Chapter Text
The next morning, the air in the apartment still felt heavy. Jin moved quietly through the kitchen, but his mind wasn’t on breakfast. Guilt gnawed at him—he didn’t even know why he’d kept that photo all these years. He remembered that once, Jungkook had found it too, and they’d talked about it. He thought they had tossed it into a box somewhere, forgotten. Life had gotten busy, and it had seemed unimportant.
But now… why hadn’t he thrown it away after the breakup?
Don’t get him wrong—he loved Jungkook, needed him in ways he couldn’t put into words. But Jin wasn’t the kind of person to bury pieces of his past, even if they had hurt him once. Hyosang had been someone he loved back then, but that was long ago, and once he was with Jungkook, he never thought about him again. The photo was just… a memory, nothing more.
Still, he decided it was time to be honest with Seol. He could explain it in a way a child would understand. And with Jungkook gone—probably at HYBE in his studio even though there was no schedule today—it felt like the right time.
Jin sat across from Seol, hands wrapped around a mug of coffee gone cold. He’d barely taken a sip. His eyes lingered on Seol’s small, curious face.
“Seol-ah,” he began gently.
Seol looked up mid-bite, milk on his lips. “Hmm?”
Jin hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “About the picture you saw… the one you asked me about.”
Seol nodded slowly, his expression guarded — as if he wasn’t sure if he’d done something wrong. “You said he’s someone you met when you were younger.”
“That’s true,” Jin said. He let out a quiet sigh. “But… I should’ve told you a little more. He was someone I cared about a long time ago, before your dad and I were together.”
Seol tilted his head. “Like… you loved him?”
Jin’s lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. “Yes. Back then, I did. But that was a long time ago, Seol. People’s hearts change. And my heart… it belongs to your dad now. Always.”
Seol’s brow furrowed in thought, his little fingers fidgeting with the edge of his shirt. “Then why do you still have his picture?”
The question landed heavier than it should have. Jin swallowed, forcing himself to meet his son’s gaze. “Because even if someone isn’t part of your life anymore, they can still be part of your story. That picture is just… a memory. It doesn’t mean I still feel the same way. I kept it because it’s part of who I was before. But I forgot it was even there.”
Seol stared at him for a few seconds, then nodded — not fully understanding everything, but sensing the honesty in his father’s voice.
“Does dad know?” he asked quietly.
“Yes,” Jin said. “We talked about it before. And I’ll talk to him again.” He reached across the table, brushing Seol’s hair back gently. “I’m telling you this because I never want you to wonder about something and feel like you can’t ask me.”
Seol gave him a small smile. “Okay. I’m glad Dad is the one you love now.”
Jin’s chest tightened, but in a warm way this time. “Me too, Seol-ah. Me too.”
Later that night, when Jungkook finally came home, it was already past eleven. Seol was fast asleep in his room, the apartment quiet except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. Jin sat on the couch, waiting, his phone untouched beside him.
The moment he heard the door open, Jin stood up and made his way to the entrance.
“Jungkookie,” he said quietly.
Jungkook was bent over, untying his sneakers. He didn’t look up. “Hmm?”
Jin hesitated, his chest tightening. “I talked to Seol… I told him the truth.”
“Okay?” Jungkook replied flatly, still not meeting his eyes.
Jin sighed, the sound heavy in the silence. “Are you still mad at me? Can we talk properly?”
“I’m tired, hyung. Next time,” Jungkook murmured. His voice wasn’t sharp, but it was cold in its distance.
Jin didn’t push further. He just stood there and watched as Jungkook walked to their bedroom without glancing back once. The hurt was immediate and sharp—it was like a wall had been built between them overnight.
He stayed rooted to the spot until he heard the shower running behind the closed bathroom door. Then, without another thought, he grabbed his car keys from the stand. He needed to breathe, to let his frustration cool before it turned into another argument.
In the hallway, he called Yoongi. “Yoongi-ah… are you busy? Can we meet at that bar?”
There was a pause, then Yoongi’s familiar calm voice. “Yeah. I’ll be there in twenty.”
The bar they always went to when things got too heavy was dim and quiet at this hour, the kind of place where no one asked questions.
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Jungkook stepped out of the bathroom, towel draped over his shoulders. He ran a hand through his damp hair, glancing toward the bed—and frowned when he didn’t see Jin.
Checking Seol’s room, he found their son sleeping peacefully, but no Jin.
That’s when he noticed it—on the key stand by the door, Jin’s car keys were missing.
His chest tightened. It was almost midnight.
Jungkook’s fingers hovered nervously over his phone screen. He dialed Jin’s number once, twice—but no answer.
His heart twisted tighter. The guilt from their argument earlier gnawed at him, sharper now that Jin was nowhere to be found at home.
He tried calling again, hoping Jin would pick up, but the line went to voicemail.
Meanwhile, at the dimly lit bar, Jin stared into his drink, the weight of everything pressing down. Yoongi sat opposite him, silent but watchful.
Finally, Yoongi broke the quiet. “Let me ask you, hyung… why didn’t you throw that photo away right after your breakup?”
Jin rubbed the back of his neck, a tired smile tugging at his lips. “You know me—I’m not the type to bury things deep inside. I kept it as a memory. I never thought Seol would get so curious and ask you about it. I thought he’d just brush it off.”
“But he’s a child, hyung,” Yoongi said gently. “He’s naturally curious. You can’t just expect him to ignore it.”
“I know, I know,” Jin replied with a weary sigh. “That’s why I talked to him this morning. I told him the truth—the part a kid can understand.” He paused, glancing up. “And I told Jungkook that too. But when he got home, he didn’t even look at me.”
Silence stretched between them. Yoongi knew when to speak and when to hold back.
Just then, Yoongi’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then looked at Jin. Jin gave a small nod.
Yoongi answered, his voice calm but warm. “Jungkook-ah, what’s wrong?”
Without any hesitation, Jungkook’s voice came, tight and low. “Are you with Jin, hyung?”
Yoongi smiled softly. “Hmm. He’s with me. Don’t worry.”
“Okay, hyung. Take care. Let him know not to come back too late. Seol will ask about him if he wakes up in the middle of the night.”
“Got it, Jungkook-ah.”
The call ended, and the two men sat silently, exchanging a look full of unspoken understanding and concern.
Jungkook stirred awake on the living room couch, blinking against the dim light. He glanced at the clock—3 a.m.
He grabbed his phone and called Yoongi again. After a few rings, Yoongi picked up, sounding a little breathless.
“Jungkook-ah, can you help me here?” Yoongi said quickly, almost out of breath. “Hyung is so drunk. I told him we’d go home by 1 a.m., but he insisted he needed to cool down first. Didn’t realize it was already 3.”
Jungkook sighed but didn’t hesitate. He checked on Seol, still peacefully asleep, then grabbed his car keys.
Ten minutes later, he arrived at the bar. Inside, Jin was slumped at the table, laughing softly to himself at nothing in particular, the faint smell of alcohol clinging to him.
Jungkook exhaled quietly and approached. “Yoongi hyung, let me take care of him. You should go home now. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
Yoongi nodded, relieved. “Take care of hyung. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As Yoongi left, Jungkook wrapped a steady arm around Jin’s waist, helping him up. Jin leaned into him, warm and unsteady.
“Jungkook-ah,” Jin murmured, voice thick but clear, “sometimes you’re so stupid, you know that?”
Jungkook looked down at him but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
Jin’s lips curled into a faint smile despite the drunken haze. “You’re so stupid. You think I loved someone better than you?”
He leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper that was both teasing and sincere. “If I loved someone else, I wouldn’t have married you… And I wouldn’t have suffered being pregnant for nine months. Stupid Jungkook.”
Jungkook tightened his hold around Jin, heart pounding.
“Okay, hyung. I’m stupid,” he finally said with a soft laugh. “Let’s go home now.”
He shook his head, amused. “Why are you so drunk? Do you think you're a teenager or something?”
Jin chuckled lightly, but the tiredness was settling back in. Jungkook knew better than to push any further tonight.
“We’ll talk about all this tomorrow,” Jungkook said gently as he guided Jin out the door, careful and quiet, just like the promise of a better day waiting ahead.
Next morning, the sun was just beginning to peek through the thin curtains when Jin stirred awake, a soft warmth pressed against his side. His eyes fluttered open to see Jungkook still asleep beside him, their fingers loosely entwined.
For a moment, Jin just watched him—the steady rise and fall of his chest, the peaceful expression softened by sleep. Last night’s harsh words and drunken confessions felt miles away, replaced by the quiet comfort of being together.
Jin shifted carefully so as not to wake Jungkook, but a small smile tugged at his lips. The weight of the photo, the secrets, the tension—none of it seemed quite so heavy in the gentle morning light.
After a while, Jungkook blinked awake, his gaze meeting Jin’s. There was a flicker of something unspoken between them—an apology, a promise, a fragile peace.
“Morning,” Jungkook murmured, voice thick with sleep.
“Morning,” Jin replied softly, tightening his hold just a little.
Outside, the city slowly came alive, but in their quiet apartment, it was still just them—two hearts learning to navigate the past and present, one step at a time.
Jungkook sat up a little straighter, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he looked at Jin. “About last night…”
Jin met his gaze, the remnants of last night’s raw emotion still flickering in his own eyes. “I’m sorry for getting that drunk. I just… I needed to say it. I needed you to know.”
Jungkook nodded slowly, voice low but steady. “I know. And I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have shut you out like that.”
There was a pause, the kind that held years of feelings between them.
Jin reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from Jungkook’s forehead. “I love you, Jungkook. No one else. Never anyone else. That photo—it’s just a memory, nothing more.”
Jungkook’s hand found Jin’s, squeezing it gently. “I believe you. It’s just hard sometimes, you know? The past can feel like a shadow.”
Jin gave a small, sad smile. “Yeah. But we’re here now. Together. And that’s what matters.”
Jungkook nodded, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Together.”
They leaned into each other, a quiet peace settling over them as the morning sun bathed the room in warm light.