Jaehyun's POV
To tell the truth, I was afraid to approach Jeno at first. When I faced him, I knew that I was also facing death. He could kill me anytime, and I admit that I am ready for it.
I had heard the rumors, seen the way people looked at him—like he was untouchable, a force of nature that could destroy anyone in his path. But I had also seen the way Y/N looked at him, the way she spoke about him with a softness that made me wonder if there was more to Jeno than the reputation that preceded him.
But none of that mattered now. I had crossed a line, one that should never have been crossed. The guilt weighed heavily on my chest, suffocating me as I stood there, waiting for Jeno to make his move.
We were alone, the air thick with tension as he stared at me with eyes that held no emotion, only cold, calculating resolve. He didn't say a word, but the silence was louder than any accusation he could have thrown my way.
"Jeno," I began, my voice shaking despite my efforts to remain calm. "I... I didn't mean for this to happen. It was a mistake."
His expression didn't change. He just stood there, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, like he was holding himself back from tearing me apart.
I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words to explain, to justify what couldn't be justified. "I was drunk. We both were. And... and I didn't know what I was doing. If I could take it back, I would."
Still, nothing. He didn't even blink. I could feel the sweat beading on my forehead, the fear gnawing at my insides. I knew I had to keep talking, to say something that would reach him, but my mind was blank, overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, the words feeling hollow as they left my mouth. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Jeno. I never wanted to... to get between you and Y/N."
That was when he finally moved. Slowly, deliberately, he took a step forward, closing the distance between us. I could feel the tension crackling in the air, like a storm about to break.
"You didn't mean to hurt me?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "You think that makes a difference?"
I flinched at the coldness in his tone, but I forced myself to hold his gaze. "No, it doesn't. But I want you to know that I regret it. Every second of it."
Jeno's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he took another step closer. I could see the anger simmering just beneath the surface, barely contained. "You regret it? That's supposed to make me feel better? Like it was just some accident, some unfortunate mishap?"
I shook my head, feeling the weight of his words like a punch to the gut. "No, I don't expect you to forgive me. I just... I needed to tell you that it wasn't intentional. That I wasn't trying to betray you."
He was right in front of me now, close enough that I could see the tension in his muscles, the barely restrained fury in his eyes. For a moment, I thought he was going to hit me, that I was about to feel the full force of his anger.
But then he did something I didn't expect. He laughed—a short, bitter sound that sent chills down my spine.
"You weren't trying to betray me?" he echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, congratulations, Jaehyun, because you did. Whether you meant to or not, you did."
The laughter died as quickly as it had started, leaving only the cold, hard truth between us. I had betrayed him, and there was no taking it back, no way to undo the damage that had been done.
"I know," I said quietly, the weight of my actions pressing down on me like a crushing burden. "And I'm willing to face whatever consequences you think I deserve."
Jeno's eyes flashed with something I couldn't quite identify—anger, yes, but also something deeper, something that spoke of pain and betrayal. "You think you deserve to be punished?"
I nodded, unable to find any other way to respond. "Yes."
He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, the fear clawing at my throat as I waited for him to decide my fate.
But instead of lashing out, instead of delivering the punishment I thought I deserved, Jeno did something I hadn't expected.
He turned away.
"I'm not going to hit you," he said, his voice surprisingly calm. "Not because you don't deserve it, but because it wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't undo what happened."
I blinked, surprised by his words. "But... you're not going to let this go, are you?"
He turned back to me, his expression hardening. "No, I'm not. But I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of a fight, either. You're not worth it."
The words stung, cutting deeper than any physical blow could have. I opened my mouth to say something, to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped me.
"There's nothing you can say that will make this better, Jaehyun," he said, his voice cold and final. "So don't bother trying."
And with that, he walked away, leaving me standing there alone, the weight of my guilt heavier than ever.
As I watched him go, I realized that I had lost more than just his trust. I had lost a friend, someone who had once mattered to me in ways I hadn't even realized. And now, there was nothing left but the hollow ache of regret, and the knowledge that I had brought this all on myself.
