Chapter 17

The sun had barely begun to set, casting a warm orange glow across the city as Taehyung and Jungkook sat in a quiet café, the hum of conversation surrounding them. It had become their usual spot, a place where they could find solace in each other’s company without the chaos of the outside world. The tension from earlier in the day seemed to have faded, replaced by a soft sense of peace.

Jungkook stirred his coffee, his eyes flicking to Taehyung every now and then, though he remained quiet. He hadn’t said much since they left Soojin behind at the park, but Taehyung could feel the underlying question lingering in the air, waiting to be asked.

Finally, Jungkook broke the silence. “Taehyung,” he began, his voice quiet but serious. “Do you ever regret it? The choices we’ve made... the things we’ve been through?”

Taehyung’s gaze softened as he looked at him, taking in the vulnerability in Jungkook’s eyes. It was rare for him to voice such doubts, and it made Taehyung pause, his thoughts swirling.

“Regret?” Taehyung echoed, his tone thoughtful. He leaned back in his chair, taking a moment to choose his words carefully. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes. We both have. But... do I regret you? Us?”

He shook his head, a small smile pulling at his lips. “No. Not for a second. Even if it was difficult, even if it hurt... I wouldn’t change it.”

Jungkook’s brow furrowed slightly, as if he was trying to process Taehyung’s words. “But it wasn’t easy. You had to fight so many battles, not just with Soojin, but with yourself. I don’t want to be the cause of more pain for you.”

Taehyung’s heart clenched, and he reached across the table, placing his hand over Jungkook’s. “You’re not the cause of pain, Kook. You’re the one who made all of this worth it. I know I’ve been messed up, and I’ve hurt you too. But I swear, you are the one good thing I’ve held on to. I don’t regret any of it, because it led me here—with you.”

Jungkook’s expression softened, and for a moment, he simply stared at Taehyung, his hand still enveloped in his. There was a quiet understanding between them, a shared acknowledgment of the past they both carried. But in that moment, it didn’t feel like a burden. It felt like the foundation of something stronger, something worth fighting for.

Taehyung leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm. “We’ve come this far, Kook. And we’ll keep going. No matter what’s ahead. I’m not running away. Not from you, and not from us.”

Jungkook swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. The weight of Taehyung’s words settled deep inside him, stirring something powerful within him that he hadn’t realized had been lingering, waiting to be acknowledged. It was love—raw and undeniable.

“I believe you,” Jungkook said softly, a quiet but genuine smile spreading across his face. “I’ve always believed you.”

The tension that had once existed between them felt like it had dissolved completely. All the misunderstandings, the fights, the painful silences—they seemed like distant memories, fading in the warmth of the present. For the first time in what felt like forever, they were truly in sync, connected not by the chaos of their lives, but by the quiet certainty of what they had.

“I want to build something with you,” Jungkook added, his voice firm, though the vulnerability still lingered in his gaze. “Something real. Something we don’t have to keep running from.”

Taehyung smiled, his heart swelling with something he couldn’t quite describe. “I do too,” he murmured. “We will. Together.”

There was a long moment of silence between them, but it wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable, full of understanding. It was the kind of silence that spoke volumes, filled with shared promises and unspoken dreams.

The waiter came by, bringing them another round of drinks, but neither of them really paid attention. They didn’t need distractions, not when they were in this moment together. They didn’t need anything other than each other.

Jungkook leaned in, his forehead brushing gently against Taehyung’s. It was a simple gesture, but it held so much weight—so much meaning. In that quiet moment, everything that had been broken between them seemed to heal.

“I love you, Tae,” Jungkook whispered, his voice barely audible, but the sincerity in it was unmistakable.

Taehyung’s breath caught in his throat, his heart thundering in his chest. The words he had longed to hear for so long were finally spoken, and all the walls he had built around himself seemed to crumble in an instant.

“I love you too, Kook,” Taehyung replied, his voice full of emotion. He pulled Jungkook into his arms, holding him close, as if to say everything that words could not.

In the quiet of the café, surrounded by the world they had been running from for so long, they finally found peace.

For the first time in their lives, they were exactly where they were meant to be—together, and ready to face whatever came next.