The morning light slipped through the thin curtains, spilling across the dorm room in soft streaks of gold. Jungkook stirred awake, his body heavy with sleep but his heart strangely light. For a moment, he forgot where he was, until the warmth beside him reminded him of everything that had happened the night before.
He turned his head slightly and saw Taehyung lying next to him, one arm draped lazily over his waist, his lips slightly parted as he breathed evenly. Jungkook's chest tightened at the sight. He had seen Taehyung like this a hundred times before during tours, shared hotel rooms, long nights of practice. But this time it felt different. This time Taehyung wasn't just his friend or bandmate. This time, he was his.
Jungkook stayed still, afraid to wake him. He studied the lines of Taehyung's face, the softness of his lashes against his skin, the faint curve of his mouth that looked like he was on the edge of smiling even in sleep. He had always known Taehyung was beautiful, but this quiet closeness made it almost unbearable.
He thought about the words from last night. We're together. Dating. You're mine. They replayed in his head over and over, like his favorite song on loop, except this melody was private, a secret for his heart alone.
Carefully, Jungkook reached for Taehyung's hand. Their fingers laced easily, as if they had always belonged together. He squeezed gently, and Taehyung stirred, opening his eyes slowly.
"Staring again?" Taehyung's voice was raspy from sleep, teasing but soft.
Jungkook felt his ears turn red. "Maybe," he whispered, though he didn't look away. "You look… peaceful."
Taehyung's lips curved into a sleepy grin. "You look sappy."
Jungkook chuckled under his breath, embarrassed but not denying it. He pulled the blanket higher over them both and shifted closer, pressing his forehead against Taehyung's shoulder. The familiar scent of his shampoo mixed with the warmth of his skin, grounding Jungkook in a way he hadn't realized he needed.
For once, there was no rush, no pressure of cameras, no fear of being seen. Just them, in this fragile bubble of safety.
"I was scared, you know," Jungkook admitted quietly, his voice muffled against Taehyung's shirt. "That maybe it was one-sided. That maybe you'd laugh at me if I ever said anything."
Taehyung's hand lifted, fingers threading through Jungkook's hair, combing slowly, soothingly. "You think I'd laugh at you for loving me?" he murmured. "I was scared too, Kook. Scared you'd never say it."
Jungkook tilted his head up, meeting Taehyung's gaze. His throat felt tight, but the words pushed their way out anyway. "I do love you."
The air stilled. Taehyung blinked, his eyes glistening as his smile softened. He didn't rush to reply. Instead, he leaned down and pressed his lips gently to Jungkook's forehead. The kiss lingered, tender and grounding.
"I love you too," Taehyung said simply, as if it was the easiest truth in the world.
Jungkook's heart thudded wildly, but this time it didn't scare him. It settled him. He curled closer into Taehyung's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
They stayed like that for what felt like hours, talking in low voices about nothing and everything. About silly moments from practice, about the way Jin's cooking always filled the dorm with strange smells, about how Namjoon's socks seemed to vanish no matter how many pairs he bought. Between the laughter and the silences, Jungkook felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: ease.
By the time the others started moving around outside, clattering dishes in the kitchen and calling to each other, Jungkook didn't want to get up. He wanted to stay here forever, in this small space where nothing else mattered but the two of them.
And for the first time in months, maybe years, Jungkook believed that kind of happiness was possible.