Another next morning

Sunlight slipped through the curtains.

Y/N groaned softly.

Her back hurt.

Her legs felt suspiciously weak.

And someone was staring at her.

She slowly opened her eyes.

Taehyung was already awake.

Watching her.

Smirking.

“Good morning.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“No reason.”

She tried to sit up—

Immediately winced.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Careful.”

Her glare sharpened.

“Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re thinking it.”

He leaned closer.

“You ate the chocolate.”

Her face flushed instantly.

"Shut up it's  1 night before!”

“so what the effect is still there”

Silence.

Dangerous silence.

She grabbed a pillow and hit him weakly.

“This is your fault.”

He caught the pillow easily.

“My fault?”

“Yes!”

“You literally said, ‘I want you.’”

Her eyes widened.

“I did not.”

He leaned closer to her ear.

“You did.”

Her ears turned red.

“Stop remembering things.”

He laughed softly.

“Hard to forget.”

She tried to get out of bed again.

Her legs slightly betrayed her.

He immediately held her waist to steady her.

“See? Evidence.”

She hid her face in his shoulder.

“I hate you.”

“You don’t.”

“…I don’t.”

Later That Morning –

Priya walked into the house like she owned it.

She said to taehyung: hello Jiju

Tae: smirking looking at yn"hello sister in law"

Priya said without thinking anything

“Y/N! Did you try my gift?”

Y/N choked on her tea.

Taehyung almost spit his water.

Priya’s eyes narrowed.

“…Oh.”

She looked at Y/N carefully.

“Why are you walking slowly?”

“I’m not!”

“You are.”

Taehyung coughed to hide his laugh.

Priya gasped dramatically.

“YOU ATE THEM?”

Y/N whispered aggressively,

“Why would you give that?!”

Priya crossed her arms proudly.

“For marital happiness.”

Taehyung added casually,

“They’re effective.”

Y/N turned sharply.

“Stop contributing!”

Priya started laughing.

“So? Review?”

Y/N buried her face in her hands.

“I’m never accepting gifts from you again.”

Priya winked.

“I’ll restock for anniversaries.”

Taehyung looked interested.

Y/N glared at both of them.

Meanwhile – Jungkook Watching

Across the living room—

Jungkook noticed something.

Taehyung and Y/N were… different today.

Closer.

Whispering.

Laughing quietly.

Y/N swatted Taehyung’s arm. He held her hand naturally afterward.

Comfortable intimacy.

Easy affection.

It wasn’t dramatic.

But it was visible.

Arya was sitting nearby.

Watching them too.

A small smile on her face.

Jungkook leaned slightly toward her.

“You’re smiling.”

“They’re cute.”

He studied her expression.

Soft. Hopeful.

The kind of expression someone has when they believe in love.

And suddenly—

He felt something sharp in his chest.

He wanted her to look at him like that.

Not at her sister’s marriage.

At him.

Just then—

Minjae walked in and handed Arya a juice glass.

“You didn’t eat properly earlier.”

She smiled gratefully.

“Thank you.”

Jungkook’s jaw tightened slightly.

He didn’t like that.

Not at all.

For the first time—

He understood what jealousy felt like.

Not loud.

Not possessive.

But uncomfortable.

Because now he was afraid.

Afraid she might slowly move on the way he once didn’t notice.

Priya finally left.

The house quiet again.

Taehyung leaned closer to Y/N.

“Should we thank her?”

She gave him a warning look.

“Don’t even think about it.”

He smirked.

“Maybe tonight—”

She covered his mouth.

“No more chocolate experiments.”

He gently removed her hand.

“I don’t need chocolate.”

Her heart skipped.

“Why?”

He brushed his thumb lightly against her cheek.

“You already want me.”

She froze.

Speechless.

He smiled slowly.

“And I like it that way.

Well it's not completely lie...

Late Night — Jungkook’s Balcony

The city was quiet.

Jungkook leaned against the railing, and the phone pressed to his ear.

On the other side—

Arya was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

“You called me,” she said softly.

“I know,” he replied. “I just… wanted to hear your voice.

A small smile touched her lips.

“You saw them this morning, didn’t you?”

He scoffed lightly. “How could I not? Hyung was way too happy.”

Arya laughed.

“And Yn looked like she wanted to disappear.”

Jungkook grinned. “He was teasing her nonstop.”

“Of course he was.”

A pause.

Then Arya’s voice softened.

“They look… peaceful.”

Jungkook’s smile faded into something thoughtful.

“Yeah.”

Another quiet moment passed.

“Do you ever think about that?” she asked gently.

“About what?”

“Being like them.”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he looked up at the sky.

“I think about it more than I should.”

Her heart skipped.

“About us?” she whispered.

“About not messing it up.”

Silence.

Then he added, honest and low—

“I used to think love was loud. Big gestures. Drama. But when I look at them… it’s small things.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“Like how Hyung checks if Yn ate. Or how she fixes his collar without thinking.”

Arya smiled to herself.

“And how he looks at her like she’s home.”

That word hung between them.

Home.

Jungkook swallowed.

“Do I look at you like that?” he asked quietly.

She blinked at the sudden vulnerability.

“Sometimes,” she admitted.

“Sometimes?”

“When you forget to act cool.”

He laughed softly.

“I don’t act cool.”

“You do.”

“Only because I’m nervous.”

Her voice warmed. “Nervous of me?”

“Of losing you.”

The honesty made her chest tighten.

On her side of the call, she turned onto her side, hugging her pillow.

“You know what Yn told me today?” she said.

“What?”

“She said love isn’t about who confesses first. It’s about who stays when things get hard.”

Jungkook absorbed that slowly.

“That sounds like her.”

“She also said Taehyung wasn’t always perfect.”

He chuckled. “Hyung? Perfect? Please.”

“But he learned,” Arya continued softly. “And she said if someone is willing to learn for you… that matters.”

Another pause.

Then—

“I’m learning,” Jungkook said quietly.

Her throat tightened.

“I know.”

The night air brushed against his face as he closed his eyes.

“Arya.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t want to be half-hearted with you.”

Her breathing slowed.

“Then don’t.”

“I won’t.”

A soft silence.

Comfortable.

Deep.

Then suddenly—

A loud knock on Jungkook’s balcony door.

He turned.

Taehyung stood there with a glass of water, eyebrows raised.

Jungkook mouthed, Go away.

Taehyung smirked and mouthed back, Confess properly.

Arya heard the faint noise.

“Is that him?”

“Yes,” Jungkook sighed. “He’s spying.”

She laughed.

On her side, Yn suddenly flopped onto Arya’s bed dramatically.

“Are you still on the phone?” Yn whispered loudly.

Arya gasped. “Why are you in my room?”

“To monitor progress.”

“YN!”

Jungkook heard the chaos and started laughing.

“Is she there?”

“Yes, and she’s being annoying.”

“Tell her Hyung is also being annoying.”

Yn grabbed the phone from Arya suddenly.

“Jungkook! Don’t mess this up. I don’t want emotional episodes again.”

“Give it back!” Arya hissed.

Taehyung shouted from behind Jungkook, “Don’t listen to her advice, she married chaos!”

Yn yelled back through the phone, “At least I chose properly!”

The line filled with overlapping voices.

Arya finally snatched her phone back.

“Sorry.”

Jungkook smiled softly.

“It’s okay.”

A beat passed.

Then he lowered his voice again.

“Even with all this noise…”

She waited.

“I’m glad you’re on the other side of

this call.”

Her heart melted.

“I’m glad you called.”

Outside, Taehyung and Yn were still arguing about who gave worse advice.

Inside the call—

Jungkook whispered,

“Goodnight, Arya.”

“Goodnight… Jungkook.”

And even through a phone screen—

It felt a little like home.

Thank you for reading 💗