CHAPTER - 21

One week later :-

Taehyung hadn’t read the diary—not because he didn’t want to, but because, somehow, he had completely forgotten about it.

It was around 10 p.m., and he was on a group call with Jennie, Kai, and Jack. His head rested against the wall, eyes half-lidded, fingers drumming absently on the edge of the table.

Kai - And you know, I left that bitch.

Jennie - You did a great job.

Kai - I know, right?

Jack - But you should’ve taught her a good lesson before leaving.

Kai - Really? What do you think, Taehyung?

Tae didn’t respond. He was lost in his thoughts, staring blankly at the ceiling. His fingers unconsciously clutched the phone a little too tightly, nails pressing into his palm.

Kai - TAEHYUNG! ARE YOU THERE?!

Tae flinched at the sudden shout, snapping back to reality.

Taehyung - Uh… yeah, ah… I’m here.

Kai - Where were you, man?

Taehyung - Umm… nowhere. I’m a bit tired, so I think I should sleep now. I’ll talk to you all tomorrow.

Jennie - Okie then, good night, Tae.

Taehyung - Yeah… bye.

He ended the call and tossed his phone onto the bed. But in his half-asleep, distracted state, instead of pressing the call-end icon, he accidentally tapped the speaker button.

Jennie (voice blaring from speaker) - I think he left.

Jack - Yeah.

Jennie - By the way… nowadays, Taehyung’s face is worth looking at, right?

Kai - Yeah, especially when he acts like he’s not heartbroken.

Jack laughed, slapping his thigh.

Jack - I know, right? He looks hilarious.

Jennie - I didn’t expect him to be manipulated this easily. It’s so fun, manipulating him.

Kai - We manipulated him, not you, Jennie.

Jack - Exactly. If we hadn’t brainwashed him, he’d never have trusted you.

Jennie - Yeah, I know. That’s why I asked for your help. I was a bit scared you wouldn’t help me… and tell him instead.

Kai - Nah, man. We’ve been planning to ruin him for a long time.

Jennie - I thought you three were his “best friends.”

Jack - He never thinks of us as friends. He always orders us around.

Kai - Remember the day that nerd was punching us? He just stood there, doing nothing.

Jack - He’s an asshole.

Kai - Who would’ve thought he’d be… a bottom one.

Jack - Bro! I was so shocked seeing that nerd… fucking him.

Kai - Yeah, by the way… we never thought you’d ask us for something like this, Jennie.

Jennie - I noticed Taehyung’s way of looking at that nerdy. I was pretty sure something was going on. Then one day I saw them walking together, holding hands. I took the picture and started stalking them. But that slutty nerd… how dare he try to snatch Tae from me?

Kai - But that bastard still doesn’t love you.

Jennie - I don’t care. I still can’t let that bitch have him.

Jack - But you shouldn’t have kissed Tae in front of him.

Kai - Oh man… I saw Jungkook looking at them. He was crying like his mom had died.

Jennie - That’s what I wanted.

Jack - But you know… I can’t deny that nerdy really loved Taehyung.

Kai - Hell yeah. He even let us beat the shit out of him for Tae… and Tae didn’t even care to listen to him, nor did he trust him. He insulted him in front of the whole college.

Jack - You know, sometimes I kinda pity him.

Kai - Yeah… I could feel his love for him, but Tae’s too blind to see it.

Jennie - Stop taking that nerd’s side, guys! Don’t forget—he was the one who beat the shit out of you two.

What they didn’t know: Taehyung was listening to every word.

Taehyung heard it—all of it. Every cruel laugh, every mocking word. But he didn’t react immediately. He just cut the call silently and sank to the floor, hugging his knees tightly to his chest. His back pressed against the wall, rigid and tense. He wasn’t crying—at least, not yet. His eyes were fixed on the floor, pupils dilated, lost deep in thought, like he was replaying every memory, every word, over and over in his head.

An hour later, something inside him snapped. Tae’s chest heaved as he suddenly laughed—loud, jagged, almost unhinged. Then, the laughter cracked, breaking into sobs as tears finally started streaming down his face.

Tae (mumbling through tears) - What have I done… w-what have I done to him… WHAT HAVE I DONE? He’s right… I… I’m an asshole… a fucking asshole…

He pressed his face into his knees, rocking slightly, shaking with the force of his grief. His hands clawed at his own arms, as if trying to physically contain the guilt eating him alive.

Tae (sobbing, voice breaking) - I should have trusted him… I should have trusted his eyes, his words, his love… I… I should have trusted my heart, which was screaming nothing but love for him. I was so stupid… no… I AM so stupid… to always care about what other people think. I was selfish… I only thought about my image…

He paused, inhaling shakily, letting the raw sobs wrack his body. Then, slowly, through the pain, his trembling lips parted as he whispered with determination:

Tae - But… don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you… I’m coming.

Tae wiped his tears frantically with the back of his hand, taking deep, uneven breaths. He pushed himself up from the floor, his legs shaky, still clinging to the last remnants of courage. His fingers curled into fists at his sides as he prepared to go to Jungkook, to finally face him.

Then his gaze fell on the clock—quarter past eleven.

Tae’s p.o.v - It’s… pretty late… it won’t look right if I go now… Should I call him? Naah… I’ll apologize face to face tomorrow. Don’t worry, Kook… tomorrow, this will all end. The last day of your sorrows, baby.

He sank back onto the bed for a moment, hands still clutched tightly together, chest rising and falling with each shaky breath, trying to calm the storm inside him. Yet beneath it all, a flicker of hope and determination glimmered—he would fix this. He had to.