IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR ABSENCE

CHAPTER 21

A few minutes later, Y/N stood in the doorway of their hotel room, her heart heavy as she packed her bag in silence. The weight of Taehyung's revelation pressed down on her, and she couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of betrayal. She zipped her bag, her movements quiet and deliberate, as if trying not to disturb the fragile peace in the room.

Taehyung stood by the window, watching her with a mixture of helplessness and sorrow in his eyes. He knew she was leaving, and yet he couldn't bring himself to stop her. "Y/N," he called out softly, his voice laced with desperation. "Please... don't go like this."

Y/N paused, her hand resting on the door handle. She didn't turn around, her back still facing him. "I have to, Taehyung. I need to clear my head. I can't stay here knowing that everything we've built was based on lies."

Taehyung took a step closer, his voice trembling. "It wasn't all lies. What we had... it was real, Y/N. My feelings for you were never part of any plan."

Finally, Y/N turned to face him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Maybe your feelings were real, but the foundation wasn't. You and Jungkook manipulated me, Taehyung. You decided what was best for me without giving me a choice, and I can't forgive that—not right now."

Taehyung's face fell, his heart sinking as her words pierced through him. "I just wanted to protect you... to make you happy," he whispered, his voice breaking.

Y/N's expression softened for a moment, but the hurt still lingered in her eyes. "I know you thought you were helping, but this isn't something you can fix, Taehyung. I need space to figure things out on my own."

She turned back toward the door, her grip tightening around her bag. "I don't know how long I'll be gone... or if I'll be back. I just need time."

Taehyung stood frozen, watching her leave, his chest aching with regret. "I'll wait for you, Y/N," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "No matter how long it takes."

Without another word, Y/N walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. The finality of the sound echoed in Taehyung's ears as he stood alone in the silence, wondering if he had lost her for good.

As Y/N stepped out of the hotel, the sky had turned dark and ominous, the first few drops of rain already beginning to fall. She pulled her jacket closer, trying to shield herself from the sudden downpour. Her phone buzzed in her hand, a few missed calls from Taehyung, but she ignored them, feeling a lump form in her throat. With a final sigh, she switched it off and stuffed it into her pocket.

Thunder rumbled overhead, and the rain quickly intensified, soaking her within minutes. The streets became a blur as she walked aimlessly, her thoughts spinning, the storm outside matching the chaos in her mind. Her heart pounded, her chest tight with the weight of everything she had just learned.

The rain was relentless, making it hard for Y/N to see clearly as she hurried down the slick, deserted road. She struggled to keep her balance, her feet slipping on the wet pavement. The wind howled, pushing against her, but she kept moving forward, desperate to get away from everything—Taehyung, the lies, the pain.

Suddenly, her foot caught on something, and she stumbled forward, her body slamming against the side of a parked car. She gasped, her hands pressing against the cool metal to steady herself, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

Through the rain-splattered windshield, she saw a figure inside. The driver stepped out, rushing to her side, his coat billowing in the wind. As he came closer, Y/N blinked through the rain, her heart stopping when she recognized the man.

It was Mr. Jungwoon.

"Miss Y/N?" he called out, his voice almost lost in the roar of the storm. His eyes were filled with concern as he hurried toward her. "Are you alright?"

Y/N's head spun, the cold seeping into her bones as she struggled to process everything. She hadn't expected to run into him again, not like this. She nodded weakly, though she didn't feel alright at all. "I... I'm fine," she managed to say, her voice barely audible over the thunder.

Mr. Jungwoon's brow furrowed as he reached out, gently grabbing her arm to steady her. "You're drenched. Come inside, I'll drive you somewhere safe," he offered, his tone gentle but firm.

Y/N hesitated, but her body was trembling from the cold, and the storm was only getting worse. She glanced at him, her mind still foggy with doubt and suspicion, but she couldn't deny the comfort he radiated—the same comfort she once felt with Jungkook.

Reluctantly, she nodded, allowing him to guide her toward the passenger seat. As she slid into the car, the warmth inside hit her immediately, but her mind remained a whirlwind of questions.

Mr. Jungwoon got in and started the car, casting a concerned glance at her as they drove off into the rain-soaked night.

"You look like you've been through a lot. Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, his voice low and calm.

Y/N stared out the window, her heart heavy, unsure if she could trust him—or anyone—anymore. "I don't even know where to begin," she whispered.

Mr. Jungwoon turned slightly in his seat, his eyes focused on her, filled with an understanding that made her uneasy. "Sometimes, just sharing what hurts can lighten the load," he encouraged, his tone soothing.

Y/N took a deep breath, trying to steady her thoughts. "I just... I feel lost. Ever since Jungkook..." Her voice trailed off, the name catching in her throat like a shard of glass. She hadn't fully processed her feelings for Jungkook, the grief, and the anger mixed with regret.

"Jungkook?" Jungwoon prompted, and she could hear a hint of something deeper in his voice. A flicker of emotion? It sent a shiver down her spine.

"He was everything to me," she confessed, her eyes misting over. "And then he was gone. One moment he was there, and the next... it was like a part of me was ripped away." She felt the tears threatening to spill, but she blinked them back, determined not to break down in front of a stranger.

"I can't imagine how hard that must have been," Jungwoon replied, his expression shifting to one of empathy. "But you're here now. You're still fighting."

Y/N turned to face him, searching for sincerity in his gaze. "Fighting? It feels like I'm losing every day. I don't even know who I can trust anymore. Jimin... he's been hiding things from me. And Taehyung... he's so caught up in everything that happened."

Jungwoon leaned back in his seat, his brow furrowing slightly. "What do you mean? What has Jimin been hiding?"

"He mentioned something about my father's death, that it was connected to Jungkook's family. I don't even know what to think anymore." She shook her head, her frustration boiling over. "All I wanted was to move on, but every time I try, it feels like I'm dragged back into the darkness."

Jungwoon's expression turned serious. "It sounds like you've been burdened with more than your share of pain. But I promise you, not everyone has bad intentions. Sometimes, people do what they think is right, even if it hurts."

Y/N nodded, her heart racing with uncertainty. "I just want to feel whole again. I thought I could find that in Taehyung, but..."

"You'll find your way, Y/N," Jungwoon assured her. "And you're stronger than you think."

The car came to a halt in front of an imposing mansion, its dark silhouette standing out against the stormy sky. Y/N felt a twinge of unease but also a strange sense of safety.

"This is where you'll be safe for now," Jungwoon said, his gaze serious.

Y/N looked at the mansion, then back at Jungwoon, a mix of fear and hope swirling in her heart. "Okay," she said, her voice steadying. 

With that, they stepped out into the rain, a new chapter of uncertainty unfolding before them.