The world had always been a distant blur to Taehyung-something he observed from behind a thick glass, never quite stepping in. He existed, but he never truly lived. People admired him from afar, whispered his name like he was some untouchable myster...
"He had spent so long pushing her away, he never stopped to think about what would happen if someone else caught her."
***
CHAPTER – XXIIV ~ RIFTS IN THE FOUNDATON
🎧: "In the Middle" – Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey.
🌈AUTHOR's POV:
Y/N sat in the dim glow of her bedside lamp, her heart hammering as she read Jungkook's message again.
Can we talk? It's important.
She hesitated before typing back.
Y/N:Where?
His reply came instantly.
Jungkook:The basketball court. Now?
A sigh slipped past her lips as she grabbed a hoodie and slipped out of her room. The cool night air did little to calm the storm inside her as she made her way across campus. When she reached the court, Jungkook was already there, idly dribbling a basketball.
The moment he saw her, he stopped. "Hey."
"Hey." She stuffed her hands in her hoodie pockets, shifting on her feet. "What's going on?"
Jungkook studied her for a moment, then sighed. "It's about Taehyung."
Her breath hitched, but she forced herself to stay neutral. "What about him?"
Jungkook exhaled, tossing the ball aside. "Y/N, I know you care about him, but... I need to know what's really going on between you two."
She swallowed. "Why?"
"Because he's not acting like himself." Jungkook ran a hand through his hair. "He's always been distant, but ever since you came into the picture, it's like he's battling something. One second, he's cold, the next he's possessive. And then there's you—you're hurting because of it."
Y/N bit her lip. "I don't know what to say, Kook. He's confusing me, too."
Jungkook's gaze softened. "Then let me ask you something... Do you want to wait for him to figure himself out? Or do you want something real?"
***
"Jungkook was offering her a shore, but her heart was lost at sea."
***
Her stomach twisted. She had no answer. She wished she did.
Jungkook took a slow step closer. "Y/N, you know I'd never push you into anything. But if you ever need someone who won't make you feel like you're constantly guessing where you stand... I'm here."
The weight of his words settled between them. She knew what he was offering—stability, certainty, something Taehyung had never given her. And for a fleeting moment, she considered it.
***
"Sometimes, the heart doesn't crave what's safe. It craves what sets it on fire."
***
But before she could say anything, the sound of footsteps cut through the air.
Y/N turned sharply—and her heart stopped.
Taehyung stood at the entrance of the court; his expression unreadable. But his eyes—his eyes burned with something dark and dangerous.
Jungkook straightened. "Taehyung."
Taehyung ignored him, his gaze locked onto Y/N. "We need to talk."
Jungkook took a step forward. "I don't think she wants to—"
"I wasn't asking." Taehyung's voice was low, sharp, almost threatening.
Y/N swallowed hard. "Kook, it's okay."
***
"Jungkook would never make her guess where she stood. And yet, the only person she wanted to be seen by was the one who kept looking away."
***
Taehyung didn't wait. He grabbed Y/N's wrist and pulled her away from the court, his grip firm but not painful. The moment they were alone, he let go, pacing like a caged animal.
"What the hell was that?" His voice was rough.
"What was what?" She crossed her arms, her own frustration bubbling to the surface. "Talking to Jungkook? Since when do you get to control who I speak to?"
Taehyung exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. "I don't. But seeing you with him..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "It drove me insane."
Y/N scoffed. "That's rich, coming from you. You kiss me, then act like it never happened. You pull me close, then push me away. And now you're mad because I'm talking to Jungkook?"
His jaw clenched. "It's not the same."
"How is it not the same?" Her voice rose. "You can't have it both ways, Taehyung. Either you want me, or you don't."
Silence stretched between them. His eyes flickered with something raw, something vulnerable.
"I do want you," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "That's the problem."
Her breath caught.
***
"Easy love doesn't give you the thrill of falling. But then again, love doesn't have to feel like war, either."
***
Taehyung stepped closer, eyes searching hers. "I don't know how to be what you need, Y/N. I don't know how to be good for you."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Then let me decide that."
For a second, just a second, he looked like he might. But then, just as quickly, he stepped back.
"I can't." His voice cracked. "Not yet."
Y/N felt something inside her break. "Then stop making me hope that you can."
And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving Taehyung standing in the darkness, alone with the weight of his own demons.
***
"She was slipping through his fingers, and for the first time, he felt real, bone-deep fear."
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