A Match Made in Hell | Jinkook

Forty-Three

Congratulations to Seokjin for reaching #1 on Global Spotify! So well deserved, especially after all the endless hardwork he has been doing. I was so happy seeing his success that it actually motivated me to do an update. 

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Jin gave himself a final once-over in the full-length mirror and allowed a small, satisfied smile to curl his lips. It had only been six weeks since he gave birth, yet he was genuinely pleased with how well his body was already beginning to return to form. The progress was encouraging, a physical reflection of the strength he had to summon not long ago. Even more gratifying was that he could finally shop for clothes that suited his style—something he hadn't had the energy or desire to do in what felt like ages.

Ever since moving to the U.S., Jin had largely withdrawn from the world around him. Between isolation and the reality of being pregnant twice over two rough years, he hadn't cared to explore new places or engage in much of anything. And understandably so, considering he had spent that time pregnant and fighting to survive life with someone he now thought of only as the devil himself.

But the past two weeks had been different. Subtle, yet powerfully so. A shift had happened, lifting a fog he hadn't fully realized had settled over him. He'd started working out again, reclaiming his physical and emotional strength. Most surprising of all, he hadn't been hit hard by postpartum depression, something he had dealt with in the past. This time, it hadn't come, and he was cautiously optimistic that it might stay that way.

Having two nannies around has made a world of difference, far more than Jin had anticipated. In fact, he now regretted not hiring them sooner. The additional support was not just convenient; it was transformative. Jin recognized it as one of the most meaningful forms of help he had ever received. With the pressure eased, he found himself with the time and energy to truly bond with his newborn, an experience he wholeheartedly embraced for the first time.

It wasn't until Seon was born that he became fully aware of just how differently he had approached parenting in the past. Reflecting on those early years with his older children, he saw now that much of what he had done came from a sense of duty. A responsibility he felt he had to fulfill, but never something that had truly come from the heart. He had gone through the motions because he was supposed to, not necessarily because he felt deeply connected in those moments.

But with Seon, everything had changed. There was a genuine tenderness, an eagerness that surprised even him. He looked forward to every waking moment with his son, finding joy in the quiet simplicity of feeding, holding, and watching him. Each coo and tiny gesture felt like a gift, and he enjoyed the chance to care for him in an emotionally alive and intentional way.

That emotional shift extended beyond just Seon. Jin also noticed a change in how he related to his other children. He found himself craving quality time with them, real, uninterrupted moments where he could simply enjoy their presence. With their endless curiosity and chaotic energy, the twins brought a smile to his face as they chased each other from room to room, learning, laughing, and growing right before his eyes.

With Hyunjae, his oldest, Jin had developed a deeper sense of patience. He was no longer as quick to control or hover and had even become comfortable allowing Hyunjae to spend more time with Jungkook without feeling the need to insert himself into every activity or moment they shared. It was a relief and more than that; it was healing.

He couldn't deny that therapy had likely played a key role in bringing him to this point. Though he might not have been fully ready to admit just how much it helped, he knew it had made a huge impact deep down. Therapy had quietly rewired how he processed his emotions and how he viewed the rhythms of everyday life. It didn't solve everything, but it gave him tools, tools he had finally started using, and that had made all the difference.