There are a million questions that Jungkook suspects lie behind Hoseok's expression, but the one that he finally asks is easy enough to answer. Jungkook's lips quirk for a second, a slightly lopsided smile peeking through before he leans back, licking his lips as he considers how to answer. Because he thinks that this question, at least, is one that Hoseok probably should be able to understand.
Especially given how much Jungkook's just learned today.
"Ah, that's..." Jungkook tilts his head, pulling a deep breath through his teeth. "Probably for the same reasons why I never said anything to Yoongi for over a year. And why Yoongi didn't say anything to me until I confessed to him. And why you never told anyone what you felt about Yoongi until today."
Jungkook bites briefly at his lip. "When you like someone... especially someone you already care a lot about, telling them feels dangerous. Because you're afraid of ruining what you already have, you're afraid of ruining the friendship. You're afraid that as soon as they know, they won't see you the same way — that they'll be uncomfortable, even if they don't want to be," Jungkook explains, watching Hoseok's expression for any flicker of familiarity. "Because maybe it's okay if they don't like you back that way, but losing them entirely... that feels too painful to even consider."
His gaze grows briefly unfocused as Jungkook tilts his head in reflection. "Sometimes I don't even know how I managed to get the words out in front of Yoongi. I was so afraid, hyung. If it weren't for how sad he looked..."
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Especially given how much Jungkook's just learned today.
"Ah, that's..." Jungkook tilts his head, pulling a deep breath through his teeth. "Probably for the same reasons why I never said anything to Yoongi for over a year. And why Yoongi didn't say anything to me until I confessed to him. And why you never told anyone what you felt about Yoongi until today."
Jungkook bites briefly at his lip. "When you like someone... especially someone you already care a lot about, telling them feels dangerous. Because you're afraid of ruining what you already have, you're afraid of ruining the friendship. You're afraid that as soon as they know, they won't see you the same way — that they'll be uncomfortable, even if they don't want to be," Jungkook explains, watching Hoseok's expression for any flicker of familiarity. "Because maybe it's okay if they don't like you back that way, but losing them entirely... that feels too painful to even consider."
His gaze grows briefly unfocused as Jungkook tilts his head in reflection. "Sometimes I don't even know how I managed to get the words out in front of Yoongi. I was so afraid, hyung. If it weren't for how sad he looked..."