Soulmates in Disguise

Echoes of Regret

The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Taehyung woke first, his body still wrapped around Ria's, holding her close as if he feared she might disappear. The events of the previous night played on a loop in his mind, each memory bringing with it a fresh wave of regret. He could feel her trembling beneath his touch, her body recoiling instinctively from him even in sleep.

A pang of guilt twisted in his chest, sharp and unyielding. He knew he had crossed a line, pushed her too far, but the thought of losing her, of seeing her with someone else, was unbearable. She was his. She had to be his.

He held her tighter, his arms wrapping around her as if by doing so he could somehow protect her from the very pain he had caused. As her trembling began to subside, he pressed his lips to her hair, his breath shaky and uneven.

When Ria finally stirred awake, she saw Taehyung's tear-streaked face, his eyes filled with a complex mix of regret and possessiveness. She recoiled slightly, the memory of the previous night rushing back with painful clarity.

"I hate you, Taehyung," she whispered, her voice breaking.

"Ria, don't," he replied, his voice low and strained. "I know I made a mistake."

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't know if I can forget what happened yesterday," she said, her voice filled with anguish.

Taehyung took a deep breath, his heart aching at her words. He cupped her face gently, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Hate me all you want," he murmured, his voice a mixture of desperation and resolve. "But remember, you will be mine. All mine."

His mind screamed with the fear of losing her. He knew he had to make her fall in love with him, to replace the hate with something else, something that would bind her to him in a way that was unbreakable.

"Ria," he whispered, his voice softening, "I can't lose you. I know I was wrong, but I can't let you go. You mean everything to me. I'll do anything to make it right."

Ria's tears continued to fall, her heart torn between the love she felt for Jungkook and the twisted affection Taehyung was showing her. She felt trapped, caught between her past and the present, unsure of how to move forward.

"Taehyung..." she began, her voice soft and uncertain. "I don't know if I can ever forgive you for what you did."

Taehyung's heart tightened in his chest, but he nodded slowly, accepting her words even as they cut through him like a knife. "I don't expect you to forgive me, Ria. Not now, maybe not ever. But I can't lose you. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right. Just... don't leave me."

"You hurt me, Taehyung," she said, her voice trembling. "How can I ever trust you again?"

"I'll earn it back," he promised, his grip on her face tightening slightly. "I'll do whatever it takes to make you trust me again. Just give me a chance."

She looked into his eyes, seeing the conflict and determination there. Despite everything, a part of her wanted to believe him, to believe that he could change, that things could be different. But the fear and pain from the previous night were still too fresh, too raw.

Taehyung leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'm sorry, Ria. I'm so sorry," he murmured, his voice filled with genuine remorse. "I'll make it right. I promise."

Taehyung and Ria quietly began to get ready for the day. The tension between them was palpable, an unspoken heaviness hanging in the air. They moved around each other with careful, silent coordination, avoiding eye contact, each lost in their own thoughts.