~WRITTEN BY THREE HEARTS~²

...✧THE STRANGER WITH THE SAME FACE✧...

Weeks passed.

And without either of them saying it out loud, Taehyung and Jungkook became part of each other's routine.

Every Saturday belonged to the library. It became their place.

Jungkook always arrived carrying two drinks.

One for himself. One for Taehyung.

Even though Taehyung had told him countless times that he didn't need to.

"You know you don't have to keep buying me coffee."

Jungkook looked offended.

"It's not coffee."

Taehyung looked at the cup.

"It literally says coffee on it."

"It's a friendship coffee."

"That's not a thing."

"It is now."

Taehyung laughed.

"You make up rules whenever you want."

"Only the important ones."

"And coffee is important?"

"Very."

Those were the moments Taehyung treasured. The little jokes. The comfortable silences. The way Jungkook could make him smile without even trying.

But one Saturday... Jungkook didn't come.

Taehyung waited.

Ten minutes.

Thirty minutes.

An hour.

He told himself it didn't matter.

Maybe something happened. Maybe Jungkook was busy.

Still... The empty chair across from him felt strangely noticeable.

...~~...

A few days later, after finishing work, Taehyung stopped by a small café near his office.

He wasn't expecting anything. He just wanted a quiet place to relax.

Until he saw him.

Near the window.

The same dark hair. The same eyes. The same face.

Taehyung froze.

"Jungkook?"

The person looked up from his laptop.

For a moment, Taehyung smiled.

"You disappeared after Saturday. I thought maybe you got busy."

The stranger stared at him.

Not confused. Not surprised.

Just... blank.

"I'm sorry."

Taehyung laughed awkwardly.

"You're joking, right?"

The stranger said nothing.

"I don't think we've met before."

The smile slowly disappeared from Taehyung's face.

"What?"

"I think you have me confused with someone else."

Taehyung stared.

"But..."

He looked closer.

It was impossible.

Same face. Same voice.

"You're not Jungkook?"

The stranger shook his head. "No."

Taehyung felt embarrassed.

"Oh."

A quiet silence followed.

"I'm sorry. I really thought..."

"It's okay."

The stranger closed his laptop.

"I should go."

"Wait."

The stranger paused.

Taehyung didn't even know what he wanted to say.

Why did this person look exactly like Jungkook?

Why did he feel so familiar?

"I'm sorry."

The stranger gave a small nod. "It's fine."

Then he walked away.

Leaving Taehyung sitting there, completely confused.

...~~...

The next Saturday, Taehyung arrived at the library with his arms crossed.

He wasn't angry.

At least, he told himself he wasn't.

But when Jungkook walked toward him with his usual smile... "Taehyung!"

Taehyung didn't smile back.

Jungkook immediately noticed.

"What's wrong?"

"You tell me."

Jungkook blinked.

"What?"

"So you're just going to pretend nothing happened?"

His smile faded.

"What happened?"

Taehyung stared at him.

"The café."

"The café?"

"You ignored me."

Jungkook looked genuinely confused.

"When?"

"After you disappeared."

"Taehyung..."

"I saw you."

Jungkook shook his head.

"I wasn't at a café."

"Yes, you were."

"No."

His voice became softer.

"I'm serious."

Taehyung looked away.

"Forget it."

He turned around.

"Taehyung."

But he kept walking.

Jungkook stood there, watching him leave.

For the first time since they met... He had no idea how to fix something. Because he honestly didn't know what had happened.

...~~...

That evening, Jungkook sat in his apartment.

His roommate and longtime friend, Mingyu, glanced over.

"You look like someone ruined your favorite book."

"Maybe worse."

"What happened?"

Jungkook sighed.

"Taehyung thinks I ignored him."

"The library guy?"

"Yeah."

"What did you do?"

"Nothing."

Mingyu raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing?"

"I wasn't even there."

"Where?"

"A café."

The room became quiet.

Mingyu's expression changed. "A café?"

"Yeah."

He slowly sat down.

"Jungkook..."

"What?"

"I think I know what happened."

Jungkook frowned.

"What?"

Mingyu hesitated.

"Maybe the person at the café looks like you?"

"What?"

"I think he met Jeongukk."

"Who?"

"Someone who looks exactly like you."

Jungkook stared.

"You're telling me there's another person with my face?"

"Basically."

"That sounds impossible."

"I know."

Jungkook leaned back.

"So Taehyung thought he was talking to me."

"Probably."

"And Jeongukk didn't tell him?"

"Knowing him..." Mingyu shook his head. "Probably not."

Jungkook covered his face.

"Oh no."

"What?"

"He must think I hate him."

...~~...

The next day, Taehyung returned to the café.

He didn't know why.

Maybe he wanted answers. Maybe he just wanted to prove he wasn't imagining things.

And there he was. The stranger. Same face. Different expression.

This time, Taehyung walked straight toward him.

"I know your secret."

The stranger looked up. "My secret?"

"You're not Jungkook."

For a moment, the stranger said nothing.

Then... "You're right."

Taehyung sat down across from him.

"So..."

He sighed.

"You have a twin?"

The stranger shook his head.

"No."

"Then what?"

"My name is Jeongukk."

Taehyung waited.

"Jeongukk?"

"Yes."

"And Jungkook?"

"Not me."

The realization finally settled in.

Two people. Same face. Different personalities.

"That's why..."

Jeongukk looked at him.

"That's why what?"

"You looked at me like you didn't know me."

A small, almost apologetic expression crossed Jeongukk's face.

"I didn't."

Taehyung laughed quietly.

"I thought you were angry with me."

"I wasn't."

"Then why didn't you explain?"

Jeongukk looked down.

"I'm not very good at talking to strangers."

"Even when they think you're someone else?"

"Especially then."

Taehyung couldn't help smiling.

"You really are different from him."

Jeongukk looked curious.

"Different?"

"Jungkook talks a lot. He laughs easily."

Jeongukk nodded.

"And you?"

Jeongukk thought for a moment. "I'm quieter."

Taehyung smiled.

"I noticed that too."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Not the same silence he shared with Jungkook.

Different. But not unpleasant.

Jeongukk suddenly pushed a plate toward him.

Taehyung looked down.

Cheesecake.

"You were looking at it."

"What?"

"The cheesecake."

"I was not."

"You were."

Taehyung laughed.

"You noticed?"

Jeongukk looked away.

"I notice things."

For some reason... That simple sentence stayed with Taehyung.

Because Jungkook made the world feel brighter.

But Jeongukk... Made it feel calmer.

And Taehyung had no idea that meeting someone new would make his heart even more confused.

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