Chapter 3 — “Stay With Me Tonight”

The evening was peaceful.

For once.

No burnt food. No dramatic arguments. No Taehyung pretending he was “dying from lack of attention.”

Just soft music playing through the penthouse while rain tapped gently against the windows again.

Jungkook sat on the floor near the couch, organizing paperwork spread across the coffee table.

Meanwhile—

Taehyung was upside down on the sofa.

Literally upside down.

His legs hung over the backrest while his head nearly touched the floor.

“Your blood is going to rush to your brain.”

Taehyung looked at him lazily. “Maybe then I’ll become smarter.”

Jungkook snorted quietly.

Victory.

Taehyung immediately pointed at him dramatically. “You laughed because of me.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re welcome.”

Taehyung rolled off the couch and crawled across the floor until he reached Jungkook.

Then without warning—

He laid directly on top of the paperwork.

Jungkook blinked slowly. “Taehyung.”

“No.”

“I need those.”

“You need me more.”

“I really don’t.”

Taehyung narrowed his eyes before lying flatter across the papers like a protective dragon guarding treasure.

“You’re spending too much time working again.”

Jungkook sighed. “I have responsibilities.”

“And I have emotional needs.”

“That’s not the same thing.”

“It is to me.”

Taehyung rested his chin on his folded arms and stared quietly at Jungkook for a moment.

Then softly: “You’ve been distant today.”

Jungkook looked surprised. “I have?”

“Mhm.”

Taehyung’s voice lost its teasing edge this time.

“You’re touching me less.”

The sentence came out so small that Jungkook’s chest tightened immediately.

Because Taehyung wasn’t joking now.

He genuinely noticed.

Jungkook put the papers aside instantly.

“Come here.”

Taehyung crawled into his lap without hesitation like he belonged there.

Maybe he did.

Jungkook wrapped both arms around his waist while Taehyung melted against him with a quiet sigh.

“There,” Jungkook whispered. “Better?”

“A little.”

“A little?”

“You owe me extra affection for emotional damages.”

Jungkook smiled softly and kissed his temple.

Taehyung hummed happily.

But after a few moments, Jungkook noticed something unusual.

Taehyung was quiet.

Too quiet.

“No dramatic speech?” Jungkook teased lightly.

Taehyung shrugged against his chest.

Then after a long pause—

“Can I ask something?”

“Anything.”

Taehyung’s fingers played nervously with Jungkook’s hoodie strings.

“…Will you ever get tired of me?”

Jungkook froze.

The question sounded careless at first.

But the fear hidden underneath it was painfully obvious.

Taehyung kept his eyes lowered. “I know I’m a lot.”

Jungkook immediately held his face gently.

“Look at me.”

Slowly, Taehyung looked up.

His eyes looked softer now. Smaller somehow.

Jungkook’s heart ached.

“Where is this coming from?”

Taehyung tried smiling. “Nowhere.”

“Taehyung.”

Silence.

Then finally—

“My parents used to leave me alone a lot when I was younger.”

Jungkook’s expression softened instantly.

Taehyung laughed quietly, but it sounded empty. “They gave me everything except attention.”

His fingers tightened slightly in Jungkook’s hoodie.

“So now when people become quiet… I start thinking maybe they don’t want me anymore.”

The confession sat heavily between them.

Suddenly everything made sense.

The clinginess. The constant need for reassurance. The dramatic demands for affection.

Taehyung wasn’t spoiled because he had too much love.

He acted this way because he was terrified of losing it.

Jungkook felt his chest ache painfully.

Without hesitation, he pulled Taehyung closer until the omega was almost hidden inside his arms.

“Listen carefully to me.”

Taehyung stayed silent.

“You could annoy me a thousand times a day.” Jungkook brushed hair away from his forehead gently. “And I’d still choose you.”

Taehyung’s breathing faltered slightly.

“You don’t have to beg me to stay.”

The room became unbearably quiet.

Taehyung suddenly hid his face in Jungkook’s neck.

And Jungkook felt it.

Tiny warm tears against his skin.

“Oh, baby…”

“I hate crying,” Taehyung mumbled weakly.

“You don’t have to hide it.”

“It’s embarrassing.”

Jungkook rubbed his back slowly. “No, it’s not.”

For several minutes, Taehyung stayed curled against him silently while Jungkook held him tightly.

Protectively.

Like he was holding something precious.

Finally Taehyung whispered:

“Stay with me tonight?”

Jungkook frowned softly. “I always stay.”

“No…” Taehyung looked up with vulnerable eyes. “I mean really stay.”

Jungkook understood immediately.

No phones. No work. No distractions.

Just him.

Just love.

Jungkook kissed his forehead gently. “Okay.”

Taehyung’s expression softened in relief so quickly it hurt to see.

“Really?”

“Really.”

The omega smiled weakly before climbing fully into Jungkook’s lap again and wrapping himself around him tightly.

Like he was scared Jungkook might disappear if he let go.

And Jungkook held him just as tightly back.

Because some people asked for love loudly…

Only because nobody heard them when they needed it quietly.

The bedroom was dim except for the soft golden lamp beside the bed.

Rain continued outside, turning the whole world quiet and distant.

Taehyung lay sprawled across Jungkook’s chest, listening to his heartbeat while Jungkook lazily played with his hair.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

The silence felt warm.

Safe.

Taehyung loved moments like this the most.

No pretending. No joking.

Just Jungkook holding him like he mattered.

“You’re thinking again,” Taehyung murmured sleepily.

Jungkook smiled faintly. “You always notice.”

“Because I pay attention to my mommy.”

That nickname still made Jungkook’s chest tighten every single time.

Taehyung tilted his head upward suddenly.

“What are you thinking about?”

Jungkook hesitated.

Then quietly: “You.”

Taehyung immediately looked pleased. “As you should.”

Jungkook laughed softly and pinched his side.

“Ow!”

“Brat.”

“Your brat.”

True.

Very true.

Taehyung snuggled deeper into Jungkook’s arms before mumbling: “You know what I realized?”

“What?”

“You act strong all the time.”

Jungkook blinked slightly.

Taehyung traced slow circles against his chest. “Even when you’re tired.”

His voice softened.

“You smile and take care of everyone… but nobody notices when you need comfort too.”

Jungkook stared at the ceiling quietly.

Because Taehyung was right.

Jungkook spent most of his life being dependable.

The mature one. The calm one. The responsible one.

People leaned on him naturally.

But nobody ever asked if he was exhausted from carrying everything alone.

Except Taehyung.

The omega suddenly pushed himself up slightly until he could properly see Jungkook’s face.

“Can I tell you something honestly?”

Jungkook nodded.

“I think you’re lonely sometimes.”

The words hit directly into Jungkook’s chest.

Taehyung touched his cheek carefully.

“And I don’t want you to feel lonely anymore.”

Jungkook’s throat tightened unexpectedly.

It was strange.

Taehyung acted clingy and needy all the time… yet somehow he understood Jungkook better than anyone else ever had.

Taehyung smiled softly before laying down on top of him again.

Then quietly—

“People think I’m the one always asking for love.”

His fingers intertwined with Jungkook’s.

“But you need it too.”

Jungkook closed his eyes briefly.

Maybe he did.

Maybe that was why Taehyung felt addictive.

Because every time Taehyung clung to him, Jungkook secretly felt wanted too.

Needed too.

Taehyung suddenly lifted Jungkook’s hand and pressed soft kisses against his knuckles one by one.

“You work too hard.”

“Someone has to.”

“You take care of me too much.”

“I like taking care of you.”

Taehyung smiled faintly. “I know.”

Then his expression softened even more.

“But who takes care of mommy?”

Jungkook’s heart stumbled painfully.

Taehyung gently cupped Jungkook’s face this time.

A rare role reversal.

“Come here,” he whispered.

Jungkook actually looked surprised. “I’m already here.”

“No.” Taehyung’s voice became quieter. “Emotionally.”

Something inside Jungkook cracked at those words.

Before he realized it, he leaned forward slightly.

And Taehyung immediately wrapped both arms around him tightly.

No teasing. No bratty behavior.

Just warmth.

Just comfort.

Jungkook buried his face against Taehyung’s shoulder silently while the omega stroked his back gently.

“There you go,” Taehyung whispered softly. “Good job.”

Jungkook almost laughed at how naturally nurturing Taehyung sounded despite usually acting like the needy one.

But instead…

He stayed there.

Holding onto him.

And for the first time in a very long time, Jungkook allowed himself to relax completely into someone else’s care.

Taehyung smiled softly against his hair.

“I like when you need me too.”

Jungkook finally spoke quietly against his neck.

“I do need you.”

Taehyung froze.

Then slowly pulled back just enough to look at him properly.

Jungkook looked embarrassed after admitting it.

But Taehyung’s eyes immediately became watery again.

“Oh no,” Jungkook sighed softly. “Why are you crying now?”

“You said you need me,” Taehyung whispered emotionally. “That’s literally the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

Jungkook laughed quietly despite himself.

Taehyung sniffled dramatically before grabbing Jungkook’s face.

“Say it again.”

“You’re impossible.”

“Please?”

Jungkook looked at him for a long moment.

Then gently:

“I need you, Taehyung.”

The omega made the softest broken sound before crashing forward to hug him tightly again.

“My mommy loves me so much,” he cried dramatically.

Jungkook smiled helplessly and kissed his hair.

And secretly—

He thought maybe Taehyung loved him even more.

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