Fragments of fragile heart

The walk home felt longer than usual.
The campus pathways were familiar, the streetlights casting golden pools of light onto the pavement, but tonight, everything felt heavier.

Namjoon and Yoongi's words played on a loop in Taehyung's mind, each sentence carving deeper into the uncertainty already settled in his heart.

"If you want to ease his pain, then confess."

"You think Jungkook buried his feelings because he stopped loving you? He didn't. He still loves you. He's just convinced that you don't love him back."

Taehyung swallowed hard, his fingers curling into fists in the pockets of his coat.His heart ached at the thought of Jungkook believing, even for a second, that he wasn't loved.

He thought back to every time Jungkook had looked at him with soft admiration-back then, when Taehyung hadn't known what it meant. The way Jungkook had always put him first, the way he had smiled even when he was hurting.

He thought about the accident, the moment he had almost lost Jungkook for good.

The blood.
The way Jungkook had smiled even then, in pain.
The way Taehyung had screamed his name, his heart stopping in terror.

He clenched his jaw, shaking his head.

"What if I fail him again?"

What if he confessed, and it wasn't enough?What if Jungkook had buried his feelings so deeply that he wouldn't allow himself to love Taehyung again?

The thought made Taehyung's chest feel too tight.

Love wasn't something he had ever feared before. He had dated, flirted, broken hearts, and had his heart broken. It was always easy. Always fleeting.

But this-this was different.

This was Jungkook.And Taehyung had never wanted anything as much as he wanted him.He exhaled shakily, rubbing a hand over his face.

His mind was messy, conflicted.

His heart already knew the truth.

He loved Jungkook. Completely, painfully, irrevocably.

He just didn't know if he still deserved to.

Would Jungkook even let him?

When Taehyung arrived home, he found Jungkook sitting in the living room, a soft blanket draped over his legs, absentmindedly flipping through a book.

For a moment, Taehyung just stood there, watching him.

Jungkook looked so peaceful, yet so distant.

It was strange.

Jungkook was right there, yet Taehyung felt like he was already losing him.

Taehyung clenched his fists.

"Not again."

Not again.

He wouldn't let himself lose Jungkook again.Jungkook noticed him then, blinking up with his wide, doe-like eyes. "Tae? You're late."

His voice was soft, careful. Like he was still afraid to let himself be too close.

Taehyung swallowed the lump in his throat and forced a small smile. "Yeah... I got caught up in some things."

Jungkook nodded but didn't ask. He never did anymore.

There was a time when Jungkook would have pestered him endlessly, demanding to know everything about his day.Now, he just accepted the silence.