Jungkook groaned loudly as he leaned against his bed, lowering himself into what looked like a makeshift pushup. His palms pressed into the mattress, his arms trembling like they were on the verge of giving out.

"Ow, ow, ow!" he yelped dramatically, squeezing his eyes shut as if the pain might magically vanish.

I glanced at him from where I sat on my bed, narrowing my eyes in annoyance. "You're so noisy! I can't even hear the TV over you. If it hurts, stop doing that, you idiot. Your injuries haven't healed yet. Do you want to end up back in the hospital for another month?"

Jungkook shot me a glare, his lips curving into a pout. "Why are you yelling at me? I'm injured! If it were Ara, she'd pat my head and kindly tell me to stop."

My jaw clenched. This guy-

Why does he always compare us? Since we were kids, it's always been "Ara this, Ara that." It was like he enjoyed twisting the knife into my already bruised heart.

"Well, too bad I'm not Ara!" I snapped, sharper than I intended.

The words came out harsher than I'd meant, and silence filled the room. Jungkook's pout deepened, but he didn't say anything. I could feel his gaze on me, lingering like he wanted me to take back what I said.

Feeling a pang of guilt, I sighed and softened my tone. "Look, just stop exercising for now. Rest for a bit. It won't kill you."

"It will," he muttered under his breath, crossing his arms like a stubborn child. "It literally will."

I rolled my eyes so hard they could've popped out of my skull. "Fine, then do something that won't make your ribs worse. Stretch or something."

Jungkook grumbled under his breath but started pacing the room instead, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders in slow, deliberate motions. His expression was pinched, probably from the pain, but he kept going. The doctor had warned him to avoid exercising for at least two months, but this guy couldn't go a single day without some form of physical activity.

I tried to focus on the television again, but it was impossible with Jungkook strutting around like a peacock, crossing directly in front of the screen every five seconds.

As I watched him, I couldn't help but let my mind wander back to last night. The details were hazy, but I remembered him suddenly squeezing into my bed, muttering something about being cold.

Did he ask me something, too? Or was that just a dream?

I couldn't recall what exactly he said, but his voice lingered in my memory-soft and husky, brushing against my ear like a gentle caress. The way he held me, warm and protective, had made me feel safer than I cared to admit.

God, I almost had a heart attack when I woke up this morning. What the hell was he thinking, crawling into bed with me like that? And why couldn't I stop myself from almost kissing him? If Mom hadn't walked in, I might've done something I'd regret forever-I almost betrayed Ara!

"Why do you keep staring at me?" his smug, irritating voice snapped me back to the present. I blinked, realizing my eyes had been following him across the room. "Am I too handsome for you to look away?" he asked with a smirk, clearly enjoying himself.

I rolled my eyes, annoyed by his shamelessness. Sure, he was handsome-objectively speaking-but any guy who actually said that out loud immediately lost all appeal.

"Handsome, my ass," I retorted. "You're blocking my view of the TV!"

He looked genuinely offended, his mouth dropping open. Before he could argue back, the door burst open, slamming against the wall.

"What the hell-" I started but stopped when I saw Jimin and Taehyung shoving each other in the doorway, their school uniforms slightly disheveled from the scuffle.

"Move! I was here first!" Taehyung barked, his face red with frustration.

"Fuck off! I'm going first!" Jimin shot back, his hand firmly planted on Taehyung's face as he tried to push him out of the way.

Neither of them had enough space to squeeze through, but neither was willing to back down. It was like watching two toddlers fight over a toy.

Jungkook scoffed loudly, his arms crossing over his chest. "The fuck are you doing here again?" he asked, directing the question toward Taehyung with a raised brow.

Taehyung finally managed to shove Jimin aside and rushed into the room, ignoring Jungkook entirely as he made his way over to my bed.

"Hi!" he greeted me cheerfully, his grin so bright it could rival the sun.

I smiled back, genuinely delighted to have someone visit. "Hey."

Jimin stumbled in a second later, his expression murderous. "That piece of shit! Kook, I was here first, but he shoved me! You saw, didn't you?"

Jungkook tilted his head, looking at Jimin with mild amusement. "Yeah, I saw that. Total dickhead move."

Before Jimin could continue, the door slammed open again, this time revealing an annoyed nurse. Her sharp glare cut through the chaos like a knife.

"Keep it down! There are other patients nearby trying to rest!" she snapped, her hands on her hips.

The four of us immediately froze, nodding like chastised children.

Once the nurse left, Jungkook turned his attention back to Taehyung, his voice dropping to a low growl. "I asked, why the fuck are you here again?"

I frowned, annoyed by his rudeness when Taehyung hadn't done anything to offend him. "Are you blind? He's here to visit me! Did you forget that I'm a patient in this room too? Stop being such an ass!"

For a split second, I caught a look of surprise and hurt in Jungkook's eyes at my words, and a pang of guilt stabbed at my chest. No, Soju, don't let yourself feel bad! He's the one in the wrong here. His attitude needs to change!

Jungkook took a deep breath, his hands clenching into tight fists. For a moment, I braced myself, half expecting him to march over and punch the both of us. But instead, he let out a sharp exhale and stomped back to his bed.

Taehyung smiled and gave my head a gentle pat. "Don't waste your energy getting mad at him. Just treat him like a yapping dog."

I returned a small smile, but the unease in my chest didn't fade. Somewhere deep down, I was worried.

Was Jungkook angry with me?

I didn't want him to be angry.

I tried to glance at his bed, but Taehyung's broad frame blocked my view. He sat comfortably on the edge of my bed, pulling a tangerine out of his bag. As he peeled it, I could hear the low murmur of Jungkook and Jimin's conversation, but their voices were so quiet that I couldn't make out any of their words.

"Here." Taehyung's voice pulled me back to reality. He held a piece of the tangerine up to me, his smile warm and inviting.

"Thanks," I said, returning the smile as I took the offered slice and popped it into my mouth.

I chewed thoughtfully for a moment before asking, "Where's Ara? Why didn't she come with you guys after school today?"

Taehyung shrugged, his expression casual but uncertain. "Didn't see her in school today. Actually..." He tilted his head, as though realizing something, "I didn't see her yesterday either."

I blinked in surprise. Ara hadn't been at school? That was strange. Was she sick?

Leaning forward, I craned my neck to look over at the other bed. "Jimin, was Ara not in class today?"

Both Jimin and Jungkook turned to look at me. There was something in Jungkook's gaze-like he knew something was going on. My stomach churned uneasily. Were the two of them hiding something from me?

"No," Jimin replied flatly, offering nothing more.

What the hell? What happened to Ara?

Taehyung gave my shoulder a reassuring pat, drawing my attention back to him. "Maybe she's just bored going to school without you," he teased lightly. "She probably decided to skip."

I frowned. Ara? Skipping school? That didn't sound like her.

"Maybe..." I murmured, but my heart wasn't convinced. My thoughts wandered back to the day she visited us. Things didn't end well. Ara had seemed so sad-heartbroken, even. Did something happen that I wasn't aware of?

"You're getting discharged later, right?" Taehyung asked suddenly, his tone brightening.

I nodded.

His face lit up with a smile as he offered, "I'll send you home."

"No way," Jungkook's voice cut in, firm and immediate.

I groaned, rolling my eyes. Why was he suddenly butting into this conversation?

Without sparing him a glance, I said loud enough for him to hear, "And nobody asked for your opinion."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jungkook's frown deepen, his jaw tightening. His voice came next, steady and commanding. "I'm sending you home."

Huh?

I stared at him, my mind spinning.

The sudden fluttering in my chest was definitely not helping. Damn it, why did he have to say something like that? My heart was practically doing backflips.

Shaking my head, I muttered in disbelief, "Why would you want to send me home?"

He didn't respond, just rolled his eyes like I was asking the dumbest question in the world.

What was his deal?

Taehyung chuckled beside me, his low laugh pulling my focus back to him. He reached out and gently placed a hand on my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin. His voice dropped into a teasing tone. "Baby, wait here for me. I'll get you discharged and we can leave."

I blinked, stunned. Baby? Did he just-

Before I could even process what he'd said, a pillow came flying across the room, smacking the back of Taehyung's head with a satisfying thwack.

"What the fuck?!" Taehyung yelped, turning to glare at the culprit.

Jungkook sat upright on his bed, looking absolutely livid. "You better talk normally and keep your hands to yourself, or I'll rip that tongue out of your damn mouth!"

What the hell was up with him?

No, scratch that.

What the hell was up with me?

My heart was pounding like crazy, and I hated how much I loved seeing him like this-angry, protective, as if I were the most important person in the world to him. It was a feeling I shouldn't enjoy, but damn it, I did.

Taehyung clicked his tongue in irritation, clearly at his limit. His body tensed, and I could tell he was ready to fight back.

Oh, no. Not happening.

I grabbed his arm, pulling him back with all my strength. I wasn't about to let him get himself wrecked. Not when Jungkook and Jimin looked like they were seconds away from turning this room into a wrestling ring.

"Stop fighting! I wanna leave!" I shouted, my frustration boiling over. These childish boys were turning the hospital room into a damn war zone, and all I wanted was to get out of here. At this rate, I'd rather walk home on my own than wait for them to sort themselves out.

Taehyung sighed, his shoulders finally relaxing as he turned back to me. "Sorry," he said softly, his voice much calmer now. Then, to my absolute horror, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head.

My eyes widened in panic, my heart racing wildly. Stop that! Jungkook is watching!

When Taehyung left the room, Jimin followed him to sort out Jungkook's discharge papers. But Jungkook sat on his bed like a volcano ready to erupt. He glared at the door they'd just exited through, his face twisted in an expression that screamed murder.

"You're so childish," I muttered, rolling my eyes. His gaze immediately snapped to me, full of irritation.

"Oh, I'm childish for wanting to send you home?" His tone was sharp, laced with sarcasm.

"Yeah," I shot back, even though I didn't entirely mean it. "Not just that. You're childish for throwing things at Taehyung! He didn't do anything wrong!" The more I spoke, the angrier I got. How could he act like this and still think he was in the right?

"He touched you!" Jungkook barked, his voice rising as if that justified everything.

I rolled my eyes again, this time with even more drama. "So?! I'm not Ara! It's none of your business if someone touches me. You don't have to drive every guy away from me like you do for her!"

His expression shifted in an instant. The anger didn't disappear, but hurt flickered in his eyes, clear as day. My stomach twisted uncomfortably. Did I say something wrong?

Ever since that ridiculous mushroom incident, he'd been treating me differently-like I was Ara or something. But I wasn't her. I was Park Soju, the girl he used to scold every damn day. This new behavior of his didn't make any sense.

Jungkook got off his bed, his movements stiff and deliberate. He was heading straight for me, his brows furrowed so deeply it looked like they might never relax again.

I froze, instinctively leaning back. Oh no.

"C-calm down!" I stammered, raising my hands defensively. "V-violence isn't the answer!" My eyes squeezed shut, bracing for impact. "Don't you dare hit me! I-I'll kill you if-"

But instead of a punch, something completely unexpected happened.

His lips crashed onto mine.

I froze, my eyes snapping open in shock. What the hell was he doing?!

His hand cupped my cheek, holding me still as he kissed me deeply. His eyes were shut, his long lashes brushing softly against his skin, while I stared at him in complete disbelief. My heart pounded erratically, and my brain struggled to process what was happening.

I pushed at his shoulders weakly, but he grabbed my wrists and pulled my hands to his chest, holding them there. Beneath my palm, I could feel the frantic rhythm of his heartbeat-it was just as erratic as mine.

The tangerine I'd been holding slipped from the bed and rolled to the floor, but I barely noticed. All I could focus on was him.

Why was he doing this?

Why was my heart responding like this?

Every time he kissed me like this, it made me question everything. It made me feel like... like he cared about me more than Ara. But could I really believe that?

Ara's face flashed in my mind-her nervous smile when she told me about her plans to confess to Jungkook, the sadness in her eyes when she left the hospital room. Guilt twisted in my chest, sharp and suffocating.

I shouldn't be doing this.

But then Jungkook's tongue slipped into my mouth, and my resolve crumbled.

A shiver ran down my spine as the heat of his kiss overwhelmed me. His hand moved from my cheek to the small of my back, pulling me closer. He climbed onto the bed, his knee resting beside me as he adjusted his position to hold me more securely.

The intensity of the kiss left me breathless, but I couldn't stop myself from melting into him.

What the hell were we doing?

With a burst of strength, I turned my head to the side, breaking the kiss. We were both panting heavily, our chests rising and falling in unison. My cheeks burned as I glanced at him, my embarrassment so strong it was hard to meet his gaze.

"S-stop, we shouldn't-"

"Because of Ara?" he interrupted, his voice low and desperate. "Stop fucking bringing her up every time I try to kiss you."

I looked at him, startled by the raw emotion in his voice. His eyes, usually so guarded, were filled with nothing but pain.

"Are you really clueless, or are you pretending not to understand?" he asked, his tone cracking. "The one I love is you, Park Soju. It's you. It's always been you."

His words hit me like a freight train.

What?

Did I hear him right?

I must've looked like a complete idiot, my mouth hanging open in shock, but Jungkook didn't stop. He grabbed my face gently, holding me still as he continued speaking.

"Ever since we were kids, it's always been you. But I was scared-scared to admit it. How could I, when I've spent our whole lives teasing you and calling you a boy? I couldn't imagine how much you'd laugh at me if you knew. So, I lied. I said I loved Ara because it was easier than admitting the truth. But it was the stupidest thing I've ever done." His voice broke, his hands trembling slightly. "I was a coward, Soju. And now I'm paying for it."

I stared at him, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

"Y-you... love me?" My voice was barely a whisper, the words catching in my throat.

Jungkook nodded, his worried expression softening into something more vulnerable. "Please, Soju. Tell me you love me too. Please." His voice cracked again, the desperation in his tone pulling at my heart.

I wanted to say it.

I wanted to scream it.

I loved him. I always had.

But Ara...

"I-I love you too," I finally admitted, my voice trembling. "But... I can't love you."

The pain in his eyes deepened, and my chest ached as I watched his heart break in front of me.