You Never Know [JIKOOK]

54. Wished

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"Yes, he's sleeping now," Jimin murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as he gazed down at his husband, who lay curled up on his lap. Jungkook's breathing was slow and steady, but the faint crease between his brows remained, as if even in his sleep, he couldn’t escape the weight of his thoughts.

"It must be hard for him," Taehyung said from the other line, his tone heavy with sadness. "Thinking he was the reason why your child... was gone."

Jimin swallowed the lump in his throat, his fingers gently brushing Jungkook’s soft hair. "Yeah, it is," he admitted, his chest tightening. He traced the curve of Jungkook's face with his fingertips, as if silently reassuring him that everything would be okay, even if Jungkook couldn’t hear him right now.

But what Jimin didn’t say—what he refused to say—was that it wasn’t just the miscarriage haunting Jungkook. Nathalie. The things she had done to Jungkook. The way she had shattered his husband in ways no one else knew.

Jimin clenched his jaw. No one needed to know about that. He would protect Jungkook from their pity, from the whispers of sympathy that would only make him feel weaker. Jungkook was already ashamed, already drowning in his own guilt. If others found out, if they looked at him with those eyes—Jimin couldn’t bear it.

He would carry that secret for them both.

Jimin exhaled softly, his fingers continuing to stroke Jungkook’s face, his touch delicate, comforting. He wanted Jungkook to feel safe. He wanted him to know that as long as he was here, he would never be alone.

Jimin knew what that loneliness felt like—the unbearable isolation, the feeling that no one could truly understand. He had lived through it, fought against it. And he wouldn’t let Jungkook go through the same thing. Not for another second.

He tightened his hold slightly, just enough to feel Jungkook's warmth against him.

"We were worried about you last night," Jin said, breaking the silence. "I'm glad nothing happened."

Jimin hummed softly. "Sorry," he said, his voice small. "I couldn’t even go see my mom. You guys had to take care of her again." A wave of guilt washed over him. It wasn’t their responsibility. It was his. Yet, time and time again, his friends stepped in when he couldn’t.

"Don’t be stupid, Min," Taehyung said firmly. "We’ll take care of her with open arms. You don’t even have to ask."

Jimin's lips curled into a small, bittersweet smile. He really was lucky. Taehyung and Jin had always been there, standing by his side through every storm. They never hesitated, never turned away, even when things got unbearably difficult.

"Thank you, guys," he whispered, his heart full yet aching all at once.

"But Jin-hyung..." Jimin hesitated before continuing. "Can you tell Dad that Jungkook won’t be able to work for at least two weeks?" He needed to give Jungkook time—time to breathe, time to heal. Time to remember that he wasn’t alone.

"I got it," Jin replied without hesitation. "I’ll call him later."

Jimin exhaled, relief washing over him. "Thank you," he said again, softer this time, his eyes never leaving Jungkook’s peaceful face. "For everything."

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"Kang."

Vincent froze mid-step, his entire body stiffening at the sound of that voice. That voice. The one that made his skin crawl, his breath hitch, and fear coiled around his spine like a snake.

"Kang Vincent!"

They called again, and this time, Vincent had no choice. Slowly, hesitantly, he turned around—only to meet the piercing gaze of Wang Jackson.