Chapter 3: First Glitches of Reality

Life inside the small apartment gradually slipped into a rhythm that felt almost normal—almost.

Taehyung adapted quickly.

Too quickly.

He learned how things worked with quiet intensity, fingers brushing over switches, screens, and objects as if committing the world to memory. Sometimes he asked questions. Sometimes he simply watched. Jungkook noticed everything—and tried not to think about how naturally Taehyung fit into the space.

That afternoon, Jungkook sat at his desk, tablet propped up as he worked. The steady hum of the city outside usually calmed him.

Today, it didn’t.

“Why do you always look so serious when you draw?” Taehyung asked softly.

Jungkook startled as Taehyung leaned over his shoulder, close enough that he could feel his warmth. “D-Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

Taehyung smiled faintly but didn’t move away. His gaze lingered on the screen.

“…That’s me,” he said.

Jungkook froze, stylus hovering midair. “…I didn’t mean to draw you again.”

The figure on the tablet was unmistakable—sharper, clearer, more detailed than before. More alive.

Taehyung studied the image, flexing his fingers slowly. “…When you draw me, I feel different.”

Jungkook’s chest tightened. “…Different how?”

“More solid,” Taehyung replied. “Like I belong here.” His eyes darkened. “But sometimes…”

“…Sometimes what?” Jungkook pressed.

“Sometimes I feel like I could fade,” Taehyung said calmly. “Like I only exist because you’re looking at me.”

Jungkook’s grip tightened around the stylus. “…Don’t say that.”

“I’m not afraid,” Taehyung continued. “I don’t have a past. No memories. Just this place—and you.”

The words hit harder than Jungkook expected.

“…Then stay,” Jungkook said suddenly, standing up. His voice shook, but his resolve didn’t. “I’ll keep drawing you. I won’t let you disappear.”

Taehyung looked at him for a long moment.

Then he smiled.

Not playful.

Not teasing.

Something deeper.

“…You’d really bind me to this world?” Taehyung asked quietly.

“I already am,” Jungkook replied without hesitation.

Taehyung stepped closer, invading his space with deliberate slowness. “Then I suppose I belong to you,” he murmured.

Jungkook’s breath hitched.

The room felt warmer. Heavier.

Outside, the city continued on, unaware.

Inside the apartment, something fragile—and dangerous—had taken root.

The tablet screen flickered once, responding as if it understood.

(A/N:This is my first short story, a short one only, and it's my own work, I didn't copy it from others, I just let chatgpt correct some of my grammatical errors. It's already edited, I have thought about publishing from a long time, but I always forgot about it😅. It has been in my drafts from a long time, my best friend also help me make this story. It's quite angst story, but not much, since I also don't like angst that much. And also again, I didn't copy this from others, it's really my own imaginations, I've been wanting to create this story from my mind from a long time, since I got busy in school I forgot to upload it here. So I hope you'll like this story😊)

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