Chapter 28

It had been more than a month since Jin returned home, but for him, every day felt the same. Namjoon prepared every single meal, managed every detail of the house, and cared for him with almost obsessive caution. Yet, no matter how much he did for Jin, he always kept a distance. He answered when Jin spoke, but never started conversations. Whenever Jin tried to draw him in, Namjoon would retreat, blending into the background like he wanted to be invisible.

Jin noticed it every day, and it was beginning to weigh on him.

That morning, Namjoon had woken earlier than usual for his morning shift. He went downstairs to prepare breakfast, rinsing vegetables and fruits with quiet precision. Jin, already aware of his routine, followed him down.

"Namjoon, let me help you," Jin said softly as he stepped into the kitchen.

"Hyung, you should rest. I'll do it," Namjoon replied quickly, keeping his focus on the cutting board.

"Namjoon, I've been resting for over a month, more like years. You won't even let me lift a finger. I'm fine now, completely fine. So let me help you," Jin insisted, his tone firmer this time.

He reached for the knife Namjoon was holding, and as his fingers brushed against Namjoon's hand, Namjoon instantly flinched and pulled away. That little gesture stung Jin more than anything else. He set the knife down with a sharp clink and turned to face him.

"Namjoon, why are you avoiding me? I hate this," Jin said, voice heavy with frustration.

"Hyung, I'm not-"

"Oh, you're not?" Jin cut in, his eyes narrowing. "Then what have you been doing these past weeks? You cook, you clean, you vanish. You won't look at me, won't talk to me. All you do is take care of me by making sure to avoid me."

Namjoon's lips trembled, and before Jin could press further, tears began streaming down his face.

"Hyung... I don't want to make you uncomfortable around me," Namjoon whispered.

Jin's heart squeezed painfully. "You've been saying that since the beginning like thousand times already, Im tried. Why? Why are you behaving like this, Namjoon?"

Namjoon's voice cracked as he choked out, "Because I hate myself, hyung. I can't stop thinking about how much I hurt you before. Every second of those years you were gone, I blamed myself that I don't deserve you. Please, let me go. I just want you to be happy, even if that means I suffer. I'm sorry, hyung. I'm sorry. Don't forgive me. I don't deserve it."

Jin froze, watching the man who had always been his pillar break down in front of him. Seeing Namjoon like this-so fragile, so broken-tore him apart. Slowly, Jin stepped closer, lifted his trembling hand, and wiped Namjoon's tears.

"Namjoon..." he whispered, his chest tightening with emotion. And before Namjoon could retreat again, Jin leaned forward and pressed his lips against his.

Namjoon stiffened, shocked, his lips still beneath Jin's. But Jin didn't care-he poured every ounce of love, every unspoken word, into that kiss. It was gentle, slow, but so full of feeling that it made his heart ache. And then, finally, Namjoon responded. His lips moved hesitantly at first, then with growing need, their kiss falling into rhythm-deliberate, tender, desperate for connection.

It was their kiss-one born not out of confusion or desperation, but of love.

Namjoon broke away abruptly, eyes dropping to the floor, unable to face Jin. His chest rose and fell sharply. "Hyung..."

But Jin didn't let him finish. "Namjoon, do you remember what I said before the accident?"

Namjoon's eyes glistened with fresh tears. His voice shook as he whispered, "That I was being obsessed... and enough to hurt you."

Jin shook his head. "Apart from that, I also said I like you. That I love you."

Namjoon's tears fell faster. "Hyung, stop. All I ever did was hurt you. How could you still say you love me? I don't deserve it. Don't say those words to me. Please... if you want to hurt me, then hurt me. But don't love me. I don't deserve happiness, not from you hyung, Im unworthy of it and-."

Before Namjoon could spiral further, Jin leaned in and kissed him again, this time biting his lower lip hard enough to sting. Namjoon winced, and when Jin pulled back, his gaze was sharp, almost angry.

"Don't you dare say you don't deserve happiness," Jin said firmly, gripping Namjoon's trembling hand. "You deserve 'all' the happiness in the world, and I'll be the one to give it to you. Yes, you hurt me. I'm not denying it. But I'm still here, Namjoon. I forgive you. And I want us to be happy together."

Namjoon looked at him in disbelief, lips parted, breath shaky.

"You have good in you too-the kind of good that made me fall for you in the first place," Jin continued, his voice softening. "Don't erase that because of your mistakes. I know one thing clearly-we can't live without each other. So let's take it slow. Let me teach you how to love. I want you, Namjoon. Because I love you. For you, it's been years. But for me..." Jin's voice broke, "for me, it's like yesterday. I never stopped loving you. And I never will."

Namjoon's whole body shook as Jin's words sank in. He wanted to protest again, to tell Jin he was wrong, that he was only saying this out of pity-but the conviction in Jin's voice, the sharpness in his eyes, and the warmth of his touch left him speechless.

His chest felt too tight, like it might burst. His lips trembled, and before he knew it, his tears were flowing uncontrollably.

"Hyung..." His voice cracked, small and broken, almost childlike. "I don't know how to accept this. I don't know how to take your love when all I gave you was pain."

Jin's heart ached at the sight of him crumbling. Without hesitation, he reached forward, pulling Namjoon into his arms. The younger resisted for a second, but Jin tightened his embrace, holding him firmly against his chest.

"Then don't think," Jin whispered into his hair. "Just let me hold you. Just let me love you."

Namjoon finally gave in. He buried his face in Jin's shoulder, clutching the back of his shirt with trembling hands. His sobs came harder now, muffled against Jin's neck, each one echoing years of guilt and loneliness.

Jin stroked his back in slow, comforting circles, his own throat tight with emotion.

"You don't have to be perfect for me to love you," Jin murmured. "You don't have to prove anything. You're mine, Namjoon. My family, my friend, my everything. I want every side of you-the good and the broken."

Namjoon's sobs quieted into ragged breaths. His hands loosened but didn't let go, as if afraid that releasing Jin would make him disappear again. His voice was hoarse when he finally managed to whisper, "Hyung... don't leave me."

Jin smiled faintly, pressing a kiss to the crown of his head. "Never again. You're stuck with me."

For the first time in almost four years, Namjoon allowed himself to believe those words. Wrapped in Jin's warmth, his heart that had carried nothing but guilt and emptiness finally felt something else-relief.

And Jin, feeling the wetness of Namjoon's tears soaking into his shirt, only held him tighter.

Jin pulled back just enough to see Namjoon's face. His eyes were swollen and red, his cheeks damp, lips trembling as if one wrong word would shatter him again. Jin cupped his face gently, his thumbs brushing away the tears.

"Enough crying," Jin said softly, though his own eyes glistened. "You'll get sick if you keep this up."

Namjoon sniffled, lowering his gaze in embarrassment, but Jin tilted his chin back up with a finger. "Look at me. You don't need to hide anymore. Not from me."

Namjoon nodded faintly, still too overwhelmed to speak. His shoulders eased only when Jin leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, lingering there as if to seal his promise.

"Now," Jin said with a small smile, his tone shifting into something lighter, "wipe your face and cook. You're cooking for me, right? Then let's cook together properly."

After cooking and setting the table. They sat down side by side, Jin insisting that Namjoon take a plate too. When Namjoon tried to protest, Jin cut him off with a glare.

"Don't you dare starve yourself in front of me again," Jin said, sliding food onto Namjoon's plate. "From now on, you eat when I eat. Understood?"

For the first time that morning, Namjoon let out a small laugh-fragile, but real. "Yes, hyung."

Jin's heart warmed at the sound. He watched Namjoon pick up his chopsticks, and though his movements were stiff, Jin felt a quiet victory just having him here, eating at the same table without running away.

As they ate in silence, Jin glanced at Namjoon's profile. His sharp jaw looked even sharper from the weight he had lost, his eyes still tired despite the rest he'd been getting. But he was here, beside him, and Jin vowed he'd make sure Namjoon never had to carry that crushing guilt alone again.

Reaching under the table, Jin slid his hand across and placed it gently over Namjoon's. For a split second, Namjoon stiffened, but when Jin squeezed softly, he didn't pull away.

That was enough for Jin-for now.