IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR ABSENCE

CHAPTER 24

Taehyung paced back and forth, phone pressed tightly to his ear. His voice was tense, filled with frustration and worry.

"Jimin, Y/N..." Taehyung hesitated, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"What happened? What's wrong?" Jimin's voice came through the line, sharp with concern.

Taehyung clenched his jaw, the weight of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders.
"She left the house. Just walked out with a bag. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen."

There was a brief pause on the other end before Jimin spoke again, his voice low and controlled.
"Where did she go?"

"I don't know," Taehyung admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "She switched off her phone, and it's pouring outside. I don't even know where to start looking."

Jimin let out a slow exhale.
"This isn't good, Tae. We can't afford her getting involved in things she shouldn't. Not now."

Taehyung stopped pacing, his grip tightening on the phone.
"I know that, Jimin. But she's suspicious. She was asking questions... about Jungkook."

There was a long silence on the other end, and Taehyung could almost hear Jimin processing the implications.

"We need to find her before she digs too deep. I'll send some people out to look for her. In the meantime, keep an eye on everything. Don't let anyone else know she's gone, especially not Jungwoon."

"Got it," Taehyung muttered, his mind racing with the possibilities. "But if she finds out the truth, Jimin... it's over."

Jimin's voice came back cold and determined.
"Then don't let her find out."

The line went dead, leaving Taehyung standing in the quiet room, the sound of the rain battering against the windows mirroring the storm brewing in his mind. He had to find Y/N before it was too late.

"I cooked some ramen. Here, you should eat," Jungwoon said, handing Y/N a bowl of ramen, his smile gentle yet reserved.

Y/N took the bowl from him, her thoughts still swirling as she stirred the noodles absentmindedly. The warmth of the ramen was comforting, but her mind was too full of questions to focus on it. Jungwoon watched her, his expression calm but observant.

After a few moments of silence, he spoke again, his voice soft.
"You know, no matter how tough things get, just remember—storms don't last forever."

Y/N froze, her chopsticks halted in midair. Those words. Her heart skipped a beat as a familiar memory crashed into her thoughts.

"What did you just say?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, eyes wide as they locked onto Jungwoon.

Jungwoon raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled by her reaction.
"I said storms don't last forever. It's something I've always believed." His tone was casual, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something that sent a chill down her spine.

Y/N's mind was racing. How could he know that phrase? It was too much of a coincidence. The way he spoke, the comforting tone—it was just like Jungkook. But it couldn't be. Jungwoon and Jungkook were supposed to be two entirely different people... weren't they?

Her heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to make sense of what was happening. The room seemed to close in around her as a realization she didn't want to confront began to form in the back of her mind.

"What do you mean she left?" I finally asked, my tone sharper than intended. I could feel the irritation bubbling beneath the surface. This wasn't part of the plan. Y/N was supposed to stay close, not wander off into dangerous territory.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear Taehyung exhale heavily.
"She was upset. I think... I think she knows more than she's letting on. After everything we talked about, she just grabbed her things and left. I don't know where she's headed, but she switched her phone off. I can't reach her."

I clenched my jaw, running a hand through my hair.
"Find her, Taehyung," I snapped. "I don't care what it takes. We can't let her get any closer to the truth, you understand?"

There was a beat of silence before Taehyung replied, his voice laced with uncertainty.
"I'm trying, Jimin. But she's... she's different now. It's like she doesn't trust me anymore. I can feel her pulling away."

I narrowed my eyes, my grip tightening around the phone.
"You were supposed to keep her close. Make her feel safe. If she's slipping away, that's on you. Now find her."

I ended the call before Taehyung could respond, tossing my phone onto the desk in frustration. My mind raced as I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, staring at the floor. Things were starting to unravel faster than I'd anticipated.