The Clandestine Us

Twenty-two

───── ❝ Jungkook's POV ❞ ─────

After what Jin-hyung said, it felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped all over me. My entire body froze, not from the cold, but from the weight of his words. Each syllable struck me like a hammer, shattering the fragile wall of denial I'd built around myself. He didn't hold back—he laid everything out, exposing every flaw, every lapse I had unknowingly made. And yet, despite the harshness, his words weren't cruel. They were a wake-up call, one I desperately needed but hadn't been prepared for.

He made me realize it all: how I failed to see the consequences of my actions, how I acted impulsively without thought, and how, without meaning to, I hurt the person I care about the most.

I know why I went to help Tzuyu. It wasn't because I considered her a friend—she wasn't, not even close. She was barely an acquaintance. But she's a girl, and somewhere deep inside, that reason was enough for me to act without hesitation.

I didn't pause to think, didn't weigh the possibilities, didn't consider how it would look. I simply acted on what felt appropriate at the moment.

And now, V-hyung has every right to be mad at me.

Namjoon-hyung was right: this misunderstanding could have been avoided if I had just thought things through rationally.

Suga-hyung was right too: it's not entirely my fault that things spiraled out of control.

But Jin-hyung... Jin-hyung was more right than anyone else. He cut through all the justifications and excuses and laid bare the truth I didn't want to face. My worry for Tzuyu, no matter how innocent, came from a place I hadn't fully acknowledged. She's a girl. And that, in itself, had been enough for me to prioritize her over my girlfriend.

When Jin-hyung left the room, I couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears came, unbidden and unstoppable, as the guilt consumed me. It felt like I was suffocating under the weight of my mistakes—the realization that while I was off helping someone else, I had completely forgotten about Jennie.

The others stayed with me, their presence a quiet comfort. Suga, Namjoon, J-Hope, and Jimin didn't say much, but they didn't need to. Just being there, silently acknowledging my pain, spoke louder than words.

"Who's hungry?" Suga finally asked, breaking the heavy silence. His voice was calm, steady, like an anchor pulling me back to reality.

Everyone raised their hands, including me, though mine was slow and hesitant. Suga noticed and gave a small, understanding nod.

No one said anything more, but the atmosphere began to shift. The suffocating tension lifted, replaced by something warmer, calmer.

"I'll cook some spicy ramen. Wait here," Suga announced, heading toward the door.

"Let's rest after we eat, okay?" Namjoon said, his voice soft but firm.

"Yeah, we've had enough for one day," Jimin replied.

"I'll see what I can do with our schedule," Namjoon added thoughtfully.

"Woah, Namjoon, you're so generous," J-Hope teased, earning a faint smile from everyone.

"Don't get your hopes up. I said I'll see, not that I'll fix it," Namjoon countered, shaking his head.

"Hyung, it's you. If anyone can pull it off, it's you," Jimin said with a grin.

Namjoon sighed but glanced my way, his expression softening.

"You feeling better?"

I nodded, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak.