Jungkook has never let himself think of escaping before. Not in any serious way, at least. There's a difference between knowing that he'd be free after graduation, understanding that he'd finally have space with which to breathe and fully grow into himself, and actually escaping. Running away before his time. He's never let himself explore the possibility, always figuring that it would be too much for his mother, or that he'd always end up needing to come back, not having any support system to catch him elsewhere.

With Yoongi, the calculus changes. He's sure that they'd be able to make it, that being together is enough of a motivator to fight through everything else. And slowly, Jungkook lets himself start to imagine what it might be like to shake off those burdens early — not to constantly be looking over his shoulder for his father or brother.

A part of him already aches for it.

"I love you," he echoes, leaning into the kiss. All of the worries from earlier have receded somewhat in Yoongi's presence. "You're everything to me."