The dorm was unusually still that night. The others had retreated into their rooms after a long day of practice, their laughter fading into quiet snores and muffled hums of sleep. The faint hum of the fridge was the only sound that dared to break the silence.
Jungkook sat on the edge of his bed, his phone in hand, but his thumb barely moved across the screen. The light from it lit up his face, catching the frown that had been sitting there for hours. He wasn't watching the videos. He wasn't reading the messages. He was lost in a storm of thoughts he had pushed down for too long.
The door opened with a soft click, and Taehyung stepped inside. His hair was still damp from his shower, sticking in little waves that brushed against his forehead. He didn't speak immediately, just closed the door gently and walked over. The bed dipped when he sat down beside Jungkook, close enough for their shoulders to touch. The air shifted between them, heavy with unspoken words.
"You've been quiet all evening," Taehyung said finally, his voice low, carrying both curiosity and concern. "You didn't even laugh when Jin hyung tried to rap in the kitchen."
Jungkook's lips twitched but didn't rise into a smile. His eyes stayed glued to the phone screen. His chest felt tight, as if each breath had to fight its way out.
"I'm tired, hyung," Jungkook said softly.
Taehyung tilted his head, watching him closely. "Tired of practice?"
Jungkook shook his head, finally putting the phone down. His hands rested in his lap, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. His heart pounded hard against his ribs. He didn't want to say it, but the words had been pressing against his throat for too long.
"I'm tired of pretending," Jungkook said at last, his voice cracking at the edges.
Taehyung froze, his usual playful expression fading into something more serious. He turned fully toward Jungkook, his eyes searching. "Pretending what?"
"That this… whatever's between us… doesn't matter," Jungkook said. His voice grew quiet, almost a whisper, but the weight of the confession was heavy. "That it's not real. That I don't feel it every second of the day."
The silence that followed was louder than any noise. Taehyung blinked, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. His eyes softened, vulnerable in a way he rarely allowed himself to be.
"It is real," Taehyung whispered. "At least, it is to me."
Jungkook finally lifted his gaze, meeting Taehyung's eyes. There was no teasing there, no masks, only truth. His chest tightened again, but this time with something closer to relief.
"Then say it," Jungkook said, his voice firmer now. "Out loud. So I don't have to keep guessing."
Taehyung's lips parted, his breath uneven. For a second, he looked scared. Not of Jungkook, but of the weight of what he was about to admit. Then, slowly, with a trembling exhale, he said the words.
"We're together. You and me. Dating."
The words landed between them, fragile and powerful all at once. Jungkook's eyes stung, though he didn't cry. Instead, he let out a shaky laugh, half relief and half disbelief. He dropped his phone onto the bed and turned fully toward Taehyung.
"I needed to hear you say it," Jungkook murmured.
Taehyung gave a small, nervous laugh, his shoulders easing. His hand moved hesitantly, brushing against Jungkook's. He leaned forward, until their foreheads touched, the warmth of his breath mixing with Jungkook's.
"Then hear me again," Taehyung whispered, his voice steady now. "You're mine."
Jungkook's hand slid up, fingers brushing along Taehyung's jawline. His chest ached, but in a way that felt good, like pressure finally being released. He whispered back, firm but tender, "And you're mine."
The silence that followed wasn't heavy anymore. It was peaceful, safe. Their hearts seemed to beat in sync, and for once, neither felt the need to hide.
Outside their door, the city moved on, unaware of the secret being born inside that room. But secrets had a way of finding their way out.
For now, though, they stayed close, foreheads pressed together, breathing as if the world beyond them didn't exist.