The sound of the office door clicking shut echoed through the otherwise quiet hallway of Kim Corporations. Jungkook stood there, his fingers still gripping the handle, his mind in chaos. He had thought he could just walk away from it allâleave this painful, complicated situation behind. But with each step he took, every moment spent in Taehyung's presence, his heart pulled him in two different directions.
Jungkook (muttering to himself, as his eyes lingered on the door to Taehyung's office): "I don't belong here. I never did."
He had made up his mind after the bombshell confession at the party. He couldn't work for Taehyungâno matter how much he had missed him, no matter how badly his heart yearned for the man he had once loved. How could he continue working in the same space as the man who had abandoned him? How could he serve as his PA when it was clear that Taehyung hadn't remembered a thing?
But as Jungkook turned to leave, a voiceâfamiliar, comforting, and yet foreign all at onceâstopped him in his tracks.
Taehyung (softly, standing in the doorway): "Jungkook, wait."
Jungkook tensed, his breath catching in his throat. Taehyung was standing there, looking at him with a soft, vulnerable expression. His eyes were filled with concern, but there was something else there tooâsomething raw, a deep ache in the way he looked at him.
Jungkook (his voice cold, but trembling): "What do you want, Taehyung?"
The weight of the words hit both of them like a freight train. Taehyung flinched, stepping forward cautiously. His heart ached at the distance between them, at the bitterness in Jungkook's voice. But he knew that it was his own fault. He had no right to expect forgiveness, no right to expect anything.
Taehyung (softly): "I know you want to leave... but please, don't. Not yet."
Jungkook's hands clenched into fists. The pain in his chest was unbearable. How could he stay? How could he continue working for a man who didn't even remember him? A man who had left him and their daughter to fend for themselves all those years ago?
Jungkook (his voice breaking, his fists trembling): "Why? Why should I stay, Taehyung? You left me, you left us. And now you don't even remember, do you? All the promises, all the love we shared... gone. You don't even know who I am. How can I continue working for you, living like this?"
Taehyung's face crumpled at the pain in Jungkook's words. It was like a punch to his gut. He stepped closer, his voice shaky with desperation.
Taehyung (pleading, voice cracking): "I never wanted to leave you, Jungkook. I never wanted to forget. But... you have to understand... I lost everything. My memories, my past... all of it. I didn't choose this. I didn't choose to hurt you. And I swear to you, I will do everything to make up for it."
Jungkook's heart twisted, and for a moment, his resolve wavered. Taehyung sounded so sincere, but could he truly believe him? Could he truly forgive him after all that had happened?
Before he could answer, there was a soft knock at the door, and it opened to reveal Taehyung's mother, her face etched with concern.
Taehyung's Mother (gently, stepping inside): "I think it's time we talked, Jungkook."
Jungkook looked at her, confused. Why was she here? What more was there to say?
Taehyung's mother glanced at her son, then back at Jungkook, her gaze soft but firm. She had known this day would comeâthe day when Jungkook would demand answers, when the truth would finally come to light. She had seen her son's struggle, and she had witnessed Jungkook's pain. Now it was time to share the truth with him, to help him understand everything.
Taehyung's Mother (calmly, taking a seat): "Jungkook, I know you're angry. I know you're hurt. But there's something you need to understand. The accident Taehyung was inâit wasn't just physical. It was... it was a traumatic brain injury. The doctors told us that his memory loss wasn't just temporaryâit was a deep, irreversible part of who he is now. If we had pushed him to remember, it could have caused him to fall into a coma. That's why we kept everything from him. We thought it was for the best."
Jungkook felt like the floor was falling out from beneath him. His entire world tilted, his mind spinning as he tried to process her words. He stared at Taehyung, who looked broken, as if the weight of this revelation was too much for him to bear.
Jungkook (his voice shaking): "So you... you kept him from me? You kept him from his own daughter?"
Taehyung's mother nodded slowly, guilt etched on her face. "We thought we were protecting him, but we were wrong. We should have told him everything. We should have let him remember."
Jungkook took a step back, his chest tight as the truth sank in. He had been so angry, so hurt. But now, he realized that much of his pain had been born from misunderstandingsâthings that were out of his control. He had blamed Taehyung for abandoning him, for leaving him to raise their daughter alone. But it wasn't Taehyung's choice. It wasn't his fault.
Jungkook (his voice softer, almost broken): "I never knew. I never knew it was like that. I thought... I thought you just didn't care. I thought you didn't want me."
Taehyung reached out, his voice cracking with emotion. "It has always been you Jungkook. Back then when I knew you and now even when I don't remember anythign. I...I love you."
Jungkook's heart fluttered at the words, but the pain and the anger still lingered in his chest. He had spent so many years blaming Taehyung, not understanding that so much of it had been out of his control. But could he truly forgive him? Could he let go of all the hurt and the resentment?
Jungkook (voice trembling, but filled with uncertainty): "I have always loved you Taehyung but right now everything is messed up. I've been alone for so long. So please bear with me so that till I make myself strong enough to trust you and love you once again"
Taehyung (desperation creeping into his voice): "I don't want you to forget, Jungkook. I don't want you to forget anything. I just want a chance to make things rightâto fix what I broke. Please, let me try."
Jungkook was silent for a long moment, his heart torn. He looked at Taehyung, the man who had once been his everything, the man who had shattered his world.
Jungkook (his voice barely a whisper): "I don't know if I can bear another heartbreak... but I'll try. For Hani's sake... and maybe for us too."
Taehyung's face softened, tears glistening in his eyes as he reached out, his hands trembling as he cupped Jungkook's face. "Thank you, Jungkook. I promise youâthis time, I won't let you go."
Jungkook closed his eyes, his heart beating faster as he allowed himself to feel a glimmer of hope. He had spent so long hiding from the past, from the pain, but now, for the first time, he felt like he could take a step forward.