Still With You ?

Meanwhile with Tae

After leaving Jungkook's room, Taehyung walked straight to his own. He didn't stop, didn't look back-he just needed to be alone. As soon as he stepped inside, he locked the door behind him.

His legs felt weak. He slid down against the door, hugging his knees to his chest as the weight of everything crashed down on him.

And then, he cried.

Tears streamed down his face, his sobs muffled against his arms. He had been holding it in for so long, pretending he was okay, pretending it didn't hurt-but it did. It hurt so much.

A knock on the door startled him. His breath hitched, but he didn't move. He didn't want to see anyone. After a few knocks, the sound faded away, leaving only his quiet sobs behind.

Dragging himself to his bed, he curled up into a ball, clutching his pillow tightly. His mind replayed everything-Jungkook's broken state at the event, the way his brothers fought with the rivals, how Jin and the others broke their promise.

He felt betrayed.

Tears blurred his vision as he reached out for a small frame on his bedside table. His fingers trembled as he held the photo close to his chest.

"Eo-eomma... hyungie lied to me again," he whimpered, his voice shaking. "He's a baddie... I won't talk to him. He broke his promise again. He... he even slapped me yesterday."

His grip on the frame tightened.

"Why is he like this? Always keeping things to himself, never sharing anything with me? I'm his brother, but he forgets that. He doesn't trust me."

His sobs grew louder.

"He's meanie..."

He stared at the photo in his hands, his mother's warm smile frozen in time.

"I don't know what happened to Kook... he used to be so bright, so happy. But now... he's so cold. He said he hates us... why? Is it because we left him alone?"

The thought alone made Taehyung's heart ache.

"Appa... is he a good person?" he whispered.

He blinked through his tears, confusion settling in.

"Why won't anyone tell me the truth? Why does Appa and Hyung always fight?"

He had always believed they were getting along, but today, he saw it clearly-they weren't. They never were.

They were always fighting. Always hiding things from him.

Why?

His thoughts kept spiraling, Jungkook's broken voice echoing in his ears.

"I hate you all. I don't care about anyone."

Taehyung's lips trembled. Jungkook's words had hurt more than anything. Even if they weren't true, even if he had said them in anger... it still hurt.

And for the first time, Taehyung started questioning everything.

Was his father really a good person?

What had Jungkook gone through all these years?

Why did Jin always hide the truth?

His chest ached, his eyes burning with unshed tears. He buried his face into his pillow, letting silent sobs rack his body.

He didn't want to doubt his family.

But now, he wasn't sure if he even knew them at all.

With Haein