Chapter 5: A Promise Before the Banquet

The silver pocket watch lay on Jungkook's bedroom floor.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Its hands moved even though it had looked old enough to have stopped years ago.

Jungkook stared at it, his heart racing.

"The third one..."

His mother's worried voice pulled him back to reality.

"Kookie? Are you alright?"

Jungkook quickly forced a smile.

"I'm fine, Mom. I just got dizzy."

She knelt beside him and picked up the pocket watch.

"It must be an antique. There's something engraved on the back."

Jungkook gently took it from her.

Turning it over, he found a single sentence carved into the silver.

Time grants only one second chance. Don't waste it.

A chill ran down his spine.

Someone had sent this to him.

Someone who knew the truth.

The next morning...

Taehyung was already waiting outside Jungkook's house, leaning casually against his car with two cups of coffee in hand.

"You took forever."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow.

"I was five minutes late."

"You were seven."

"You counted?"

"I always count when I'm waiting for you."

Jungkook rolled his eyes, though he couldn't stop the smile tugging at his lips.

"You really are impossible."

"And yet you're still walking over here."

Taehyung handed him a cup.

"Vanilla latte. Less sugar."

Jungkook looked at the drink, surprised.

"You remembered."

"I remember everything about you."

The words came so naturally that Taehyung didn't seem to realize what he had admitted.

Jungkook, however, nearly dropped his coffee.

"You keep saying things like that."

Taehyung blinked.

"Like what?"

"...Never mind."

His ears turned pink.

Taehyung smiled to himself but chose not to tease him.

Not yet.

At the university...

The campus buzzed with excitement.

Students were talking about the prestigious Choi Family Banquet.

"I heard representatives from every major family will be there."

"They say even international investors are attending."

"My cousin said the Jeon family might announce a marriage alliance."

Jungkook froze.

There it was again.

The future he wanted to erase.

Before he could react, Taehyung placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Don't listen to rumors."

"But they happened before."

Taehyung met his gaze.

"This isn't before."

Jungkook nodded slowly.

"You're right."

They had already changed too many events.

Perhaps destiny wasn't as unbreakable as they once believed.

That afternoon...

After classes ended, Taehyung drove Jungkook to a quiet hill overlooking the city.

The wind carried the scent of pine trees and fresh rain.

Jungkook looked around in surprise.

"I've never been here."

"You have."

Taehyung smiled.

"Just not in this life."

Jungkook turned toward him.

"In our previous life, whenever things became overwhelming, I'd bring you here. You'd sit on that bench and complain about how unfair the world was."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

"I was probably making valid points."

"You were."

Taehyung laughed softly.

The sound made Jungkook realize how much lighter Taehyung seemed compared to their first life.

For once...

He wasn't carrying his feelings alone.

They sat together in comfortable silence until the sun began to set.

Then Taehyung spoke.

"Kook."

"Hm?"

"If things become dangerous again..."

"I won't let you sacrifice yourself."

Jungkook looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Taehyung stared at the horizon.

"In my memories... the night of your accident..."

"You pushed me."

Jungkook's breath caught.

"I... what?"

"You shoved me out of the way."

Taehyung's voice trembled for the first time.

"I survived because of you."

Jungkook searched his memories.

Fragments returned.

Rain.

A truck skidding across the road.

Taehyung reaching for him.

And then...

Jungkook pushing him away.

"So that's why..." Jungkook whispered.

"You blamed yourself."

Taehyung closed his eyes.

"I've blamed myself every day."

Jungkook slowly reached over and placed his hand over Taehyung's.

The alpha looked down in surprise.

"It wasn't your fault."

"It was my choice."

"If there's one thing this second life has taught me..."

Jungkook smiled gently.

"We don't have to make those choices alone anymore."

For a long moment, Taehyung simply looked at their joined hands.

Then, very carefully...

He intertwined their fingers.

"I'll hold you to that promise."

Jungkook didn't pull away.

Far below the hill...

A black sedan was parked beneath the trees.

Inside, the mysterious observer lowered a pair of binoculars.

"They're getting closer."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Good."

"It'll make separating them much more painful."

The engine started.

The car disappeared into the evening, leaving only the sound of rustling leaves behind.

Neither Jungkook nor Taehyung noticed they were being watched once again.

The banquet was only one day away.

And with it...

The true battle for the future would begin.

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