Bound by Fate

Chapter 32: Unspoken Fears

As the commotion from the previous events slowly subsided, life seemed to regain a sense of normalcy for Jungkook, Jin, and Namjoon as they continued their simple life in the village. Jungkook, still weighed down by the aftermath of what had happened with Taehyung, tried his best to focus on the present. Every day was filled with lessons from Namjoon and moments of quiet reflection with Jin. Despite the peaceful surroundings, Jungkook couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and sadness that lingered in his heart, especially when it came to Taehyung.

Taehyung, on the other hand, was struggling with his own emotions. He felt a growing sense of guilt for how things had played out between him and Jungkook. Deep down, he knew Jungkook never wanted things to happen the way they did, but he couldn't bring himself to apologize. Every time their paths crossed, Taehyung would turn away, his heart too heavy with regret. To make matters worse, the bullying he faced at school only intensified. Taehyung silently endured it, too ashamed to ask for help, too afraid to speak out.

Despite being surrounded by people, both Taehyung and Jungkook lived in their own isolated worlds, avoiding each other as much as possible. Jungkook didn't want to confront the pain, and Taehyung couldn't bring himself to break the silence between them. The distance between them seemed to grow with every passing day.

One bright morning, Namjoon and Yoongi visited the school to deliver a special speech, one that had the entire student body buzzing with excitement. As respected figures, their presence carried a certain weight, and their lectures were always inspiring. Jin, who had grown into a role of both caretaker and teacher, also arrived at the school that day, planning to spend some time in the library and later take Jungkook with him for some additional training.

The day seemed normal enough—students moved around in their daily routines, teachers prepared for the lessons, and the sun cast its warm glow over the entire school. But beneath the surface, Taehyung was dealing with more than just his unresolved guilt. As the bullying continued, it reached a breaking point. That afternoon, a gang which bully Ami cornered him near the top of the stairs. Taehyung tried to stand his ground, but the weight of everything—his fear, guilt, and shame—made him vulnerable. The boys pushed him harder than they usually did, their taunts more vicious than before. Taehyung's feet stumbled, and he lost his balance.

From the bottom of the stairs, Jungkook, who had been heading towards the library to meet Jin, caught sight of the scene unfolding above him. Time seemed to slow as Taehyung teetered dangerously close to the edge. His heart raced, eyes widening in horror. His entire body froze as he watched Taehyung slip, his body tumbling down the stairs. Blood immediately began to pool beneath him as his head hit the hard steps. At that same moment, Jin arrived nearby and saw it all. His heart lurched in his chest, and a scream tore from his throat, "Taehyung!"

Namjoon and Yoongi, just finishing their lecture and walking towards the stairwell, also heard Jin's scream and turned to see Taehyung's lifeless body crumpled at the base of the stairs. Without a second thought, Yoongi sprinted forward, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached Taehyung first, scooping his unconscious body into his arms as blood continued to drip from Taehyung's head. Namjoon rushed behind, his face pale with shock and fear.

Jungkook stood frozen at the bottom of the stairs, his mind numb, unable to process what had just happened. His hands trembled, tears already streaming down his face. The guilt he'd been holding onto, the pain of avoiding Taehyung, and the fear of losing him all collided in that moment. Taehyung looked so fragile, so broken.

Yoongi, Jin, Namjoon, and Jungkook rushed Taehyung to the healing chamber as quickly as they could. Namjoon's mother was already there, her face solemn as she worked to heal Taehyung's wounds. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension and fear. Everyone was quiet, the only sound being the faint hum of Namjoon's mother's healing energy as she concentrated on saving Taehyung's life.

Jungkook stood at the edge of the room, his body trembling. He couldn't take his eyes off Taehyung. His mind was spinning with thoughts, but one thing was clear—he had to tell Taehyung how he felt. The fear of losing him was too great. He couldn't go on avoiding him, pretending everything was fine when it wasn't. Jungkook's heart ached with the realization that he could have lost Taehyung in that single moment on the stairs. His guilt weighed heavier on him than ever before.

As he stood there, watching Namjoon's mother work tirelessly to heal Taehyung, Jungkook made a decision. He would no longer hide from his feelings. He needed to tell Taehyung the truth about how he felt—about the guilt, the regret, and the love he had been too afraid to express. He owed that much to Taehyung, and to himself. He couldn't keep running from his emotions, not after this.

Hours passed, and the tension in the room began to lift as Namjoon's mother finally stepped back, her face lined with exhaustion but relief. Taehyung was stable, for now. Jungkook's heart raced as he walked closer to the bed where Taehyung lay. He reached out hesitantly, his fingers barely brushing Taehyung's cold hand. Jungkook swallowed hard, whispering softly, "Please wake up, Taehyung. I'm so sorry. I never wanted this... any of this."

He stayed by Taehyung's side, waiting, hoping, and praying that Taehyung would wake up. When he did, Jungkook knew he wouldn't waste another second. He would tell Taehyung everything, no matter the consequences.

For now, all they could do was wait.

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Envi: I think this is my shortest chapter yet! 😅 As you all know, Taehyung's bullying is now out in the open. Let's see what happens next...

Stay tuned for more! Things are about to get even more intense! 😈