44

Jungkook

The next morning was filled with tension and anxiety, my stomach twisted in a tight knot and my heart was constantly aching. Stepping out of our bedroom, I saw Seokjin walking around the corner.

His steps faltered at the sight of me, giving me a nod, he walked closer. "You should have let Taehyung explain," he stated curtly without any greeting. "I heard what I needed to know. Nothing he would say can change the truth," I replied, holding his cold eyes, and they burned into mine.

He shook his head. "And that's where you are wrong. Let him explain, you'll understand."

"He hurt me," I whispered.

Seokjin's eyes softened and he took a step closer until we were only inches apart. "He is a confused man but he cares about you... deeply."

"If he cared, he wouldn't have touched Jeongyeon."

My voice was barely a whisper as Seokjin's words registered in my mind.

I wanted so badly to believe him.

Taehyung cared.

I knew that.

I saw it in his eyes.

But his betrayal still left a gaping hole in me.

Seokjin's hand came up to my face and pressed his thumb lightly over my cheek, brushing away the single drop of tear that had escaped.

I looked up and saw him glancing briefly over my head.

Something flashed in his eyes, it was so quick I didn't have a chance to catch it.

And then everything happened so fast.

One minute, Seokjin was standing in front of me, comforting me in some way, and the next his lips were on mine.

I blinked rapidly and let out a gasp, my hands going to his chest.

He didn't kiss me, his lips were just there, pressing into mine gently and almost feather-light.

When I heard a roar from behind me, I flinched and quickly pulled away, Seokjin released me without any struggle.

It was almost a blur, Seokjin was ripped away and violently slammed against the wall.

Taehyung held him tight against the wall and landed a few punches into his handsome face.

"No," I squeaked, my hands going to my mouth in shock. "Stop!" I yelled.

Taehyung's face was filled with murderous intent, Seokjin punched him back but it only pissed him off.

"If you fucking touch him again, I will kill you," he growled onto Seokjin's face.

I tried to pull Taehyung off Seokjin, he was unmovable. Holding his arm, I pulled hard, finally bringing his attention to me. Taehyung glanced down, his glare intense and fierce.

"Stop! Let him go, Taehyung!"

I felt his tense muscles relax under my fingers, that was when I noticed my hand on his back, and without thinking, I was rubbing his shoulders, almost soothingly. Quickly removing my hand, I took a step back, and he pushed himself away from Seokjin.

Taehyung tried to wrap his arms around me but I skirted around him, moving away from his touch.

"What is wrong with you?" Without waiting for his answer, I turned to Seokjin. "And you? Don't ever do that again." Glancing at Taehyung, I continued. "Don't lower yourself to his level. You are better than that," I said, my words meant for Seokjin.

I watched Taehyung flinch at my words, hurt flashing in his eyes.

I wanted him to hurt.

I wanted him to feel what I was feeling.

Giving the man who held my heart in the palm of his hands a final glance, I walked away.

I heard him call my name, but I kept walking.

I needed Jimin.

Making my way to the kitchen, I found it empty. It was still early in the morning and he probably wasn't even awake yet.

Walking back upstairs, I knew where his room was. I heard a sleepy reply when the door opened to reveal a half-asleep Jimin.

"Jungkook?" His eyes widened and quickly grabbed my hand, pulling me to the bed. "Is everything okay? I heard yelling."

"No... Nothing is okay, Jimin."

"What's wrong babe?" He asked, his voice rising with alarm.

Taking a deep breath, I let everything out. Jimin's eyes glittered with anger at my words and finally, he let out a tired sigh when I finished. He placed a comforting hand over my knee.

"This is a mess." I agreed. "Why didn't you let him explain?"

Looking down at my lap, I murmured, "I don't know, Jimin. I was just so angry and hurt. And if I had let him explain, I would have probably believed anything he would have said."

"I can't believe he would do something like that," Jimin grumbled. "What are you going to do now?"

I closed my eyes with a sigh. "I don't know..."

I didn't know how to feel.

I was just going to retreat and lick my wounds, needing time to think and understand.

I needed to be away from Taehyung or until this pain disappeared and I could breathe normally again, without it feeling like my chest was being squeezed tightly.

***

I was sitting on my bed when I heard a knock on the door. "Come in," I called out, placing my book down.

The door opened, and Seokjin walked in, holding a tray of food. I winced at the sight of him, his handsome face was multiple shades of red and purple. When I raised an eyebrow at him in question, he grumbled something under his breath.

"What is this?" I asked as he placed the tray on the nightstand and sat down on the bed beside me.

"I brought dinner. I heard Jimin say you didn't eat anything since this morning," he replied briskly.

"Oh." I looked at him again. "Thank you."

"Did you talk to Taehyung?"

My shoulders went rigid at his name, we hadn't seen each other since this morning when he fought with Seokjin. It wasn't because of his lack of effort, Taehyung had tried to talk to me on numerous occasions, but I walked away every time.

Taking the book in my hands again, I stared at the pages but couldn't bring myself to read. "No. I haven't talked to him,"

My concentration was elsewhere.

Seokjin and I were both silent for a few minutes. "About this morning, I apologize."

Glancing up at him, I waited for him to continue.

He was staring at the wall, and I saw his lips lift in a small smirk. "Scratch that. I'm not apologizing for kissing you." He turned toward me before

continuing. "I never apologize for kissing a pretty boy." I mentally scoffed and looked down at the book again. "But I had my reasons for doing what I did, I needed to get my point across."

Curious about where he was going with this, I glanced up this time giving him my full attention.

"To you, I needed you to see his reaction. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have reacted the way he did. He doesn't give a shit if I fuck around with the others he slept with. But you… only you, Jungkook, can get 'that' type of reaction out of him." My stomach warmed at his words. "And it was barely even a kiss. He cares deeply, Jungkook." My fingers tightened around the edge of my book as he continued. "And to him. He is a stubborn son of a bitch. He needed to come to his senses, and that was the perfect way to do it."

I felt my heart wrench, and my eyes stung with unshed tears. Blinking them away, I refused to cry again. When I didn't answer, he got up and gave me a nod before walking away. As he neared the door, I called out, halting his movement. My gaze moved to the tray on my nightstand. Keeping my

eyes on it, I asked the question that I already knew the answer to.

"It was Taehyung who sent you here, right?"

I saw Seokjin turning around from the corner of my eyes. "Taehyung knew you haven't eaten, he was bringing the tray to you then realized he wouldn't be welcomed. He didn't want to cause you any more pain."

His words made my heartache, a sense of guilt overcame me, I quickly pushed it away. One thing I knew for sure was Taehyung didn't eat, either.

"Can you please make sure he eats?" I asked softly. Seokjin sighed and then nodded before leaving the room.

As soon as the door was closed, I pushed my book away and laid down on my back, staring at the ceiling thoughtfully.

Maybe I was being too stubborn, it had come to a point where I didn't know how to face him.

All my life I never had a choice. Whatever was done to me, I had to accept it without any complaints. I didn't want Taehyung to think that everything was acceptable, because it wasn't. I had a choice now.

I didn't know how long I laid there, lost in my thoughts and when I checked the time, it was almost ten - This was our time.

Just us.

Taehyung would be waiting for me in the piano room.

I wanted to be there, my fingers were itching to play, still, a small nagging part stopped me.