|| CHAPTER - 33 ||

•| CHAPTER ~ 33 |•

•| The Distance Between Truth And Lies |•

✿───❀  ♡  ❀───✿

It had been four long days since the confrontation–four days that felt more like four lifetimes to Taehyung.

Each passing hour dragged heavier than the last, like time itself was mocking him. He hadn't been eating properly, hadn't been sleeping much either; he simply existed in a fog of heartbreak, trying to wrap his mind around how everything had fallen apart so suddenly, so brutally.

He kept asking himself the same questions over and over again—

Why?

Wasn't he enough? Hadn't he loved her the way she deserved?

He had always believed that being kind, soft-spoken, and respectful would make him the right kind of man to love.

But now, those same qualities felt like a curse.

His simplicity, his quiet nature, the way he put her first–he once thought these were the things she valued in him.

She used to say she loved how gentle he was, how he didn't need to be flashy or loud to prove his worth.

But in the end, none of it mattered. She still chose someone else. Someone louder. Wilder. Crueler.

That betrayal sat like a weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe. He hated how weak he felt, how broken he had become. It wasn't just about her anymore–it was about the way this heartbreak had cracked something deep inside him.

Every ping of a message from her, every call she made that lit up his phone, tore at him. But he couldn't bring himself to answer. He couldn't find the strength to face her, not even to scream or demand an explanation.

A part of him wanted to ask her why she did it, why she made him feel like he was enough only to throw it away behind his back. But a bigger part of him was just... exhausted. Too tired to even confront the person who shattered him.

So he did what cowards do when their heart broken–he stayed silent. Ignored every message. Let every call ring unanswered. He disappeared into himself because facing her felt like trying to walk on broken glass barefoot.

On the other side,

Evie was stuck in her own bubble of confusion, completely unaware of the storm her actions had caused. She was hurting too, but for entirely different reasons.

Taehyung had just... disappeared.

No explanation. No argument. No message.

One day he was holding her hand, planning what they'd do after graduation, and the next he was just gone–like she no longer existed.

At first, she thought he was busy, maybe something serious had come up. He wasn't the type to ignore her without a reason. She kept trying–calling, texting, checking in with his friends, but everything came up cold.

Her messages stayed unread, her calls never connected. And slowly, that worry began turning into something else. A growing ache in her chest, a heaviness that didn't make sense. She replayed every conversation, every moment between them, trying to find the exact second where things began to fall apart but she came up empty.

She had no idea what she had done to deserve this silence. In her mind, she was the one who had a reason to be upset–he was the one who left her standing alone during the farewell.

He didn't show up, didn't call, didn't even apologize. If anything, she should be the one ignoring him. But still... she couldn't bring herself to be angry.

This was Taehyung. The boy who smiled at her, the one who listened to her heart more carefully than anyone else ever had. She knew him well enough to believe that something had to be wrong. Something personal. Because the Taehyung she knew would never just leave without a word–not unless there's something else going on.

And now, with the degree distribution ceremony just two days away, she found herself clinging to hope. Everyone had to be there.

The final ceremony wasn't optional–it was a moment that brought closure to their college years. Students, parents, faculty–everyone would be in attendance. And if Taehyung really had just been avoiding her all this time, she'd finally have the chance to confront him face to face.

She didn't care about the crowd or the formalities. She needed answers. She needed to look him in the eyes and figure out what went wrong, because the silence was killing her, and the longer it stretched on, the more she feared that maybe... she'd already lost him without even knowing why.

✦───────────────✦

Two more days passed, and now the much-awaited graduation ceremony had finally arrived. It was supposed to be a day of celebration–one last memory with friends, a farewell to youth, a proud moment for families.

But for Evie, there was no excitement in her heart, only a restlessness she couldn't seem to quiet. She wasn't going to smile for the photos or dress up for the crowd.

She was going for one reason only–to see Taehyung. To find him, to talk to him, to understand why he had suddenly disappeared from her life like she meant nothing.

She couldn't take the silence anymore. It felt like an endless punishment she didn't understand.

She dressed simply but neatly. Parents were required for the ceremony, and she knew how much it meant for her father. He had waited years to see this day–his daughter stepping into adulthood with pride. So, for his sake, she smiled and nodded, letting him guide her out of the house, even though her mind wasn't present.

They reached the college campus and the place was buzzing. The lawn was filled with families–students in formal attire, mothers fixing their children's collars, fathers shaking hands, laughter echoing in every direction.

Decorations hung from every corner, bright and colorful, as if the world was celebrating something beautiful. But Evie's eyes weren't focused on any of that. While her father chatted beside her, pointing out the decorations and old faculty members, she barely heard him.

Her eyes scanned every face in the crowd, searching for a glimpse of Taehyung. But he was nowhere to be seen yet.

She stood in the hallway near the main entrance, eyes shifting restlessly from one side to another. Her fingers played with the hem of her dress out of nervous habit, her heart pacing every time she thought about Taehyung.

Just then, a voice called out–calm, polite, and too familiar.

"Good morning, sir," the voice said with perfect manners.

Evie turned slightly and her expression stiffened.

It was Jungkook.

Wearing his clean-cut suit, hair neatly styled, his posture confident but relaxed–he looked every bit like the golden boy everyone believed him to be. He stood in front of her father, greeting him with a respectful smile that almost felt too perfect, too polished.

"I'm Jeon Jungkook, sir. Evie and I are friends. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Her father, unaware of the tension in the air, smiled back warmly. Of course, he recognized him. Everyone did. Jungkook was the son of one of the board members–a name known well in every corner of the college. "Ah yes, I've heard about you. Bright student. Good to meet you too, son."

Evie stayed silent, her face carefully blank, but inside she was grinding her teeth. That fake charm, that mask of innocence–she could see right through it.

She knew who he really was beneath all that polite talk. And it made her skin crawl that he had the nerve to stand here acting like the perfect gentleman in front of her father. Even worse, he had the audacity to call himself her friend.

She stepped in quickly, grabbing her father's arm before Jungkook could continue. "We're getting late, Dad. They'll start calling names soon," she said, cutting the conversation short.

Her father nodded without thinking, still smiling at Jungkook. "Of course. We'll talk later. Nice meeting you, son."

Evie didn't even glance back at Jungkook as she gently but firmly pulled her father away, her pace faster now. She could feel Jungkook's eyes on her back, could almost hear that smirk hiding beneath his polite expression.

But she didn't stop walking. Not because she was scared of him but because she couldn't afford to waste another second.

After arriving inside, Evie gently asked her father to sit in the parents section of the auditorium. It was already beginning to fill up with families– mothers fixing their children's graduation gowns, fathers proudly shaking hands with faculty members, cameras flashing to capture the joy of the moment.

But Evie could hardly focus on any of that. The more time passed, the restless it became.

"Dad, I'm just going to meet my friends. We'll be called soon anyway," she said softly, offering him a small smile.

Her father nodded with understanding, completely unaware of the storm brewing within her. She left him there, making her way towards the section where students were supposed to gather.

But as she looked around, she found the place nearly empty. A few students stood in small clusters, talking and laughing nervously but Taehyung wasn't among them.

She tried not to worried, telling herself that maybe he was still somewhere in the campus maybe running late, maybe in another hallway. But her legs moved before her thoughts could catch up, carrying her to the main corridor with increasing urgency. Her eyes scanned each person she passed, heart silently hoping that she'd see him soon.

And then she did.

In the distance, walking toward the auditorium with a quiet group of students trailing behind him–there Taehyung was.

But he wasn't the same.

He looked so unlike the person she remembered - his shoulders slightly hunched, expression empty, his usual warmth and lightness nowhere to be found. He wasn't smiling at anyone. He looked completely lost in his own world, as if his body was here but his mind was somewhere far away.

The usual spark in his eyes whenever he saw her… was gone.

Evie's heart slowed for a moment. Then, for the first time in days, she smiled, relieved just to see him again. Just to know he was okay. She moved toward him instinctively, wanting to reach him, to call out his name, to hold his hand and make everything right. But as she stepped forward, Taehyung's eyes flicked up and locked onto hers.

For a brief second, it was quite.

But then, something shifted.

She saw it–the way his jaw tightened, the quick breath he took, the emotion that briefly flickered across his face before he forced it down. He broke eye contact just as fast as it had been made.

Then, without saying a word, he turned his face away and picked up his pace, walking past her like she was a stranger.

Evie stood frozen, her smile fading instantly, confusion crashing over her. Her feet remained rooted to the ground for a second, trying to make sense of what just happened.

She turned, taking a deep breath, and called after him softly, "Taehyung…"

He didn't respond.

She called again, this time a little louder, walking behind him, trying to catch up. But he continued moving ahead, ignoring her completely as if her voice didn't exist. Her voice broke slightly, but she didn't stop following.

He pushed open the auditorium door and slipped inside quickly, heading to the front section reserved for students. Evie was just about to follow him when her footsteps slowed, her eyes catching sight of something that made her breath hitch.

A girl walked towards him and then sit beside him.

It's Raven.

Evie instantly recognized her, the same Raven she had always felt something off about, the one who had hovered a little too close to Taehyung in the past. And there she was, sitting beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

What's even going on? She's so confused at this moment.

Taehyung didn't move away, didn't hesitate. He sat next to her and they were talking, but not with discomfort. It was as if he didn't mind her presence at all.

Evie stopped in her tracks.

The sight hit her harder than she expected. Her heart sank, her steps faltered, and a strange emptiness crept into her chest. Just a moment ago, she was desperate to find him, to hear him, to make things right. But now… she stood there, still and silent, unsure of what she had just walked into.

She wasn't ready for this.

Not at all.

✦───────────────✦

Taehyung hadn't wanted to come to the graduation ceremony.

In fact, he had almost decided against it. But in the end, he dragged himself there, knowing that it was the final, most important event of his college life. His father was attending too–as the chief guest of the event–though he would arrive a little later with the other dignitaries.

As Taehyung stepped inside the familiar campus, a dull ache settled deeper inside his chest. Everywhere around him, there was laughter, excitement, students taking pictures in their graduation robes. But all he felt was unbearable emptiness.

He hadn't even taken more than a few steps when he caught sight of her.

Standing in the hallway, anxiously looking around, searching... and when her eyes found him, they lit up in a way that made his heart twist painfully inside his chest

Her expression was so open, so vulnerable–like nothing had changed. Like she hadn't shattered his trust. Like she hadn't crushed everything between them with her betrayal. She looked at him just the way she used to… with that same innocent, desperate hope that he was still hers, that she still loves him.

But he knew the truth now.

He had seen it with his own eyes–the truth that ripped him apart and left a wound that no smile, no innocent gaze, could heal. And yet, here she was, standing there as if nothing had happened. As if he still mattered. As if she hadn't broken him. As she never cheated on him.

She took a step toward him, her lips parting as if to call his name, her eyes filled with unsaid emotions.

For a moment, Taehyung's body betrayed him–his feet nearly faltered, his heart pounding so hard he thought he might actually stop and listen.

Maybe demand answers. Maybe just hold her and cry. He didn't know which one would destroy him more.

But he didn't stop.

He forced himself to keep walking, pretending he hadn't seen her, pretending he hadn't heard her soft voice. He knew if he stopped, he might lose all the walls he was struggling to keep up. He might break right there in front of her and he wasn't strong enough for that.

Coward.

The word echoed in his head, bitter and cold.

He should have shouted. Should have asked her why. Should have demanded answers for what she did. But he couldn't. He was too afraid that if he opened his mouth, all that would come out would be heartbreak.

So he walked past her–ignoring the way her face dropped in confusion and hurt.

He could feel it without even looking.

He pushed the door open to the students auditorium and quietly made his way to the front benches, slipping into a seat at the far corner, away from everyone else. He sat there silently, hands clasped tightly together, trying to focus on anything but the storm raging inside him.

And then he felt a presence beside him.

He turned his head slightly and there she was. Raven. Dressed neatly for the ceremony, her expression unusually soft. She slid into the seat next to him without hesitation, offering a small smile.

Taehyung sighed, not really in the mood for any conversation, but not having the energy to push her away either. He leaned back against the bench, closing his eyes for a second.

"Hey... how are you?" Raven asked gently, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she didn't know what actually happened to him.

Taehyung opened his eyes slowly and looked at her–really looked at her for a moment. "How do I look?" he muttered bitterly, his voice low.

Raven gave a small, knowing sigh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you. I just... wanted to check if you were okay. That's all," she said softly, her words careful, cautious.

Taehyung dropped his gaze to the floor, his jaw clenching. "You already know everything," he said, voice rough. "You asking about it doesn't make it any easier."

There was no anger in his words–just exhaustion.

Raven nodded quietly beside him. "I'm sorry. I won't bother you. Just... felt like saying hi," she whispered, her tone gentle like she wasn't the reason behind his pain.

Raven sat quietly beside Taehyung for a moment, her eyes soft and unreadable.

After a few beats of silence, she turned slightly toward him and spoke, her voice careful. "Can I... ask you something?" she said, her tone so tentative that it made Taehyung glance at her.

He didn't say anything, just raised an eyebrow, silently telling her to go ahead.

Raven took a small breath, almost as if she was debating whether she should really say it, then finally asked, "I heard... you're leaving New York. That you're planning to move to another city after graduation. Is that true?"

Taehyung's jaw tightened slightly at her words.

"Who told you that?"

Instead of answering immediately, Raven pressed, "First tell me... is it true or not?"

Taehyung sighed, long and slow, rubbing the back of his neck before letting his hand fall to his lap. "Did my dad tell your father?" he asked eventually, already knowing the answer.

Raven gave a small nod. "Your father was talking to my father about it the other day," she admitted quietly. "That's how I heard. So... are you seriously leaving the city?"

For a long moment, Taehyung didn't respond. His eyes stared ahead blankly, as if he wasn't really looking at anything in front of him. Finally, he gave a small nod.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I'm moving to Washington."

Raven frowned, her brows drawing together. "Seriously, Taehyung?" she said, disbelief lacing her voice. "You're leaving New York just because one girl broke your heart? You're seriously giving up everything you built here because of her? Are you serious? What the fucking wrong with you?"

There was a slight sharpness in her tone now, frustration.

Taehyung turned his head slightly to look at her, his expression unreadable. "It's not like that," he said firmly, though his voice carried a tired weight. "I'm not that much of an idiot to leave my entire life behind just because someone betrayed me. Graduation was always the end of this chapter. I'm moving to Washington. to complete my higher studies. It has nothing to do with her."

But Raven only let out a small, humorless laugh and shook her head. "Taehyung... you're a terrible liar," she said softly. "I've known you since we were kids. I can tell just by the way you're talking. You sound so detached, so... unserious. It's written all over your face–you're running away."

Taehyung didn't argue immediately. He sat there for a moment, staring at his hands, then finally spoke–his voice low and bitter.

"Maybe it wasn't the original plan," he admitted. "Maybe at first, I thought I would stay. I had everything here. Everything felt so perfect once. I never thought about leaving."

He paused, swallowing the lump rising in his throat.

"But when everything you believed in falls apart... when you realize you have nothing left tying you to a place... you start thinking differently." He gave a sad smile that didn't reach his eyes. "So maybe leaving isn't such a bad idea. Maybe it's the best thing for me... and for my future."

Raven stayed silent, felt something different the way he spoke–like a boy who had lost too much, too soon.

Taehyung leaned back against the bench again, his eyes drifting upward toward the high ceiling of the auditorium, trying to hide the emotions simmering just beneath the surface.

Raven looked at him for a long moment, her brows furrowing deeper with every passing second. Her voice came out low, almost frustrated, as she said, "But still, Taehyung... this feels so unserious. She shamelessly betrayed you–cheated on you and you're just... letting it go? Just like that? You should make her regret it. You should do something to make her feel the pain she put you through."

Taehyung let out a quiet, tired sigh. He turned his head slightly toward her, his expression calm but distant, and said, "You say you can read me just by looking at my face... but even now, you still don't really understand me, Raven."

His voice wasn't angry–just quietly sad, almost like he had accepted something too heavy to fight anymore.

"You think I'm the type of person who would waste my time plotting revenge? That I'd stoop so low just to prove a point?" He shook his head slightly. "If she decided to move on from me... then good for her. Let her live her life. We can't force someone to stay. We can't chain someone to us just because we want them to."

He paused, staring down at his hands resting loosely between his knees, his voice lowering even further. "I loved her, Raven. I still do. But love... love isn't about dragging someone back. It's about letting them go if that's what they choose."

Raven stared at him like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. The disbelief was clear in her eyes, and a frown formed on her lips. "So you're really not going to do anything?" she said, almost bitterly. "You're just going to let her walk away like that? After everything?"

Taehyung let out another slow breath, his gaze still rooted to the ground. "What do you expect me to do?" he said, his voice a little rough around the edges now. "Cry in front of her? Act like some broken fool?"

He finally looked up at her.

"I'm not that guy, Raven," he said firmly. "If she decided to betray what we had, then that's her choice. And it's mine to walk away from it with whatever dignity I have left."

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Raven sighed deeply, her shoulders sinking slightly as she looked away from him, the frustration still flickering in her posture. She knew Taehyung too well–his golden heart, his stubborn kindness and somehow, it infuriated her more than anything else.

Because people like him didn't deserve to be broken.

And yet, here he was... quietly bleeding inside, refusing to let anyone see.