Ecstacy of Love (vsoo)

37. I don't think I could survive losing you.

Edited.

Jisoo’s pov

I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of his presence and the closeness of our foreheads calm the storm in my heart. His breath fanned my face, steady yet carrying a weight of exhaustion and relief.

“Jisoo,” he whispered, his deep voice trembling slightly. “Don’t cry.”

But how could I not? The sight of his battered body, the thought of almost losing him, was too much to bear. I opened my eyes and looked at him again, taking in every detail of his face—the dark circles under his eyes, the faint stubble on his jawline, the bruises that marred his beautiful skin. Yet, even with all his wounds, he still looked at me as if I was the only thing that mattered.

“You should’ve been resting,” I murmured, my voice breaking. “You’re still not healed, and yet you’re here, standing like this…”

He chuckled softly, the sound low and comforting. “How could I rest when I knew you were worrying about me? I needed to see you, Jisoo.”

Tears welled up again, but I blinked them away. “I hate seeing you like this,” I admitted. “All these scars, these wounds—they’re because of me. Because I wasn’t strong enough. I—”

He cut me off by pressing his forehead against mine harder, his hands on my waist pulling me closer. “Stop,” he said firmly. “None of this is your fault. If anything, I’m the one who failed you. I promised to protect you, and I couldn’t.”

“No,” I argued, shaking my head against his. “You’ve done more than enough. I’m the one who keeps making reckless choices. I put us both in danger because I didn’t trust you enough to handle things.”

Taehyung’s eyes softened, and he let out a deep sigh. “Jisoo, we’ve both made mistakes. But what matters now is that we’re here—together. I can endure a thousand wounds as long as I know you’re safe.”

His words broke something inside me, and the tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over. I buried my face into his chest, clutching onto him as if letting go would shatter me. He held me even tighter, his hand gently stroking my back, his touch reassuring.

“I missed you so much,” I whispered, my voice muffled against his skin.

“I missed you too,” he replied, his lips brushing the top of my head. “Every second felt like an eternity without you.”

I pulled back slightly, my hands still resting on his shoulders. “Promise me,” I said, my voice trembling. “Promise me you won’t leave me again. No matter what happens, we face it together.”

His dark eyes locked onto mine, unwavering and sincere. “I promise,” he said, his voice a vow. “No matter what, I’m staying by your side.”

And as he leaned down to place a soft kiss on my forehead, I believed him.

I stared at him, his words sinking into my heart like a soothing balm. His hands gently cupped my face, his thumb still brushing away the lingering tears. I shook my head, my lips trembling with emotion.

“You don’t need to repent, Taehyung,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “You came back to me. That’s all I need. Just promise me you’ll stay safe… that you won’t leave me like that again.”

His gaze softened, and he leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine. “I promise, Jisoo. I won’t leave you. Never again.”

I felt his breath mingle with mine, his warmth surrounding me like a shield. For the first time in days, the anxiety and fear that had gripped my heart began to dissipate. I reached out, tracing the lines of his face with my fingertips, memorizing every detail as if I’d lose him again if I didn’t.