RACERS to RINGS

Chapter 23: Burning Secrets

Jimin’s POV

Sitting just outside the hospital room, I couldn’t shake the knot that had formed in my stomach. The fluorescent lights above cast a pale glow, making everything feel too bright, too exposed. I glanced over at Yoongi, who sat beside me, tense and silent. There was something in his posture, the way his jaw clenched and his hands rested rigidly on his knees, that gave away just how rattled he was even if he didn’t want anyone to see it.

The nurse had reassured us Hoseok would be fine and asked us to wait outside, but I could feel the weight of worry thick in the air. We both wanted to be in there with Hoseok, to make sure he was okay. And while the minutes dragged on, the silence between us grew heavier, like an elephant standing in the room that neither of us dared acknowledge.

After a while, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to break the tension, to say something—anything—to make this waiting a little more bearable.

“So…” I started, awkwardly clearing my throat, “you’re… Suga?” The words sounded strange even as I said them, like I was saying something that couldn’t possibly be true.

Yoongi’s head turned slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly. He gave me a nod, his expression hard to read, as if he were waiting for my reaction. But the truth was, I’d already had my reaction the moment he’d pulled off his helmet after the race.

Flashback

Earlier that night, the roar of engines and the smell of burning rubber were still fresh in my memory. I’d stood at the edge of the track, watching as Suga had come to Hoseok’s rescue. Suga—Yoongi—had jumped in, without hesitation, fearless, taking down that crazed fan before she could hurt Hoseok any further. And in the chaos, when he’d finally pulled off his helmet and revealed his face… I’d been floored.

Suga, the racer I’d secretly admired, the one I’d been drawn to for so long, was actually Yoongi—Hoseok’s husband. It felt like the floor had dropped out from beneath me, and there was this sting in my chest that I couldn’t quite explain.

I’d had a crush on Suga for a long time, a stupid, unrequited thing that I knew could never amount to anything. But finding out he was Yoongi… Hoseok’s husband… it felt like I’d been punched in the gut. There was no chance—no space—for anything to come of my feelings. I’d have to tuck them away, pretend they never existed, because Hoseok was my friend, and he deserved nothing but my loyalty.

Now, sitting beside Yoongi, the same man I’d admired from a distance, I was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions—disappointment, sadness, a faint jealousy I didn’t want to admit to. And beneath it all, there was a deep respect for him, for the way he’d protected Hoseok tonight.

I tried to cover up my emotions with a small, forced smile. “I… I guess I should’ve known. You both have the same fierce drive, the way you’d do anything to protect the people you care about.”

Yoongi didn’t respond, his gaze fixed forward, but I could see his grip on his knees tighten. For a moment, I thought I might have overstepped, but then he finally spoke, his voice low and steady.

“Hoseok means everything to me. That’s not something I take lightly.”

The way he said it, the intensity in his tone, left no room for doubt. There was no hesitation in his words, no question. I swallowed, a bittersweet feeling settling in my chest. I knew now, more than ever, that my feelings were misplaced. Yoongi’s heart was with Hoseok, and it was as clear as day that Hoseok felt the same. They were each other’s worlds.

The nurse’s voice broke the silence, letting us know we could go in now. Yoongi moved to stand, but I lingered for a second, watching him. He didn’t spare me another glance as he pushed the door open and stepped into the room, his attention wholly on Hoseok.

I followed behind, keeping my distance as Yoongi rushed to Hoseok’s side, their hands meeting in an instant, their eyes locking with a look that could only belong to lovers. They whispered to each other, concern etched into their faces, and I took a step back, feeling like an intruder on a private moment.

The warmth in Hoseok’s eyes, the way he looked up at Yoongi with pure happiness, made my chest ache in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Despite the brief jealousy that had flickered inside me earlier, all I could feel now was a sense of pride in my friend for finding someone who’d go to the ends of the earth for him.

Then, as I took a step toward the door, Yoongi’s gaze flicked up, locking onto mine. His arms were still around Hoseok, but his eyes bore into me with a look that sent a shiver down my spine. His gaze wasn’t warm or soft—it was intense, a warning as clear as words could be.

A chill ran through me, and I quickly looked away, swallowing hard. That look told me everything I needed to know: Yoongi knew about my feelings, however unspoken they were, and he wasn’t about to let anything or anyone disrupt what he had with Hoseok.

I forced a small smile, nodding slightly before slipping out of the room. As the door clicked shut behind me, I released a shaky breath. It was time to bury those feelings for good.

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This chapter is all Jimin POV.
Now what do you think??