Chapter 14: Unspoken Desires

The days following their passionate night were filled with a subtle yet undeniable shift in the atmosphere. There was a new intensity between Suga and Jimin, an invisible thread of desire pulling them closer together. Their glances lingered a little longer, their touches became more frequent—each interaction charged with unspoken emotion.

However, as much as the closeness excited Suga, it also unnerved him. He had never allowed anyone this deep into his life before. Being the mafia leader required an unwavering sense of control, and the feelings he had for Jimin threatened that stability.

Jimin, on the other hand, basked in the attention, yet he was keenly aware of the distance Suga had started to put between them again. Ever since their night together, Suga had immersed himself in work, retreating to his office for hours on end. He attended meetings, handled business deals, and conducted operations with a laser-like focus, leaving Jimin feeling as if their connection had been momentarily lost.

Despite the gang’s playful teasing, Jimin couldn’t ignore the subtle retreat. His confidence from that night was waning, and he began to question whether it had meant as much to Suga as it had to him. Was it just a heat-of-the-moment thing for Suga? Or was there something deeper beneath his stoic exterior?

To make matters worse, Jackson’s presence only heightened Jimin’s internal turmoil. Though Jackson had backed off, respecting Jimin’s connection with Suga, he still remained a close friend, which inadvertently stoked Suga’s jealousy. Jimin wasn’t sure whether Suga had noticed the way Jackson would sometimes steal glances at him during meetings or how he would joke around, lightly brushing against Jimin in passing.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day, Jimin found himself sitting alone at the large dining table, absentmindedly stirring the food on his plate. His mind wandered back to the night he had shared with Suga—the passion, the closeness, and the overwhelming desire. He could still feel the ghost of Suga’s touch on his skin, and it sent shivers down his spine.

But now, there was nothing but distance between them.

"Jimin?" a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked up to see Namjoon standing by the doorway, his expression soft. "You okay?"

Jimin nodded, trying to force a smile. "Yeah, just tired."

Namjoon didn’t seem convinced as he sat down across from him. "You know, Suga’s been holed up in his office for days now. I think he’s overworking himself."

"Yeah," Jimin muttered, his gaze dropping back to his plate. "Seems like it."

Namjoon studied him for a moment, then leaned in. "You two are good, right?"

Jimin froze, unsure how to answer. Were they? Things had been perfect that night, but now, it felt like everything was slipping away. "I don’t know," he admitted quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I thought we were, but now I’m not so sure."

Namjoon sighed. "You know how Suga is. He doesn’t open up easily, even when he’s feeling something. Give him time."

"Time for what?" Jimin asked, frustration creeping into his voice. "He’s avoiding me, Namjoon. He won’t even talk to me about what happened between us. It’s like he’s pretending nothing’s changed."

Namjoon frowned sympathetically. "Maybe he’s scared. Scared of what he feels for you."

Jimin glanced up, his chest tightening at the thought. Could that be true? Was Suga pushing him away because he was afraid of getting too close?

Before Namjoon could say anything more, the door to the dining room creaked open, and in walked Suga. The entire room seemed to fall silent as he entered, his presence commanding attention even in the simplest of moments. His eyes met Jimin’s across the table, and for a brief second, Jimin thought he saw something flicker in Suga’s gaze—something vulnerable.

But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the familiar mask of indifference.

Jimin swallowed hard, his heart sinking. He couldn’t keep doing this—he couldn’t keep waiting for Suga to make up his mind. If Suga wasn’t willing to confront his feelings, then maybe it was time for Jimin to take matters into his own hands.

The next morning, Jimin arrived at the training grounds, determined to clear his head. Jackson was already there, stretching by the edge of the sparring ring. He greeted Jimin with a warm smile.

"Hey, haven’t seen you around much," Jackson said, tossing Jimin a water bottle. "Everything good?"

"Yeah, just been busy," Jimin replied, though his mind was elsewhere.

Jackson, sensing something off, raised an eyebrow. "You wanna talk about it?"

Jimin hesitated. He didn’t want to burden Jackson with his problems, especially considering the complicated dynamics between them. But as they trained together, Jimin found himself opening up, sharing bits and pieces of his frustration with Suga and the uncertainty of their relationship.

Jackson listened patiently, offering advice here and there, but mostly just being a supportive presence. His easy-going nature and comforting words made Jimin feel lighter, and for a brief moment, he wondered if things would’ve been simpler had his feelings been for Jackson instead of Suga.

As they finished their session, Jackson pulled Jimin into a playful headlock, ruffling his hair. "Come on, you’ll figure it out. You and Suga have something special. Don’t let it slip away."

Jimin smiled, appreciating the sentiment, but his thoughts were already drifting back to Suga.

Later that evening, Jimin found himself in the living room, sitting with the rest of the gang. They were all lounging around, talking and laughing, but Jimin couldn’t shake the weight in his chest.

He needed to do something—anything—to break this cycle.

When Suga finally joined them, his expression tense from the day’s work, Jimin felt the familiar pang of longing. But he also felt something else—determination.

He stood up from the couch, surprising everyone, and walked straight over to Suga. Without giving him a chance to react, Jimin grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door.

“We need to talk,” Jimin said firmly.

Suga blinked, clearly taken aback by the sudden boldness. "Now?"

"Yes, now."

The rest of the gang watched in stunned silence as Jimin led Suga outside, closing the door behind them. Once they were alone, Jimin turned to face him, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I can’t keep doing this, Suga," Jimin said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I need to know where we stand."

Suga stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "What do you mean?"

"You’ve been avoiding me ever since that night," Jimin continued, his frustration spilling out. "I thought we had something, but now it feels like you’re pushing me away."

Suga looked down, his jaw clenched. "It’s not that simple."

"Then explain it to me," Jimin pressed, stepping closer. "Because I don’t understand."

For a long moment, Suga said nothing, his gaze fixed on the ground. But then, with a heavy sigh, he looked up at Jimin, his eyes filled with something raw and unguarded.

"I’m scared, Jimin," he admitted quietly. "I don’t know how to handle this. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before."

Jimin’s heart skipped a beat, his breath catching in his throat. He had always suspected Suga’s fear, but hearing him say it out loud was a different kind of revelation.

"You don’t have to be scared," Jimin said softly, reaching out to touch Suga’s hand. "We can figure this out together."

Suga hesitated for a moment, but then he took Jimin’s hand, holding it tightly. For the first time in days, Jimin felt the distance between them begin to close.

And as they stood there, hand in hand under the night sky, Jimin knew that they were finally on the verge of something real. Something worth fighting for.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***