Chapter 1 — “Pay Attention to Me…”

The huge penthouse was quiet.

Too quiet.

Jeon Jungkook sat near the window with his laptop resting on his thighs, glasses sliding slightly down his nose while he worked through endless emails. The rain outside painted silver lines across the glass, making the city look blurry and distant.

Calm. Warm. Peaceful.

Until—

“Jungkookieeeee…”

A dramatic whine echoed through the apartment.

Jungkook didn’t even look up. “Hmm?”

Heavy footsteps approached.

Then suddenly—

A whole grown man threw himself across Jungkook’s lap.

“Baby!”

Jungkook sighed softly as Kim Taehyung wrapped his arms around his waist like an oversized clingy cat.

Taehyung buried his face into Jungkook’s stomach and groaned. “You love your laptop more than me.”

“I’ve been working for twenty minutes.”

“Exactly.” Taehyung looked up with betrayal written all over his face. “That’s twenty whole minutes without kissing me.”

Jungkook finally smiled a little.

Kim Taehyung was impossible.

Rich. Beautiful. Spoiled beyond saving.

And obsessed with attention.

Especially Jungkook’s attention.

Taehyung grabbed Jungkook’s hand dramatically and pressed it against his cheek. “Feel this.”

“What?”

“My suffering.”

Jungkook laughed quietly. “You’re unbelievable.”

“No, I’m neglected.”

Taehyung climbed fully onto the couch, practically crushing Jungkook beneath him while pouting like a child denied candy.

Even at twenty-six years old, Taehyung acted like the world would end if Jungkook stopped touching him for more than five minutes.

And honestly?

Jungkook let him.

Because beneath all the bratty whining, Taehyung was soft.

Painfully soft.

The type of person who demanded love loudly because deep inside, he feared not receiving enough of it.

Taehyung suddenly grabbed Jungkook’s face.

“Look at me.”

“I am looking at you.”

“No. Properly.”

Jungkook closed his laptop this time.

Immediately Taehyung’s eyes sparkled in victory.

“There,” Taehyung whispered proudly. “Now your attention belongs to me.”

“You’re clingy.”

“You like it.”

Jungkook didn’t answer.

Because yes. He did.

A little too much.

Taehyung crawled closer until their noses brushed. “Call me pretty.”

“You are pretty.”

“Again.”

“You’re very pretty.”

Taehyung smiled so brightly it almost hurt to look at him.

That smile always made Jungkook weak.

Maybe because Jungkook had spent most of his life taking care of everyone else while nobody truly took care of him.

Growing up, affection came with conditions. Praise was rare. Warmth felt temporary.

So when Taehyung entered his life like a chaotic storm demanding hugs, kisses, cuddles, attention, reassurance—

Jungkook didn’t know how to resist.

Taehyung made him feel needed.

Not for responsibilities. Not for perfection.

Just… needed.

Taehyung suddenly grabbed Jungkook’s face again and squished his cheeks.

“You’re thinking too much.”

“And you’re annoying.”

“But I’m your annoying baby.”

Jungkook’s heart melted instantly.

Dangerous.

This man was dangerous.

Taehyung laid his head on Jungkook’s chest and sighed happily when fingers automatically slipped into his hair.

“There we go,” Taehyung mumbled. “That’s my mommy.”

Jungkook froze slightly at the nickname.

Not because he disliked it.

Because he liked it far too much.

Taehyung noticed immediately.

He always noticed.

Slowly, Taehyung tilted his head upward with teasing eyes. “You like when I call you mommy, don’t you?”

Jungkook avoided his gaze. “Taehyung.”

“Awww.” Taehyung grinned. “You’re blushing.”

“I’m not.”

“You totally are.”

Taehyung climbed higher until he was almost sitting in Jungkook’s lap completely.

“Mommy.”

Jungkook inhaled sharply.

Taehyung’s voice became softer this time. “Take care of me.”

That sentence.

That stupid sentence always destroyed Jungkook.

Because nobody had ever asked Jungkook to love them so openly before.

And Taehyung… Taehyung asked for it every single day.

Attention. Affection. Comfort. Love.

As if Jungkook’s arms were the safest place in the world.

Taehyung suddenly kissed Jungkook’s jaw softly.

“One kiss every minute you ignored me.”

“That’s not how this works.”

“Yes it is.”

Taehyung kissed him again.

And again.

Until Jungkook finally gave up, wrapping an arm around Taehyung’s waist while the younger omega smiled proudly against his skin.

“See?” Taehyung whispered happily. “You can never resist me.”

Jungkook looked at him quietly for a long moment.

Beautiful brown eyes. Messy dark hair. Spoiled expression. Needy heart.

His brat.

Jungkook gently brushed hair away from Taehyung’s forehead.

“You’re lucky I love you.”

Taehyung immediately gasped dramatically. “Only lucky?”

Then he buried himself deeper into Jungkook’s embrace and mumbled:

“Momy… I need love.”

And Jungkook held him tighter without hesitation.

The rain still hadn’t stopped.

Soft thunder echoed outside while warm yellow lights filled the penthouse with comfort.

Taehyung was currently spread across Jungkook’s body like a blanket.

A very dramatic blanket.

Jungkook leaned against the couch while Taehyung rested on top of him, lazily tracing circles against Jungkook’s chest.

“You stopped working for me,” Taehyung whispered proudly.

“You forced me to stop working.”

“Mhm.” Taehyung nodded shamelessly. “And I’d do it again.”

Jungkook shook his head with quiet amusement.

Taehyung suddenly lifted himself slightly. “Do you know something?”

“What?”

“You’re getting obsessed with me.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “I’m obsessed?”

“Yes.” Taehyung poked his cheek. “You stare at me when you think I’m sleeping.”

“That happened once.”

“Twice.”

“You counted?”

“Of course.” Taehyung grinned brightly. “I love attention.”

That sentence alone described Kim Taehyung perfectly.

He needed affection constantly.

If Jungkook stopped touching him, Taehyung would whine. If Jungkook focused on work too long, Taehyung would throw himself dramatically across the desk. If Jungkook ignored his texts for five minutes—

Twenty missed calls.

And yet…

Jungkook never got tired of him.

Maybe because Taehyung looked happiest when being loved.

Right now included.

Taehyung closed his eyes as Jungkook’s fingers slowly combed through his soft hair.

A satisfied little sound escaped him.

“There,” Taehyung mumbled sleepily. “That’s why I keep you.”

“You keep me?”

“Mhm. My emotional support mommy.”

Jungkook laughed under his breath.

Taehyung immediately looked up, completely distracted. “Again.”

“What?”

“Laugh again.”

Jungkook blinked. “Why?”

“Because your smile is pretty.”

The sincerity in Taehyung’s voice made Jungkook pause.

Taehyung always spoke like that. Openly. Fearlessly.

As if loving someone loudly wasn’t embarrassing.

Jungkook wasn’t used to it.

Growing up, emotions were hidden. Needs were burdens. Crying meant weakness.

But Taehyung?

Taehyung would crawl into Jungkook’s lap and openly say: “Hold me.” “Kiss me.” “Love me.”

And somehow… it healed something inside Jungkook little by little.

Taehyung suddenly narrowed his eyes.

“You’re thinking again.”

“You notice everything.”

“Because I watch you.”

Jungkook looked down at him.

Taehyung’s head rested against his chest, loose black shirt slipping slightly off one shoulder while his soft eyes stared upward with complete attention.

“Tell me what’s inside your head,” Taehyung whispered.

Jungkook hesitated.

Then quietly: “You ask for love very easily.”

Taehyung blinked. “…Is that bad?”

“No.” Jungkook’s fingers slowed in his hair. “It’s just new for me.”

For a moment, Taehyung became unusually quiet.

Then he slowly sat up properly in Jungkook’s lap.

“You know…” His voice softened. “I ask because I’m scared.”

Jungkook looked surprised.

Taehyung smiled weakly this time. “If people don’t say they love me… I start wondering if they stopped.”

The playful brat from earlier suddenly looked small.

Fragile.

“I know I’m annoying,” Taehyung admitted quietly. “But when people ignore me, I hate it.”

Jungkook’s chest tightened painfully.

Because underneath Taehyung’s spoiled behavior was someone desperate to feel wanted.

Someone who needed reassurance the same way others needed air.

Without thinking, Jungkook cupped Taehyung’s face gently.

“I could never stop loving you.”

Taehyung froze.

Those words clearly hit him harder than expected.

His lips parted slightly before he leaned forward and buried his face into Jungkook’s neck.

“You can’t say things like that suddenly,” Taehyung mumbled weakly.

“Why?”

“Because then I get emotional.”

Jungkook smiled softly and rubbed his back.

For several quiet minutes, neither of them spoke.

Only the sound of rain filled the room.

Then suddenly—

“Mommy.”

Jungkook sighed instantly. “What now?”

“I’m hungry.”

“…You just ate.”

“I need emotional snacks.”

“That’s not a real thing.”

“It is when you’re this pretty.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes while Taehyung grinned proudly.

The serious moment disappeared just like that.

Typical Kim Taehyung.

Taehyung suddenly grabbed Jungkook’s hand and kissed his fingers one by one.

“You know what?”

“What?”

“I think I love you more every day.”

Jungkook’s heart skipped embarrassingly fast.

Taehyung noticed immediately.

His smile became softer this time.

More genuine.

Then he leaned close enough for their foreheads to touch.

“Don’t overwork yourself anymore,” Taehyung whispered. “I want my mommy healthy.”

Jungkook stared at him quietly before pulling him back into his arms.

And Taehyung melted there instantly.

Like he belonged there.

Like Jungkook’s embrace was home.

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