chapter 14
The next evening, after a long day of work, Kook found herself staring at her phone, the screen glowing in the dim light of her room. The weight of the decision she had made earlier felt heavier now. She had been overthinking everything—what was real, what wasn’t, and how to handle the complexities of her feelings toward someone she had never even met in person.
She thought about the connection she’d shared with **Winter Bear** . It had been intense, full of warmth and deep conversations, and despite everything that had happened, Kook couldn’t deny how much she had grown fond of Winter Bear. But that wasn’t love, not in the way Winter Bear had hoped for. The guilt gnawed at Kook as she realized that she had to be honest with herself—and with Winter Bear.
She opened the Instagram message thread with **Winter Bear**, her fingers hovering above the screen. It felt like a final step, a necessary one, though it pained her to do so. She knew that the only way forward was to be truthful.
Taking a deep breath, Kook typed:
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
Bear, I want you to know that I really care about you and I’d love for us to be friends.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
I’m sorry for how everything has turned out—I didn’t mean to hurt you.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
I’ll always be here for you as Bunny the Butterfly, and I hope you’ll be okay with that.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
I care about you, but I can’t give you what you deserve.
@bunny_the_butterfly ( kook)
I hope we can still be there for each other as friends.
Kook stared at the message for a long time, her heart heavy. But she couldn’t pretend anymore, not to herself or to Winter Bear. She pressed "send," feeling like she had just opened a door that couldn’t be closed again.
On the other side of the world, Taehyung— Bear—had just wrapped up a long day on set, her mind still partially occupied with the emotional rollercoaster from the past few days. Her heart was still tender from Kook's rejection, but Taehyung had tried to keep busy, burying herself in work and the script for her new project.
She couldn't help but think about Bunny the Butterfly, though. She couldn’t quite shake the feeling that there was something left unsaid, something important she needed to address.
Finally, when she had a moment to breathe, Taehyung pulled out her phone. She saw Kook’s message pop up, and her heart skipped a beat. The message was clear, and though the pain of rejection still lingered, Taehyung couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
At least Kook was being honest, and maybe, just maybe, they could still find a way to stay in each other’s lives, even if it wasn’t as lovers.
Taehyung opened the message and read it carefully. Then, with a quiet sigh, she began to type her response:
@winter_bear ( tae)
Bunny , I understand. I really do.
@winter_bear ( tae)
I’m grateful for your honesty, and I’m glad we can still be friends. Even if I can't be the one you love, I can still love you as a friend.
@winter_bear ( tae)
I’ll always cherish the connection we had, and I’m glad we met, even if it wasn’t the way I had hoped. I’m still here for you, no matter what.
Taehyung hit "send," her heart heavy but also strangely at peace. She didn’t know if they would ever be able to meet in person or if their online connection would fade over time, but for now, she would accept this new version of their relationship. She didn’t regret the feelings she had developed for Kook; she didn’t regret any of it. All she wanted was for Bunny the Butterfly to be happy, even if that happiness wasn’t with her.
Kook, on the other side of the world, let out a small sigh of relief when she saw Winter Bear’s response. She felt a mixture of sadness and gratitude. Their connection had been real, but it had never been the type of love that could sustain a relationship, not the way Winter Bear had hoped for. Still, the thought of being friends was comforting. Maybe it was a new beginning, a chance to still be there for each other.
In a way, this was the closure they both needed—being honest, even if the truth hurt, and still offering each other something meaningful, even if it wasn’t what they originally wanted.
Later that day, Yoongi came by to discuss the upcoming movie and the role Taehyung was set to play. The director’s calm demeanor and professional approach seemed like a much-needed distraction for Taehyung. She had thrown herself into work, using it as an escape from her personal heartache.
Yoongi handed her the script and went over the story once more. Taehyung's character, a mafia queen, was complex—strong but vulnerable, fiercely protective but capable of deep emotional connection. The plot was intense, the stakes high, as her character fell in love with an innocent orphan girl, someone pure and brave.
Their love was tested when Taehyung’s character's ex tried to separate them, even resorting to violence to tear them apart. The final twist was intense, with Taehyung’s character having to protect her love at all costs, even if it meant killing her ex.
Yoongi explained they would begin shooting in three months, handing Taehyung a copy of the script before he left. Taehyung felt a rush of excitement. This role could help her process everything she was feeling—about love, loss, and betrayal—and bring it to life in a way that felt authentic.
But for now, the script was a new focus, a way to redirect her energy. Maybe, in time, the pain of losing Bunny the Butterfly would fade. Maybe she would even be able to pour some of that emotion into her character and tell a story of love that was real, no matter how complicated.
For now, though, both Kook and Taehyung had taken a step forward—one that was painful but necessary. They would be friends, supporting each other from afar, even if they couldn’t be together in the way they had once hoped.
authornin
I was not happy with the previous explainsion so I kinda repeat it again sorry
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