Episode 1: Love Comes With Conditions

The rain had been falling since morning.

Taehyung stood at the bus stop, his fingers wrapped tightly around his phone, staring at the screen even though there were no new messages. There never were-unless he texted first.

A car splashed water onto the side of the road, droplets hitting his shoes. He didn't move.

He was used to this.

Waiting.

Hoping.

Pretending.

His phone buzzed.

His heart jumped.

"Where are you?"

No "hi." No "are you okay." Just that.

Taehyung quickly typed back.

"At the bus stop. I've been waiting."

The reply came instantly.

"You're always so slow. Don't make me wait."

His fingers froze for a second before he locked the phone.

A small, familiar ache settled in his chest.

Still... he smiled.

Because at least he replied.

When Taehyung finally reached college, his clothes were slightly damp, his hair sticking to his face. The campus was loud-students laughing, talking, living.

He felt like he was just... passing through it all.

As he walked down the hallway, whispers followed him.

"Isn't that him?"

"The one always with that guy?"

"Yeah... poor thing."

Taehyung lowered his gaze and kept walking.

Then-

Thud.

His shoulder slammed into someone.

His books slipped from his hands, scattering across the floor.

"Watch where you're going," a low voice said.

Taehyung looked up.

Him.

Jungkook.

Tall, calm, unreadable. The kind of person who didn't need to try to be intimidating-he just was.

"You bumped into me," Taehyung muttered softly, kneeling to gather his books.

He didn't help.

Instead, he crouched slightly, picking up one notebook... only to glance at it and smirk.

"Taehyung," he read aloud. "You should try looking up when you walk."

His cheeks flushed. "Give it back."

For a moment, Jungkook just looked at him-like he was trying to figure something out.

Then he handed it over.

"Try not to fall apart next time," he said, standing up and walking away.

Taehyung watched him go, anger and embarrassment twisting inside his chest.

He hated him.

Or at least... he told himself he did.

That evening, Taehyung pushed open the front door quietly.

"Why are you late?" his stepmother's voice cut through the silence.

He froze.

"I-I had extra class-"

"Don't lie," she snapped, stepping into view. "You think I'm stupid?"

Taehyung shook his head quickly. "No."

"Then act like it."

She walked past him, shoulder hitting his arm just hard enough to sting.

"Dinner's in the kitchen. Eat and clean up. And don't make a mess."

He nodded, even though his throat felt tight.

Later that night, Taehyung sat on his bed, the room dim except for the soft glow of his phone.

He stared at his boyfriend's chat.

No new messages.

His fingers hovered over the screen.

Should he text first?

No... he didn't like that.

He put the phone down slowly.

Silence filled the room.

For a moment, his eyes drifted to the small box beside his bed. He opened it carefully.

Inside were old letters-his mother's handwriting, soft and familiar.

Taehyung picked one up, his hands trembling slightly.

"My dear Tae,

If you're reading this, I hope you remember one thing-

love should never make you feel small."

His vision blurred.

A tear slipped down his cheek.

Outside, the rain hadn't stopped.

And for the first time that day-

Taehyung wondered if the life he was holding onto...

was the one slowly breaking him.

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