Prologue

Rain fell heavily over the city, blurring the streets beneath the glowing lights.

Jeon Jungkook stood alone outside the hotel entrance,

clutching the thin sleeves of his soaked jacket as

A cold wind brushed against his skin. The party

inside was still loud and bright behind him, but

none of it mattered anymore.

His eyes remained fixed on the black luxury car

That had just stopped across the street.

The driver stepped out first, quickly opening the

Back door with careful respect.

A tall figure emerged slowly.

Polished black shoes touched the wet ground.

Then long legs.

A dark coat.

Sharp eyes hidden beneath the rain.

Jungkook's breathing stopped instantly.

The world around him seemed to go silent.

No…

It couldn’t be.

But the familiar face beneath the city lights shattered every doubt in his heart.

“…Taehyung?”

The name escaped his lips like a whisper he had carried for years.

The man across the street looked at him calmly.

Coldly.

As if they were strangers.

Jungkook felt his chest tighten painfully.

Seven years.

Seven years of searching, waiting, and wondering where he had gone.

And now the person he missed more than anyone stood right in front of him looking completely different.

Gone was the quiet boy who used to hide bruises behind shy smiles.

Gone was the warmth in his eyes whenever he looked at Jungkook.

The person standing there now looked untouchable.

Dangerous.

The rain continued pouring between them as Taehyung slowly stepped forward.

Jungkook’s fingers trembled slightly.

“You’re really alive…” he whispered weakly.

Taehyung stopped only a few feet away.

His expression didn’t change.

“Were you expecting me to be dead?”

The coldness in his voice cut deeper than Jungkook expected.

Jungkook immediately shook his head. “No—that’s not what I meant. I just… I searched for you for so long after you disappeared—”

“Did you?”

The quiet question froze him.

Taehyung tilted his head slightly, eyes dark and unreadable.

“That’s strange,” he murmured. “Because when I needed someone the most… you weren’t there.”

Jungkook’s lips parted helplessly.

The memory hit him instantly.

The accusations.

The screaming.

The crowd outside Taehyung's house.

His father’s angry voice.

And Taehyung standing alone through all of it.

Jungkook had wanted to run after him that night.

He really did.

But by the time he finally gathered the courage… Taehyung was already gone.

Without a trace.

Jungkook swallowed hard as guilt twisted painfully inside him.

“I tried to explain—”

“You stayed silent.”

Taehyung stepped closer.

Close enough for Jungkook to see the bitterness hidden behind his calm expression.

“You promised you’d stay beside me,” Taehyung said quietly. “Do you remember?”

Jungkook lowered his eyes immediately.

Of course he remembered.

Two children sitting beneath an old tree.

Hands linked together.

A promise made so innocently.

“Even if everyone leaves you… I won’t.”

Taehyung let out a soft laugh, but there was no warmth in it.

“I was stupid for believing in you.”

Jungkook felt tears sting his eyes.

“Taehyung…”

For the first time, Taehyung’s expression cracked slightly.

Not sadness.

Something far more dangerous.

Years of hurt.

Years of loneliness.

Years of love that had turned into resentment.

He leaned down slowly until his voice brushed against Jungkook’s ear like a warning.

“This time,” he whispered coldly, “I won’t be the one left behind.”

Then he walked past him without another glance.

Leaving Jungkook standing alone in the rain once again.

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