A HEART FOR AN EYE.

CHAPTER 11: VENGEANCE BLUES.

Jimin's departure with Mirae left an echoing void within the palace walls, especially for Jungkook. His days became a blur of restlessness and anger, directed not at Jimin as expected, but at himself and the turmoil brewing within him.

He paced the corridors late into the night, grappling with conflicting emotions. Hatred was supposed to consume him for the Parks, the family responsible for his parents' tragic end. Yet, ever since their altercation and the subsequent revelations, something had changed. Jungkook couldn't deny the gnawing uncertainty that now clouded his thoughts. Jimin, despite being a Park, seemed detached from the king and queen who had caused his suffering.

Instead of plotting vengeance, Jungkook found himself unable to stop thinking about Jimin. It unsettled him to admit, even to himself, that he wanted Jimin back. Their fights had given him purpose, a reason to channel his rage. He craved the intensity of their clashes, the fiery exchanges that masked deeper feelings he refused to acknowledge.

Days dragged on in the oppressive silence of the palace. Taehyung, always perceptive to Jungkook's inner turmoil, remained a constant presence. He nudged Jungkook towards his rehabilitation therapies, offering unwavering support despite the prince's sullen resistance. One day, Taehyung suggested visiting the temple Jimin had erected in honor of his family. Jungkook initially balked at the idea, but Taehyung's gentle persistence wore down his defenses.

They ventured out together, the crisp air of the temple grounds a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the palace. The temple stood serene and dignified, a testament to Jimin's efforts to honor his lineage and find peace amidst turmoil. Jungkook felt a twinge of admiration amidst his conflicted emotions. Here was Jimin's legacy, not just as a Park, but as someone striving to heal wounds that extended beyond his own family's tragedies.

Standing before the temple's grand entrance, Jungkook hesitated. The stone walls seemed to whisper secrets of forgiveness and reconciliation, concepts he had long dismissed as weaknesses. Yet, in that moment of vulnerability, Jungkook glimpsed a flicker of understanding. Perhaps Jimin wasn't solely defined by the sins of his ancestors. Perhaps, like himself, Jimin was grappling with the weight of legacy and the desire for redemption.

As they walked through the temple grounds, Jungkook found himself drawn to the serenity that enveloped him. He couldn't deny the longing to bridge the chasm that had grown between him and Jimin. It scared him, this yearning for connection with someone he should despise. But amidst the quiet prayers and the flickering candles, Jungkook began to realize that hatred alone was not enough to sustain him anymore.

Jungkook knelt before the beautifully constructed temple. He ran his fingers over the smooth marble, each grave marker a story etched in stone. He lingered at an empty spot, obviously newly evacuated.

"That is where your name plate was," Taehyung softly informed him.

"He did this for my family?" Jungkook's voice cracked with disbelief and a hint of vulnerability. His demeanor softened, his expression reflecting a mix of awe and sorrow.

Taehyung nodded solemnly, his eyes understanding. "Jimin spared no expense. He wanted to ensure they were remembered with honor."

Soft sobs rocked Jungkook's body as he struggled to make sense of Jimin, of the temple, of their circumstances. He didn't understand why Jimin would care so much about him when his family, the king amd the queen, the real culprits were obviously content with doing only the barest minimum of admiting their mistake, paying a little money to some surviving relatives and moved on like they just didn't wipe out an entire generation and sell their only offspring into slavery.

Finally, he turned to Taehyung, his voice laced with an earnest longing. "I need some time alone."

Taehyung nodded again, stepping back respectfully to give Jungkook the space he needed. Alone in the quiet of the temple, Jungkook lit a candle and knelt before the graves of his parents. Tears welled in his eyes as he spoke to them, his voice trembling with raw emotion.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the flickering candlelight. "I'm sorry I survived when you couldn't. I've tried to hate him," Jungkook admitted, his guilt pouring out in words he had kept buried for so long. "But I can't anymore."

He recounted his days with Jimin, the turmoil within him evident in every word. "He's not like them," Jungkook confessed, his voice tinged with confusion and a burgeoning sense of acceptance. "I can't see him as their son, not anymore."

He apologized repeatedly to his parents, feeling the weight of his conflicted feelings. "I know he helped clear your names," Jungkook murmured, his heart heavy with gratitude mixed with lingering pain. "And this temple... It's his way of saying sorry."

He wiped away tears, his resolve strengthening as he made a promise to his parents. "I'll seek justice for you," Jungkook vowed, his voice steadier now. "But I can't bring myself to harm Jimin. He's not the enemy I thought he was."

In the quiet of the temple, surrounded by the memories of his family and the gestures of Jimin's remorse, Jungkook found a measure of peace. His journey toward forgiveness was just beginning, but standing there, he knew he was no longer alone in his struggle.

As he stood there, Taehyung joined him quietly. They both gazed at the serene surroundings, the meticulously crafted architecture that spoke volumes of Jimin's dedication. "It's impressive," Taehyung murmured, breaking the silence. Jungkook nodded mutely, unable to voice the turmoil within him.

"I know this doesn't change anything," Taehyung continued softly, "but maybe... maybe it's time to rethink things, Jungkook."

Jungkook clenched his fists, torn between the memories of his loss and the unexpected appreciation for Jimin's gesture. "I can't just forget what happened," he finally managed, his voice barely audible.

Taehyung placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to forget. But maybe you can find a way to... live beyond it."

Jungkook turned to him, searching for answers in his friend's eyes. Taehyung's sincerity was evident, his gaze unwavering. "Jimin's not just a Park," he said quietly. "He's... more."

The words lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken implications. Jungkook felt a surge of frustration at his own confusion. How could he reconcile his thirst for vengeance with this unexpected empathy?

Days passed with Jungkook wrestling with his thoughts, the palace walls closing in on him. Taehyung remained a steadfast presence, offering encouragement even as Jungkook pushed him away at times. The absence of Jimin was a void he couldn't fill, his mind replaying their arguments, their clashes-moments that now seemed charged with a different significance.

With a heavy sigh, Jungkook realized the truth he'd been avoiding: he missed Jimin. Not the symbol of vengeance, but the person who had challenged him, infuriated him, and-strangely-understood him in a way no one else did.

The next morning, Jungkook sought out Taehyung. "I will try. I want to try to be friends with Jimin," he declared, surprising even himself with the clarity of his decision.

Taehyung nodded, his expression unreadable yet supportive. "I'll arrange it," he said simply.

Jungkook needed answers. He needed to confront Jimin, not as a Park, but as a person who had stirred something dormant within him. And as they stood side by side, Taehyung's comforting presence a silent reassurance, Jungkook made a silent vow to confront the truths that lay buried beneath the weight of history and his own conflicted heart.