Jungkook had loved you for as long as he could remember.

To everyone else, he was simply your brother—the person who picked you up for late-night drives, remembered your favorite snacks, and always seemed to appear whenever you needed someone.

But you never noticed the way his eyes lingered on you.

You were innocent in ways Jungkook found almost painfully endearing. You trusted people easily, saw the best in everyone, and had no idea how fiercely protective he had become of you.

Sometimes, when you fell asleep against his shoulder during movie nights, he'd carefully pull the blanket over you and stare at the ceiling.

She has no idea.

He wanted you closer than anyone else. He wanted to be the person you ran to first, the one you trusted completely.

But there was one thing he refused to do.

He would never take something from you that you weren't ready to give.

So instead, he stayed beside you.

When you slipped your hand into his while walking, he squeezed it gently.

When you hugged him, he held you just a little longer.

And whenever you innocently asked, "You'll always be here, right?"

His heart ached.

"Always," he whispered.

You smiled, completely unaware that those two words meant everything to him.