Secret (A Jungkook Fanfic)

Chapter 17 | His Big Day: A Heart That Stays Behind the Scenes

Jungkook sat in the waiting room, his foot tapping nervously against the floor. His mind was a swirl of thoughts, but none more persistent than the one that always seemed to creep in: you. The audition, the opportunity he had worked for, felt distant compared to the ache in his chest.

Taehyung glanced over at him, noticing the tension in his posture. Without a word, he reached over and squeezed Jungkook's hand gently, offering him a reassuring smile.

Taehyung – You're doing great. I'm here for you, and I know you'll be selected.

Jungkook barely registered the words. It wasn't the audition that was weighing on him—it was the silence, the distance between him and you. Namjoon, Jin, Hoseok, and Yoongi were all here for their third audition, while Taehyung and Jimin had come along to offer their support. But for Jungkook, it was hard to focus on anything else.

He looked over at Taehyung, and for a moment, their eyes met. Taehyung understood.

Taehyung – Don't worry. Everything will fall back into place. She'll talk to you.

Jungkook let out a deep sigh, looking down at his hands. He knew it was foolish to think about it, to hope that you might show up, give him a hug, whisper words of encouragement like you used to. But the reality was sinking in, heavy and undeniable. It would never be the same again. The comfort he once found in you felt like a distant memory, a dream that had slipped through his fingers.

Jungkook clutched the bunny doll tightly in his hands, the soft fabric pressing against his palms as if he were holding you in a tight embrace. His eyes stung with the threat of tears, but he blinked them away, refusing to let the emotions take over.

A voice echoed down the hall, sharp and professional, cutting through the tension in the air.

Staff - Mr. Jeon Jungkook will be called shortly, please get ready.

Jungkook's back straightened, his heart pounding harder in his chest. The nerves hit him all at once, and the weight of the moment pressed down on him. He stood up, his grip still tight on the doll, his breath shallow. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to look back at it—at the plush little bunny, its wide eyes staring back at him like an old friend.

He whispered, his voice barely a tremor in the silence of the room.

Jungkook - Wish me luck, dumbo. 

He wiped away the tear quickly, his friends surrounding him with words of encouragement.

Namjoon - All the best, Kookie.

Jungkook nodded, managing a small smile. Yoongi and Jin pulled him into a hug, their support steady and warm.

Yoongi- Show whos' my boy.

Jin- Shine there.

Hoseok smiled as he pulled Jungkook into a hug.

Hoseok - You're amazing, all the best.

Jungkook passed a smile as he nodded.

Taehyung - Know what you want, don't let it slip away. Wish you all the good luck.

He pulled Jungkook into a hug, and Jungkook returned it, his heart lighter. 

When his eyes met Jimin's, there was hesitation, but Jimin smiled. After everything, the distance that had grown between them since Busan, he wasn't sure how Jimin would respond. But Jimin, ever the empathetic one,  passed him a soft smile, the kind of smile that told Jungkook everything would be okay.

Jimin - All the very best, Jungkook.

Jungkook didn't say anything at first. Instead, he stepped forward, closing the space between them, and wrapped his arms around Jimin in a quiet but heartfelt hug. Jimin was momentarily taken aback by the sudden gesture, his arms frozen at his sides for a fraction of a second, but then he returned the hug, his smile deepening. Jungkook could feel the hesitation melting away between them, a bridge rebuilding with each second that passed. After that day in Busan, Jungkook had distanced himself, unsure of what to say, unsure of how to fix what had been broken. But here, now, he realized that maybe words weren't always necessary. Sometimes, it was just about showing up, just about being there.