Love After Death | taekook

chapter ★ ⸝⸝ 5

Jungkook woke up to the soft, golden glow of morning light creeping through the small window of his room. For a moment, the omega blinked in confusion, reaching out instinctively to the other side of the bed. But his hand touched nothing but the cold, empty sheets, the absence of warmth hitting him hard. His chest tightened, and he realized Taehyung was already gone.

A quiet sob escaped his throat as the weight of reality settled over him. The previous night, their last night together before the alpha left, played over in his mind like a dream he couldn’t quite grasp. The omega curled into himself, pulling the sheets tighter around his body as if trying to hold onto the fleeting warmth Taehyung had left behind.

The intimacy they’d shared, how close they had been, not just physically but emotionally. Every touch, every word whispered in the dark in his ears, felt sacred, a moment they could only share in the shadows of the night.

Now, the daylight washed over the doe eyed omega, and with it came the harsh reality of their forbidden relationship. They had to hide, to pretend, because the world wasn’t ready to accept what they had. And yet, Jungkook trusted Taehyung beyond anything. He believed in him, believed in his promises, even if the path ahead felt daunting.

But the longer the omega lay there, the more he realized he couldn’t stay in bed all day, no matter how much he wanted to. Life didn’t stop because of his heartache. Slowly, he untangled himself from the sheets and sat up, wiping the tears from his face. He had to start his day. Taehyung would want him to be strong, to keep moving forward.

With heavy steps, the omega got up and went through his morning routine. He brushed his teeth, splashed cold water on his face, and changed into fresh clothes. His eyes drifted to the cell phone Taehyung had given him, sitting on the table beside the bed.

The alpha's number was saved in it, and just the sight of it made his heart ache with longing. The omega picked up the phone, along with the envelope of money and the marriage documents Taehyung had insisted he keep, and carefully placed them in a small wooden box where he kept his mother’s remaining belongings. He tucked the box in the back of his closet, hidden beneath old clothes and other things no one would think to search through.

As he changed his clothes, Jungkook caught sight of the faint red marks on his neck in the mirror. His eyes widened in surprise, and his face flushed. The alpha had left those marks the night before, claiming him in a way that made his heart race even now. Quickly, Jungkook buttoned his shirt all the way to the top, covering the evidence. No one could see.

Once he was dressed and composed, the omega stepped outside his room to begin his day. The mansion was quiet, the morning still settling in. His first task was to make breakfast for the grandmother, a daily routine that grounded him in some small way. The omega moved quietly through the kitchen, preparing her favorite tea and toast. It was simple, but it was something he could do to care for her.

When he stepped into her room with the tray, the grandmother smiled softly at him. “Ah, Jungkookie,” she greeted, her voice gentle. “Come, sit with me for a while.”

Jungkook nodded, setting the tray down on her bedside table before taking a seat beside her. She looked at him kindly, her eyes filled with warmth. “How’s your hand? You’re not overworking yourself, are you?”

“I’m fine,” Jungkook replied softly, glancing down at his hands. “It’s nothing serious.”

The grandmother reached out, her frail fingers brushing against his. “You’re always so careful, so considerate,” she murmured. “But you need to take care of yourself too.”

Jungkook looked away, the guilt creeping into his chest. How could he sit here, pretending everything was fine, when he was hiding something so huge from her? The weight of his secret with Taehyung pressed heavily on his heart. This woman, who had always been so kind to him, had no idea about their forbidden love. And yet, here he was, sitting in her room as if nothing had changed.