Chapter 4: The Third Regressor

The hallway outside the music room fell silent.

The mysterious figure stepped away from the small window, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile.

"So they really do remember."

His deep voice echoed softly through the empty corridor.

"Interesting..."

He adjusted the cuff of his black blazer before walking away as if nothing had happened.

Inside the practice room, neither Jungkook nor Taehyung noticed they had been watched.

Jungkook finished the bottle of water and took a deep breath.

"I think I'm okay now."

Taehyung studied him carefully.

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

There was a brief silence before Taehyung suddenly reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair away from Jungkook's forehead.

His touch was gentle.

Instinctive.

Jungkook froze.

Taehyung seemed to realize what he had done only after his hand was already there.

"...Sorry."

He slowly pulled away.

"I forgot we're back in our younger bodies."

Jungkook blinked.

"You used to do that?"

Taehyung looked away.

"In our previous life."

"When you fell asleep while working..."

"When you cried after your grandfather passed away..."

"When you were sick."

His voice softened.

"...You always hated having your hair in your eyes."

Jungkook's heart clenched.

There were so many memories...

Memories he had never realized Taehyung treasured.

"You remember every little thing," Jungkook whispered.

Taehyung smiled sadly.

"When you've loved someone for fifteen years..."

"You remember everything."

The room became painfully quiet.

Jungkook's eyes widened.

Loved?

Before he could ask what Taehyung meant, the alpha cleared his throat.

"We should get going."

As if nothing had happened.

Jungkook stared after him.

"...Coward."

"I heard that."

"I wanted you to."

Taehyung chuckled, and for the first time since returning to the past, the heavy atmosphere lifted.

That evening...

The Kim Mansion.

The grand estate was brightly lit as luxury cars arrived one after another.

The annual Choi Family Banquet was only two days away, and influential families had gathered to discuss upcoming business partnerships.

Taehyung walked into his father's study.

His father looked up from a stack of documents.

"You're late."

"I came as soon as class ended."

His father slid a gold invitation across the desk.

"The Choi family specifically requested your attendance."

Taehyung picked it up.

The elegant golden letters were exactly the same as in his previous life.

Except...

One sentence hadn't been there before.

A special announcement regarding the Jeon family will be made during the banquet.

Taehyung's expression darkened.

"They're moving earlier than before."

"What?"

His father frowned.

"What did you say?"

"...Nothing."

But inside, Taehyung already knew.

The timeline had changed.

Someone else was interfering.

Meanwhile...

Jungkook sat in his bedroom, unable to sleep.

His gaze remained fixed on the moon outside the window.

"Loved someone for fifteen years..."

Those words replayed endlessly in his mind.

Had Taehyung really confessed?

Or had Jungkook simply misunderstood?

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

His mother entered carrying a small velvet box.

"I almost forgot."

She handed it to him.

"This arrived this afternoon."

Jungkook frowned.

"I didn't order anything."

"There wasn't a sender's name."

Curious, he opened the box.

Inside lay an old silver pocket watch.

The moment his fingers touched it—

A sharp pain shot through his head.

Memories flooded his mind.

A burning building.

Someone screaming his name.

Blood on white flowers.

And a voice...

A voice he had never heard before.

'Find the third one before it's too late.'

The vision disappeared.

The pocket watch slipped from Jungkook's trembling hands and hit the floor with a metallic clang.

His breathing became uneven.

"The third one..."

He wasn't the only person who had returned.

Taehyung wasn't the only one either.

Somewhere...

A third regressor was already making their move.

And this time...

The future was becoming impossible to predict.

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