IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR ABSENCE

CHAPTER 16

Taehyung left Jungkook's house with a satisfied feeling, the seeds of doubt he had planted beginning to take root in Jungkook's mind. But as he walked to campus, a gnawing sense of guilt began to creep in.

Two Days Later

IN COLLEGE

As Taehyung sat on a bench in the bustling courtyard, he was caught off guard by Jungkook's sudden appearance. The usual brightness in his friend's eyes was gone, replaced by a heavy shadow.

"I have something important to talk to you about, Taehyung..." Jungkook said, his voice shaking slightly. Taehyung's heart raced at the prospect that Jungkook might have found out what he had told his father.

Hesitantly, Taehyung nodded. "Sure, what's going on?"

Jungkook dragged him toward an empty auditorium room, glancing around as if checking for eavesdroppers. The moment the door shut behind them, the air felt thick with tension.

"TAEHYUNG," Jungkook's voice broke, and Taehyung's stomach twisted at the sight of tears welling in his friend's eyes.

Realizing this was something deeper than he had anticipated, Taehyung stepped closer. "What is it, Jungkook? Why are you crying? Please tell me... I'm here for you."

Jungkook took a shaky breath, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "I can't do this anymore, Taehyung. My dad... he's saying I'm weak and that Y/N is distracting me and making me weaker." His voice trembled with the weight of his emotions. "I feel like dying, Taehyung. I don't want to live like this anymore."

The words hit Taehyung like a punch to the gut. "It's... it's too hard for me to not break down in front of Y/N. I don't want to seem weak in front of her, but..." He paused, choking on his words. "You're the only person I can trust right now."

Taehyung's heart ached for Jungkook. It was a cruel twist of fate that he had unknowingly set this emotional turmoil in motion. Every word Jungkook spoke felt like a dagger to his conscience, and yet he knew he had to maintain his façade.

Taehyung struggled to keep his composure as he faced Jungkook's piercing gaze. He knew he had to tread carefully; one wrong word could tip the delicate balance he had created.

"Jungkook, listen to me," Taehyung said, forcing calmness into his voice. "You're not weak. You're going through a lot, and it's okay to feel overwhelmed. But..."

"But what, Taehyung?" Jungkook interrupted, desperation creeping into his voice. "What are you trying to say?"

Taehyung felt the weight of Jungkook's eyes on him, searching for answers that felt impossible to provide. "I just... I don't think you should tell all this to Y/N. She's a very sensitive girl. She'll suffer more than you will, thinking you're in pain."

Jungkook frowned, confusion mixed with hurt swirling in his eyes. "But I need her support! I can't keep pretending everything is okay when it's not."

"I understand that," Taehyung replied, his heart racing. He had to navigate this conversation carefully. "But you also have to consider how she might react. If she sees you like this, it could break her. You know how much she cares about you. She might blame herself for your struggles."

"But isn't it better to be honest?" Jungkook pressed, frustration leaking into his tone. "If I don't tell her, it'll eat me alive. I can't keep pretending."

Taehyung took a deep breath, crafting his next words with caution. "Yes, honesty is important, but there's a time and place for it. Right now, you're already in a fragile state. Maybe give yourself some time to process everything before bringing her into it."

Jungkook ran a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. "I don't want to hide from her, Taehyung. I want to be real with her."

"You can be real without dragging her into your pain," Taehyung insisted gently. "Maybe you can share the lighter parts, the parts that don't involve the pressure or the darkness you're feeling. You can show her you're trying to handle it."

Jungkook looked down, conflicted. "So... I should just bottle it up? Pretend everything is fine?"

"Not pretend," Taehyung corrected quickly. "Just don't overwhelm her right now. Focus on getting yourself through this. You're strong enough to handle it. You just need to take it one step at a time."

After a long pause, Jungkook finally nodded slowly, though the tension in his shoulders remained. "I guess I see your point, but maybe I should just break up with her. Nowadays, I can't give her more time. Seeing her suffer just because I can't be there for her and not being able to explain my absence... I feel like it's best to break up."

The words struck Taehyung like a punch. He struggled to hide his reaction, forcing a mask of calm over the turmoil brewing inside him. "Jungkook, wait. Are you sure that's what you want?"

Jungkook looked away, pain etched across his features. "I don't want to hurt her, but I feel like I'm dragging her down. She deserves someone who can be fully present, not someone like me who's just... broken."

Taehyung felt the weight of Jungkook's sorrow pressing down on him. This was the very outcome he had hoped for but now found himself conflicted. "But breaking up with her won't make things better for you. It could leave you both with regrets."

"It might be better in the long run," Jungkook said, his voice cracking. "I just don't want to be the reason she suffers more. I can't keep pretending everything is okay when it's not."

As Jungkook stood there, lost in thought, Taehyung couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction bubbling up inside him. Internally smirking, he realized that everything was falling into place. Jungkook's growing despair was exactly what Jimin had hoped for, and it seemed that the inevitable breakup with Y/N was all but guaranteed.

"I'll talk to her soon," Jungkook murmured, and Taehyung fought to suppress another smirk.

"When you're ready," he encouraged, secretly relishing the knowledge that Jungkook would soon push Y/N away, just as Jimin had instructed.

They parted ways in the hall, and as Taehyung walked away, he felt a surge of exhilaration. The darkness of his actions felt overshadowed by the thrill of control he had over the situation. Each step felt lighter, even as he grappled with the weight of his betrayal.

"This is for the best," he whispered to himself, trying to convince his conscience. "Jungkook needs to see that he can't rely on anyone else but himself."

Yet, as he made his way to his next class, a small voice in the back of his mind whispered doubts. Would this truly be for the best? Or was he merely playing a dangerous game that would leave devastation in its wake?

Regardless, Taehyung pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the satisfaction that came from knowing he was on the path to fulfilling his role in Jimin's plan. The anticipation of watching it all unfold filled him with a dark sense of glee. "Just a little more time," he thought, "and everything will fall into place."

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