Ahh, what can I say...all of your stories are sooo dear to me. I love all of them too much. But these two are the most favorite. I really really love them and always reread them. Thank you so much for the amazing stories đđ
â© Worst of You @oureuphoria | Angst, Fluff (Jungkook Police Officer au. Jungkook has commitment issue) <Complete>
â© @ahundredtimesover
Inevitable | Angst, Fluff, Smut (Jungkook sports au. Dad Jungkook) <Complete>
Empty Space | Angst, Smut, Fluff (Two Shots. Police Officer Jungkook. Ex fwbs) <Complete>
â© Re: Untitled @to-star-lake | Angst, Smut, Fluff (Husband Jungkook. Marriage au. It has a big twist and that is mind-blowing) <Complete>
â© His Name @jimlingss | Angst (Jungkook has DID. OC is a psychologist. It is really sad đ) <Complete>
â© Take My Hands Now @manggojooz | Angst, Fluff (Jungkook College /Uni au. OC has a special power of feeling others' pain) <Complete>
â© Angel's Trumpet @hansolmates | Fluff, Angst, Slight Smut (Jungkook idol au. Kind of fantasy au) <Complete>
â© Stoic and Redemption @blue-jade | Angst, Smut (Two shots. Husband Jungkook. Infidelity au. Parents au in the second story) <Complete>
â© @flowerwrites06
Utopic Desire | Angst, Smut (Jungkook vampire au) <Complete>
Bow to You | Angst, Smut yet (Royalty au. Infidelity au. King Jungkook Queen OC) <Ongoing>
â© To Build A Home @soft4gguk | Fluff, Smut, Angst (Single dad Jungkook. Nanny OC) <Ongoing>
â© Evolution of A Lover's Heart @jeonstudios | Angst, Fluff (Jungkook College /Uni au. Fuckboy Jungkook but he is a good person now after an incident. But he is hurt đ) <Ongoing>
â© An Ode to a Broken Heart @smoochkooks | Angst, Slight Smut yet (Drabble series. Unrequited love. Best friend au) <Ongoing>
â© Burning Love @bangtanficsforyou | Angst yet (Only prologue has come. Jungkook is OC's ex) <Ongoing>
â© Candy Cane Ache @monvante | Angst, Fluff yet (The Proposal au. Journalist Jungkook) <Ongoing>
a lost child at the mall. eyes from a different time.
pairing:Â single dad!jk x reader
genre: exes 2 (friends 2) lovers, smut, angst, fluff.
word count:Â 11.4k
masterlist
part œ <previous | next>
warnings: feelings, handjob (itâs a lo fic whatâd you expect), penetrative sex, switch!jk, switch!reader (but mostly slightly dom!jk and sub!reader((((would u believe????)))) uh, breeding kink⊠possessive/jealous (but mostly insecure) jk, feelings, abandoned koo :(, kooâs cute child.
© brown-eyed baby is copyright jeonstudios 2020, all rights are reserved. this fic can not be modified, re-posted or translated without my permission.
authorâs note: for the bts ghostie writers net challenge âdynamite dads.â my alloted trope/genre/member was âexes/old flames,â smut with jungkook. thereâs gonna be a sequel.
The newly purchased box of sneakers lies heavily in the plastic bag that swings from your grasp. During yesterdayâs surprise storm that you managed to find yourself in, your left foot had gotten suspiciously more wet than the other, and when you got home, you realized there was a big hole in the sole. How it got there and when, you have no idea.
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Pairing: shy jungkook x reader
Genre: established relationship, angst, fluff, hurt/comfort
Summary: You and Jungkook want to take your relationship to the next level, but it turns out Jungkook is not as ready as he thinks he is.
Warnings:Â jungkook is a virgin, mentions of smut, insecurity, self-deprecation, jungkook goes through it a little bit
Word Count: 2.3k
A/N: thank you @kookingtae for beta reading and helping me edit this <3
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summary; youâre snowbound at the airport, when the only thing you want is to be homebound. your anxieties heighten as the snow rises, worried that you wonât make it in time for christmas where your fiancĂ© and his parents expect youâpicture perfect. when all flights are cancelled due to a massive storm, you have to turn to the hands of an unlikely, hard-headed hero who knows the fastest way out of busan (and into your heart) pairing; jungkook x (f) reader genre/warnings; a christmas detour!au, fluff, angst, slice of life, strangers to lovers, enemies to lovers, pining, this is a total romcom, hallmark movie galore! twâmicrocheating (or not however you look at it) mentions of sex, making out, profanity w/c; 10k  a/n; for @suhdaysâ holiday hallmark event! this event was totally up my lane, i couldnât wait to post it! a huge thank u for @eerieeditsâ for making this wonderful fic banner! this is totally unedited, iâll to go back to it tonight but pls enjoy! for those of u who need a little more christmas charm this year, this is for u
if you loved this icy couple, please consider giving it a like nâshare!âââ
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jk! crazy rich asians au
rich!jk x middle-class!reader (f) genre/warnings; crazy rich asians!au, nyc!au, chaebol!jk, strangers to lovers, a meet-cute, jk is disgustingly rich, soft slow-lovin sex, lots of profanity, alcohol use w/c; 1.5k a/n; dreamy sighs. remember vicâs black card couple? It totally brought me back to how fun and amazing that series was. I really really enjoyed writing this. thank u for submitting!
âDo you⊠need help?â
âUh, no?â
Youâre not an employee, but you are an avid Target shopper. The person in question is buying a lotâno, a fuckton of things. The most expensive and best-smelling fabric softeners, over ten pints of Halo Top ice cream, and a twenty dollar toothbrush holder youâve been eyeing for weeks in the hope itâll go on sale.
The man looks absolutely clueless, not because he doesnât know what to buy, but it seems like he doesnât know how to end his Target run. Fear not, youâre a dedicated master of controlling your stress-induced Target runs, so you do your good deed of the day and decide to help him out.
âAre you furnishing an apartment?â you ask lightly, eyeing copious amounts of cookies and ramen thatâs tucked in the very bottom of the cart.
âUm, yeah,â he rubs the back of his neck, looking down sheepishly on the polished white floor. Heâs dressed down in a plain white t-shirt and black sweatpants, but youâre impressed that theyâre actually clean and creased nicely. âMy mom already got me the apartment, and I already told her thatâs too much. I told her that I could do everything myself, but sheâs so insistent.â
âAh, overprotective mother?â
âYou have no idea,â he grins, âif you have any pointers for a clueless bachelor living alone for the first time, Iâd appreciate it.â
This man is sneaky. Under the guise of being completely helpless (and a bachelor, no less!) you canât help but aid this man.
Most importantly, his smile is completely and utterly heart melting.
With a fake cough, you pat your stomach to quell the aching butterflies smothering your chest. You dare another look into his pretty brown eyes when you quickly spit your name out, which causes Jungkook to smile even wider. âWell Jungkook, for starters,â you pull up your Target app on your phone, âdo you have a Red Card? It saves you money on any Target purchase.â
âNo, but I have a black card?â he turns his head in confusion, not understanding the use of Targetâs loyalty program, âthat should work too, right?â
You simply laugh, and reason with him that youâre thinking of two completely different things.
Itâs the first time youâre spending a night in Jungkookâs apartment. He never lets you over, reasoning that your apartment is warm and smells like sugar, like what a home is supposed to be. You should be excited to be nosy in Jungkookâs apartment and see all his cute baby pictures and the type of tea he drinks. Normally youâd be over the moon, but youâre love-drunk as shit and all you want to be is wrapped up in your boyfriendâs arms.
He doesnât bother turning on the light as he weaves through his apartment building, holding you securely in koala style as he makes his way to your bedroom. Itâs a blur as youâre currently occupied by the way Jungkook somehow manages to grind his stiff dress pants against your thinly clothed core, so you donât see much of the rooms. You can only make out the faint scent of leftover lavender incense as Jungkook doesnât waste time throwing you on his plush bed, following soon to press his body against yours.
âYouâre completely, and utterly amazing,â he spreads kisses throughout every part of your body, irons them throughout your skin with warm presses of his champagne coated lips, âgonna love you so good tonight, baby.â
You simply moan in response, shimmying out of your little black dress and tilting your head to give Jungkook more access to your skin.
These past three months have been nothing short of a blissful whirlwind. Jungkook, who moved into the city as a hopeful bachelor, ironically ended up being cuffed by you after two weeks of not-so-accidental Target runs and lunch dates.
As much as youâre enamoured by his sweetness and eagerness to learn how to live on his own, heâs inspired by your independence and charm. A self-made woman, he calls you, proudly showing you off to your friends whenever he can. Oftentimes you try to reason with him that heâll be self-made too, as heâs working on a start-up thatâs just inches off from launching. Every time however, he kisses your forehead and simply says that itâs just not the same as you.
âSo lucky to have met you,â he sighs, pumping his dick languidly as he admires your glistening body, âI think Target is my favorite store in the world. Who the fuck needs Gucci or Yves?â
You giggle deliriously, thinking heâs just saying silly shit as he always does. Your giggles soon hasten into whines when you feel the slick head run up and down your engorged folds, eager to have that full and warm feeling eat you up. âKoo,â you run your fingers through his cropped dark hair, âplease, fuck me good.â
As Jungkook slowly but firmly pounds you into the mattress, your tipsy haze has you thinking how tonight feels different than most. For one thing, youâre in his apartment. It feels special, like youâve managed to break through another layer of the reserved yet open Jeon Jungkook. Sure, heâll tell you from top to bottom his top 10 Greatest Anime Betrayals, but so far he hasnât told you much about his family and life before coming to the city.
Again, you think itâs the alcohol, but it isnât just the sex, itâs the vibe. It just feels different than going home to your too-tiny one-room apartment. How is his sex playlist echoing through his walls so seamlessly? It makes The Weekndâs I Feel It Coming sound so melodious, and youâd never admit that to him. Even the sheets feel luxurious, as if theyâve been crafted by the finest seamers in the country.
When the both of you climax and nuzzle against the sheets, you stop your weird mid-sex overthinking and just let yourself love. Jungkook wipes the sweat off your brow and uses cucumber-scented baby wipes to clean upstairs and downstairs. Thereâs nothing different, there mustn't be. It must be extra special because youâre with Jeon Jungkook, the most amazing man in the world.
You donât even remember falling asleep, the mattress is just that damn soft.
The next morning, you have a slight headache and your mouth feels like paper. Smacking your tongue against the roof of your mouth, you force yourself out of bed. Pawing at the nightstand for your phone, youâre met with a cool paperweight.
Your eyes bug out as you see that a gold bar is hugging the sensitive documents against the sleek black table. Sparkly, but still dull enough to look authentically expensive. Is that real gold? You have half a mind to put the bar in your mouth and give it a little bite, just to check.
Wide awake, you chance a look at Jungkook, whoâs still sleeping soundly and facing the other side of the bedroom. Careful not to wake him, you press a single toe on the cool espresso colored hardwood and move to find his dress shirt to put on.
Buttoning the silky material enough to cover your bits, you step out the door to see if you can make breakfast.
You scream. Where the fuck are you?
âThe hell, babe?â Jungkook is all but calm at your shrill attack, his groggy morning voice that normally has you melting all but ignored.
âJungkook,â you whisper in fear, unable to turn around and face him, âwhose house did we break into last night?â
This is the penthouse, AKA, the most expensive fucking floor in the whole building. There are wall-to-wall double windows, with light-blocking curtains that open with a motion of your arm. The television is the width of the wall, with speakers embedded into the ceiling. Thereâs a wine fridge as tall as Jungkook mounted on the kitchen wall. The countertops are a milky white marble, matching the floor thatâs so shiny you can see your coochie clearly from the opening of your button down. You promptly close your legs.
âWha?â Jungkook steps behind you, a sheet wrapped around his waist to establish a modicum of decency. Now that itâs morning, you can clearly see that the eggshell sheets look so buttery they must be Egyptian. âI told you, I live here.â
âThatâs Swarovski Crystal,â you point accusingly at the million-cut vase holding an abundant amount of sunset orange tiger lilies on the kitchen counter, which youâre absolutely sure do not grow naturally in this country. âIâm pretty sure I saw Michelle Obama with that vase on an episode of Home and Garden.â
âIt was a gift,â Jungkook shrugs tiredly, and you already know he wants to pull you back to bed.
âJungkook,â you grit, âwhat the fuck? Do you sell drugs?â
Itâs meant to be a half-joke, but you falter slightly when you see Jungkook deflate. Maybe he hoped youâd be more casual about this, but from the look on your face, Jungkook deduces that itâs wishful thinking. He opens his blanket, and pulls you inside, relishing in the warmth of your body.
âI⊠have some explaining to do,â he mumbles dejectedly, nuzzling his nose into your hair.
⟠genre : soulmates au, unrequited love, art student!JK, english student!Y/N, angst, fluff, subtle enemies to lovers
⟠pairing : jeon jungkook x reader
⟠summary : jungkook and you are soulmates. so says the matching crescent moons on both your wrists. however, things are never as easy as they seem, and you are quick to learn that falling in love with someone who does not believe in love is a one-way ticket to heartbreak.Â
alternatively,
âYou still are, you know. Worth it.â You release a shaky breath. âBut I was stupid to think that I am too.â
⟠word count: 26.3k (my biggest one yet!)
⟠authorâs note: this took forever oh my gosh! i really hope you like it! itâs my first time writing such a big single piece, and trying a different style. thank you so much for your support, always! please let me know what you think âĄ
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âEvery hour every minute every second You know night aftĐ”r night I'll be f*ckin' you right Seven days a weekâ â JUNGKOOK, SEVEN
âł Model!Jungkook x Surrogate!f.Reader †Surrogacy, Best Friend's Husband †Rating: MA đ †WC: 18,286 â ïž Crass language, talk of infertility, drinking, very mild bullying and references to cruel behavior/words, talk of surrogacy, at-home medical procedure, genital touching (non-sexual), planned pregnancy, talk of pregnancy termination/abortion, BIG hurt feelings, open palm slapping, accusations of infidelity
Next Chapter⟠(coming soon) â  Back to story masterlist
Jungkook
Jungkook never thought heâd be haunted by such a small, seemingly insignificant thing. A tiny pastel pink line. Singular. Just like all the ones before it. Heâs lost count of exactly how many, but itâs been years; every month, the same outcome. A singular pink line telling him heâs failed. He knows thatâs a bit harsh, but itâs how heâs starting to feelâlike a complete and utter failure.
âWeâll try again next month,â Jiyoon offers, dropping the offending piece of plastic in the bathroom trash before giving Jungkook a tight smile.
âHave you given any more thought to trying IVF again?â Jungkook asks hesitantly, knowing thatâs a sore subject. But, dammit, heâs not in the proper headspace right now to think better of it.
Jiyoon glares at him, her pouty pink lips drawing taut. âI told you not to ask me that ever again. Now, get out. Iâd like to take a shower.â When Jungkook doesnât immediately move from his perch on the bathroom counter, she tags on a frustrated, âPlease.â
Jungkook hops down, his socked feet swishing over the tiled floor as he retreats into the master bedroom. The door forcefully shuts right on his heels, echoing the hollow ache in the center of his chest. He promised himself that if it didnât happen this time, heâd just try harder next time.
Yet, there is only so much he can do. Pushing any harder might widen the rift slowly forming between him and his wife. Already, Jiyoon spends more time at work than with him. Her glares of irritation any time he seeks intimacy outside of their strict ovulation schedule are like holes being punched into his resolve.
After nearly two years of trying, he sought medical answers a year ago. Jiyoon was quite cross with him when she found out he went to the doctor, but he needed to know if it was his fault they were having trouble conceiving. The numbers were standard, slightly higher than average even. The utter devastation on Jiyoonâs face, heâll never be able to forget that day. Because if he isnât the problemâŠthen that means she is.
Itâs his fault. He wasnât even thinking about that potential. Jiyoon hasnât been the same since. Thatâs when the schedule came into play. Thatâs when she started to pour far more energy into waiting for the perfect moment instead of just enjoying their time together.
Jungkook can see the disappointment, the guilt that eats away at her each time that single pink line reveals itself. He wishes more than anything there was a way to change it, something more he could do. Yet, she refuses to consider the option of IVF, not after the horror story she heard from her friend Dani. She refuses to even talk about it.
There has to be another way; heâs just not sure what it might be. Jungkook is at a loss, and it feels like the weight of the world is sitting heavy right between his shoulders. The shower kicks on in the bathroom, and Jungkook decides to busy himself by making Jiyoon a cup of tea for when she gets out. He knows sheâll want to spend some time relaxing before bed, and tea always helps.
đđđ
Not a day goes by that you donât think about your best friend, Jiyoon, and the unfortunate circumstances that have befallen her and her husband. Itâs not a secret amongst your peers that theyâve been trying to start a family with no luck for several years. It breaks your heart every time she gives you a shake of her head when you look at her with hopeful eyes.
Today isnât any different. Youâre sitting at your desk, absently clicking through the latest portfolio files you got from Namjoon, when Jiyoon walks by your desk, heading toward hers. Sheâs half an hour late this morning, something thatâs pretty routine every few weeks. Itâs like clockwork. Youâre aware of the ovulation schedule that she and Jungkook keep and know that she allows herself extra time the morning after taking a test to steel herself against the disappointment that will come from the pitying stares in the office.
You catch her eye as she settles into her desk chair, and she gives you that subtle shake of her head. There is tension in her shoulders, and her bottom lip looks like sheâs been chewing on it in irritation, but she turns around and gives you her back before you can think to question her about it.
âMorning, Jiyoon,â Namjoon says as he steps out of his office. Namjoon is also well aware of the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Jiyoon and Jungkook. Itâs why he doesnât hassle her about being late, something youâre endlessly grateful for.
Jiyoon is your only friend, and you are very protective of her. Well, thatâs not entirely true. The protective part is, but sheâs not technically your only friend. Sheâs just the longest friend youâve had and the one you hold closest to your heartâyour best friend. Though, even still, everyone else are really just people you know through Jiyoon or from work. Maybe thatâs sad, but you donât mind it.
âJiyoon!â Dani squeals from the other side of the office. The bubbly, energetic woman flits across the room, looking every inch like a fairy with her blond pixie cut, petite stature, and buttoned nose.
âOh gosh, hey. Come here!â Jiyoon swings her chair toward Dani as she beckons her forward, letting you catch a glimpse of her profile. There is a smile on her face, but itâs hard to tell whether itâs strained or not. Jiyoon has always been beautiful, with not a single wrinkle or blemish in sight. Looking at her body language, itâs even harder to tell.
Giggles punctuate their whispered words as Dani crouches beside Jiyoonâs chair, their heads pressed close together. You watch as Dani slips something into Jiyoonâs hand before she stands and waggles her brows down at your friend.
âHave fun,â Dani sing-songs as she prances away from Jiyoonâs desk. Her gunmetal eyes meet yours, and her face sours before she disappears beyond your cubicle.
âWhatâs that?â you ask a beat after sheâs gone and before you can curb your curiosity, tinged with mild jealousy. Dani has made it clear before that she doesnât like you very much, only tolerating you for Jiyoonâs sake. So, itâs no surprise that you donât find yourself included when it comes to anything involving Daniâitâs something youâve chalked up to her own jealousy, perhaps at the fact youâve been Jiyoonâs friend for so long.
Jiyoon flicks her eyes in your direction before stuffing whatever Dani gave her into her purse. âJust some antacids,â she says, giving you a smile that doesnât reach her eyes.
All suspicions disappear as you take in the controlled curve of her lips. She looks miserable. âOh,â is all you can manage before Namjoon calls everyoneâs attention to the front of the room.
âGood morning, everyone. Letâs start this week off on the right foot. We have reports to file and new contracts to negotiateâŠâ
You and Jiyoon have always aspired to work for a marketing and media agency together. So, when the opportunity presented itself, you both were elated to land jobs with Kim Exclusives, one of the most popular management companies for up-and-coming artists, models, and influencers.
That was seven years ago, and your time here has only solidified your friendship with Jiyoon. She met her husband, Jungkook, through the agency. He was one of the first models signed to Kim Exclusives, and you and Jiyoon both handled his portfolio and schedule for a year before she had to give you sole leadership over it once they became intimately involvedâthe whole conflict of interests thing.
âAre we still meeting tonight?â you ask Jiyoon as the day draws to a close. Sheâs still diligently working away at her computer, and you stand outside her cubicle with your bag on your shoulder.
âHmm? Oh. Umm, yeah, I guess. I might be a bit late, though.â
You peek over her shoulder. âIs that the new Song profile?â
âYep,â she pops the end of the word, keying you into thinking she's not in the mood to chat right now.
âOkay, well, Iâll see you guys later then.â
Jiyoon makes a noncommittal sound, already focused back on her work. You miss the days when she would give you more than a few passing words. Even on her good days, it seems like sheâs growing further and further away from you. Itâs hard not to feel guilty over the bitter and lonely feelings you get when you think about it. Itâs not Jiyoonâs fault that you donât have more close friends to turn to. But sometimes you wish you meant as much to her as she does to you.
As soon as that thought crosses your mind, you mentally kick yourself. Itâs not fair for you to think that. You know Jiyoon cares for you; sheâs just had a rough few years, and you shouldnât be making it about yourself.
Feeling truly like a shit friend, you continue to chastise yourself over the next two hours as you commute home and get ready for tonight. Five minutes away from the pub, you consider calling Jiyoon and canceling. But, just as you pull out your phone to do that, someone calls your name from down the sidewalk.
You turn to see Taehyung and Jungkook waving at you from across the street. Well, there goes your intention to cancel.
âHey! Have you heard from Jiyoon?â Jungkook asks as he and Taehyung jog across the street.
You press your lips into a thin line, confused. âDid she not come home?â
âAh, no. She said she was working late and that I should just go ahead and meet up with you and Taehyung. Sheâs, uh, well, sheâs not answering my calls. Weâthis morningâŠsorry, just, have you talked to her?â
Doing your best to keep your eyes on his, you give him an honest answer, âShe was still working when I left the office. I havenât heard from her since.â Losing the battle against your will, your eyes sweep over your best friendâs husband. Heâs just as gorgeous as he always has been. His hair is a little longer than the last time you saw him, licking at the collar of his denim jacket. As the lead on his contract, you know he recently landed a massive campaign with a new clothing company, their emblem stitched onto the breast of the coat. Jungkook looks every inch the model he is; his friend no less so.
âHey! Happy Birthday!â Taehyung greets you as your eyes swing to him.
Warm embarrassment kisses your cheeks. You hate your birthday; you hate being the center of attention. âThanks,â you murmur, giving him a tight smile.
âOh, yeah, happy birthday,â Jungkook tacks on. He rubs the back of his neck, giving you an apologetic look. âShould we go ahead and go inside?â
âYeah, sure.â As Taehyung leads the way inside, you type out a quick text to Jiyoon asking how long sheâll be.
Thirty minutes later, youâre sitting in a mildly withdrawn personal bubble of silence as Jungkook and Taehyung chat about work and sip on fingers of liquor. Youâre normally not so silent with them, as they have been clients of yours for years but youâve also grown to think of them as friends. Itâs just you have a lot on your plate right now, Namjoon just added three new clients to your work portfolio, putting you at juggling almost a dozen. You donât mind the added workload, it helps keep you busy, but it does mean you have to switch around your schedule a great deal and have less time to spend with Jungkook and Taehyung who are two of the longest portfolios youâve managed. They have a joint ad campaign coming up for the whiskey theyâre sampling right now and are trying to decide if they actually like it or not.
Over the years, you've learned that advertisements are just thatâa cleverly crafted piece of media to highlight a product. The models in a hamburger ad could very well be vegan, but theyâre paid to make you believe otherwise. So, even if they decide they donât like the whiskey, money will say they do.
Taehyung is a bit newer to Kim Exclusives, a model by complete accident. He came into the office once with Jungkook, just friends hanging out with each other, and the moment Namjoon saw him, he had to have him. A few weeks later, Taehyung was added to the roster of elite models under Kim Exclusives, booking just as well as any veteran.
âItâs a little too smokey for me, I think,â Taehyung comments. âWhat do you think?â he asks, setting his glass on the table and startling you out of your thoughts.
âWhat?â You blink up at him, totally lost.
âGive it a taste.â He taps the rim of the glass. âTell me what you think,â he encourages, pushing the glass closer to where your hands are clasped together on the table.
You donât really want to try the whiskey, but the expectant looks on Taehyung and Jungkookâs faces make you pick up the glass and take a tentative sip. It burns across your tongue, coating your throat in a fiery, smokey blend of burnt spices. The flavor sits like ash in your mouth.
âItâs, uhâŠâ
âNot great, right?â Jungkook gives you a lopsided grin, his shoulders stretching the seams of his jean jacket as he shrugs. âItâs okay to be honest about it.â
You slide the glass back across the tabletop toward Taehyung. âYeah, itâs not great. It might be better on ice, but Iâm not a big drinker, so I think itâs hard for me to judge it fairly.â
They both seem satisfied with this response and resume their conversation about the whiskey and the new campaign. You check your phone, wondering where Jiyoon could possibly be. There is no response to your text.
Youâre picking at the frayed edge of the paper coaster thatâs slowly growing waterlogged from the condensation dripping down your glass of ice water when Taehyung taps on the table in front of you, trying to capture your attention.
âIsnât that right?â he asks.
âSorry. Is what right?â You feel heat bloom in your cheeks at being caught not paying attention yet again.
âYouâre healthy.â
That statement has confusion replacing your embarrassment. âHealthy?â
âLet me backtrack,â Taehyung says, leaning back in his seat and throwing an arm over the back of Jungkookâs chair.
âTaehyung, really, this isnât the timeââ
âAhem,â Taehyung interrupts Jungkookâs protest. âHypothetically speaking, if your best friend and her husband were to inquire of you about the possibility of surrogacy, what would you say?â
The dots arenât connecting for you, and his blunt question makes you feel like you missed something important. âSurrogacy?â You donât mean to sound like a broken record, repeating what Taehyung is saying, but youâre thoroughly having a tough time understanding.
âListen, you donât have to answer that,â Jungkook states, shaking his head at Taehyung and giving him a pleading look that says to stop while heâs ahead.
âAre you and Jiyoon looking into a surrogate?â you ask; everything suddenly clicks into place, and the question tumbles from your lips before you can stop it.Â
Jungkook grips the back of his neck and grumbles something incoherent towards Taehyung before he blows out a heavy breath and his eyes slowly rise to meet yours. âNot exactly, no. We havenât talked about it yet. Itâs just something I read about today. But, honestly, you donât have to answer the question. Taehyung is just being a dickââ
âIâd do it.â
Your response leaves Jungkook with his mouth open and jaw slack as he stares at you in bewilderment.
âSee, I told you. Sheâs perfect. Young, healthy, and someone you know and can trust,â Taehyung tots off, waving a finger in the air.
âWaitâŠare you serious?â Jungkook asks, pointedly ignoring Taehyung.
Youâve never considered being a mom before, at least not in that sense. It was always an assumption that it wouldnât be in the cards for youâthe whole lack of a love life thing being the crux of it. Youâve barely had a handful of boyfriends, much less a long-term commitment that would lead to a family. But, when it comes to Jiyoon, youâd do just about anything for her. So, if she asked you to carry a baby for her, you know, without a doubt, youâd do it.
âY-yeah. Yes,â you state with more confidence. âIâd do that.â
Before Jungkook can respond, Jiyoon bustles in through the bar's front door, her lilting laughter drawing everyoneâs attention. She has her phone pressed to her ear, and sheâs smiling at whatever the person sheâs speaking to is saying.
âOkay, yeah. Tomorrow sounds great. See you then,â Jiyoon says before ending the call and pocketing her phone. âOh, Taehyung is here.â Itâs a bland statement, Jiyoonâs eyes flicking over Jungkookâs best friend before landing on her husband. âDid you order me a drink already?â
Jungkook clears his throat, trying to compose himself before speaking. âBabe, hey. Um, no, I wasnât sure when youâd get here. You werenât responding to any of my calls or texts.â
Jiyoon slides into the empty seat beside you, across from Jungkook, and gives you a quick smile before wrinkling her nose in his direction. âIâll take a glass of red.â
âOh-kay,â Jungkook says slowly, a look of confusion ghosting over his features. âWhere have you been?â
âHmm? Oh, just busy with work,â Jiyoon says. âWine, please, Jungkook.â His only response is a tight press of his lips before he stands up and disappears in the direction of the bar. Jiyoon clicks her tongue and angles herself to look at you. âYouâre not drinking?â she asks, eyeing the glass of water on the table in front of you.
âUm, no. You know I donâtââ
âI know, youâre boring,â Jiyoon sighs. The only thing taking the sting out of her words is the smile she gives you. You know Jiyoon isnât exactly what people would call a nice person; in fact, sheâs often coined as a âmean girl.â But sheâs never been intentionally mean to you, not really. She just provides constructive criticism and encouragement to be the best version of yourself that you can be.
âWay to be a bitch to her on her birthday, Jiyoon,â Taehyung mumbles into his whiskey glass before tossing it back and downing the rest.
Jiyoon winces and then plasters a smile on her face before saying, âRight, happy birthday.â
âYeah, thanks.â You make your best attempt at nonchalance, but youâre not sure it lands properly as Taehyung shakes his head, and Jiyoon sighs again.
âI forgot, okay? Itâs been so busy at work and withâuh,â she pauses for just a second, and any other time you might not have noticed, but you canât help but pick up on the way she rushes to continue, âthe new client that you know Namjoon has been breathing down my neck over. The Harper portfolio, you know the one? And apparently, the Song profile needs to be redone on top of that.â
Jiyoon has been different lately. Youâre aware that she took over one of the new higher-end clients, some big hot-shot movie star or something like that, but itâs almost made her seem like she thinks sheâs above everyone else. It makes things tense sometimes like everyone is on edge when she comes around. You try to ignore it, for the sake of tonight. âItâs okay, Jiyoon, really.â
âAnyway, how are things going? Itâs been a few weeks since we last talked about something other than work.â
Yeah, because every time you turn around Jiyoon is spending time with Dani or has a client meeting. You shrug. âOkay, I guess.â
Taehyung pipes up in the silence that follows, âWe were actually just talking about surrogaââ
âRed wine for my wife, another whiskey for Tae, the good stuff this time, and a pina colada for the birthday girl. Virgin, I made sure. I know you donât like to drink alcohol,â Jungkook interrupts Taehyung, passing out the cluster of drinks in his hands.
You stare up at Jungkook, lips slightly parted as you try to think of the proper response, completely taken off guard by his gesture. Finally, you lamely offer, âOh, uh, you didnât have to, but thanks.â
âNonsense. Itâs your birthday, you deserve a little treat, and I know you like pineapple.â Jungkook settles back into his seat, and you try to keep your eyes off your best friend's husband. But itâs hard with how his hair falls into his face, and the denim hugs his shoulders as he relaxes against the back of his chair.
âEw,â Jiyoon gags dramatically, startling your attention in her direction. âIs that a jacket from the shoot today?â She gestures at Jungkook, the distaste apparent on her face. âI know they didnât dress you in that. What were they thinking?â
Jungkook frowns, staring down at the oversized light-wash jean jacket. âYou donât like it?â he asks.
Jiyoon scoffs, âIt looks ridiculous, you look ridiculous. What the hell did you do to your hair? A mullet, really? Itâs a wonder youâre a model. You were okay with this?â The last part is directed at you, because, as the lead on his profile, youâre the one who signed off on the hair and makeup for the shoot.
âHey now,â Taehyung states loud enough to quiet the table; heâs clearly not having any of Jiyoonâs antics tonight, long work day or not. âKeep your petty bullshit opinions for when youâre at home. Tonight isnât about you or how handsome my best friend is in his jean jacket and new hairstyle.â You can tell he intentionally calls Jungkook his best friend instead of Jiyoonâs husband as an extra jab.
âI never said he wasnât handsome,â she grumbles, rolling her eyes before looking at Jungkook and sighing. âSorry, dear, Iâm just under a lot of stress. You know I didnât mean it.â Her eyes flick to yours. âI know itâs not your fault.â You just give her a subtle shake of your head, not sure how to respond.
Clearing his throat, Jungkook smiles, though it doesnât reach his eyes, and tries to move the conversation along. âItâs okay. Letâs just focus on why weâre here tonight.â He swings his eyes toward you, his smile becoming genuine, and begins to loudly belt out Happy Birthday, much to your dismay. This draws the attention of everyone else in the bar and earns you a generous round of applause when the singing finally fades.
You try to enjoy the rest of your night, but every time Jungkook catches you staring at him, you canât help but feel a small spike of guilt; guilt over the perhaps tiny, mostly insignificant, completely harmless crush you might, perhaps, maybe have on your best friendâs husband.
Itâs hard not to be attracted to him; Jiyoon knows thatâshe flaunts that fact. She also knows her claws are deep in him, and heâs not going anywhere. Jungkook would pull down the moon for her and then ask if she wanted the sun, too. You swallow down the last of your pina colada, eyes once again locked on Jungkook as he throws his head back and laughs at something Taehyung said.
Jiyoon presses her arm against yours, leaning in close to you. In a soft voice meant only for you, she whispers, âHe really is perfect, isnât he?â
âHm? Who?â
âDonât play coy with me,â she giggles drunkenly. âI know you were staring at him. My husband.â
You shrug. âI wasnât staring.â
Jiyoon sighs wistfully. âItâs okay to stare, I donât mind. I know what he looks like, after all. Heâs so beautiful when heâs happy. I wish I could give him what he wants, heâd be the perfect fatherâŠIâm so scared to lose him.â The last part is whispered, so soft itâs hard to hear.
Instantly, your guilt turns into something else: resolve. You canât bear the defeat you hear in her voice. Itâs not something you can even begin to fathomâwhat she and Jungkook are going through. Itâs no wonder she has caustic words at times. You meant what you said earlier, what you told Jungkook you were willing to do. With that in mind, you make a mental note to start researching and do what you can to make sure at least someone gets a happy ending here.
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Jungkook
The night of your birthday kept playing over and over again in Jungkookâs head the days that followed. Now, just as evening is rolling around, one week later, he canât stop thinking about what you said, your confirmation. On top of that, that night was probably the most fun Jungkook has had in a long timeâas long as he excludes the prickly start after Jiyoon arrived. Heâs used to her snide and biting remarks after a long work day. Brushing them to the side and sweeping them away is usually easy.
But for some reasonâperhaps it was the high he was riding after your confession and confirmationâit bothered him that she was doing it in front of Taehyungâin front of you. As if somehow her criticisms might make you both believe them. Not that he cares about being good-looking to Taehyung, or you for that matter, not really. Itâs just that his first thought was what if that made you change your mind? Not necessarily whether or not heâs attractive, but the exchange as a whole. What if Jiyoonâs blatant criticisms made you want to change your mind because it somehow planted doubt in your mind that theyâre a happy and healthy environment for a child?
âJungkook.â The frustrated snap of his name brings him out of his thoughts. His eyes focus on the bathroom mirror once more, on Jiyoon, who is standing behind him with her hands on her hips, accentuating the flattering cut of the navy-colored dress sheâs wearing. âAre you even listening to me?â
Turning and leaning back against the counter, Jungkook gives her his full attention. âUh, yeah, sorry. You were talking about having dinner with a client tonight, and youâre leaving now to meet with Dani so you can get some files.â
âYes,â she says, her lips twitching in mild surprise, and Jungkook knows she was expecting him not to have been paying attention. âI donât know how long the dinner will last, so donât wait up for me. Itâs likely Iâll be home late.â She turns to go back into the bedroom, and Jungkook isnât sure what possesses him, but he surges forward and gently snags her wrist, turning her back toward him. âUh?â she makes a sound of mild questioning irritation.
âI have something I needâer, wantâto talk to you about. It should only take a moment.â
She shakes his hold off her wrist and gives him a placating smile. âOkay, well, talk while I finish getting ready at least.â Not waiting to see if he follows, she disappears into the bedroom and heads to the closet, rummaging through her jewelry.
âOkay, um. Okay,â Jungkook stumbles over his words, feeling like heâs under pressure for some reason. âSo, the other night, it was brought up in conversation, and uh, she already agreed, and itâs just that, well, thereâs this thing called intracervical insemination andâŠhow do you feel about surrogacy?â
There is a heavy pause, dread threatening to make Jungkook backpedal and eat his words just to snatch them back out of the air. Jiyoon glances at him over her shoulder, but he canât get a clear read on her eyes. âWhat? Oh, yeah, sure,â she says, turning back to her digging.
Jungkook canât tell whether Jiyoon is the one paying attention to him now, so he probes further, just to be clear. âYou mean that? Youâre okay with going the surrogacy route? My sperm, her eggâŠyour best friend carrying our baby?â
Jiyoonâs back is to Jungkook, but he watches how her shoulders slide up in a shrug. âOf course, why wouldnât I be?â
âIâm not sure, itâs just that with ICIââ
âLook, Jungkook,â Jiyoon says, turning to face him fully. Her fingers work at slipping a pair of silver hoops into her earlobes. âI trust you.â She says the words slowly, keeping her eyes intently locked on his. âI know youâll do your best for us. Whatever you want, itâs what I want, too. You know that.â
âWell, um, do you have any questions? We should talkâŠdiscuss this, er, something. I know how you feel about IVF. I want to make sure this is an option you truly want, and youâre not just saying this to make me happy. You should take some more time to think about it.â The fact sheâs so quick to agree makes Jungkook question whether or not heâs hearing what he thinks heâs hearing.
Jiyoon cups one of his cheeks, gently thumbing over his bottom lip. âI donât need time to think, because Iâve already thought about it. Iâwell, I was going to bring it up to you soon, but I wanted to do a bit more research first.â
âWait, what? Really? You were thinking about ICI, too?â Jungkook swallows hard, leaning into his wife's warm touch.
âYeah,â she whispers, her soft smile making her eyes twinkle and his heart melt.
Jungkook canât help letting his eyes drink in his wife. They might have been going through rough patches the last few years, but that hasnât lessened how he feels about her. Jungkook has always found her strikingly beautiful, with long legs and shiny hair that he loves to run his fingers through. But at this moment, he feels like he might burst with the love he has for her.
âYeah? Okay. Okay,â he tries to suppress the emotion in his words. âOkay, perfect. I love you. I love you so much!â
Jiyoon laughs, and it sounds magical, as Jungkook sweeps her into his arms and plants a kiss on her lips. âDonât smear my lipstick, please,â she mumbles, her voice light and playful.
âGo have a good dinner, secure the client, and donât worry about anything else,â Jungkook bubbles happily, setting Jiyoon back on her feet. âI swear Iâll take care of it all. Everything will be perfect, absolutely perfect.â
An hour later, Jungkook walks up to your apartment door. He couldnât stop himself earlier, so he immediately texted you and asked to see you as soon as Jiyoon left for Daniâs.
The door swings open before he can knock, revealing you standing there breathless and in a set of purple checkered pajamas. âIs everything okay?â you ask, worry lines creasing between your brows. âYour text sounded urgent.â
âOh.â Jungkook feels terrible for making you concerned. He didnât mean for it to come off like that. âNo, I mean, yes, everything is okay. But, no, itâs not exactly urgent. Sorry for that. I didnât mean to make you worry.â
You lean against the doorframe, eyes wide on his. âWhat is it?â
âEr, uh, do you mind if I come in? This is more of a sit-down kind of conversation.â
The little âoâ your lips form is far cuter than Jungkook has a right to think it is. His mind instantly latches onto it, wondering if the baby would have your lips or his. âO-okay, sure, come on in.â
Jungkook has visited your apartment a handful of times over the years. Itâs quaint and cozy, exactly what heâd imagine for you. There are books everywhere, shelves full of thick and thin volumes of literary prose. A few art pieces decorate the walls, along with dozens and dozens of black-and-white photos in simple frames. He stirs up the recollection that you enjoy photography in your spare time.
âSorry, again, about my text. I didnât mean to worry you, really.â Jungkook feels nervous, unsure where to stand or even sit, until you gesture toward the couch. A handful of well-loved decorative pillows are scattered across the burgundy suede. He settles at one end as you take the other, looking at him expectantly.
A beat or two passes, and Jungkook feels like heâs about to swallow his tongue until you open your mouth, clearly picking up on his distress. âIs it something with work? I can try to fix whatever it is first thing in the morningââ
âNo, no,â Jungkook holds up a hand, shaking his head. âItâs not work. Itâs um, itâs actually Jiyoon. Well, me and her, specifically.â
You pull your knees up and tuck your feet underneath yourself. âOh, okay.â
âWere you serious about what you said the other night?â Jungkook blurts, figuring itâs best, like ripping off a bandaid.
Your bottom lip has an indent left from where you tucked it between your teeth before nodding. âYes.â Jungkook didnât necessarily expect you to say no, but the rush of relief he feels at hearing that encourages him to press on.
âI talked with Jiyoon about it today and sheâweâwould be honored if youâd do that for us. If youâd give us a chance at having a family. ItâsâŠitâs something we both, deeply, deeply desire. If youâre truly serious about it, weâll take care of everything, all medical expenses, bills, anythingâŠjust name it, itâs yours.â
âThatâsâokay, okay, yes. Yes, Iâll do it. Just tell me what I need to do.â
Jungkook whoops loudly, jumping up from the couch, and drags you into his arms for a bear hug. âThank you, thank you, thank you! I canât even begin to explain what this means to me, to us. This isâŠI canâtâŠoh my, I need toâwait, okay. Sorry, let me calm down for a second.â The word vomit is real, and Jungkook uses his hold on you to ground himself, moving his hands to your shoulders and locking his eyes on yours. âI think I might pass out,â he whispers a second before bursting into a giddy laugh.
âWhoa, um, sit down. Please donât pass out on me. Youâre too big for me to catch!â Your frantic words make him laugh even harder.
He shakes his head, on cloud nine. âIâm kidding, kind of. I just feelâŠI feel so light, likeâwell, it doesnât matter about that. What matters is you. Please donât feel obligated to do this. Thatâs the last thing I want. If you are serious, I can send all the information you need to you in the morning. But only if youâre certain.â
âJungkook,â the way you say his name makes his heart thump heavy in his chest as if his fate hinges on whatever comes next. âI am serious. I promise. I want to do this for you, for JiyoonâŠI want to give you both the happiness you deserve.â
âThank you,â Jungkook says fervently, never meaning something more in his life.
This happiness carries Jungkook through the rest of the evening, turning into a brilliant flame of intimacy when Jiyoon crawls into bed beside him hours later. For the first time in a long time, there is no schedule, no waiting for the perfect moment; itâs just the love shared between two souls celebrating the joys of life.
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The following day, several emails from Jungkook are waiting for you; Jiyoon CCâd on them all, as well as a few texts to check in. The idea that you could possibly be pregnant in the coming weeks or monthsânot just pregnant, but pregnant with Jungkookâs baby for your best friendâstill feels a bit surreal.
You texted Jiyoon last night, expressing to her how much she means to you and that youâre honored she wants it to be you that helps her fulfill her dreams of having a family. She hasnât replied yet, but that doesnât bother you; sheâs probably busy helping Jungkook with planning.
There is an entire email dedicated to medical referrals. Apparently, Jungkook spent hours pouring over all the local doctors and medical facilities vetting to find the best ones. Each has notes and suggestions under them, along with all the information you might need to call and make an appointment.
Thatâs really all you need to do: make an appointment for a check-up. Taehyung made an assumption of your health last night, but it doesnât hurt to be sure. The last thing youâd want to do is be in poor health and unable to keep your word.
Your fingers tremble as you dial the numbers, and you have to take a few shallow breaths to get your voice to work properly. Minutes later, you have an appointment scheduled for later this week. Now, all you have to do is figure out how youâre going to wait the next few days and not burst from anticipation. Itâs a slow few days.
Apparently, by Googling every possible thing you can think of about being a surrogate and pregnancies. Along with the emails full of information, by the time youâre walking into the clinic for your appointment at the end of the week, you feel confident asking questions.
âBeing a surrogate is a pretty serious situation. Have you considered all the possibilities and what might be required of you?â The doctor has a pleasant demeanor; her eyes are intense yet kind. It might be the steel-colored strands scattered through her hair or the wrinkles that deepen around her eyes when she smiles, but you feel comfortable opening up to her.
You roll your lips between your teeth before saying, âHonestly? Probably not as much as most surrogates. Iâm sure there are things Iâm not aware of yet. It was only presented to me a few days ago. But I have done some extensive reading and soul-searching, and I know itâs what I want.â
Dr. Lee contemplates you for a moment before nodding. âYes, I believe you do. Letâs get started, shall we?â
Itâs not uncomfortable going through all the tests and procedures. There isnât much the doctor does that you havenât done before. Samples are taken, and a routine exam is performed. As you leave, the nurse tells you you should have results within the next two weeks.
Thankfully, the results come at the beginning of the following week. Youâre sitting at your desk at work, reviewing the final details for the whiskey campaign Jungkook and Taehyung are shooting in a few days, when you get the notification that your results are viewable on your patient portal. A moment before you click into the email, your phone buzzes in your pocket.
âHello?â you whisper, cupping your hand around the base of your phone and mouth. A nurse rattles off your information, ensuring she speaks to the right person. âYes, speaking.â
âI just wanted to let you know that all of your results are in, and Dr. Lee has signed off on your request to move forward with the surrogacyâŠâ Everything else the nurse says is a bit hazy. She covers the numbers for your tests and where to find resources for more information on at-home intracervical insemination. âDo you have any questions for me? Maâam, are you still there?â
âOh, umm, yes, sorry. No questions, thank you so much.â
The line disconnects, and you sit there for a few more moments, the phone still held to your ear, as you try to process the giddy feeling bubbling up inside you. You need to tell Jiyoon, Jungkook, someoneâŠanyone. Pushing up from your desk, you scan the area around you for your best friend and come up empty.
âHello?â Jungkook answers on the second ring.
âJungkook.â
âOh, hey. Everything okay?â
âWhat? Oh. Yes. Yes, everything is okay. Everything is perfect. Do you know where Jiyoon might be? I havenât seen her since she came into the office this morning.â You rack your brain, trying to remember if you saw her leave or go into another room.
âYeah, she called a little while ago and said that Namjoon was having her meet one of the new clients for lunch to sign some more papers.â
âRight, thatâs right,â you say, recalling that Namjoon asked her to come into his office shortly after she arrived this morning.
âWhy? Whatâs up?â
You drag a slow, shallow breath into your lungs in an effort to slow your rapidly beating heart. âI heard back from the doctor.â
Jungkook urges you to continue, âYeah? What did they say? Is everything okay? Are you okay?â
âIâmâŠIâm great. Iâm perfect. IâmâI, I can do it. We can do it. Thereâs a chart,â you explain, wedging your phone between your ear and your shoulder to free your hands so you can pull up the email you got and forward it to him. âIt has an estimated schedule and recommendations on timing for the best results. I just sent everything over to you.â
âI got it. Wow. Okay. Wow. Oh myâŠwow! I need to call Jiyoon. Fuck. Oh my god. Okay, thank you! Iâll call you back later, okay?â The line disconnects after Jungkook says a hurried goodbye, the elation in his voice evident.
According to the doctor's ovulation chart, the best time for you to begin trying is next week. Conception is most likely during a twenty-four-hour period. On your way home, you stop and pick up an ovulation testing kit so you can remain on track.
You arrive home filled with nervous energy, unable to stop smiling as you unpack the things you picked up at the pharmacy. A large box of pregnancy tests goes beside the ovulation kit in your medicine cabinet, along with a pack of medical gloves and hand sanitizer. Youâre not sure what youâll need, exactly, but you figure itâs better to have it and not need it than the other way around.
âJiyoon!â you gush, swiping to answer the call coming in on your phone. âHi!â
âHey, I just got off the phone with Jungkook.â There is a lot of background noise, and itâs hard to hear her clearly.
âOh, wonderful! I got the results today. There is a possibility of next week beingââ
A loud laugh cuts through from Jiyoonâs end, the added clang of dishes drowning you out further. âSorry, Iâm still at dinner. Next week, you say? Iâll be going on a business trip the whole of next week, Namjoon wants me to travel with a client for a go-see.â
Disappointment drags at your shoulders and has your smile softening into a frown. You suppose it can wait a few more weeks. âOkay, no problem. That will give us time to plan a bit more anyway.â
âSure thing!â Jiyoon yells, the line cutting out momentarily. âIâll catch you later. I canât wait to see you when I get back. Thank you. I love you so much!â
âOkay, yeah, love youââ The line goes dead before you can finish. âLove you, too,â you murmur into the quiet of your apartment.
A minor setback. But itâs okay; youâre sure you were getting ahead of yourself anyway. Taking a few weeks to confirm things and actually come up with a game plan is probably for the better. But it doesnât hurt to start doing that now. Letting the smile that hadnât left your face most of the day slide back onto your lips, you continue setting up everything in your bathroom so itâll be there for when you do need it.
It turns out you donât have to waitâat least, according to Jungkook. From the constant flood of text messages youâve gotten from him over the last few days, as much as Jiyoon would love to be there to help, sheâs given her blessing to proceed with the ICI without her. In her own words, via a text you got last night, there will be plenty more for her to be present for, and sheâs far too excited for you to wait for her to return.
Jiyoon has been relatively quiet, but Jungkook explained in delicate words that sheâs okay; she just has a lot on her plate right now. Even though it may seem like sheâs on the outside, itâs more that this is a very sensitive topic for Jiyoon. Despite wanting a child, ICI is nearly as taboo a subject as IVF when it comes to Jiyoon; you know this. Sheâs told you how much it makes her feel like a failure. So, youâre content when Jungkook takes full responsibility for the surrogacy journey and has promised to be there for you every step of the way, including coming over to your place tonight to help you with the first ICI attempt.
Youâve been testing your ovulation each morning, and the positive test strip in your bathroom trash has started a full-tilt, day-long extravaganza. Itâs a Thursday, just a few days after you got your green light from the doctor, meaning you were able to leave work early and are now sitting on your couch waiting patiently for Jungkook to arrive.
All your research and reading about ICI makes you nervous about whatâs to come. Itâs not that youâre going to be explicitly intimate with Jungkook, but youâre well aware of the fact that fresh sperm samples, as in within a thirty-minute window, are the best. Which means, heâs going to have to somehow provide the sample while heâs here.
The idea of Jungkook masturbating in your bathroom should feel awkward or perhaps embarrassing to think about, yet youâre oddly comfortable with it. Itâs a natural thing, something necessary to create something thatâs going to be beautiful.
By the time Jungkook knocks on your door, your hands are clammy, and it takes you two tries to get the handle to turn. He greets you with a giant smile and shining eyes, absolutely breathtaking.
âHi,â he breathes.
âHi,â you parrot, unable to contain from reflecting the smile still on his face. âPlease, come on in.â
âThanks.â Jungkook steps past you, and the soft fragrance of his laundry detergent catches in your nose. âI brought everything we need,â he says, holding up a bag. Heâs wearing the same denim jacket he was the other night, a white T-shirt underneath above a pair of worn, light-washed jeans, and black boots on his feet that he toes off before heading into your living room.
âCan I get you anything to drink or maybe something to eat? Have you had dinner yet?â Youâre not sure how this is going to go, if itâs just going to be a clinical experience or something more comfortable between friends. Because you are friends, right? At this point, you should consider him more than just your best friendâs husband; he should at least be seen as a friend of yours, too.
Jungkook deposits the bag on your couch and turns to look at you. âUm, maybe if you had some beer or something, but I know you donât drinkââ There is a nervous energy to the way heâs talking, words coming out a little too quickly ââso, er, maybe just some water is fine.â
âActually,â you say, hurrying into the kitchen and opening the fridge, âI got, well, is this okay?â You hold up a 6-pack of beer you bought on a whim a few nights ago. Itâs true that you donât really drink, but you werenât thinking of yourself at the time that you bought it. In actuality, you were thinking of Jungkook, knowing heâs partial to this brand, and figuredâŠwell, youâre not sure what you figured, you bought it before you could give it too much thought.
The corner of Jungkookâs mouth lifts, his smile turning into a light smirk. âWow, my favorite. Iâd love to, but actually, Iâm not sure if I should, no matter how nervous I am right nowâŠnot until after, at least. I havenât read anything about how alcohol might impact things, but Iâve not had a drop of alcohol to drink nor a bite of junk food in the last week, just in case.â
âOh, right. Of course, I should have thought about that.â
âNo, itâs okay. I wasnât thinking either, I havenât been able to think about much at all, if Iâm being honest,â Jungkook laughs nervously, one of his hands rubbing at the back of his neck. âIs this weird? Are you sure you want to do this?â
It is weird, but not in a bad way, and you donât want to admit that because you donât want him to worry. So, you simply smile and shake your head. âItâs not all that weird, itâsâŠwell, just not weird. I am nervous,â you decide to give him at least that. âIâm worried that it might not work, or that I might do something wrong.â
âW-what do you think you might do wrong?â Jungkook asks, moving closer to you. âIâveâŠIâve read a lot about the how, I even got an informational video from my doctor.â
You can feel heat crawling up your neck. âIâm not sure, exactly. I guess just the whole process in general.â
There is a beat where you can see Jungkook contemplating his words. He chews on his bottom lip, eyes unfocused for a moment before returning to you. âI could help if you want. Purely in a platonic, helpful way, no funny business, I swear.â
âUm, I donât know if thatâŠuh, I can try first, maybe?â You canât seem to swallow past the thick knot in your throat at the thought of asking Jungkook to help assist you inâŠwell, that.
âSure, okay. Should weâŠget started?â Jungkook asks, his eyes flicking back to the bag he dropped on your couch.Â
Your stomach flips at his words. âYeah,â you say, voice barely above a whisper, feeling suddenly even more shy than usual.
âGreat.â Jungkook claps his hands together before retrieving the bag from the couch. âI have everything we need. It's probably best if we begin this in the bathroom.â
Your apartment has one bathroom, which is joined to the bedroom but is still accessible through the hallway. Jungkook leads the way down the hall, flicking on the light inside the bathroom before stepping aside to let you in as well.
âHave you talked with Jiyoon?â you ask, seeking something to fill the silence as you watch him unpack everything from the bag and arrange it on the bathroom counter.
Jungkook shakes his head in a so-so manner. âI spoke with her for a few minutes earlier to let her know the plan for tonight. She couldnât talk long and it was hard to hear with all the background noise, but sheâs excited and said she canât wait to be back at the end of the week.â
After washing his hands, Jungkook opens up the packet of a large sterile pad and spreads it out across the rest of the counter. From the research youâve done, you recognize some of the things he begins to set out. There is a collection cup with an orange screw-on lid, a large syringe with a hose attaching it to a bulbous silicone mushroom-shaped plug, and several single-use packets of water-based lube. He also sets out a box of pregnancy tests, giving you a sheepish smile when you raise an eyebrow at it.
âI, uh, bought some, too,â you say, opening the medicine cabinet to show him the large box of pregnancy tests sitting between your ovulation test kit and your toothbrush.
Jungkook smiles. âI guess weâre on the same wavelength, huh?â
You have to stop yourself from leaning too far into the unusual, yet enticingly warm and appealing, feeling you get when he smiles like that. Clearing your throat, you gesture to the spread of tools. âWhat now?â
âI think we should discuss a game plan, make sure we know what to do and when to do it. There are some things Iâve read online, plus the directions in this pamphlet,â he says, slipping a folded paper from the box the inseminator came in.
Leaning in, you try to read the step-by-step process written on the paper over Jungkookâs shoulder. He shifts, steps closer to you, and angles the pamphlet to make it easier for you to see.
âStep one, collect the sample. Step two, transfer the sample into the syringe. Step three, insert the silicone plug into theâŠv-vagina,â you choke over the word, feeling heat licking up your neck, âas close to the cervix as possible. Step four, depress the plunger to administer the sample.â
âSeems pretty simple, right?â
Youâre not sure youâd say simple. Sure, step by step, it looks pretty straightforward, but you seem to be responsible for the most challenging part, and that makes you even more nervous than before. âYeah, simple.â
âGive me a few minutes, I need toâuh,â he points to the sample cup. âIâll, you know.â
âOh, right, right, of course. Iâll justâ" you hook a thumb over your shoulder towards the door that leads to your bedroom ââwait in there.â
Itâs hard not to pace around your bedroom as you wait. You try to stick to the far side of your bedroom, not wanting to come too close to the bathroom and overhear anything you shouldnât. The fact your best friendâs husband is in your bathroom masturbating is a weird enough revelation, albeit a necessary one for the ICI procedure; youâd still rather afford him some privacy.
After three minutes, you stop counting the seconds that pass, realizing that means youâre counting how long it takes for Jungkook to produce the sample. Which is something youâre vehemently trying to avoid thinking about so casually.
The bathroom door opening startles you, stopping you in your tracks. Jungkook clears his throat. âReady?â
You move over to the bathroom. âI think so.â
âHey, itâs going to be okay. You can do this and donât forget, Iâll be here if you need any help, promise. Purely for help, for the process.â Jungkook swipes a finger in an x over his chest. âCross my heart.â
âYouâre right,â you say, trying to bolster your own confidence. âI can do this.â
You step past Jungkook and into the bathroom, but his hand on your arm pulls you up short. âWait, wait. Would you feel more comfortable doing it in your room? Itâs just that Iâve read itâs best if you could lay on your back with your hips elevated for fifteen to thirty minutes after.â He nods at your bed. âMore comfortable than the bathroom floor.â
The idea of doing this on your bed crosses a line, taking this from a medical process to something far more intimate. âMaybe just a pillow,â you say, grabbing one of the decorative throw pillows you never seem to remember to put back on your bed but keep in a small pile on the floor instead.
âOkay.â Jungkook gives you a small smile, and it makes his eyes look soft and bright. The kind of smile you hope you can help him bestow onto a baby.
You leave the door unlocked, just in case you need his help. In your bathroom, there is no evidence of Jungkook's actions other than the very full sample cup sitting on the medical pad covering the counter.
The cup is warm to the touch, which is startling, though you know it shouldnât be. Placing the pillow down on the floor, you shimmy your pants and panties down your legs and step out of them. There is a lingering scent in the bathroom; itâs a mix of Jungkookâs cologne but also of something clinical. You realize there are two empty packets of lube in your trashcan, and you canât help the image that pieces itself together in your mind.
Swallowing hard against the threatening flood of further indecent thoughts, you move quickly to prepare the inseminator. Itâs a systematic process you can do with little thoughtâsafeâunscrewing the cap of the cup and filling the syringe. Once youâre in position on the floor, hips elevated on the pillow, empty packets of lube discarded and your body primed, you take the silicone plug in one hand and the syringe in the other.
The directions make it seem so easy. But as you try to fit the silicone plug inside, you canât seem to get it to go where you want it. It keeps slipping sideways and tugging at the tube connecting it to the syringe. Your heart begins to race as you realize you might not be able to do thisânot on your own, at least.
By the fourth try, fifteen minutes have passed, and youâre in full-blown panic mode. Your breath wheezes in and out as you crunch up, hands fumbling between your thighs, and sweat forming on your brow. âOh god, oh god. Iâuh, god dammitâŠJungkook!â His name is out of your mouth in a strangled yell before you can stop it.
âWhat is it? Is everything okay? Are you okay?â The frantic words are muffled through the door. The door rattles on its hinges, and you can tell heâs pressing up against it from the sound of denim scuffing along it, probably pressing his ear against it in an effort to hear your response.
Youâve managed to get it inside, but youâre not sure if you can get it all the way in, pressed up against your cervix where it needs to be. Itâs possible you used too much lube, though the idea that itâs possible to have too much lubricant seems ridiculous. But no matter what you do or how far you press your fingers in, youâre either at a wrong angle, or your fingers keep slipping on the plug too much. Asking Jungkook for help is the last thing you want to do, but youâre not sure what other options there are.
âC-can you come in here?â you ask in a hoarse voice. There is a moment of silence before the door eases open and Jungkook sticks his head inside. His eyes are closed so tight it makes you let out a snap of nervous laughter. âI thinkâŠI think I need help. Iâm sorry, I just canâtâitâs not going in all the way, I donât think,â you gush in explanation.
âDo youâis it okay if I?â Jungkook asks, leaving the obvious unsaid.
âUm, yesâŠplease. Iâve tried, and I justâŠI donât want to ruin this. Iâm so sorry.â
âHey, hey, itâs okay.â Jungkook shuffles into the bathroom, eyes still firmly closed and arms out in the air. âUm, where exactly are you so I donât step on you by accident?â
Snagging the edge of the towel hanging on the rack, you pull it down and drape it over your knees to make yourself as decent as you can be in this situation. âJust open your eyes, itâs okay.â
Slowly, his eyes peek open and finally land on where youâre laid out on the floor, bent knees covered in a towel and your shirt askew from all your efforts.
âHow can I help?â Jungkook kneels down beside you, shrugging out of his jacket and tossing it to the side.
âI justâŠI donât know if itâs all the way in. Can youâwith your hand, I know thatâs horrible and weird, but I donât know what else toââ
âNo, no, itâs not weird. I said Iâd help. Itâs clinical, right? Weâre doing this just as a medical procedure. Like I said, no funny business, I swear. Itâs for the baby. Iâll help you.â
âOkay.â You nod, squeezing your eyes shut because itâs hard to look him in the eye when heâs about toâthe towel shifts, and cool air licking between your thighs has your mind going blank.
âLook at me,â Jungkook requests, to which you immediately comply. âI need you to promise me youâll let me know if I hurt you or do something you donât like. Iâll stop immediately, okay?â When you donât immediately say anything, he adds, âI need you to tell me you understand.â
âI understand.â
Stretching across to the sink, Jungkook keeps his eyes on yours as he washes his hands and then shifts the towel more, folding it up and over your knees. âIâm going to place my hand on your thigh. Is that okay?â
âYes.â
His fingers are gentle against your skin, softer than you expected, and warm from the water. You can feel errant droplets of water streak down your thigh and roll over the bottom of your ass. You try to focus on that feeling instead of the way Jungkookâs hand trails down your thigh until his fingers graze your outer lips.
âIâm going to use two of my fingers to try and seat the inseminator. Is that okay?â
âYes,â this time, it comes out as more a breath than a word.
You tense at the subtle press of his fingers and how they probe their way down until they find your entrance. There is easily enough lube down there to grease a bakeryâs worth of cake pans, considering the half a dozen empty packets now in your trashcan, but you canât help but take a deep, fortifying breath as he begins to press in.
âStill okay?â he asks, fingers moving achingly slow.
âI think so.â
Jungkookâs brow pinches. âI feel itâŠonly about two inches in. Iâm going to push it further now. Tell me if it hurts or is uncomfortable.â
Never in a million years did you think youâd ever find yourself in this position. Not only are you butterflied open on your bathroom floor, but your best friendâs husband is now middle-knuckle deep in your vagina, and youâre not sure how to feel about it. In fact, youâre trying to do everything you can to not think about how you stretch around the intrusion of his fingers, or that it feels far better than it should.
âDo you think you can get it all the way?â you ask, voice warbling with nerves.
Jungkook hums, his lips pushing out as if he is trying to concentrate. âI think Iâm almost there. Does that feel okay, is it good?âÂ
Not once does he look away from you as heâs pushing deeper into your body. You think you want him to look away, to break that intimate contact, but you canât even bring yourself to do thatâeven though you know you should. And the whispered exchange does little to help. Is it good? Youâre going to burn in hell for the thoughts now flooding through.
âOh!â You jolt in place, eyes going wide, all previous thoughts gathering into one singular point. Jungkook mirrors your surprise, his mouth popping open in silent shock.
âIâm so sorry!â he babbles. âI didnât mean to do that. Oh fuck, god damn, shitâŠokay, sorry, let me justââ Jungkook is still gentle, yet swift in finishing seating the inseminator before quickly extracting his fingers from your body. âPlease believe me when I say I am sorry, and I swear I wasnât tryingâŠI wasnât trying to do that.â
Your body is still buzzing from the that heâs talking aboutâthe graze of his thumb over your clit. Itâs clear it was an accident by his reaction, but it does nothing to lessen the pulse that is now singing through your body.
âI-itâs okay. Really, itâs okay. Itâs fine.â Youâre not sure if your words are convincing enough, but Jungkook jerks his head in what you assume is a nod of acknowledgement.
âUm, itâs, uh, itâs in. Do you need me to do the syringe, too?â
âJust do it.â You exhale a shaky breath, finally tearing your eyes away from his. Youâre confident heâs still watching you, even as he depresses the syringe and injects his cum into your bodyâas crass as that sounds in your head, thatâs exactly whatâs happening, and itâs the first time you think youâre realizing how truly fucked you are for this.
Nothing has happened between you and Jungkook, not in that way, but for some reason, guilt wonât leave you alone. You feel like youâve just betrayed Jiyoon and feel even more like a ridiculous schoolgirl ruining her life over a crush on a boy. Youâre intimately aware of the warmth and the subtle change in pressure as he finishes depressing the inseminator. It makes you want to squirm, but you chew your bottom lip and tap your toes instead.
âAre you okay?â Jungkook asks, his voice soft and gentle.
âI should be asking you that,â you sigh.
Jungkook balks. âWhat? Why would you say that? Iâm fineâŠIâm the one thatââ He nods toward where your body is now covered with the towel again. As soon as he was done plunging the depressor, he unfolded the towel and made you decent once more.
âYou didnât mean to,â you say, maybe more as a reminder to yourself than him.
âNo, but that doesnât make it okay.â Jungkook settles back on his heels, using one of the wet wipes that came in the kit to clean his hands. Suddenly, he laughs. âThis is ridiculous, right? I mean, look at us, we just did somethingâŠbeautiful, and weâre not allowing ourselves to enjoy it.â
You chuckle softly, fidgeting with one of the ends of the towel. âIt is kind of ridiculous, huh? Sorry that I freaked out and you had to doâŠthat.â
âIâm not. Sorry, that is. Iâm glad you asked for my help. Weâre in this together.â Jungkook gives you a smile, similar to the one he wore when he knocked on your door over an hour ago, and takes up the hand not pinching at the towel in his, squeezing it. âI donât know that I can even begin to articulate with words just what this means to me. Thank you so much.â
âIt means a lot to me, as well. Being able to do this for you and Jiyoon is not something you need to thank me for. Iâd do anything for her. Sheâs my best friend. Weâve been through so much together over the last twenty yearsâŠI just want to see her happy. You, too, of course.â
Jungkook hums in the back of his throat, keeping his hand wrapped around yours as he leans back, using the side of the tub for support. A comfortable silence settles between the two of you, spanning several minutes until Jungkook speaks again. âHave you ever thought about being a mom, you know, before this?â
Itâs on the tip of your tongue to answer with what you think he wants to hear, that this has always been your wish, but instead, you choose to give him an honest answer. âNot really.â
âWhy not? If you donât mind me asking.â
If it were anyone else asking, you might mind, butâŠ
You purse your lips before offering yet another truth. âI guess I justâŠIâm me, you know?â
âNo, I donât think I do know. What do you mean?â
âIâm a single woman in my thirties with no prospects on the horizon. My last boyfriend was over five years ago. Iâm a modern-day spinster. Nothing is wrong with that, I love who I amâŠI just, no one has ever shown interest in me like that. Though itâs not necessary to have another person in the picture, itâs just thatâŠI donât even know, Iâm rambling, sorry.â
Jungkook looks at you for a long moment, and itâs so hard to read his expression. All you want to do is plead with him to tell you whatâs on his mind.
âYou shouldnât do that to yourself,â he finally says.
âDo what?â you ask, uncertain what heâs referring to.
âSell yourself short like that. You are easily one of the hardest-working people Iâve ever met. You have a successful career and amazing tastes in art and food. Not to mention, you have the biggest heart of anyone I know. YouâreâŠyouâre amazing, and I know for a fact that people think so, too.âÂ
You puff out a breath, trying not to laugh at him. âHow could you possibly know that?â
âBecause Iâm one of them. I wouldnât choose just anyone to do this with. After all, the baby will be half of you, too. A win-win in my book.â The corner of his mouth tilts in a small smile.
Youâre pretty certain youâve never had something create such a viscerally emotional response in you. It takes everything you have to blink away the sudden onslaught of tears that threaten to overwhelm you.
When you finally think you can speak without melting into a blubbering mess, you whisper, âI think youâre pretty amazing, too.â
đđđ
Jungkook
Itâs well after midnight by the time Jungkook makes it home. Heâs positively buzzing and canât even think about going to bed just yet. There is far too much going on in his head, so he decides to expend some energy in the tiny home gym he turned one of the spare rooms into.
The condo he and Jiyoon bought two years into their marriage is spacious, spanning half the second and third floors of the building. There is a three-car garage on the first floor, as well as an elevator that leads to the landing out front. Across the landing is where Taehyung lives with his roommate Jimin, another well-to-do model they met through Kim Exclusives.
Jiyoon stuck her nose up at the fact that Taehyung was buying the unit across from them when Jungkook first told her, but so far, it hasnât caused too many problems over the years. It helps at times like this, when Jiyoon is traveling for work, to have a friend so close by. Usually, Jungkook would knock next door when he canât get his head cleared, but for some reason, Jungkook doesnât want to tell Taehyung about what happened at your place. He doesnât want to tell anyone, for that matter, holding onto it as a private thing for as long as possible.
Losing himself in sets of squats and curls is far safer than describing in maddening detail the way your soft, lushâJungkook slams his hand against the squat rack and forces his thoughts away from that line of thinking.
Just because youâre a gorgeous woman with a nice body doesnât give him the right to think about you like that. Especially considering heâs married to your best friend, whom he loves more than anything. Besides, heâs better than that, knows the whole alpha male hindbrain is the stuff of fantasy. There is no excuse for him having such sordid and outlandish thoughts about you like that. It was simply doing what needed to be done to helpâfor the baby.
With that in his mind instead, he moves through the motions of his workout. By the time heâs dripping sweat and his muscles are trembling with fatigue, the sun is starting to peek through the windows, and he hasnât thought about you in hoursâwell, not much, at least. And when he does, he says it's just because he's thinking of what might be passed down to your babyâerâhis and Jiyoon's babyâhe reminds himself.
Itâs been an excruciating three weeks waiting and waiting to hear from you about something other than work. After Jiyoon returned home from her business trip, Jungkook told her about that night, including the accidental slip-up. At first, she was upset, accusing him of taking advantage of her best friend. It took hours of strained conversation to get her to understand that it was more of a clinical procedure than Jungkook fingering you.
When that accusation was first thrown out, Jungkook was at a loss for words and completely thrown off the tracks. Jiyoon apologized, saying she didnât understand how he didnât think sheâd be upset about it but that sheâd forgive him for it anyway. She then gathered Jungkook into her arms, and they cuddled in bed for the first time in what felt like forever.
Jungkook wasnât sure if Jiyoon would confront you at work over it, but as the days continued on without a peep from you, he figured things were okay between the two of you. There were times when Jungkook wished something had gone down with you and Jiyoon because then, at least, heâd have an excuse to talk to you in a way that didnât make him look like he only cared about you now that you were possibly pregnant or with something work-related.
He knows these things take time, and there is only so much he can do. So, heâs been pouring himself into work and filling his schedule with as many activities as possible to keep his mind off of waiting.
âJungkook, letâs go.â Taehyung raps his knuckles on Jungkookâs shoulder, grabbing his attention. âHead out of the clouds, daddy-o, weâre needed in hair and makeup.â
Sighing, Jungkook hauls himself off the couch in the studio waiting room and follows Taehyung into the space where the makeup and hair artists are set up. He arrived at the studio early this morning and had spent the last hour spilling his guts to Taehyung, something he promised himself he wouldnât do but couldnât keep it contained any longer.
âDonât call me that,â Jungkook grumbles.
Taehyung smirks. âWhat? Is that not what youâre hoping to be called? Donât tell me you and Jiyoon are into daddy roleplay. That might make it a little weird to have your kid also call you daddyâow!â
Rubbing the back of his head where Jungkook smacked him, Taehyung harrumphs before sidestepping the line of chairs and taking a seat in the one farthest from Jungkook.
âFuck off, Taehyung. After everything I just told you, thatâs all you have to say?â
Taehyung throws up his hands, and the hairdresser at his station begins to comb through his black tresses. âThe way it seems to me, youâre the only one making a big deal about this. If you want to check on her, Iâm sure she wonât think itâs only because sheâs your possible surrogate and not because youâre friends after this. And sure, you stuck your fingers into your wifeâs best friendâs vagina, but so what? It was what you needed to do. If I really needed you to touch my dick in order to complete an important procedure, I hope youâd do it with a smile on your face.â
Jungkook opens his mouth to protest but closes it when he realizes he canât really argue against that. Taehyung is right. He did what he had to do. Hell, he knows that, he used those words himself when explaining it to Jiyoon. Thereâs just this feeling he canât shake, heâs far too nervous and on edge right now. If only youâd reach out, put him out of his misery with an update.
âI hate it when youâre right. Iâll stop being such aââ
âHi, guys.â
âExcuse me, maâam, only staff and models are allowed back here.â
âWhoa, hey, wait. Sheâs our manager, and she can be here.â Jungkook is quick to spout, not caring if there is desperation evident in his voice. Once his eyes landed on you, it was all he could do not to jump up from the makeup chair, cross the room, and drop to his knees and beg for an update.
The directing assistant who stepped in your path gives you a once-over that makes Jungkook grind his teeth, but he just sighs and steps to the side. âOkay, but youâre both needed on set in fifteen,â he says, directing the last part toward Jungkook and Taehyung.
âItâs okay, I wonât be long. I justâŠâ You hold up a thin manilla envelope and give it a shake. âJiyoon is out of the office for the day, she said I should let you see first and that you could tell her later tonight at home. So, here I am. I thought we could look together.â
The makeup artist dabbing a sponge on Jungkookâs jaw lifts an eyebrow when he jerks forward in the chair, intent on scrambling across the room despite being in the middle of blending.
âTwo minutes,â she says, stepping back from Jungkook and turning to the makeup collection on her table.
âOkay!â Jungkook springs from the chair and rushes over to you, having no regard for the way his hair flops out of place on his forehead. âHi,â he says when heâs standing in front of you. âI didnât realize you had an appointment today.â
âI didnât,â you tell him. âI just wasnât feeling all that well this morning, soâŠwell, I just wanted to ensure everything was okay. They had to do a pregnancy test, it was routine.â You offer the folder to him. âWant to do the honors?â
Jungkookâs fingers are trembling as he takes the folder from you. It takes him three tries to get the flap open and to extract the slip of paper inside. You give him an encouraging smile as he looks to you for reassurance before letting his eyes sweep over the report.
âItâsâŠweâreâŠyouâreâŠholy fuck. Youâre pregnant. Youâre pregnant! YOUâRE PREGNANT!â Jungkook shouts before breaking out into a bout of ecstatic laughter. âFucking hell, oh my god, youâre pregnant! Iâm going to be a father. Me. A father. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Yes!â
You join in his laughter, the sound pleasant and musical, as he throws his arms around you and spins you in a circle. There are shining tears in your eyes when he sets you down again, happiness clear on your face. âIâm pregnant,â you whisper, the words reverent and full of awe.
There have never been more beautiful words. Jungkook canât help but say them again. âWeâre pregnant.â
Itâs hard to say if what Jungkook is feeling right now is considered a healthy response to what his wife, Jiyoon, just told him. But, the erratic beat of his heart paired with the incessant ringing in his ears doesnât necessarily feel bad, just like heâs having some sort of out-of-body experience.
âSay that again,â he requests, softly smacking his lips, trying to work moisture back into his mouth.
Jiyoon sighs, shuffling the papers on her lap. âIâm pregnant,â she repeats the same words you said just two weeks ago.
âYouâre certain?â Jungkook wants to believe he heard her correctly but canât help asking for clarity again.
âI am.â Jiyoon smiles at Jungkook, her eyes watery. âItâs right here, look.â
Jungkook hesitantly takes the top sheet of paper from Jiyoon, letting his eyes devour the words and numbers on it. Itâs all there, everything he needs to see and know for the truthâhCG levels far, far above average, an inked red circle around it along with a doctorâs barely legible scrawl of âpregnantâ beside that.
âHow far along? Itâs beenââ Jungkook pauses to try to do the math in his head; itâs been weeks since they were last intimateâthe night they agreed to do ICI.Â
âAbout eight weeks,â Jiyoon offers. âI suspected a few weeks ago, you know, when I was a little sick that weekendâthe one when we found out about, well, I didnât want to get my hopes up or disappoint you if it wasnât true, especially after such good newsâŠso I scheduled an appointment. I had to be sure, had to be certain.â
âYouâre pregnant.â The words feel thick on Jungkookâs tongue, like heâs trying to talk through a mouthful of peanut butter; sweet, decadent peanut butter.
âI am,â she whispers, the confirmation turning into a squeal of laughter as Jungkook sweeps her into his arms and shouts his own happiness.
Peppering kisses all over Jiyoonâs face, Jungkook hops around, alternating between shouting how much he loves her and how he canât believe his luck. âIâm going to be a father. Twice! What did I do to deserve this?! I love you so much. Fuck!â
âCalm down,â Jiyoon giggles. âPut me down before you make me hurl.â
âOh, yeah, sorry.â Jungkook pants, setting Jiyoon back down on her feet. âIâm just so excited!â He wiggles his hips and shimmies his shoulders. âWeâll need to order a second crib. Should we have the babies share a room at first? That seems the easier option, right? I bet there is a book on that somewhere, I need to goââ
âHey, calm, right?â Jiyoonâs smile is warm, soft. âWe have time. There is no need to rush. Can we just enjoy this for a little while longer?â she asks, grabbing one of his hands and placing it over her belly.
âYes. Yes, yes, yes.â Pressing his forehead to hers, Jungkook wraps his other arms around Jiyoon and sighs contentedly. âI love you so much, babe.â
âI love you, too, Jungkook.â
đđđ
Jiyoon seems nervous, pushing around the chopped salad on her plate as she chews her bottom lip. She hasnât met your eyes the entire time youâve been at lunch. You want to ask her whatâs wrong, but youâve been friends with her long enough to know that sheâll come to you with it when she wants, and pushing wonât do you any good.
âSo,â she draws the word out, lips forming an exaggerated pucker.
âYes?â
âHow are you feeling?â You can tell thatâs not what she wants to say or ask, but you indulge her anyway, hoping youâll get to the actual matter of why she insisted on going to lunch with you today.
You shift in your seat, setting your fork down on your half-empty plate. âI feel good. I just have some nausea in the mornings sometimes, but itâs not too bad.â
Finally, Jiyoonâs eyes come up to meet yours. âI know what you mean,â she says, the words slow and enunciatedâpointed. Her free hand flutters over her belly as if for emphasis.
âWhat?â The word is more breath than question. âYou are?â
âI am,â Jiyoon confirms, tears shining in her eyes.
âOh, my goodness! Jiyoon! What? But how? Oh my goodness! Thatâs wonderful!â You canât contain your excitement for your friend, throwing yourself across the tabletop to hug her fiercely.
Sheâs laughing as you sit back down, clearly buzzing with her own excitement. âWe just found out. It seems a miracle was in our cards after all. Itâs still early, nine weeks or so now.â That would make it just two weeks, give or take, before you and Jungkook did the ICI.
âWow,â you breathe, your own hand landing on your stomach. âThey might as well be twins. Itâll be so coolâwhat?â Jiyoonâs frown stilts your excitement. âWhat is it?â
She casts her eyes away from yours again, pulling her full bottom lip between her teeth before letting it pop back out. âI donât know. I just thoughtâŠitâs not too late if you wanted toâI just know itâs a lot on someone, your body, the pain and everything that comes after. And now that Iâm pregnant, itâs just, we donât expect you to continueâŠif you donât want. Weâd be completely understanding and fully supportive if youââ
âTermination? Is thatâŠwhat youâre talking about? And Jungkook agrees?â
Her nose wrinkles. âI donât like that word. Iâm just saying that we will support your decision to do that if youâd like. It was never in the plans to have more than one child, and now it would be two newborns at the same timeâŠthatâs a lot, you know? Twice as many diapers, bottles, and sleepless nights. It would be hard to say goodbye, but weâd still love you and not think less of you for it.â
Your mouth feels too dry for you to form words. You know what sheâs saying. Though there isnât a single ounce of you that desires that, you also understand the hesitation Jiyoon is expressing. Sheâs right. There wasnât a plan for two babies. So, what now? Do you volunteer to help? Do you seek out the advice of a lawyer to know where your parental rights might sit in the case they decide they donât want the baby in the end? So many thoughts swirl through your mind that it makes you dizzy.
âCan I think about it?â you ask, feeling for the first time a wave of uncertainty.
Jiyoon gives you what you assume is supposed to be an assuring smile. âOf course. And if you decide not to, Iâm sure we can come up with some sort of system. Weâll figure it out.â
She seems so sure that no matter your decision, itâll all be okay. âReally?â
âAbsolutely. I wantâwe want, these babies, even if we didnât plan for two. I was just letting you know that there is that option if you want it.â
âI-I donât think I do, but if that changesâŠIâll let you know.â
âThatâs all I ask! Now, tell me, what do you think itâll be?â she asks, patting her flat stomach again. âA boy or a girl? Iâm leaning more towards a boyâŠâ
đđđ
Jungkook
Jungkook still canât believe his life. Two babiesâtwo extraordinary miracles, itâs surrealâperfect. His calendar has never been more full. Thereâs the regular schedule of photo shoots, meetings, and other client work but now those are penned in between the baby classes heâs signed up for and various doctorâs appointments.
One of which is scheduled this afternoon, just a few hours after another this morning. There is your ten-week and then Jiyoonâs three-month appointment. Things have been going great with the pregnancies being so close together, but it does sometimes make appointments and times overlap. Which is how Jungkook finds himself sprinting across the parking lot of Jiyoonâs doctorâs office. Heâs lateâreally late. He didnât mean to arrive so late. Itâs just that your appointment ran a little longer than expected, and traffic wasnât exactly on his side, either.
Just as Jungkook puts his hand on the handle to open the door to the doctorâs office, it swings outward, nearly smacking him in the face. Jiyoon glares at him, a peeved sigh escaping her.
âYou missed it.â
âWhat? No. I still haveââ he glances down at his watch. âThe appointment should have lasted at least forty-five minutes, and itâs only been thirty.â
Jiyoon rolls her eyes. âThey were able to get me in a few minutes early.â She pushes past him and starts towards her car. âEverything is fine, by the way. The baby is measuring small but is still healthy. Thanks for asking,â she snarks, holding up a length of printed film.
Jungkook grabs the strip from her hand, jogging to keep up with her angry strides. âWow,â he whispers, looking down at the 2D images. âSheâs beautiful, so tiny.â
âShe? It could be a boy.â
âIs that what you hope it is?â Jungkook asks, skipping ahead of Jiyoon before turning and walking backwards in front of her. His eyes barely leave the black-and-white grainy images. He traces over the faintly-there contours of the face, the delicate nose and forehead.
Clicking the unlock button on her keyfob, Jiyoon sighs again. âI just want it to be healthy. I donât care what gender it is.â
âYou donât care?â Jungkook purses his lips, finally looking up at his wife. Sheâs wearing a designer pantsuit, the deep navy complementing her porcelain complexion and making the red lip she has on pop beautifully. Pregnancy looks good on her. He opens his mouth to tell her so when she cuts him off.
âDonât say it like that. Of course, I care. Good god, Jungkook, why do you have to make me feel like shit all the time? First you missed my appointment, because why? Because you were busy playing daddy to someone else. And now, here you are, accusing me of being a terrible mother before itâs even born. Fuck you. Fuck you, Jungkook.â
Jungkook is so confused. âWhat? I didnâtâplaying daddy? What are you talking about? I already said I was sorry for missing the appointment, you know the times were really close. It was her ten-week appointment. They were measuring her nuchal translucency, you remember how important that is!â
âWhatever,â Jiyoon deadpans, pushing around Jungkook and climbing into her car. âI have a meeting tonight, donât wait up for me.â
Before Jungkook can respond, the door slams shut, Jiyoon turns over the engine, and takes off. Maybe not everything is perfect, he laments to himself, mulling over his earlier thoughts. With a determined expression on his face, Jungkook makes his way to his own car and promises to do his best to make this right, vowing not to let something like this happen again.
Of course, itâs only some weeks later that Jungkook has to break this vow. Itâs not his fault, itâs no ones. It seems that life just wants to test him, perhaps make sure heâs honing his time management skills for when the babies come.
Everything has been going great since his hiccup with missing Jiyoonâs twelve-week appointment. Heâs been able to shuffle around his schedule and work with the both of you to ensure appointments donât overlap or are too close together.
Jiyoon has become reliant on him, which is something Jungkook revels in. Itâs like their marriage is finally back to the way it once was, full of nights cuddled in bed and romantic dinnersâsans the wine. While youâve been fiercely independent, yet charmingly sweet when it comes to Jungkook and Jiyoon and sharing the pregnancy experience with them.
There have been a few discussions about the fact that now there are going to be two babies instead of one. Jungkook has spent nearly all of his free time turning the guest bedroom into a nursery fit for two. His home gym has become a catch-all, most of the equipment being confined into a corner to make room for the furniture that came out of the guest room-now-nursery.
Itâs been a lot, but itâs something Jungkook would never trade for anything in all the world. Heâs positively jubilant over the prospect of being a father. Itâs something heâs dreamed about for as long as he can remember. Now, itâs just a few months away, a permanent light in his life.
âJ-jungkook?â your trembling voice sounds through his phone when he swipes to answer the call, tossing the paint roller into the bucket. Butter yellow coats the walls of the nursery and dots the hem of his old t-shirt.
âHey, is everything okay?â
âI think so. I donât know. I slipped on the stairs, Iâm at the ER right nowââ
âIâm on my way!â
âJungkook, no. Itâs okay. I know you have things going on today. I just thought I should tell you. Jiyoon was in a meeting, so Namjoon said heâd pass her a memo when she was done.â
Heâs supposed to attend a First-Time Fathers class in an hour, and Jiyoon has her twenty-two-week anatomy scan this afternoon. The class can wait. If heâs lucky, he can go to the ER, check on you, and then make it to Jiyoonâs appointment.
âNo, no, youâre not sitting in the ER by yourself. Iâll text Jiyoon and let her know that Iâm leaving now to come check on you.â
âO-okay.â
The line disconnects, and Jungkook slaps the lid on the paint bucket and throws a plastic sheet over the paint tray. If it dries out, then it dries out. Paint can be replaced; your health is far more crucial right now.
Walking into the entryway, he thumbs open his messages and types out a quick text to Jiyoon before tossing his phone on the small bench by the door so he can pull on his shoes.
Itâs a twenty-minute drive to the hospital, and it takes another ten minutes of searching to find you sitting in a waiting room with a large ice pack resting on your right foot.
âHey, are you okay? Have you been seen yet? How long have you been here? What happened?â
You hold up a hand to ward off more of his word vomit, an embarrassed smile soft on your face. âSlow down, have a seat. Iâm okay. They said I should be called back soon.â
Instead of sitting, Jungkook kneels on the floor in front of you. His fingers the ice pack, his face falling even further. âWhat happened?â
âI slipped in the stairwell at work, missed the last step and came down hard on the side of my foot.â
âCan I?â he asks, fingers moving to the corner of the ice pack.
You nod. âYeah.â
Lifting it gently, Jungkook takes in the sight of your foot. The black ballet flats youâre wearing give him a clear view of the swelling thatâs already beginning along the top and side of your foot.
âDo you want me to find a wheelchair?â
Before you can answer Jungkook a nurse comes through one of the doors, pushing a wheelchair. She wheels it over to you and says, âReady?â
âYeah.â
Jungkook slips his arm under yours as you stand before slowly helping you lower into the wheelchair. âWould you like to push her back?â the nurse asks Jungkook.
âI can come?â he wonders, hopeful.
âOf course. Unless youâd rather wait out here, and I can call for you when your wife is done.â
âOh, sheâs notââ
âIâd like for you to come if thatâs okay? I donât really want to be alone,â you interject before Jungkook can correct the nurse. She gives Jungkook a polite nod and gestures towards the door she came through.
âPlease come right this way. Weâll need to get a quick weight and a urine sample before I can get you into your room, where the doctor will see you shortly.â
Jungkook aids you the best he can, helping you to and from the wheelchair as he can. He almost asks if you want him to come into the restroom with you, but you give him a quick shake of your head before closing the door on him.
What feels like an eternity later, youâre finally settled on a bed with Jungkook sitting in the chair beside it.
âThank you for being here,â you say quietly, drawing Jungkookâs attention. âI know I said I wanted you to come back with me, and itâs not that I want you to leave, but please donât feel obligated to stay. I know you have a lot of other things going on.â
Shifting his chair closer, Jungkook reaches for one of your hands. âNonsense. Iâm glad you called. I feel bad that I havenât been to as many doctorâs appointments with you. I feel like itâs been a couple of weeks since Iâve even seen you. I wish our schedules worked out a little better. Perhaps, as my manager, thereâs something you can do about that?â he asks, giving you a jesting wink.
âI was trying to give you more time to go to Jiyoonâs appointments!â you laugh, covering your mouth with your hand.
âI know, but in case you forgot, youâre also carrying my child. Donât get me wrong, though, the texts are great, and I really appreciate the weekly baby bump pictures, but itâd be nice to actually see you. Though, maybe next time, letâs make it not where youâre laid up in a hospital bed, not yet, at least,â he adds on with a low laugh.
This is the first time Jungkook has seen your bump in person. The soft swell under your shirt calls to him, and he wonders if it would be okay to touch it. As if youâre reading his mind, you take the hand thatâs wrapped around yours and press it gently over your stomach.
âKinda weird, huh?â
âNo. No, not weird at all,â Jungkook says, being completely raw and honest with you. Jiyoon is touchy about her belly, pun wholly not intended, seeing as she doesnât let him touch her bump nearly as much as heâd like to. Sheâs only recently started to show, and itâs hitting her hard, with which Jungkook tries to empathize. He canât imagine being pregnant and how much a body changes; heâd probably feel things like that, too.
He spends a moment absorbing the feel, trying to imagine the little life growing just a few inches below his hand. Life he helped create. Heâs so in awe he could cryâŠif it wasnât for the door opening and breaking the momentary spell over him.
âHello, Iâm Dr. Lee. Iâll be your attending today. I hear you slipped down the stairs today and are worried your foot might be broken?â The cheery, middle-aged woman chatters away, washing her hands and drying them off before offering one to you and then to Jungkook.
âYeah. I missed the last step and landed on the side of my foot pretty hard.â You shake your head with a rueful smile. âI should have just waited for the elevator.â
âOh, ouch. Letâs take a look,â Dr. Lee coos. âMay I?â She gestures to the blanket covering your feet. Jungkook helped you remove your shoes once you were in bed and tossed the blanket over your feet so they wouldnât get cold.
âOf course.â
Dr. Lee pulls back the blanket and gently probes at your foot, turning it slowly side to side to get a better look. âDoes this hurt?â she asks as she rotates your ankle.
âA little, not as much as putting pressure on it, though.â
The doctor nods. âI think it might be best if we do an x-ray just to be sure itâs not broken.â
âWonât that be harmful to the baby?â Jungkook asks.
âDonât worry, weâll make sure to protect your little one.â Jungkook nods his understanding. âIs it your first? You look a little green around the gills, first-time-father jitters.â
Jungkook isnât entirely sure how to answer that. Because, technicallyâŠno? Considering Jiyoon is approximately two weeks further along than you are. Would that make her baby his first? A laugh, barely restrained, simmers deep in Jungkookâs chest.
âSomething like that,â he finally says, earning another warm smile from the doctor.
âAlright, letâs get started so I can get you two out of here as soon as possible.â
The word âsoonâ should be a relative term when it comes to hospitalsâor a word that hospital staff is barred from using. Jungkook doesnât mind spending the hours waiting with you. In fact, youâre pretty pleasant company. Thatâs not to say Jiyoon isnât when Jungkook attends appointments with her; thereâs just a different level of expectation, he thinks. He hopes this baby will have your patience and grace like that.
Jiyoon wants a quiet observer sitting in the corner, whereas youâre welcoming to his insights and curiosities. You havenât hushed him a single time when heâs voiced a question of any of the medical staff. In fact, it almost seems like you welcome it, comfortable in letting him show his concern for you.
Thankfully, the x-ray showed no break or fracture. Youâve been given a temporary boot to wear for the next week and strict instructions not to overdo it. âGot it,â you say once the nurse has finished explaining everything to you.
âNow, before we discharge you, we would like to have a sonographer brought in to check on the baby. According to your charts and file, youâre at the twenty-week mark now.â
Jungkook stands up, panic worming its way in. âShould we be worried? Is everything okay?â
The nurse gives him a motherly smile. âThatâs what we would like to check.â She turns her attention to you. âYou didnât fall on your belly, but with any trauma to the body, it never hurts just to be sure.â
Of course. That makes sense to Jungkook, but he looks to you for confirmation. âYeah? You want to do that?â
âThat would be great, thanks.â
Jungkook has only attended two live ultrasounds in all the doctorâs appointments he has been to. He has many printed ultrasound images that are now stuck to the refrigerator at home, one side for Jiyoon and the other for you. But heâs only managed to attend one for Jiyoon and one for you, so this will be a wonderful treat.
âOkay, theyâll be here in just a moment.â
A few moments pass after the nurse leaves the room, and Jungkook allows himself to truly assess his internal feelings. Heâs thankful that youâre okay and will feel even more at ease once the ultrasound confirms the baby is alright, too. Itâs wild for Jungkook to think that just a few months ago, his life felt like it was on the verge of falling apart. There was a steadily growing rift between him and Jiyoon, and you were just Jiyoonâs best friend.
Now, however, he feels closer than ever to his wife, and youâve managed to carve out your own little pocket in his heart, too. Itâs alarming, yet comforting, to realize that there is something more between you and himâa deepening connection thatâs still delicate but growing more solid with each passing day.
âYou feeling okay?â Your voice breaks through Jungkookâs reverie.
âHm? Me? Iâm great,â he assures, rubbing his thumb over the back of your hand. Youâve barely let his hand go the entire time, to which Jungkook wonât complain. âDoes it hurt much?â Jungkook nods toward the end of the bed, where your feet are back under the blanket.
You shrug. âItâs not so bad while laying here.â
âHi!â a bubbly voice calls from the door a second before a young blond woman wheels an imaging cart into the room. âAre we ready to get a look at your little one before you guys go home?â
âYep.â You give Jungkookâs hand a light squeeze. âExcited?â you ask in a soft voice meant only for him.
âVery,â he tells you, sitting up straighter in his chair.
âNow, this wonât be nearly as good as if we were in radiology in an exam room, but all we really want is to get a look to make sure everything is okay. Besides, who doesnât want to take a peek when you get the chance, right?â
The tech, with Jungkookâs assistance, helps you adjust on the bed until youâre in a comfortable position for the ultrasound. Jungkook feels frozen as you tug your blouse up and over your belly, giving him his first real glimpse of the swell in all its glory. Itâs one thing to see it through your shirt, another thing entirely to see it like this.
âCold,â you chuckle as the tech squeezes a glob of contact gel onto your lower belly.
âSorry about that, these carts unfortunately donât have the warmers on them. Ah, here we are,â she sing-songs when she smoothes the wand over the gel. âLook at that.â
Jungkook tears his eyes from your face, focusing his gaze on the imaging machine's display screen. His breath stutters in his lungs, and a wave of pure, unrestrained joy washes over him.
âTheyâre perfect,â he says, voice thick with emotion. Jungkook watches as an arm moves across the screen, followed by a little kicking foot.
âSeeing them never ceases to take my breath away.â You take the words right out of Jungkookâs mouth.
The tech hums, giving you a soft smile as she moves the wand around to different angles. âNo gender yet?â she asks. âIâll try to be careful here, donât want to have any spoilersâŠunless you would like to know?â
Itâs hard not to be curious. âIs it not too early to tell?â Jungkook asks.
Turning the screen slightly away from you and Jungkook, the tech says, âUm, nope. Not too early. Everything looks good, though. So, if youâd rather wait, we can get cleaned up and be done here.â
âWhat do you say?â Jungkook looks at you with a raised brow.
Your teeth leave a dent in your bottom lip as you worry it for a moment. Another thing he thinks would be cute to see his mini-me do. âI kind of want to, donât you?â
âYeah,â he admits, loving the fact that you do.
âOkay, wonderful. In that case,â the tech says before moving the screen back and adjusting the wand on your belly. âTake a look here.â
When Jungkook arrives home, the sun has long since gone down, but heâs so high on cloud nine that he canât bring himself to care. The large smile on his face hasnât slipped in the slightest.
Jungkook is certain nothing can bring him down. At least, that is, until he walks through the front door of his condo and straight into hell. Jiyoon is sitting at their dining table, her expression completely devoid of emotion.
âHey, babe. Whatâs going on?â Jungkook hesitantly asks, eyes sweeping the open layout and taking note that the only light on is the recessed one directly over Jiyoon. His smile slowly fades, replaced with a crease between his brows.
âWhatâs going on?â she asks in a cold voice.
âIs everything okay?â
Jiyoon sniffs, her eyes narrowing, the first sign of emotion heâs seen since he walked in. âNo. Everything is not okay.â
âOâŠkay,â Jungkook draws the word out, letting his mind flip through its internal catalog, trying to find pieces of the puzzle to put together.
âWhere have you been?â
âThere was an accident. Did you get the note fromââ
âYouâve not answered any of my calls or texts.â
âI sent you a text before I left. I think I misplaced my phone, I canât seem to findââ
âYou missed my appointment!â she sneers, cutting him off once more. âAnd you did not text me. I havenât heard from you since this morning.â
Realization hits, and the warmth drains from Jungkookâs face. He was so focused on everything with you, the panic and then the joy, that he completely spaced on everything else he should have done today. But alsoâŠ
âI swear I texted you to let you know I was going to the hospital. I was going to make sure everything was okay.â As soon as your name falls from his lips Jiyoon shoves back from the table and rounds it, getting in his face. âShe slipped at work and thought she might have broken her foot. Namjoon was supposed to give you a note about it since you were in a meeting. She called me. I was worried. I didnât mean to miss your appointment. Were they able to determine the gender?â
Jiyoon jabs a finger in the center of his chest. âNot. Good. Enough. Iâm your wife, not her! Youâre supposed to be with me! Instead, you spend all your fucking time with your nose up her ass when you barely even know her!â Jungkook staggers back as her poke turns into a fully-palmed shove. âYouâre un-fucking-believable! What a goddamn joke.â
âJiyoon, thatâs not fair. Something could have been wrong with the baby. It was an emergency,â Jungkook says, trying to make Jiyoon see reason.
It doesnât work.
âFuck you! Why do you care so fucking much about that stupid baby?! All you do is fawn over the photos and re-read her text updates! This,â she gestures wildly at her stomach, âis the baby you should care about! Yet you canât even show up when it counts.â
âYou canât be serious. This is ridiculous.â Jungkook keeps his tone level, refusing to be baited into a knock-down-drag-out with her.
âNo!â Jiyoon screams, making Jungkook flinch. âYou are ridiculous.â Suddenly a menacing smile cuts across her face. âI bet you slept with her. Didnât you? Thatâs it, youâre feeling possessive because you fucked my best friend, and thatâs how she got knocked up, isnât it?â
Jiyoonâs words spark a ringing in Jungkookâs ears. âWhat?â he whispers, the word barely forming.
âDonât play dumb with me, Jungkook. I know you too well for that. Letâs not forget your little slip-upââ she throws up air quotes as she says that ââthe night you supposedly did ICI.â
âI told you it was an accident. I didnât mean to do it!â
Sarcasm is a heavy, bitter layer in Jiyoonâs reply, âYou just so happened to touch her clit? Just a little oopsie, so innocent. Youâre too nice to outright lie to me, so, of course, you come up with some half-truth, expecting me to believe that you didnât want it, that you werenât secretly gnawing at the opportunity to try and seduce my best friend!â
âThat is not what happened at all!â
âSo Iâm supposed to believe my pathetically inexperienced best friend is the one that seduced you, then?â
âWhat? Thatâs not what I said at all. No one seduced anyone. Youâre being fucking crazy right now. You know Iâd never do that to yââ
The crack of Jiyoonâs palm against his jaw stuns him into silence. âDonât you dare call me crazy!â she screams. âYouâd never do that to me? Yeah, right. Youâre a man, and thatâs what men do! Heaven forbid a woman works hard and spends time away from the home, trying to provide for her family. Is that it? Iâm gone too much for your sad little dick, so you have to chase after the first desperate pussy that comes your way?â
Jungkook presses his fingers over the searing heat licking up his jaw where her hand struck him. âJiyoon, no, itâs not like that at all,â he says, losing his momentum because heâs not sure what he can say at this point to make her see reason. âI wouldnât cheat on you.â
âFucking my best friend because sheâs convenient and out of spite for me being gone so much? No, that sounds exactly like something you would do. Well, looks like itâs your lucky day because two can play that game, asshole. Enjoy your fucking prize!â
Jungkook jerks back, as if Jiyoon just slapped him again. âWhat does that mean?â
She laughs, the sound deep and throaty. âThis babyââ she seethes, rubbing over the small swell of her belly, voice rising with every word ââitâs not yours, you pathetic bastard!â
Next Chapter⟠(coming soon) â  Back to story masterlist Â
â  Back to Main Master List Â©ïž 2024-02-13 ColorMePurplex2
jeon jungkook x reader
angst with a happy ending, idol!au, established relationship ; wc : 1480 words
rating: pg13
warnings: swearing, mentions of insecurities, jungkook is a bit of a dick here i'm sorry lol
note: this fic was inspired by this song! it's been collecting dust in my drafts for so long and then i realized that i haven't posted anything in months so....... hope you guys enjoy!
jeongguk has always been your constant, and even with what seems to be the whole world against the two of you, you can't bring yourself to let him go.
Sighing, you take a sip from your tea. âYouâre a fucking idiot.â
Jeongguk blinks. âWhat?â
âI said,â you repeat slowly, âyouâre a fucking idiot. I know what I got into. You donât get to make decisions for me.â
âIâm not making decisions for you, (Y/N).â He scoffs, leaning back on his chair. âIâm telling you that this isnât working out between us. We need to break up.â
For a few moments, you say nothing. The sounds of the cafe downstairs fill the silence between the two of you and you idly wonder if heâll gain some sense the longer that you stare at him. You raise an eyebrow.
âYou literally told me that you wanted to start a family with me yesterday,â you deadpan. âPeople donât change that quickly, especially not you.â
âThen you obviously donât know me well enough!â He fires back, leaning forward as he grips the edge of your table. His jaw clenches, and in another time, maybe you would have found it attractive. Now, however, it only fuels your irritation further.
Pinching the bridge of your nose, you consider actually slapping some sense into that stupid, big head of his. âJeongguk, Iâve known you for ten years,â you remind him calmly. âI know you better than I know myself, which is why I know that youâre an awful liar and that every sentence youâve uttered in the past ten minutes has been pulled straight out of your ass.â
You can practically see the gears turning in his head. It was clear that this strategy wasnât working out, and it didnât take a genius to figure out that it was time for him to switch tactics.
When his gaze grows harder, colder, you already know that the next thing that comes out of his mouth will tear your heart to shreds. Still, you tilt your chin upwards, meeting his gaze head-on.
â(Y/F/N),â he says quietly, voice so dangerously low. You brace yourself for the impact. âHow do I make you understand that the past three years have been nothing but a waste of my time?â
Bullâs-fucking-eye.
He takes your frozen state as a sign to continue. âThe past three years have just been one big trainwreck. Youâve done nothing but hold me back in every aspect of my life. You have been nothing but selfish and it shows even now,â he scoffs. âYou refuse to listen to me when I tell you something. Itâs always your way or the highway, isnât it?â
Youâre stunned into silence. So this was the path he was going to take, huh? Somewhere, underneath the wave of hurt that washes over you is a thought: textbook. This is a textbook manifestation of your worst fears, your deepest insecurities. He knows you better than you know yourself; knowing exactly which buttons to press to hurt you the most. Heâs cutting into your very soul with surgeon-like precision. The wounded, angry part of you wants to take the bait, to rip him apart but you donât have it in you to tear into him just as he had done with you.
So you say nothing, merely tilting your head to the side. Slowly, you bring your cup to your lips, sipping quietly before setting it down once more. His eyes are still dark, filled with barely repressed rage.
âYouâre always fucking clinging to me too!â He spits out. âYou act like youâre so high and mighty but then you act like a fucking child whenever you donât get what you want. Grow the fuck up,â he laughs humorlessly. âLoving you is the biggest mistake of my life. I wish I never fucking met you.â
At that statement, you canât even hold back a wince. If you werenât watching him so closely, you would not have noticed the way his eyes widen infinitesimally, fingers twitching as if he wanted to reach out for you. He bites his lip and for a second he looks like the Jeongguk that you know and love. Thatâs all it takes for you to strengthen your resolve once more, to force your tears back, and to face this head-on as if he hadnât hit you where it hurt the most.
âIs that all youâve got?â You say coolly as if your heart didnât ache at his words. âLet it all out, love; Iâve got all day.â
His facade begins to crumble. âWhy arenât you mad at me?â
You raise an eyebrow. âDo you want me to be mad at you?â
He visibly deflates in front of you. Shaking his head, he looks at the coffee table, fingers tracing the scratches on the surface.
âJust break up with me,â he whispers pitifully. âItâs the best thing you can do.â
You hum softly. âDo you want to break up with me because of the reasons that you listed earlier? OrâŠâ
âOr?â
âDoes this have something to do with the conversation you had with your manager this morning?â
His head shoots up, eyes widening comically. âHow do you know that?â
âI have my ways,â you shrug. âThat, and the fact that Yoongi overheard the two of you and gave me a heads up.â
âHow did he even overhear us?â
You only shrug once more. Yoongi was, well, Yoongi. He was a man of many (slightly concerning) talents.
âIf youâre worried about me receiving hate,â you start, pulling his hand into your grasp, âthen you have nothing to worry about. Iâm a big girl. I can handle it.â
He scoffs quietly but thereâs no real malice behind it. âPeople are cruel when they want to be. Iâve been on the receiving end of that, (Y/N). I never want you to know what that feels like.â
âSo you were just going to take the easy way out?â
He blanches. âNo, I⊠I just wanted to protect youâŠâ
A sad grin creeps up your face. âAnd look where that got us.â
Letting go of his hand, you take another sip of your tea, almost spitting it out when you look at Jeongguk and realize he has actual tears in his eyes. âGuk?â You say worriedly, hand reaching out to cup his cheek. He leans into your touch and closes his eyes, eyebrows still adorably scrunched in that way it always did whenever he was close to tears.
When he opens his eyes again, you smile.
âI didnât mean what I said,â he says hoarsely. âI donât think youâre selfish or immature or clingy. Loving you, meeting you has been the best thing to happen to my life andâ , and Iâ ââ He swallows thickly, a single tear rolling down his cheek. Youâre quick to wipe it off even as you feel your own eyes well up with tears.
âI love you,â he admits. âI look at you and my heart feels so full and you make me so happy and I just, I love you so muchâ ââ he sobs, dragging his seat closer to you so he could hold you close. You stiffen when he buries his face in the crook of your neck, only relaxing when youâre sure that no one else is on this floor of the cafe. Your arms wrap around his hunched form, letting him cry freely.
âIâm so sorry about what I said. I didnât mean any of it I swear,â he blubbers, nose all red and runny. Itâs almost adorable how he looks at you so earnestly with tears in his eyes. âYouâre my everything, (Y/N), I mean it.â
He pulls away from you with a sudden urgency, hands cupping your face gently as he looks into your eyes deeply. âYou donât hold me back. You make me a better person every single day. Iâm an idiot who should have talked to you about this first before forcing you to break up with me.â
âYou are an idiot,â you agree. He snorts at how quickly you agree, but all you can think of at the moment is how easily he puts your heart at ease despite being the very person to have ripped it apart moments earlier.
âDonât get me wrong, weâre going to talk about this in detail but this isnât a discussion we should be having in a public place.â You rise from your seat, patting his cheek gently. âLetâs go home?â
He nods happily, giving you that smileâ âthat soft smile of his that makes you forget about everything else, the one that tells you he loves you more than anything in the world. âLetâs go home.â
The two of you still had so many things to talk about, so many things to unpack from todayâs events. It almost seems daunting now that you think about it as the two of you walk home with your hand in his, but as long as you had him⊠then maybe it wouldnât be so bad after all.
Piss Off Your Parents Ship: BadBoy!Jungkook | RichGirl!Reader Description: Roommates!AU | BadBoy!AU | FakeDating!AU | In an effort to piss off your parents you move in with their worst nightmare- a boy with tattoos, a rock band, and an irresistible charm. Warnings: Dom!JK, Daddy Kink, D/S Themes, Spanking, Pussy Spanking, Intercourse, Rough Sex, Dirty Talk, Creampie, Fingering, Oral, Multiple Orgasms, Squirting, Size Kink, Hair Pulling, Praise Kink, Lots of Pet Names, Angst, Fluff, Drug Use (itâs just weed) Word Count: 16,411 A/N: Based on the song 18 by Anarbor! This ends my hiatus! Iâve been writing this for literal months so I hope you guys like it. Happy Early 3rd Year Anniversary!
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Rosa (She/Her || 24) ~~ I reblog my favourite fic and create reading list.
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