The faint hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in Taehyung's apartment as he sat on the couch, staring at his phone screen. His call history was filled with Jungkook's name—call after call, unanswered. The emptiness felt heavier than it ever had before.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands gripping his phone tightly. His mind replayed the moments he'd spent with Jungkook—the laughter, the shared glances, the quiet moments when the world seemed to disappear around them.
But now, those memories were a cruel reminder of what he had done.
Taehyung let out a long, shaky breath, dropping his phone onto the coffee table. "I ruined everything," he murmured to himself.
Namjoon walked into the room, pausing when he saw the defeated look on Taehyung's face. He sat down beside him, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.
"You've been like this for days," Namjoon finally said, his voice gentle. "Talk to me, Tae."
Taehyung shook his head, his eyes fixed on the floor. "I don't even know where to start, hyung. I… I messed up so badly."
"Start wherever it hurts the most," Namjoon replied softly.
Taehyung's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. "It's not just that I hurt him. It's that I lied to him. I played with his heart, and for what? A stupid game? I thought I was in control, but I wasn't. Jungkook—he's different. He's not like anyone else, and I… I fell for him."
Namjoon listened quietly, his eyes full of sympathy.
Taehyung's voice dropped to a whisper. "And now, I've lost him. He's gone, and I don't even know where he is."
Namjoon reached over, placing a hand on Taehyung's shoulder. "You know, Tae, guilt is a heavy thing to carry. But it's also a sign that you care. If you didn't feel this way, I'd be worried."
Taehyung looked up at him, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "What do I do, hyung? How do I even begin to make this right?"
Namjoon sighed. "Start by being honest—with yourself, with him. You can't undo what's already been done, but you can show him that you're willing to change. That you're willing to fight for him."
"But what if he never forgives me?" Taehyung asked, his voice barely audible.
"Then at least you'll know you tried," Namjoon said. "And maybe that's enough."
At the same time, Jimin sat on the school rooftop, staring out at the horizon. The cool breeze played with his hair as he mulled over his growing feelings.
He thought about Jungkook, about the time they'd spent together over the past weeks. He cared deeply for him—there was no doubt about that. But then there was Yoongi, who had been persistent and kind in ways Jimin hadn't expected.
"Why does this have to be so complicated?" Jimin muttered to himself.
"Talking to yourself now?" Jin's teasing voice broke through his thoughts.
Jimin turned to see Jin approaching with his usual easygoing smile. "Hyung…"
"Let me guess," Jin said, sitting beside him. "It's about Jungkook and Yoongi, isn't it?"
Jimin's eyes widened. "How did you—"
"Because it's written all over your face," Jin said, cutting him off. "You've got that 'torn between two people' look."
Jimin groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I don't know what to do, hyung. I care about Jungkook, but with Yoongi… it's different. And I don't know if it's real or if I'm just confused."
Jin patted Jimin's shoulder. "Feelings are messy, Jimin. But sometimes, the best thing you can do is take a step back and figure out what your heart really wants. No one can decide that for you."
Jungkook sat at the dining table in the Jeon clan's staycation house, his textbooks spread out before him. The sunlight streaming through the window warmed the room, but it did little to ease the cold ache in his chest.
He flipped through the pages absently, his mind wandering to Taehyung. Despite everything, he couldn't stop thinking about him—the way he laughed, the way he cared in the small moments, the way he made Jungkook feel alive.
But then the betrayal would creep back in, and the pain would resurface, sharp and unrelenting.
Jimin walked into the room, carrying a tray of snacks. "Hey, Kook," he said softly, setting the tray down.
Jungkook looked up, offering a small smile. "Thanks, hyung."
Jimin sat across from him, watching as Jungkook tried to focus on his work. "You don't have to do this alone, you know," he said gently.
"I know," Jungkook replied. "But… it's hard. Being here, away from everyone. Away from him."
Jimin hesitated before reaching across the table, placing a hand over Jungkook's. "It'll get better, Kook. I promise."
Meanwhile, Taehyung was pacing outside Jungkook's apartment building, his heart pounding with desperation. He had knocked on the door multiple times, but there was no answer.
He had asked everyone he could think of—Hoseok, Jimin, even their classmates—but no one seemed willing to tell him where Jungkook was.
Frustrated, he pulled out his phone and dialed his father's number.
"Father," he said as soon as the call connected, "I need to know—who am I supposed to marry in the Jeon clan?"
His father's response was vague, as always. "It's still being finalized. Why are you so concerned?"
Taehyung sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No reason," he muttered before ending the call.
As he leaned against the wall, he whispered to himself, "Jungkook… where are you?"
While Taehyung standing in the empty hallway, his head bowed in defeat, while Jungkook sits at his desk miles away, staring at his textbooks with a heavy heart.