Chapter Text
At a small restaurant in Itaewon, Hyosang almost choked on his drink when the TV above the bar replayed a clip from the JinKook interview.
He stayed silent for a moment, watching the screen where Jin’s soft smile and Jungkook’s proud gaze filled the frame.
One of his friends nudged him. “Isn’t that…?”
“Yeah,” Hyosang replied quietly. He set his chopsticks down, a faint sigh escaping. “You know… I’m not blind. Back when Jin and I were still together, I could see it. The way he and Jungkook trusted each other so much. How close they were. I’m not saying they cheated—because I know Jin loved him like a brother loves a brother back then—but I knew… if things between us fell apart, they could easily become something more.”
His friends exchanged glances.
Hyosang’s gaze lingered on the TV again, softer now. “And yeah… I know I’m the reason we broke up. I’ll never say it out loud to the world, but I know it here—” he pressed his chest lightly, “—what I did, what I failed to do.”
The table went quiet until he suddenly added, almost casually, “Maybe I should congratulate them? It’s not bad, right? I mean… I’m not expecting anything. But I can message Jungkook-ssi—just to tell him I’m happy for them. And… maybe to say sorry to Seokjin, in my own way.”
His friends looked at him, surprised, but nodded. “Yeah… do it. People can change. You can be decent, Hyosang.”
He smirked faintly. “Jin was good to me when we were together. I can at least return a little of that now.”
Instagram DM to @mnijungkook...
Hello Jungkook-ssi.
You probably don’t expect to hear from me, and I’m not even sure if you’ll read this. I saw your Weverse Live and your interview with Jin.
I know I’m not someone who has the right to say much, but… congratulations. You both look happy, and Seol seems like a wonderful boy.
I also want to say sorry to Jin. I never admitted it before, but I know I was the reason we broke up. It wasn’t because of you or him doing anything wrong back then. I just… wasn’t the right person for him. But even when we were together, I could see how much he trusted you, how close you two were. I used to think… if me and Jin didn’t work out, maybe one day you two would. And here you are.
This message isn’t about the past—it’s just to wish you well for the future.
Take care of each other.
– Jin Hyosang
It was already past midnight when Jungkook finally put his phone down after scrolling through hundreds of mentions and articles from their interview. He wasn’t expecting to see a notification from Instagram—
DM request from: Hyosang
For a moment, he just stared at the screen, thumb hovering over the message. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to open it… but curiosity won.
The message read...
Hello Jungkook-ssi.
You probably don’t expect to hear from me, and I’m not even sure if you’ll read this. I saw your Weverse Live and your interview with Jin.
I know I’m not someone who has the right to say much, but… congratulations. You both look happy, and Seol seems like a wonderful boy.
I also want to say sorry to Jin. I never admitted it before, but I know I was the reason we broke up. It wasn’t because of you or him doing anything wrong back then. I just… wasn’t the right person for him. But even when we were together, I could see how much he trusted you, how close you two were. I used to think… if me and Jin didn’t work out, maybe one day you two would. And here you are.
This message isn’t about the past—it’s just to wish you well for the future.
Take care of each other.
– Jin Hyosang
Jungkook sat there, reading it twice, maybe three times. He didn’t feel anger—just this strange, heavy quiet in his chest.
He glanced to the side where Jin was sitting on the bed, reading a children’s book softly to Seol, who was already half-asleep.
When Jin finally closed the book, Jungkook wordlessly handed him the phone.
“Hyung… he messaged me,” Jungkook said softly.
Jin blinked, confused, until he saw the name. His expression was unreadable at first, but as he read, his shoulders eased.
When he was done, he handed the phone back with a faint smile.
“That’s… nice of him,” Jin said quietly. “We can’t change the past, but… I’m glad he knows I’m happy now.”
Jungkook nodded, slipping an arm around Jin’s waist and pulling him close.
“I’m glad you’re mine now,” he murmured.
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon in Seoul when fate decided to stir old memories.
Jin, Jungkook, and Seol were tucked away in a cozy family cafe hidden in a small alley—one of those places that smelled of fresh bread and vanilla. Seol sat happily munching on a chocolate croissant, swinging his legs under the table, while Jin and Jungkook sipped coffee and debated what to cook for dinner.
The little bell above the cafe door chimed.
Jin looked up—and froze.
Jin Hyosang.
He looked almost the same—maybe a touch older, with softer edges in his expression. He hesitated at the entrance, clearly debating whether to walk over or turn around. Jungkook’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, alert, but Jin slipped a hand under the table and rested it on Jungkook’s knee. A quiet it’s okay.
Hyosang finally approached, stopping just short of their table.
“Jin… Jungkook-ssi,” he said, voice calm but unsure. His gaze lingered on Seol, who was now watching him with wide, pastry-filled cheeks.
“Hyosang-ssi,” Jin replied evenly—neither warm nor cold, just steady. “It’s been a long time.”
Hyosang gave a small smile. “It has. I… didn’t expect to see you here. I wanted to say—” He paused, his eyes softening. “—I meant what I wrote in my message. You look happy. Really happy.”
Jungkook didn’t respond right away, but his arm slid around the back of Jin’s chair—a quiet, protective gesture.
Seol tugged on Jin’s sleeve. “Appa, is he your friend?”
Jin’s smile was faint. “He’s someone I knew when I was younger,” he said gently.
Hyosang’s gaze shifted to Seol again. “He’s beautiful. Takes after you, Jin.”
Jungkook’s voice was calm but firm when he finally spoke. “He takes after both of us.” There was pride in his tone—solid, unshakable.
Something in Hyosang’s expression softened. “I’m glad you found someone who loves you the way you deserve,” he said quietly. “And I’m sorry… for not being that person.”
Jin’s lips curved into a small but real smile. “Thank you. I’m where I’m meant to be now.”
Seol’s voice suddenly piped up, bright and sweet. “Dad, Appa, I finished my croissant! Can I get another one?”
The heaviness in the air broke. Jungkook smiled at Seol, then looked back at Hyosang. “We should get going,” he said politely.
Hyosang stepped aside, letting them pass. As they left, Jin’s fingers slipped into Jungkook’s, their hands fitting together like they always had. Jungkook gave a gentle squeeze, and Seol skipped ahead of them, humming.
They didn’t look back.
Outside, the afternoon sun wrapped around them like a promise. Jin leaned into Jungkook’s shoulder, murmuring, “You’re my forever, you know that?”
“I know,” Jungkook whispered back, kissing his temple. “And you’re mine.”
Seol twirled ahead of them, grinning. “And I’m both of yours!”
Their laughter mingled in the air.
A few meters away, in a small restaurant, an ARMY named Hana sat sipping her cola. She caught sight of them through the glass—no disguises, no cameras, no stage lights. Just a family, walking together in the open.
Jin knelt to fix Seol’s scarf, brushing hair from his son’s forehead. Jungkook’s hand settled at Jin’s back, his gaze filled with quiet devotion.
Hana smiled, her chest warm. She didn’t reach for her phone. Some moments belonged only to the people living them.
Later, she opened Twitter and typed.
@hanajoon: saw jin, jungkook & seol just now. no pics bc they deserve peace, but they looked so happy. like… really happy. i think i’ll keep that moment forever 💜
The tweet spread, gathering replies.
“they deserve the world.”
“protect them.”
“love wins.”
And somewhere, in a quiet home that evening, Jin, Jungkook, and Seol sat around their dinner table—warm light spilling across their faces, the scent of home-cooked food filling the air.
Together. At peace.
Ready for whatever came next.