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Seungwon’s bedroom was half-packed, with open boxes scattered on the floor and most of his wardrobe dumped on top of the bed. Jungkook had spent so much of his childhood in this room, and now he was helping his friend pack it all away. Soon they'd be going off to college, having to be apart for the first time since grade school.
Jungkook decided to attend BNU instead of going off to Seoul like all his friends had planned. Something told him he should stay in Busan, and it definitely had nothing to do with his stupid crush on Seungwon's dad.
The man was twice his age, widowed after Seungwon’s mom passed away a few years ago, and led his own company. Jungkook knew consciously that nothing could ever happen between them, but sometimes he allowed himself to fantasize. There was no harm in having dreams.
Maybe that’s why he’d agreed to help—any excuse to see Seungwon’s dad one last time before college.
After spending the afternoon packing up Seungwon's closet, they both collapsed on the bed with a groan.
Seungwon broke the silence first, "Jungkook?" his voice strained from where he hung upside down off the side of the bed.
"Yeah?"
"Have you seen the new matchmaking thing? Everyone's been talking about it online." Seungwon heaved himself off the floor enough to actually look at Jungkook.
"Not really, isn't it some weird A.I. thing?"
"Kind of? It’s supposed to find you a perfect match, like a soulmate thing. I guess?” Seungwon didn’t really know too much about it, but he couldn't help but be curious.
“Hmm, interesting.” Jungkook nodded along, “We should try it.” He suggested.
Just as his friend was going to respond, he heard faint footsteps in the hallway, causing his whole body to freeze. He couldn't help but focus on the sound, even at the expense of missing whatever Seungwon had said.
There was a light knock at the door before it opened. “How’s the packing coming along?”
Seungwon's dad, Taehyung, stood in the doorway. The sleeves of his white button-up were rolled up to his elbows, showing off a wide expanse of golden skin. His hands were marked with tiny cuts, dirt smudged on his beige trousers. Probably gardening… or something.
Jungkook probably shouldn’t be staring this much, but he just couldn't help it.
Him and his stupid, pathetic crush.
Jungkook stupidly made eye contact with him and almost screamed when he noticed Taehyung was already staring at him. It lingered for a second too long, only broken by the sound of Taehyung's warm, deep voice, "Thanks for helping my son, Jungkook. I don't know what he'd do without you."
Seungwon shouted, “Hey!” waving his arms dramatically, “I’m right here, you know.”
Taehyung bit back a laugh, “I’ll leave you two alone now.” He paused in the doorway, “If you need anything, I’ll be downstairs.”
Then he was gone.
Seungwon threw a sock at him, “Hey, are you even listening? Come and look at this.”
They crowded over Seungwon’s phone as he pulled up the matchmaking website. He started filling it out, feeling unnerved by how simple the questions were. Still, he took it seriously and asked for Jungkook’s input to make sure he was filling it out right.
As soon as the questions grew more personal, he shoved Jungkook away and told him to fill out his own.
So, Jungkook sat down on the bed and carefully answered each question that came up. He thought about his perfect match and couldn’t help but picture Taehyung. He didn’t really want to think about what that meant, so he rushed through the rest of the questions and pressed submit.
“What if it actually works?” Seungwon whispered, the air in the room feeling heavier.
Jungkook chewed on his nails instead of answering, wondering exactly what he’d just gotten himself into.
A confirmation email from SynthMatch arrived to let him know that his application was received.
Jungkook took a deep breath before clicking on the message.
SynthMatch - Application Confirmation
You’re one step closer to finding your SynthMatch™
Your profile has been successfully submitted. Our matchmaking algorithm is already diving in to find your perfect spark, and will contact you within 48 hours.
Here’s to new beginnings and even better connections.
- SynthMatch™ Team
As he read the email, a second one came through.
Jungkook's chest tightened with unease. "Another email?"
His fingers hesitated over the message for a moment before finally shaking his nerves off and clicking on it.
SynthMatch - Match Identified
Your perfect match has been successfully identified with a score of 97.1%.
Further details will be released upon confirmation.
- SynthMatch™ Team
"Uh, Seungwon?" Jungkook's voice caught in his throat, turning his friend's name into a high, breathless squeak. "How long does it take to get a match?"
"Hmm, normally a couple of months? It's still pretty new, but so many people are in the database now that I think the company is having trouble keeping up with demand." Seungwon jumped in excitement once he realized, "Did you get a match already?"
Jungkook's mouth opened and closed, words lost on his tongue.
After a long pause, he whispered, "Yeah, I got a match." He turned his phone toward Seungwon to show him the confirmation email.
"Holy shit," Seungwon whispered back.
"Y-yeah." Jungkook packed up his things, "Um, I-I should go."
Seungwon reached out to stop him, but he managed to shake out of his grip.
"I'll see you later."
Jungkook pushed open the front door and stepped inside, quickly glancing around the entryway. The house looked the same—but not really. Boxes were stacked unevenly at the bottom of the stairs, and a suitcase sat open by the door, looking like it had been abandoned halfway through packing.
"Wow,' Jungkook muttered under his breath, "This place looks like a disaster."
Seungwon's voice called out from upstairs, "If you're not here to help, you can leave."
Jungkook snorted as he slipped off his shoes, "I am helping. I'm here for moral support."
"That doesn't count!" Seungwon shouted back.
Jungkook bounded up the stairs with a smile. He found Seungwon in his bedroom, surrounded by more mess than the last time. His clothes were everywhere still, and each box was only half-filled.
He leaned against the doorframe, taking in all of the beautiful chaos. "You're seriously bringing this with you?"
“Yes.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
Jungkook yanked it out of his grip and dropped the shirt in one of the boxes anyway. “You’re going to a new city. This is your chance to reinvent yourself.”
“I don’t need reinventing.”
“You absolutely do.”
Seungwon scoffed, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
For a moment, things felt normal—like they always had. The two of them arguing over nothing, surrounded by a mess that didn't matter.
Jungkook swallowed, pushing the thought away before it could settle.
"Okay," he clapped, "What do you need me to do?"
Seungwon narrowed his eyes, "You actually want to help me? That's weird."
"Don't get used to it, Hyung."
"Oh, I won't," he scoffed. "Why don't you help me tape up these boxes?" He gestured toward the stack next to the door.
"You got it, Boss." Jungkook mockingly saluted before grabbing the tape from the dresser. He flattened the lid of the box and carefully held it closed while fumbling with the roll of duct tape.
The sound of something moving down the hallway halted his movements. He could feel his heart beating in his ears, but tried to push it aside so he could focus on taping boxes.
They fell into an easy rhythm after that, folding and packing until the mess slowly disappeared. By the time Jungkook stepped back, the room looked almost empty.
“Wow,” he said quietly. “You’re actually leaving me.”
Seungwon didn’t respond right away. He just looked around the room, like he was trying to memorize it.
“Don’t forget about me, Kid.” He nudged Jungkook on the shoulder playfully.
“How could I ever?” Jungkook chided back.
“Just text me when you get there.”
“Okay.”
Jungkook shuffled his feet closer and timidly wrapped his arms around Seungwon’s midsection, pulling him into a kind of awkward hug. He felt Seungwon tense briefly before melting into his embrace. He had to bite back the sudden urge to cry, tightening his grip for just a second longer before letting go.
As they separated, Jungkook looked into his eyes, realizing that this was going to be the first time in his life that he’d be without Seungwon.
“It’s weird, right?”
“Yeah.”
After a beat of silence, Jungkook sniffled, biting back tears. “Come on, Hyung.”
Seungwon lingered in the doorway for a moment, taking one last look at his room, before closing the door behind them.
Jungkook followed him down the stairs, where his dad was waiting for them.
“I think that’s everything.” Seungwon looked at them both briefly, “I should get going.”
“Drive safe, Kid.” Taehyung pulled his son into a warm embrace.
“Yeah, yeah, I will.” Seungwon playfully rolled his eyes, “Bye, Kook.” He quickly patted him on the back before bounding to the car, excitedly waving at them both.
The silence stretched as they watched Seungwon’s car disappear down the street, neither of them moving right away.
“It’s going to be so quiet around here now,” Taehyung muttered.
Jungkook turned toward the sound of Taehyung’s voice. His breath caught in his throat as he looked into Taehyung’s eyes, feeling like it would be the last time.
He watched Taehyung slowly close the distance between them, eyes full of an emotion he couldn't name. Jungkook froze, afraid that the slightest movement would scare him away.
There was hardly a space between them when Taehyung seemed to realize what he was doing, quickly stepped a few paces back as if he was burned.
"Um, I should probably get going."
"Yeah."
Jungkook nodded and stepped outside. He looked back toward the house as the door closed softly behind him, realizing Seungwon wouldn't be the only thing he'd be leaving behind.
Jungkook stared at his bedroom ceiling, sighing deeply as he recalled the awkward moment he had with Taehyung earlier. He knew he shouldn't be giving it a second thought, but it was the only thing on his mind.
The silence started to drive him crazy, so he pulled his phone out as a distraction, but the number of notifications had him sitting upright.
The last thing he wanted to see was another message from the matchmaking service.
He locked his phone and tossed it somewhere on the bed, running his hand through his hair with a groan.
The whole matchmaking thing was stupid and meaningless, but he still couldn't help his curiosity. His thumb hovered over the button, unintentionally holding his breath.
Jungkook's face was just barely visible in the reflection of the screen, but there was something unmistakable in his expression—hope.
The subject line read:
SynthMatch – Match Identified
“It’s not going to be him. It can’t be.” He whispered, voice barely audible amidst the beating of his heart.
Jungkook inhaled deeply before opening the email.
SynthMatch – Match Identified
Your match has been found.
Kim Taehyung
Compatibility Score: 97.1%
Our analysis indicates a high probability of long-term compatibility based on behavioral patterns, communication tendencies, and domestic preferences.
In other words, this is not a match built on coincidence, but on patterns you may not have consciously recognized—or chosen to ignore.
While SynthMatch identifies potential, the outcome remains yours to define. Compatibility is only the starting point—connection is something you choose.
To proceed, you may request your match’s contact information and arrange an introduction at your discretion.
Your next step is optional.
What you do with it is not.
— SynthMatch™
Jungkook stared at the screen and laughed wryly.
It was just an algorithm, a robot.
It had to be wrong, but still, it made his heart race.
Taehyung must've received the results too, seen his name and that same number staring back at him. When he thought back to earlier, Taehyung's odd behavior made sense.
It wasn't his imagination after all.
Taehyung had known—and still hadn't said a word.
As the information was starting to process in his brain, he gasped when he thought about Seungwon. The many years of friendship, of being in that house as if it were his own. Taehyung wasn't just anyone—he was his best friend's father. Older, established, someone who had already lived through things Jungkook was only just beginning to understand.
It felt wrong, crossing lines that had always been there, even if no one had ever said them out loud. And Taehyung—how did he feel? Had that hesitation meant something, or had it been restraint? Jungkook swallowed hard, his thoughts spiraling. Maybe this was one-sided. Maybe Taehyung had seen the match and decided it was something to ignore.
Maybe he’d already chosen to walk away.
He stared at the screen for a long time, thumb hovering over the option to request contact—knowing that whatever he chose next, there was no going back.
Jungkook ran toward his phone once he heard it buzz, expecting it to be Seungwon, but it wasn't.
It was a message from an unknown number, and he very quickly realized it was Taehyung.
"Hey, Jungkook. I'm sure you've seen the results by now. I…I wasn't expecting it either. Are you free to talk?"
His stomach turned as he read the message, or maybe those were butterflies? He didn't know the difference.
The blinking cursor stressed him out as he tried to come up with a halfway decent mature response:
"Hey. Yeah, I saw the email. I guess we should talk. Are you free tonight?"
Jungkook swallowed what felt like bile as he hit send. He closed his eyes tightly, hoping he could will this all away.
The piercing sound of his ringtone jolted him upright.
It was Taehyung.
It wasn’t until he heard the last ring that he managed to answer.
Jungkook’s mouth snapped shut as he heard Taehyung breathing on the other end.
“Hello?” His voice came out smaller than he intended.
“Jungkook?” The voice on the other end made his stomach lurch. Calm. Warm. Familiar, in a way that sent a strange thrill through him. “It’s Taehyung.”
He swallowed hard. “Y-yeah… hi.”
There was a brief pause, and Jungkook could almost hear the hesitation on the other end. His ears picked up every soft inflection in Taehyung’s tone, the way he said his name like it had weight.
"I didn't expect this to happen," Taehyung finally responded.
"Yeah, me either." His own voice sounded weird, like it belonged to someone else.
Of course it was him, he thought. It had to be.
The long pause made Jungkook's face warm. “Uh… I mean… are you… calling just to… talk?”
“Yeah,” Taehyung admitted, almost shyly. “I thought it might be easier than texting. We could… You know, just talk. See what this even means.”
Jungkook ran a hand through his hair, heart racing.
See what this even means… That sounded heavy. Terrible. Wrong. But also… exciting.
“I… okay. Yeah. I can do that.”
There was a small laugh on the other end, low and comforting. “Good. I was hoping you’d say that.”
For a moment, they both fell silent. Jungkook could hear the faint rustle of paper in Taehyung’s room—or maybe it was just his imagination—but it made him hyper-aware of the distance between them. Not just physical, but everything else: age, experience, the life Taehyung had built, and the life Jungkook was only beginning to understand.
“So,” Taehyung said after a beat, “I was thinking… maybe we could meet somewhere neutral. Coffee, maybe? Nothing formal. Just to…talk more.”
Jungkook nodded, even though Taehyung couldn’t see him. “Yeah… yeah, that works. When?”
“How about tomorrow? Say… six?” Taehyung’s tone was careful but confident. “Just a quick meeting. No pressure.”
Jungkook’s hands trembled slightly as he gripped his phone. “Six… okay. Yeah, I’ll be there.”
“Good,” Taehyung said softly. “See you then.”
“See you,” Jungkook whispered, almost to himself, before ending the call.
He sat there for a long moment, the phone still pressed to his ear, heart racing, stomach twisting. He hadn’t said much—barely anything—but hearing that voice, feeling that small thread of connection, left him reeling.
I’m really going to see him.
Jungkook finally set the phone down, breathing shallow and fast. He looked out the window, trying to focus on anything but the way his chest still felt like it was about to explode.
This was really happening. And there was no going back now.
The late afternoon sun illuminated his silhouette from where he stood in front of his closet. Clothes scattered beside him on the floor, spreading all the way to the bed where most of his wardrobe lay.
Sweat beaded on his brow, exhausted from trying on countless outfits yet still displeased with everything he owned apparently. He sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling defeated.
Taehyung had seen him at his worst, drunkenly stumbling around his house after a party, crying his eyes out after a bad breakup freshman year, and storming out after arguing with Seungwon.
But this time was different.
It meant something.
Jungkook took a deep breath and walked over to his closet again. He shouldn’t have to change himself for Taehyung, so he decided to just stick to something he’d normally wear, just a little more refined. He picked out a pair of ripped jeans and an oversized sweater that hung nicely off his shoulders.
It was still him, but more put together. Like Taehyung was.
He looked at himself in the mirror, a smile already on his face.
Jungkook stopped a few steps from the door, staring at his reflection in the café window.
Anyone passing by would probably think he was just another customer.
They wouldn’t know he was about to have a conversation that could change his whole life.
A bell rang above him as he opened the door and finally stepped inside.
Jungkook looked around nervously, feeling as if everyone was looking at him, even though rationally he knew that wasn’t true. His chest tightened as he saw Taehyung waving at him shyly toward the back of the cafe.
Taehyung couldn’t have looked more ethereal and out of reach. He wore a dark brown three-piece suit with a light blue shirt and a patterned tie. It looked like he’d come straight from work, and the thought made his stomach do a back flip.
Jungkook walked toward him, noticing Taehyung loosening his tie as he approached the table. When the elder stood to greet him, Jungkook swore his knees almost turned to jelly.
“I hope you don’t mind—I ordered for you.” Taehyung smiled as he gestured to the seat across from him.
“Oh, thank you.” he pulled out the chair and sat down. Jungkook’s face flushed at the sight of the iced matcha Taehyung had pushed toward him.
How did Taehyung know that was his favorite drink?
“You usually order this, right?” Taehyung asked politely.
Jungkook fidgeted with the hem of his sweater, “Yeah.”
The silence that followed unnerved them as they adjusted to the reality of sitting across from each other like this. Jungkook curled his fingers around the cool glass, grateful for something to hold onto.
“This is… a little strange, right?” he muttered, glancing up briefly.
Taehyung huffed out a quiet laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”
The tension eased after that, if only slightly. What started as hesitant small talk—about work, about how their days had been—gradually shifted into something more natural. They circled the obvious before finally brushing against it, the match lingering unspoken between them even as the conversation moved forward.
Jungkook found himself relaxing despite everything, answering more easily, laughing under his breath at things that shouldn’t have been funny. Taehyung listened in a way that made it hard not to keep talking.
Somewhere along the way, the space between them felt smaller. Their conversation drifted—touching on old hobbies, routines, the things they’d let fall away without realizing. Jungkook caught himself watching the way Taehyung smiled, the way his voice softened when he spoke, and had to look away before it meant something more than it should.
For a moment, he forgot why this was so complicated.
Then Taehyung leaned back slightly, his expression shifting—more serious now, more aware.
"Things are so complicated."
Jungkook’s grip tightened around his cup. “Yeah,” he admitted quietly.
The weight of it settled between them again, heavier this time.
It would’ve been easier if this felt wrong, but it didn’t.
He avoided Taehyung’s gaze, eyes cast down toward the floor as he tried to make sense of everything.
He was torn between his best friend and the crush he’d spent years trying to ignore. It would be easy to shut this down, to draw a line and never cross it.
But sitting here, with Taehyung just across from him, it didn’t feel that simple.
Would it be so wrong to be selfish, just this once?
Jungkook swallowed, forcing himself to look up. “Do you want to pretend like this never happened?” he asked quietly.
Taehyung held his gaze for a moment. “No.”
Jungkook let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, a small smile breaking through. “Okay.”
Taehyung leaned forward—subconsciously closing the distance between them. “Then let’s just… see where this goes.”
They stood and gathered their things before walking out of the café side by side, not quite close enough to touch—but not far apart either.
This time, Jungkook didn’t pull away.