I WILL NOT DISTURB YOU | YOONJIN (COMPLETE)

Chapter 22 - Space

Morning came quietly.

Soft sunlight slipped through the curtains while the apartment remained unusually peaceful.

For the first time in days, Yoongi woke up without panic.

No rushing.

No immediate guilt.

No forcing himself to stand up before everyone else.

Just warmth.

Warmth from Jungkook sleeping half on top of him and Seokjin's arm still wrapped tightly around his waist from behind.

For several seconds, Yoongi simply stared at the ceiling.

Listening.

Jungkook's tiny breathing.

Seokjin's slow heartbeat against his back.

Home.

His chest ached suddenly.

Not painfully.

Just... full.

Carefully, Yoongi turned his head slightly.

Seokjin was still asleep.

But even in sleep, his brows were faintly furrowed.

As if he still couldn't relax completely.

Yoongi's fingers moved unconsciously before gently smoothing the wrinkle between Seokjin's brows.

Immediately, Seokjin stirred.

"Mm..."

His eyes slowly opened before instantly searching for Yoongi first.

Always Yoongi first.

"You okay?" Seokjin asked immediately, voice rough with sleep.

Yoongi almost laughed.

"You just wake up."

"I asked first."

"...I'm okay."

"You sure?"

"Hyung."

"What?"

Yoongi finally smiled a little.

"Aren't you tired?"

Seokjin stared at him for a moment before moving closer and pressing a sleepy kiss against his forehead.

"I can sleep later."

Yoongi's smile faded slightly after hearing that.

Because that was exactly the problem.

Seokjin was watching him too much.

Breathing around him too carefully.

Acting like Yoongi would disappear if left alone for five minutes.

And Yoongi hated how guilty that made him feel.

—

Later that afternoon, Seokjin was in the laundry room while Jungkook played in the living room.

Yoongi stood alone in the kitchen.

Just staring at the kettle.

Thinking.

Thinking too much.

His eyes slowly dropped toward his stomach unconsciously.

Empty.

The word came again.

The awful word.

Before he realized it, his breathing started becoming uneven.

"Young master Jungkook!" he suddenly heard Seokjin gasp dramatically from the other room.

Jungkook squealed loudly.

"No! No! I win!"

"That's cheating!"

"It's not!"

Yoongi blinked.

Then slowly looked toward the living room.

Seokjin appeared seconds later carrying Jungkook upside down over his shoulder while the child laughed uncontrollably.

"Daddy! Put me down!"

"Criminals don't get rights."

"Daddy!"

Yoongi stared at them.

And suddenly—

Tears fell.

Seokjin froze immediately after seeing them.

His smile disappeared instantly.

"Baby?"

Yoongi quickly wiped his face.

"No, I'm okay—"

"Yoongi."

"I said I'm oka—"

"Don't do that."

Seokjin carefully put Jungkook down before walking toward him slowly.

"Don't hide it from me."

Yoongi bit his lip hard.

"I just..." his voice cracked, "I suddenly thought... maybe the baby would laugh like Jungkook too."

Silence.

Painful silence.

Seokjin's eyes immediately turned red.

But unlike before, he didn't panic.

Didn't shush him.

Didn't stop him from talking.

Instead, he stepped closer and held Yoongi gently.

"That's okay," he whispered.

Yoongi broke down quietly against his chest.

And Seokjin let him.

Because he was finally understanding something important:

Yoongi didn't need solutions.

He needed space to grieve.

—

That night, after Jungkook fell asleep on the couch surrounded by toys, Seokjin found Yoongi sitting alone near the balcony.

The city lights reflected softly in his tired eyes.

Seokjin silently sat beside him.

For a while, neither spoke.

Then—

"Hyung."

"Hm?"

"...do you think the baby hated me?"

Seokjin felt his heart physically hurt.

"What kind of question is that?"

"I couldn't protect them."

"No." Seokjin answered immediately. "Absolutely not."

Yoongi looked down.

"But I keep thinking—"

"Then stop thinking alone."

Yoongi looked at him.

And Seokjin finally said something he had been keeping inside for days.

"I think..." he swallowed hard, "we're both trying so hard to protect each other that we're grieving alone."

That stunned Yoongi silent.

"I keep pretending I'm okay because I'm scared you'll collapse," Seokjin admitted quietly. "And you keep pretending because you think you're burdening me."

Neither spoke after that.

Because both knew it was true.

Seokjin slowly intertwined their fingers.

"You don't have to survive this by yourself."

Yoongi's eyes watered again.

And this time—

He leaned into Seokjin first.