Whispers of a first kiss

Chapter 60

Flashback..

The night was thick with silence, a heavy stillness that felt almost reverent, as though it were mourning along with him. Jungkook didn't know how long he'd been sitting there on the floor, back pressed against the cold wall, legs curled up against his chest.

His eyes were red and swollen, his cheeks streaked with dried tears, yet he'd stopped crying some time ago. Now, he just stared ahead, hollow and empty, as if the grief had drained him of everything.

The quiet was deep, almost comforting, until it was broken by the soft click of the door. A faint shaft of light crept into the room, revealing his brother, Suga, standing in the doorway, his figure silhouetted against the dim glow from the hallway.

"You didn't sleep?" Suga's voice was gentle, laced with the kind of concern that only an older brother could have. Jungkook lifted his head from the cradle of his arms, his vision blurry as he gazed up at him. He shook his head silently.

"It's almost three in the morning," Suga said. Jungkook didn't answer, only a slight nod acknowledging that he'd heard. There was nothing he could say, no words that could convey the ache sitting like a stone in his chest.

After a pause, Suga stepped further into the room, the solemnity of his movements a silent farewell in itself. "It's my time to leave," he murmured, a touch of sadness coloring his voice. "I have to report to the base by tomorrow evening."

Jungkook's chest tightened, a fresh wave of despair threatening to wash over him. His gaze dropped to the floor as he forced himself to nod, knowing he couldn't hold Suga back neither his Taehyung.

It was all because of him. His selfishness.

"Listen to Mom and Dad, alright?" Suga continued in a gentle but firm voice. "Don't go off somewhere without letting them know where you are. I won't always be around, so... promise me you'll be careful."

Another nod from Jungkook, but his eyes were distant, his mind drifting back to Taehyung, to the raw ache of having to let him go. How could he promise to keep going, to stay grounded, when half of him felt like it was lost already?

Suga's voice softened further. "You'll be alright. I know it feels impossible now, but you will be." He reached out, placing a hand on Jungkook's shoulder, grounding him in the present, even if just for a moment. "Prepare for your exam. The entrance test is coming up soon, right?"

Jungkook hummed faintly, a sound that was barely audible, as he kept his head down, his fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as though holding himself together. He wasn't sure he could bear another goodbye.

Suga lowered himself down to his knees, until he was eye-level with Jungkook. He reached out, brushing a few stray locks of hair away from Jungkook's face, his expression one of boundless tenderness and a sadness that mirrored Jungkook's own. With a quiet sigh, he pressed a soft kiss to Jungkook's forehead, letting his lips linger there for just a moment longer than usual, as though he could leave a piece of himself behind.

"Do you know how much your hyung loves you?" Suga's voice broke, a tremor running through his words. Jungkook looked up, and in the dim light, he saw tears glistening in his brother's eyes, barely held back.

Suga's thumb gently traced along Jungkook's cheek, wiping away a fresh tear that had slipped free. Jungkook's vision blurred again as the weight of the situation sinked in.

Without another word, Suga stood, his fingers lingering on Jungkook's shoulder for just a second more before he let go. Jungkook watched him turn and walk toward the door, his heart pounding in his chest, each step of Suga's retreating figure carving a deeper ache into his soul.