The Bully's Vow-Chapter 1

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The chapel was beautiful.
Soft gold lighting spilled from the chandeliers, casting halos across white roses and ivory silk. Everything looked perfect - except for the groom.

Taehyung stood at the altar in an expensive beige suit, shoulders square, jaw tight, but his eyes... his eyes were distant. Haunted. Like he wasn't really there.

"You know he used to bully me, right?" he murmured to Jimin, who was adjusting his boutonnière with shaking hands. "And now I have to marry him."

Jimin's fingers froze.

The silence stretched, thick as fog.

"Tae..." Jimin started, gently, "Maybe he didn't know how to show it. His feelings, I mean. Some people... they don't know how to love the right way."

Taehyung's laugh was sharp. Bitter.

"If he really loved me, he wouldn't have made me feel so small. Who hurts someone they love?"

Jimin didn't answer. He couldn't. Because deep down, he knew the truth.

He does love you, he thought, watching Taehyung's face twist with pain. He always has. But he's broken in ways none of us can fix for him.

The organ began to play. The guests turned in their seats. Taehyung's spine went rigid as Jeon Jungkook appeared at the other end of the aisle, dressed in black.

Not traditional. Not warm. Just him - cold, unreadable, beautiful.

He didn't smile. Didn't meet Taehyung's eyes.

And yet, this was the man Taehyung was about to marry.

For reasons neither of them dared to say out loud.

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Later that evening...

The house was quiet - too quiet for newlyweds.

Taehyung stepped inside, suitcase in hand, feeling more like a stranger than a husband. Jungkook didn't even glance at him before disappearing into one of the bedrooms, door clicking shut behind him.

Taehyung stood in the hallway, unsure.

Maybe... that's his room, he thought. I'll just take another.

The air was cold.

He didn't know if it was from the AC or the fact that Jungkook hadn't spoken a single word since the ceremony.

______________________________

One hour later

A knock on Taehyung's door.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, fingers fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve when Jungkook walked in - tall, quiet, unreadable.

"You... need something?" Taehyung asked carefully, voice low.

Jungkook didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him.

"Didn't your parents tell you?" he said, his voice deeper than before, laced with something Taehyung couldn't quite name.

"Tell me... what?"

"Our family tradition."

Taehyung's eyes widened slightly.

Ah.
How could he forget?

His heart dropped.

The first night.
The tradition.
Their expectation... to consummate the marriage.

"I... yeah, they mentioned it," he said, throat dry, fingers twisting nervously in his lap.

Jungkook watched him for a moment - studied the way he couldn't meet his gaze. Then he stepped back.

"I won't force you," he said simply. "Come to our room if you want to. I'll be there."

And with that, he left.

Leaving Taehyung alone in the silence with his racing heart.

A few minutes later

Taehyung stood outside the door, hand trembling against the knob. His pulse pounded in his ears. His skin felt tight with nerves.

He didn't know if he was more scared of what might happen... or what it would mean if nothing did.

Slowly, he opened the door.

Jungkook was lying on the bed, scrolling through his phone, still fully clothed. But when the door creaked open, he looked up - eyes dark, unreadable.

Taehyung stepped inside, his footsteps soft against the carpet.

Jungkook said nothing. He simply patted the space beside him, wordless, quiet.

Taehyung's throat tightened, but he moved. Slowly. Like a ghost.

He sat down.

Neither of them spoke.

Minutes passed.

Then, Jungkook moved closer - not aggressively, not suddenly - just enough that their shoulders touched.

Taehyung flinched.

"Do you hate me?" Jungkook asked quietly.

Taehyung blinked. The question felt like a slap.

"...What?"

"I said," Jungkook repeated, "do you hate me?"

There was no mockery in his tone. No arrogance. Just... uncertainty. Vulnerability.

Taehyung looked down at his lap.

"I don't know," he whispered.

Another silence.

Then Jungkook spoke again, softer this time. "I never meant to hurt you."

Taehyung turned his head, eyes wide. He wasn't expecting that. Not from him.

"You bullied me for years, Jungkook."

Jungkook's jaw clenched, but he nodded. "I know."

"Then why?" Taehyung's voice cracked. "Why are we here now? Why me?"

Jungkook didn't answer with words.

He leaned in. Just slightly. His breath was warm against Taehyung's cheek.

"Because you were always the only one I wanted. I just... didn't know how to show it until it was too late."

Taehyung felt something stir in his chest. A flicker of warmth. Fear. Hope.

He didn't move. Didn't breathe.

Jungkook's hand brushed his.

"I won't touch you unless you want me to," he whispered. "But I had to tell you the truth. I don't care about traditions. I care about you."

And with that, he pulled away - gave Taehyung the space to choose.

For the first time, Taehyung saw the boy behind the bully.

Not a reckless boy.

Just someone who'd been hurting too.

He looked into Jungkook's eyes.

And for a second... he didn't feel so alone.

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To be continue...

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