Episode 12: Looking for Answers

Jungkook sat in the lounge of the Jeon clan’s luxurious staycation house. Despite the lavish surroundings, he felt a profound emptiness. Jimin and Hoseok often visited, bringing moments of laughter, but the weight of his recent heartbreak lingered.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay here, Kook?” Hoseok asked as he unpacked some snacks onto the table.

Jungkook nodded, forcing a small smile. “This is what I need for now. Just some peace to figure things out.”

Jimin, who had been quiet, finally spoke. “If Taehyung comes looking for you, do you want us to tell him anything?”

“No,” Jungkook said firmly. “He doesn’t need to know where I am. Not after everything.”

At school, Taehyung’s frustration grew with each passing day. Jungkook’s absence was glaring, and it gnawed at him more than he expected. He cornered Jimin and Hoseok after class one day, his voice tinged with desperation.

“Do you know where Jungkook is?” Taehyung asked, his eyes darting between the two.

Hoseok crossed his arms. “Even if we did, why should we tell you? Haven’t you done enough?”

Jimin stayed silent, looking away.

“I…” Taehyung hesitated, the weight of his guilt evident. “I need to explain things to him. Please.”

Jimin finally met his gaze. “Maybe you should focus on fixing yourself first before you try to fix things with him.”

Taehyung clenched his fists, biting back a retort. Instead, he turned and walked away, his resolve hardening.

That evening, Taehyung sat across from his father in their sprawling dining room.

“I need to know,” Taehyung said, his tone firm. “Who am I supposed to marry from the Jeon clan?”

His father sipped his tea calmly before responding. “It’s not finalized yet. The head of the Jeon family hasn’t disclosed their choice. It could be one of their children, but the decision lies with them.”

Taehyung’s heart raced. “So… it might not be Jungkook?”

“It might not be,” his father replied, setting his cup down. “But why does it matter? You don’t even know them yet.”

Taehyung looked away, his thoughts a whirlwind. “No reason,” he muttered, though his mind screamed otherwise.

Unwilling to give up, Taehyung continued to ask around. He approached Jin one afternoon, hoping for answers.

“Hyung, have you heard anything about where Jungkook might be?” Taehyung asked.

Jin raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so interested? I thought you were done playing your games.”

“I…” Taehyung hesitated. “I just need to talk to him.”

Jin sighed, crossing his arms. “Even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you. You’ve hurt him enough, Taehyung. Maybe it’s time you faced the consequences of your actions.”

Taehyung left the conversation more frustrated than before. He even considered asking the school head, but he knew that would raise more questions than answers.

At Jungkook's staycation house,

Jungkook stood by the window, gazing out at the garden. Jimin and Hoseok had left for the day, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

The silence was interrupted by his phone buzzing. It was a message from his father.

“Let me know if you’ve decided on homeschooling. We can arrange for private tutors if needed.”

Jungkook sighed, typing a quick reply. “I’ll think about it.”

As he set the phone down, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Taehyung was still a lingering presence in his life, even from a distance.

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