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28: embrace

The sun was low in the sky as Taehyung and Jungkook walked side by side down the quiet street, coming back from school. Neither of them said much, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

When they reached Taehyung's house, both of them stopped. Jungkook glanced at the ground, kicking at a small rock while Taehyung fiddled with the strap of his bag.

"So..." Jungkook mumbled, not really sure where to start.

Taehyung looked at him, raising a brow. "So?"

Jungkook scratched the back of his head. "Do you... wanna come over later? Like, to my place." Jungkook said quickly, stumbling over his words. "If you want. It's fine if you're busy or whatever."

Taehyung hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Okay. I just need to clean up the house a little and then change."

"Oh, sure. Yeah, no rush," Jungkook said, trying to sound chill, but the small grin on his face gave him away.

"I'll text you," Taehyung said, stepping toward his gate.

"Cool," Jungkook replied, taking a step back. "See you later, then."

"Yeah."

Jungkook walked off, feeling like he was floating a little. He couldn't stop the smile spreading across his face, no matter how hard he tried.

Taehyung stood by the gate for a moment, watching him leave before heading inside. His chest felt warm in a way he wasn't used to, and he caught himself smiling like an idiot as he started cleaning up.

This wasn't the first time they were planning on spending the evening together, but things sure felt different.

Jungkook found himself glancing at the clock every few minutes. He paced his living room, trying to act normal, but his heart was racing. Taehyung would be here soon.

When the doorbell finally rang, he rushed to the door without thinking, a wide grin already forming on his face. He yanked it open, ready to see him.

But it wasn't Taehyung.

His parents stood there instead, looking tired but carrying their usual air of authority. His mother gave him a smile, while his father nodded.

"Surprise," his mother said, stepping forward. "You weren't expecting us, were you?"

Jungkook blinked, the grin slipping off his face. "Uh... no. I wasn't."

"We have a session here in Seoul for two days, so we came back. Happy?" His mother grinned, while Jungkook tried to return the smile.

Ofcourse they weren't here just because they missed him.

"Were you waiting for someone?" his father asked, stepping into the house without waiting for an answer.

Jungkook stood frozen for a second, his heart sinking a little. "Yeah," he admitted, closing the door behind them. "I was waiting for my mate."

His parents exchanged a look. His mother raised an eyebrow, curious. "Your mate?"

Jungkook just nodded, not offering any more details. He glanced at the clock again, wondering if Taehyung would still come over or if he'd need to text him to reschedule.

His father cleared his throat. "Well, we'll talk about that later. We're starving."

Jungkook sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'll make something," he said quietly, already thinking about how this unexpected visit was going to change the evening.

But Jungkook's mother didn't let the conversation end so easily. She folded her arms, tilting her head slightly. "Your mate?" she asked, her tone sharp with curiosity. "Who is it?"