IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR ABSENCE

CHAPTER 8

AUTHOR'S POV

Y/N and Taehyung had settled into a comfortable rhythm over the past month. Their relationship seemed effortless, filled with late-night talks, shared smiles, and quiet moments that felt more intimate than anything Y/N had experienced in a long time. Taehyung's presence was calming, and he always knew how to bring her out of her thoughts when she was feeling overwhelmed.

One evening, they found themselves sitting by the riverside, watching the sunset together. The sky was painted in shades of pink, orange, and purple, casting a warm glow over everything. Y/N leaned her head on Taehyung's shoulder, feeling at peace for the first time in what felt like forever.

"This feels nice," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the gentle sound of the water.

Taehyung smiled, resting his hand on hers. "It does. I've always loved moments like this."

Y/N glanced up at him, noticing the way the soft light reflected in his eyes. He was looking at her, not the sunset, with a kind of tenderness that made her heart skip a beat. She smiled, squeezing his hand gently.

"Thank you for being here," Y/N said, her voice soft. "For being... you."

Taehyung chuckled, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "You don't have to thank me, Y/N. I'm happy to be here—with you."

They sat in silence for a few moments longer, just enjoying each other's company, before Taehyung broke the quiet with a playful grin.

"You know, I've been thinking... maybe we should go on a real trip. Just the two of us. Get away from everything for a while," he suggested.

Y/N smiled, the idea of spending more time with him, away from the stress of college and life, sounded perfect. "That sounds amazing. Where should we go?"

"Someplace quiet. Somewhere we can just... be ourselves," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

As Y/N leaned into the comfort of Taehyung's warmth, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She frowned slightly, wondering who could be calling her at such a peaceful moment.

"Hold on," she murmured, pulling her phone out and glancing at the screen. Unknown number.

She hesitated for a second, then answered, "Hello?"

There was silence on the other end for a moment before a woman's voice, shaky and uncertain, finally spoke.

"Is this Y/N?"

"Yes."

The next words felt like they hit her like a punch to the gut.

"Mr.Jungkook is in hospital and he has your number in the emergency contact..I expect you to come and check up on him..we called his gaurdins too"

Her heart raced, a cold chill settling into her bones. "What... what do you mean he's in the hospital?" she whispered, her voice barely audible as the world around her seemed to blur.

The nurse on the other end of the line spoke gently, explaining that Jungkook had been found unconscious and they had discovered Y/N's number as his emergency contact. She couldn't breathe. "I'll... I'll be right there," Y/N managed to stammer, her hand clutching the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Taehyung's concerned voice cut through the haze. "Y/N, what's wrong?"

"It's Jungkook," she whispered, the words barely forming. "He's in the hospital... I have to go." Her legs felt weak, but she willed herself to move, pushing past Taehyung's questioning gaze.