Shadows Of Stardom

Chapter 8 (Taehyung's POV)

I still remember the first time I laid eyes on her. The lights on the stage dimmed slowly, and a serious hush swept over the crowd. In that  moment, Jennie stepped into the spotlight, shining like a bright star she was. Her presence was unforgettable—a mix of confidence and raw talent that took my breath away. My heart raced wildly in my chest as her voice filled the air, a beautiful melody that felt like it was wrapping around my very soul. It was as if time stopped, and in that moment, I was completely lost at sea, drifting through a vast ocean of dreams that sparkled like stars in the night sky.

From that instant, I was enchanted, totally captivated by her. Two years have passed since that unforgettable night, yet my feelings for her have only deepened.

Whenever I was at gatherings—like movie nights with my bandmates or casual game nights with her friends all together —I felt like I was trapped in a glass box, watching a world that I could never quite be a part of. Jennie would be there, laughter spilling from her lips like music, her eyes sparkling with happiness as she shared stories that made everyone around her smile. Jimin would tell some silly joke, making her laugh so hard her eyes would glimmer with joy. Jungkook would tease her about the most ridiculous things, and their playful banter was a sweet melody that played in my heart. I sat there, silent and longing to join in, wishing I could be the one to make her smile like that.

Even though I was a member of BTS, known as one of the most handsome idols in the world, in her eyes, I felt like I disappeared. It didn’t make sense. We were all friends—Yoongi, Jin, Hoseok, and Namjoon treated her like family—but there I was, feeling like a ghost sitting around... She would chat with everyone, her laughter ringing out like beautiful music. It almost felt I was invisible. The pain I felt was deeper than I could voice, especially when Kai walked into the room. I couldn’t help but notice how her face would light up whenever he appeared, like the night sky blooming with stars. Each glance she threw his way pierced my heart like an arrow.

I tried to convince myself that what I felt was just a passing crush, something small that would fade away real soon but each day it grew even more.... But deep down, I knew this was different; it was a fire that burned fiercely. I longed to pull her into my world, to reveal the real me behind all the glitz and glamour. Every time I found a flicker of courage to talk to her, the words would get stuck in my throat.

The wind whispered sweet nothings as I stepped into a charming little French restaurant that smelled like luxury. The place was bustling with eloquence; couples laughed over candlelit tables, and the waiters moving gently to tables .. I was supposed to be enjoying this moment, but honestly, I was just tagging along. Yoongi had practically dragged me here for dinner, and well he was one to never do that so I followed without any questions

As I settled into my seat between Yoongi and Kai. Kai was a friend and we spoked when needed..  My eyes wandered through the room, soaking in the soft glow of the lights and the enchanting chatter of people, but the real twist came when my gaze landed on her.

Jennie.

She was sitting a few tables away, her laughter like a sweet melody floating through the air. It struck me like a sudden gust of wind, sending my heart racing like a rollercoaster. Just when I thought she might glance in my direction, I realized she wasn’t looking at me at all. My cheeks flared up with heat as I took in her sparkling eyes—she was completely focused on Kai. How could she even see me from where she was? I felt like I was shrinking into my chair, invisible, while the world continued to spin around us—I kept feeling like I was in a strange movie, one where I was just a background character.

Why doesn’t she notice me?

The overwhelming frustration swirling inside me. I was right here! I wanted to scream it into the universe, let her know just how close I was, yet I felt like I was floating in a different dimension, miles away from her