Chapter 16

The morning air was crisp, and Taehyung found himself lost in thought as he walked through the park. He hadn’t had a chance to process everything yet. The weight of the past few days, the confrontations, the hurt, and the fragile thread of hope that now bound him and Jungkook together—it all felt overwhelming. But today was different. There was a lightness in the air that he couldn’t ignore, as though the world was slowly shifting, and things were finally beginning to settle.

Jungkook was walking beside him, his hand brushing against Taehyung’s as they strolled in comfortable silence. The quiet wasn’t uncomfortable anymore; it felt like a space where they could simply be, without the pressure of unspoken words or unresolved tension.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said last night,” Jungkook said, breaking the silence. His voice was soft but steady, a calmness settling between them. “About taking it one step at a time.”

Taehyung glanced at him, his gaze searching his face for any sign of hesitation, but there was none. Jungkook’s expression was open, vulnerable, but determined.

“I meant it,” Taehyung said softly, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I don’t know where we’re going, but I want to go there with you. One step at a time.”

Jungkook’s smile mirrored his. “That’s all I need, Tae. I just need to know we’re in this together.”

They walked in silence for a few moments, their hands now fully intertwined. Taehyung’s heart was lighter than it had been in days, his thoughts less clouded with doubt. Maybe it wasn’t about having everything figured out. Maybe it was about taking each step, no matter how uncertain, and trusting the person beside you to catch you if you fell.

As they neared the edge of the park, Taehyung noticed a familiar face across the street. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Soojin standing there, staring across the park with an unreadable expression on her face.

Jungkook noticed Taehyung’s change in demeanor and followed his gaze. “What is it?” he asked, his voice low and cautious.

“It’s Soojin,” Taehyung muttered, his body tensing instinctively. He could feel the old anger bubbling to the surface, but he fought it back. There was no need to let her have any more power over him. Not now.

Jungkook’s eyes hardened slightly at the mention of her name. “What’s she doing here?”

Taehyung shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “I don’t know. But she’s not the issue anymore, right? It’s just us. We’ve been through too much to let her take any more from us.”

Jungkook’s grip on Taehyung’s hand tightened, a subtle show of solidarity. “You’re right. She’s not worth it. Let’s just keep walking.”

They continued forward, ignoring Soojin as they made their way down the path. Taehyung could feel her gaze on them, but he refused to look back. She didn’t control him anymore. They didn’t owe her any more energy.

As they passed her, Taehyung heard Soojin’s voice calling out to them. “Taehyung,” she said, her voice sharp and cold. “Jungkook.”

Taehyung stopped in his tracks for a moment, but Jungkook squeezed his hand, pulling him forward. He didn’t need to engage with her. She was a part of their past, not their future.

“Taehyung,” Soojin persisted, her tone now tinged with frustration. “I need to talk to you. It’s about the business. You know how things are going with the merger. We need to handle it together.”

Taehyung stopped, turning slowly to face her. His expression was unreadable. “I’m done with the business,” he said firmly, his voice steady. “And I’m done with you. We don’t have anything left to talk about.”

Soojin’s eyes flickered with something—surprise, anger, maybe even a touch of regret. But it was quickly masked by her usual cold demeanor. “You think you can just walk away from everything?” she asked, her voice rising. “From all the work we did? From all the sacrifices?”

Taehyung shook his head. “I don’t need you to remind me of the sacrifices, Soojin. I know what I’ve given. And I know what I’m walking away from. You’ve had enough of my life. I’m done.”

Jungkook stepped forward, placing a protective hand on Taehyung’s shoulder. “We’re done, Soojin. You don’t have a hold over us anymore.”

Soojin’s eyes narrowed, her gaze shifting between them. She opened her mouth, as if to say something more, but then closed it, swallowing her words. There was no more fight left in her. The truth had been laid bare, and she knew she had no more power to manipulate or control.

“Fine,” she said bitterly, her voice dripping with venom. “But don’t come crawling back when things fall apart.”

Taehyung stared at her for a moment, but Jungkook pulled him gently by the hand. “We won’t,” Taehyung said, his voice soft but resolute. “Goodbye, Soojin.”

With that, they turned and walked away, leaving Soojin standing there, alone. For the first time in a long while, Taehyung didn’t feel the weight of her presence. She was a ghost from the past, and she was no longer a part of their future.

Jungkook squeezed his hand once more, his touch grounding him. “We did it. She’s gone. For good.”

Taehyung’s lips curved into a small smile. “Yeah, we did.”

As they continued their walk, the weight that had been hanging over them for so long felt like it had finally been lifted. They had faced their past, confronted their fears, and emerged stronger for it. The future was still uncertain, but now it felt like something they could face together.

For the first time in a long time, Taehyung felt like he could finally breathe.