𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥-𝗜𝗡-𝗟𝗔𝗪

part 23 ( the voice of reason)

The early morning sun cast long shadows over the bustling city as Taehyung wandered aimlessly through the streets, his mind a storm of emotions. The events of the previous night had left him reeling, unable to reconcile the Jisoo he knew with the one who had betrayed him so profoundly. His footsteps led him to a small, quiet café tucked away on a side street. It seemed like the perfect place to gather his thoughts and figure out his next steps.

Taehyung entered the café, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloping him. The comforting ambiance contrasted sharply with the turmoil inside him. He ordered a black coffee and found a secluded corner to sit, trying to make sense of everything. The betrayal was still fresh, and every time he closed his eyes, he saw Jisoo's face, heard her desperate words, and felt the overwhelming sense of violation.

As he sipped his coffee, the memories of their argument played over and over in his mind. Jisoo's admission that she had drugged him to facilitate a night of intimacy under the pretense of salvaging their relationship was a blow he hadn't expected. It shattered the fragile trust they had left and left him questioning everything.

Lost in thought, Taehyung barely noticed when a familiar figure entered the café. It wasn't until the man approached his table, a look of surprised recognition on his face, that Taehyung looked up.

"Taehyung? Is that really you?" the man exclaimed, pulling up a chair without waiting for an invitation.

Taehyung blinked, momentarily stunned. It was Joon, an old friend from university whom he hadn't seen in years. Joon had always been a calming presence, a voice of reason in times of chaos. Seeing him now felt like a lifeline.

"Joon? Wow, it's been ages," Taehyung managed, forcing a smile. "What are you doing here?"

Joon grinned, shaking his head. "I could ask you the same thing! I'm here for work, just passing through. But you—what brings you here? You look... troubled."

Taehyung sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's putting it lightly. I'm on a trip, but it's been a disaster. Jisoo and I... well, things aren't great."

Joon's expression softened with understanding. "You want to talk about it? Sometimes it helps to unload."

Taehyung hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He needed to talk, to get the swirling thoughts out of his head. He began to recount the events of the last few weeks—the distance between him and Jisoo, the desperate attempts to reconnect, the trip meant to save their relationship, and the shocking revelation of Jisoo's actions.

As Taehyung spoke, Joon listened intently, his expression growing more serious. When Taehyung finished, there was a long silence. The weight of the conversation hung in the air, heavy and oppressive.

"Wow," Joon finally said, leaning back in his chair. "That's... a lot to take in. I'm sorry you're going through this."

Taehyung nodded, staring into his coffee. "Yeah. I just don't know what to do. Part of me feels like I should try to work things out, but another part of me is just... done. I can't believe she would do something like that."

Joon leaned forward, his eyes serious. "Taehyung, you need to follow your heart. If your heart says Jisoo, then maybe there's something worth saving. But if it says Jennie... then you need to stop wasting time and go find her. She's alone in a city, totally by herself. She needs you."

The mention of Jennie brought a fresh wave of guilt and longing. Taehyung had tried to push her out of his mind, to focus on making things work with Jisoo. But Jennie was always there, in the back of his mind, in his heart. The thought of her being alone, possibly suffering because of his indecision, was almost unbearable.

Joon seemed to sense his turmoil. "Look, I know this isn't easy. But staying in a relationship out of guilt or obligation isn't fair to anyone. Not to you, not to Jisoo, and definitely not to Jennie. You need to be honest with yourself about what you want and who you want to be with."

Taehyung nodded, swallowing hard. "It's just... it's hard. I don't want to hurt anyone, but I feel like I've already hurt everyone."

Joon reached out, gripping Taehyung's shoulder. "The worst thing you can do is stay in limbo. Make a decision. Either commit to working things out with Jisoo, or go find Jennie and see if there's still something there. But whatever you do, do it with your whole heart."

The words resonated deeply with Taehyung. He knew Joon was right; the indecision was tearing him apart and keeping everyone involved in a state of painful uncertainty. But he also knew that facing the truth meant confronting his own feelings, admitting to himself that he still had deep, unresolved feelings for Jennie.

As they sat in the café, the silence between them grew comfortable, filled with the unspoken understanding that sometimes words can't capture. Taehyung felt a strange sense of relief, a small light piercing through the fog of confusion. He knew he had a decision to make, and that decision would shape the future for him, Jisoo, and Jennie.

After a while, Joon broke the silence. "Whatever you decide, I'll support you. But you need to decide soon, for everyone's sake. And if you choose to find Jennie, do it before it's too late. She's strong, but everyone has a breaking point."

Taehyung nodded, his resolve hardening. "You're right. I need to figure this out, and fast. Thanks, Joon. I really needed to hear that."

Joon smiled, his eyes warm. "Anytime, man. Just promise me you'll follow your heart, wherever it leads you."

As they parted ways, Taehyung felt a new sense of clarity. It was time to stop running from his feelings, to confront the truth he had been avoiding. He couldn't deny that his heart still ached for Jennie, that he missed her smile, her laughter, the way she understood him like no one else. The idea of her being alone in Russia, facing the world without him, was too painful to bear.

He knew he had to find her, to see if there was still a chance for them. And if there wasn't, at least he could give her the closure they both deserved. As he walked back to the hotel, his mind was made up. He would talk to Jisoo, explain everything, and then book a flight to Russia.

He couldn't predict what would happen next, but he knew one thing for certain: he couldn't live with the regret of not trying, of not following his heart. It was time to face the consequences of his choices and take a leap of faith.

The road ahead was uncertain, but Taehyung felt a strange sense of peace. For the first time in a long while, he was ready to face the truth, to stop running from his feelings, and to embrace whatever the future held. Whether it meant rekindling an old love or finding a new path, he was determined to do it with honesty and courage.

With a final, resolute breath, Taehyung headed back to the hotel, ready to take the first step toward his uncertain, yet hopeful future.