Different colors of flag || jikook

Chapter 16

The tension between Jungkook and me was still thick in the air as I sat back down with my brother. My hands were shaking slightly, the adrenaline from the confrontation still pumping through my veins. My brother squeezed my shoulder again, a silent show of support.

"Forget him," he said softly, handing me my coffee. "He's not worth your time if this is how he's going to act."

I nodded, trying to focus on his words, but my mind was still a mess. Just as I took a deep breath, determined to push Jungkook and everything that just happened out of my mind, the door to the café swung open again, and this time, it wasn't just anyone walking in it was Jin's boyfriend.

His tall frame strode confidently into the café, scanning the room until his eyes landed on us. With a smile that could light up a room, he made his way over, his presence warm and magnetic. My brother waved at him, and I felt a flicker of surprise. I hadn't expected to see him here.

"Hey, love," he said, his voice smooth and affectionate as he leaned down to give Jin a quick kiss on the cheek. It was casual, affectionate, and so natural between them that it sent a pang through me such a stark contrast to the mess I had just walked away from.

Jin smiled warmly and wrapped an arm around him, pulling him closer as he introduced him to me. "Chimchim, this is my boyfriend, Jinyoung. Baby, this is Jimin my cousin, but honestly, he's more like my real brother."

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the introduction. His boyfriend smiled at me and extended a hand. "Nice to meet you, Jimin. Jin's told me a lot about you."

I shook his hand, offering a small smile in return. "Nice to meet you too."

Just as we exchanged pleasantries, I felt a shift in the air like someone was watching us. I glanced to the side, and sure enough, there was Jungkook, sitting a few tables away with Somi. His eyes were locked on us, his expression completely changed from the smug, teasing look he'd worn earlier.

He had heard Jin introduce me as his brother.

The realization hit him hard, and I could see the guilt wash over his face. He must have thought Jin and I were something more, and that's why he had been so aggressive with his displays earlier. Now, knowing that Jin was my brother, everything had shifted.

Jungkook's eyes flicked between me, Jin, and Lee, and I could see the regret starting to settle in. His smirk was gone, replaced by a mixture of confusion, guilt, and something else something softer, more vulnerable.

I could feel his gaze burning into me, but I refused to look his way. Instead, I focused on the conversation in front of me.

"So," Jinyoung said, his voice breaking through the tension. "What were you two talking about before I came in? You looked deep in conversation."

I exchanged a glance with Jin, and he raised an eyebrow, silently asking if I wanted to share. I shook my head subtly this wasn't the time to rehash the mess with Jungkook, especially now that I knew he was overhearing everything.

"We were just catching up," Jin said smoothly, slipping his arm around jinyoung's waist. "It's been a while since I've seen chimmy so we're making the most of it."

Jinyoung smiled and nodded, clearly content with that answer. He leaned down to kiss Jin's temple affectionately, and they settled into the booth beside me.

But I couldn't shake the feeling of Jungkook's eyes on us.

When I finally did glance in his direction, our eyes met, and for a second, I saw something raw in his gaze something that looked like regret. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but then Somi leaned into him, her fingers lightly brushing his hand, and he turned his attention back to her.

But it was clear that his heart wasn't in it anymore. The playful touches, the little gestures that had been so clearly designed to provoke me they had stopped. Instead, Jungkook looked lost, his gaze occasionally drifting back to our table, where I sat with my brother and his boyfriend ,the realization of his jealousy and mistakes hanging heavy in the air.

Later, as Jin and I got up to leave the café, Jinyoung excused himself to use the restroom, leaving just the two of us. As we made our way toward the exit, I could feel Jungkook watching us. He stood up abruptly, leaving Somi at the table and walking over.

"Jimin," he said, his voice softer than I'd expected, almost hesitant.

I turned to face him, my expression guarded. "What?"

He glanced at Jin, then back at me. "Look, I... I didn't know he was your brother."

My eyebrows lifted slightly, surprised by the vulnerability in his tone. "And what if he wasn't?"

Jungkook winced, realizing what I meant. "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have......."

"Shouldn't have what?" I interrupted, my voice cool but steady. "Tried to make me jealous? Paraded Somi in front of me like she was some prize just to get a reaction?"

Jungkook looked down, guilt clear on his face. "I screwed up."

I crossed my arms, still not ready to let him off the hook. "Yeah, you did."

For a moment, neither of us said anything. Jungkook shifted uncomfortably, clearly unsure of how to fix the mess he'd made. "It's just... when I saw you with him, I thought....."

"You thought wrong," I said sharply. "And even if you hadn't, what difference would it have made? You're still with her."

Jungkook opened his mouth to argue, but the words seemed to die in his throat. He looked genuinely lost for the first time, the cocky facade completely gone. "I don't know what to do," he admitted quietly.

I stared at him, the frustration and anger I'd been holding onto starting to give way to something else. Pity, maybe. Understanding. Because as much as I hated what he'd done, I knew that we were both caught in a situation that wasn't easy to fix.

"You need to figure it out, Jungkook," I said softly, my voice steady but firm. "Because I'm not going to keep waiting around while you hurt me and her. Make a decision."

Jungkook nodded, looking down at the floor, clearly struggling with his own guilt and confusion. "I will," he muttered, more to himself than to me.

As I turned to leave, I felt a strange sense of relief wash over me. It wasn't exactly closure, but it was something. Jungkook had finally seen the truth, and maybe now he'd start to figure things out.