Chapter 21

The first few days without Jin moved sluggishly for Namjoon. He had classes to attend, exams to prepare for, and pages of notes to finish. He tried to tell himself that keeping busy was enough. But every time he unlocked his phone, there was an emptiness waiting for him.

Still, their day began and ended with each other-even if only in fragments. Both would text each other everyday, taking care.

Namjoon would smile faintly at the screen whenever Jin's name appears on screen.

The days melted into a quiet rhythm of texts and short calls, sometimes Namjoon would video call him too. Namjoon filled his nights with studying, but his eyes always drifted to his phone. Jin sent photos sometimes-his script scattered across a table, or the night view from his hotel.

Namjoon rarely replied with photos. Instead, his words carried the weight of his feelings. He always texts him like this.

"Don't forget me.""Don't let anyone too close.""I miss you more than you think."

Jin would scold him lightly, but his chest ached every time.

---

Three weeks in, Jin's filming ended early, and he found himself alone in his room. He called Namjoon.

Namjoon immediately shifted the call to video call. Jin would attend only when he is alone so he picked it up.

Namjoon appeared, hair messy, glasses slipping. He blinked, then sat up straight. "Hyung!"

Jin smiled faintly. "Did I wake you?""No. I was just... waiting."

Namjoon's gaze sharpened suddenly. His breath caught. "You're wearing my shirt."

Jin looked down at the oversized T-shirt, realizing too late. He tried to brush it off with a laugh. "Ah, I just grabbed it randomly"

Namjoon's voice lowered, rough with want. "Thanks for wearing it. If you were here like this... I don't think I could control myself."

Jin's heart sank. He looked away, fiddling with the hem. "Don't talk nonsense. Focus on your exams."

But Namjoon leaned closer to the screen, whispering, "You don't know what it does to me, seeing you in my clothes. It feels like you're mine, even from here."

Jin swallowed, forcing a smile. "Stop Namjoon. Tell me about your classes today."

Namjoon sighed, but let the subject drop. He ranted about classes, about his ongoing exam preparation. Jin listened quietly, warmth flickering through his chest at how normal Namjoon sounded.

But then Jin, without thinking, mentioned, "My co-actor was struggling with lines. We had to repeat the scene again and again."

Namjoon's smile faded instantly. "You're always with them."

Jin blinked at the sharp tone. "Namjoon, it's just work. Nothing else."

"I know," Namjoon muttered, lips pressed tight. "But I hate it."

Jin's voice softened. "Namjoon, we are just co-workers, you can't be like that."

For a moment, Namjoon looked like he would argue. Then his shoulders slumped, voice breaking. "Everyone else has someone, but I only have you. Just... don't forget me."

Jin's throat tightened. He met Namjoon's eyes through the screen. "I never forgot you. Don't ever doubt that."

Namjoon's lips curved into a shy, almost boyish smile. "Then keep wearing my clothes. That way, I'll feel like I'm there with you."

Jin rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide the ache of affection. "Go to sleep."

"You first."

They lingered, neither wanting to disconnect. Finally, Jin pretended to fall asleep so Namjoon would rest.

When the call ended, Jin lay awake in the dark. Namjoon's words echoed in his head-the possessiveness, the longing, the fragile plea not to be forgotten.

He knew this distance wasn't healing anything. If anything, it was deepening the shadows of Namjoon's obsession. And Jin, caught between tenderness and fear, could only whisper to the empty room:

"Please... don't let this ruin you."