TEMPESTUOUS TIES

STRUNG

Taehyung lay on his bed, staring at the soft hues of the setting sun outside the window. The light painted the walls in orange and pink, but the vibrant colors couldn't reach the heavy gloom inside him. His heart, once filled with warmth, now felt hollow-a painful void that seemed to grow with every passing second.

'I was stupid to think he was suffering too,' Taehyung thought, his chest tightening with bitterness. The idea that Jungkook might be hurting, just as much as he was, had been the only thing giving him some solace. But now? That illusion had shattered. 'He's clearly not.'

The silence in the room weighed him down, making it harder to breathe. But then, a knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Hey! Namjoon here! Coming in," came a familiar voice. Taehyung didn't respond; his body remained motionless, facing the window. A part of him didn't want to deal with anyone right now, especially Namjoon.

Namjoon, undeterred, opened the door and stepped in. Seeing Taehyung lying there, unmoving, he sighed softly. "Why did you come, hyung?" Taehyung's voice cracked slightly as he spoke, his back still turned to Namjoon. "If it's about comforting me, no need. I don't want to be the only one suffering here. So, I'll be alright in a minute."

His words were filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow, as if trying to convince himself more than Namjoon. He rolled back toward the window, letting his tears fall silently into his pillow. His body stiffened as the emotions he fought so hard to suppress threatened to break through.

Namjoon could hear the subtle quiver in Taehyung's voice, and it pained him. He knew this conversation wouldn't be easy, but it was one that had to happen.

"You're not the only one suffering... Jungkook is too," Namjoon said softly, his voice filled with sincerity, trying to ease the tension in the room.

Taehyung scoffed, still refusing to face him. His lips twitched in disbelief, the bitterness now rising. "How can you be so sure?" His tone was cold, dismissive, as though Namjoon's words barely scratched the surface of his pain.

Namjoon hesitated, unsure of how to begin. His hand, which had been resting in his pocket, trembled slightly. The guilt weighed heavily on him as he gathered the courage to speak. "Fine, it's a long explanation. Listen..."

Taehyung gave a slight nod, but his body language screamed of reluctance. His heart pounded in his chest, angry at the world, at Jungkook, and at himself.

Namjoon took a deep breath. Here it goes, he thought. His fingers fidgeted nervously, rubbing together as if trying to dispel the anxiety within him. "First of all, I'm very sorry. I was kinda the villain in your love story, and I no longer want to be. So today, I'll make sure to tell you the truth."

Taehyung's interest piqued, though he remained still, his back slightly tensing at Namjoon's words. Slowly, he turned around to face Namjoon, his gaze intense and filled with unresolved emotions.

"Sit and talk, hyung," Taehyung said, his voice softer now but still holding onto the hurt.

Namjoon sat down beside the bed, his posture stiff, eyes downcast as his hands clenched in his lap. His guilt was palpable, and it hung in the air like a thick cloud.

"Well, I-we all kinda know what happened between you and Jungkook. Not the details, but the outline. So... I used to read your diary secretly till you were 16. I was curious then, but I realized it was wrong when I learned about privacy in school."

Taehyung's eyes widened slightly, his jaw tightening at the admission. Namjoon could feel Taehyung's disbelief, though he remained silent.

"I remembered the last thing I read in your diary, how you found out about your sexuality. For sure, I wasn't offended. But it was a big secret," Namjoon continued, the words tumbling out in a rushed, nervous fashion. "So, I used to ship you and Jungkook secretly. But when I heard those sounds from your room that day when you both... did something, I messed up." His voice wavered as he explained.