Secret Marriage

Chapter 7: The Breaking point

The breaking point between Taehyung and Jungkook was fast approaching, and both of them felt it in the depths of their souls. The dual life they had been living—the secrecy, the lies, the constant hiding—was wearing them down. Taehyung had been forced to agree to a press conference arranged by his family, a carefully constructed narrative that would keep the Kim family’s reputation intact. The pressure to maintain this facade was suffocating, and it was only getting worse.

On the night of the press meeting, Taehyung was supposed to have dinner with Jungkook, a private moment where they could just be themselves, away from the world’s eyes. But that dinner was canceled at the last minute, the family obligations too great to ignore. Jungkook, who had grown increasingly frustrated with their hidden relationship, was hurt beyond measure. The canceled plans felt like a betrayal, a clear sign that Taehyung’s loyalty to his family was overpowering his love for him.

Taehyung had tried to explain, but Jungkook wasn’t having it this time. They had argued before, but this fight was different—more intense, more cutting. Jungkook had threatened to reveal everything, tired of living in the shadows, tired of pretending. “How long are we going to live like this?” Jungkook had shouted, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Is our love not strong enough for you to stand by me? Are you ashamed of me?”

Taehyung had no answer, at least not one that would soothe Jungkook’s hurt. He loved him more than anything, but the weight of his family’s expectations was a burden he couldn’t shake. The argument had ended in silence, both of them too drained to continue. Little did they know, the storm was just beginning. This was only the first of many trials that would test their relationship, threatening to unravel the life they had built together, piece by piece.

The morning of the press conference, Taehyung sat in front of a mirror, his mind numb as the family’s stylist and assistants buzzed around him, preparing him for his public appearance. His father had been clear: Taehyung would tell the press that he was single, that he had no romantic interests, and that his future involved marrying a wealthy heiress to further the Kim family legacy. The thought of it made Taehyung feel sick. His stomach churned with anxiety, and his hands shook as he gripped the edges of the chair. Minho, his childhood friend and confidant, stood nearby, trying to offer some form of comfort, but nothing could calm the storm inside Taehyung’s heart.

He had never been one to share his struggles with others. Not even his closest friends knew about the panic attacks that had plagued him for years, the suffocating fear that would seize him in moments like this. As the time for the press conference approached, Taehyung could feel the telltale signs of an impending attack—the tightness in his chest, the dizziness, the overwhelming urge to escape. His breath came in short gasps, and his vision blurred as the anxiety took hold. Minho rushed to his side, trying to calm him, whispering words of reassurance, but it felt like nothing was working. Taehyung was spiraling.

“Breathe, Tae,” Minho whispered, his voice gentle yet firm. “Just breathe. You’ve got this.”

After a few agonizing minutes, Taehyung’s breathing evened out, though the heavy weight of dread still pressed down on him. With a final deep breath, he stood up, steeling himself for what was to come. The cameras were already flashing as he entered the press room, the sea of reporters buzzing with anticipation. Taehyung sat down calmly, his expression composed as he answered question after question. He was a master at hiding his emotions, and no one would have guessed that, just moments before, he had been on the verge of breaking down.

Then came the question he had been dreading. “Taehyung-ssi, there have been rumors circulating about your love life. Can you clarify if you are seeing someone, or when we can expect an engagement announcement?”

The words felt like a punch to the gut. He swallowed hard, his heart hammering in his chest. This was it. The moment he had to lie, to deny the very existence of the person he loved more than anything in the world. With a forced smile, he answered, “I don’t wish to disclose anything about my personal life at this time. However, I can say that when the time is right, I will make an announcement regarding my engagement.”

His parents, seated in the front row, exchanged satisfied glances. They were proud. Taehyung had done what was expected of him—he had protected the family, upheld their honor. But inside, Taehyung felt like he was dying. The weight of the lie was crushing him, and every word felt like a betrayal to Jungkook.

As soon as the press conference ended, Taehyung hurried backstage, his heart pounding in his chest. He barely made it to the privacy of his changing room before the tears came. He sank to the floor, his body shaking with sobs as he buried his face in his hands. It hurt—everything hurt. He didn’t want this life. He didn’t want to lie, didn’t want to hurt Jungkook, but he felt trapped. Trapped by his family, by their expectations, by the life they had forced upon him.

Minho, who had been waiting outside the room, rushed in when he heard Taehyung’s sobs. His heart broke at the sight of his friend, the strong and composed Taehyung, reduced to tears. He knelt beside him, gently rubbing his back in a soothing gesture.

“It’s okay, Tae. It’s over now,” Minho murmured softly. But he knew it wasn’t okay. Nothing about this was okay.

Taehyung shook his head, the sobs wracking his body uncontrollably. “I’m hurting him, Minho,” he choked out between sobs. “I’m hurting Jungkook, and I can’t—” His words broke off as another wave of emotion crashed over him.

Minho was helpless, unable to do anything but watch as Taehyung unraveled before him. After what felt like an eternity, Taehyung’s sobs subsided, replaced by the heavy, exhausted silence of someone who had reached their breaking point. His chest still heaved from the exertion, but he managed to calm down slightly. Minho guided him to the couch, helping him sit down.

“You need to rest, Tae,” Minho said gently. “You’ve been through enough today. Take a moment to breathe.”

But Taehyung couldn’t rest. He couldn’t stop thinking about Jungkook—how he had hurt him, how he had canceled their plans, how he had lied to the world about their love. He had yelled at Jungkook, told him they would “talk about it later,” but deep down, he knew he was doing wrong by him. Jungkook deserved better than this.

“I have to fix this,” Taehyung whispered, his voice hoarse from crying. “I have to make it right.”

But as Taehyung sat there, drained and broken, he knew that fixing this was easier said than done. They had been hiding for so long, and now it felt like the walls were closing in on them. And outside those walls, someone was waiting, ready to destroy everything they had worked so hard to protect.