Chapter 4 : The Ghost Behind the Words

author pov :

The next morning, the university felt like it was on fire. Everywhere Taehyung looked, people were huddled over their phones. The air wasn't filled with talk of exams or sports; it was filled with his words. He walked through the halls with his head down, listening to the echoes of his own heart coming from the mouths of strangers."Did you read the 'Rainy Kitchen' scene?" a girl cried out to her friends near the lockers. "I actually sobbed. It wasn’t even sexual—it was just so… sweet. I’ve never seen anyone write Jungkook like this. In real life, he’s this untouchable, cool star, but in this book? He’s like a warm blanket."Taehyung gripped the straps of his backpack. He remembered writing that scene. He had been sitting on his floor at 2:00 AM, feeling a cold breeze from the window, and he had imagined someone being there to close it for him. He walked past a group of guys in the cafeteria. Even they were talking about it."I’m telling you," one guy said, showing his phone to his friend. "This line right here: 'Jungkook didn’t want a crown; he just wanted someone to hold his hand while he fell asleep so he wouldn't feel like he was drifting into space.' That’s deep, man. Whoever wrote this is a genius. It’s like they’re gifted by God. I wish I could find a girl who looked at me the way this author looks at Jungkook."

Taehyung felt a strange heat in his chest. He didn't feel like a genius. He just felt lonely, and writing was the only way to fill the empty space. In his literature class, the girl next to him was practically vibrating with excitement. She turned to Taehyung, not knowing he was the one she was looking for."Have you read the new chapter of The Hidden Sun?" she whispered loudly. "There’s this moment where Jungkook is trying to cook for the main character, and he’s so clumsy. He burns the toast because he’s too busy looking at the person he loves. It made me go 'Awww' so loud my mom came into my room! I wish it were me. I wish I had someone who cared that much about the small things."Taehyung gave her a tiny, shy smile. "It sounds… nice," he said softly."Nice? It’s perfect!" she insisted. "The author makes him so cute and caring. Not like the 'Daddy' version you see on stage, but a real boy.

A boy who gives soft hugs and remembers your favorite tea. I’m in love with a ghost, Taehyung. I really am."Taehyung turned his gaze to the window. He wasn't in love with the real Jungkook. He didn't know that man. But he loved the version he had created—the version that was kind, gentle, and stayed when things got hard.

By the time he got to the bookstore, the obsession was even worse."Do you have any books on how to bake lemon tarts?" a customer asked him. "The author wrote about Jungkook making them in the last update, and now I just really want to learn how. "Taehyung nodded and led her to the cooking section. "Here," he said, handing her a book."Thank you!" she beamed. "Do you think the author is a student here? Everyone says they are. I’d give anything just to say thank you to them. They made me believe in love again."Taehyung just bowed his head. He wanted to tell her that the author was just a boy who lived with his grandmother and felt invisible most of the time. But he kept his secret locked away.

When he finally got home, the house was quiet. His grandmother was knitting, her glasses sliding down her nose."You're late today, Taehyungie," she said, her voice full of warmth. "Was the world extra busy?""Everyone was talking about a book," he said, sitting at her feet. She stroked his hair with her soft, wrinkled hand. "A good book, I hope?"

"They seem to like it," he whispered, leaning his head against her knee. "They like the boy in the story. They think he’s real.""If you wrote him with love, then he is real, in a way," she said wisely.

Later, in his room, Taehyung opened his laptop. The screen glowed in the dark. He didn't look at the millions of views. He didn't care about the fame. He just wanted to be back in that world. He began to type a new scene. Where Jungkook was sitting on the floor, surrounded by piles of laundry he didn't know how to fold. He looked up as the door opened, his eyes crinkling into that cute, bunny-like smile. 'I tried to help,' he said, holding up a messy, mismatched pair of socks. 'But I think I just made it worse.' He laughed, a soft, bubbly sound that filled the quiet room. 'Stay for a bit? I don't want to be the only one failing at this.'Taehyung’s fingers flew across the keys. A real, warm smile broke across his face. In this moment, he wasn't alone. He was in a sun-filled room with a boy who made mistakes and laughed about them. He was in a place where he was seen.He hit 'Publish' and closed his eyes, listening to the rain. He didn't need the world to know his name. He just needed this feeling to last a little longer.

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Hey everyone! This is my very first book, and it means a lot to me that you’re here reading it. I’m still learning, so please support me with your likes, comments, and by following my journey—it truly motivates me to keep going. Feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions, or even small feedback, I’d really appreciate it. And please don’t mind if my writing isn’t perfect, as English isn’t my first language—but I’m trying my best and improving with every chapter. Thank you so much for giving my story a chance 🤍

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