Love Begins at Jeju

16-Jungkook's confusions

The next day picked up with the production team calling them in for a challengers' breakfast meal altogether. The team had arranged for them to gather and enjoy breakfast, but Seokjin, ever punctual, was the first to arrive at the breakfast venue. He wore a pair of black sunglasses, attempting to hide the swelling around his eyes from the lack of sleep. The hotel restaurant was a beautiful space, offering some of the best dishes available. It was calm, quiet, and luxurious-the perfect place to start the day.

Thirty-nine minutes later, Hoseok and Yoongi arrived, chatting and laughing as they took their seats. But to Seokjin's surprise, Jungkook was 15 minutes late. When he walked into the room, Yoongi couldn't help but notice how tired Jungkook looked. His eyes were slightly swollen, and there was an air of exhaustion around him.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" Yoongi asked, raising an eyebrow as he observed the younger member's weary appearance.

Hoseok, ever the observant one, furrowed his brows, his voice filled with concern.
"You look like you didn't sleep at all. What happened? You were in the nicest room. I thought you'd be the first one up and ready."

Jungkook simply lowered his gaze as he sat down, clearly uncomfortable under the scrutiny of his older members. Seokjin's eyes lingered on him, the younger man's tired posture and the way he avoided looking at anyone only deepening Seokjin's concern. The silence between them seemed to stretch on as Seokjin's thoughts raced.

Yoongi, who had also noticed the subtle signs of fatigue, tilted his head slightly.
"Your eyes are swollen. Did you cry all night?" he asked, his voice blunt as always. The words stung, and Seokjin couldn't help but grip the glass of water in front of him, his mind in a whirl. He kept his gaze fixed on Jungkook, who seemed to shrink further into his seat at the sharp comment.

Jungkook's fingers fidgeted with his napkin, and he shook his head, not responding. His heart ached at the thought of the previous night, and he couldn't bring himself to look anyone in the eye. He felt so exposed, so vulnerable, in a way that made it almost impossible to hold it together. His mind was still wrapped in confusion, and his exhaustion was starting to feel like a heavy weight on his shoulders.

Seokjin felt the tension in the room. He had already noticed the subtle signs of Jungkook's distress last night, and now, seeing him so withdrawn, it hit him harder than he expected. His stomach twisted, unsure of what to say or do. Instead, he reached out for his coffee cup, trying to occupy his hands.

"Hyung...?" Jungkook's voice was small, barely above a whisper. He hadn't spoken up, but now his eyes hesitantly met Seokjin's for the first time since he had entered the room. "I'm... fine. Really."

Seokjin's eyes softened, his heart aching as he saw the struggle in Jungkook's expression.
"I wanna talk to you after this, can we?" he asked quietly, his voice almost tender. Jungkook simply nodded, but it was clear to Seokjin that something wasn't right.

---

The night before had been a different story.

When Jungkook came out of the shower, Seokjin wasn't in the room. The bed was empty, and for a moment, Jungkook wondered where Seokjin had gone. He felt a sudden pang of loneliness, a strange emptiness that settled in his chest. He scanned the room, but there was no sign of him. He had hoped to talk to him, to share something, anything, but the space felt so cold and empty without the older member there.

His thoughts were interrupted when his phone buzzed. It was a message from Hoseok, asking if he wanted to hang out with the rest of the group.

Jung Hoseok:
"Seokjin hyung is here. Come on, hang out with us."

Jungkook paused for a moment, feeling a twinge of hesitation. His headache still lingered, and the absence of Seokjin only made him feel more uneasy. He couldn't quite place the feeling, but something didn't feel right. Why had Seokjin left so suddenly? Why had he pulled away? His stomach churned as he thought about it.

Kookie:
"I don't feel well
My head hurts really badly."

(That was a lie, but the pang in his chest knowing Seokjin was hanging out with them after leaving him behind - all of a sudden)

Jung Hoseok:
"Did you take any meds? I can tell the crew if you need anything."

Kookie:
"No, don't worry about it. I already took some meds. I'll be fine. Enjoy your night!"

Jung Hoseok:
"Okay. Just make sure you take care of yourself and get some rest. Goodnight."

Jungkook read Hoseok's message, then turned off his phone. He could feel the strange heaviness in his chest, a sadness he couldn't shake off. The silence in the room seemed to stretch on, amplifying the unanswered questions in his mind. Why had Seokjin left so suddenly? Why hadn't he stayed? The thoughts swirled, tightening their grip on his chest.

He lay down on the bed, but sleep didn't come. He tossed and turned, unable to shake the feeling of unease that had settled within him. Every time he closed his eyes, the image of Seokjin walking out of the room, so quietly, echoed in his mind.

The confusion gnawed at him. Why had Seokjin disappeared so suddenly? Had Jungkook done something wrong? Or was it just that Seokjin needed space? His mind couldn't make sense of it, and the longer he lay there, the more isolated he felt.

The hours dragged on, and eventually, he drifted off to sleep, though it was restless. He had hoped for some sort of clarity in his dreams, but nothing came.

Seokjin returned to their hotel room at about 3 a.m., his footsteps barely making a sound as he entered. The room was dark, and Jungkook was lying on the bed, his back facing him, the covers slightly askew. Seokjin stood still for a moment, staring at the younger man, his heart twisting in his chest. He knew that Jungkook was struggling, but he also knew he had to give him space. He couldn't just dive into the situation, not when things felt so fragile.

Seokjin sighed and silently walked over to the couch, choosing to sleep there instead. He didn't want to make things worse, didn't want to cross boundaries that might make the tension more unbearable. He could feel the weight of everything between them, but it wasn't something he could fix just yet.

"I don't know if you can understand, what's happening between us, Kookie,"
Seokjin whispered to himself as he lay down on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.
"I don't know if I can fix this right now. But I'll handle this"

He spent the night tossing and turning, unable to sleep properly. The thoughts wouldn't stop racing, and the uncertainty about their relationship kept him awake. In the morning, he stood up early and dressed quickly when the production team called. By the time they were ready for breakfast, Seokjin was already dressed, but he felt the weight of the night still hanging over him.