† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟴 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟴†❝𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

༺ ☠︎ † 𝖁 𝖎 𝖘 𝖎 𝖔 𝖓 𝖎 𝖓 𝕯 𝖆 𝖗 𝖐 † ☠︎ ༻

Taehyung was still burning with anger, his chest rising and falling from the force of his rage. But across from him, Jungkook stood perfectly still-too still. There was a terrifying calmness in the air, a thick silence that seemed to stretch forever, and when Jungkook finally moved, it wasn't fast or loud-it was deliberate.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, slowly, eyes not leaving Taehyung's face. He looked at his blood for a second, smeared across his fingers, then looked back up with a dark glint in his eyes that sent a chill down the spine of everyone watching.

It wasn't shock. It wasn't confusion. It was something far more dangerous-controlled, calculated, and deadly quiet.

"You really dared to hit me," Jungkook said, his voice low and rough, heavy with something cold and poisonous. "You actually raised your hand on me?"

He took a slow, measured step forward, and every inch he closed between them felt heavier than the last. "Do you know?" he continued, voice dropping deeper. "Not even my parents ever raised their voice at me. They never dared to lay a hand on me. And you?" he tilted his head slightly, as if trying to make sense of it. "You stood here... and hit me?"

There was no smirk on his face anymore. Just a void. Pure darkness in his expression.

"I should break your hand right now," he muttered, his tone sharp as glass. "That's what I do to people who think they can lay hands on me. I don't care who they are. If anyone touches me like that-they don't leave the same. You know that."

Taehyung held his ground, breathing hard, glaring straight into his eyes. But Jungkook didn't stop.

"But you..." Jungkook hissed, his voice tightening. "You were once my friend. My brother. And that's the only reason I didn't raise my hand back. Not because I'm weak, not because I'm scared. But because I'm not like you. I don't break friendships over a random girl."

His jaw tightened. "...But one thing I promise you," he said, voice now low and threatening, almost a whisper. "You'll regret it. You'll regret walking away from what we had. You'll regret breaking us for her. I swear to God, every day you'll feel it. I'll make sure of it."

He leaned closer, just enough that his voice became venom in Taehyung's ears. "And when life hits you, when she's gone, when you're left with nothing but guilt-you better not come running back to us."

That final line make the atmosphere more tense.

Then Taehyung straightened.

"I won't regret it," he said with quiet conviction. "Not today, not tomorrow. And even if one day I do... I'll never come running back to you. Never."

He didn't wait for a response.

Without another word, he turned his back on Jungkook, walked away, and left him standing there-alone, surrounded by people, but more alone than he had ever felt in his life.

Jungkook stood there, breathing heavily, the blood on his lips now dried, but the fire in his eyes was still burning. His whole body was stiff with rage, but it was not the kind that exploded out loud anymore.

This was something worse. This was cold.

Dangerous. Unpredictable.

He took a slow step forward.

"You will regret it, Taehyung," he said, eyes locked on him like a predator staring down its target. "I swear on everything, you will."

His voice had dropped to a low, venomous. There was a strange calm in him now, the kind that comes right before something explodes. Taehyung's slap, the humiliation... they replayed in his mind.

Taehyung really thought Jungkook would take it-be insulted, struck, humiliated in front of everyone and simply let him walk away?

Just like that?

No. That was the moment something in him snapped clean.

He thought about the friendship they'd shared, the brotherly bond they'd built over years. All of it thrown aside without hesitation. Taehyung had broke it first. He was the one who crushed Jungkook's pride, made him feel small. And Jungkook would never forgive being made to feel small.

Not by anyone.

Not even by the person he once called his friend.

A muscle in his jaw tightened as everything twisted with anger, humiliation, and something far colder. Their friends watched him in stunned silence, unable to say anything.

If this was the end of their friendship, then fine.

Taehyung had ended it. He had broken it with his own hands. And now Jungkook would deal with the aftermath his own way-without mercy, without hesitation.

He knew a day would come when Taehyung would regret this-when whatever "truth" he was so stubbornly clinging to finally cracked apart in his hands. And when that day arrived, Jungkook would make sure he remembered exactly who set this path on fire first.

With a slow breath, Jungkook wiped the blood from his mouth and turned away.

†

Taehyung stood near the hallway exit, leaning slightly against the wall, eyes scanning every passing student as the college hours were about to end. His heart was restless, pounding louder than usual.

His mind was still clouded with the mess from earlier, and all he wanted right now was to see Evie.

He did not care about anything else. The noise, the crowd, the gossip around the halls-he just wanted to pull her away from all of it. Far from this place.

Far from everyone.

He needed to breathe.

He needed her.

Students started pouring out of the classrooms, their chatter can be heard, but his eyes stayed fixed at the end of the hallway. Then, finally, he saw her.

Evie.

Walking with one of her friends, laughing at something they were talking about. Her eyes sparkled in the light, and her smile carried that usual innocence he always found comfort in. The sight of her smiling made something inside him loosen. A bit of peace returned to his heart.At least she was okay.

When Evie noticed him waiting, her smile grew even brighter, and she waved slightly before walking up to him.

"Hey, sorry, I got a bit late. I have so much to tell you," she said, her voice cheerful. "And there is something really important I need to ask you."

But before she could say more, Taehyung gently but firmly took her hand and started walking toward the college exit. He did not say anything at first, just held her hand tight, almost like he was afraid she would slip away if he let go.

Evie blinked, a bit surprised by his sudden action. "We are not late. The bus still has time. At least let me say goodbye to-"

But he did not slow down. He just kept walking, guiding her through the crowd and out of the college gate like he could not stay in that place for another minute.

She kept glancing at him, confused by his silence, by the way his grip felt a little tighter than usual. Not painful, but firm. Protective. Possessive even. She could feel the heat of his palm against hers, and for a second, it made her heart flutter.

But when she looked up at his face, her smile slowly faded. There was no joy on his face. No ease. His eyes looked distant. His jaw tight. Something was clearly wrong.

"Taehyung," she asked softly, trying to match his pace, "what happened? Did something go wrong? Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?"

He shook his head, finally speaking, though his voice was quieter than usual. "No. I just... I just wanted to get out of that place. The crowd. The noise. I just needed some peace."

Evie nodded slowly, trying to understand. Her heart started to feel uneasy now. She could sense it clearly-something had happened. But she also knew Taehyung. He would not say anything until they were away from people. Until he was ready. So she did not push.

As they walked side by side toward the bus stop, her hand still locked in his, she could not stop glancing at his face. That same face she had seen light up so many times before... now looked like it was carrying a storm.

She stayed quiet, waiting and he held her hand tighter.

The breeze brushing gently across their faces, Evie suddenly remembered something she had meant to ask him earlier. The thought had slipped her mind in the rush, but now it hit her with full clarity.

She turned her head slightly toward him, still walking, and said, almost casually, but with clear curiosity in her voice, "Hey... I heard something today. About you leaving the sports team. Is that true? Or just another college rumor?"

She expected him to laugh it off, maybe deny it like he usually did with ridiculous gossip. But to her surprise, Taehyung simply nodded without hesitation.

"It's true," he said flatly, eyes still fixed ahead.

Evie stopped in her tracks for a second, blinking. That answer caught her off guard. She jogged slightly to match his steps again, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Wait... what? Are you serious? But you... you worked so hard for that. You told me yourself how much it meant to you. You practiced every morning, even on weekends. You were excited for the upcoming match. What changed?"

Taehyung did not look at her. His hand was still holding hers tightly, walking at a fast pace like he wanted to get somewhere far from everything. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were unreadable.

"I just wanted to leave it. That's all," he muttered, voice low and distant. "No big reason."

Evie's frown deepened. That was not like him at all. The boy who once lit up while talking about the field, the boy who dragged her to watch him practice even under the burning sun, was now walking away from it without a trace of emotion.

It did not make sense.

She kept asking, trying to get more out of him, but he shrugged each time, brushing off her words like they were nothing. His grip stayed firm on her hand, but his mind was clearly somewhere else. It started to irritate her now, the way he was dodging everything.

Finally, she had enough.

Evie stopped walking and pulled her hand out of his grip. Then she quickly stepped in front of him, blocking his path. Before he could walk around her, she placed both her hands firmly on his chest, stopping him in place. Her eyes narrowed as she looked up at him, her voice sharp but not angry.

"Stop it. Stop lying to me. You are acting weird since the moment I saw you. You are not yourself. Something happened, and you are not telling me."

Taehyung avoided her gaze, his eyes darting anywhere but her face. He mumbled something, trying to make another excuse, but he was never good at lying. She knew him too well for that. Her expression only grew more serious.

"Taehyung," she said again, this time more softly but with firmness in her tone, "don't lie to me. Please."

There was a long pause. A sigh escaped his lips as his shoulders dropped slightly. He looked away again and spoke quietly, "Yes... I left the match. On my own. "

Evie crossed her arms over her chest, still standing in front of him. "And? Are you going to tell me why?"

He hesitated, then said, "I got into a fight. That's it."

Her eyes widened. She took a small step forward towards him. "A fight? You? With who? You never fight with anyone. You avoid fights even when someone messes with you."

Taehyung looked down at the ground, jaw clenched. He did not answer right away. He just stood there, silent, hands now by his sides, fists slowly curling like he was holding something in. Something that was burning inside him.

Evie kept watching him, eyes filled with both concern and confusion. She knew something was wrong.

Taehyung let out a deep breath, trying to calm the storm that was quietly building inside him. He glanced away for a second before speaking, his voice softer this time, like he was trying to convince even himself.

"I just got into a small fight with a few of the guys. Nothing serious. Some stupid misunderstanding turned into an argument. After that, I did not feel like going back again. I hate that kind of energy," he said, his tone distant and casual, as if he wanted her to believe that was all there was to it.

But even as he said it, something in his voice betrayed him.

There was a pause. A beat of silence passed between them.

Then he looked at her. Not with frustration. Not with anger. But with something far more intense. Something raw. Evie blinked in confusion when she noticed the shift in his gaze.

"And also... I left because of you," he added, his voice firmer now.

Evie stared at him, confused and taken aback. Her lips parted slightly. "Me?" she asked, unsure if she heard him right. "What do you mean... because of me?"

Taehyung took a small step closer, closing some of the space between them on the quiet footpath.

"I mean..." he hesitated, then continued, "I was spending so much time on the team, pushing myself, getting caught up in all of it... I did not even realize I was missing moments with you. I hated that feeling."

Evie opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. His words hit her all at once, like a wave, leaving her momentarily speechless. She looked at him, eyes slightly wide, trying to make sense of what she was hearing.

"W... what are you saying," she stammered, voice soft, like she was scared to believe it.

Another step closer. Now Taehyung was standing so close she could feel the warmth from his body in the cool breeze.

"I mean I did not want to keep pretending anymore," he said, voice low and heavy.

Evie's breath caught in her throat.

"P-Pretending?" she whispered, the word barely leaving her lips.

He nodded, eyes fixed on hers, unblinking.

"Yeah. Pretending like we are just friends. Like that is all we are. When it is not."

The air around them shifted. Her skin prickled with goosebumps, that comes when something real is happening. The sounds of traffic felt distant now. The world faded behind his voice and the pounding of her own heartbeat.

Evie did not know what to say. She did not understand why all of a sudden everything between them was changing, like some invisible line had been crossed and there was no going back now.

She tried to speak, but her voice came out uneven. "W-Why are... you saying all this... and why now...so.. I mean s-sudden?"

"It is not sudden," Taehyung said, his tone steady even though his own chest was rising and falling just a little faster. "I have been wanting to say it for a long time. I just... never had the courage before. But today, I could not hold it back anymore."

Evie could feel the shift. It was no longer just a conversation. Something else had begun. Something that had been quietly growing between them, now finally taking shape.

And yet... neither of them moved away.

Taehyung stood still, breathing a little uneven, as if his own heart was betraying him in front of her. His eyes stayed on her face for a long second before he finally looked down and let out a soft, shaky laugh. It was the kind of laugh someone lets out when they are terrified but finally giving in to their truth.

"I honestly don't even know what to say," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I mean... I think I have gone crazy."

He looked up again, straight into her eyes now, more serious this time.

"Too crazy. And there is a reason for it. You. You are the reason. You are the one who has made me feel like this."

He took a slow breath, as if trying to steady the storm inside him before letting it all out.

" The day I first saw you... it felt different. Like something shifted. I am not exaggerating. You literally took my breath away that day. You were standing in the hallway, completely clueless, nervous, searching for your class. You had no idea how adorable you looked in that moment. And I just stood there, frozen, watching you from a distance."

He smiled softly at the memory, his tone growing warmer, filled with sincerity.

"Everything about you makes me go crazy. The way you talk, the way you laugh, the way you panic over little things, and the way you smile when you finally figure them out. I was never this kind of guy. I never thought I would fall this hard for someone. I never thought a girl could turn my whole world upside down like this."

He looked away for a second, like he was shy to admit it, but then his eyes found her again, more intense now.

"I know it has only been a few months since we met. But I swear... I cannot control it. I tried to. I told myself it will pass. But it didn't. I found myself doing things I never thought I would. I had academic work piling up, but I still helped you with yours. I never helped anyone with assignments before, not even my own friends. But for you... I just did."

He paused, the wind brushing softly between them, and his words became more tender.

"My house is not even near this route. I live in a completely different direction. But every single day, I took the same bus with you, walked with you... just to spend a few more minutes by your side. Then after dropping you, I took a whole different route to go back home. You never even knew."

Evie was frozen, listening, heart thudding louder with every word.

"I started skipping my own studies, my own work, just sitting there thinking about you. Wondering what you were doing. If you were okay. If you thought about me even a little."

He rubbed the back of his neck, as if the weight of his own feelings was too much to carry.

"I don't know what this is exactly... like or love or something else. But whatever it is... I know I am completely lost in it. You have made me crazy, girl. You have completely ruined me in the sweetest way possible."

He lean even closer, and she could see the slight tremble in his hands, the way his breath was uneven now.

"My heart beats faster every single time I see you. My body literally trembles when you touch me, even if it's just by accident. And I swear to God, even now, I am trembling. I do not even know how I am saying all this without passing out."

His voice dropped to a whisper again.

"I still don't know if this is love or just something close to it... but one thing I am completely sure of."

He leaned in just a little, and his eyes burned with honesty.

"This... what I feel for you... it is not some random desire or attraction. It is not about beauty or charm or attention. It is something pure. Something real. It is the kind of feeling that grows quietly and then suddenly becomes too much to hide. I did not plan for this... but I would not change it even if I could."

His confession lingered in the air like magic, and for a moment, it felt like time had stopped around them. The cars kept moving. The wind kept blowing. But their world had shifted into something else. Something softer. Warmer. Deeper.

Taehyung was still looking at her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

★ ★ ★

A/N: I know, I know - you must be thinking, if this is a Jeon Jungkook fanfiction, then why am I showing Taehyung as the main lead?

Well, it is actually part of the story. Taehyung plays a very important role in this fanfiction, and you will understand everything by the end of it.

And now you are probably wondering - since both Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook are in it, is this going to be a love triangle? Like, will Taehyung and Jungkook fight for Evie, the female lead, and it will turn into some dramatic mess?

No. It is not a love triangle, and it is definitely not your typical Wattpad dark romance where a clueless female lead gets two obsessive male leads fighting over her. This story is absolutely not that. I do not write those types of dramatic stories, and honestly, I do not enjoy them either.

Just wait for the upcoming chapters. You will see exactly where this is going.

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