Ch 15 : Whispers of the Past

[Present Day – Jungkook’s Apartment]

Jungkook lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Sleep had become a luxury ever since the memories started flooding back—visions of lifetimes where he had lost Taehyung, over and over again.

Each one ended the same.

With blood on his hands.

He turned his head, his gaze falling on Taehyung, who sat cross-legged on the floor, flipping through an old leather-bound book. The candle beside him cast flickering shadows on his face, making him look almost unreal.

Jungkook exhaled. "That book… What is it?"

Taehyung didn’t look up. "A record of our past lives."

Jungkook sat up instantly. "Where did you get it?"

Taehyung’s lips curled into a ghost of a smile. "From someone who remembers more than we do."

Jungkook frowned. "Who?"

Taehyung finally met his gaze, eyes dark with meaning. "Yoongi."

Jungkook's breath caught. "Yoongi…?"

Taehyung nodded. "He was there, Jungkook. In every lifetime."

Jungkook’s mind reeled. His closest friend—someone he had trusted without question—had known all along?

"Why didn’t he tell me?" Jungkook muttered.

"Because knowing too soon always destroys you," Taehyung said quietly. "He was protecting you."

Jungkook clenched his fists. "I don’t need protection. I need the truth."

Taehyung closed the book and stood up, stepping closer. "Then let’s go get it."

\[Past Life – A Moonlit Garden\]

Yoongi stood by the fountain, his hands resting on the stone edge as he gazed into the water. His reflection stared back—tired, resigned, burdened by knowledge no man should bear.

"You’re late," he murmured.

Taehyung stepped into the garden, his white robes trailing behind him. "You knew I was coming."

Yoongi sighed. "I always do."

Taehyung’s voice was quiet. "Tell me the truth, Yoongi."

Yoongi didn’t look away from the water. "Some truths aren’t meant to be spoken, Taehyung."

Taehyung took another step closer. "But they need to be heard."

Yoongi finally turned to face him. "Then hear this—if you try to change fate, it will break you."

Taehyung’s heart clenched. "It already has."

Yoongi exhaled. "Then you are ready."

[Present Day – Yoongi’s Studio]

The moment Jungkook and Taehyung stepped inside, Yoongi let out a deep sigh. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

Jungkook crossed his arms. "You knew all along."