Author pov:
The evening air was crisp as Jungkook stood at the front of mirror in room, adjusting his cufflinks with a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation. Tonight was not just another corporate event—it was a celebration of their company's monumental achievement. The Elite Group of Companies status was a dream realized, and this party was the manifestation of that dream.
In venue (The Jeon mension)
Inside, the venue was a spectacle of elegance. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over well-dressed guests—business moguls, politicians, Western CEOs, and directors mingled, their conversations a low hum of success and ambition. Some had brought their daughters, adding a touch of familial warmth to the otherwise professional gathering.
Jungkook's friends—Taehyung, Yoongi, Hoseok, and Yuna—were scattered throughout the room, engaging with colleagues and guests. His parents stood nearby, exchanging pleasantries with other dignitaries. But amidst the sea of faces, Jungkook's eyes searched for one person.
Jimin.
He hadn't seen him since the office earlier that day, and the anticipation of their next encounter made his heart race. He checked his watch—Jimin was supposed to arrive any minute now.
As Jungkook adjusted his tie, his mother approached, accompanied by a beautiful young woman. "Jungkook," she began with a knowing smile, "this is Minji. She's just returned from studying abroad and is eager to meet you."
Jungkook's heart sank. He knew exactly why his mother was doing this. But for her sake, he extended a polite hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Minji."
Minji smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling. "The pleasure is mine, Jungkook."
Before the conversation could delve deeper,
the doors opened, and Jimin stepped into the hallroom. His presence was magnetic, drawing the attention of those around him. He was dressed in a tailored black suit that accentuated his figure, his hair styled to perfection. But it was his smile—warm, genuine, and directed solely at Jungkook—that made Jungkook's breath catch.
Their eyes locked across the room, and for a moment, the bustling crowd faded into the background. Jungkook's feet moved before his mind could catch up, and he found himself walking toward Jimin, his heart pounding in his chest. He never noticed his mother was calling.
"Jimin," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Jimin's smile widened as he approached, his gaze never leaving Jungkook's. The way he is wearing he got starstruck,"Jungkook," he replied softly, his voice carrying a warmth that sent a shiver down Jungkook's spine.
They stood there for a moment, words unnecessary as they simply took in each other's presence. The world around them seemed to pause, leaving only the two of them in their own bubble of shared understanding.
Breaking the silence, Jungkook spoke, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I'm glad you're here."
Jimin nodded, his eyes reflecting the same sentiment. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Just as they were about to say more, Taehyung, Yoongi, Hoseok, and Yuna joined them, interrupting the moment. Each one of them greeted Jimin with smiles and playful jabs.
"Looking sharp, Jimin!" Taehyung teased, nudging him lightly with his elbow.
Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "I'm starting to think Jimin's the one hosting this party."
Hoseok added with a grin, "Yeah, I mean, look at him! He might just steal your spotlight, Jungkook."
Jimin chuckled, his cheeks flushing slightly. "You guys are too much."
Yuna smiled warmly. "Honestly, Jimin, you look amazing. You've got that star quality."
Jimin's laugh was soft, but there was a hint of bashfulness in his eyes. "Thank you, everyone. You're all are looking good."
As the group chatted and exchanged compliments, jungkook called by his father to meet some special guest he went there.
As if sensing it, Hoseok suddenly nudged Jimin's elbow. "Hey, how about we grab some drinks?" he suggested, with a mischievous wink.Jimin, perhaps needing a break from office he, nodded, and the group made their way toward a quieter corner of the ballroom.
§∆§
Later, after several more conversations and pleasantries with various guests, and just finished speaking with a director from a major company and turned back to find Jimin seated with their friends— He began walking toward the group, but again someone called him .
Jungkook's gaze wandered around, only to find his mother walking across the room with a young woman. His heart sank slightly. Minji, no doubt. His mother was doing everything she could to get them talking, but Jungkook wasn't sure how to handle the situation.
§∆§
When Friends of group was emerged in conversation, Jimin noticed Jungkook was with two women and his smile faltered,his heart skipped a beat,His pulse quickened, and he felt an unfamiliar pang of jealousy twist in his stomach , he shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flicking between Jungkook and the young woman now speaking with old lady.
when Jungkook's eyes met his he looked away quickly.but Jungkook noticed the way his hand clenched slightly on his glass.Jimin wasn't smiling as easily as before. The warmth in his eyes had dimmed, replaced by a guarded look as he glanced up at Jungkook, almost like he was waiting for some kind of confirmation.
Jungkook cleared his throat and walked over to the table, trying to act natural, though his heart was racing. As he approached , jimin notice the young lady also coming with him.
§∆§
"Hey," Jungkook said with a smile, trying to keep his tone light. "Can we join you?"
The table fell silent for a beat, and then Hoseok grinned. "Of course, it's your party," he said with a wink.
Jungkook settled into the chair next to Jimin, and Minji glanced at him, giving him an almost too-perfect smile. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, and then Hoseok broke the tension by gesturing toward Minji. "Who's the beautiful lady with you, Jungkook?"
Jungkook glanced at Jimin, who remained silent, his expression unreadable. He cleared his throat and responded, "Ah, she's Minji. My mother's acquaintance. She told her to join me; she didn't want to be bored while my mother's busy."
Jimin didn't speak, only nodded slightly, his eyes casting a quick glance at Minji, then back at Jungkook. His lips were pressed into a thin line.
A quiet, almost imperceptible tension hung in the air.
Jungkook reached over and subtly squeezed Jimin's hand beneath the table, trying to offer a silent reassurance. "Don't think anything stupid," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
But Jimin didn't respond immediately. Instead, he simply nodded and leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting to the floor. Jungkook could sense the discomfort, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what had changed.
§∆§
As the evening drew to a close and the last of the guests made their way out, Jungkook and Jimin found themselves lingering near the balcony, the city lights twinkling softly in the distance. The quiet between them felt charged, a gentle tension hanging in the air, as if the night had been building toward this moment.
Jimin glanced at Jungkook, his gaze lingering a little longer than usual, before his lips curved into a small, thoughtful smile. "You know," he began, voice low, "I think this might be my favorite part of the night."
Jungkook raised an eyebrow, his heart skipping a beat. "Yeah? Why's that?"
Jimin took a small step closer, his voice soft but steady. "Because it's just us. No distractions. Just… this moment."
Jungkook's heart fluttered, and without thinking, he reached out to gently brush a lock of hair from Jimin's face, the gesture tender. The air between them felt heavier now, warmer, and for a brief moment, everything else seemed to fade away.
Without a word, they both leaned in, and the kiss that followed was everything they had both been holding back all night. Slow, deep, and unspoken—the kind that lingered even after they pulled apart.
Jungkook's breath was warm against Jimin's cheek as he whispered, his voice hushed but full of meaning, "Let me take you home."
Jimin nodded slowly, his smile widening just a little, "I'd like that too."
§∆§
The house had begun to empty out, the energy of the evening slowly waning as the last of the guests made their way to the door. The cleaners had started their quiet work, picking up after the night's festivities. The soft sound of their movements filled the otherwise still air.
Jungkook and Jimin found themselves alone at the foot of the staircase, lingering in a space between the bustle and the quiet aftermath. The moment felt suspended in time, as if the night hadn't quite finished yet. Jungkook could still feel the faint warmth of Jimin's touch from earlier, the soft press of their lips lingering on his mind, and he knew Jimin was thinking about it too.
Mr. Jeon, who had been chatting with some of the remaining guests at door , noticed them from across the hall and waved them over. "Come sit for a bit, both of you," he said, his voice low but inviting.
Jungkook glanced at Jimin, his gaze lingering just a moment longer than usual. He wanted to ask if Jimin was okay, but the words caught in his throat. It was hard to get a read on him in moments like this—when things were quiet, when they were both navigating something unspoken between them.
Jimin seemed to catch Jungkook's eye and, after a brief pause, walked over to the sofa, sitting stiffly on other sofa rather than beside them. It was a subtle thing, but Jungkook noticed the distance Jimin had put between them. He couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty. Was Jimin uncomfortable? Or was he still processing the events of the night?
Jungkook forced a casual smile, trying to break the tension.He glanced toward his father and said "Everything went smoother than I expected."
Mr. Jeon, who was already relaxing in his chair, nodded approvingly. "It's a relief to see it all come together. You've done well . People were still talking about it when they left."
Jimin smiled a little, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
After that The room fell into a quiet lull. There was only sound of a vacuum hummed in the background as the cleaners moved around.
Mr. Jeon, who had been watching both of them for a few moments with a careful, almost knowing gaze, leaned forward slightly, his voice more reflective than before. "You know," he said with a soft chuckle, "I've never seen you two like this. Always close, but tonight... something's different, isn't it?"
Jungkook's pulse quickened, the sudden directness of his father's tone taking him off guard. He felt Jimin tense beside him, and in that moment, Jungkook realized how much was hanging in the air between them. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words.
Mr. Jeon didn't seem to mind the silence, instead watching the two of them with an almost fatherly curiosity. His expression softened, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that Jungkook couldn't ignore.
After a moment, Mr. Jeon turned his full attention to them, his voice quiet but unwavering. "Jungkook, Jimin," he began, the familiarity of his tone cutting through the stillness. "So, I'll just ask you plainly—are you two together?"
The question hung between them, its weight settling like a thick fog in the room. Jungkook's heart seemed to skip a beat, his breath catching in his throat. It felt like the room had shrunk, like there was only the three of them now, no distractions, no escape from what had just been asked. He hadn't expected this—not like this. He wasn't sure how to answer, unsure if Jimin was ready for this conversation, unsure if he was.
Jimin didn't move. His eyes were still cast downward, but Jungkook could see the faint tremor in his hands, the way his fingers curled . There was a heavy silence before Jimin finally lifted his gaze, his expression guarded, almost defensive. He didn't look at Mr. Jeon, but at Jungkook, as if searching for some kind of answer there.
Jungkook opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He wanted to say something—wanted to reach out, to tell his father that they were still figuring things out—but he didn't. The words didn't feel enough. Not now, not with Jimin sitting so close, looking so distant, and everything between them shifting in real-time.
End of Chapter