Invisible Affection | Taejin

27. Vulnerability

Jin lay back on the bed with his eyes closed. He felt the coolness of Taehyung's fingers grasping the waistband of his shorts, pulling it down past his hips. Taehyung's movements paused momentarily, prompting Jin to open his eyes. To his surprise, he saw Taehyung intently studying the scar on the left side of his hip.

A rush of emotion swelled through Jin as he closed his eyes again, taking a deep, steadying breath. But his willpower faltered when he felt the warmth of Taehyung's lips gently pressing against the scar. The soft contact struck something deep within him, and tears began to pool in his eyes as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Unable to bear it, he abruptly pulled away, pushing Taehyung aside with trembling hands. Heart racing, he hurried off the bed and rushed into the bathroom, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him.

Taehyung knelt on the edge of the bed, left feeling confused. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before standing up, feeling the room's cool air against his chest as he made his way to the bathroom door where Jin had retreated. Taking a deep breath, he lightly knocked on the door. "Seokjin, are you okay?"

Silence fell heavily in response, making Taehyung's stomach twist. A knot of worry tightened in his chest as he called again, "Seokjin, can you please let me know if you're alright?"

"I'm fine, Taehyung," came Jin's voice from inside.

Relief flooded through Taehyung, but he quickly added, "I'm really sorry if I upset you or made you feel uncomfortable."

As soon as the words slipped out, the bathroom door opened, revealing Jin with tears glistening in his eyes, breaking Taehyung's heart. It was a sight he had never expected to see. "Seokjin—"

"You didn't do anything wrong. It's not your fault," Jin said, his voice shaky. "I just overreacted, and it's really nothing to do with you. I'm just sensitive about this scar... I hate it. I hate everything about it!" His voice cracked as he spoke.

Without hesitation, Taehyung reached out, pulling Jin into a hug, feeling the warmth of his body against his own. As he hugged him, he pressed a kiss to Jin's temple, letting the quiet moment between them linger.

"Whatever the reason you feel this way, I want you to know you didn't overreact. I'm sorry for what you went through, which left you with that scar and is causing you to feel the way you do."

Jin returned the hug, but the words caught in his throat as he continued to cry, unable to rein in his emotions. He felt exposed and vulnerable; it made him angry that Taehyung could draw those feelings he struggled so hard to suppress. He felt weak and helpless, feelings he disliked, but at the same time, he longed for Taehyung's affection; he craved it. He wanted to experience genuine warmth, to be seen as more than just a desire. With Taehyung, he felt a glimmer of hope for that in his life.

Pulling back slightly, Jin met Taehyung's gaze. He gently placed a hand on Taehyung's jaw, searching his eyes for comfort as he tried to hold back his tears. Then, leaning in, their lips met softly, and after a brief moment of hesitation, Jin began to kiss Taehyung, surrendering to his feelings. Taehyung welcomed the kiss, allowing Jin to take the lead, responding softly and tasting the salt of Jin's tears that mingled with their kiss.

As they pulled away from the kiss, their soft breaths mingling in the air, Taehyung wiped the tears from Jin's cheeks. "Let's go to bed," he said softly.

Jin took a deep breath, guilt washing over him. He felt responsible for initiating something that had spiraled into this moment. "I didn't mean to ruin things—"

"Stop that," Taehyung interrupted, his gaze determined as he searched Jin's eyes for understanding. "You haven't ruined anything. I treasure moments like this when I can see you for who you are. Tonight, I learned that your scar holds so much pain, pain I wish I could take away. There's nothing I hate more than seeing you cry," he confessed, his hand moving to cup Jin's face.