Chapter Text
Eight years.
That was how long Kim Seokjin and Jeon Jungkook had loved each other.
Eight years of hidden glances across crowded stages. Eight years of quiet kisses behind locked hotel doors. Eight years of promises whispered in the middle of sleepless nights after exhausting rehearsals. Eight years of learning each other's habits so well that words were rarely necessary anymore.
Their relationship had become their safest place.
After everything they had been through together—the pressure, the schedules, the endless flights across continents—they had finally found a rhythm that belonged only to them.
They were happy.
Or at least... they had been.
The Arirang Tour was supposed to be another unforgettable chapter in their lives.
Instead, it became the chapter that changed everything.
Two weeks ago, somewhere between rehearsals and back-to-back flights, Seokjin noticed something strange.
He was exhausted.
Not the usual "idol" kind of tired.
It was different.
He woke up nauseous every morning. Certain foods suddenly smelled unbearable. Coffee—his beloved coffee—made him grimace after one sip.
At first, he blamed jet lag.
Then stress.
Then lack of sleep.
Until one quiet morning in a hotel bathroom, curiosity got the better of him.
He bought a pregnancy test.
Then another.
And another.
...And another.
Four tests.
Four identical results.
Positive.
He remembered sitting on the cold bathroom floor, staring blankly at the tiny plastic sticks lined neatly on the counter.
His hands had been shaking.
Not because he was scared.
Not exactly.
More because...
He hadn't expected it.
Not now.
Not in the middle of an international tour.
Not while millions of people were waiting for BTS on stages around the world.
A week later, after several blood tests and an appointment with a doctor he trusted completely, the news became official.
One month pregnant.
Healthy.
The baby was healthy.
He was healthy.
The doctor smiled warmly as she handed him the report.
"Everything looks good, Seokjin."
He let out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"But," she continued gently, "you need to take care of yourself."
"No alcohol."
He nodded.
"No raw food."
Another nod.
"And please don't push yourself too hard. You're healthy enough to continue working for now, but your body needs rest. Listen to it."
"I will."
He truly meant it.
And for the past two weeks...
He had.
No late-night drinks with the members.
No sneaking bites of sashimi.
No pretending he wasn't tired just to keep everyone from worrying.
His manager noticed first.
Then his family.
Eventually, they were the only people who knew.
Everyone respected his decision to keep the pregnancy a secret.
Even if none of them agreed with it completely.
"You should tell Jungkook," his manager had said more than once.
His mother agreed.
Seokjin only smiled every time.
"I will."
"When?"
"...When I'm two months."
His manager sighed.
"Why wait?"
Seokjin looked down at the ultrasound photo folded carefully inside his phone case.
"Because he'll panic."
And that wasn't an exaggeration.
Jeon Jungkook loved him with everything he had.
Sometimes...
Too much.
The younger man worried over the smallest cough.
He insisted Seokjin text him after every schedule.
If Seokjin skipped one meal, Jungkook somehow found out before dinner.
If he looked even slightly tired, Jungkook was already making tea, preparing blankets, or canceling plans.
Pregnancy?
Seokjin couldn't even imagine it.
Jungkook would probably refuse to let him walk.
He'd carry every bag.
Hover over every meal.
Read every medical article on the internet.
Lose sleep worrying.
And somehow become even more protective than he already was.
Seokjin smiled to himself.
"I'll tell him when things are a little safer. When the pregnancy is more stable. When I know our baby is really okay."
Until then...
This little secret would stay between himself, his family, his manager...
...and the tiny life growing quietly beneath his heart.
There was only one problem.
Hormones.
Nobody had warned him about the hormones.
One moment he wanted to cry because someone forgot to refill the coffee machine.
The next, he wanted to punch Namjoon for breathing too loudly during breakfast.
Five minutes later, he nearly burst into tears because Hoseok handed him an extra bottle of water.
He hated it.
He couldn't control it.
Every emotion felt magnified.
Every little inconvenience suddenly became the biggest problem in the world.
He tried.
God, he tried.
He reminded himself constantly.
It's just hormones.
Don't overreact.
Breathe.
Smile.
Count to ten.
Sometimes it worked.
Sometimes...
Not so much.
After their spectacular FIFA performance, the members prepared to return to Seoul.
Everyone boarded the flight.
Except Jungkook.
"I'll stay behind for two more days," he explained while loading his luggage into another van.
"My magazine photoshoot is already scheduled here in New York. It'll save everyone another trip later."
It made perfect sense.
The members teased him a little before saying goodbye.
Seokjin hugged him a little longer than usual.
"Eat properly."
"I will."
"Sleep."
"I promise."
"And call me."
Jungkook grinned.
"I always do."
He leaned in just enough to whisper where no one else could hear.
"I miss you already."
Seokjin laughed softly.
"You've only been away for thirty seconds."
"Still counts."
Their fingers brushed one last time before they separated.
Neither of them knew that would be the last peaceful goodbye for a while.
Back in Seoul, life slowly returned to its usual rhythm.
Their apartment felt strangely quiet without Jungkook.
Seokjin spent most of his free time resting as instructed.
One evening, curled up on the couch with a blanket over his legs, he opened the private X account only a handful of people knew existed.
Just mindless scrolling.
Nothing important.
Until—
His thumb froze.
A headline.
Then another.
Then another.
JEON JUNGKOOK SPOTTED WITH MYSTERY WOMAN IN NEW YORK
Photos filled his screen.
Blurry.
Taken from a distance.
Jungkook was walking beside a woman.
She wore sunglasses and a baseball cap.
One picture showed Jungkook resting a hand against the small of her back while guiding her through a crowd.
Another made it look as though they were laughing together.
Rumors spread like wildfire.
"Are they dating?"
"She must be his girlfriend."
"They look so comfortable together."
"It definitely wasn't work."
"They were alone."
Normally...
Seokjin would've laughed.
Eight years together had taught him exactly how ridiculous these rumors were.
Every previous dating scandal had fallen apart almost immediately.
Because every single time the internet claimed Jungkook was out with someone...
He had actually been at home.
With Seokjin.
Curled against him on the couch.
Cooking ramen at midnight.
Watching movies.
Sleeping with one arm wrapped around his waist.
He trusted Jungkook completely.
Without question.
Without hesitation.
But this time...
Jungkook wasn't home.
He was thousands of miles away.
And Seokjin wasn't just Seokjin anymore.
His emotions weren't behaving.
His thoughts weren't behaving.
His heart wasn't behaving.
His hand unconsciously settled over his still-flat stomach.
Their baby.
Their family.
The headlines blurred as heat rushed to his face.
He refreshed the page.
More photos.
Videos.
More speculation.
More comments.
His jaw clenched.
"It's fake," he whispered.
He knew it was fake.
He knew.
He knew.
...So why did it hurt?
Why did every picture feel like a knife twisting somewhere deep inside his chest?
Why couldn't he stop looking?
His phone buzzed.
Jungkook ❤️
Baby, just finished the shoot.
I miss you.
Have you eaten?
Seokjin stared at the notification.
Normally, he would've smiled.
Normally, he would've replied immediately.
Instead...
His thumb hovered over the screen.
His chest tightened.
His eyes burned.
For the first time in eight years...
Kim Seokjin ignored Jungkook's message.
And somewhere across the world, Jeon Jungkook had no idea that everything was about to change.