Shadows Of Stardom

Chapter 62

It was his silence. Taehyung hadn't contacted me in three days, days filled with echoing hallways, fleeting glances at empty doorways, and a profound, hollow ache.

Annoyance, an unwelcome emotion, had settled in my chest. I hated how his absence impacted me-making me feel vulnerable, exposed, and needy. A word I hadn't associated with myself in... well, since before everything happened. Before the kidnapping, before the darkness enveloped me, before I lost the person I used to be.

Yet, even as resentment simmered beneath the surface, a chilling realization crept into my mind. He was the reason I was here, wasn't he? Still, I couldn't bring myself to blame him. My thoughts twisted painfully, an endless cycle of guilt and longing.

Taehyung had always been there, a silent, watchful guardian, and sometimes his intensity felt overwhelming. I hadn't intended to hurt him, but even the slightest hint of a smile or a shared moment with Kai had been enough to push him back into his shell.

I had lost all sense of time. Some nights felt like they lasted forever, while other days passed in the blink of an eye.

I started seeing the therapist again, who inquired about my nightmares and experiences. I didn't find much comfort, but at least there was someone to listen. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to be happy again or if it was even possible. I didn't push Taehyung away, but I also didn't let him get too close. I was afraid of being hurt again.

"Where is Taehyung?" I asked softly, my voice barely breaking through the animated chaos on the large screen. My brothers were absorbed in the latest superhero movie, hardly noticing me.

Chanyeol, always the instigator, turned to me with a knowing grin. "Do you miss him?"

I playfully swatted his arm, the gesture feeling surprisingly natural, a flicker of the old Jennie returning. He smiled, unfazed. I felt a wave of gratitude; they were trying so hard to bring me back into the light.

"I don't... is there a reason I should?" I mumbled, grabbing a handful of popcorn, the buttery taste doing little to calm the unease in my stomach.

San, always perceptive, interjected, "You made him pretty jealous last time. You were practically glowing when you were with Kai."

"I didn't mean to," I countered, my response sounding feeble and unconvincing even to me. The reality was that I had felt something-a fleeting moment of normalcy, a brief respite from the constant fear that clung to me like a second skin. Kai, with his calming gaze and reassuring presence, had thrown me a lifeline, offering a temporary escape. Taehyung, in his possessive manner, had probably picked up on that.

"Your physical therapist mentioned you stood for a moment during your last session," San said, redirecting the conversation away from sensitive subjects.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Small victories."

"Let's just watch the movie," I suggested, trying to sound enthusiastic. The last thing I wanted was to be dragged back into the depths of my memories, the swirling chaos I fought to keep at bay. But I knew it was only a matter of time before the darkness returned, the nightmares resurfaced, and the fear suffocated me.

I was battling myself-against the phantom hands that still reached for me in my dreams, against the echoes of cruel words that haunted me, against the heavy weight of shame and violation that threatened to overwhelm me.