where he could speak freely without anyone knowing it was him. But of course, Yoongi had noticed.

"I wasn't being defensive," Jungkook muttered, though his tone was laced with uncertainty. His fingers fidgeted with the napkin on the table, crumpling the edges in his hands. "I just... I don't like people knowing too much about me."

Yoongi tilted his head slightly, studying Jungkook with that quiet, observant look of his. "It seemed like Taehyung hit a nerve."

Jungkook clenched his jaw, feeling his face heat up. Taehyung's post had been playful, but it had touched on something too personal for him. Something he wasn't comfortable sharing, even anonymously.

"I just prefer to keep certain things private," Jungkook said, his voice barely above a whisper. He swallowed hard, avoiding Yoongi's gaze at all costs. He could feel the older's eyes on him, patiently waiting for a more honest answer.

Yoongi didn't press immediately, but after a moment, he leaned back and sighed. "You don't have to explain yourself to me, but it feels like you're always guarding something. Like you've built these walls, and no one's allowed past them."

Jungkook bit the inside of his cheek, tension knotting in his stomach. Yoongi wasn't wrong, but admitting it felt impossible.

Jungkook took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the conversation closing in on him. His voice was quieter now, more controlled, as he looked down at his hands, fingers still fidgeting with the napkin.