SCARRED AFFECTIONS

Chapter 9

From the next day, Jungkook never saw Taehyung following him again. The absence felt strange, almost too quiet. It was exactly what Jungkook had wanted—he had asked Taehyung to stop, to give him space—but now, without Taehyung's presence in the background, the silence weighed heavier than he expected. His heart ached more than ever, missing the presence of someone he had loved for so long.

Moving on from Taehyung was proving to be harder than Jungkook had imagined. He tried distracting himself with work, focusing on his students, and spending more time with his parents, but no matter where he went, memories of Taehyung seemed to follow him. Their laughter, their shared moments, the love they once had—it was all still fresh in his mind, haunting him when he least expected it.

Despite knowing it was for the best, Jungkook couldn't stop wondering if he had made the right choice. Yes, Taehyung was dangerous, and their future together was uncertain, but that didn't change the fact that Jungkook still loved him. Letting go of five years of memories wasn't something he could do overnight. Though he tried his best, deep down, Jungkook knew—he hadn't moved on yet.

It was a Sunday evening when Jungkook sat in front of the mirror, all dressed up. His parents had arranged a date for him with Kim Mingyu, a businessman they had always liked. Jungkook stared at his reflection, eyes glossy with unshed tears. He was supposed to be moving on, but the memories of his first date with Taehyung flooded his mind, making it impossible to stay composed. A tear slipped from the corner of his eye, and he quickly wiped it away.

Moving on from someone he had loved for five years felt unbearable. How could he forget the person who had been his everything?

His parents, concerned for his well-being, had suggested the date with Mingyu, hoping it would help Jungkook find closure. Mingyu had always been the person they wanted Jungkook to end up with, but when Jungkook met Taehyung, everything changed. Now, after the breakup, they hoped that Mingyu's presence could help heal their son's heart.

Kim Mingyu was a kind and respectful man, someone who had always carried himself with grace. Jungkook had known of him through his father, as Mingyu was the son of one of his father's friends. But Jungkook had never seen him as anything more than an acquaintance, especially after meeting Taehyung and falling so deeply in love with him.

Tonight, Jungkook was going to give it a chance. Perhaps this was what he needed—a fresh start with someone who could offer him a stable and safe future. But even thinking about replacing Taehyung with Mingyu made Jungkook's chest tighten in pain. Taehyung had been his first love, his first kiss, and his first everything. How could he give that place in his heart to someone else? Even if he wanted to, he knew it wouldn't happen overnight.

Jungkook took a deep breath and tried to shake off the lingering sadness. Tonight wasn't about the past; it was about moving forward, or at least attempting to.

———

The restaurant was cozy, with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background. Mingyu was already waiting for Jungkook at the table when he arrived, and as soon as their eyes met, Mingyu stood up with a polite smile.

"Jungkook, it's nice to see you again," Mingyu greeted warmly, extending his hand.

Jungkook returned the smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's nice to see you too, Mingyu."

The two sat down, and the conversation flowed easily at first. Mingyu was a gentleman, as Jungkook expected. He asked about Jungkook's work, his students, and even made a few light-hearted jokes to keep the mood relaxed. But despite Mingyu's efforts, Jungkook found it hard to stay present. His mind kept drifting back to Taehyung, to the times they had shared meals together, the way Taehyung's hand would always find his under the table, squeezing gently.