Fragments of fragile heart

Taehyung's POV

The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Taehyung stirred awake, his arms still loosely wrapped around Jungkook, who was snuggled into his chest. His heart clenched as he gazed at the younger boy, so peaceful in his sleep, unaware of the whirlwind of emotions that Taehyung had been grappling with all night.

His thoughts from the previous night were clearer now. He loved Jungkook—he had no doubts anymore. But he didn’t want to overwhelm him, not when Jungkook was still healing.

Taehyung couldn’t help but trace Jungkook’s features with his eyes—the way his eyelashes fanned out against his cheeks, the way his lips slightly parted as he breathed. He looked so serene, as though the weight of the world wasn’t resting on his small shoulders.

But Taehyung knew better. He knew what Jungkook had endured, the scars he carried, both visible and hidden.

He tightened his arms around Jungkook protectively, his mind drifting back to the past. He couldn’t stop the flood of memories that came rushing in—the times he had spoken harshly to Jungkook, pushed him away because of Junghwon’s lies, and failed to see the pain Jungkook was going through

The scene replayed vividly in his mind—the day Junghwon manipulated him.

Junghwon's lip trembled as he began to fake cry, his voice shaking. "H-He hit me! I was just trying to talk to him, and he-he slapped me!"

And Taehyung had believed him.

He remembered confronting Jungkook, his words sharp and cutting. "You've been acting strange around him since the start. You never gave him a chance, and now you're hitting him in front of everyone?"

Taehyung’s voice had been cold, unrecognizable even to himself. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

The look on Jungkook’s face—hurt, betrayal, desperation—was etched into Taehyung’s memory. He remembered the way Jungkook had tried to explain, the tremble in his voice as he pleaded, the way his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

“I was so blind,” Taehyung whispered to himself, his voice cracking. “I hurt you when all you wanted was to protect me.”

He felt a lump rise in his throat as guilt washed over him. How could he have been so easily manipulated? How could he have doubted Jungkook, the one person who had always been by his side?

Taehyung wiped at his eyes hastily, not wanting Jungkook to wake up and see him crying. He couldn’t let Jungkook know how much he was beating himself up over the past. Jungkook was too perceptive, too attuned to his emotions, and Taehyung couldn’t risk adding to his burdens.

“I don’t deserve you, Kookie,” Taehyung thought, his heart aching. “After everything I said, everything I did… how can he still look at me with those eyes, like I’m his entire world?”
But I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that I can be someone worthy of your love.”

But even as the guilt threatened to consume him, there was something else—a burning resolve. He couldn’t change the past, but he could spend every moment from now on making it up to Jungkook.

With that resolve, he pressed a soft kiss to Jungkook’s temple, silently vowing to protect him and cherish him forever

He carefully shifted out of bed, not wanting to disturb Jungkook. After tucking the blanket securely around him, Taehyung stepped out of the room.

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Later that morning, Taehyung joined everyone in the living room. Jin, Yoongi, Namjoon, Hobi, Jimin, Eunwoo, and his parents were already seated, their expressions somber. Taehyung glanced at the empty spot where Jungkook usually sat, knowing he was still asleep upstairs.