† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟳 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟳†❝𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗟❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

༺ ☠︎ †  𝖁 𝖎 𝖘 𝖎 𝖔 𝖓  𝖎 𝖓  𝕯 𝖆 𝖗 𝖐  † ☠︎ ༻

The next morning, the air inside the administrative office of the college was still and quiet, the soft ticking of the wall clock filling the silence as Taehyung stood waiting patiently just outside the open door.

He had knocked politely and waited until he was told to come in. With his file in one hand and a calm but slightly tense expression on his face, he stepped inside and stood in front of the man who managed all extracurricular activities in the college–everything from drama to debates, and especially sports.

The man, sitting behind a large wooden desk filled with papers and a cup looked up from the file he was reading.

Seeing Taehyung there, he offered a small nod and gestured for him to speak. "Yes, Taehyung. What brings you here so early? Do you need something for the team or is it about the match arrangements?"

Taehyung took a deep breath before giving a small, polite smile. "Actually, sir... I'm here to submit this." He extended the file gently across the desk.

The manager reached out, took the file, and opened it with a mild look of curiosity. But as his eyes moved across the page and the content of the letter became clear, his expression shifted from neutral to confused, then to almost shocked. "You're leaving the team?" he asked, lifting his eyes to meet Taehyung's.

Taehyung gave a soft nod, his face calm but unreadable. "Yes, sir. I wanted to step down."

There was a long pause. The manager leaned back in his chair, clearly trying to process what he had just read. "But Taehyung... the finals are next week. You're not just any player–you're one of the best we have. You've led the team to the top this year. If you leave now, it's going to shake the whole team. You know that, right?"

Taehyung looked down for a moment, his hands folded in front of him. He wasn't surprised by the reaction. He had expected this. But hearing the words out loud, how important his presence was, only made him feel heavier inside. He slowly nodded again. "I understand, sir. But I'm not in the right condition to continue. I'm not feeling well lately–physically and mentally. I think it's better for the team if I step away rather than be half-hearted on the field."

The manager narrowed his eyes slightly. "You don't look unwell, Taehyung." His tone was just concerned, like someone who cared more than he let on.

Taehyung gave a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Some things don't show on the outside, sir."

He wasn't lying, but he wasn't giving the full truth either.

The real reason had nothing to do with health and everything to do with what had happened with Jungkook and the others.

After the way Jungkook had humiliated Evie in front of him, after the disgusting way things were said, Taehyung found it impossible to stand on the same ground as them anymore.

Just the thought of seeing their faces in practice, pretending like nothing happened, made something inside him churn. He couldn't play beside people who treated others like dirt and still smiled like kings.

But he didn't want to drag all of that out into the open, not here, not now.

The manager studied him for a while longer, as if trying to understand the story behind his words. Eventually, he sighed and closed the file, his fingers tapping the desk softly. "You're a good kid, Taehyung. I've watched you play for years. I hope this isn't a decision you'll regret later."

Taehyung gently shook his head. "I've thought about it, sir. And I'm sure. Please approve my application."

After a moment's hesitation, the manager reached for his pen and signed the bottom of the page with a thoughtful expression. He slid the file back toward Taehyung. "Alright. If this is what you want, then I won't stop you. But you're always welcome back–whenever you're ready."

Taehyung gave a small bow of respect, his voice low and sincere. "Thank you, sir."

As he walked out of the office, the soft thud of the door closing behind him felt light on ease. He had given up something he once loved, something that had been a big part of his identity–not because he had lost interest, but because some things, like self-respect, dignity mattered more.

And then he slipped the file under his arm, walking with calm steps.

⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆𝔙 𝔦 𝔰 𝔦 𝔬 𝔫  𝔦 𝔫  𝔇 𝔞 𝔯 𝔨⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆

It was a slow day on campus, and with the next class still far off, Jungkook and his usual group of friends were lounging outside in their usual spot near the back lawn. The sun was out but not too harsh, and the group had taken over a bench and a patch of grass nearby.

Laughter in the air as they joked around, tossing harmless insults at each other, talking about random things - from who failed the last test to which girl looked the best in the hallway that morning.

Jungkook was stretched out lazily, his hands behind his head, chewing gum, completely relaxed and carefree. He wasn't one to take things too seriously–especially when it came to studies or college rules. For him, it was all about fun, attention, and staying on top.

But the chill atmosphere shifted a little when one of their group members came jogging toward them. He looked slightly out of breath, like he had been hurrying across campus to find them.

"Yo," the guy said, "Manager's calling the whole sports team. Right now."

Jungkook frowned, not even bothering to sit up properly. "Why?" he asked, annoyed already. "What does he want this time?"

The guy shrugged. "Didn't say. Just said it's urgent. Everyone in the team has to be there."

Jungkook groaned, rolling his eyes. "Seriously? Man, I don't wanna go. Probably another round of boring lectures about team discipline or some nonsense." He sat up halfway, shaking his head with frustration. "It's not like they ever call me to congratulate me or anything. Always something negative. Damn teachers."

Still, despite his protests, he stood up, brushing invisible dust off his pants. He didn't want to go, but if the whole team was called, he couldn't skip it. The rest of the group followed behind him, talking amongst themselves, trying to guess what the meeting could be about. None of them had a clue.

When they entered the manager's office, the mood shifted instantly. The room was quiet, serious–even tense. The manager sat behind his desk with a firm expression on his face, and a couple of files lay open in front of him. He looked at all of them one by one before finally speaking.

"I'm going to keep this short," he said. "I call you all to inform you that your team member Taehyung has officially withdrawn from the team."

Everyone froze.

"What?" one of the boys said, blinking like he didn't hear it right.

Jungkook's eyebrows pulled together. He straightened up, his hands dropping from his pockets. "Wait—what  are you talking about? Taehyung left the team?"

The manager nodded. "Yes. He submitted his withdrawal this morning. It's been approved. And since he was one of the main players, unless we find a strong replacement immediately, your team will be disqualified from the finals."

The silence was sharp and uncomfortable. No one had expected this.

Jungkook didn't say anything for a long few seconds. He was too stunned. His jaw clenched, and his mind tried to understand what he just heard.

Taehyung left the team? Just like that?

What the actual fuck.

Sure, they had a fight yesterday. A big one. He had said some really harsh things–mostly out of anger and ego. But in Jungkook's mind, it wasn't something that serious. Not enough to walk away from the team. He figured Taehyung was just pissed and would cool off. That's what usually happened.

But now, knowing Taehyung went and actually left–without even saying a word to any of them–it didn't sit right.

As they walked out of the office, no one spoke for a while.

Jungkook stood in the hallway, just outside the office, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like he might crack a tooth. His arms were crossed, his fingers digging into his skin, and his mind was racing–burning, more like.

Taehyung left the team.

It didn't feel real.

He wasn't just some player–they had trained together, worked hard side by side, fought matches and celebrated wins like brothers. And now, just like that, Taehyung walked away? Over a fight? Over her?

His friends were standing around him, and they weren't quiet either. The confusion on their faces slowly turned into frustration, and frustration into anger.

"Bro, this is too much," one of them said, scoffing. "He actually left the team. Didn't even tell us. Not a word. Just disappeared and handed in that application like it meant nothing."

Another guy chimed in, shaking his head. "All because of yesterday? Because of some heated words? Man, we've all had fights with each other. But we've never walked away like that. He really chose that girl over all of us?"

Jungkook didn't say anything, but the way his eyes darkened said enough.

"I mean… come on," his friend continued, leaning in slightly. "Taehyung was never like this. He was calm, chill, always fair. Something's changed him. Someone's gotten into his head." He paused for a beat before dropping the obvious name. "That girl. I'm telling you, man. She's totally manipulation him. She's the reason he's acting so different. Think about it."

Jungkook looked at the floor, his hands now in fists. His blood was boiling. Deep down, a part of him didn't want to believe that.

He knew Taehyung. He trusted him.

But things hadn't been the same since that girl came into the picture. It was like Taehyung was drifting, pulling away from their group, turning into someone he didn't recognize. And now… he had abandoned their team without a second thought?

His friend nudged his shoulder. "We can't just sit and do nothing. We need to talk to him. He needs to hear us out. Maybe he'll realize how messed up this is. Maybe it's not too late to fix this before it ruins everything."

Another one added, "We need to knock some sense into him. Remind him who's always been there. Not that random girl who showed up out of nowhere and messed everything up."

Jungkook's face was cold now, but his eyes were burning. Taehyung didn't just leave a game–he left them.

And Jungkook wasn't going to let that slide.

Not without a fight.

†

Taehyung sat quietly on the ground outside campus, near one of the quieter corners where barely anyone came during break time. The grass beneath him was dry but comfortable, and he had a book resting on his knees.

There was still some time left before the next class, and with Evie off spending time with her friend Mia, Taehyung decided to enjoy a few moments alone.

He never had a problem with Evie hanging out with her friends–he understood space, and he never believed in keeping someone tied to him just because they were close. For now, it was just him and his book, and that was enough.

But his peace didn't last long.

He heard someone call his name sharply.

"Taehyung!"

Taehyung slowly looked up, and then turned around. His eyes landed on Jungkook and the rest of the guys–his former friends. As they stood there with hard faces, clearly not here to talk peacefully.

For a second, surprise flashed across Taehyung's face, but it faded quickly. His expression turned cold, unreadable. He calmly closed his book, stood up without saying a word, and faced them properly. He already knew why they were here.

Jungkook was the first to speak, his voice came with fury.

"So this is what betrayal looks like, huh?" he snapped. "Sitting here like nothing happened while your team is falling apart. Having a great time while throwing away your friends like garbage."

Taehyung didn't respond right away. He just stared at him, jaw tight, but silent. He knew exactly what Jungkook meant. He had left the team and the group–without explanation. And clearly, they hadn't taken it well.

Jungkook took another step forward. "You literally left us. You walked out on the team, after everything we worked for. You walked away from our friendship without even looking back."

Taehyung finally spoke, his voice low and controlled.

"I did what I had to do," he said calmly. "After what happened yesterday, I made my decision. I don't want to be a part of that anymore. And honestly, I don't even feel like standing here and explaining it."

Jungkook's eyebrows shot up, and his anger only deepened.

"That's it? That's your explanation? You seriously think one fight gives you the right to throw everything away? We've had fights before, Taehyung. You know that. I say shit when I'm mad–you know how I get. You've always known. That never meant anything. That's just how I talk."

"You're right," Taehyung said, his voice colder now. "That is how you talk. And that's exactly the problem."

Jungkook clenched his fists. "So that's it? You're walking away because I said some things in anger about your girl.?"

Taehyung took a step closer now, his tone still calm but firmer.

"No," he said. "It's not just about her. It's about respect. You insulted someone without any reason. You talked about her like she was some object - like she didn't deserve basic human decency. And for you, that's normal. That's casual. But for me? That's not something I can ignore. Sorry, Jungkook. I wasn't raised to stay quiet when someone disrespects a woman just because they think they can."

"You're breaking off a friendship that's lasted since childhood," Jungkook said, almost in disbelief, "because I said something about a girl you met barely a few months ago, seriously?"

Taehyung's eyes hardened even more.

"No," he said. "I'm ending it because the person I called my friend turned out to be someone I don't want to be around anymore."

Jungkook's face twisted with frustration. "What the actual fuck! She's manipulating you and you're too blind to see it. I've told you this again and again. She's fucking changing you, man!"

Taehyung looked him dead in the eyes. His voice remained calm, but now it had a sharper edge.

"She's not the one changing me. I'm finally seeing everything clearly. I'm not going to surround myself with people who think being loud, rude, and arrogant makes them strong. I'm not like you, Jungkook. I never was. And honestly, I don't even want to be. I want peace. I want respect. I want to grow up. You can keep your so-called popularity, your parties, your jokes about girls, and your constant need to prove you're above everyone else."

He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in before continuing.

"I don't care about the match. I don't care about the team. And I definitely don't care about fitting into your crowd anymore. I've made my choice. I'm not going to be around people who think it's cool to degrade others just because they can. This has nothing to do with Evie. This is about who I am and who I never want to become."

The silence that followed was heavy. Jungkook's friends looked just as shocked as he did. But Taehyung didn't flinch. He didn't look away.

"Now if you're done wasting my time," he said, "you can leave."

Jungkook was boiling inside. His jaw tightened. His fists clenched. His pride had just been dragged through the mud, and he had no idea how to deal with the fact that Taehyung turned into this.

Jungkook stood his ground, eyes burning, voice filled with anger. "You really chose a whore over your brothers," he spat out, loud enough for people nearby to turn and look. "Yeah, that's what it is, right? Bros before hoes... and you threw that out like trash."

Taehyung's expression shifted immediately. His calm eyes turned sharp. "Stop it," he said, voice low but firm. "You're repeating the same shit from yesterday. Don't cross that line again."

Jungkook scoffed and stepped closer. "You gonna stop me from saying the truth?" he challenged. "You're acting like some saint, but deep down, you know what she is."

He looked Taehyung straight in the eye, his voice full of venom. "She's not like us. She's a middle-class gold digger trying to fit in. Look at her. Look at her, her life. You think she's really into you? Don't be stupid."

Taehyung clenched his jaw. His breathing got heavier. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, but he didn't speak. Not yet.

Jungkook saw the reaction and pushed further.

"You ended everything, so I got nothing to hold back now," he said. "You want honesty? I'll give you honesty. I've seen girls like her before. I've been with them. I know them better than you ever will."

He moved even closer, his voice turning low and disgusting. "All it takes is money. Throw some cash at her face and watch—she'll get on her knees, mouth open, ready to suck."

Taehyung's face turned hard. His eyes wide, full of disbelief, rage boiling underneath.

Jungkook wasn't done. He stepped right into his space. "Throw a few more bills, and she'll spread her legs without thinking twice. You're telling me she's not like that? I can prove it to you. I swear, give me five minutes and she'll beg for it."

And that was it.

Taehyung froze. His mind went blank. He couldn't hear anything around him. The blood rushing in his ears was the only sound. He didn't think. He just saw red.

In the next second, his hand shot out, grabbed Jungkook by the collar, and without a single word, he slammed his fist straight into Jungkook's face. The hit was hard, sharp, real. Jungkook's head snapped to the side.

His friends all gasped. A few even took a step back, not expecting it. Silence fell for a few seconds, heavy and tense.

Taehyung didn't move. His hand still had Jungkook's collar, holding it tightly, breathing hard.

Taehyung didn't hold back anymore.

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" he roared, voice raw and sharp like it had been clawing its way up from his chest.

Before Jungkook could even lift his head, Taehyung stepped forward again and slammed his fist into his face - this one louder and harder. Blood sprayed from Jungkook's lip, the impact snapping his head sideways.

The crowd flinched. Even Jungkook's friends froze for a second.

Taehyung's breath came fast, but his voice was steady, deadly calm beneath the fury.

"HOW FUCKING DARE YOU SAY THAT?" he spat, chest rising and falling, eyes locked on Jungkook like he couldn't believe the words had come out of his mouth. "You really stood here and said that like it's nothing? Like it's fucking normal?!"

Jungkook's friends rushed between them, trying to hold them apart, but it was useless. The air was too heavy now–too full of rage.

Jungkook wiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand. His jaw tightened. But there was no smirk now. Just something darker, colder.

He lifted his head, eyes burning.

"Did you just hit me?" he asked, voice low and dangerous. "Did you actually raise your fucking hand on me?"

Taehyung took a step forward again, not afraid of anything in that moment–not his past with Jungkook, not his reputation, not the crowd watching.

"Yeah, I fucking did," he said through gritted teeth. "And if I hear another word like that from your mouth, I'll do it again."

Then he stared straight into Jungkook's eyes, like he was looking at something rotten.

"You know what, Jungkook?" Taehyung said, voice louder now with raging anger. " You're not a man. You're just a cheap, arrogant asshole who thinks he's untouchable because he was born into money and attention. You're nothing but a spoiled piece of fucking shit who walks around treating people like garbage and expecting loyalty in return."

Jungkook's friends tensed, trying to calm things down, but Taehyung wasn't done. He wasn't even close.

"You act like you're powerful, but all you are is loud. You're the worst kind of man–one who opens his mouth to insult women just because he's too insecure. You think it's okay to drag a girl through the mud just because she doesn't fall at your feet?"

He took another step forward, pointing straight at Jungkook's chest, fury boiling just under his skin. "You disgust me."

"You want to know the truth? I've always known you were like this. I just chose to ignore it because we grew up together. I gave you too many chances. But today? Today, you proved exactly who the fuck you are. A walking embarrassment. A pathetic excuse for a man who wouldn't know respect if it stood right in front of him."

And at this point Taehyung words made him pure speechless, literally he had no fucking words to talk back because the hate and anger lying underneath his words are so hard to ignore.

"Money doesn't make you a man. Popularity doesn't make you right. And throwing dirt on a girl's name? That just makes you cheap. That makes you nothing."

The reality check Taehyung gave to Jungkook is insane as Jungkook can't help but to stared at him, jaw clenched, fists shaking at his sides.

And still, Taehyung didn't back off.

"You're the exact kind of guy I never want to become. Arrogant, disrespectful, loud, fake... and fucking empty inside. And the worst part? You think you're right."

Before it could go further, one of the guys gripped Taehyung's shoulder, pulling him back slightly.

"Bro, stop. This is gonna turn into something worse. Just breathe, alright?"

But Taehyung didn't take his eyes off Jungkook.

He had said what needed to be said.

And this is diffently not end here.

★ ★ ★

—𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗏𝗈𝗍𝖾         𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍···୨ৎ