Bridges and Boundaries / Kim Taehyung

Chapter 26

Taehyung left the break room feeling lighter after his unexpected reunion with Mia. Their conversation had stirred up memories, but it also reminded him of how much his life had changed—and how deeply he loved Y/N. As he headed back to his desk, he didn't notice three familiar faces entering the building: RM, Jimin, and Jungkook.

The trio had come to surprise Taehyung and invite him to lunch. They knew he'd been under a lot of stress recently, and they wanted to lift his spirits. However, as they made their way through the building, chatting and laughing, they spotted Taehyung walking alongside a woman they didn't recognize.

"Isn't that Taehyung?" Jungkook pointed out, narrowing his eyes as he tried to get a better look.

"It is," Jimin confirmed, his eyes following Taehyung and the woman who seemed very familiar with him.

The three friends watched as Taehyung laughed at something the woman said, and then, to their surprise, she placed her hand lightly on his arm as they walked together. Taehyung didn't pull away, and the group exchanged curious looks.

"Who's she?" RM asked, furrowing his brow. "I've never seen her before."

"I don't know, but they look close," Jimin commented, his voice tinged with concern. "Should we say something?"

"Maybe we should let Y/N know," Jungkook suggested, trying to keep his tone light, but there was an edge to his voice. "She might want to hear about this."

That afternoon, Y/N was at home, busy preparing dinner for Taehyung. She had decided to make his favorite meal, hoping to surprise him after what she assumed was a long day at work. The smell of food filled the apartment, and she hummed to herself, feeling content despite the recent tension between them.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, and she saw a message from Jimin. Smiling, she opened it, expecting a funny meme or some lighthearted teasing as usual. But her smile quickly faded as she read the message.

Jimin: "Hey, Y/N. We saw Taehyung today at his office... with some woman. They looked pretty cozy. Just thought you should know."

Y/N's heart sank as she stared at the screen. Her mind raced with questions. Who was this woman? Why was Taehyung with her? And why hadn't he mentioned anything?

Before she could respond, Jungkook chimed in with another message.

Jungkook: "Yeah, they were laughing and walking together. We didn't want to jump to conclusions, but it didn't look like a casual meeting."

Y/N felt a knot form in her stomach. She trusted Taehyung, but the thought of him being close with another woman—especially after everything they'd been through—stung deeply.

By the time Taehyung got home, Y/N was in a whirlwind of emotions. She tried to keep herself calm, reminding herself that she didn't have the full story. But doubt had already crept in, and she couldn't shake the image of Taehyung with another woman.

Taehyung entered the apartment with a smile, immediately noticing the delicious aroma of the dinner Y/N had prepared. "Hey, babe," he greeted warmly, stepping forward to kiss her cheek. But he paused when he saw the look on her face. "What's wrong?"

Y/N bit her lip, debating how to approach the subject. She didn't want to accuse him of anything, but she couldn't keep her feelings bottled up. "Who is she?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling slightly.

Taehyung's brows furrowed in confusion. "Who?"

"The woman you were with today," Y/N clarified, trying to keep her emotions in check. "RM, Jimin, and Jungkook saw you two together. They said you looked... close."

Realization dawned on Taehyung's face, and he immediately understood the misunderstanding. "Y/N, that was Mia. She's an old friend from school. We just ran into each other today for the first time in years."

Y/N's heart clenched as she looked into Taehyung's eyes, searching for any sign of deceit. "Why didn't you tell me about her?"

"It didn't seem important," Taehyung replied honestly, stepping closer to her. "We were just catching up. Nothing more."

But Y/N couldn't ignore the seed of doubt that had been planted. "Why didn't you mention her earlier? Were you worried about how I'd react?"

Taehyung sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No, it's not like that. I just didn't think it was a big deal. Mia and I were never anything more than friends."

Y/N wanted to believe him, but the idea of him being so casual with another woman still hurt. "I trust you, Tae," she said softly, "but it still hurts. Especially after everything with Seungmin."

Taehyung's expression softened, and he gently cupped her face in his hands. "Y/N, you're the only one I love. Mia is just a part of my past, but you're my present and my future. I'm sorry if seeing us together made you feel like this. I should have told you about her."

Y/N's eyes filled with tears, and she leaned into his touch. "I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have let this get to me. It's just... I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," Taehyung whispered, pulling her into a tight embrace. "You never will."

Later that evening, Taehyung made a point to call RM, Jimin, and Jungkook to clear up the misunderstanding. He explained the situation and reassured them that Mia was just an old friend with no romantic intentions.

The three of them were relieved but also felt a bit guilty for jumping to conclusions and causing Y/N unnecessary stress. They apologized, and Taehyung appreciated their concern, knowing they only had his and Y/N's best interests at heart.

"Next time, we'll ask before assuming anything," Jimin said sheepishly over the phone. "We just didn't want to see you or Y/N get hurt."

"It's okay," Taehyung replied, his tone gentle. "I know you guys were just looking out for us. But don't worry—Y/N and I are solid."

That night, as they lay in bed, Taehyung pulled Y/N close, holding her as if he never wanted to let go. "I love you, Y/N," he whispered into the darkness. "More than anything."

Y/N snuggled into his chest, finding comfort in his embrace. "I love you too, Tae. I'm sorry I doubted you."

"It's okay," he replied, kissing the top of her head. "We've been through so much, and I know it's not easy. But I want you to know that you're the only one for me."

Y/N felt a sense of relief wash over her. The doubts and insecurities that had plagued her earlier were now replaced with the warm, reassuring knowledge that Taehyung loved her deeply, and that nothing—not even a misunderstanding could come between them