Jeju Island felt quieter than either of them remembered, but the silence didn’t last long once food hit the table.

Inside Kim Taehyung’s rented seaside cottage, the low wooden table was covered in takeout containers: grilled black pork, abalone porridge, spicy seafood stew, and more side dishes than Jeon Jungkook could count.

The ocean roared softly beyond the open window, but the louder sound was Jungkook inhaling his third bite before even finishing the second.

Taehyung stared at him. “Holy shit. Did you eat at all this week?”

Jungkook didn’t look up. “I’m refueling.”

“You’re vacuuming.”

“Shut up and pass the kimchi.”

Taehyung slid the dish over, watching him with amused disbelief. Months after the group disbanded, Jungkook still ate like practice ended five minutes ago.

Taehyung picked up a slice of grilled pork and leaned back against the wall. “Feels weird, doesn’t it? Eating like this without six other people fighting for the last piece.”

Jungkook paused mid-chew. “Yeah.”

Silence hung for a moment, filled only by the bubbling stew.

Then Jungkook nudged the pork plate toward him. “Take it before I finish everything.”

Taehyung smirked. “Look at you, suddenly generous.”

“Don’t make it a big deal.”

They ate for a while, the tension of old memories settling into something softer. The Jeju breeze carried salt and citrus through the room.

Taehyung glanced at the small tripod set near the window. “Jimin’s gonna make us talk about our feelings on camera, you know.”

Jungkook groaned. “He better not.”

“He absolutely will. That’s his whole thing now. Emotional ambush talk show host Park Jimin.”

Jungkook snorted. “I can already hear him. ‘Jungkookie, what do you miss the most?’”

Taehyung pitched his voice higher. “‘Taehyung, when did you realize you loved them?’”

They both burst into laughter.

Jungkook wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I missed this. Just… eating and talking crap.”

Taehyung’s expression softened. “Me too.”

Jungkook met his eyes across the table. The world had changed. Their lives had shifted into unfamiliar shapes. But this moment felt stubbornly the same.

Taehyung pushed the stew closer. “Careful, it’s spicy as hell.”

Jungkook took a sip and immediately coughed. “What the— that’s violent.”

Taehyung laughed, nearly spilling his drink. “I warned you!”

“You’re trying to kill me before Jimin films the vlog.”

“Please. That would ruin his ratings.”

Jungkook shook his head, smiling despite the heat burning his throat. “You’re an asshole.”

“And you love me anyway.”

Jungkook froze for half a second, then reached for more rice. “Eat before it gets cold.”

Taehyung watched him, smiling to himself, and picked up his chopsticks again.

Outside, the ocean rolled against the shore. Inside, the table slowly emptied, their conversation drifting from food to old tour stories to what the hell they were supposed to do next.

The front door suddenly swung open with a burst of sea wind and energy.

“Did you idiots start eating without me?” Park Jimin called out, kicking off his shoes as he stepped inside with a camera bag slung over his shoulder.

Jungkook didn’t even look up. “You said noon. It’s almost one.”