Cigarette Duet ✓

Chapter 8

When the world finally came back into focus, Jungkook found himself standing in the exact spot he had been before his journey began, just moments before he would confront Taehyung about his smoking. His heart pounded in his chest, the memory of their future and the love they had shared in that alternate timeline burning brightly in his mind.

He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself, the weight of his decision like an anchor around his neck. He knew that the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but he had made his choice. He had to trust that Taehyung's promise was genuine, that their love could overcome the siren call of the cigarette.

Jungkook stepped out of the time machine, his eyes immediately searching for Taehyung. He found him sitting at their kitchen table, a pack of cigarettes and a lighter in front of him, his eyes haunted by a craving that Jungkook knew all too well. Jungkook's stomach twisted, but he forced a smile, hiding the turmoil within. "Tae," he said softly, approaching him. "What are you doing?"

Taehyung looked up, his eyes widening in surprise. "Kook," he said, his voice thick with relief. "You're back." Jungkook nodded, his heart racing. "Yeah, I'm back," he said, his voice steady despite the fear that gripped him. "But what's with the ciggies?"

Taehyung sighed, pushing the pack away. "These are yours. And I actually wanted to confront about them. Jeon Jungkook, what are you doing with a pack of  cigarettes? Don't you know they kill you?"

Jungkook felt a chill run down his spine. He hadn't expected this. He had hoped that by changing the past, he could prevent this moment from ever happening. But here it was, staring him in the face. "They're not mine," he said, his voice shaking. "I just found them. And I know how bad they are, trust me."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion in his gaze. "You don't say," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "But you're not smoking are you? After all the healing we both did after that smoking incident?" Jungkook felt his stomach drop. Had he miscalculated? Was Taehyung already lost to the allure of tobacco in this timeline?

Jungkook took a deep breath, willing his racing heart to calm. "No, Tae," he said, his voice firm. "I'm not smoking. And I never will." He took a step closer to Taehyung, reaching out to take his hand. "But I'm worried about you. I know how hard it is to quit, but I believe in you."

Taehyung pulled his hand away, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "Jungkook I quit a long time ago, don't you remember?"

Jungkook's eyes searched Taehyung's, looking for any sign of deception. "You did?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.

Taehyung nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah," he said, his voice gentle. "Remember that night on the balcony? That was the last cigarette I ever had." Jungkook felt a rush of relief so intense it was almost painful. He had done it. He had changed their future.

"But what about Bogum?" Jungkook asked, his voice tentative. "You said you'd stop seeing him." Taehyung's smile grew sad. "I know," he said. "I did stop seeing him. Remember that night he tried to...

Jungkook's eyes widened as Taehyung's voice trailed off, his heart racing as the memories flooded back. The night he had saved Taehyung from Bogum's clutches, the night that had changed everything. The night he had realized the depth of his love and the lengths he would go to protect Taehyung.

"Tae," Jungkook whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. "What happened with Bogum?" Taehyung took a deep breath, his eyes misting over with unshed tears. "He tried to...hurt me," he said finally, his voice barely audible. "But you saved me."

Jungkook's heart clenched, the rage from his past timeline surging through him. "How?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "How did I save you?"

Taehyung took a deep breath, the memories of that fateful night etched into his mind. "You came to the café, just like you said you would," he began, his eyes never leaving Jungkook's. "But you didn't just talk to me. You saw the way he was looking at me, and you knew. You knew what he was capable of." Jungkook's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides.

"You confronted him," Taehyung continued, his voice gaining strength. "Told him to stay away from me, that I didn't need his kind of 'help' anymore. And when he didn't listen, you...you protected me." Jungkook's eyes searched Taehyung's, trying to read the unspoken words hidden in his gaze. "Protected you?" he asked, his voice a barely contained growl.

Taehyung nodded, his eyes shining with a mix of pain and gratitude. "You punched him," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "And when he came at us, you...you shot him." Jungkook's eyes widened, the memory of that violent confrontation flooding back to him. He had done it for Taehyung, to save him from a future of pain and addiction. But he had never wanted Taehyung to know the extent of his rage, the depth of his fear.

"I mean you did go to jail but I bailed you out with with help of my mom and dad," Taehyung said, trying to lighten the mood. Jungkook's eyes searched Taehyung's, looking for any sign of anger or resentment. But all he saw was love and understanding.

"Thank you, Tae," Jungkook murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for always being there for me." Taehyung leaned in, his eyes filled with affection. "You're my everything, Kook," he said, his voice earnest. "I'll always be there for you."

Their kiss was a declaration of their unshakeable bond, a promise that no matter what the future held, they would face it together. As their lips parted, Jungkook felt a warmth spread through him, a feeling of belonging that he hadn't felt in what felt like an eternity. He knew that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges, but with Taehyung by his side, he could face anything.

They decided to keep the details of Jungkook's time travel a secret, a shared burden that only served to strengthen their relationship. Jungkook resolved to be more vigilant, to cherish every moment with Taehyung, knowing the pain of losing him to a preventable fate. They spent the next few months in a blissful bubble of love and support, attending therapy sessions to deal with the trauma of their past and the stress of Jungkook's jail stint.

Life went on, and Taehyung remained smoke-free, filling the void with art and music, his creativity soaring to new heights. Jungkook watched him with pride, his heart swelling every time Taehyung picked up a paintbrush or strummed a guitar string. The smell of fresh paint and the sweet sound of music replaced the stale scent of cigarettes and the coughs that had once haunted their nights.

✯𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝✯

I hope you enjoyed this shitty and meaningless book bye 🙃

-lxnnie