Love Again

1

It had been a normal day for Seokjin, one filled with the usual routines of work, errands, and an evening jog before heading home to the apartment he shared with Taehyung. Their five-year relationship had settled into a comfortable rhythm, a balance of work, travel, and moments of intimacy that made Seokjin feel secure. He had always trusted Taehyung; their love felt stable, unshakable, like a rock in the midst of their hectic lives.

That evening, Seokjin arrived home just after Taehyung had left for a late-night meeting with his management. He was used to Taehyung's unpredictable schedule, always busy with shoots, rehearsals, and promotions. Sometimes, it meant long days apart, but they both understood that their careers demanded sacrifices. Seokjin had never questioned Taehyung's loyalty—until that night.

The apartment was quiet, and Seokjin, still in his post-jog sweat, headed for the shower. On his way to the bedroom, he noticed Taehyung's laptop left open on the coffee table. It wasn't unusual—Taehyung often worked on it before rushing out the door. A part of Seokjin felt a twinge of curiosity as he walked by it, noticing an unfamiliar app open on the screen. It looked like a messaging app he didn't recognize.

Normally, Seokjin wouldn't even think of looking at Taehyung's private messages, but something about the previewed text caught his attention. It was casual yet intimate, with a warmth that felt too personal. The sender was listed as "T," but the content of the message was what stopped Seokjin in his tracks:

"I can't wait to see you again. Last night was amazing."

A chill ran down Seokjin's spine. His heart started to pound, his mind immediately trying to rationalize the message. It had to be a misunderstanding—maybe it was a work conversation, maybe it was just a joke. Seokjin's hands trembled slightly as he hesitated before finally clicking on the thread.

The screen flooded with messages, scrolling back days, weeks, even months. There were pictures, some innocent, some not so much. The exchange was unmistakably intimate, filled with flirty comments, inside jokes, and plans to meet. Each new message hit Seokjin like a punch to the gut, especially the timestamps. They revealed a history of secret meetings, hidden behind Taehyung's busy work schedule.

"I miss you already. When can we meet again?"

"Tomorrow night. I'll say I'm working late. He won't notice."

Seokjin's breath caught in his throat as he read that last message. He. Taehyung had been lying to him, meeting this person under the guise of late work meetings. The more Seokjin scrolled, the clearer it became—Taehyung was cheating on him, and it had been going on for months.

His heart raced uncontrollably, a mix of disbelief, betrayal, and deep hurt settling in. Seokjin didn't want to believe it. This wasn't the Taehyung he knew—the Taehyung who whispered sweet nothings to him late at night, who laughed with him over dinner, who wrapped him in warm hugs when the world became too much. But the messages, the photos, and the flirty comments were undeniable.

Seokjin's eyes stung with unshed tears, his chest tightening as his whole world seemed to crumble around him. He sat back on the couch, staring blankly at the screen, numb. He wasn't sure how long he sat there, his mind spinning in circles, trying to make sense of what he had just uncovered.

Hours seemed to pass in a blur. The sound of the front door unlocking brought him out of his daze. Taehyung walked in, his usual bright smile on his face, none the wiser to the storm brewing inside Seokjin. Taehyung kicked off his shoes and glanced at Seokjin, who was still sitting motionless on the couch.

"Hey, Jinnie, you okay?" Taehyung asked, concern lacing his voice as he moved toward him.

Seokjin didn't respond immediately, still staring at the laptop, the messages now burned into his mind. Taehyung followed his gaze, and that's when he saw it—his laptop, still open to the incriminating messages. His face went pale as realization hit him.