𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥-𝗜𝗡-𝗟𝗔𝗪

part 16 ( The Empty Victory )

Chapter 16: The Empty Victory

The night had fallen over the city, casting long shadows through the windows of the apartment. Taehyung lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, the dim light from the street lamps outside barely illuminating the room. Jisoo lay beside him, her head resting on his chest, but his arms hung loosely by his sides. He felt distant, as if he were floating somewhere above his body, detached from the moment.

Jisoo nestled closer, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his chest.

"Tae, are you okay?" she whispered, trying to sound concerned. But Taehyung could sense the underlying tension in her voice, a mix of possessiveness and insecurity.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to respond. "I'm fine, Jisoo. Just... tired."

She lifted her head, her eyes searching his face. "You don't seem fine. Is it because of Jennie?"

Taehyung's heart clenched at the mention of her name. Images of Jennie—her laughter, her smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she was happy—flooded his mind. He missed her with an intensity that surprised him, and the pain of her absence felt like a physical wound.

"Yeah," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I can't stop thinking about her."

Jisoo's face tightened for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a sad smile. "I understand," she said softly. "It's normal to feel that way. She was... she is important to you."

Taehyung turned his head to look at her, his eyes filled with confusion and hurt. "It's more than that, Jisoo. I feel like something's missing, like I've lost a part of myself. And I can't shake this feeling that something's not right."

Jisoo forced a tear to slide down her cheek, leaning in to kiss him gently. "Tae, you're just processing everything. It's going to take time. But I'm here for you, and we'll get through this together."

He nodded, though his heart wasn't in it. As Jisoo settled back down beside him, Taehyung closed his eyes, trying to will himself to sleep. But the memories of Jennie kept him awake—the way she looked at him, her voice, her touch. He felt guilty, as if he were betraying Jennie by being here with Jisoo, but he couldn't deny the deep connection he still felt with her.

Jisoo lay beside him, feigning sleep. Inside, she was seething. She had done everything to push Jennie away, and yet, Taehyung's heart still clung to her. It was infuriating, but she couldn't let her frustration show. Not now. She had to play the part of the supportive girlfriend, at least until she was sure Jennie was out of their lives for good.

Taehyung tossed and turned, unable to find peace. He sat up, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Jisoo. I just... I need some air."

Jisoo sat up, her expression worried. "Do you want me to come with you?"

He shook his head. "No, I need to be alone for a bit. I'll be back soon."

She watched him leave the room, her eyes narrowing. As the door clicked shut behind him, she lay back down, staring at the ceiling. Taehyung was slipping away from her, and she couldn't let that happen. Not after everything she had done to secure their future together.

Outside, Taehyung walked aimlessly through the streets, the cool night air doing little to calm his racing thoughts. He stopped at a park bench, sitting down heavily. The city was quiet, the only sounds the distant hum of traffic and the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

He pulled out his phone, staring at Jennie's contact. His thumb hovered over the call button, but he couldn't bring himself to press it. She was gone, starting a new life without him, and he had to respect her decision. But the pain was unbearable, and the emptiness inside him only seemed to grow.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he wiped them away angrily. He felt lost, adrift in a sea of confusion and regret. He thought about Jisoo, the woman he had once loved so deeply, and wondered how they had ended up here. The warmth he used to feel with her was gone, replaced by a cold, hollow space that only seemed to expand the more he tried to ignore it.

As he sat there, Taehyung realized something. He had been so focused on doing the right thing, on trying to be fair to everyone, that he had lost sight of what he truly wanted. He had been trying to please Jisoo, to protect Jennie, but in the process, he had ignored his own heart. And now, it felt like it was too late to fix any of it.

He stood up, taking a deep breath. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew he couldn't go on like this. He had to face the truth, no matter how painful it was. And the truth was, he loved Jennie. He had always loved her, and he always would.

As Taehyung made his way back to the apartment, he felt a strange sense of clarity. He didn't know what he was going to do, but he knew he had to confront Jisoo and find a way to move forward. He owed it to himself and to Jennie to be honest about his feelings.

When he walked into the bedroom, Jisoo was still awake, her eyes wide with concern. "Tae, are you okay?"

He looked at her, his expression serious. "We need to talk, Jisoo."

She nodded, her heart pounding. As they sat down together, Jisoo braced herself for the conversation she had been dreading. But deep down, she knew that no matter what happened, she wasn't going to let Taehyung go. She had come too far and sacrificed too much. She would do whatever it took to keep him by her side, even if it meant continuing her manipulations.

And as Taehyung began to speak, Jisoo knew that their story was far from over. The battle for his heart was just beginning, and she was ready to fight to the bitter end.

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