Cigarette Duet ✓

Chapter 2

As they led him out of the bar, the cold air slapped him in the face, a stark contrast to the stifling warmth of the room he had just left. The flashing lights from the police cars painted the sidewalk in alternating shades of blue and red, casting eerie shadows that danced around them like silent witnesses to his confession. The handcuffs dug into his wrists, but he didn't flinch. The pain was a small price to pay for the peace he felt in his heart.

The ride to the station was a blur of sirens and questions, but Jungkook remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. The interrogation room was cold and unforgiving, the stark fluorescent lights highlighting the harsh lines of his face. The detective across from him was a middle-aged man with a kind smile, but Jungkook couldn't bring himself to return it. He had nothing to say that would justify what he had done, no words that could fill the void Taehyung had left.

"We found the gun," the detective said gently. "It's registered to you. Do you want to tell me what happened?" Jungkook nodded, his voice hoarse from the screams and the gunshots that still reverberated in his head. "Bogum gave Taehyung that cigarette," he began, his eyes misting over. "It was supposed to be just one, but it became his downfall."

The detective leaned in, his expression a mix of sympathy and skepticism. "Taehyung was my everything," Jungkook continued, his voice cracking. "He was my world, my light, and his smoking was killing him. I tried to save him, but he just wouldn't quit." The room was silent except for Jungkook's labored breathing and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.

"And you believe that Mr. Park is responsible for your partner's smoking?" the detective asked, his pen poised over his notepad. Jungkook's eyes blazed with a fury that hadn't yet been quenched. "He didn't just give him a cigarette. He gave him the taste for death. And when Taehyung was gone, he didn't even care." The words tumbled out of Jungkook's mouth, a year's worth of pain and anger in a single breath.

The detective sighed, his expression a blend of understanding and duty. "Addiction is a powerful thing, Mr. Jeon," he said softly. "But you can't blame others for someone else's choices." Jungkook's eyes snapped to meet his, a challenge in his gaze. "But I do," he said. "Bogum even supported him, telling him that it was Okay when it wasnt."

The detective leaned back in his chair, his face a careful mask of neutrality. "Tell me about Taehyung," he said, changing the subject slightly. "What was he like?" Jungkook's face softened at the mention of his lover's name. "He was vibrant, full of life," he murmured. "He had the most beautiful smile, and when he danced..." Jungkook trailed off, lost in the memory of Taehyung's graceful movements. "He was my everything."

"And you tried to help him quit?" the detective prompted. Jungkook nodded, the sadness in his eyes deepening. "I begged him, pleaded with him, even threatened to leave if he didn't stop." His voice was low, the pain of his confession raw. "But he said he needed it to cope with the stress, with the pain." He paused, swallowing hard. "And I was too weak to stand up to him."

The detective studied Jungkook for a moment before speaking. "Stress and pain can lead people to make poor choices, Mr. Jeon. It's not your fault that Taehyung made the decisions he did." Jungkook's gaze remained fixed on the table, his jaw clenched. "But I could have done more," he murmured. "I could have been stronger."

"Sometimes," the detective said, his voice gentle, "love can blind us to the reality of a situation. It's easy to want to fix everything, but we can't control the actions of others." Jungkook nodded, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Taehyung knew the risks, and he knew how much you cared. Maybe he just wasn't ready to let go of his crutch."

Jungkook felt the weight of the detective's words, the truth sinking in like a cold knife. He had tried everything to save Taehyung, had been the dominant force in their relationship, pushing him to quit, but in the end, it was Taehyung's own decision that had led to his downfall.

"But it's still because of that cigarette," Jungkook said, his voice hollow. "If Bogum hadn't given it to him, maybe he'd still be here." The detective's expression remained unchanged, his eyes filled with a quiet empathy. "You can't change the past, Mr. Jeon," he said. "But you can choose how you move forward."

"Yes i can change the past. I have a time machine!"

❊

-lxnnie