When the stars align

between the bridge and the storm

As Taehyung reached back to his hotel room, the familiar sound of laughter and chatter greeted him. The other members were seated around the table. Jungkook raised an eyebrow at Taehyung.

"Finally!" Jungkook said in a casual, deadpan voice, though his eyes showed amusement. "Did you get lost?"

"Or caught in a fan crowd?" Jimin teased, grinning.

Taehyung chuckled as he shrugged on his coat, and put it aside, "Neither, just...needed some air."

Namjoon gave him a searching look, "You good?"

Taehyung nodded, settling into an empty seat, "yeah. Just hmm, I...I met her."

None of them needed to ask who that 'her' referred to, the room fell silent for a moment as Tae's words hung in the air. All eyes turned to him. Some were curious, some surprised, and others like; Jungkook had mischief in his eyes.

"You met her." Jimin asked, leaning forward, his grin still present on his face but his tone filled with interest. "As if actually talked with her..."

"Not just from afar this time?" Jungkook chims in, smirking as he encircled his arm around his neck.

Taehyung exhaled, feeling the eight of their collective attention on him. "Yeah, we met at the bridge and talked."

Jhope raised an eyebrow, "that's new."

Jungkook said, "Did you kiss?" with a surprised expression, looking at him with his big doe eyes.

"Jungkook!!" Namjoon said with a serious face. And signed Taehyung to continue.

Taehyung hesitated, running a hand through his hair, as he tried to find the correct words to explain himself without sounding ridiculous: "She's different, not what I expected."

"Different how?" Jimin asked curiosity was seen in his tone.

Taehyung's lips quirked into a small smile as he stared at the floor. Replaying moments of their conversation in his mind, "She is strong, like really strong. But then there is this softness in her too. Meeting her didn't make me feel like I was an idol or she was a fan. We were just being ourselves. She told me about how she caught in the mess between her family and the guy Akash but still trying to figure out her own way."

Jungkook said, "Who is this Akash guy?"

"Someone her parents want her to marry," Taehyung said, but those words felt bitter as he told them. "But that's not what she wants though ..." he added.

Yoongi crossed his hands, tilting his head slightly, "And you... What do you want in all this"

Taehyung looked at him, startled by the directness of the question, he hadn't fully figured it out himself, "I don't know." He admitted. "I just want to be there with her, like I am supposed to be..."

Namjoon leaned back to the couch, his expression thoughtful, "Are you sure that's what you want?"

Taehyung smiled a little, "I know it sounds crazy, but yes I want to be with her even if it is like this."

The room went silent again, everyone processing Taehyungs words. The casual teasing and banter faded, replaced by a shared understanding of the gravity of Taehyung's feelings.

Namjoon's eyes softened, a proud smile hanging on his face, "if you are sure about this, then be prepared for what it might mean. This isn't going to be easy"

"I know," he said, his voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in his chest, "but I don't care, if it's complicated, she is worth it."

Jimin let out a low whistle, leaning back on the couch, "Damn, you are really in deep, huh!"