Chapter 18

The days following their quiet moment at the café had passed in a blur of relief and joy. Taehyung and Jungkook had finally found a semblance of peace, but as the days stretched on, they both knew that their lives weren’t going to be simple. There was still so much to face, and their pasts weren’t done chasing them.

It was late in the afternoon when Taehyung received the call. His fingers tightened around the phone as his heart skipped a beat at the familiar name on the screen—Soojin.

Jungkook, sitting across from him in the living room, glanced up when he saw the shift in Taehyung’s expression. He knew it wasn’t a good sign. There was something about the way Taehyung’s shoulders tensed, something that told him the storm wasn’t over.

“What is it?” Jungkook asked, his voice laced with concern.

Taehyung didn’t immediately answer. He stood up, walking to the window, his gaze locked on the city below. It felt as though the calm he’d finally embraced had been shattered. The fear of what might come next made him hesitate, but he knew he couldn’t avoid this any longer.

“It’s Soojin,” Taehyung said, his voice low, as though he were trying to absorb the weight of the situation. “She wants to meet.”

Jungkook felt his stomach tighten at the words. He stood up slowly, crossing the room to stand by Taehyung’s side. He didn’t need to ask what this meant. Soojin had a way of pushing herself into their lives, and Taehyung had made it clear he was done with her. Yet, here she was, trying to reopen old wounds.

“What does she want now?” Jungkook asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Taehyung didn’t respond right away. He could feel Jungkook’s anxiety, the unease hanging between them like a heavy cloud. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of Soojin’s intentions. She had already been defeated once, but the idea of her attempting to manipulate them again wasn’t something he could ignore.

“I don’t know,” Taehyung finally said. “But whatever it is, we have to face it together. I’m not letting her tear us apart again.”

Jungkook’s eyes softened, and he nodded. “We’ve come too far. I’m not backing down, Taehyung. Not now.”

Taehyung turned, looking directly into Jungkook’s eyes. There was something about the certainty in Jungkook’s voice that made Taehyung feel stronger. In this battle, they were a team. And they weren’t going to let anyone—especially Soojin—tear them apart.

“I’ll meet her,” Taehyung said, his tone resolute. “But we go on our terms. This ends tonight.”

Later that evening, Taehyung and Jungkook arrived at a secluded park where Soojin had requested to meet. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the world as they stood at the entrance of the park. It was quiet, almost eerie. It felt like a place where past ghosts could return, where unresolved conflicts had a way of reappearing.

They walked deeper into the park, their footsteps synchronized, neither of them speaking, but both of them feeling the weight of the moment. The air felt thick, heavy with the tension of what was about to unfold.

At the far end of the park, Soojin stood by a fountain, her back to them. She looked just as poised and untouchable as ever, but there was something in her stance that seemed different—vulnerable, almost. She turned as she heard their footsteps, her eyes meeting Taehyung’s with an emotion he couldn’t quite place.

“Taehyung,” Soojin said, her voice soft, but there was a hint of bitterness in her tone. “Jungkook. I didn’t expect you both to come.”

“We’re here, Soojin,” Taehyung replied coolly, keeping his distance. His posture was tense, but his voice steady. “What do you want?”

Soojin hesitated, her gaze flicking between the two men. There was a moment of silence before she spoke again, her tone almost pleading. “I know things have been difficult. But... I didn’t mean to hurt you both. I never wanted to cause so much pain.”

Jungkook stepped forward, his voice sharp. “You never wanted to hurt us? That’s a lie, Soojin. You played with our lives, you manipulated everything. Don’t stand here and act like the victim.”

Soojin flinched slightly, her eyes darkening with something—resentment, perhaps, or regret. But she held her ground. “I know I’ve made mistakes. But I was just... trying to hold on. To something that I thought I could have.”

Taehyung’s gaze hardened. “You’re not getting him back, Soojin. He made his choice. And I’m not letting you manipulate him again.”

Soojin’s expression faltered, and for a split second, Taehyung could see the vulnerability beneath the tough exterior. But it was gone in the next moment, replaced by something colder.

“You think you’ve won, don’t you?” Soojin said bitterly. “But I still have power. You may have taken Jungkook away, but I will make sure you don’t get away with this.”

Jungkook’s eyes darkened as he took a step closer, his voice low but filled with resolve. “You don’t scare me anymore, Soojin. You’re a part of my past. And that’s where you stay.”

The air grew tense, the silence stretching as Soojin processed their words. Her gaze flickered between them, her lips trembling slightly as if fighting back tears. But, as quickly as it appeared, her emotion disappeared, and her face hardened.

“Fine,” she said coldly. “But this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her footsteps echoing in the empty park. Taehyung and Jungkook stood there, watching her disappear into the night.

As the sound of her footsteps faded, Taehyung let out a long breath, his body relaxing for the first time since they had arrived.

“Is it really over, Tae?” Jungkook asked softly, his voice almost uncertain.

Taehyung looked at him, his hand finding Jungkook’s. “It’s over for her,” he said firmly. “But we still have our future. And I’m not letting anything or anyone take that from us.”

Jungkook squeezed his hand, his heart swelling with affection. “Together,” he said quietly.

“Always,” Taehyung replied, his voice full of certainty.

And as they walked out of the park, hand in hand, the weight of their past seemed to fade away, leaving nothing but the promise of the future ahead—together.