TEMPESTUOUS TIES

GUILT

AUTHOR'S POV:

The world outside seemed to take a pause as Taehyung hurried to his room, the silence of the Kim household shattered only by the sound of a door being slammed shut.

His family watched, confused and concerned, as the young man rushed past them, his face wet with tears.

It was a rare sight-Taehyung was not one to cry openly.

The atmosphere in the house felt thick with tension, a growing sense of dread as they wondered what could have broken him.

Jin, the eldest, couldn't ignore it any longer.

After sharing a worried glance with Namjoon, he made his way to the Taehyung's room.

He knocked gently, waiting for any sign of acknowledgment, but none came.

His brother remained quiet behind the closed door.

With a sigh, Jin pushed the door open and stepped inside, locking it behind him for privacy.

The sight that greeted him was heart-wrenching.

Taehyung lay curled up on his bed, his back turned to the door, his shoulders trembling as he stared blankly out of the window.

Jin could hear the soft sniffles, and the weight of his brother's sorrow filled the room.

He knew then-it wasn't about their family this time.

Namjoon's voice called from outside, "Is everything alright? Should I come in?"

Jin responded quickly, his eyes fixed on Taehyung's hunched figure. "No, I'll take care of this."

Namjoon hesitated but eventually left, leaving the two brothers alone in the dim room. Jin slowly approached Taehyung and sat beside him, unsure of what to say but knowing that he had to be there.

"So..." Jin began softly, his hand reaching out to caress Taehyung's back in gentle circles. "What happened?"

Taehyung's sniffles grew louder at the question. His voice cracked as he answered, "Why are you asking me this? You've never been interested in my matters. It's always Namjoon hyung... Why are you doing this now?" His words came out in a bitter rush, the pain of his emotions twisting them into accusations.

Jin smiled faintly, though the sight of his brother's suffering made his heart ache. "I'm your hyung. It's my job to take care of you. If I didn't before, then I'm doing it now. I'm not here to give advice like Namjoon, to tell you what's right or wrong. I'm just here to listen, and whatever you say stays between us. No one outside this room will know. So... tell me."

Taehyung exhaled a shaky breath, his fingers gripping the bed's blanket tightly. "Once again... the world reminded me how difficult I am." His voice was soft, defeated, and the weight of those words sank into the silence.

Jin frowned, unsure of what Taehyung meant. Jin's heart skipped a beat. The man...?. He waited, knowing there was more.

"The man I love," Taehyung finally whispered, "said I'm difficult. Imperfect. Pathetic."

The revelation hit Jin like a wave. The man...? he thought, taken aback.

"Hyung, listen to me." Taehyung's tone was sharp, laced with bitterness. "Never fall in love. If you do, never in the way I did. Don't acknowledge your feelings, even if you fall for someone. Because they won't fall for you. And even if they do, one day they'll realize you're not meant for them. Because we're pathetic."

A hollow chuckle escaped Jin's lips. His mind drifted to a memory, one from a time not so long ago.

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