Min Yoongi - Idol's love

Chapter XXII

Chapter 22: Under the Spotlight

The atmosphere on the tour was oddly quiet. The weight of secrets, unspoken words, and lingering suspicions hung heavily in the air. We were on our way to the airport. Yoongi sat near the back, his eyes focused on the passing scenery outside the window, but his mind was elsewhere. The recent confrontation with Taehyung still played in his head. He knew they couldn't keep this up forever—the secrecy, the half-truths. Sooner or later, something would slip.

Meanwhile, you were sitting a few seats ahead, fidgeting with your phone, trying to distract yourself from the tension. You could feel the eyes of the others on you now and then, especially Namjoon, whose natural curiosity had shifted into concern. You had noticed how the dynamics within the group had subtly changed over the past few days. Conversations had become more careful, laughter less frequent. Even the usually carefree moments felt strained.

Namjoon, sitting across from you, finally broke the silence. "You seem a little off lately. Everything okay?"

You glanced up at him, trying to muster a reassuring smile. "Yeah, just tired, I guess. The tour's been nonstop, and it's catching up to me."

He nodded, but you could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. Namjoon was perceptive, perhaps too wise for your own good. "If you need to talk, you know we're here, right?"

"Of course," you replied, your smile faltering slightly. You appreciated his concern, but the truth felt like a heavy burden between you. How could you explain what was going on without revealing too much?

As the car continued its journey, the tension was palpable. Yoongi finally tore his gaze away from the window and walked over to where Taehyung was seated, his expression a mix of frustration and resolve. He sat beside him, keeping his voice low to avoid attracting attention.

"Taehyung," Yoongi began, his tone firm but not confrontational, "about earlier... I get why you're asking questions, but you need to trust me on this. There's nothing to worry about."

Taehyung looked up from his phone, his brows furrowing slightly. "Hyung, it's not that I don't trust you. Things have felt off. We all notice it. We've been through enough together to pick up on when something's not okay."

Yoongi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know, and I'm sorry. It's just—" He paused, trying to find the right words. "Things are happening that we're still figuring out. It's not about keeping secrets to hurt anyone. It's about trying to protect what we have until we're sure what we're doing."

Taehyung studied Yoongi's face, trying to gauge the seriousness of his words. "You know I don't mean to pry. We're family, right? I don't want anything to mess that up."

"Neither do I," Yoongi said, his voice softening. "That's why I'm asking you to trust me. When the time's right, you'll know everything. I promise."
Taehyung nodded slowly, though his concern didn't entirely disappear. "Okay, hyung. I trust you. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here too, you know? You don't have to carry everything by yourself."

Yoongi offered a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Tae. I'll remember that."

The conversation left a lingering unease in the air, but Yoongi felt a little lighter, knowing that, at least for now, the situation was under control. He returned to his seat, glancing over at you. You caught his eye, and a silent understanding passed between you. This was far from over, but for now, you had managed to keep the fragile balance intact.

The car finally pulled into the airport's underground parking, and everyone started gathering their things. There was relief as they realized they would have a few hours of rest during the flight.