It was late by the time Jungkook and Eun-ji finished dinner at her house. The air in the room was filled with the smell of home-cooked food, laughter, and the comfortable rhythm they had fallen into over the past few months. Jungkook had started coming over more often, escaping his hectic schedule to find solace in Eun-ji's quiet, cozy home. It felt like his safe haven, a place where he could let go and just be himself.
Tonight was no different. After finishing the last bite of the meal, Jungkook groaned dramatically, leaning back in his chair. "You’re spoiling me with your cooking, you know that?"
Eun-ji laughed, standing up to clear the table. "Well, someone has to make sure you’re eating properly. You work too hard."
Jungkook grinned, watching her as she moved around the kitchen. There was something calming about the way she fussed over the little things, the way she made him feel at home without even trying. He had always admired her, but recently, those feelings had grown into something deeper. Something he hadn’t been able to shake, no matter how much he tried to keep it light.
As Eun-ji finished washing the dishes, Jungkook made his way to the living room and flopped down onto the sofa, letting out a satisfied sigh. "I might just live here from now on," he teased, stretching his arms over his head.
Eun-ji rolled her eyes, wiping her hands on a towel. "Oh please, like you’d ever leave the spotlight."
Jungkook glanced at her as she sat down beside him, her hair falling loose over her shoulders, and the soft glow of the lamp casting a golden hue on her face. He watched her for a moment, his smile fading slightly. He didn’t want to leave, not tonight, and maybe not ever. The thoughts had been running through his head for weeks now, but tonight felt like the moment to finally say it.
Without thinking much about it, he laid his head on the armrest of the sofa and stretched his legs across, letting them rest comfortably in her lap. He closed his eyes, feeling the calm of the evening settle over him, but his heart raced with anticipation.
“You know,” Jungkook began softly, his voice low, “I’ve been thinking about something.”
Eun-ji, focused on lightly brushing her fingers absentmindedly over his shins, hummed in acknowledgment. “Yeah? What’s that?”
He hesitated for a moment, then opened his eyes and sat up slightly, propping himself on one elbow to face her. The teasing smile was gone, replaced by a rare seriousness. “I’ve been thinking about you. About us.”
Eun-ji froze for a second, her hand pausing on his leg. She turned her head, her eyes meeting his in confusion. “Us?”
Jungkook nodded, his heart pounding louder in his chest. “Yeah. I know I joke around a lot, but… lately, I’ve been feeling something more. Something I can’t ignore anymore.”
Eun-ji’s brows furrowed slightly, but she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
He swallowed hard, his nerves getting the better of him, but he pressed on. “Eun-ji, I think I’ve fallen for you.”
Her breath hitched, and she immediately pulled her hand away from his leg, sitting up straighter as she processed his words. The room suddenly felt smaller, like the air had shifted.
“I’ve been feeling this way for a while,” Jungkook continued, his voice softer now, unsure. “And I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. Being around you—it’s the best part of my day. You make everything feel… right. And I—”
“Jungkook…” Eun-ji interrupted, her voice quiet, almost pleading. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if bracing herself for what she had to say. “I… I don’t feel the same way.”
Her words hit him like a cold wave. He stared at her, blinking in disbelief. “What?”
Eun-ji looked away, biting her lip before continuing. “I care about you so much, but not in that way. You’re one of my closest friends, and I love spending time with you. But I just… I don’t see you like that.”
Jungkook sat up fully now, his legs dropping off the sofa as he leaned forward, his heart sinking. “But we’re always together… I thought maybe…”
“I know,” Eun-ji said quickly, her voice apologetic but firm. “I know I might have given you the wrong idea, but I never thought about us like that. I thought you were just being your usual playful self.”
There was a long pause as her words settled in. Jungkook’s mind raced, searching for something to say, but nothing felt right. The playful banter that usually flowed between them was gone, replaced by an awkward, heavy silence.
Finally, he let out a soft, bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. “I guess I misread things, huh?”
Eun-ji looked at him with pained eyes. “I’m so sorry, Jungkook. I never wanted to hurt you.”
He shook his head, forcing a smile. “No, it’s okay. I mean, I get it. I just… I guess I was hoping.”
She reached out, hesitating before placing a gentle hand on his arm. “You mean so much to me. I don’t want this to change anything between us.”
Jungkook glanced at her, and for a brief moment, he thought about how easy it would be to say everything was fine, to brush it off like one of his jokes. But the truth was, it hurt. And he didn’t know how to pretend it didn’t.
“I don’t know if it can go back to how it was,” he admitted quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Eun-ji’s face fell, her hand dropping to her side. “I understand. But I hope, with time…”
Jungkook nodded, standing up from the sofa and shoving his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. Maybe with time.”
He gave her a small smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “I think I should go. It’s getting late.”
Eun-ji stood up as well, her heart aching as she watched him move toward the door. She wanted to say something, anything, to make it better, but no words came. She had never wanted to hurt him, but she couldn’t lie about her feelings.
As Jungkook reached the door, he paused, glancing back at her one last time. “Take care, okay?”
“You too,” she whispered, her voice barely holding steady.
And with that, he was gone, leaving behind the warmth of the evening, the remnants of dinner, and a friendship that had suddenly changed.
Eun-ji stood in the quiet house, feeling the weight of the moment sink in. She knew they would both need time to heal from this. And she couldn’t help but wonder if things would ever truly go back to how they were.
