Anger never builds; it only tears down. In the heat of a single moment, it can feel like strength, an armor to hide behind. But when the fire fades, all that's left are the ashes of what once mattered. Anger doesn't solve anything-it devours patienc...
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Healing doesn't erase the scars, but it stops them from controlling you.
Chapter 16: Curious
Jungkook had explained everything to him in detail-the dinner, the so-called meeting, and how Mr. Han had tried to corner him with the talk of marriage. Taehyung listened quietly, his expression calm and thoughtful. When Jungkook finished, Taehyung simply gave a small nod, his lips curving into a faint, almost knowing smile. He forgave him without hesitation.
He understood.
After all, he had been through the same thing before. His mother, back when she was still alive, used to insist on setting him up on countless blind dates. She had always told him, "I just want to know you'll have someone by your side before I go." It had been her way of showing love, even if it felt suffocating at times. Out of respect for her wishes, he had gone along with it. He had dated more than a few people, sitting through awkward dinners and polite conversations, but none of it ever lasted. Each time, he found himself choosing to return home early to his mother rather than nurture a budding romance.
So when Jungkook talked about the way Mr. Han pushed his daughter at him, Taehyung could relate. He knew how exhausting it was to have your personal life treated like a business transaction. He knew the weight of expectations disguised as "opportunities." That was why, instead of being upset, he simply sighed and let it go.
Right now, though, the idea of dating wasn't something he wanted to entertain. His life was too complicated, too tangled in circumstances he wasn't even sure he had the strength to fix. Romance, in his eyes, felt like a luxury he couldn't afford.
"But..." Taehyung's voice broke the quiet as he sat at the counter, watching Jungkook move around the kitchen. "Why aren't you dating anyone?"
His tone wasn't teasing-it was curious, almost puzzled. He rested his chin on his palm, his gaze following the way Jungkook sliced fruit with practiced precision.
It surprised him, honestly. Someone like Jungkook-young, powerful, and devastatingly attractive-should have been surrounded by people vying for his attention. In the business world, he knew relationships weren't always about love. More often than not, they were about strategy. Marrying into another influential family, aligning with someone who could bring more power to the table-that was the norm.
And yet here Jungkook was, alone, casually preparing snacks in his own kitchen as if the thought of a high-profile partner had never crossed his mind.
Taehyung tilted his head slightly, studying him. "I mean... with who you are, I expected you'd already have someone. Isn't it common? Most people in your position would be dating for influence, if not for affection."
There was genuine curiosity in his voice, but a quiet trace of disbelief too. It didn't make sense to him that Jungkook, of all people, would choose solitude when everyone else in his world seemed to hunger for connections.
