The weight of Taehyung's restraint was unbearable. Ria's sobs grew quieter but no less painful to witness—her body trembling in Vince's arms, tears carving paths down her pale face.
He couldn't take it anymore. His breath hitched, his vision blurred, and before he could think, his feet moved on their own.
"Taehyung," Jin called softly, warningly.
But it was too late.
Taehyung pushed the door open with a force that startled everyone inside. The sound reverberated like a sharp crack in the air, halting Ria's tears momentarily as her watery eyes flicked up to meet his.
Without hesitation, he strode to her. The room seemed to hold its breath as he sat beside her , gently yet firmly pulling her out of Vince's embrace and into his own.
His arms wrapped around her like steel bands, one hand cradling her head against his chest as if shielding her from the world.
"Taehyung—" Vince began, but stopped as he saw the raw emotion on Taehyung's face.
"I'm sorry," Taehyung whispered, his voice breaking against her hair. "I'm so sorry, Ria."
She stiffened for a moment, then melted into his warmth, her fingers gripping his shirt as if it were her lifeline.
Her tears soaked through the fabric, but Taehyung didn't care. All he cared about was her—the girl in his arms who seemed so impossibly far away despite their closeness.
"Stop hurting yourself like this," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion, the words trembling on his lips.
His fingers trembled as they stroked her hair, his heart thudding painfully against hers. "Ria... it kills me to see you like this. You don't have to face this alone. Whatever's hurting you, whatever's weighing you down..."
He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes, his own dark and glistening with unshed tears.
"I swear, I'll carry it for you. Every ounce of your pain, your fear, your tears—I'll take it all. You just have to let me. Please, Ria, let me."
His voice cracked, but he pressed on, "You're not alone. You'll never be alone as long as I'm here. I'll be your strength, your shield—" His lips quivered, and his voice dropped to a whisper, full of trembling conviction.
"I'll be everything you need me to be. Just... don't shut me out."
The room was suffocatingly silent, the weight of his words filling every corner. But beneath his promises, a silent truth lingered—a crack in the foundation he tried to build.
Somewhere deep inside, Taehyung knew.
He knew the world wasn't kind enough to let those promises stand.
Ria's sobs returned, quieter but more agonizing, as she clung to him, her broken whispers barely audible. "I... I don't want to hurt anymore..."
YOU ARE READING
Darkness Between Us
Fanfiction"I thought I was content-proud of my achievements. But deep down, there was a void. An emptiness that no amount of success could fill. The loneliness was my only constant companion. My conversations were superficial, my connections fleeting. I was s...
