Ties of Fate

Final Game

As the night drew on, the crowd thinned out, leaving only a small group of close friends and a few stragglers lingering around the party. Jimin, still buzzing with mischief, wasn’t ready to let the night end on a simple note. He had one final trick up his sleeve, and this time, it would be even more intriguing.

“Alright, everyone,” Jimin announced, clapping his hands together to gather the remaining guests’ attention. His grin was wide, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement. “Now that we’ve said goodbye to most of the party, how about we finish the night with something... classic?”

Taehyung, still tucked securely in Jungkook’s embrace, immediately felt a wave of dread wash over him. He had learned by now that when Jimin had that look on his face, trouble wasn’t far behind.

“Jimin, please tell me you’re not thinking what I think you are,” Taehyung groaned.

Jimin’s smile grew even wider. “Oh, you know me too well, Tae! Yes, we’re playing Spin the Bottle.”

Jungkook’s eyes darkened, his possessive instincts flaring again as he tightened his grip around Taehyung’s waist. “Jimin, you really don’t know when to quit, do you?”

Jimin shrugged, unbothered by the warning in Jungkook’s voice. “Come on, it’s a classic! Just a little harmless fun to end the night.”

Taehyung shot Jimin a wary look. “Your idea of harmless fun is questionable at best.”

“Relax,” Jimin replied, grabbing an empty bottle from the bar and sauntering over to the small circle of remaining guests. “It’s just a kiss, nothing more. I promise I won’t go overboard this time.”

Taehyung’s stomach tightened. The thought of spinning a bottle and potentially having to kiss someone other than Jungkook—especially after everything that had happened that night—made him nervous. He knew Jimin was pushing his luck, but it wasn’t as though they could back out now without causing a scene.

“Alright, everyone, sit down,” Jimin instructed, gesturing for the guests to form a circle. “Let’s make this interesting!”

Taehyung exchanged a glance with Jungkook, who was clearly unhappy with the idea but knew there was no way to avoid it without making things awkward. With a sigh, they both sat down in the circle, their legs brushing as they took their places. Jimin sat across from them, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

“Let’s get started,” Jimin said, placing the bottle in the center of the circle. He gave it a swift spin, the glass glinting under the dim lighting as it twirled. Everyone’s eyes were locked on the bottle as it slowed, the anticipation in the room growing thick.

The bottle finally came to a stop, pointing directly at one of the remaining guests—a mutual friend who chuckled and leaned over to give the person next to him a quick, playful kiss. Laughter erupted in the circle, and for a moment, the tension eased.

But Jimin wasn’t done yet. He spun the bottle again, and this time, it slowed to a stop—pointing at none other than Taehyung.

Taehyung’s heart skipped a beat, and he glanced nervously at Jungkook, whose jaw had tightened immediately. His eyes bore into the bottle, then flicked up to Jimin, silently daring him to make the wrong move.

Jimin’s smirk deepened as he leaned back, clearly enjoying the situation he had created. “Alright, Taehyung, it’s your turn.”

Taehyung swallowed, his hand trembling slightly as he reached for the bottle. He spun it, silently praying that it wouldn’t land on anyone who would make things worse. The bottle spun rapidly, the air thick with anticipation.

Finally, it slowed... and stopped.

The room fell silent as everyone’s eyes followed the tip of the bottle.

It was pointing directly at Bogum.

Taehyung froze, his breath catching in his throat. The awkwardness hit him like a tidal wave, and he could practically feel the tension radiating off Jungkook beside him. The heat of Jungkook’s gaze burned into the side of his face, and Taehyung could tell that his husband was seconds away from calling the entire game off.

Bogum, completely oblivious to the storm brewing around him, offered a sheepish smile. “Well, this is awkward, huh?”

Jimin, ever the instigator, clapped his hands together. “Well, rules are rules, Tae. Go on!”

Taehyung’s mind raced. He couldn’t back out now—it would make everything even more uncomfortable. But he also knew that kissing Bogum, even in a game, would send Jungkook over the edge.

Before Taehyung could make a decision, Jungkook spoke up, his voice low and dangerous. “The game’s over.”

Jimin blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in Jungkook’s tone. “What? We’re just getting started!”

Jungkook’s eyes flashed with possessiveness as he stood up, pulling Taehyung to his feet with him. “I said, the game’s over.”

The rest of the guests exchanged nervous glances, sensing the tension in the air. Jimin, sensing that he had pushed things too far, held up his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. No need to get all worked up.”

Taehyung felt a wave of relief wash over him as Jungkook tugged him away from the circle, his arm firmly wrapped around his waist. They left the circle behind without looking back, heading toward the exit of the venue.

As soon as they were outside, Taehyung let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. He looked up at Jungkook, who still had a stormy expression on his face.

“Jungkook, I—”

Jungkook cut him off, his voice softer now but still tense. “You don’t need to say anything. I know it was just a game, but Jimin really crossed the line this time.”

Taehyung nodded, feeling guilty even though none of it had been his fault. “I didn’t want to play either. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know. I just... I can’t stand the thought of anyone else having you, even if it’s just for something stupid like a game.”

Taehyung’s heart softened at the raw honesty in Jungkook’s voice. He reached up, cupping Jungkook’s face with both hands. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m yours, and no one else’s. Not Bogum, not anyone.”

Jungkook’s eyes softened as he gazed down at Taehyung, his jealousy melting away into something warmer. He leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Taehyung’s lips.

“I know,” Jungkook murmured against his mouth. “I just love you too much to share.”

Taehyung smiled, his heart swelling with affection. “You’ll never have to.”

As they stood there in the cool night air, wrapped in each other’s embrace, the tension of the night faded away. Jimin’s mischief had stirred things up, but in the end, it only reminded them of the depth of their feelings for each other.

And that, Taehyung thought, was worth all the teasing in the world.