Ch 19 : A Line in the Sand

[Present Day – Jungkook’s Apartment]

Jungkook sat on the edge of the couch, hands gripping his knees. His mind raced, replaying Namjoon’s words.

"A sacrifice of equal weight."

Taehyung sat across from him, staring at his hands, lost in thought. The dim lighting cast soft shadows on his face, making him look even more exhausted than before.

Jungkook clenched his jaw. "We’re not doing it."

Taehyung exhaled. "Jungkook—"

"I said no," Jungkook snapped, his voice sharper than intended.

Taehyung flinched but didn’t look away. "You think I want this?"

Jungkook’s anger wavered. Taehyung’s voice was raw, filled with something too painful to name.

Jungkook took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "We’ll find another way. We have to."

Taehyung looked at him, his gaze unreadable. "And if we don’t?"

Jungkook didn’t answer.

Because he refused to entertain that thought.

\[Elsewhere – Jin’s Apartment\]

Jin leaned against the window, a glass of red wine in his hand. The city lights flickered outside, but his focus was elsewhere.

A knock on the door.

"Come in," he said without turning around.

The door opened, and Namjoon stepped inside. His expression was unreadable, but Jin knew him well enough to sense the tension beneath the surface.

"You’ve been busy," Namjoon murmured, eyes scanning the untouched dinner on the table.

Jin chuckled. "And yet, you’re here."

Namjoon didn’t waste time. "End it."

Jin swirled his wine. "Why would I do that?"

"Because you’ve already won," Namjoon said quietly. "You have them trapped. But this cycle—it won’t bring you peace."

Jin finally turned to face him. His smile was sad. "There is no peace for people like us, Namjoon."

Namjoon studied him for a long moment. "Then tell me, what will it take?"

Jin tilted his head, considering.

And then, softly, he said, "A choice."

[Present Day – Jungkook’s Apartment]

Taehyung lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

Jungkook was beside him, his breathing slow, steady. Asleep.

Taehyung shifted, his chest tight with an unspoken truth.

"What if there’s no way out?"

His fingers curled into the sheets.

Because if it came down to a choice—

He already knew what he would do.

\[later that night– Jungkook’s Apartment\]

Jungkook stirred awake, the faint rustling of fabric pulling him from his sleep. He blinked, adjusting to the dim light, and his heart immediately clenched.

Taehyung was standing near the door, fully dressed, his bag slung over his shoulder.

Jungkook sat up, his voice rough with sleep. "Where are you going?"

Taehyung froze. He didn’t turn around.

Jungkook pushed the blanket off, his pulse quickening. "Taehyung—"

"I have to do this," Taehyung interrupted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jungkook’s chest tightened. "No."

Taehyung turned then, and the look in his eyes shattered Jungkook completely.

It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t doubt.

It was acceptance.

Jungkook shook his head, stepping forward. "You’re not doing this."

Taehyung swallowed hard. "If someone has to be sacrificed—"

"It won’t be you!" Jungkook shouted, his voice raw.

Taehyung flinched, but he didn’t move.

"I won’t let you do this," Jungkook’s voice cracked, desperation clawing at his throat. "We promised we’d find another way."

"Jungkook—"

"No!" Jungkook grabbed his wrist, his grip tight. "Don’t you dare leave me."

Taehyung’s breath hitched. "You don’t understand—"

"I do!" Jungkook’s eyes burned. "You think I can live knowing you sacrificed yourself for me? That I’ll just move on?"

Taehyung bit his lip, his gaze flickering with something close to pain. "If it means breaking this curse—"

"Then we break it together!"

Taehyung inhaled sharply.

Jungkook cupped his face, forcing Taehyung to look at him. "Please," he whispered. "Stay."

A single tear slipped down Taehyung’s cheek.

And then—slowly—he nodded.

Jungkook exhaled shakily, pressing their foreheads together. "We fight together."

Taehyung’s hands gripped Jungkook’s shirt, his body trembling. "Together."

And for the first time in a long time—

Hope flickered between them.

[Elsewhere – Jin’s Apartment]

Jin placed his glass down, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

"They really are stubborn, aren’t they?"

Namjoon leaned against the wall, his expression unreadable. "They’re in love."

Jin chuckled. "Love is a fragile thing."

Namjoon studied him carefully. "And yet, you’ve spent lifetimes trying to break it."

Jin’s smile faltered.

For the first time, he had no answer.

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