A Night That Shouldn’t Exist

✨ Chapter 5: A Night That Shouldn’t Exist

The mansion gradually fell into silence after the evening settled.

The laughter of the children faded, footsteps grew distant, and the once-lively halls returned to their usual controlled stillness.

Jungkook stood near the center of the living space, his presence alone enough to fill the emptiness.

His gaze shifted toward Taehyun.

“You must be tired,” he said, his tone calm, almost indifferent. “You came a long way. I’ll have a room prepared for you.”

Taehyun tilted his head slightly, as if considering something trivial.

Then—

“My room?”

The words were simple.

But the way he said them…

made the air pause.

The children, who were still nearby, immediately turned their attention toward them.

Taehyun’s lips curved faintly, a trace of mischief slipping through his otherwise composed demeanor.

“I assumed,” he continued smoothly, “that we’d be sharing one.”

The reaction was instant.

Ruby’s eyes widened.

Kai blinked in visible confusion.

And Jungkook—

went completely still.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

For a brief second, silence stretched so thin it felt like it might snap.

Then—

Taehyun let out a quiet breath, almost like a suppressed laugh.

“I’m joking.”

Jungkook’s gaze hardened—not because of the joke itself, but because Taehyun had dared to say it so casually.

“…I’ll arrange it,” Jungkook replied, his voice carrying a sharp edge. “But not tonight.”

Taehyun gave a small nod, as if that answer satisfied him.

But deep inside—

there was a quiet satisfaction.

A subtle retaliation.

A reminder.

You’re not the only one who can control the situation.

---

The guest room was exactly what Taehyun expected.

Elegant.

Impersonal.

Temporary.

The kind of room designed for visitors who were never meant to stay long.

He placed his belongings down slowly, his eyes scanning every detail—not out of curiosity, but out of habit.

Every corner.

Every possible blind spot.

Every exit.

Old instincts didn’t fade easily.

After a moment, he stepped into the bathroom.

The sound of water soon filled the silence, washing away the lingering tension of the day.

---

When he stepped out—

warm steam still clinging faintly to his skin—

he didn’t expect to find anyone there.

But the moment he looked toward the balcony—

he froze.

Jungkook stood there.

Unmoving.

One hand resting in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette between his fingers.

The faint orange glow of the ember pulsed in the darkness, illuminating sharp features carved by years of control and restraint.

Smoke drifted lazily into the night, carried away by the cold air.

For a moment—

time seemed to slow.

Jungkook’s gaze shifted.

It landed on Taehyun.

Not hurried.

Not surprised.

Just… aware.

Taehyun felt it—that gaze.

Heavy.

Piercing.

Too observant.

And then—

he realized something else.

He was still only wearing a towel.

“…Right.”

For the first time since arriving in this world—

Taehyun reacted.

Quickly.

Almost instinctively.

He turned, grabbed his clothes, and disappeared back inside with a speed that was just a little too fast to be considered casual.

Behind him—

Jungkook watched.

And for the briefest second—

the corner of his lips lifted.

Not quite a smile.

But close.

---

When Taehyun returned, fully dressed, his composure had already settled back into place.

As if nothing had happened.

As if that small moment of haste had never existed.

Jungkook exhaled slowly, smoke leaving his lips in a thin stream.

“Earlier,” he said, his voice low, almost idle, “you ran like something was chasing you.”

Taehyun crossed his arms, leaning slightly against the wall.

“Yes,” he replied without hesitation. “There was a dog on the balcony.”

A pause.

“…Smoking.”

Silence.

Then—

a quiet shift in the air.

Jungkook’s gaze sharpened, but there was something else beneath it now.

Amusement.

“You’re bold,” he said. “And unnecessarily confrontational.”

Taehyun didn’t deny it.

Didn’t explain it.

Didn’t soften it.

Because he wasn’t here to be liked.

---

But then—

the atmosphere changed.

Completely.

Jungkook straightened.

The faint ease in his posture vanished.

What remained was the man the world feared.

Cold.

Precise.

Dangerous.

“If you hurt my children…”

His voice dropped, each word deliberate.

“I won’t hesitate.”

There was no need to finish the sentence.

The meaning was already clear.

Taehyun met his gaze without flinching.

“You repeat that a lot,” he said calmly.

A beat.

“And I don’t.”

Silence.

Tension coiled between them—tight, unyielding, sharp enough to cut.

Then Taehyun turned away first.

Not in defeat.

But in dismissal.

“I’m going to sleep.”

Jungkook said nothing.

As he reached the door, he paused.

“…Good night.”

Taehyun didn’t look back.

“You should try it too.”

A simple sentence.

But it landed heavier than it should have.

Because both of them knew—

Jungkook couldn’t.

---

The night deepened.

Silence settled.

But not all rooms slept.

---

Taehyun lay on the bed, his breathing steady, his body finally allowing rest to take over.

For someone who had lived a life of constant vigilance—

this kind of sleep was rare.

Unprotected.

Unaware.

Almost… peaceful.

---

Knock.

Soft.

Careful.

Almost hesitant.

The door opened slowly.

Two small figures slipped inside.

Kai.

Ruby.

They moved quietly, their steps light, their presence almost ghost-like in the dim room.

For a moment, they simply stood there.

Watching him.

Then—

without asking—

they climbed onto the bed.

Close.

Closer.

Until the distance disappeared.

Ruby curled against his side.

Kai settled near his arm.

Their movements were natural.

Instinctive.

As if they had already decided—

this was a safe place.

Taehyun shifted slightly in his sleep.

But didn’t wake.

Didn’t move away.

---

Elsewhere—

Jungkook stood in the darkness.

Alone.

As always.

Sleep never came to him.

Not after everything.

Not after the accident.

Not after the loss.

His mind never stopped.

His body never relaxed.

Rest—

was a concept he had forgotten.

But tonight—

something felt different.

Not peaceful.

But… quieter.

And that—

was unfamiliar enough to draw his attention.

Slowly, he walked down the hallway.

Each step silent.

Controlled.

The door to Taehyun’s room was slightly open.

Jungkook pushed it just enough to look inside.

And then—

he stopped.

The sight in front of him…

was not something he expected.

Taehyun—

asleep.

Completely unguarded.

And the children—

beside him.

Close.

Comfortable.

Safe.

No fear.

No hesitation.

No distance.

Jungkook’s gaze softened—just barely.

“…Already?” he thought.

“How?”

These children didn’t trust easily.

They couldn’t afford to.

Yet with Taehyun—

they hadn’t just accepted him.

They had chosen him.

Jungkook stepped inside slowly.

Carefully.

As if afraid the moment might break.

He moved closer to the bed.

Watched them.

Listened to their breathing.

Felt the stillness.

And then—

almost unconsciously—

he sat down.

Just for a moment.

Just to observe.

Just to understand.

But the longer he stayed—

the quieter his thoughts became.

The tension in his body eased.

The noise in his mind faded.

And for the first time in years—

he didn’t feel the need to stay alert.

Didn’t feel the need to fight sleep.

It came naturally.

Gently.

Silently.

And before he realized it—

Jungkook fell asleep.

---

Morning came slowly.

Soft light filtered through the curtains, brushing against stillness.

Jungkook’s eyes opened.

For a moment—

he didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

Didn’t think.

“…I slept.”

The realization hit quietly.

But deeply.

This wasn’t normal.

This wasn’t possible.

And yet—

it had happened.

Carefully, he stood up, making sure not to wake the others.

He left the room without a sound.

But his mind—

was no longer calm.

---

Behind him—

Kai opened his eyes.

Ruby followed.

They looked at each other.

Then toward the door.

“…He was here,” Kai whispered.

Ruby nodded.

They both knew.

They had seen him.

And more importantly—

they understood what it meant.

Because the man who never slept—

had slept.

---

And that…

was the beginning of something neither of them fully understood yet.

---

End of Chapter 5

---

Hey guys, this is why there are sometimes delays. The chapters are quite long and I write and type them in English myself, which takes time. I’m really sorry, and I hope you can understand my situation. Thank you 🤍

Pls comment it motivate me a lot

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