The Second Choice

Was He A Rebound

Jungkook hesitated before knocking on the door of Taehyung's apartment. The events from the night before played heavily on his mind—the fire, the fight, the betrayal. He had never seen Taehyung so broken, so raw with emotion, and it worried him. After waiting for a few seconds with no response, Jungkook knocked again, this time a little harder.

"Hyung, it's me, Jungkook. Open up," he called out.

The door finally opened, revealing a disheveled Taehyung. His normally impeccable appearance was replaced with a tired face, messy hair, and a loose, wrinkled shirt. His eyes were puffy, evidence of a sleepless night. He stepped aside, letting Jungkook in without saying a word.

Jungkook entered the apartment, glancing around. It was unusually quiet, a stark contrast to the warmth and comfort Taehyung usually created. There were empty glasses on the coffee table, and a blanket was thrown carelessly on the couch, where it looked like Taehyung had spent the night.

"You didn't sleep much, huh?" Jungkook said softly as he sat down.

Taehyung collapsed into the chair opposite him, rubbing his face in exhaustion. "I couldn't," he admitted. "It's just... everything. I can't believe this is happening."

Jungkook nodded, understanding the weight of the situation. "I'm sorry, hyung. I didn't know about Y/N and Jimin. If I had known—"

Taehyung cut him off, shaking his head. "You couldn't have known. None of us did. It's just... I thought Y/N and I were finally in a good place, you know? I thought she was moving on from her past, from him. And then to find out she's been hiding all this... and with Jimin? My own friend?"

Jungkook sighed, unsure of how to comfort Taehyung. "It's messed up, no doubt. But what Y/N did... I think she's just as confused and hurt. She probably didn't know how to tell you."

Taehyung leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together tightly. "I love her, Jungkook. I've loved her for so long, and I thought—no, I knew we had something real. But this... it changes everything."

"I get that," Jungkook replied quietly. "But you have to talk to her. You need to know how she feels, for real, without Jimin in the picture."

Taehyung was silent for a moment, staring down at the floor.

Taehyung's silence was thick, a heavy pause filled with anger, hurt, and betrayal. He gripped the edge of the chair so hard his knuckles turned white, his jaw clenched as if he was trying to keep everything from spilling out.

"I don't know if I can forgive her," Taehyung finally said, his voice low and bitter. "She made me feel like I was crazy when I asked her about Jimin. She looked me in the eye, Jungkook, and lied to my face. And all that time... while I was falling harder for her, she was sleeping with him. It wasn't just Jimin who betrayed me. It was her, too."

Jungkook opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came. He knew Taehyung had every right to feel how he did. This was more than a relationship problem—it was a deep betrayal from the two people Taehyung trusted most.

"You're right to feel this way, hyung," Jungkook said cautiously. "But... you still love her, don't you?"

Taehyung's eyes flashed with anger, and he stood up abruptly, pacing the room. "Of course, I do! That's what makes it so much worse. I hate her for what she did, but I can't stop loving her either. Do you know how sick that feels? To love someone who destroyed everything I believed in?"

He paused, running his hands through his messy hair in frustration. "When we were in Paris, it felt like I was the only one she saw. Like we were finally... right. And all the while, Jimin had already been with her. How do I just... move past that? How do I forgive that?"