Just One More Tear to Cry

Part 28

Jungkook was engulfed in a whirlwind of agony that seemed to crush his very soul. He struggled to comprehend how he could have driven Jimin away — Jimin, his beloved, his confidant, his everything. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined himself falling so deeply in love with Jimin. Yet, in the tender embrace of that love, he never anticipated facing a day as heart-wrenching as this.

His heart ached with the weight of regret, knowing he had shattered the peace they once shared. All Jungkook had ever wanted was to cherish Jimin, to nurture their bond with an unwavering devotion that mirrored the love he had seen his appa demonstrate. He had yearned to shield Jimin from pain, to ensure that those sparkling eyes never welled with tears.

But fate had dealt a cruel hand, unearthing buried truths that tore at the fabric of their love. Deep down, Jungkook wrestled with an unbearable truth — Jimin was the son of the man who had robbed him of his eomma. Though his heart thought of forgiveness and reconciliation, his mind grappled with the bitter reality that their love was entangled in a web of unresolved grief and unfathomable loss.

As he stood amidst the remnants of their shared home, every corner echoing with memories of laughter and tenderness, Jungkook felt the sharp pang of indecision. Could he find the strength to look past the sins of the past and embrace a future with Jimin? The love that once bound them now felt fragile, frayed by the weight of betrayal and the haunting legacy of their parents' tumultuous history.

In the silence that enveloped him, Jungkook could almost hear Jimin's soft voice, see the warmth of his smile that had once illuminated even the darkest corners of his heart. The longing to hold Jimin close, to mend what he had unwittingly broken, threatened to overwhelm him. Yet, lingering doubts gnawed at his resolve, reminding him of the irreparable chasm that had opened between them.

While Jungkook battled with his emotions, tears cascading down his cheeks, he clutched a cherished photograph of himself and Jimin tightly to his chest. The persistent ringing of the doorbell shattered the heavy silence that enveloped his house, jolting him from his torment. He stumbled towards the door, his heart racing with a tumultuous mix of dread and desperate hope. Opening it, he was met by the sight of his best friend Kim Taehyung, whose eyes widened in alarm at Jungkook's disheveled appearance—his eyes bloodshot and swollen from a sleepless night of anguish.

"Jungkook," Taehyung gasped, his voice trembling with concern. "Tell me what happened."

"Tae," Jungkook choked out, his voice breaking with sorrow. "It's all fucked up, Tae. I... I chased my Minie away. I pushed my babe away." His voice cracked as he struggled to articulate the pain that gnawed at his heart. "He was sick, Tae. Terribly ill. I knew it, but I couldn't control my anger. My babe didn't deserve any of this. He is so innocent, Tae. But, I was so scared I'd do something irreparable if he stayed, so I pushed him away. I didn't want to see him, Tae. I feel like I'll die without my Minie. Why does all this bad stuff keep happening to us?"

Tears flowed freely down Jungkook's cheeks as he spoke, his entire body trembling with anguish and regret. He clung to the photograph in his hands, its edges digging into his skin, a tangible reminder of the love and pain that now consumed him.

Taehyung's own eyes welled up with tears, unable to bear witness to Jungkook's raw despair. "Shh... don't cry, Jungkook-ah," Taehyung murmured, enfolding his friend in a tight embrace. "Jimin is okay. He's with us. He came to my apartment early this morning." Taehyung's voice cracked with emotion as he continued, "He was so distraught, muttering countless apologies. He begged me to check on you. He was drenched and in such a state. I couldn't understand everything he said, and then he just collapsed in my arms."

Jungkook's heart clenched painfully at the thought of Jimin's suffering. "Tae," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the storm of emotions raging within him.