Crystal Bond [Jikook] ✅

| Chapter-25 |

With unspoken words, the moon hung heavy in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the quiet mansion as Park Jimin lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was dark except for the faint light filtering in through the curtains, and the soft hum of the ocean outside was the only sound breaking the stillness. Jimin's mind, however, was far from quiet.

He replayed the night in his head—how Jungkook had held him, kissed him, made him feel things he hadn't known were possible. But it wasn't the physical closeness that lingered in Jimin's thoughts. It was the words Jungkook had whispered, so full of sincerity, surety and emotion: "I love you."

Jimin hadn't responded.

It wasn't that he didn't feel something for Jungkook. Of course he did. He felt drawn to his strange man in ways he couldn't explain—his presence was magnetic, comforting, powerful. But when Jungkook had confessed his love, Jimin had been frozen, unsure of what to say, unsure of how to process the sudden intensity of it all and most importantly the mysterious doubts about Jungkook lingered in Jimin's mind. Numerous unanswered questions by Jungkook about his identity. All these things had bought Jimin to the edge of haze, leading to his own train of doubts and questions full of confusion So he had said nothing. And now, as the silence stretched between them, he could feel the weight of it growing.

In the adjacent room, Jungkook sat at the edge of his bed, his hands clasped tightly together. His heart was heavy, and the gnawing feeling of doubt had begun to take root deep within him. He replayed the moment over and over—how he had looked into Jimin's eyes, felt the truth of his words spilling from his lips, only to be met with silence.

Jimin had said nothing.

Jungkook's jaw clenched as insecurity and fear twisted inside him, emotions he had not felt in over a millennium. For the first time in 1000 years, he thought he had found his mate—the one person who would love him for who he was, despite the mysteries surrounding him. But now, that hope felt fragile, almost like it had been an illusion.

"Was I wrong?" The thought gnawed at him, darker and more invasive with each passing moment. What if Jimin was just... passing time? What if the human didn't truly care for him but he saved Jungkook's life by not caring about his own right? Maybe he had used Jungkook—drawn in by curiosity about the mysterious, strange world which Jungkook had lied about, was Jimin tied to him but with no real intention of loving him. Or was it what humans call, was Jungkook just a way to explore Jimin's own feelings?

Jungkook stood abruptly, his body tensed, as he walked to the window and stared out into the night. The city lights flickered in the distance, but all he could focus on was the emptiness he suddenly felt inside. Not even the ocean could calm him now. The deep insecurities he had tried to keep buried were now bubbling to the surface—his distrust of humans, his doubts about love, and the fear that he would never truly be understood or accepted. The fear that he was not destined with mate was getting the best out of him.

"Does Jimin hate me?" Jungkook's chest tightened as the thought crossed his mind. Perhaps Jimin's silence wasn't just hesitation—perhaps it was disgust. Jungkook had hidden the truth about who he was for so long. What if Jimin couldn't handle knowing the full truth? What if, after learning that Jungkook wasn't just a man, but an immortal water god, merman Emperor of all oceans, Jimin would turn away?

The thought of losing Jimin, of the possibility that this bond was one-sided, tore at him. He had waited so long, hoping for someone to love, someone who could see past the surface and love him for the person he truly was. But now, his heart was in turmoil, battling between hope of losing his possible mate in despair.

The next morning, the atmosphere in the mansion was thick with unspoken tension. Jimin and Jungkook hadn't spoken since that night. Jimin, sensing the weight of Jungkook's silence, tried to approach him in the kitchen as the smell of fresh coffee filled the room. Jungkook, who normally greeted Jimin with warmth, seemed distant—his movements stiff and his gaze averted.

"Jungkook," Jimin began, his voice soft but uncertain. "About last night—"

Jungkook turned slightly, but his expression was unreadable. "You don't have to say anything, Jimin," he said, his voice low, though there was a sharp edge to it that Jimin couldn't miss. "I understand."

Jimin blinked, taken aback by the coldness in Jungkook's tone. "What do you mean?" But later he expected and figured out the tension.

Jungkook finally turned to face him, his dark eyes searching Jimin's face for something—anything—that might soothe the ache in his chest. But the silence between them from the night before echoed in his mind. "I told you I loved you," Jungkook said, his voice tight with emotion. "But you didn't say it back."

Jimin's heart skipped a beat as he saw the pain flicker across Jungkook's face. He hadn't realized how much his silence had affected him. "It's not that I don't—"

"Then what is it?" Jungkook's voice was louder now, the hurt clear in his words. "Was I wrong to trust you? To think that you might feel the same way? Or are you just... passing the time with me until you get bored? Are all humans like this? I thought we felt the same and after last night——"

Jimin's eyes widened in shock. "No! It's not like that at all—"

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Jungkook demanded, his frustration spilling over. "You didn't say anything at all, Jimin!" He clutched his hairs in frustration looking with fear at Jimin. "You didn't even acknowledged my feelings neither you rejected me....."
Or is it because you have figured out that I'm a monster to your human heart Jimin?

Jungkook thought the last part internally.

To be continued.....