The Shadows of power

10

As the game continued, the next question brought an unexpected tension into the room. "Never have I ever... fallen truly in love."

For a moment, the silence was palpable. Then, one by one, five hands were raised: Jimin, Jungkook, Taehyung, J-Hope, and Suga, each of them smiling softly as they exchanged glances with their partners. Their love was known, open, and it showed on their faces. The warmth between them was undeniable. But as the room’s attention drifted toward the two remaining people—Namjoon and Jin—something shifted.

Jin raised his hand.

Namjoon, however, did not. He had been about to lift his hand but stopped midway, his mind racing. He knew the kinds of questions that would follow if he admitted his feelings in front of everyone. It wasn’t the right time for him. But what startled him even more was seeing Jin’s hand raised confidently, acknowledging a love that Namjoon thought they had both kept buried.

Namjoon’s eyes widened, shock evident on his face. Why would Jin raise his hand? he thought, struggling to process what was happening. He knew their shared history—the secret they had kept between them. And though it had never been fully spoken about, seeing Jin openly admit to it now was something Namjoon wasn’t prepared for.

The game was instantly forgotten as curiosity swept through the group. All eyes were now glued to Jin, eager to hear about his hidden love story. Even Namjoon, despite his confusion, couldn’t help but feel his heart beat faster. His mind was torn between panic and the need to know why Jin was doing this now.

Jungkook was the first to break the silence. "Hyung... wait, you’ve been in love?" His voice was playful, but there was genuine surprise in his tone. "You never told us anything!"

Taehyung leaned forward, eyes sparkling with interest. "Yeah, hyung! You’ve been keeping this secret? We need the full story."

The rest of the group murmured their agreement, all intrigued by this revelation. Jin, who had shared many things with them before, looked at the eager faces around him. His family, his friends—each of them was waiting for him to speak.

But Jin’s eyes couldn’t bring themselves to meet Namjoon’s. He could feel Namjoon’s gaze piercing into him, questioning and uncertain. He knew that telling this story would be difficult, especially with Namjoon sitting right there. The love they had once shared still lingered heavily in Jin’s heart, and telling the truth with Namjoon in the room made his chest tighten with emotion.

Jin took a deep breath, knowing that there was no escaping this now. The attention was squarely on him, and they were all waiting for his story. But Jin knew, too, that there was a secret—something Namjoon didn’t even know. And telling this story might be the only way to bring it out into the open.

"Well," Jin began, his voice quiet but steady. "It’s a story I’ve never told anyone… but I think it’s time." His heart pounded in his chest as he avoided Namjoon’s gaze, focusing on the others. He could feel the weight of Namjoon’s silent question hanging in the air: Why now?

But there was no turning back. Jin was ready to reveal the truth, even if it would change everything between him and Namjoon.