𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨 (𝙑𝙠𝙤𝙤𝙠)

36. Afterglow

ignore the mistakes please

*mature content ahead*

author's pov:

Jeongguk rose from the couch, his body numb. He stared back at Taehyung, the weight of the truth crushing him.

"I was fifteen when I reopened my parents' case," Taehyung began, his voice thick with emotion. "I fought for a year, but it was a losing battle. they hit me with a defamation suit – seejin hyung couldn't afford another lawyer, and my part-time job barely covered food. Hope for justice, for seeing my aunt and brothers again, all evaporated. life had never been kind to me."

Jeongguk listened silently, absorbing Taehyung's words.

"That same year, your father started visiting me. Every month, he came, even though I pushed him away. seeing his face brought back all the pain and longing I held inside. seejin hyung eventually moved to Seoul and got a job at an agency. that's where he came up with the idea to get me into modeling. I was seventeen when I started. then, news broke – the gang responsible for my parents' and aunt's deaths had been wiped out in a gang war. I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction, but no real joy. They were gone, yet the world wouldn't know their crimes."

Tears welled up in Taehyung's eyes as he turned to Jeongguk, who seemed lost in a daze. "Don't hate your parents," Taehyung pleaded. "They are good people. they protected you and Seokjin the best they could. Their only crime was loving you both fiercely, even if it wasn't the most conventional path.so please, Jeongguk, don't hate them."

Jeongguk felt a lump form in his throat. he watched Taehyung, his heart shattering into a million pieces. This boy before him had endured an unimaginable life, all alone.

A choked sob escaped Jeongguk's lips. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

Taehyung shook his head, closing his eyes. "There's nothing to be sorry for," he murmured. "You did nothing wrong." Jeongguk's tears flowed freely now, uncontrollable.

Taehyung approached the man before him. never, not even in his wildest fantasies, did he imagine seeing Jeongguk cry like this, raw and exposed. Yet, here he was, tears streaming down Jeongguk's face, his eyes pleading for absolution.

A bittersweet smile touched Taehyung's lips as he brushed back a lock of hair from Jeongguk's forehead. Jeongguk fluttered his eyelids shut, a sigh escaping his lips as if basking in a long-denied comfort. Taehyung cupped Jeongguk's face, his touch gentle yet firm.

"There's nothing you need to apologize for," Taehyung whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Jeongguk responded by burying his face into Taehyung's embrace, clinging to him like a lifeline. Taehyung met him halfway, collapsing against Jeongguk like shattered glass. He clung to Jeongguk with a desperation that mirrored his own, his face buried in the crook of Jeongguk's neck. Wracked with sobs, a primal scream ripped from Taehyung's throat as a torrent of memories assaulted him.

"Jeongguk," he rasped, his voice raw with grief. "They took my parents. They took them from me!" his knuckles turned white as he gripped the fabric of Jeongguk's shirt.

Jeongguk squeezed his eyes shut, holding Taehyung tighter with every tremor that racked his body.

"They stole everything," Taehyung choked out, his voice barely a whisper. Slowly, his legs gave way, dragging Jeongguk down with him. They landed on the floor in a tangle of limbs.

"I'm here," Jeongguk murmured, rocking them both back and forth. "I'm here, my love." He pressed kisses into Taehyung's hair, a silent promise of solace.