CHAPTER 3 — THE BOY WHO ISN’T MINE

Universe A

(Stranger Jungkook tries to understand the life he has stepped into)

Jungkook followed Taehyung into the living room, feeling like he was walking inside someone else’s memories. The space looked lived-in. Soft blankets on the couch. Candles near the window. A pair of slippers placed neatly next to another.

Everything here said together.

Taehyung sat on the edge of the couch, elbows on his knees, trying to process what was happening. He kept stealing glances at Jungkook like he was afraid to look too long and afraid not to look at all.

“Do you remember last night?” Taehyung asked.

Jungkook shook his head. “No.”

Taehyung closed his eyes for a moment, collecting himself. “You fainted on stage. I thought your head hit the floor. You scared all of us. When you didn’t wake up for ten minutes, I panicked.”

Panic.

The word lodged itself in Jungkook’s chest.

He sat across from Taehyung. “So… we’ve been together for three years.”

Taehyung’s eyes softened. “Yes.”

“That long?”

“You’re acting like it’s a surprise,” Taehyung said softly. There was a fragile humor in his voice, the kind you use when you’re trying not to break. “You were the one who confessed first. You don’t remember that either?”

Jungkook shook his head again.

Taehyung leaned back, staring at the ceiling as if searching for strength there. “You promised me you’d never forget.”

The words punched a hole right through Jungkook.

He didn’t know what to say.

He didn’t want to hurt him.

But every second he spent here was hurting him anyway.

“Taehyung,” Jungkook said quietly, “I’m not the Jungkook you know.”

Taehyung froze.

Jungkook continued, unsure how to explain something he didn’t understand himself. “I remember a different stage. A different rehearsal. A different us. In my world… we’re not together.”

Taehyung lowered his gaze. His voice was barely a whisper. “So you’re saying… you’re from somewhere else.”

“I think so.”

Taehyung’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “And my Jungkook? Where is he?”

Jungkook didn’t answer.

Because he truly didn’t know.

Because the silence said enough.

Taehyung leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped like he was holding himself together. “He wouldn’t leave me. Not without a word. Not without a fight.”

Jungkook felt a strange ache.

Not jealousy.

Not fear.

Just guilt.

“I’ll do my best not to confuse you,” Jungkook said gently. “I won’t overstep. I won’t pretend.”

Taehyung met his eyes. “You already overstepped.”

Jungkook blinked. “When?”

Taehyung’s voice cracked faintly. “When you looked at me and didn’t see me.”

Jungkook didn’t know how to fix that kind of hurt.

And Taehyung didn’t know how to stop feeling it.

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Universe B

(Lover Taehyung tries to reach a Jungkook who doesn’t know him)

The hospital discharged Taehyung within an hour, insisting he only needed rest. The rest of the members returned to the dorm ahead of him. Jungkook stayed behind, offering to take him home since Taehyung still looked pale.

The walk to the car was quiet.

Taehyung kept glancing at Jungkook the way someone looks at a familiar place that suddenly feels foreign. Jungkook walked a little ahead, hands in his pockets, shoulders tense.

“Tired?” Jungkook asked without turning.

Taehyung nodded. “A bit.”

“You should sleep when we get back,” Jungkook said. “Jin hyung said he’ll make something warm for you.”

Taehyung smiled faintly. “You’re being very gentle.”

Jungkook shrugged. “You fainted. Anyone would.”

Taehyung let out a small breath. “Not you.”

Jungkook looked at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“In my world,” Taehyung said softly, “you’d be holding my hand right now.”

Jungkook stopped.

The air shifted between them.

Taehyung stepped closer. “You’d scold me for not eating enough. You’d tell me to rest properly. And you’d stand close like you always do.”

Jungkook took a quiet breath, steadying himself. “Taehyung… we’re not like that here.”