Sojourn ♣ JiKook|VMin

"Clarity"

-Edited 2026-

Chapter Nineteen

"Clarity"

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Taehyung sat on the couch, elbows braced on his knees, waiting for Jimin to wake up.

An hour had passed. Any minute now.

He dragged a hand through his hair, breathing out slowly, bracing himself for whatever would come next. Footsteps sounded on the stairs. His head snapped up instinctively.

Jimin stood at the bottom, pausing when he saw him.

He walked over, slow and careful, as if each step required thought. Taehyung waited. When Jimin stopped right in front of him, he stood.

Their eyes met.

Taehyung couldn't look away. Sadness and confusion clouded Jimin's gaze, his eyes swollen and red, his nose faintly pink—clear signs he had cried long before coming down.

"So," Jimin said quietly, voice trembling, "is it true?"

Taehyung didn't hesitate. "Yes."

Jimin's lower lip quivered. He inhaled sharply, blinking hard. "Did you lie to me?"

Taehyung opened his mouth, then closed it again. When he spoke, his voice was steady—but only barely. "I lied about who I was," he admitted. "But not about how I felt. Please don't misunderstand that."

Jimin shook his head weakly. "I want to believe you. I really do. But I don't even know you."

Taehyung's gaze dropped to the floor. "I wanted to run away," he said. "After the accident, I woke up in this body. I thought... maybe we could just keep living. Until things went back to normal." His jaw tightened. "I didn't know you back then. I made a selfish decision. I'm sorry."

"I hate you—" Jimin said suddenly. He struck Taehyung's chest, not hard, more desperate than angry. "You made me love you as Taehyung." His voice broke completely.

Jimin hit his chest again, then again, before burying his face against Taehyung's shoulder, sobbing.

Taehyung froze for half a second—then wrapped his arms around him. Jimin trembled violently, his cries muffled. Taehyung held him, heart aching, knowing this pain was his doing.

When Jimin pushed him away gently, Taehyung let him.

"If you want me to leave," Taehyung began, eyes shining, "I will. I know what I did was wrong." His voice cracked despite his effort. "But I didn't lie about loving you. I fell for you, Jimin. I love you so much—"

He swallowed hard, jaw clenched.

"My feelings are real. Genuine. Even if you call me a liar, at least know this—loving you is the most real thing about me. It's the only thing that's truly mine."

Jimin turned away, covering his mouth with a shaking hand. He wiped his tears quickly, then looked back at him.

"I don't want you to leave... Taehyung—"

Taehyung shook his head gently. "My name's Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook."

Jimin hesitated, blinking slowly. "Jungkook..." His voice was barely a whisper, uncertain, fragile.

Hearing his name from Jimin's lips sent a sharp mix of hope and dread through Taehyung's chest. His heart pounded, his stomach twisted.

Jimin shook his head again. "No matter what you say... I still only see Taehyung."