Chapter 14

The day had been long and draining. Taehyung couldn’t shake off the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Even after confronting Soojin and pushing her out of their lives, there was a lingering doubt in his chest. It was as if the final piece of the puzzle hadn’t been set into place yet.

Back at their apartment, Taehyung walked into the living room to find Jungkook sitting on the couch, staring down at his phone, his expression distant. The quiet between them was almost suffocating, and Taehyung couldn’t help but feel a gap starting to form.

He needed answers, he needed clarity. And he couldn’t find it alone.

“Jungkook,” Taehyung said, his voice tentative.

Jungkook looked up, his eyes tired but still holding a sense of warmth. “What’s wrong, Tae?”

Taehyung hesitated before taking a step closer. “I just... I don’t know. I’ve been thinking a lot, and... something feels off.”

Jungkook tilted his head slightly, his gaze searching Taehyung’s face. “What do you mean?”

Taehyung took a deep breath, trying to push away the feeling of uncertainty that was creeping up on him. “Earlier, I saw something. Something that made me feel like I’ve been blind this whole time.”

Jungkook frowned. “What did you see?”

Taehyung clenched his fists. “I saw you and Soojin together. I didn’t mean to. It was a mistake, but the way you looked at her... It made me wonder if maybe I was wrong about everything.”

Jungkook’s face went pale, and Taehyung could see the immediate shock and guilt in his eyes. “Taehyung, I—”

“I don’t know what to believe anymore, Jungkook,” Taehyung interrupted, his voice trembling with frustration. “I thought we were past this. I thought we were moving forward, but now... it feels like we’re still stuck in the past.”

Jungkook stood up, quickly closing the distance between them. He grabbed Taehyung’s shoulders gently, his eyes pleading. “You don’t understand. There’s nothing between Soojin and me. What you saw... was a misunderstanding.”

Taehyung pulled away slightly, his brow furrowed. “Then why did you look at her like that? After everything that’s happened, how can I not question it?”

“I don’t know, Tae,” Jungkook said, his voice raw with emotion. “It’s complicated. I thought I had to handle it. I thought I had to make things right with her, but it wasn’t about us.”

Taehyung could feel the frustration building up, his heart pounding in his chest. He needed to know the truth, but all the explanations only seemed to leave him more confused.

“I don’t want to hear about you and her anymore,” Taehyung snapped, his voice rising. “I just want to know that you’re with me. That I’m not just some placeholder.”

Jungkook’s face faltered for a moment, and Taehyung saw the hurt in his eyes. “Taehyung, you’re not a placeholder. You never were. I’ve chosen you, every time.”

“Then why does it feel like I’m always second place?” Taehyung spat out, frustration taking over his tone.

Jungkook’s face hardened for a moment, and then, with a deep breath, he let go of Taehyung’s shoulders and stepped back. “I don’t know what to say to make you understand, but I swear, I’ve been trying my best.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Taehyung’s chest was tight with the weight of the argument, but deep down, he knew there was more to it than just words. He needed to believe Jungkook. He had to.

“I’m going for a drink,” Taehyung muttered, turning toward the door. His frustration was overwhelming, and he didn’t want to say something he would regret.

Jungkook looked like he was about to say something, but he didn’t. He just stood there, watching as Taehyung walked out.

The night air was cold as Taehyung walked down the street, his mind racing. The city lights seemed blurry, the world around him spinning. He needed to clear his head, and he needed to do it alone.

After a few minutes, he found a bar, the dimly lit interior offering a quiet refuge. Taehyung sat at the counter and ordered a drink, the glass cold against his hand. He didn’t know how long he’d been sitting there when he saw Jungkook enter, his expression tense and full of concern.

Jungkook made his way toward Taehyung, sitting down next to him without saying a word. He didn’t need to.

For a long moment, they sat in silence, each of them nursing their drinks.

Finally, Jungkook spoke. “Tae... I know you’re angry. And I know I messed up. But I need you to trust me. I’ve only ever wanted to be with you.”

Taehyung’s voice was quiet, strained. “It’s not about trust, Jungkook. It’s about understanding. I don’t want to be left in the dark anymore.”

“I get it,” Jungkook replied softly. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to prove it to you.”

Taehyung sighed, his hand gripping his glass tightly. “I don’t know if that’s enough, but... I’ll try to believe you. For us.”

The two of them sat there for a while longer, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air between them. Taehyung wasn’t sure where this would lead, but for the first time in a while, he felt like maybe — just maybe — they had a chance to make things right.

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