syzygy | kth x kjn

11

❝ why do I keep needing you,
when I know I'll just get hurt? ❞

- The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1

t a e h y u n g

I keep telling myself it was for the best. That if I hadn't resisted the temptation to let her cry in my arms, I'd only fall for her even harder. But, I knew that Jennie prioritised her work over everything else - including her own happiness. She was the type of person who put other people's happiness before her own, and I couldn't change that. It wasn't my place to change that. I was just a fake lover of hers who she probably wouldn't even consider to be her first boyfriend. 

So, when we met up for another 'date', we talked as usual. We pretended that nothing had ever happened between us, and we were happy. I pretended I didn't see those red-rimmed eyes of hers.

Dispatch stayed a little longer than usual, but I brushed it off as nothing. Maybe they simply wanted more content. Little did I know what 'more content' meant.

The morning after, Jin rushed into my room and jumped on top of me, crushing me with all of his might. I woke up to a surprise, coughing out from my lungs being squeezed from Jin's weight.

"Taehyung! What on earth is this? Bang PD called for an emergency meeting. He's going to mutilate you!"

I sat up, scratching my head in confusion, croaking out, morning voice still evident, "What are you talking about?"

"This!" the older boy clad head to toe in his pink jammies exclaimed as he shoved his phone into my face. I grabbed a hold of it, eyes scanning the title of the article briefly, my stomach immediately churning in dread.

Has Taennie fallen out of love?

On their fifth date at the same exact location of their first, reporters have noticed the obvious discomfort and tension between the couple. They did not look into each other's eyes, hold hands or even talk much. The awkwardness was evident. 

What does this mean? Does this mean that their beautiful relationship that has been the dream of many ARMY-BLINKs out there has finally come to an end? Is this a sign of the beginning of the end? Is Taennie over?

"The fuck?" I cursed, slapping a hand over my mouth when I realised the profanity that escaped my throat unknowingly, "This doesn't make any sense. I did look into her eyes. I did talk to her. I did everything I was supposed to!"

"But did you act like you were in love with her, Taehyung?"

That sentence caught me in my words. I didn't know how to respond, because I knew the only answer would simply grant victory to the media.

***

"What is this ?!" The CEO of YG, CEO-nim, shouted, heat rushing to his face in anger, "You guys had one job, yet you manage to mess it up?"

"We're very disappointed in the both of you. We put our faith and trust into you to pull off a perfect relationship, yet you failed, and now the media is speculating your breakup a year and five months earlier than when your breakup was scheduled to be. Who knows what kind of reaction the netizens will have?" Bang PD added on, shaking his head in disappointment. I bowed my head low in shame, unable to meet anyone's eyes. Jennie did the same.

"Because of this unforeseen mistake, Sihyuk and I have decided to adjust the timeline of your relationship. You'll break up five months earlier, which also means you'll move in together five months earlier."

"Wait... but doesn't that mean - " I started, but was cut off.

"Yes, you move in two days from now. Your apartment complex is located in a different block in the same apartment complex you're living now. Pack your bags. The van is coming to collect your stuff tomorrow."

"But - " Jennie protested, eyes widening in fear.

"Jennie, you've agreed to live with him. Don't break your promise."

"But I didn't agree to live with him so soon! We've only been dating four months! What about the conservative fans? What about the younger audience? What will they think about us? We're their role models, and considering the amount of time we've dated before moving in together, well, what will they think of that? We'll be giving them the wrong idea!"

"Neither did we agree to have such a big complication in your relationship, Jennie. Please think about it from our perspective as well."

"I'm sorry for that outburst, CEO-nim. It was uncalled for." Jennie apologised, standing up and bowing ninety degrees to CEO-nim, "I'm sorry." She rushed out the door, bowing once more to Bang PD.

I had been silent the whole time, unable to process what I was hearing. I had been so silent that the CEOs probably forgot I was there, so when Bang PD muttered to CEO-nim something along the lines of Jennie being young and getting over it soon, I took it as my cue to leave.

When I stepped out of the door, I found Jennie with her face buried in her tiny hands. The same hands that I had held countless of times, and the same hands I would have to hold countless more times.

"Jennie." I called out, keeping my distance from her. She didn't budge. Sighing, I inched closer to her, until I could hear her almost-inaudible whimpering, "It's not fair, Taehyung. I didn't sign up for this when I signed the contract agreeing to be under this label for six years. I signed up to practise my calling in life - singing and dancing and rapping and making people happy - not be forced into a relationship with someone I barely know. It's just not fair." 

"I know it's not fair, Jennie, but you need to understand that life has an infinity number of surprised stuffed under its armpit, and sometimes, if life has put on deodorant, those surprises will smell good. However, if life forgets to put on deodorant - which is most of the time - those surprises will be bad. But as idols, we need to suck it up and act like nothing bad has happened to us, because that's what the world thinks we are. Perfect human beings."

Jennie peered up at me tentatively, hands moving down to rest at her sides as she looked into my eyes - something she had not done for a while -  and said, "It's so hard, Taehyung. I don't know whether I can do it.  What if this marks the end of my career?"

"I'll be there to catch you when you fall. Always."

She looked up at me, eyes glistening with hope. I looked back, eyes staring with a hard intensity, indicating that I did mean it.

I wouldn't let her fall. 

Ever.