Episode 13: Regrets

The weight of Jungkook's absence had settled over Taehyung like an unrelenting storm. It had been weeks since Jungkook vanished, leaving no traces of where he might be. Taehyung wandered through the school hallways, his mind a chaotic swirl of emotions—regret, confusion, and longing. He had never expected his own games to lead to such a devastating reality.

In a desperate bid to find Jungkook, Taehyung approached Jin during their lunch break. Jin, always the caring class president, had noticed Taehyung’s change in demeanor.

“Tae, you’ve been distracted lately,” Jin said, leaning against the cafeteria table. “What’s going on?”

“Jin-hyung…” Taehyung hesitated, running a hand through his messy hair. “Have you… have you seen Jungkook? Or heard where he went?”

Jin frowned. “No one knows, Tae. He’s been on an academic break, and even the teachers haven’t heard from him. Why do you ask?”

Taehyung sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping. “I… I just need to see him.”

Meanwhile, Taehyung also confronted Jimin and Hoseok, who both remained tight-lipped. “If you know where Jungkook is, tell me,” Taehyung demanded, his voice almost breaking.

Jimin crossed his arms, shielding his growing feelings for Jungkook. “Even if we did know, what makes you think you deserve to see him after what you’ve done?” he shot back, his voice sharp.

Taehyung flinched but didn’t respond. Hoseok, ever the mediator, gently placed a hand on Jimin’s shoulder, steering him away. “Tae, just… give him time. That’s all I can say.”

The desperation started to spill into Taehyung’s music club. During practice, his vocals faltered, and he struggled to focus on the melodies. Namjoon finally stepped in after another failed session.

“Tae, this can’t go on,” Namjoon said, arms crossed as he leaned against the studio wall. “You need to pull yourself together, or we’ll have to postpone our performances.”

“I know, hyung,” Taehyung whispered, staring blankly at his guitar. “I just… I don’t know how to fix this.”

“You should figure it out soon,” Yoongi added, his tone uncharacteristically cold. “Because whatever you’re dealing with is dragging all of us down.”

Meanwhile, Jungkook remained at the Jeon clan’s luxurious staycation house, surrounded by serene gardens and peaceful silence. Yet, even the beauty of his surroundings couldn’t soothe his aching heart.

Jimin and Hoseok frequently visited, bringing notes and assignments from school to keep him up-to-date.

“Do you miss it?” Hoseok asked one afternoon as they sat on the terrace, the sun casting a golden glow over the landscape.

“School?” Jungkook asked, glancing at him.

“Not just school,” Hoseok replied. “Your life before this.”

Jungkook hesitated before nodding. “Sometimes, I think about going back. But then I remember everything, and… it just feels too overwhelming.”

Jimin, sitting quietly nearby, watched Jungkook with concern. His feelings for Jungkook had only grown stronger, but seeing him in pain hurt him more than anything. “You don’t have to rush, Jungkook,” he said softly. “We’re here for you.”

At school, Yoongi’s feelings for Jimin grew deeper. Determined to win Jimin over, he began making more deliberate efforts to court him.

One day, Yoongi approached Jimin in the music room, carrying a cup of coffee. “You looked tired in class today,” Yoongi said, placing the cup on the table in front of Jimin.

Jimin looked up, surprised. “Oh, thanks, hyung… but you didn’t have to.”

Yoongi smiled softly. “I wanted to. You work so hard, Jimin. You deserve someone who notices.”

Jimin’s cheeks flushed slightly, and he looked away, unsure how to respond. Despite his growing confusion about his feelings for Yoongi, he couldn’t deny the warmth Yoongi’s actions brought.

Later that day, Yoongi found Jimin in the library. He slid a small notebook across the table. “Lyrics,” Yoongi explained. “I thought maybe you’d like to look at them. You’ve always had a good eye for detail.”

Jimin hesitated, then took the notebook. “Thanks, hyung,” he said quietly, his heart conflicted.

That evening, Taehyung sat in his room, scrolling through old photos on his phone—most of them of Jungkook. His chest tightened as he replayed every moment they had shared, every smile, every laugh.

He picked up his phone and dialed his father’s number. “Dad,” he said when the call connected, his voice trembling. “Can you tell me who I’m supposed to marry in the Jeon clan?”

His father’s response was vague, as always. “You’ll meet them after graduation. That’s all you need to know for now.”

Taehyung hung up, frustration bubbling inside him. “What if it’s not Jungkook?” he muttered to himself, the thought alone making his heart ache

Taehyung stands outside Jungkook’s apartment building, staring up at the darkened windows. “Where are you, Jungkook?” he whispers into the night, his voice heavy with regret and longing.

Meanwhile, at the Jeon clan’s staycation house, Jungkook sits on the edge of his bed, holding his phone. His finger hovers over Taehyung’s contact, but he doesn’t press it. The wound in his heart feels too fresh, too deep.

The both guys lost in their own worlds, their paths diverging, but their hearts still tied together.

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