Crystal Bond [Jikook]

| Chapter-26 |

The warmth of Namjoon and Jin's laughter filled the grand living room of the mansion as they settled in, but for Jungkook, it all felt muted. His gaze kept drifting toward Jimin, who, despite sitting only a few feet away, felt a world apart. The earlier conversation still echoed in Jungkook's mind—his confession, Jimin's hesitation, and the fear that now gnawed at him.

Jungkook had trusted Jimin enough to lay his heart bare, but Jimin's silence had cracked something deep within him, at least a rejection would have been less troublesome rather than the dead silence. And now, even with Namjoon's return and the lively conversation that filled the air, Jungkook couldn't shake the heavy feeling that things between him and Jimin weren't quite right.

Namjoon and Jin had naturally bonded over shared interests, their conversation flowing easily from one topic to another. Namjoon, ever the observer, had been quick to notice the tension between Jungkook and Jimin, but he kept his thoughts to himself for now. He had only just returned, and the last thing he wanted was to stir the waters prematurely.

Jimin, on the other hand, was quiet. Too quiet. He sat at the edge of the couch, sipping his coffee and avoiding Jungkook's gaze, his mind clearly elsewhere. Every time Jungkook tried to catch his eye, Jimin would shift slightly or pretend to focus on the conversation happening around him. It was subtle, but Jungkook noticed. Jimin was still ignoring him.

It wasn't the first time Jimin had withdrawn like this, and normally, Jungkook would have given him space, trusting that things would work themselves out. But this time was different. There was something deeper—an unspoken tension that seemed to stretch further with each passing moment of silence between them.

Hours passed, and as the evening wound down, Jungkook found himself restless. The conversation between Namjoon and Jin had drifted into quieter territory, with Hoseok and Taehyung joining in sporadically, but Jimin's quiet presence remained an anchor in the back of Jungkook's mind. He couldn't stand it anymore. Yoongi was long asleep in his own world on couch.

As the others began to retire to their rooms, Jungkook saw his opportunity. He crossed the room quickly, his steps purposeful, and caught up to Jimin just as the human was making his way toward the hallway leading to their rooms.

"Jimin," Jungkook called softly, but firmly.

Jimin froze mid-step, his shoulders tensing before he slowly turned to face Jungkook. His expression was carefully neutral, but there was a flicker of something—something unsure—in his eyes.

"We need to talk," Jungkook said, his voice low but steady. His gaze was intense, his emotions too raw to hold back now. "About what happened last night. About... us."

Jimin shifted on his feet, glancing around as if looking for a way out of the conversation. His lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, Jungkook thought he might actually respond. But instead, Jimin simply nodded toward the hallway, his voice quieter than usual. "Later, Jungkook. Not now."

Jungkook's chest tightened, frustration bubbling up inside him. "Why not now?" he asked, his tone edged with the frustration he had been trying to suppress. "We've been avoiding this all day, Jimin. You've been avoiding me."

Jimin's eyes flickered with guilt for just a moment, but then his expression hardened slightly. "I'm not avoiding you," he said, his voice too calm, too distant. "It's just... I've got a lot on my mind and I need to figure out few things to be sure."

Jungkook's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing. The doubt, the fear, it was all clawing at him now, threatening to spill over. He took a step closer to Jimin, his eyes pleading. "Please, Jimin. I need to know. I need to understand what's going on."