Chapter 22

The shooting schedule was unpredictable-sometimes ending at midnight, sometimes finishing before dinner. His co-actors were warm and friendly, and the long hours on set forged bonds of laughter and companionship. Jin enjoyed their company.

He'd been careful all this time, balancing his work and Namjoon's fragile possessiveness. Calls only when he was alone. Replies only when he had a spare moment. Texts instead of late-night calls so he wouldn't wake him. Jin thought he was handling things well.

Jin's shoot had finally wrapped up. After two grueling months of long hours and endless retakes, he could finally see the finish line. Within a week, he would be back home. Back to familiar streets. Back to Namjoon. The thought made his chest lighter.

On Namjoon's side, life was a strict rhythm.Home. Class. Home.He was finishing up his exams and counting the days until Jin's return. Every unread text, every missed call felt like an ache, but he held on because he knew soon Jin would be beside him again.

Everything was moving smoothly. Too smoothly.Until tonight.

---

That evening, Namjoon called through video. Jin set his phone on the desk, leaning into the screen as they spoke. Namjoon's tired eyes softened as Jin shared small details of his day, the kind of ordinary talk that grounded them both.

Then-a knock.

Jin thought it was dinner. "Come in," he called casually.

But it was Bae Su-ji.

"Oh, sorry Jin, didn't know you were on call."Jin smiled politely. "It's fine. It's just Namjoon."

Her lips curved. "Ohh, Namjoon? Can I say hi?"

Jin hesitated, but refusing would look strange. "Yeah, come."

She stepped closer, resting her arm on Jin's shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world, leaning into the camera. "Hi, Namjoon-"

The screen went black.

Jin blinked. She tilted her head, confused. "What happened?""The Wi-Fi's unstable sometimes," Jin lied smoothly, heart sinking.

She went on to invite him to tomorrow's farewell party. "Seven o'clock, don't miss it," she chirped before leaving.

The moment the door clicked shut, Jin tried calling Namjoon. But the line was switched off. A cold weight dropped into his stomach. He knew exactly what Namjoon must be thinking.

---

Meanwhile, Namjoon sat in the darkness of his room, phone abandoned on the bed. The image burned in his mind: her hand on Jin, her body leaning close, Jin smiling like it was nothing.

It wasn't nothing. To Namjoon, it was unbearable.

His heart pounded with a dangerous mix of rage and panic. He couldn't sit still. He couldn't wait another week.

By the time the clock struck midnight, his ticket was booked. A nine-hour train, then another three hours by road. It didn't matter. Tomorrow, he would see Jin. And he would remind him exactly who he belonged to.

---

The next evening, the farewell party was in full swing. The hall glittered with lights, laughter echoing as food and drinks flowed. Cast and crew mingled, sharing memories and congratulations.

Jin walked in with his hyungs, still checking his phone every few minutes. No reply from Namjoon. No returned call. The silence pressed on him, heavy and unshakable.

Onstage, Su-ji and Taemin pulled him up to dance. He resisted at first but eventually gave in, moving awkwardly as they hyped him up. The music was loud, the cheers louder. For a brief moment, Jin let himself laugh.

Then his gaze froze.

At the entrance stood Namjoon.

His expression was thunderous, his eyes sharp and unblinking. He didn't move, didn't smile-he simply watched, and Jin's heart lurched in his chest.

"Namjoon-" Jin whispered, already making his way down.

Before he could speak, Namjoon's hand shot out, gripping his wrist. Without a word, he pulled Jin out of the hall.

"Wait, Namjoon!" Jin hissed, trying to pull back, but Namjoon's strength was relentless.

The city streets bustled with cars and neon lights as Namjoon dragged him forward, his grip iron-tight.

"Namjoon, stop-you're hurting me!"

Namjoon's voice cracked with fury. "You're the one hurting me, hyung! I came all the way here-just to see you laughing, dancing, letting them touch you?"

Jin's chest tightened. He fought to steady his voice. "Listen to me first. Just stop and let me talk."

Namjoon's laugh was bitter, almost broken. "What-tell me you like her? That you're happy with them? Go ahead. But no matter what you say, you'll always belong to me." His grip tightened further, raw desperation in every word.

And that was the breaking point.

Jin wrenched his hand free with all his strength and, before he could stop himself, his palm slapped across Namjoon's cheek.

The sound cracked through the busy night.

Namjoon froze, stunned. His rage dissolving into shock. His mind went blank, and Jin's hand trembled from the force of it. He felt bad-it hurt him too-but he knew only that could stop Namjoon in this moment.

"Namjoon," Jin's voice cracked, both stern and soft, "you're not in love with me... you're obsessed with me. All these years, I've given you my love and care, but you twisted it. You made yourself believe that if I stayed by your side, you wouldn't be alone. You don't see me as someone to love-you see me as someone to keep."

Namjoon's fists clenched, his throat tightening.

Jin took his hands firmly in his own. "Listen to me, Namjoon. From now on... 'love me.' Don't treat me like an object you need to possess. Do things that make me happy. Make me shy around you. Make me 'want' you. Speak with love, touch me with love, care for me with love. Stop being obsessed-it's unhealthy. If you want me, then love me... truly."

Namjoon's eyes burned, his vision blurring. The anger he'd felt moments ago had turned into raw pain. He stood there, trembling, words stuck in his throat.

Finally, he whispered hoarsely without meeting Jin's eyes, "Hyung... if obsession is not love... then I've never been in love."

Jin's lips curved into a sad smile, because he knew how deep Namjoon's obsession ran, and yet... he still believed there was something genuine buried inside.

Namjoon's voice cracked as he continued, "I know I've hurt you. I know I've scared you. I just- I lose myself when I see you with anyone else. But hyung... I hurt you more than I ever protected you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." His words broke into sobs, his chest heaving, his body shaking uncontrollably as he cried and cried.

Seeing Namjoon shatter before his eyes, Jin couldn't hold back-he reached forward, wiping his tears with trembling hands. "Namjoon, stop crying... let's go now."

But Namjoon shook his head, panic in his eyes. "No. I don't deserve you, hyung. I've hurt you too much. I'm not good for you."

"Namjoon-" Jin started, but before he could finish, Namjoon's voice cracked louder.

"I don't deserve you! I've ruined you-hurt you, scared you-" He clutched his head, panting heavily. His breathing turned sharp, uneven-panic surging through him.

Jin leaned forward quickly, cupping his face, pressing a desperate kiss to his lips. First time Jin kissed Namjoon. "Stop saying that. Hyung can't be without you. So don't leave me like this."

But Namjoon couldn't calm down-his body refused to listen. Overwhelmed with guilt and suffocating pain, he broke free and bolted, running blindly out.

"Namjoon!" Jin shouted, panic flaring. He chased after him, but Namjoon kept running, his breath ragged, his mind spiraling into chaos.

The screech of a bus horn cut through the night. Jin's heart dropped.

Without thinking, he lunged forward, shoving Namjoon out of the way-

-and the world went silent as Jin's body hit the pavement under the bus.