Ch 17 Truth Beneath the Mask

[Present Day – Jin’s Apartment]

Jungkook stood in front of the door, his heart hammering in his chest.

Taehyung stood beside him, his expression unreadable, but Jungkook could feel the tension radiating from him.

Yoongi’s words echoed in his mind.

"If Jin remembers… he won’t let Taehyung live."

Jungkook shook his head. No. This is Jin. My brother. He wouldn’t hurt us.

He knocked.

A few seconds later, the door opened. Jin stood there, dressed in a simple white shirt and black sweatpants, his hair slightly disheveled. He smiled. "Jungkook? Taehyung?"

His voice was warm, welcoming. Familiar.

Jungkook wanted to believe it.

"Can we talk?" Jungkook asked.

Jin stepped aside. "Of course."

They walked in. The apartment was neat, smelling faintly of coffee and vanilla. Nothing about it felt threatening.

Yet Taehyung stayed close to Jungkook, his fingers twitching slightly at his side.

Jin motioned to the couch. "Sit. Do you want anything to drink?"

Jungkook shook his head. "We just need to ask you something."

Jin sat across from them, his smile softening. "You look serious. What’s wrong?"

Jungkook hesitated. Then, finally, he said it.

"Do you remember our past lives?"

Jin’s expression didn’t change.

For a moment, silence stretched between them.

Then, Jin let out a quiet chuckle. "What kind of question is that?"

Jungkook didn’t answer. He just watched him.

Taehyung spoke next, his voice steady. "We know the truth, Jin."

Jin’s smile faltered.

Taehyung continued, "We know about the curse. We know what you did to me."

Jin leaned back against the couch, exhaling softly. His expression didn’t show shock. No denial. No confusion.

Only understanding.

"So… you remember," Jin murmured.

Jungkook’s stomach twisted. "Then it’s true?"

Jin looked at him, his gaze unreadable. Then, finally, he nodded.

Jungkook felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs.

"Why?" he whispered.

Jin’s lips curled into a small, almost sad smile. "You already know why, Jungkook."

Taehyung’s hands clenched. "Because you love him."

Jin tilted his head slightly. "Is it so wrong?"

Jungkook’s breath hitched. "You cursed us."

Jin’s gaze darkened slightly. "I did what I had to."

Jungkook shook his head in disbelief. "You ruined our lives, Jin!"

Jin exhaled. "No, Jungkook. I didn’t ruin your life. I tried to save you."

Taehyung’s voice was sharp. "By making me suffer?"

Jin’s eyes flickered toward Taehyung, and for the first time, something cold passed through them.

"By keeping you away from him."

Jungkook felt sick. "You never had the right to decide that."

Jin smiled faintly. "And yet, in every lifetime, you still end up in pain. Maybe I wasn’t wrong."

Taehyung’s hands trembled at his sides.

Jungkook clenched his fists. "We came here for the truth, Jin. Now that we have it, we’re leaving."

Jin didn’t stop them.

But as they reached the door, Jin’s voice came softly from behind.

"You think you can break the curse?"

Jungkook froze.

Jin’s voice was calm, almost amused. "Do you really think love alone is enough?"

Jungkook turned his head slightly. "I’ll do whatever it takes."

Jin smiled. "Then be prepared, Jungkook. Because fate doesn’t like being rewritten."

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