𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟎𝟏: 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐥

[Y/n's POV]

I sat in the hospital room, staring at the ceiling as the silence weighed heavily around me. My wounds ached but honestly, the physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional chaos within me. Taehyung had sent Jimin and Yuna to be with me while he “handled things,” but I knew exactly what that meant. He was out there, dishing out his own version of justice to both dad and Aera.

Yuna had been by my side since the ambulance ride, helping the doctors, making sure they were gentle with me. She knew how fragile I felt, even if I tried not to show it.

“Babe, you don’t have to put up a brave face for us,” Yuna whispered softly. “Just breathe, okay? We’re here with you.”

I nodded, a weak smile tugging at my lips.

Jimin stood near the door, his arms folded as he kept watch, his expression dark and alert.

“Thanks, Yun. And you too, Jimin,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you both.”

Jimin glanced back, offering a small nod. “You don’t need to thank us, cutie. We’re family now. Taehyung would kill us if we left you alone.”

His words brought a faint smile to my face, but there was a lingering fear in my heart. As much as I wanted to believe everything would be okay, I couldn’t shake the image of Taehyung and the rage in his eyes when he confronted my dad—no Nevio. I knew he is dangerous, capable of things I could barely imagine, and while I loved him, that side of him always left a gnawing worry inside me.

“Do you think he’ll be okay?” I finally asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Jimin’s gaze softened as he walked over, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Taehyung knows what he’s doing. He’s been through worse. Just focus on getting better, Y/n. That’s what he wants more than anything.”

Yuna nodded, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “Besides, knowing Taehyung, he’ll be back before you know it, ready to play the role of the overprotective boyfriend again.”

We shared a small laugh, the sound breaking through the somber atmosphere of the hospital room. It was comforting, like a brief moment of normalcy in the midst of the storm.

The doctor came in a few moments later, checking my bandages and giving me a warm smile. “Your cuts are healing well, Y/n,” he said reassuringly.

I nodded, grateful for the reassurance, but my mind wandered back to Taehyung. Despite everything, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

What if he pushed himself too far?

What if his anger consumed him, turning him into something he never wanted to be?

What if he'd already k-killed my dad?

As if sensing my worry, Yuna leaned in close. “Hey, he’ll be okay. You’re his anchor, Y/n. You keep him grounded.”

Jimin chimed in, “And trust me, he’d rather die than let anything happen to you again. He’s probably losing his mind over the fact that you’re hurt right now.”

I swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill. I didn’t want to feel like a weakness in his life, a liability that constantly put him at risk. But as Jimin and Yuna’s words sank in, I realized that Taehyung didn’t see me that way. I was his strength, the one person he wanted to protect more than anything.

The door to the room suddenly opened, and I looked up, half expecting to see Taehyung, his face dark and brooding as he came to my side. But it was only a nurse, checking in on my vitals and making sure I was comfortable.