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Maybe This Time

Summary:

Based on the song 'Maybe This Time' by Michael Martin Murphey

Notes:

So, I've been listening to old songs and this song played, i just can't stop thinking about Jinkook while listening to it so i wrote a short story based on the song. Hope you like it! 💜

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

"Two old friends meet again, wearin' older faces, and talk about the places they've been."

Seokjin walked into the cozy café, the familiar aroma of coffee and pastries enveloping him. It had been years since he last set foot in this place, but the memories were still vivid, etched in the worn wood of the tables and the faded posters on the walls. As he scanned the room, his eyes fell on a familiar figure sitting by the window.

There he was—Jungkook, looking every bit the man he remembered, yet with a few more lines on his face, a little more wisdom in his eyes. They had been close once, back in university, when life was all about dreams and possibilities. But time had its way of creating distance, and they had drifted apart as life took them down different paths.

As he approached the table, Jungkook looked up and smiled, a mixture of surprise and warmth in his expression. "Jin," he greeted, standing up to embrace him. The hug was brief, tentative, as if they were both trying to reconcile the person in front of them with the memories they held onto.

They sat down, and for a moment, neither of them spoke, just taking in the sight of each other after all these years. Finally, Jungkook broke the silence. "You look... good," he said, his tone genuine.

Seokjin smiled, feeling a strange mix of nostalgia and uncertainty. "So do you, JK. It's been a long time."

They spent the next hour catching up, talking about the places they had been, the people they had met, and the lives they had built. It was easy, comfortable, like slipping into an old pair of shoes. But beneath the surface, there was something else—a quiet longing, a sense of unfinished business, as if the universe had given them a second chance.

Seokjin and Jungkook first met during their freshman year at university. They were both in the same introductory literature class, and although they didn’t notice each other at first, fate had other plans. During one of the class projects, students were paired up randomly, and it just so happened that Seokjin and Jungkook ended up as partners.

Seokjin, known for his sharp intellect and strong sense of responsibility, initially took the lead in the project. Jungkook, on the other hand, was more laid-back but creative, with a knack for thinking outside the box. At first, Seokjin found his carefree attitude a bit frustrating, while Jungkook was slightly intimidated by his intensity. However, as they worked together, they discovered a balance—Seokjin’s focus and determination complemented Jungkook’s creativity and spontaneity.

What started as a simple partnership for a project quickly turned into a genuine friendship. They began hanging out after class, studying together, and even grabbing lunch between lectures. Their conversations flowed easily, filled with laughter and deep discussions about life, dreams, and everything in between. Jungkook admired Seokjin’s ambition and depth, while Seokjin appreciated Jungkook’s ability to bring lightness and joy into his life.

By the end of the semester, they were inseparable. They supported each other through the highs and lows of university life, forming a bond that went beyond just friendship.

"Two old sweethearts who fell apart, somewhere long ago, how are they to know someday they'd meet again and have a need for more than reminiscin'."

As their conversation meandered through the years they had missed, memories of their university days gradually resurfaced—the laughter, the late-night study sessions, and the easy comfort of their friendship. But there was one part of their history that both of them silently avoided: the brief yet intense time when they had been more than just friends.

It had happened unexpectedly, almost naturally. During their final year, amidst the stress of exams and the impending uncertainty of the future, they found themselves leaning on each other more than ever. What started as lingering glances and subtle touches eventually blossomed into something deeper. One night, after hours of studying in the campus library, Jungkook had walked Seokjin home. Standing at his doorstep, they had shared a quiet moment, both aware of the unspoken feelings between them.

It was Jungkook who made the first move, gently pressing his lips to Seokijn's in a kiss that held all the emotions they had kept buried. From that moment on, they were inseparable, their friendship evolving into a romance that felt as natural as breathing. But the timing was wrong. With graduation looming and their futures pulling them in different directions, they both knew deep down that it couldn’t last.

And so, they parted ways, not with harsh words or broken promises, but with a quiet understanding that life was taking them on different paths. They moved on, each pursuing their dreams and ambitions, their connection fading into a bittersweet memory. Neither of them spoke of what they had shared, letting time and distance do what they thought was best.

But now, sitting across from each other in that familiar café, the weight of those unspoken feelings hung in the air. They reminisced about the places they had been, the people they had become, yet there was something deeper pulling at them—a need for more than just catching up. The spark that had once drawn them together was still there, lingering beneath the surface, waiting to be reignited.

As their eyes met, a silent question passed between them. Could this be a second chance? Could they pick up the pieces of what they once had and create something new? Neither of them knew the answer, but the possibility was undeniable. Perhaps this time, the timing would be right.

"Maybe this time, it'll be lovin' they'll find. Maybe now they can be more than just friends. She's back in his life, and it feels so right. Maybe this time, love won't end."

The conversation lulled for a moment, and in that silence, both Seokjin and Jungkook could feel the unspoken possibilities hanging between them. The memories of their brief romance played like a film in their minds—the way they had laughed together, the way they had leaned on each other when life felt overwhelming, and the way they had simply fit together, as if they were always meant to be more than just friends.

Jungkook looked at Seokjin, really looked at him, and saw the same boy he had fallen for all those years ago, but with a new strength and confidence that only made him more captivating. There was a warmth in his eyes that hadn't faded with time, a kindness that still drew him in. He couldn't help but wonder—maybe this time, they could finally get it right.

Seokjin, too, felt a familiar flutter in his chest, the same one he had felt back in university when they were together. But this time, it was different. They were different. Older, wiser, and perhaps more ready for what had once been just out of reach. The idea of rekindling what they had—of being more than just friends—seemed not only possible but inevitable.

As they continued to talk, the hesitation that had initially been there began to melt away. The years apart had given them both the chance to grow, to figure out what they truly wanted in life. And sitting there, across from each other, it became clear to them that what they wanted most was another chance—with each other.

Jungkook’s heart pounded in his chest as he made a decision. He reached across the table, his hand covering Seokjin’s, and when he looked up at him, his eyes were wide with both surprise and understanding. "Jinnie," he began, his voice soft but full of emotion, "I know we’ve both changed, and I don’t know what the future holds, but... maybe this time, we can be more than just friends. Maybe this time, it’ll be different."

Seokjin’s breath caught in his throat, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he felt a smile tug at his lips, a smile that held the promise of something new, something real. "Maybe this time, we’ll find out," he whispered, squeezing his hand gently.

And in that moment, surrounded by the echoes of their past and the possibilities of their future, it felt like everything was falling into place. Maybe this time, they had found the right time. Maybe this time, love wouldn’t end.

"It's the same old feeling back again, it's the one that they had way back when. They were too young to know when love is real. But somehow, some things never change, and even time hasn't cooled the flame. It's burnin' even brighter than it did before. It got another chance, and if they take it..."

After that day in the café, Seokjin and Jungkook found themselves drawn back into each other’s lives. What started as casual meet-ups quickly turned into something more. They went for walks in the park, shared dinners at their favorite spots, and even found themselves revisiting old haunts from their university days, laughing and reminiscing as if no time had passed.

But it wasn’t just about reliving the past. There was a new energy between them, a sense of excitement and anticipation that neither of them could ignore. The same old feelings they had once tried to bury came rushing back, stronger than ever. It was as if the years apart had only intensified their connection, making the flame burn even brighter.

Back when they first fell for each other, they had been young, full of dreams but unsure of what love truly meant. They hadn’t been ready to handle the depth of their emotions, and life had pulled them in different directions before they had the chance to fully explore what they had. But now, things were different. They were older, more experienced, and they knew what they wanted.

As they continued to see each other, it became clear that the spark between them hadn’t just survived—it had grown. Every touch, every glance, every moment they spent together only solidified what they had both been too scared to admit before. This time, there were no doubts, no uncertainties. The love they felt was real, and it was stronger than ever.

One evening, after a dinner that had stretched late into the night, Jungkook walked Seokjin to his door, just like he used to. The moonlight cast a soft glow on his face, and for a moment, he was taken back to that first kiss they had shared years ago. But this time, he knew exactly what he wanted.

"Jinnie," he said softly, his voice full of emotion. "I’ve been thinking a lot about us... about everything that happened before, and everything that’s happening now. I don’t want to let this go again. I don’t want to make the same mistake twice."

Seokjin looked up at him, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt the same—there was no denying it. "Neither do I, JK," he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "It’s different now. We’re different. But what I feel for you... it’s still the same. Maybe even stronger."

He smiled, taking Seokjin's hands in his. "Then let’s not waste this chance," he said, his voice firm with determination. "Let’s see where this can go, for real this time."

Seokjin smiled back, a mixture of relief and joy washing over him. "For real this time," he agreed, leaning in to close the distance between them.

As they kissed, it felt like everything they had once dreamed of was finally within reach. The flame that had never truly died was burning brighter than ever, and this time, they weren’t going to let it go.

"She's smilin' like she used to smile way back then. She's feelin' like she used to feel way back when. They tried, but somethin' kept them waiting for this magic moment."

As Jungkook kissed Seokjin, he felt a rush of emotions that took him back to those early days when they were first together. Pulling back slightly, he opened his eyes and saw Seokjin's smile—the same bright, beautiful smile that had always made his heart skip a beat. It was the smile that he had fallen in love with all those years ago, the one that had always made everything feel right in the world.

But this time, there was something more to it, something deeper. It wasn't just the carefree joy of young love; it was a smile that spoke of everything they had been through, everything they had learned. It was a smile that promised this time would be different, that this time they would get it right.

Jungkook couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a warmth spread through him as he held him close. It was like time had rewound, taking them back to those moments when they were inseparable, when the world had seemed so full of possibilities. Yet, this time, it felt even more real, more solid. They weren’t just two young people caught up in the thrill of new love; they were two people who had lived, who had experienced the world, and who had found their way back to each other.

He remembered how hard they had tried to make it work back then, how much they had wanted to hold on to what they had. But something had always gotten in the way—school, distance, life pulling them in different directions. They hadn’t been ready, no matter how much they had wished they were. But now, standing here with Seokjin, seeing him smile at him like he used to, Jungkook felt like they had been waiting for this moment all along.

Maybe they hadn’t been ready before because they were meant to find each other again, now, when they were older, wiser, and more sure of what they wanted. Maybe this was their magic moment, the one they had been waiting for without even realizing it.

Seokjin leaned into him, resting his head on his shoulder, and Jungkook felt a sense of peace settle over him. He had him back in his life, and it felt so right, so perfect. Whatever had kept them apart before no longer mattered. What mattered was that they had found their way back to each other, and this time, he wasn’t going to let go.

As they stood there, holding each other, Jungkook knew that this was it—this was the moment they had been waiting for, the moment when everything would finally fall into place. And for the first time, he truly believed that maybe, just maybe, this time, love wouldn’t end.

Notes:

Thanks for reading! 🥹💜