Chapter 4

Outside the Office – Just After

Y/N stepped out of Taehyung’s office, her eyes still glassy, lips trembling. She tried to blink back the tears but they kept spilling out silently. Her chest felt heavy — the fear, the guilt, and something else she couldn’t name.

Kate rushed to her as soon as she saw her.

“Y/N! Oh my god, are you okay?” she whispered, pulling her to a quieter corner near the stairs.

Y/N shook her head as tears streamed down. “I-I was so scared, Katie… He looked so angry. I thought he’d—” her voice cracked, “I thought he might hit me.”

Kate hugged her tightly, brushing her hair softly. “Hey, hey… no, he’d never hurt you. You know that.”

“I don’t know anymore,” Y/N whispered. “I’ve never seen him that angry… Not even at me. I feel so... small.”

Kate was about to respond when a calm but concerned voice interrupted.

“Y/N?”

They both turned — Jungkook stood a few feet away, brows furrowed, eyes locking onto Y/N’s tear-streaked face.

“Come here,” he said gently, already walking toward her.

Without hesitation, Y/N stepped into his arms. He wrapped her up in a tight, warm hug, one hand protectively on the back of her head. She melted into him, burying her face in his chest, sobs muffled against his shirt.

Jungkook’s heart twisted. “Shh… I got you, baby. You’re okay.”

He glanced at Kate and gave her a nod.( She was jaelous seeing y/n hugging jungkook as she know Taehyung and jungkook are her step brothers as well. And kate has cruch in jungkook). She understood and stepped away to give them privacy.

Jungkook led Y/N down the hallway and into his office, quietly shutting the door behind them. The room was calm, filled with soft lighting and the faint scent of coffee and lavender.

He sat down on the couch, pulling her gently into his lap like she was the most fragile thing in the world.

“Now, tell me. Why are you crying like this, hmm?” he whispered, brushing her hair out of her face and wiping her tears with his thumb. “Was hyung that harsh?”

Y/N nodded slowly, voice barely above a whisper. “He didn’t hit me… but I thought he would. I’ve never seen him like that. His eyes were so cold.”

Jungkook let out a soft sigh, pressing a kiss to her temple.

“He wouldn’t hurt you. Not even if he lost his mind,” he said softly. “But I know why it felt that way. He’s angry… not at you. At himself.”

Y/N looked up, red-eyed and confused.

“He doesn’t want to scare you,” Jungkook continued. “But when you mess up, he feels like he has to choose between being your brother and your professor. It’s killing him.”

Her lip quivered again. “Then why didn’t he just tell me that?”

“Because Taehyung hyung doesn’t know how to talk when he’s hurting,” Jungkook murmured. “He just… shuts down and hides behind that cold face. But I know him. He’s probably sitting alone in his office right now, regretting everything he said.”

He cradled her closer, gently rocking her.

“You’re not alone, Y/N. You’ve got me.got us. Always,” he whispered, placing another soft kiss on her forehead. “And I promise you — no matter how mad hyung gets, he’ll never stop loving you. Neither of us will.”

Y/N clung to him tighter, sniffling, heart still aching — but slowly, it started to hurt a little less.

Back Home – Kim Mansion, Evening

The car ride home was painfully silent.

Y/N sat curled up in the back seat, eyes fixed on the passing streetlights. Her chest was still tight. Every time she dared glance at Taehyung’s reflection in the rearview mirror, she looked away immediately. His face was unreadable — cold and distant.

Jungkook occasionally looked back at her, offering a soft, reassuring smile, but it didn’t help much. Not tonight.

Once they arrived, the mansion felt colder than usual. No laughter, no usual chattering of Y/N being her bubbly self. Just a suffocating silence.

As soon as the door shut behind them, Taehyung’s deep voice echoed in the hallway.

“Y/N. Bring your books. Study room. Now.”

She froze in place, eyes wide. “But, oppa… we just got home—”

“So?”

His voice was sharp, final.

Y/N looked helplessly at Jungkook, who sighed quietly. “I’ll cook dinner, hyung. No worries.”

Taehyung didn’t respond. He just walked off to his room with rigid steps, disappearing behind his door.

Y/N pouted, defeated, and dragged herself toward the stairs. Her chest tightened again as she walked into her room. She changed into a loose hoodie and joggers, grabbed her books with trembling hands, and made her way to the study.

Her heart pounded as she stepped inside.

Taehyung was already there — standing by the window, arms crossed, his expression stone-cold. The large study table was already set up, with a chair pulled out. She knew what that meant.

“Sit.”

She obeyed without a word, head low.

Taehyung walked over and stood behind her, peering down at her notes. His voice was calm — too calm. “Explain this equation.”

Y/N fumbled with the pen. “I-I… I forgot, oppa. I… I’m sorry…”

He said nothing. His silence was worse than yelling.

“You forgot,” he finally said, pacing slowly behind her. “After two hours of tutoring last week? After Jungkook and I made you promise you'd study every night?”

“I didn’t mean to— I just— I got distracted and—”

“I don’t care,” he cut in coldly. “Do you think this world will care about your distractions, Y/N? Do you think life will go easy on you because you’re clumsy and cute?”

His voice cracked slightly, but he masked it.

“I won’t let you ruin yourself,” he said, cane in hand again — but not lifted. Just there, resting against the desk as a symbol of threat. “Even if I have to become the villain. Even if you hate me.”

Y/N’s throat closed. “But oppa… I already feel like you hate me.”

That stopped him.

He turned sharply, eyes burning with a mix of pain and fury. “What did you say?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stood up. “You look at me like I’m a burden. You don’t talk to me unless I mess up. I’m trying but… maybe I’m just not good enough for your expectations.”

Taehyung stared at her — stunned, frozen. He hadn’t expected that. Not from her.

Not from the one person he loved more than anything in the world.

He stepped closer, slowly. “Y/N…”

She flinched slightly.

That broke him.

He reached for her shoulders, not roughly — but firm, grounding.

“I don’t hate you,” he said, voice low and trembling. “I hate myself. For not being able to protect you from the world… and now, from me.”

Silence fell heavy between them. His breathing was unsteady now.

Just then, the door creaked open — Jungkook peeked in.

“Dinner’s ready,” he said gently, then paused as he saw the scene.

Y/N in tears. Taehyung looking devastated. The air thick with unspoken emotion.

“I’ll… I’ll give you two a minute,” Jungkook said softly, then left.