[COMPLETED] ENDURING LOVE (JIKOOK)

42; Betrayal's Grasp

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JIMIN

Consciousness comes in waves, each moment punctuated by the dull ache of my body and the faint echo of voices in the distance. I struggle to open my eyes, the dim light of the room blurring into focus as I slowly regain awareness of my surroundings.

Tae hyung is sitting beside me, his expression a mask of concern as he watches over me. "Hey, you're awake," he says, his voice gentle as he reaches out to brush a stray hair from my forehead but I flinch away out of fear. "How are you feeling?"

The memories come flooding back in a rush, each moment replaying in my mind like a nightmare I can't escape. Hobi's and Tae hyung's betrayal, the darkness of the room, the fear that threatened to consume me—it all feels like a distant dream, a nightmare from which I can't wake up.

"Why are you doing this to me, hyung?" My voice comes out so weak, mirroring the aches all over my body. "Why did you—...what do you and Hobi get out of this? You are Jungkook's best friend, hyung!" Tears roll down my cheeks involuntarily with the overwhelming situation.

Tae hyung's eyes glisten with regret and sorrow as he listens to my trembling voice. He lowers his gaze for a moment, unable to meet my eyes, before taking a deep breath and looking back at me with a mixture of pain and determination.

"Jimin... I'm so sorry," he begins, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with anguish. "I never wanted any of this to happen. I never wanted to hurt you or anyone else."

His words cut through the air like a knife, the sincerity in his voice tearing at my heart. I want to believe him, to trust that there's more to this nightmare than meets the eye, but the wounds—both physical and emotional—are still raw.

"Why, then?" I manage to choke out, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and betrayal. "Why did you let Hobi—why did you help him?"

Before Tae hyung can respond, the door to the room swings open with a sudden force, startling both of us. Hobi strides in, his expression a mask of concern that doesn't quite reach his eyes. His presence fills the room with an unsettling tension, and I instinctively shrink back against the bed, my heart racing with renewed fear.

Tae hyung's demeanour shifts almost instantly—a subtle but noticeable change in his posture, in the way his eyes dart away from mine. The mask of concern and regret melts away, replaced by a facade of calm indifference. He withdraws his hand from mine as if I'm suddenly a stranger, and his eyes harden as he turns to face Hobi.

"What are you doing here?" Tae hyung's voice is cool and collected, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil that had filled the room moments ago.

Hobi's gaze flickers between Tae hyung and me, his expression guarded. "I came to check on him," his eyes narrow slightly, his gaze flickering with a mix of suspicion and something darker that sends a shiver down my spine. "Is there a problem?"

Tae hyung's jaw clenches subtly, a silent battle of wills passing between them. I watch the silent exchange between them, a knot forming in my stomach as I realize there's more going on beneath the surface than I initially thought.

The shift in Tae hyung's behaviour—from regretful to guarded—leaves me feeling unsettled, uncertain of where his loyalties truly lie. It leaves me reeling, unsure of what to believe or whom to trust.

"Sunshine, you've been skipping your meds again, haven't you?" Tae hyung suddenly gets up and towers over Hobi with his slightly taller build.

Hobi's gaze hardens further at Tae hyung's accusation, a flicker of anger crossing his face before he masks it with a forced calmness. "I don't need you to tell me what to do, Taehyung," he retorts sharply, his voice tinged with underlying frustration. "And this," he gestures towards me with a hint of disdain, "is none of your concern."