ABC's of Love

Episode 16

Episode 16

Taehyung woke up and immediately noticed that Jungkook wasn’t beside him. He sighed, searching the house for him, but Jungkook was nowhere to be found. Taehyung wanted to call him but stubbornly decided against it. He waited for a while, but Jungkook didn’t return. Eventually, Taehyung packed his bags and decided to head to his parents’ house.

When he arrived, Namjoon greeted him warmly.
Namjoon: "Welcome, my son,"
*kissing Taehyung’s head*

Taehyung noticed how happy they looked, and a thought crossed his mind.
"They’re giving off a strange vibe. Why do they look so happy?"

Jin: *smiled at him* "You missed us so much that you cancelled your program with your husband and came to see us?"

Taehyung: *quickly shook his head* "No, that’s not…"

Jin: *teasing him* "Don’t be shy. Jungkook told me everything."

Taehyung: *blinked* "What, Dad?"

Jin: "Jungkook had an important meeting in London, so he left early this morning. But he told us you wanted to spend time with us."

Namjoon: "Come, eat something, my son."

Taehyung: *feeling exhausted* "No… I… I want to rest."

Namjoon: *nodded understandingly* "Alright, go ahead, my son."

After few days

Taehyung was trying to forget Jungkook, but it wasn’t easy. He didn’t call him, even though he missed him terribly. Stubbornly, he refused to admit it, even to himself.

He missed Jungkook’s smile, the careful way his eyes softened when they looked at him, the comforting warmth of his cooking.

A novel sat in Taehyung’s hands, but the words on the page blurred. He wasn’t reading; his mind was elsewhere.

Jin: "Taehyung, when is Jungkook coming back?"
*Jin’s voice broke the silence*

Taehyung: *flinched slightly* "I... I don’t know,"

Jin: *raised an eyebrow* "Then call him. Ask your husband. Don’t you miss him?"

Taehyung hesitated, fumbling for an excuse. Tae: "I..."

Before he could respond, Jin grabbed his phone and dialled Jungkook’s number.

Tae: "Dad, wait—"
Taehyung started, but it was too late. Jungkook picked up the call almost immediately.

Jin: "Oh gosh, You picked up within seconds! So desperate to talk, huh?"

Taehyung watched them with a side-eye glare, feeling his cheeks warm.

Jungkook: "Hello, Dad,"
Jungkook’s voice came through the line, calm but cheerful.

Jin: "Hello. Talk to Taehyung—he’s missing you."

Jungkook: "I know... I miss him too."

Without waiting for Taehyung to protest, Jin handed him the phone.

Tae: *stammered* "H-Hi" *taking the phone reluctantly*

Tae: *muttered* "Dad, can you leave, please?" *glancing at Jin*

Jin: *laughed* "Alright, alright. I’ll give you two some privacy."

When Jin left the room, the phone call resumed in silence.

Jungkook: *softly* "Hi..."

Taehyung: *swallowed hard* "Why... why did you lie to them?" *his voice barely above a whisper*

Jungkook: *sighed* "I didn’t want to hurt them. They’ll understand soon enough."

Taehyung hummed in response, his thoughts racing. The silence returned, heavy but oddly comforting. Neither of them wanted to hang up.

Jungkook: "Did you miss me?" *Breaking the quiet*

Taehyung didn’t answer, but the silence said enough.

Jungkook: *voice softened* "I know you can’t say it, but I missed you."

A pang of hurt laced Taehyung’s words when he finally spoke.
Tae: "Then why did you leave me alone?"

Jungkook: "Because you told me to," Jungkook replied simply.

Taehyung: *clenched his jaw* "If I told you to die, would you?"

Jungkook’s response was immediate, unwavering. "I would..."

Taehyung: *chest tightened* "Shut up, Don’t call me again."

Before Jungkook could respond, Taehyung ended the call.

He stared at the phone in his hand, his heart aching. For a moment, he wondered if pushing Jungkook away hurt more than holding on.
........

A Day...

J-Hope reached out to Taehyung with a cheerful text.

J-Hope: Hi Taehyung!

Taehyung: Hi, Hobi…

Without wasting time, J-Hope got straight to the point.

J-Hope: I invited all my friends to my birthday party. Please come with your husband!

Taehyung smiled at the thought.

Taehyung: Oh, happy birthday! I’ll surely come, but Jungkook is in London.

J-Hope: Okay, I’ll text you the venue.

Taehyung: Alright. Bye!

J-Hope: Bye!

Taehyung put his phone down, already thinking of what to wear.

.......

Jin looked up from his newspaper and asked, "Do you have any plans today?"

Taehyung: *nodded* "Yeah, Dad. I’m going to a birthday party. J-Hope invited me."

Jin: *smiled* "Oh, alright. Go and have fun."

Later, Taehyung went shopping and bought a stylish watch as a gift for J-Hope. When he arrived at the party, he found J-Hope surrounded by friends, the room filled with laughter and music.

Tae: "Happy birthday, Hobi," *handing over the gift*

J-Hope’s eyes lit up as he unwrapped it.
Tae: "Wow, Taehyung! That’s so nice of you. Thank you."

They exchanged smiles, but Taehyung’s smile quickly faded when he noticed Minho and Hana across the room.

J-Hope followed his gaze and leaned in closer.
J. Hope: "He’s such a player. Now he’s cheating with Hana, too. Hana caught him with Lily in his apartment."

Taehyung: *eyes widened* "What...?"

J-Hope: *nodded* "Yeah. You didn’t know? Lily told me everything. Hana even slapped him. And guess what—Hana is pregnant. They’re getting married next month."

Taehyung’s thoughts twisted. "Jimin warned me about Minho, but I was so blind. I pushed away Jungkook—the one who truly loves and cares for me. What have I done?"

........

Taehyung stepped into the house, his heart weighed down by guilt and regret. His eyes were swollen from crying, and his mind raced with thoughts of everything he had ruined. He sank onto the couch, burying his face in his hands.

TBC