chapter one - the proposal
pairings: jeon jungkook + reader genre ▸ romance [mature content in future chapters] synopsis: Y/N, a 28-year-old dreamer whose plans for marriage and motherhood crumbled when her fiancé, Jae-on, decided to "see other people," leaving her adrift in a sea of unfulfilled expectations. Just as she’s about to face the cringe of attending his baby shower with his new girlfriend, her best friend Jungkook swoops in with a wild idea; why not embark on a platonic co-parenting adventure together?
Jungkook’s place felt like a second home to you. There was something about the way the late afternoon light filtered through his sheer curtains, casting a soft, golden glow across the room, that always made you feel… safe. His apartment wasn’t anything fancy, just a cozy, lived-in space, but it was warm, inviting—everything you needed right now. You sank deeper into the couch, clutching the throw pillow to your chest, feeling its familiar softness as you stared absently at the half-finished jigsaw puzzle on his coffee table. There were still pieces scattered everywhere, a mess that neither of you seemed too bothered to clean up. It was one of those things you’d start but never quite finish—like most of your plans lately.
The sound of clinking dishes came from the kitchen as Jungkook rummaged through his cabinets. "Tea or coffee?" he called, breaking the comfortable silence.
"Tea," you answered, your voice quieter than you meant it to be. You rubbed your forehead, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on you all over again.
You heard him chuckle softly. "You okay in there? You’ve been weirdly quiet since you got here."
Was it okay? Not really. But you didn’t want to say that out loud just yet. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just... thinking."
"Thinking doesn’t look good on you," he teased as he stepped back into the living room, carrying two steaming mugs. He handed you one, sitting down next to you on the couch, close enough that his shoulder brushed yours. "Talk to me."
You took the mug from him, warming your hands on the ceramic before exhaling a long sigh. "It’s Jae-on."
There it was. His name, still bitter on your tongue, even after all this time. It had been over a year since Jae-on called off the engagement. A year and a half, actually, but who was counting? You, apparently. You hated that you were still thinking about him, that he still had some kind of hold over you, even though you both moved on.
Jungkook gave you a knowing look, resting his arm on the back of the couch as he turned slightly to face you. "What’s he done now?"
You hesitated, feeling the familiar knot of frustration and resentment tightening in your chest. "He’s... getting married."
Jungkook didn’t blink. "I see." His voice was calm, measured, like he was processing it carefully.
"And not just that," you continued, your fingers tightening around the mug. "They’re having a baby. Jae-on and Garam."
You said her name like it was a bad word, which, in your mind, it was. Garam. The girl from high school who always seemed to have her life together, who always got what she wanted, and apparently now, that included your ex-fiancé.
Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "Yu Garam? The one who used to follow you around like a puppy?"
"The very one." You groaned, sinking further into the couch. "Can you believe it? They’re throwing a baby shower, and guess who’s invited."
His expression softened, a flicker of understanding crossing his face. "You don’t have to go, you know."
"I know." You stared down into your tea, swirling it absently. "But part of me feels like... I should. Like I have something to prove."
"To Jae-on?"
"To myself, I guess." The words came out slower than you expected, as if you were admitting it for the first time. "I thought I’d have it all by now, you know? The husband, the kids, the house with the white picket fence. And instead, I’m sitting here... single. Childless. Invited to my ex’s baby shower." You let out a humorless laugh. "It’s ridiculous."
Jungkook was quiet for a moment, just watching you. His presence, as always, was steady, grounding. "It’s not ridiculous, Y/N. You had a plan. It just... didn’t go the way you thought."
You shook your head. "My plan’s been wrecked, Kook. Nothing’s gone the way I wanted it to."
"That doesn’t mean you can’t still have what you want," he said, his tone thoughtful. There was something about the way he said it, though, that made you glance at him, catching a glint of something unfamiliar in his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
He hesitated, like he was weighing his words carefully. "You want kids, right? You’ve always wanted to be a mom."
"Yeah... obviously." You frowned slightly. "But that’s not happening anytime soon."
"Why not?"
You blinked, unsure where this was going. "Because... I’m single? You kind of need someone to make that happen, Kook."
He shifted on the couch, leaning forward a little, his arm brushing against yours. The closeness felt... different. Warmer. He was looking at you in a way you couldn’t quite place, a softness to his gaze that made your stomach flip.
"You don’t need someone else," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper. "You have me."
You froze, your mind trying to catch up to what he was saying. "Wait... what?"
Jungkook smiled, a small, almost shy smile, which was so unlike him it threw you off balance. "I’m serious. You want a baby, right? Why not do it together?"
You stared at him, your heart suddenly beating louder in your ears. "Together? Like... us?"
"Yeah." His eyes were steady, sincere. "We’ve known each other for years. We’d make great parents. We don’t need to complicate things with romance or any of that. We could just... raise a kid together. Be a family."
For a second, you didn’t know what to say. The idea was... insane. Wasn’t it? And yet, as he sat there, his expression so earnest, so serious, you found yourself... considering it.
"But, Kook," you started, your voice shaky, "this is huge. I mean... having a baby? That’s not something you just... do."
"I know," he said, his voice still soft, his eyes never leaving yours. "But you’re my best friend. I’d be with you every step of the way. You wouldn’t have to do it alone."
Your mind was spinning. This was Jungkook. Your best friend. The one person who had been there for you through everything, and now... he was offering you something you hadn’t even thought was possible. A way to have the family you wanted without waiting for someone else to come along.
But was it really that simple?
Before you could respond, your phone buzzed on the coffee table. You glanced down and saw the email notification. You already knew who it was from.
"Baby shower," you muttered, picking up the phone and showing him the screen. "Jae-on and Yu Garam are sending invites."
Jungkook’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked at the email, then back at you. "Well," he said, his voice lower now, "maybe when we go, we’ll have our own announcement to make."
You blinked, your heart jumping at the sudden shift in his tone. Was he... serious?
"You really mean that?" you whispered, searching his face for any sign that he might be joking.
But his expression was calm, sure, and when he spoke again, his voice was firm. "I’m dead serious, Y/N."
The air between you felt different now—heavier, charged with something you couldn’t quite name. This was Jungkook, your best friend. The person you trusted most in the world. And yet, here you were, teetering on the edge of something that could change everything.
"Think about it," he said softly, leaning just a little closer, his eyes never leaving yours. "It could be exactly what you need."
