DESTINED LOVE

Chapter 37

Kook had had enough. It had been one week—one whole week of Tae acting strangely. The soft looks, the hesitant touches, the late nights, and the careful words—it was too much. And yet, not enough.

So when Tae walked through the door past midnight once again, looking exhausted but still forcing a smile, Kook snapped.

“Hyung, what is going on with you?” Kook’s voice was sharp, frustration lacing his words. He stood in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, eyes burning with emotions he couldn’t hold back anymore.

Tae paused, taken aback. “Kookie, what—”

“No. Don’t ‘Kookie’ me.” Kook took a step closer, jaw clenched. “You’ve been acting weird for a whole week. You barely talk to me properly, you come home late, and even when you’re here, it feels like you’re somewhere else. What’s wrong with you?”

Tae sighed, rubbing his face tiredly. “Kook, it’s nothing—”

“Don’t lie to me.” Kook’s voice cracked slightly, but he didn’t care. “You look at me like I’ll disappear any second, and you act like you need to protect me from something. What is it, Tae? What changed?”

Tae swallowed hard, guilt flashing in his eyes. He wanted to tell him. He wanted to say everything, but he was terrified.

Kook took a shaky breath. “Is it me? Did I do something?” His voice softened, and the vulnerability in it made Tae’s heart ache. “If I did, just tell me, hyung. Don’t push me away like this.”

Tae’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “I’m not pushing you away.” “Then why does it feel like you are?” Kook whispered.

Tae looked away. He hated this. He hated that he was hurting Kook even when all he wanted to do was make things right.

After a long silence, Tae finally spoke, his voice quiet. “I just… I just want to take care of you.”

Kook’s brows furrowed. “You’ve always taken care of me.” Tae shook his head. “Not enough.”

Kook stared at him, his heart pounding. “Then tell me what’s going on.”

Tae looked at him, eyes filled with so many emotions that Kook felt his breath hitch.

“I can’t,” Tae whispered. Kook’s chest tightened. “Why?” Tae hesitated, then softly said, “Because I don’t want to lose you.”

Kook felt something in him crack. His frustration, his confusion—it all melted into something else. Something deeper.

“Tae,” he murmured, stepping closer.
Tae smiled, but it was sad. “Just trust me, okay?”

Kook wanted to argue, to demand answers, but the look on Tae’s face made him stop. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair.

“Fine,” he muttered. “But you’re sleeping properly tonight. No more late-night thinking or whatever it is you do.”

Tae blinked. “What?”

“You heard me.” Kook grabbed Tae’s wrist and pulled him toward his room. “You need rest, hyung. And if you won’t take care of yourself, then I will.”

Tae let himself be dragged along, a small smile playing at his lips.

Maybe he wasn’t ready to say everything yet.

But soon.

Very soon.

Another week passed, and Kook felt like he was losing himself. He didn’t know what had changed between him and Tae, but the distance was hurting him. Tae barely spoke to him, barely looked at him, and Kook couldn’t take it anymore.