A lie

part 38

Note: No editing is done.
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The wind had started to die down by the time Taehyung made his way back to the house. His heart felt heavier than ever, his footsteps slow, dragging him closer to a confrontation he didn’t feel ready for. The fields were no longer an escape; they had become a place of unbearable memories. He had pushed Jungkook too far, ignored his feelings, and worst of all, he had allowed the lie about their relationship to fester until it had consumed everything—his mother, his heart, his sense of self.

But what choice did he have? His family’s expectations, the responsibilities he had carried for years, made it seem like there was no other option. Jungkook and his feelings—Taehyung hadn’t known how to handle them. How could he, when he felt so lost himself?

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Taehyung stood in front of his mother’s room, his hand hovering over the door. He had never been good at hiding his emotions from Taehee, but this—this was something he couldn’t bear. The guilt gnawed at him, twisting in his gut. He had lied to her, his mother, the one person who had always been there for him, even when everything else had fallen apart. She had believed in him, trusted him, and now he had shattered that trust.

He knocked gently, his heart pounding in his chest. There was a long silence before he heard her voice from inside.

“Come in, Taehyung.”

He opened the door, his body heavy with the weight of everything unspoken. Taehee was sitting by the window, her back to him. She didn’t turn to face him immediately, but she didn’t need to. Taehyung could feel her eyes on him, even without seeing her face.

He stood there for a moment, unable to find the words. His mouth felt dry, his throat tight. Finally, he walked slowly toward her, his hands shaking as he stood beside her.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice breaking.

Taehee turned to him, her eyes soft with concern, but there was a sadness there too. She had always known that Taehyung carried a burden on his shoulders, but this—the truth she had just learned—was more than she had anticipated.

“I never meant to lie to you, eomma.” Taehyung continued, his voice trembling. “I never wanted to hurt you. I just... I didn’t know what to do. I was so afraid of disappointing you. Of what people would think...”

Tears welled in his eyes, and he couldn’t stop them from falling.

“I know I’ve made mistakes. But please, don’t be angry with me. I never wanted to make you feel like I’ve been deceiving you.”

Taehee’s gaze softened, her expression a mixture of pain and understanding. She had always known her son struggled with the weight of his responsibilities. He had always carried the burden of their family’s future on his shoulders, and now, it seemed, he was carrying the weight of his heartache too.

Taehee reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “Taehyung, I’m not angry with you,” she said quietly. “I can see how much this is tearing you apart. You’ve always been so strong for me, for this family. But it’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay to feel lost.”

Taehyung shook his head, his chest tightening. “But I lied to you, Mother. And I let you believe something that isn’t true. I let you believe that Jungkook and I... I don’t even know what to call it. But I let you believe something that isn’t real, and that’s worse than anything.”

Taehee wiped the tears from his face with the back of her hand, her touch soft and comforting. “You’ve always been my son, Taehyung. Nothing will change that. I know you’ve been struggling. I know that the weight of all this is more than you can bear. But I want you to know that I’m here for you. No matter what happens, I’ll always be here.”