Raw Marks | KOOKV✓

Chapter 44

The sound of plastic wrap crunched loudly in the quiet apartment as Taehyung sealed the last box. Sunlight flooded the room, casting bright, warm beams across the floor, but the heat outside was nothing compared to the fire burning inside him. A loud sigh escaped his lips as he finally stood up, surveying the packed boxes scattered around. Despite only moving into this apartment a few days ago, he was already packing up to leave. It didn't matter anymore. He needed to end everything as soon as possible, pulling himself away from everyone before he caused more harm. He was barely holding himself together, and he knew that as long as he stayed, the chaos would only grow

Yesterday's events, especially hearing Jungkook's voice, had left him feeling raw and vulnerable, more so than he had in a long time. He had ignored all of Yoongi's calls, and he didn't even want to think about Jungkook's endless texts and missed calls. Last night, Yoongi had banged on his door, demanding to be let in, but Taehyung had stayed silent, his heart pounding as he prayed the older man would think he was asleep and go away. After what felt like hours, Yoongi had already left. But sleep had been impossible for Taehyung; his mind was too restless, too full of thoughts that he couldn't quiet. He had made a decision, one that he hoped would bring peace to everyone, including himself. It was a risky move, and he knew it could backfire, but it was the only solution he could see. He couldn't afford to be trapped by his emotions again

With another sigh, Taehyung sank onto the couch, the soft cushions bouncing slightly under his weight. He threw his head back and closed his eyes, trying to take a few deep breaths and rest, even if only for a moment. But peace was fleeting. His phone buzzed with a notification, shattering the brief calm. Reluctantly, he picked it up and scanned the messages that flooded the screen. All of them were from Jungkook, who had been texting him nonstop since last night-over a thousand messages and more than two hundred missed calls

"P-please come back" one message read.

"Hyung, it h-hurts!" another pleaded

"Why did you do this to me? Why did you let him touch you?" The last one demanded

Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing his forehead as a fresh wave of guilt washed over him. Yoongi never should have sent that video of their first time together. What was he even thinking back then? It had been embarrassing, but now, with Jungkook's reaction, it was even worse. Why did Jungkook care so much about him being with Yoongi? The teen had broken up with him, insisting that they weren't meant to be, that homosexuality was a sin, and that he would eventually marry a girl. Taehyung had obeyed, stepping back and distancing himself from him. So why now? Why was Jungkook begging him like this? Was it because of Yoongi touching him? Was that all it took for Jungkook to feel possessive over him?

Tears blurred Taehyung's vision as he scrolled through the messages. He had realized something important recently about their relationship. Jungkook was just a child, still learning, still growing. He had tried to give Jungkook time, space to figure things out. He had tried his best to take care of the teen, never pushing him too far, too fast. But now, looking back, he wondered if he had been unknowingly grooming Jungkook, he wondered if he had crossed a line without realizing it. Aoi had accused him of grooming Jungkook, and now that accusation felt like a weight on his chest. Was he really just a predator, expecting a child to love him the way an adult would?

Taehyung argued with himself, trying to justify his actions. If Jungkook had just had a few more months, he would have understood what their relationship was meant to be, right? They had only been dating for a few months, after all. How desperate he had been for the teen's love, how pathetic it all seemed now. He loved Jungkook-he still loved him-but he couldn't understand why he couldn't let go, even when everything was a mess. People don't learn easily, do they?