part 2

: A Fading Past, A Burning Present

The cold morning air seeped through the slightly open balcony doors, making Taehyung shiver as he pulled the thick blanket tighter around himself. The unfamiliar bed, the grand yet distant aura of the Jeon mansion—it all felt suffocating. He was here, in Jungkook’s house, but not in his heart.

Jungkook watched from the doorway, arms crossed, eyes dark and unreadable. He had finally gotten Taehyung back, but why did it feel like he was further away than ever?

“I’m going to work,” Jungkook finally spoke, voice heavy with the weight of unsaid emotions.

Taehyung didn’t even look up. “Okay.”

That single word, that single indifference—it struck Jungkook harder than any insult ever could. He scoffed, shaking his head, before leaving the room.

Downstairs, BTS members were already gathered in the living room. Jin was sipping his coffee, Jimin and Hoseok were bickering, and Namjoon was deep into a book.

Jungkook stormed past them, making Jimin raise an eyebrow. “What’s with the storm cloud above your head, Jeon?”

“Nothing.”

Jimin exchanged a look with Jin before standing up and following Jungkook out. “It’s about Taehyung, isn’t it?”

Jungkook clenched his jaw. “He doesn’t remember us, Jimin. And if he does, he doesn’t care. I have him here, but it feels like I’ve lost him.”

Jimin sighed. “Give him time. He might not remember everything, but feelings... they never truly fade.”

Jungkook scoffed, but deep down, he clung to those words.

---

Meanwhile, Taehyung sat in the room, staring at an old photo album he had found in one of the drawers. His fingers traced over a picture—him and Jungkook, laughing together under cherry blossom trees.

Why did this image make his chest ache?

Why did Jungkook’s presence stir something inside him—something painful, something longing?

Before he could think further, the door burst open, and J-Hope, Suga, and Jin entered with mischievous grins.

“Alright, Kim Taehyung,” Jin smirked. “You might not remember us properly, but that doesn’t mean we won’t annoy you like old times.”

Suga tossed him a hoodie. “Get dressed. We’re going out.”

Taehyung blinked. “Where?”

J-Hope grinned. “Somewhere special. You’ll see.”

---

Hours later, Jungkook returned home, exhausted from a day of work, only to find the mansion unusually quiet.

“Where’s Taehyung?” he asked the butler.

“Master Taehyung left with the BTS members this afternoon.”

Jungkook’s mood darkened instantly. He didn’t like this. Taehyung being out without him, with others... It twisted something inside him.

Just as he was about to storm upstairs, the door swung open, and in walked Taehyung and the others, laughing.

For a moment, Jungkook could only stare.

Taehyung’s eyes were sparkling, his lips curled into a soft smile.

That smile.

Jungkook hadn’t seen that smile in years.

But the warmth in his chest was immediately doused by the sight of Jimin’s arm draped casually over Taehyung’s shoulder.

His vision turned red.

“Where were you?” Jungkook’s voice was sharp.

The room fell silent.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. “Out.”

Jungkook clenched his fists. “Out where?”

“Why do you care?” Taehyung crossed his arms, matching Jungkook’s heated gaze.

“I care because you’re mine.”

The words hung in the air, thick with tension.

Taehyung scoffed. “Yours? Jungkook, I don’t even remember you properly. How can I be yours?”

That was it. The last straw.

Jungkook stormed forward, grabbing Taehyung by the wrist, pulling him close. “You might have forgotten, but your body hasn’t,” he whispered against Taehyung’s ear. “Your heart hasn’t.”

Taehyung’s breath hitched. He hated how his body reacted, how his pulse raced just from Jungkook’s proximity.

Jimin cleared his throat. “Uh, should we leave?”

Jungkook shot him a glare, making Jimin chuckle. “Fine, fine. We’ll go.”

As soon as the others left, Jungkook’s grip loosened slightly, but he didn’t let go. “Tell me,” he murmured, “when you look at me, do you feel nothing?”

Taehyung swallowed hard. “I... I don’t know.”

Jungkook’s eyes softened for the first time that night. “Then let me make you remember.”

Before Taehyung could respond, Jungkook cupped his face gently, staring into those deep, brown eyes. “I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll make you fall for me again.”

Taehyung hated how much those words affected him.

Because deep down, he already felt himself slipping.

---

To be continued…

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