Veil of Shadows

chapter 30:- embrace hurt or relief??

In the days that followed, Taehyung tried to focus on his own tasks, setting exam papers for his students while attempting to keep his mind off Lia’s haunting words. Being on break meant he had extra time to think, though, and every quiet moment seemed to bring back his fears and insecurities.

Meanwhile, Jungkook was balancing his duties, splitting his attention between studying for upcoming exams and fulfilling his responsibilities in the Mafia. However, he’d been taking it easier with the Mafia work, realizing that his studies needed to come first. Despite that, he couldn’t help but notice Taehyung’s recent withdrawn behavior. Taehyung seemed distant, always giving short replies and smiling less.

One evening, after a long day, Jungkook found Taehyung sitting in his study, surrounded by his notes and exam papers but staring off blankly. He looked worn out, his expression troubled. Jungkook gently knocked on the doorframe to catch his attention.

“Tae?” he called softly. “Do you have a minute?”

Taehyung blinked and forced a small smile, though he looked pale and tired. “Of course, Kook. Come in.”

Jungkook moved closer, concern evident on his face. “You’ve seemed... different these past few days. Are you sure you’re okay? You know you can tell me anything, right?”

Taehyung’s chest tightened as he looked at Jungkook’s worried expression. He hesitated, swallowing hard, then forced a nod. “I’m fine, really. Just a bit stressed about... work stuff.” He hated lying to Jungkook, but he was still paralyzed by the fear of his past being exposed.

Jungkook didn’t seem entirely convinced. “If it’s work stress, we could do something relaxing. Maybe go out for some fresh air?”

Taehyung bit his lip, feeling torn. He knew Jungkook was trying to help, but he felt trapped by his insecurities. The fear Lia had planted was like a poison, slowly eating away at his confidence and trust.

Finally, he managed to nod, attempting a small smile. “Maybe a walk would be nice.”

They left the mansion together, walking along a quiet path lined with cherry blossom trees, the pink petals gently drifting down around them. Jungkook held Taehyung’s hand, giving him a comforting squeeze, and Taehyung felt a small sense of peace.

As they walked, Jungkook spoke softly, trying to draw Taehyung out of his shell. “Do you remember when we first met, how you used to avoid me?” he asked with a chuckle. “I thought you were the coldest person alive.”

Taehyung laughed softly, his heart warming at the memory. “Yeah… and you wouldn’t leave me alone. You just kept coming back, even when I thought I didn’t want you to.”

Jungkook grinned, brushing a petal off Taehyung’s shoulder. “Guess I just knew we were meant to be.”

The warmth in his words made Taehyung’s fears momentarily fade, and he felt his heart swell. For a moment, he wanted to tell Jungkook everything, to trust him with the truth of his past. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, the memory of Lia’s voice intruded, filling him with doubt.

Instead, Taehyung merely tightened his grip on Jungkook’s hand, giving him a grateful look. “Thank you, Kook… for always being here.”

Jungkook noticed the hint of sadness in Taehyung’s eyes, but he didn’t push. Instead, he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Taehyung’s forehead. “Always, Tae. No matter what.”