The warmth in the living room lingered long after the confessions ended.
The lamps cast soft golden light across the space, and the quiet hum of the city outside blended with the comfortable breathing of seven people slowly relaxing again.
Hoseok still sat on the floor in the center of them all.
And now he realized something.
No one had moved away.
Not even a little.
Jungkook was still behind him, arms loosely wrapped around his waist. Jimin leaned against his side, tracing absentminded circles on Hoseok's sleeve. Taehyung rested his head lazily against Hoseok's shoulder, while Namjoon sat close enough that their knees touched.
Yoongi remained in the chair, but even he had turned slightly toward them.
Jin stood by the counter, watching the entire scene with a thoughtful smile.
Hoseok exhaled softly.
"You're all being suspiciously affectionate."
Taehyung lifted his head just enough to grin.
"You complained about being neglected."
"I did not complain."
Jimin tilted his head.
"You literally questioned your role in the relationship."
Hoseok groaned quietly.
"Okay… fair."
Jungkook tightened his arms slightly around him.
"So we're fixing it."
Namjoon chuckled softly.
"I don't think Hobi expected six simultaneous repair attempts."
Yoongi added dryly,
"Statistically overwhelming."
Hoseok laughed despite himself.
"You're all ridiculous."
Jin walked over and dropped onto the couch.
"Ridiculous but correct."
Then he pointed at Hoseok.
"You deserve attention."
Taehyung suddenly narrowed his eyes at Jungkook.
"Actually…"
Jungkook blinked.
"What?"
Taehyung poked his arm.
"You've been hugging him the longest."
Jungkook smirked.
"So?"
Jimin gasped dramatically.
"That's unfair!"
Hoseok looked between them.
"Oh no."
Namjoon chuckled.
"The omegas are getting competitive."
Yoongi sighed.
"This should be interesting."
Taehyung grabbed Hoseok's arm and pulled him slightly closer.
"We were comforting him first."
Jungkook refused to let go.
"I was comforting him too."
Jimin slid closer to Hoseok's other side.
"But you're hogging him."
Hoseok tried to wiggle free.
"Why am I suddenly a prize?"
Jin leaned back and crossed his arms.
"Because tonight's emotional theme is appreciation."
Taehyung pointed accusingly at Jungkook again.
"And he's monopolizing the appreciation."
Jungkook scoffed.
"You're literally sitting on Hobi."
"That's different."
Hoseok raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
Taehyung paused.
"…it just is."
Jimin laughed.
"You're both ridiculous."
Then he leaned his head on Hoseok's shoulder again.
"And I'm not moving either."
Namjoon rubbed his forehead.
"I feel like this is escalating."
Yoongi nodded calmly.
"It absolutely is."
Hoseok sighed dramatically.
"You're all acting like jealous kittens."
Taehyung immediately protested.
"I am not a kitten."
"You absolutely are," Yoongi replied.
Jungkook chuckled.
"And a dramatic one."
Taehyung pointed at Jungkook again.
"You started it."
Jungkook grinned.
"No regrets."
Meanwhile Hoseok was still trapped in the middle.
He finally laughed and lifted his hands in surrender.
"Okay. I officially have too much attention now."
Jimin shook his head.
"Impossible."
Namjoon leaned forward slightly.
"Actually… I think we've discovered something interesting."
Everyone looked at him.
"What?" Jin asked.
Namjoon smiled faintly.
"Everyone gets a little possessive over Hoseok."
Taehyung crossed his arms.
"Well obviously."
Yoongi added calmly,
"Because he's the emotional center."
Jungkook nudged Hoseok playfully.
"You see what you've done?"
Hoseok groaned.
"I didn't do anything."
"You existed," Jin replied.
"That was enough."
The room filled with laughter again.
But beneath the teasing, something genuine lingered.
They had all realized something tonight.
Hoseok mattered deeply to each of them.
More than any of them had said out loud before.
Jimin suddenly spoke again, quieter this time.
"Actually… there's something else we should talk about."
The energy in the room shifted slightly.
Namjoon nodded.
"The project."
Hoseok sat up straighter.
Right.
That conversation hadn't gone away.
Taehyung sighed.
"I was hoping we'd forget."
Yoongi shook his head.
"Avoidance is not a solution."
Jungkook leaned his chin on Hoseok's shoulder again.
"So… what do we do?"
Namjoon looked down at his hands for a moment.
"The offer is real."
Everyone listened carefully.
"They want me in London for the initial research phase."
Jin frowned slightly.
"How long?"
"Three months minimum."
The room fell quiet again.
Jimin tightened his grip on Hoseok's sleeve.
Taehyung stared at the floor.
Jungkook's arms loosened slightly.
Yoongi watched everyone calmly.
Namjoon continued.
"I haven't accepted yet."
Hoseok glanced at him.
"You want to."
Namjoon nodded slowly.
"Yes."
No one spoke for a few seconds.
Then Jin sighed.
"Well… of course you do."
Namjoon looked surprised.
"You're not angry?"
Jin shook his head.
"No."
Taehyung frowned slightly.
"But it still sucks."
Jimin nodded quietly.
"Yeah."
Yoongi leaned forward slightly.
"But we've been over this."
"Relationships can survive distance."
Jungkook tilted his head.
"Especially if we visit."
Namjoon blinked.
"Visit?"
Jungkook grinned.
"Why not?"
Taehyung's eyes lit up.
"Oh."
Jimin sat up straighter.
"Wait."
Jin laughed suddenly.
"This is turning into vacation planning."
Yoongi shrugged.
"Flights exist."
Namjoon looked around at them, stunned.
"You'd really come see me?"
Taehyung scoffed.
"Obviously."
Jimin nodded.
"We're not letting you escape that easily."
Jungkook smirked.
"You're stuck with us."
Namjoon laughed softly.
"I'm starting to realize that."
Then he turned toward Hoseok.
"What do you think?"
Everyone looked at Hoseok again.
He blinked.
"Why am I the final decision-maker?"
Jin pointed at him again.
"Gravity."
Hoseok rolled his eyes.
"Stop saying that."
Taehyung grinned.
"Never."
Hoseok thought for a moment.
Then he spoke carefully.
"I think you should take the opportunity."
Jimin looked nervous but didn't interrupt this time.
Hoseok continued.
"But only if we promise something."
Namjoon tilted his head.
"What?"
Hoseok looked around the room.
"That we stay connected."
Yoongi nodded immediately.
"That's reasonable."
Jungkook grinned.
"Video calls every night."
Taehyung added,
"And visits."
Jin pointed dramatically again.
"And group vacations."
Jimin smiled softly.
"And constant updates."
Namjoon laughed.
"That sounds intense."
Hoseok shrugged.
"We're seven people in one relationship."
"Intensity is kind of our thing."
Everyone laughed again.
The tension that had filled the apartment earlier finally faded completely.
Namjoon leaned back slightly.
"I think I can accept the project."
Taehyung sighed dramatically.
"But you better miss us."
"I will."
Jimin leaned against Hoseok again.
"And we'll miss you."
Jungkook squeezed Hoseok's waist.
"But at least we still have Hobi."
Taehyung nodded.
"Center of gravity."
Hoseok groaned again.
"If you say that one more time—"
Yoongi smirked.
"Gravity."
Hoseok threw a pillow at him.
The room exploded with laughter again.
Seven people.
Seven hearts.
And despite distance, misunderstandings, and insecurities…
They always found their way back to each other.
Because no matter how chaotic things became…
Their gravity always pulled them together.