Second Chance (Taekook)

CHAPTER - 3

Echoes of a New Dawn

Taehyung's eyes widened as he became aware of the wine that had drenched him, leaving him sticky and soaked. He was in a dazed state for a moment before he gradually came to his senses. As he looked around, a sense of familiarity washed over him—he had seen this scene before. He was all too acquainted with this situation. For five years, he had relived this day in his mind, and now, being back here, it feels as vivid as if it were yesterday. This was the day everything changed for him, for the worse. It marked the beginning of a series of wrong decisions that followed.

"Taehyung, I'm sick of this. I'm very sorry, but I don't feel the same for you. I fell out of love."

Taehyung looked at the person in front of him with an expressionless face and an aura of indifference, then his eyes fell on the smaller and more petite figure of a woman beside that person at such a close distance.

Then his gaze locked again with the said person. What was his name, again? Ah, again? Ah, yes, Mi Kwan. The man showed no remorse and regarded Taehyung with a look of disdain, as if he were unworthy of even being in his presence.

"I've heard about your engagement with Jeon Jeongguk," he said angrily. "How could you?"

The party guests glanced at him and began whispering as Kwan relentlessly hurled insults and called him names. In the past, Taehyung had attempted to explain everything to Kwan, but no one listened. Instead, they rebuked and humiliated him, leaving him fearful of public appearances and deeply ashamed.

His gaze went to his uncle, who was just standing there and refused to say anything. In the past, his uncle provided a series of excuses, and being as naïve as he was, he believed them all, convinced that his uncle was acting to protect the Kim family's reputation.

Taehyung reflected on his past mistakes with deep shame and thought, "This man? What did I ever see in such a pathetic excuse for a human?" He recognized just how blind he had been.

"And your point is?" Taehyung asked indifferently.

Mi Kwan was stunned by Taehyung's icy demeanor. Was this really the same person who had clung to him just yesterday? Taehyung looked at him as if he were someone dead to him, unworthy of even standing before him.

"You are not even denying it?" Kwan demanded furiously.

Taehyung calmly and indifferently pointed to the woman next to him.

"You don't seem to be denying that thing over there," he said. Then he simply smiled and said, "So you feel the same way; I'm glad the feelings are mutual."

Mi Kwan was speechless, unable to comprehend the situation. He had anticipated that Taehyung would cry and beg for an explanation, only for him to coldly reject any chance of reconciliation. Taehyung had always adored him and treated him like a deity, so why did he now appear so indifferent and uninterested? Why was he not showing any emotion, not even shedding a tear? This was not at all what Mi Kwan had expected.

Taehyung started to remove his milky white jacket, now drenched in red wine, and tossed it onto the woman sitting next to Kwan.

"Oh, I need you to pay for this, or you can dry clean this one and send it back to the Kim Mansion; you do know where that is, right? Of course you will know; everyone present here knows," he said, smiling. It looked like he was mocking the woman.

He was about to turn away when Kwan sneered, "Ha, you think pretending not to care will make me want you back? Not in this lifetime. I don't love you and will never take you back."

Taehyung didn't respond to Kwan and turned to leave when his gaze met that of his elder brother, Kim Namjoon. Namjoon stood before him with a blank expression, yet Taehyung could see the unspoken questions in his eyes. Tears began to well up in Taehyung's eyes. It had been five years since he had last seen his brother.