My Sweet Uncle

27.

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The sky opened up, raindrops falling heavily as if mirroring the turmoil in Jungkook’s heart. The street which once bustling with life, now felt eerily quiet, save for the sound of rain pattering against the pavement.

Jungkook stood there, soaked to the bone, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. He could see Taehyung just a few steps ahead, his back was turned, standing motionless as the rain poured down around him.

Jungkook’s voice cracked with emotion as he called out, the desperation clear in his tone. “Tae... my puppy... please...” His words trembled, barely holding back the flood of feelings that had been building inside him. “Please listen to me... just this once...”

The rain blurred his vision, but it couldn’t hide the sight of Taehyung standing still, his head slightly bowed.

Jungkook’s heart twisted painfully at the distance between them, both physical and emotional. He took a hesitant step forward, his wet clothes clinging to his skin, but he didn’t care. All that mattered now was Taehyung.

“Please...” Jungkook’s voice broke, pleading through the storm. His hands hung limply at his sides, fingers curling with the weight of everything left unsaid. He stood there, vulnerable and raw, hoping—praying—that Taehyung would turn around and give him a chance to explain, to make things right.

Taehyung’s voice cracked through the sound of the rain, raw and full of pain. He stood still, his back still facing Jungkook, but the tremble in his shoulders gave away the storm of emotions raging inside him. His voice wavered as he spoke, but the hurt was unmistakable.

“Why, Jungkookie...?” Taehyung cried out, his fists clenched at his sides. “Why did you do that? Why kiss me if you never felt that way about me?”

Jungkook’s heart dropped at the words. He stood frozen for a moment, guilt and regret washing over him in waves as he watched the person he loved break in front of him.

“Tae... I—” Jungkook stammered, stepping forward, his voice thick with emotion. “I do... I do feel that way about you. I’ve always felt that way...”

“No!” Taehyung spun around, his eyes filled with tears, his lips quivering as he cut Jungkook off. “Don’t say that. Don’t lie to me, not now...”

His voice broke, and he wiped the tears from his face, though it was impossible to tell in the pouring rain. “You... you never said anything. Not once. And now, after all this time, you kiss me like that? Why, Jungkookie? What am I supposed to believe?”

“Tae, I’m not lying. I... I didn’t know how to tell you before. I was scared. I was afraid of losing you, afraid of ruining what we had...” His voice cracked, frustration and desperation lacing his words. “But when I saw that guy with you, I—I couldn’t hold back anymore.”

Taehyung shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips despite the tears. “So that’s it, huh? You only realized how you felt when you saw someone else? You only care because you’re afraid of losing me to someone else? Is that what this is about?”

Jungkook flinched at the harshness in Taehyung’s voice “No, it’s not just about that! I’ve loved you for so long, Tae, longer than I even realized. But I didn’t know how to tell you... I didn’t know if you felt the same, and I was scared. I didn’t want to ruin everything.

“Ruin everything?” Taehyung’s voice wavered, his gaze piercing through Jungkook’s defenses. “You already have...”

Jungkook felt a sharp pang of guilt, and he took a step closer, his hands reaching out as if he could pull Taehyung back into his arms and make everything better. “I’m sorry... I’m so sorry, Tae. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I swear, I didn’t.”