Between Blood and Desire ~ YoonMinSeok

The Night of Truth.

Authors pov

Four days later...

It had been four long days, but to Hoseok, they felt like a lifetime. Each day brought its own storm of emotions, leaving him exhausted and confused. Jimin’s behavior was the source of his turmoil—one moment warm and tender, pulling him in for a kiss and treating him like royalty; the next, cold and distant, as if Hoseok were a stranger.

Now, in the stillness of the night, with the faint hum of the world outside, Hoseok sat on the living room couch. The television was off, and the darkness felt oppressive. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes with a sigh, the weight of his thoughts pressing on him.

The feeling of the couch dipping startled him, and his eyes flew open. He turned to his side to see Jimin sitting beside him, his expression unreadable.

They stared at each other in silence, no words exchanged but a thousand unspoken emotions hanging in the air. The quiet was heavy, almost suffocating, until Jimin leaned in, his lips brushing against Hoseok’s teasingly. He captured Hoseok’s bottom lip between his teeth, tugging gently before letting it snap back.

Hoseok’s breath hitched as he bit his lip, his gaze locked on Jimin. Finally, he found his voice. "What are you doing?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and frustration.

Jimin furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

Hoseok sighed, leaning back into the couch and turning his head away. "What’s with the mixed signals?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "It’s killing me, Jimin."

Jimin studied him for a moment before shaking his head. "They’re not mixed signals," he replied softly. "You’re just too oblivious to see."

Hoseok turned back to face him, confusion etched across his face. "What?"

Jimin shrugged, a small, nervous laugh escaping him. "It’s stupid," he muttered, leaning back into the couch.

An awkward silence settled between them, the only sound their soft, uneven breaths. But almost simultaneously, they both spoke.

"I still love you."

Their words collided, their eyes widening in surprise as they turned to each other.

"Really?" they said in unison, their voices tinged with disbelief.

A moment passed before they burst into laughter, the tension dissolving like morning mist. When the laughter faded, the silence that followed felt warmer, more forgiving.

"I’m sorry," Hoseok said suddenly, his voice breaking the stillness. He intertwined their hands then looked down at their joined fingers, his thumb brushing over Jimin’s knuckles. "For everything. For cheating, for breaking your heart, for giving in to temptation. I was stupid, Jimin. I hurt you, and I can never take that back. But I’m so, so sorry."

Jimin nodded slowly, his gaze softening. "I’ve forgiven you," he said simply.

Hoseok’s lips curved into a faint smile as he brought Jimin’s hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to it. They locked eyes, the room feeling smaller, more intimate.

"Say what’s on your mind," Jimin urged, his voice tender.

Hoseok blushed, the color spreading across his cheeks. He took a deep breath, his voice trembling as he spoke. "I love Yoongi too," he confessed, his words rushing out before he could stop them. "I—" He froze, panic flashing across his face. "I’m sorry. I can’t control it. I don’t want to hurt you again, Jimin, but I—"

Jimin hummed thoughtfully, cutting him off. "I understand," he said, surprising Hoseok with his calmness. "I called Yoongi. He’s coming here tomorrow. We all need to settle this, Hoseok. Everyone deserves a second chance, even if…" His voice faltered for a moment. "Even if it shattered me."

Hoseok moved closer, cupping Jimin’s cheeks with trembling hands. "I love you," he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion. "I love you so much, Jimin. You are my anchor, my home. Every moment I spend with you feels like the first bloom of spring, full of promise and beauty. You make me better, even when I don’t deserve it. Your strength, your kindness, your heart—they’re everything I didn’t know I needed. And I swear, with every part of me, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I will cherish you, protect you, love you until my last breath. You are my everything, Jimin. Always have been. Always will be."

Jimin’s eyes filled with tears, the words piercing through every wall he had built around his heart. He pulled Hoseok into a tight hug, holding him as though he’d disappear if he let go.

"Don’t leave me," Jimin whispered, his voice cracking. "Please, Hoseok, don’t ever leave me."

"I won’t," Hoseok promised, his voice steady and sure. "Never again."

And in the quiet embrace of the night, they held onto each other, hearts slowly mending as the promise of a better tomorrow lingered in the air.