This Damn Love

Part-25: A new ar-rival

Next morning:

Yoongi squints his eyebrows at the younger, who seemed uncharacteristically giggly early in the morning, he couldn't help but notice how different Taehyung appears from his usual self.

The younger, catching the scrutiny in Yoongi's gaze, quickly flatten his smile and nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, his attempt at casualness painfully transparent.

"J-Jin has forgiven me," Taehyung states, trying to sound unaffected, but the slight flicker in his expression betrayes his facade.

"Yeah, I can see that," Yoongi remarks, a smirk playing on his lips as he meticulously cleans his gun with a piece of clean cloth.

His attention then shifts towards the youngest of their group, who was watching the scene unfold with his peripheral vision with a mixture of curiosity and amusement while munching on cookies.

"It's your words that affect him like a corona. Go and talk to him!" Yoongi urged Taehyung, pointing in the direction of Jungkook, who sat on the bench, sipping soju, nibbling on cookies, and lifting dumbbells with a stoic demeanor that belied the tears streaming down his face, a silent testament to his inner turmoil.

"Kook, I brought your favorite cookies!" Taehyung offers cheerfully, attempting to break the ice with Jungkook, who spat out, "I hate cookies, and I hate you," taking a bite of his own cookie, albeit contradicting his words.

Taehyung couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at Jungkook's stubbornness and mischievously shoves a cookie into Jungkook's mouth, causing cookie crumbs to scatter in protest.

"Liar! You love cookies, and you love your hyung a thousand times over," Taehyung soothes with a grin.

Jungkook, caught in a moment of vulnerability, relents, embracing Taehyung tightly and staining his shirt with cookie crumbs and tears. Taehyung reciprocates the hug, his comforting pats conveying a depth of connection that transcends the need for words.

In this unspoken exchange, Jungkook acknowledges his misstep in disclosing Taehyung's past without his consent, while Taehyung acknowledges the inevitability of forgiveness in their bond, rooted in a shared understanding that surpasses mere apologies.

Meanwhile, the topic shifted to a newly arrived tenant in their vicinity.

"I heard a new tenant has rented the one room studio apartment which was abandoned since the last tenant?" Taehyung asks while pointing out towards a farther most part of Namwon where single room apartments are built, typically catering to students or struggling artists, seeking affordable living spaces amidst the city's hustle and bustle.

Yoongi, intrigued by Taehyung's observation, nods in agreement. "Yeah, he asked for 2 days to submit his identity proofs as he's new in town. He looks a little weird to me though. All the scars and wounds in his face. Shady!" Yoongi expresses his concerns, noting the eerie appearance of the new tenant that had sparked his curiosity.

"Visit him after two days. If not given any proof, kick him out of Namwon," Taehyung asserts, reflecting the strict protocol for verifying new tenants, a practice enforced to maintain the safety and integrity of Namwon. His instructions are met with resolute nods from Yoongi and Jungkook, indicating their shared commitment to upholding the standards of the community.

While plans are being made for this investigation, Jin's arrival interrupts the discussion, accompanied by a surprising guest, whose sudden appearance caught everyone off guard.

"Taehyung!" Jin's low voice is overshadowed by Jimin's hyper one.

"Taehyung-ie!"

Taehyung turned around in surprise, only to be greeted not just by Jin calling for him, but also by the sudden appearance of a new voice. As a stranger rushes towards him, arms open for an embrace, Taehyung takes a step back, caught off guard but managing to hold the smaller figure now grinning up at him. His face lit up with delight, recognizing the person who has surprised him with such an affectionate greeting.