Fragments of fragile heart

The following days passed in a blur for Jungkook. Despite the weight of his emotions still lingering in the back of his mind, there was a shift in him-something lighter, though faint. Talking to Eunwoo had freed him, even if just a little. He no longer felt like he was drowning in his feelings, and while the pain of seeing Taehyung with Junghwon was still sharp, he knew that he didn't have to carry it in silence anymore.

He started spending more time at the café, where he and Eunwoo could talk and unwind after their classes. Eunwoo became a steady source of support, someone Jungkook could rely on without fear of judgment. But the truth was, no matter how much Eunwoo helped, the biggest weight still hung over him: his unspoken love for Taehyung.

---

One afternoon, Jungkook found himself alone in the park, sitting on a bench under the shade of a large oak tree. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, only to see a message from Taehyung.

Taehyung: Hey, Kookie. Are you free later? I was thinking of going to the art museum. Want to join me?

Jungkook's heart skipped a beat. He stared at the screen for a moment, the words blurring in front of him. It had been days since they'd spent time alone, and despite everything, he still wanted to be with Taehyung. But the thought of seeing Taehyung with Junghwon-of feeling like an outsider in his best friend's life-made him hesitate.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard as he typed a response, but before he could send it, another message popped up.

Taehyung: It's okay if you're busy, but I just thought I'd ask. It's been a while since we hung out.

Jungkook sighed, his heart aching. He wanted to go. He always wanted to be with Taehyung, even if it hurt. But he also knew that seeing Junghwon with him would break him a little more each time.

Finally, he typed back.

Jungkook: I'll be there. What time?

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he hit send, even though he knew this day wasn't going to be easy. But if there was one thing Jungkook knew, it was that being close to Taehyung-even in the midst of his pain-was still better than being apart.

---

Later that evening, Jungkook met Taehyung outside the museum. Taehyung was standing near the entrance, looking as effortlessly handsome as ever. His bright eyes lit up when he saw Jungkook approach, and his usual warmth seemed to fill the space between them.

"Hey, Kookie!" Taehyung greeted, waving excitedly.

"Hey, hyung," Jungkook replied, his voice a little too light for how he felt inside. He could feel the tension building in his chest, but he tried to push it aside. "You've been to this museum before?"

"Yeah, a few times," Taehyung said with a grin. "But I thought it'd be nice to go again. They have a new exhibit I wanted to check out."

Jungkook nodded, though his mind wasn't fully on the conversation. Instead, his thoughts were focused on Junghwon-the way he always seemed to be lurking just out of sight, like a shadow behind Taehyung. His gut twisted with the familiar ache, but he forced himself to smile.

They entered the museum together, strolling through the quiet halls filled with paintings and sculptures. For a while, they simply talked about the artwork, the vibrant colors, and the stories behind each piece. But as they made their way deeper into the museum, Jungkook noticed that Taehyung seemed distracted, his attention flitting from the exhibits to his phone.

Finally, Taehyung broke the silence.

"I think Junghwon's planning something special for me this weekend," Taehyung said casually, his fingers scrolling through his messages.