Ch 18 The Price of Truth

[Present Day – Jungkook’s Apartment]

The door slammed shut behind them.

Jungkook ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. His pulse pounded in his ears, drowning out everything else.

Jin had admitted it. He had cursed them. He had done it all—every lifetime, every death, every tragedy—because he loved Jungkook.

And now, they had to find a way to break it.

Taehyung stood near the window, his arms crossed, staring outside with an unreadable expression. The dim city lights reflected in his dark eyes.

"Taehyung," Jungkook called softly.

No response.

Jungkook took a deep breath, stepping closer. "Say something."

Taehyung let out a slow, shaky exhale. "I don’t know what to say."

Jungkook clenched his jaw. "We’ll fix this."

Taehyung finally turned to face him. "How, Jungkook? This isn’t just some bad dream we can wake up from. It’s our reality. It’s been our reality for lifetimes."

Jungkook reached for his hand, but Taehyung pulled away. His voice was strained. "Do you know how exhausting it is to die over and over? To lose you, to suffer, to be ripped apart by a fate I never chose?"

Jungkook’s heart twisted. "Taehyung…"

"I don’t want to hope anymore," Taehyung whispered, his voice breaking. "Because hope has only ever led to pain."

Jungkook’s breath caught in his throat.

Taehyung looked at him, something raw and broken in his gaze. "If we can’t break this, will you let me go?"

Jungkook’s chest ached. "No."

Taehyung let out a bitter chuckle. "Of course not."

Jungkook grabbed his wrist, his grip firm but not forceful. "We are going to fix this. You and me. I won’t let him take you from me again."

Taehyung searched his eyes, something flickering behind his tired gaze.

"Please," Jungkook whispered.

For a long moment, Taehyung didn’t move.

Then, finally, he nodded.

Jungkook exhaled in relief, pulling him into a tight embrace. Taehyung hesitated before slowly melting into his arms, burying his face into Jungkook’s shoulder.

"I’m scared," Taehyung admitted.

Jungkook pressed a kiss against his hair. "Me too."

But he wasn’t going to lose. Not this time.

No matter what it took.

\[Elsewhere – Jin’s Apartment\]

Jin stood by his window, watching the city. His reflection stared back at him from the glass.

He lifted a hand, fingers tracing the cold surface.

A quiet chuckle escaped his lips. "Foolish boys."

His eyes darkened.

"You can't escape fate."

[Present Day – Namjoon’s Library]

Jungkook and Taehyung sat across from Namjoon, watching as he flipped through the pages of an ancient-looking book. Dust swirled in the dim light of the study, the scent of aged paper thick in the air.

Namjoon sighed, finally closing the book with a soft thud. “I’ve gone through every text I could find on curses and reincarnation.”

Jungkook leaned forward. “And?”

Namjoon rubbed his temples. “Most of the cases are myths, legends… stories passed down without proof. But if Jin is truly responsible for this, then there has to be a way to break it.”

Taehyung exhaled. “We don’t have much time, Namjoon. We need something solid.”

Namjoon nodded, his expression serious. “There’s one theory that stands out. It says a curse fueled by obsession can only be broken by a sacrifice of equal weight.”

Jungkook frowned. “Sacrifice?”

Namjoon’s voice was careful. “Something—or someone—has to be given up.”

Taehyung’s breath hitched. “Given up…?”

Namjoon hesitated. “Either the one who cast the curse… or the ones trapped in it.”

Jungkook’s entire body tensed. “No. We’re not doing that.”

Namjoon looked at him grimly. “Then find another way. But if Jin won’t undo this himself, we may not have a choice.”

Silence filled the room.

Taehyung clenched his fists. “There has to be another way.”

Namjoon’s eyes softened. “We’ll keep looking.”

Jungkook swallowed the lump in his throat. “We don’t have much time.”

Namjoon nodded. “Then let’s not waste it.”

\[Elsewhere – Yoongi’s Apartment\]