Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Open the door!”

The girl's body tenses at the insistent yells from outside. Jungkook rolls his eyes, continuing to caress the curves of her waist, his lips nibbling at her ear. He chooses to ignore the millionth shout from his manager outside, focusing instead on the moment at hand.

The girl, initially tense, melts into his touch once again. Her eyes shut as Jungkook moves down her neck, unbuttoning her shorts with one hand while marking her skin with fervent kisses. Her breathing grows heavier until a moan escapes her lips.

“Jenice…”

She pulls back, looking at Jungkook with knitted brows. “Who’s Jenice? My name’s Julia!”

“Right!” Jungkook rolls his eyes at himself, crashing his lips onto hers. Their tongues entwine, and he slides his fingers beneath her pink panties, eliciting a sigh from her. “Got so lost in you, I almost forgot your name,” he chuckles in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine while inwardly cringing at his own words.

God.

Jungkook had read somewhere that people can live without shelter for weeks, without food for days, and without water for hours. But when a person is met with an extreme pang of loneliness, survival becomes a challenge even for three minutes.

At this point in his career, Jungkook couldn’t let loneliness consume him.

So it began: sleeping with girls, sometimes even fans. Occasionally, he went as far as paying them to keep quiet about their encounters. Not that he had to pay everyone—some were just thrilled to be with him, feeling fortunate to live out their fantasies with an idol. It baffled him why they would agree so readily just because of his fame.

The number of girls he had slept with had become a blur. He didn’t remember their names, where they were from, or any details about them. He just sought to fill the void inside him, engaging in fleeting encounters that left him feeling sick both for himself and for the girls. But if it provided mutual contentment, who was he to stop?

“Jungkook, open the goddamn door, it’s urgent!”

“Oh my god, manager-nim! Just what is it? Can’t you wait?” he barks back, his fingers slowly moving inside the girl, quickening their pace as her moans grow louder, the lewd sounds filling the room.

“Jungkook, I know what you are doing in there, but you need to come out for this.” His manager's voice carries a tone of tired disappointment, one Jungkook has heard countless times before—whether he was caught in compromising situations or found smoking up with Mingyu or Eunwoo.

“It’s about the members…” Jungkook halts. He pulls his fingers out, much to the girl's annoyance, and puts on his robe. Unlocking the door, he peeks through, not wanting his manager to see the girl half-naked on his bed. “What about them?”

His manager sighs, brushing sweat from his forehead. “It’s Taehyung. They have been trying to find him for days now, and there’s no clue of where he is.”

“What do you mean they’ve been trying to find him? No clue of where he is?” Jungkook is in disbelief, unable to make sense of what his manager is hinting at, because clearly, it can’t be that he is—

“Jungkook, he is missing.”

Jungkook feels the air leave his lungs. He stares at his manager, a sense of dread washing over him. The room feels suddenly too small, too stifling. The carefree facade he had maintained shatters as the weight of the news sinks in.

Chapter Text

“Where exactly are we going?” Jungkook asked, his voice barely audible, fragile even, as he stared out the car window. The city outside blurred by, but his thoughts were far from the scenes unfolding around him. His manager sat beside him, silent for a moment, allowing the question to hang between them like a weight too heavy to immediately address.

Jungkook had apologized to the girl—was it Jenice?—barely remembering her name before ensuring she had a ride home in one of the cars his staff had arranged. It had been a rushed departure from his hotel room. Everything had felt surreal since his manager had broken the news: Taehyung was missing.

The words had echoed in his mind like a cruel joke, bouncing around and leaving him more disoriented with each passing second. He had tried to grasp onto something real, something solid, but all that filled his mind were scattered thoughts. His phone screen felt cold in his hand as he scrolled through his fake Instagram account, mindlessly flipping through articles and posts, desperate for any sign, any news, any clue about what was happening.

'If this is a fucking publicity stunt, I’ll kill him myself', Jungkook thought bitterly, his jaw clenching.

But what if it wasn’t? That thought—darker, more terrifying—kept worming its way to the forefront of his mind. What if it’s real? What if Taehyung truly was missing? This wasn’t just some prank orchestrated by the company to stir up buzz. Why would they? Why would they push it this far, allowing the media to pick up the story and run with it like wildfire? What if something had actually happened?

Jungkook swallowed hard, his throat dry. He had missed a call from Taehyung last week—after years of silence between them, Taehyung had finally reached out. Jungkook had seen the call, stared at his phone as it buzzed, but he hadn’t picked up. He couldn’t. He was afraid—afraid of what might be said, afraid of what might resurface. He thought ignoring it would keep the past at bay. Now, he regretted it more than anything. If he had just picked up the call, maybe none of this would be happening.

“We’re going to the police station,” his manager’s voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. Jungkook turned to look at him, eyes blank but searching for something—answers, reassurance, anything.

“The rest of them will be there too,” his manager added after a pause, hoping Jungkook would fill in the blanks himself. “The members. The police will probably want to question all of you. Don’t worry, your lawyer’s already there.”

But the investigation was the last thing on Jungkook’s mind. He stared out the window again, watching the trees blur past. The world seemed to be moving too fast, too uncontrollably, while he felt stuck, frozen in his thoughts.

“All of them?” he asked quietly, his voice barely a whisper, but his manager understood. Jungkook wasn’t asking about just anyone—he was asking about them. The people who once meant everything to him.

“Yes,” his manager responded, his tone gentle, knowing exactly what Jungkook meant. It wasn’t just the reunion of bandmates that weighed heavily on him—it was the years of silence, the unresolved emotions, the questions they never got to ask each other.

Jungkook closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He hadn’t seen them in what felt like a lifetime. Sure, he had kept up with Yoongi and Hoseok’s solo careers from a distance, but that was all public. None of it was personal. He didn’t know what they were like now, who they had become, how they had changed in the years since everything fell apart. The others? He knew nothing about them. Not a single thing.

“We’re here,” the driver’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. The car rolled to a stop in front of the police station. Jungkook’s manager, Beom Seok, placed a hand on his shoulder, offering silent support. “You wanna take a moment?”

Jungkook shook his head, biting down on his bottom lip. “No, I’m good,” he muttered, though he wasn’t sure how true that was. His hands trembled slightly as he unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car. The station loomed large in front of him, the building imposing and cold, its pale grey walls rising high like a fortress of untouchable authority.

The structure was clean and rigid, the tall pillars lining the entrance giving it a stoic, almost intimidating presence. The blue police emblem above the doors gleamed under the sun, an unflinching reminder of the gravity of the situation. Jungkook’s eyes traced the lines of the building, taking in its cold, stark architecture. It seemed to stare back at him, indifferent and uncaring, just another institution built to hold the truth hostage until someone pried it free.

Beom Seok hovered beside him, his hand resting on Jungkook’s back for reassurance. He didn’t push, didn’t rush him, just waited in that quiet, steady way he always did. And for that, Jungkook was grateful. Beom Seok had been more than a manager to him; he was a brother, someone who had been there through every high and low, someone who had stayed even when everything else fell apart.

Jungkook drew in a shaky breath and nodded to himself. “Let’s go,” he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. His legs felt heavy as he climbed the steps, each one feeling like a small act of defiance against the weight of the past pressing down on him. He was not ready, but he didn’t have a choice. None of them did.

The doors opened, and a gust of cool air hit his face as they entered the station. His heart pounded in his chest as he followed his manager down the hall to the reserved room. He could see them through the glass door—five figures, five faces that once meant everything to him, now both familiar and so heartbreakingly distant.

They all turned as the door opened, their eyes locking on him. Jungkook felt his breath hitch as he stood there, frozen in place. Yoongi, Hoseok, Namjoon, Jin, and Jimin. They were all here. They looked older, more weathered, but still so achingly familiar. Jungkook’s chest tightened, and he fought the urge to run to them, to throw his arms around them and tell them everything he had been holding back all these years. But he couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak.

“Jungkook…” Yoongi’s voice was soft, tentative, like he wasn’t sure if he should even say the name aloud. It cut through the tension, pulling Jungkook back to the present, but it wasn’t enough to release the knot in his throat.

“Hey,” Jungkook finally managed, his voice cracking slightly. It felt so inadequate, so small, compared to everything he wanted to say. But it was all he could muster.

The room was thick with silence, the kind that spoke of unsaid things, of broken bonds and unresolved pain. Jungkook wanted to tell them he was sorry, wanted to explain why he had drifted away, why he hadn’t been there. But the words wouldn’t come. He could feel their eyes on him, waiting for him to say something, to break the silence. But all he could do was stand there, biting his lip, his hands trembling at his sides.

Why, Jungkook? Why? Taehyung’s voice echoed in his mind again, the memory of that night still fresh and raw, his tear-streaked face burned into Jungkook’s memory.

And just like that, he was back in the present, standing in front of the five people who had once been his family. He wanted to run to them, to have them hold him like they used to. But all he could do was stand there, lost in the silence of his own making.

Chapter Text

The silence in the room felt thick and oppressive, hanging over them like a cloud that no one knew how to disperse. Jungkook sat in the corner, staring blankly at the floor. The others—Yoongi, Namjoon, Jin, Hoseok, Jimin—were scattered around the room, each lost in their own thoughts, their faces painted with worry and exhaustion. No one knew what to say. No one knew what to think.

The low hum of conversation filtered through the air as Yoongi and Namjoon quietly spoke with the police officers, their voices too low for Jungkook to make out. He didn’t have the energy to focus on their words anyway; his mind was too clouded, too full of guilt and regret. His hands trembled slightly in his lap, and his heart felt heavy as if the weight of everything was pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.

The door creaked open, and Jungkook’s eyes flickered up to see one of the officers—a man in his fifties with graying hair and tired eyes—walking toward him. His footsteps echoed in the quiet room, the sound almost deafening in the heavy silence. Jungkook straightened up, trying to prepare himself for whatever was coming next.

“Jungkook?” the officer called his name, his voice calm but firm. He took a seat in front of Jungkook, flipping open his notepad and clicking his pen, the sound of it sharp in the otherwise still room.

Jungkook swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. He wasn’t sure what he could offer. What was there to say? The image of Taehyung’s missed call a week ago flashed in his mind, making his stomach twist painfully. He should’ve answered.

The officer leaned forward slightly, his voice gentle despite the seriousness of the situation. “I know this is hard, but we need to ask you a few questions about Taehyung’s disappearance. Anything you can remember, no matter how small, might help.”

Jungkook’s heart pounded in his chest, and he had to fight to steady his voice. “I… I don’t know much,” he began, his voice shaky. “I haven’t talked to him in years. Not since…” His voice trailed off. He couldn’t bring himself to say it, but everyone knew what he meant—since the disbandment.

The officer nodded, understanding. “Did you have any recent contact with him? A phone call? A message? Anything?”

Jungkook hesitated for a moment, his guilt crashing down on him like a wave. The missed call. He had ignored it, and now it felt like a decision he’d regret for the rest of his life. His hands clenched into fists, nails biting into his palms.

“He called me last week,” Jungkook admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “But… I didn’t answer. I saw it, but… I didn’t pick up.” He could feel his throat tightening, his chest constricting as the words left him. “I didn’t call him back. I thought… I thought it wasn’t important.”

The officer’s face remained neutral, though his pen scratched quietly against his notepad. “Did he leave a message? Anything else?”

Jungkook shook his head, feeling the weight of his actions crushing him. “No, nothing. Just the missed call.”

The officer paused for a moment before continuing. “Do you know if Taehyung reached out to any of the other members? Or if any of them noticed anything unusual?”

Jungkook glanced around at the others, all of them lost in their own conversations with the police or staring blankly at the walls. He shook his head again. “Not that I know of,” he muttered.

The officer asked a few more routine questions, his tone never wavering from the professional but calm demeanor he had maintained. But Jungkook didn’t have much more to offer. He didn’t know anything. He hadn’t spoken to Taehyung. He hadn’t been part of their lives for so long.

When the officer finally finished, he stood up and gave Jungkook a small nod. “If you get to know anything else, let us know. We’re doing everything we can to find him.”

Jungkook nodded numbly. “I will,” he whispered, though his voice felt hollow. The officer turned and walked back toward the rest of the group, leaving Jungkook alone in the corner, lost in his thoughts.

As the police officers, lawyers, and managers slowly filtered out of the room, the air felt even more suffocating. It was just the six of them now—Jungkook, Jimin, Yoongi, Hoseok, Namjoon, and Jin—sitting in uncomfortable silence, none of them knowing what to say.

Jimin, who had been sitting next to Jungkook, shifted slightly. His shoulder brushed against Jungkook’s, and for the first time in what felt like hours, Jungkook turned to look at him. Jimin’s face was pale, his eyes heavy with concern, but there was something else there too—something softer, something that reached out to Jungkook in a way he hadn’t felt in years.

“Hey,” Jimin whispered, his voice low, careful not to disturb the thick tension in the room. “You okay?”

Jungkook blinked, unsure how to respond. He wasn’t okay. How could he be? He shook his head slightly. “I don’t know,” he muttered. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay again.”

Jimin nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I know,” he said softly. “I feel the same way.”

They sat there in silence for a moment before Jimin spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. “Do you think… do you think things will ever be normal again? Like… like they were before?”

Jungkook swallowed hard, his chest tightening at the question. He didn’t know how to answer. He didn’t know if there was an answer. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I don’t think anything can go back to the way it was.”

Jimin’s eyes flickered with something—sadness, maybe, or acceptance. He nodded again, though there was a slight tremble in his voice when he spoke. “I guess… I guess you’re right. We’ve all changed.”

Jungkook sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah,” he whispered. “But… I hope we can at least figure things out. Be… something. Even if it’s not the same.”

Jimin gave a small, sad smile. “Yeah. I hope so too.”

The door to the room clicked shut behind the last of the police officers, and suddenly, the room felt even smaller, the silence even heavier. Jungkook could feel the others’ eyes on him, on Jimin, on each other. The unspoken tension that had been building for years was finally reaching its breaking point.

Jin, who had been standing by the door, let out a long sigh and turned to face the rest of them. “I think we all need to talk,” he said, his voice calm but firm. He glanced around the room, meeting each of their eyes in turn. “About everything. My place tonight?”

Jungkook felt his chest tighten at the suggestion, but he knew Jin was right. They couldn’t keep avoiding it. They couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine. Yoongi was the first to nod, his face unreadable as he stood up.

“Yeah,” Yoongi said quietly. “We should.”

Hoseok, his foot tapping nervously against the floor, nodded as well. “I’m in,” he said softly, though his voice lacked its usual energy.

Namjoon gave a weary nod, rubbing his temple as if trying to soothe an invisible headache. “Jin’s right,” he muttered. “We need to talk.”

Jimin glanced at Jungkook, his expression soft but serious. “You okay with that?” he asked quietly.

Jungkook hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah,” he whispered, though his voice felt small. “We need to.”

And so, one by one, they all agreed. They gathered their things slowly, the silence between them still thick with everything left unsaid. There was so much to talk about, so many wounds that needed to be addressed. But for now, at least they were taking the first step. It wasn’t closure—not yet—but maybe it could lead them there.

Jungkook lingered for a moment, staring down at his phone. The missed call from Taehyung stared back at him, mocking him with the reminder of everything he had ignored, everything he had been too afraid to confront. He sighed, tucking the phone into his pocket, and stood up to follow the others.

The road ahead felt uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, it also felt like there was a chance for something more—something new. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.

Chapter Text

Jin’s apartment had changed since they’d last been there, just like everything else in their lives. Eight years ago, it had been a place of warmth, full of life and clutter, with the smell of home-cooked meals lingering in the air and the sound of laughter echoing off the walls. Now, it was sleek and modern—clean lines, muted colors, and an almost clinical sense of order. The walls were lined with framed artwork, abstract pieces that seemed to replace the personal touches that once gave the space its charm. The warmth wasn’t gone, but it had dulled, much like the bonds between the people who now sat in the living room, each of them a stranger to the versions of themselves they once knew.

Jungkook shifted awkwardly in the doorway, feeling the weight of the years pressing down on him. They hadn’t been in the same room for so long, and now, with everything hanging over them—Taehyung’s disappearance, the unspoken blame—they were forced back together. The air was thick, and no one seemed ready to break the tension that had followed them from the police station to Jin’s home.

Jin moved around the kitchen, quietly placing glasses of water on the coffee table. His usual cheerful energy was absent, replaced by something more restrained, more careful. He glanced at the others, waiting for someone to speak, but the silence was suffocating, each of them wrestling with their own emotions.

Yoongi was the first to sit, settling on the couch with a sigh, his face unreadable. Namjoon joined him, his hands clasped tightly in his lap, his expression tense. Hoseok hovered near the window, his body stiff, his fingers drumming anxiously against the glass. Jimin stood near Jungkook, both of them lingering by the door, unsure where to position themselves. It was as if no one knew how to act, what to say.

Jin cleared his throat as he sat down, trying to find the right words to start. “I think we all know why we’re here,” he said softly, his voice heavy with the weight of what was left unsaid. “We’ve been avoiding this for too long. And now, with Taehyung gone… we can’t keep running from it.”

The mention of Taehyung’s name made Jungkook flinch, guilt creeping up his spine like a cold hand. The room grew even heavier, the unspoken tension rising between them. Jungkook wasn’t sure how to deal with it. The last time they had all been together like this, everything had fallen apart.

Suddenly, Hoseok turned from the window, his face tight with anger. “You want to talk about why we’re here?” His voice was sharp, his words cutting through the quiet like a blade. “Let’s talk about why we haven’t been in the same room for eight years. Let’s talk about who’s really to blame.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat. He knew that look on Hoseok’s face. He’d seen it before, but not directed at him. Not like this. “What are you talking about?” Jungkook asked, though he had a sinking feeling he already knew.

Hoseok took a step closer, his eyes blazing with something darker than just frustration. “I’m talking about you, Jungkook. This isn’t just about Taehyung being missing. This is about everything. About the disband. About how we all fell apart, and how it all started with you.”

Jungkook felt the heat rise in his chest. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You really don’t get it, do you?” Hoseok’s voice was shaking now, his fists clenched at his sides. “You think this is just about you not picking up Taehyung’s call last week? No, this goes way deeper than that. You were the one who pushed him away first. You’re the one who made him feel like he wasn’t enough. And after that night… after everything that happened… we couldn’t hold it together. You broke us, Jungkook.”

Jungkook felt like the air had been knocked out of him. The accusation hung in the air, raw and painful. His mind raced back to the night Hoseok was talking about, the night everything had truly changed between them, the night when Taehyung had confronted him, broken and angry. It had been the beginning of the end, but Jungkook had never thought it would lead to this.

“That’s not fair,” Jungkook said, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and defensiveness. “I wasn’t the only one who made mistakes. We all did. You don’t get to put this all on me.”

Hoseok took another step forward, his voice rising. “You think I’m putting this all on you? You were the one who shut us out! You were the one who let your own fear drive a wedge between us, and Taehyung paid the price for it. We all did! Do you even know what you did to him? How much it hurt him?”

Jungkook’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. “I know I made mistakes, but I wasn’t the only one who walked away. We all did. Don’t act like you didn’t.”

Hoseok’s eyes flashed with fury. “You don’t get it, do you? Taehyung reached out to you! After all that time, after everything, he still reached out to you, and you ignored him. You were supposed to be his family, and you let him down.”

Jungkook’s voice cracked as he shouted back. “And where were you, huh? Where were any of you? It wasn’t just me. We all drifted apart. We all stopped trying.” Hoseok lunged forward, but Namjoon quickly stepped between them, holding Hoseok back with a firm hand on his shoulder. “Enough,” Namjoon said, his voice calm but commanding. “This isn’t helping.”

Jin stood up as well, placing himself between Jungkook and Hoseok, his expression stern. “Hoseok, stop,” he said, his voice low but steady. “We’re not going to get anywhere by blaming each other.”

Hoseok’s chest heaved, his eyes still locked on Jungkook with a mix of anger and pain. Slowly, he stepped back, but the tension between them hadn’t faded. Jungkook’s heart was pounding in his chest, his hands trembling with adrenaline.

Jin let out a slow breath, rubbing his hands over his face. “We’re all hurting,” he said softly. “But tearing each other apart isn’t going to fix this.” Namjoon nodded, his expression weary but resolute. “We all made mistakes. Every one of us. But we can’t keep fighting about what happened. We need to figure out where to go from here.”

Yoongi, who had been watching the argument unfold with quiet intensity, finally spoke. “We can’t change the past,” he said quietly, his eyes flicking between Jungkook and Hoseok. “But if we keep blaming each other, we’re not going to find Taehyung.”

Jimin, who had been silent the entire time, looked between the two of them with wide, sad eyes. “Please,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “We can’t do this. We need to stick together. For Taehyung.”

Jungkook swallowed hard, his chest tightening with the weight of the argument. He didn’t want to fight. Not anymore. But the guilt, the anger—it was still there, simmering just beneath the surface. He could feel Hoseok’s eyes on him, but he couldn’t bring himself to look at him.

The tension remained thick between them, but for now, the fight had been put on hold. Hoseok turned back toward the window, his shoulders tense, while Jungkook sat back down on the couch, staring at the floor, his mind racing with everything that had been said. The room fell into a heavy silence, the air thick with unresolved pain and frustration.

Jin, trying to regain control of the situation, cleared his throat and leaned forward slightly, his expression more serious now. “Look, I didn’t want to say this back at the station, but we need to be realistic about what’s happening here. The police… they’re not going to keep this investigation open forever. If they don’t find any leads, they’ll drop it in a month. Two, maybe three if the public gets involved.”

Jungkook’s heart sank. The thought of the police giving up on Taehyung—on finding out what had happened to him—made his stomach twist painfully. He couldn’t bear the idea of Taehyung being forgotten, of his disappearance being left unresolved.

“We can’t let that happen,” Jin continued, his voice tight with determination. “We need to know where he is. We need to know what happened to him. Whether he’s alive or…” He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Namjoon, sensing the weight of Jin’s words, nodded grimly. “If the police don’t find anything, we’ll have to take things into our own hands.” Yoongi looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You mean we investigate this ourselves?”

Jin nodded. “Yes. Discreetly. We can’t let the police or the public know we’re doing this. We don’t want to raise suspicion or interfere with their investigation. But if they give up, we’re the only ones left.”

Hoseok, still staring out the window, spoke quietly, his voice flat. “And if we don’t find anything?”

Jin’s face hardened. “We have to. We don’t have a choice.”

Jungkook nodded, the fear in his chest now mixed with a sense of purpose. He couldn’t just sit by and let Taehyung’s disappearance be another unsolved case. He had to do something. They all did.

Jimin glanced around the room, his expression determined but filled with worry. “We’ll find him,” he whispered. “We have to.”

Yoongi sighed, leaning back against the couch. “It’s not going to be easy. But we owe it to him.”

For a moment, there was a quiet sense of unity in the room, a shared understanding that they were in this together, no matter what had happened in the past. But even then, Jungkook could feel the tension between him and Hoseok lingering. The fight wasn’t over—it had just been paused. There was still so much between them that needed to be addressed, so much pain that hadn’t healed.

Jin, sensing the need for something lighter, cleared his throat again. “Maybe we should start by… getting to know each other again,” he suggested softly. “We’ve all been through a lot. We need to trust each other if we’re going to do this.”

Namjoon nodded. “It’s been a long time. We’ve all changed. Maybe we should… catch up first. Figure out where we all stand.”

Jungkook glanced around the room, feeling the weight of the years they had spent apart. The people sitting around him were strangers in so many ways, but at the same time, they were the only ones who understood what he had been through. They were the only ones who knew the real pain of losing each other. Maybe, by finding their way back to each other, they could find Taehyung too.

“Yeah,” Jungkook whispered. “Let’s start there.”

Chapter Text

The night had deepened by the time they all settled in Jin’s living room, the hum of the city outside barely audible against the heavy silence inside. The awkwardness lingered between them, but there was a shared understanding now—they were in this together, despite the cracks in their relationships. They couldn’t afford to stay fractured if they wanted to find Taehyung.

Jin, always the one to guide the group, cleared his throat and gestured toward the water glasses on the table. “Let’s start by talking,” he said, his voice steady but gentle. “It doesn’t have to be anything big. Just… let’s reconnect. We can’t work as a team if we don’t trust each other.”

Jungkook glanced around, unsure of where to start. The distance between them wasn’t just physical anymore—it was emotional, a gap that had widened over the years. He looked at Jimin, sitting beside him, his face a mix of anxiety and hope, and then at the others, who seemed equally unsure of what to say.

Namjoon was the first to speak, breaking the tense silence. “I guess I’ll start,” he said with a sigh, his hands resting on his knees. “After everything happened… after we all drifted apart… I focused on work. That’s what I’ve been doing—just work. Writing, producing, trying to fill the gaps.” He hesitated, glancing around at the others. “But it wasn’t the same. I kept busy, but something always felt missing.”

Yoongi gave a slight nod. “I’ve seen some of your work. It’s good. There’s a lot of depth in the way you capture stuff.” His voice was calm, but there was a faint trace of respect there.

Namjoon smiled, though it didn’t fully reach his eyes. “Thanks. It’s helped keep me sane, I guess.”

Yoongi sighed, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before he looked back up at the group. “I didn’t just produce for other people,” he admitted, his voice steady but carrying the weight of disappointment. “I kept working on my own music too. Released a few solo albums over the years.” He paused, running a hand through his hair. “But they didn’t hit the way I hoped they would. It felt like something was missing in them, like no matter how much I poured into the work, I couldn’t reach the same level.”

Jungkook glanced at Yoongi, surprised by the admission. Yoongi had always been so confident in his artistry, so sure of himself. Hearing him acknowledge that his work hadn’t found the success he’d wanted hit harder than expected.

Hoseok, who had remained near the window, crossed his arms and gave a small nod. “Same here,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “I thought if I focused on my solo stuff, maybe it would reignite something. Released a couple of albums, some singles… but none of it really caught on the way I wanted. I guess it’s hard to capture the same magic when everything else is falling apart.”

The room fell into a quiet understanding. Everyone had their own way of dealing with the fallout, and for Yoongi and Hoseok, it was through their music—music that, despite their efforts, didn’t fill the void left behind after the disbandment.

“It’s like…” Yoongi began again, searching for the right words. “It’s like something fundamental was gone. I still love music, but there was always this feeling that no matter how much I tried, it wasn’t enough. Like the heart of it wasn’t there anymore.”

Hoseok nodded in agreement. “Exactly. I thought that maybe doing things on my own, being independent, would bring back the fire. But it was different. Too different. It’s like we lost the thing that made it work, and I couldn’t get it back on my own.”

Jimin sighed softly, his eyes filled with empathy as he listened. “I get that,” he said. “It’s hard to find that spark again when everything feels fractured.”

Namjoon, who had been listening intently, leaned forward slightly. “It sounds like we were all searching for something,” he said, his voice thoughtful. “Something we lost when everything fell apart.”

Yoongi shrugged, but there was a shadow of resignation in his expression. “Yeah. I tried to act like it didn’t matter, like I could keep going on my own, but it wasn’t the same. None of it felt right.”

Jungkook could feel the weight of their shared experiences pressing down on him. He had always admired Yoongi and Hoseok for their determination, their relentless drive to create, even in the face of everything falling apart. But now, hearing them admit that even their solo work hadn’t brought them the fulfillment they sought made him realize just how deeply the cracks ran.

Hoseok sighed and finally moved away from the window, sitting down on the edge of the couch, though he kept some distance between himself and Jungkook. “It’s funny,” he muttered. “We all tried to build something on our own, but it just didn’t feel right. And now… here we are, back together because of this.”

Jin gave a small smile, his eyes flicking between the group. “It’s almost like we’ve been circling around each other all this time. Trying to find a way forward but still holding onto what we lost.”

Jungkook shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had admired the way Yoongi and Hoseok had managed to stay true to their art, even if it hadn’t panned out the way they wanted. But hearing them speak with such vulnerability made him realize just how much everyone had been struggling, even behind the masks of success.

“I guess we’ve all been chasing something,” Jungkook said softly, looking down at his hands. “For me, it was… different. I didn’t focus on my music the way you guys did. I released songs, sure, but I was… distracted.” He paused, swallowing the lump in his throat. “I got lost in other things. Things that… took me further away from who I wanted to be.”

The room fell silent again, everyone listening intently as Jungkook hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He glanced at the others, knowing he needed to be honest with them. If they were going to trust each other, he couldn’t hide this part of himself.

“I’ve gotten into some bad habits,” Jungkook admitted, his voice rough with guilt. “Things that… I’m not proud of. I’ve used sex as a way to escape. A lot. Even with fans, sometimes.” His hands clenched into fists in his lap, shame flooding through him as he said the words aloud for the first time.

The room went still, the weight of his confession settling over them like a thick fog. No one spoke for a moment, each of them processing what Jungkook had said. He could feel their eyes on him—some filled with shock, others with concern. He expected judgment, but instead, what he found in their gazes was empathy.

Jimin was the first to speak, his voice soft but firm. “Jungkook… we’ve all dealt with this in our own ways. It doesn’t make you any less because of how you’ve been coping.”

Yoongi, always the most pragmatic, nodded slowly. “You’re not alone in feeling lost, Jungkook. We’ve all been there.”

Hoseok, though still visibly tense from their earlier fight, looked at him, his expression hard but not as angry as before. “We all make mistakes. But you’re here now, and you’re being honest about it. That’s what matters.”

Jungkook’s throat tightened as he heard their words. He hadn’t expected them to understand, but somehow, they did. They all carried their own scars, their own ways of coping with the void that had formed in their lives after everything fell apart. His confession, though painful, was just another step in the process of rebuilding the trust they had lost.

Jin leaned forward, placing a hand on Jungkook’s knee in a gesture of quiet support. “We’ve all done things we’re not proud of. But we’re here now, together, and that’s what matters. We’re going to figure this out—both for ourselves and for Taehyung.”

The others nodded in agreement, the tension in the room finally starting to ease. It wasn’t a complete reconciliation—there was still so much left unsaid, so many wounds that hadn’t fully healed. But it was a start. They were finally beginning to lay the groundwork for something more, something better.

Namjoon cleared his throat, his voice steady as he brought the conversation back to their focus. “We need to use what we have—our connections, our instincts. We have to do what the police can’t or won’t. And we need to start now.”

Yoongi’s eyes darkened with determination. “We need to look at every angle. Taehyung was out of contact with most of us, but someone must have known what he was up to. We need to dig into his recent movements, his friends, anyone he might have been close to.”

Jungkook nodded, pulling himself together. “I’ll start by checking the call. See if there’s anything else linked to it—any messages or other activity that could give us a clue.”

Hoseok finally turned away from the window, his face calmer than before. “And I’ll talk to some of the people we used to work with, see if anyone has heard anything. Taehyung wasn’t exactly a ghost. Someone has to know something.”

Jin smiled faintly, a small glimmer of hope shining through his usual calm demeanor. “We’re getting somewhere. Slowly, but we are.”

Jimin leaned forward, his gaze determined. “We need to trust each other, no matter what’s happened. We have to put the past behind us if we want to find him.”

For the first time in a long while, Jungkook felt the smallest flicker of hope. They were broken, yes, and they still had a long way to go. But they were moving forward, together.

They would find Taehyung.

And maybe, in the process, they would find themselves again.

Chapter Text

“I’ve been thinking about that call I missed from Taehyung,” Jungkook said, his voice low but cutting through the quiet room. Everyone turned to look at him, the weight of the conversation shifting instantly. He was sitting on the edge of his seat, his phone clenched in his hand, his knuckles white. His guilt was palpable, and his words felt heavy, like he’d been carrying them for too long. “I never called him back. But I… I checked something just now. I can see his location from when he made that call.”

A hush fell over the group, the casual energy from a few moments ago dissolving into a tense, expectant silence. Jungkook’s confession hung in the air as everyone digested what he had said. For the first time since the investigation started, they had something—a potential lead.

Jin leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “You can see his location? How?”

Jungkook’s fingers tightened around his phone as he explained. “I have location services on my phone, and so did he. We used to have each other’s locations shared back when things were… different. I checked, and the last time it recorded his position was the night he called me.”

Yoongi sat up straighter, his eyes narrowing with a hint of focus. “Where was he?”

Jungkook’s gaze flickered between them as he unlocked his phone and pulled up the map, the small dot still glowing ominously on the screen. “It’s just outside the city. Someplace I don’t recognize. I’ll send the coordinates to everyone, but… this is the last trace of him I have.”

The others gathered around as Jungkook sent the location to their phones, a sense of urgency settling over the group. They all stared at the map for a moment, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

Namjoon’s voice broke the silence, calm but laced with determination. “We need to go there. First thing tomorrow. But we need to be careful. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”

Jin nodded, his usual calm demeanor giving way to a more serious expression. “This could be nothing, or it could be something big. Either way, we can’t draw any attention to ourselves. The police can’t know we’re looking into this.”

Yoongi tapped his phone, his expression dark. “If Taehyung was there, something must’ve happened. People don’t just disappear without a trace.” Jungkook shifted in his seat, the weight of the missed call pressing down harder than ever. “What if he tried to call me for help?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “What if I could’ve stopped this?”

“Don’t,” Jimin said softly, placing a hand on Jungkook’s arm. “You can’t blame yourself for this. We don’t know what happened yet.”

Jungkook nodded, but the guilt still lingered in his chest. He couldn’t shake the feeling that if he had just picked up the phone that night, things might be different. Maybe Taehyung wouldn’t be missing. Maybe they wouldn’t be sitting here, scrambling for answers.

Hoseok stood, pacing near the window, his body tense with nervous energy. “We’ll find out what happened. We’ll go there, check the area, and see if we can find anything. But we need to be ready for whatever we might find.” His voice was quieter than usual, less certain. The usual confidence he carried in his movements had dimmed, replaced by worry.

Namjoon nodded in agreement, already making plans. “We’ll leave early tomorrow. We’ll split up and cover the area, but we need to be careful. If this place is connected to why Taehyung disappeared, there might be more going on than we realize.”

Yoongi crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “I’ll see if I can dig up anything else about the location before we go. It’s outside the city, so it’s not somewhere any of us would have recognized easily. Maybe there’s more to this place.”

Jin looked between them, his usual steady hand guiding the conversation. “We have to stay focused. This might be our only lead, so we can’t afford to make mistakes. If we find anything, we deal with it together.”

The seriousness of the situation weighed heavily on all of them. Jungkook could feel his heart racing as they finalized the plan for the next day. He wanted to be hopeful, but the nagging fear that they were already too late gnawed at him.

Jimin’s voice was soft but resolute. “We’ll get answers. We’ll find him.”

Jungkook gave a small nod, grateful for Jimin’s reassurance, but the fear of what they might uncover was still there, sitting in the back of his mind like a shadow he couldn’t shake.

As they wrapped up their conversation, Namjoon stood and stretched, his face set with determination. “Get some rest tonight. We’ll need to be sharp tomorrow.” Hoseok, still pacing by the window, finally stopped and turned back to face the group. “I don’t know what we’ll find, but whatever it is… we face it together. No more avoiding this.”

The others murmured their agreement, though the uncertainty was palpable.

Jungkook lingered after the others had started gathering their things. He stared at the map on his phone again, the small dot representing the last known location of Taehyung feeling like a lifeline, a chance to find him before it was too late. He couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever they were walking into tomorrow could change everything.

As they all prepared to leave, Jin placed a hand on Jungkook’s shoulder. “We’ll find him,” he said quietly. “Whatever it takes.”

Jungkook nodded, though his throat felt tight. “Yeah,” he whispered. “We have to.”

The gravity of the situation hit them harder as they walked out of Jin’s apartment and into the cool night air. Tomorrow, they would begin the search for real. They had a location, a lead. They had hope, but also fear. The uncertainty of what they might find loomed large in the back of all their minds.

As they parted ways for the night, the reality settled in. They weren’t just trying to reconnect anymore; they were trying to save one of their own. Time was running out, and they couldn’t afford any more mistakes.

Jungkook slipped his phone into his pocket, the weight of it feeling heavier than ever. Tomorrow, they would face whatever awaited them at that location. And with that, they all knew—there was no turning back.

Chapter Text

The next morning, the group gathered early as planned, each of them quiet and focused. The gravity of their mission weighed heavily on their minds as they made their way to the location Jungkook had traced from Taehyung’s phone call, however that wasn’t his last active location. The group decided on following the route created- from Taehyung’s last phone call location to his last active location. The drive out of the city was tense, the silence only broken occasionally by murmurs of directions or idle comments about the weather.

When they finally arrived at the coordinates, they found themselves in a small, unassuming part of town. It was far from the city’s bustling center, nestled on the outskirts where the streets were quieter, more residential. The location Jungkook had tracked from Taehyung’s phone call was near a cluster of small businesses—a convenience store, a few older shops, and a handful of modest restaurants.

As they parked and stepped out of the car, Yoongi scanned the area, his sharp eyes landing on one of the small restaurants nearby. His face softened for a moment as he recognized it. “Wait,” he said, nodding toward the modest building just a few meters away. “That’s the barbecue place we used to go to. Remember? Back when we’d sneak out after practice during our rookie days?”

The others turned to look, and a wave of nostalgia seemed to pass through them. Jin’s expression shifted into a quiet smile. “Yeah… we came here a lot when things were simpler. Before we became… all this.”

Jimin let out a small laugh, a mix of fondness and melancholy. “It’s been years since we’ve been here.”

Namjoon rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t believe it’s still around. This place used to keep us going back then. Cheap food, late-night meals after long days.”

Yoongi gave a half-smile. “Maybe it’s a sign. Should we go in?”

There was a collective pause as they exchanged glances. It felt strange, almost surreal, to revisit a place from their past while in the middle of their search for Taehyung. But maybe, in a way, it was exactly what they needed.

“Yeah,” Jungkook said, nodding slowly. “Let’s go in. We can talk while we eat. Maybe it’ll help us think.”

As they walked into the restaurant, the bell above the door chimed, and the familiar scent of grilled meat filled the air. It was quiet inside, only a few tables occupied, and the décor hadn’t changed much since their last visit all those years ago. The old, slightly worn booths and wooden tables had a nostalgic charm, bringing back memories of long nights filled with laughter and exhaustion.

They took a seat at one of the back booths, where they had often sat as rookies, ordering food with an easy familiarity. For a moment, it felt like they had stepped back in time, as if everything that had happened since—the fame, the disbandment, the distance—hadn’t touched this small, cozy place.

As they waited for their food, the conversation drifted between memories of the past and their search for Taehyung.

“This place feels like a lifetime ago,” Jimin said quietly, his gaze lingering on the grill in front of them. “We were just kids, really. Trying to figure everything out.”

Yoongi nodded, his arms crossed as he leaned back against the booth. “We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into back then. But this place… it kept us grounded.”

Namjoon smiled faintly. “Yeah. We used to come here after practice, talking about the future like we had any idea what was coming.”

Jungkook, who had been staring down at his phone, looked up, his expression softer now. “Taehyung loved this place. He always ordered the same thing—galbi and way too much banchan.”

Jin chuckled. “He was always the first to ask if we could come here. I can still hear him saying it.”

The mood in the group lightened slightly as they reminisced, the bond they had shared during their early days resurfacing. But beneath the nostalgia, the weight of Taehyung’s disappearance still lingered, an unspoken reminder of why they were there.

Their food arrived, and they started grilling the meat, the sizzle and smell of cooking food bringing a strange comfort. They ate in relative quiet at first, each of them lost in thought, but just as the mood started to ease, the bell over the door rang again.

Jimin was the first to notice. His eyes widened slightly as he looked toward the entrance, freezing for a moment before speaking. “Is that…?”

The others turned to follow his gaze, and their expressions shifted in surprise. Standing near the entrance, scanning the room, was Choi Woo-shik—one of Taehyung’s closest friends from his Wooga Squad.

Woo-shik stood tall, his presence immediately commanding attention. His face, normally so expressive and full of warmth, was now serious, his sharp features set in an unreadable expression. His dark hair was slightly tousled, as though he had run his hands through it more times than he cared to count that morning. He wore a simple black hoodie and jeans, blending in easily with the modest surroundings, but there was a heaviness in his posture, a tension that hadn’t been there the last time they’d seen him.

His eyes, normally bright with humor, now seemed clouded with worry. There were faint shadows under them, as if he hadn’t been sleeping well. His hands, usually relaxed and expressive, were tucked into the pockets of his hoodie, his shoulders hunched slightly as if he was trying to shield himself from the weight of whatever burden he carried.

At first, they thought it was a coincidence. Woo-shik seemed to have just wandered into the restaurant like any other customer, but when he spotted them, his eyes lingered, recognition flickering across his face. Without hesitation, he walked over to their table, his expression curious but calm.

“Do you mind if I join you?” Woo-shik asked, his voice casual, though there was a hint of something more beneath the surface.

Namjoon exchanged a glance with the others before gesturing for Woo-shik to sit. “Of course. It’s been a while.”

Woo-shik slid into the booth next to Namjoon, his eyes scanning the group before settling on Jungkook for a moment. He exhaled softly, his expression hard to read. After a pause, he looked down at the table and then back up, his next words dropping like a bombshell.

“Taehyung knew you guys would come here.”

There was a collective stillness as the meaning of his words sank in. Everyone froze, their expressions shifting from surprise to confusion. Jungkook felt his heart skip a beat, and he immediately leaned forward, his voice low and urgent. “What do you mean? You’ve talked to Taehyung?”

Woo-shik met his gaze, his expression unreadable. “Not exactly. But he told me that if something ever happened to him, you’d end up here. He said it like he knew you’d come looking for him.”

Namjoon frowned, his mind racing. “When did he tell you this? And why?”

Woo-shik hesitated, glancing around the table before speaking. “About a month ago. He was… acting different. Distant. It wasn’t like him. I thought maybe it was stress, but now… I don’t know. He wasn’t making sense, but he seemed sure of one thing—if something happened to him, you’d come to this place. He didn’t say why, just that you would.”

The tension around the table thickened, the weight of Woo-shik’s words pressing down on them. It was clear now that Taehyung had known something was coming, something big enough to make him reach out in such an indirect way.

Jungkook’s mind raced, his thoughts jumbled and chaotic. “He knew something,” he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. “He knew something was going to happen, and he didn’t tell us.”

Woo-shik sighed, running a hand through his hair, further mussing the dark locks. “I didn’t think much of it at the time. But now… I’m worried.”

Yoongi leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Why didn’t you come to us sooner?”

Woo-shik shook his head. “I didn’t know it was this serious. I thought maybe he was just dealing with something personal, and I didn’t want to overstep. But when I heard the police were looking for him… I came here.”

Namjoon exchanged a glance with Jin, both of them trying to process the information. “Do you think he was in danger?” Namjoon asked, his voice quiet but firm. “I don’t know,” Woo-shik admitted. “But if he told me to mention this place, then it has to mean something.”

The room was quiet for a moment, the weight of Woo-shik’s revelation settling over them like a heavy cloud. They had come here looking for answers, and now it seemed like Taehyung had anticipated their move.

Jimin, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, spoke up, his voice soft but filled with emotion. “He knew we’d come back together. He was counting on it.”

Jungkook clenched his fists under the table, his emotions swirling inside him. “Then we need to figure out why. And fast.”

Woo-shik looked at each of them, his expression grim. “If Taehyung was right… this might be just the beginning.”

The gravity of his words sent a chill through the group. This was no longer just a search—it was something far more dangerous than any of them had realized.

The group exchanged a glance, a renewed sense of urgency settling in. They had come to this place, retracing Taehyung’s steps, but now it was clear they needed to move quickly. His last active location was their next stop—the place where they hoped to finally find the answers they needed.

Jin broke the tense silence, his voice steady but laced with urgency. “Then we need to keep moving. This can’t stop here.”

They all nodded in agreement. Taehyung had known something, and now, more than ever, they were determined to find out what it was.

Chapter Text

The scent of the barbecue from earlier still lingered in the air as Jungkook leaned back against the headrest of the car. The drive was quiet, with everyone deep in their own thoughts after their meeting with Choi Woo-shik. Jungkook couldn’t stop thinking about the last words Woo-shik had said—that Taehyung had predicted they would come to the restaurant. It was all too strange, and the weight of it was making him anxious.

His mind began to drift, pulling him away from the present and into a memory he had kept tucked away for a long time.

It had been a couple of years ago, during one of their world tours. They were staying at some hotel, the kind where every city blended together after weeks on the road. The concert had ended hours before, and while the others had collapsed into their rooms, Taehyung had managed to drag Jungkook out for a late-night snack run, convincing him that adventure awaited them outside the hotel doors.

Jungkook had been skeptical at first, dressed in a simple hoodie and sweatpants, but Taehyung had flashed that charming grin—the one Jungkook could never say no to—and before he knew it, they were sneaking out of the hotel like teenagers breaking curfew.

As they walked down the quiet streets, they’d found a small convenience store still open at that late hour. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead as they wandered the aisles. Taehyung, as usual, was acting like everything was an exciting discovery, his fingers trailing over snack packs and candy bars with dramatic enthusiasm.

“Look at this!” Taehyung had exclaimed, holding up a bag of chips. “It’s the same kind we used to eat after practice when we were trainees. Remember?” Jungkook grinned and shook his head. “You’re still the same, hyung,” he teased, watching as Taehyung continued to rummage through the snacks. “Always getting excited over food.”

Taehyung turned to him with a mock offended look, placing his hand over his heart. “Excuse me, Jungkook. This isn’t just food. It’s nostalgia.”

“Right, right,” Jungkook chuckled, grabbing a drink from the cooler. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

But as they moved toward the counter, Taehyung’s mood shifted subtly. He leaned a little closer to Jungkook, his voice dropping into a softer, more teasing tone. “You know, Kook, it’s not just the snacks that are nostalgic,” he said, his lips curving into a playful smirk. “It’s moments like these. You and me, sneaking out, doing whatever we want… like old times.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, glancing at Taehyung as they reached the cashier. “You mean like back when we were broke and didn’t know how to take care of ourselves?” he joked, his tone light but playful.

Taehyung laughed, shaking his head as he paid for the snacks. “No, I mean… just you and me. Alone. Away from all the craziness.”

There was something in the way Taehyung said it that made Jungkook pause, but only for a second. He nudged Taehyung with his elbow, grinning mischievously. “Aw, hyung, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were flirting with me.”

Taehyung’s eyes twinkled with mischief, and he didn’t miss a beat. “Maybe I am,” he shot back, his voice smooth and confident as he leaned in just a little closer. “You gonna do something about it?”

Jungkook burst out laughing, shaking his head in amusement. “Yeah, yeah. Nice try, hyung. You’ve got to step up your game if you want to impress me.”

But Taehyung didn’t back down. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze lingering on Jungkook a moment longer than usual, his voice dropping an octave. “Oh, trust me, Kook. If I really wanted to impress you, you’d know.”

Jungkook felt a flicker of something—a mixture of surprise and amusement—but he quickly brushed it off, playing along. “Well, now you’ve got me curious,” he replied, smirking as he picked up his snacks. “What exactly would you do to impress me, huh?”

Taehyung’s grin widened as they stepped back out into the cool night air. “Guess you’ll just have to stick around and find out.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes, chuckling under his breath as they walked side by side down the quiet street. “You’re full of it, you know that?” he teased, giving Taehyung a playful shove. “Always with the dramatic lines.”

Taehyung laughed, accepting the shove with a grin. “What can I say? I have a way with words. It’s part of my charm.”

Jungkook grinned, deciding to keep the playful banter going. “Oh yeah? What else is part of your charm? Your terrible dance moves?”

Taehyung feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. “Terrible? I’m a great dancer, thank you very much. Don’t act like you don’t enjoy watching me.”

Jungkook laughed harder, shaking his head. “Sure, sure. Whatever you say, hyung.”

They kept walking, the conversation flowing naturally between jokes and lighthearted teasing. But after a while, the playful energy between them softened, and the quiet of the night settled in. They reached a small park, its empty benches and dim streetlights casting long shadows across the path.

Taehyung slowed his pace and glanced at Jungkook, a different kind of smile on his face now—one that was softer, less playful. “You know, Kook,” he said, his voice quieter now, “sometimes I think about what it’d be like if things were different.”

Jungkook looked at him, confused. “Different how?”

Taehyung shrugged, his eyes flicking up to the sky briefly before settling back on Jungkook. “Like… if we didn’t have all this pressure. If we could just… be.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure what Taehyung was getting at. “Be what? Lazy? ’Cause I could totally go for that,” he joked, but there was a part of him that knew Taehyung wasn’t just talking about relaxing.

Taehyung smiled, but it was a small, almost wistful smile. “No, I mean… just be us. Without all the cameras, the expectations. Like we are now, but always.”

Jungkook shrugged, still not quite getting the deeper meaning. “We’re always gonna be us, hyung. Doesn’t matter if there are cameras or not.”

Taehyung’s gaze lingered on him, and for a moment, it looked like he wanted to say something more. But instead, he just sighed softly and gave Jungkook a playful shove, his teasing tone returning. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Jungkook laughed, nudging him back. “Hey, you’re the one getting all sentimental.”

Taehyung chuckled, the moment of vulnerability passing as he shot Jungkook a mischievous grin. “Can’t help it. I guess you bring out my soft side.”

Jungkook grinned, shaking his head. “I must be pretty special, huh?”

Taehyung’s smile widened, his eyes twinkling with that familiar mischief. “Oh, you have no idea, Kook.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes but played along, his tone light and teasing. “Careful, hyung. People might think you actually like me or something.”

Taehyung didn’t miss a beat. “Maybe I do,” he said, his voice smooth and just serious enough to make Jungkook pause for half a second before laughing it off.

“Yeah, yeah, keep dreaming,” Jungkook joked, though there was a part of him that couldn’t quite shake the feeling that Taehyung wasn’t entirely joking.

They spent the rest of the night walking and talking, the playful banter continuing, but there was a new layer to it now—a subtle tension that Jungkook hadn’t noticed before. Looking back on it now, sitting in the car, Jungkook couldn’t help but wonder if there had been more to Taehyung’s flirting than he’d realized at the time. Maybe Taehyung had been trying to say something, something he hadn’t been ready to hear.

Just as the memory faded, Jungkook was pulled back to the present by the sudden ringing of his phone. His manager’s name flashed on the screen, and a wave of anxiety washed over him. He couldn’t tell the truth about where he was or what they were doing, so he quickly answered, trying to steady his voice.

“Hyung?” Jungkook said, his voice calm but his mind racing.

“Jungkook, where are you?” his manager’s voice came through, slightly impatient but not accusatory. “I thought we had a schedule today.”

Jungkook swallowed, glancing at the others in the car, who were now looking at him curiously. “Uh, yeah. Sorry about that. I’m… I’m just running some errands. Needed to clear my head a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

His manager sighed. “Alright. Just make sure you’re not getting into trouble. We need to stay on top of things, especially with all the rumors going around.” Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat. “I know. Don’t worry. I’ll be back later.”

He hung up quickly, feeling the tension ease slightly. He couldn’t afford to tell anyone about what they were doing—not yet.

“Everything okay?” Namjoon asked from the driver’s seat, glancing at him through the rearview mirror.

“Yeah,” Jungkook replied, pocketing his phone. “Just the manager checking in. I told him I’m running errands.”

Jin nodded. “Good. Let’s keep it that way.”

As they continued the drive back to the city, the group began to talk again, this time focusing on what Taehyung had said to Woo-shik. It was still bothering them—how Taehyung had known they would come to that specific restaurant.

“Do you think Taehyung was trying to leave us clues?” Jimin asked, his voice tentative. “I mean, telling Woo-shik that we’d end up at the restaurant… it feels too specific to be a coincidence.”

Yoongi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “He must’ve known something was going to happen to him. The question is, why didn’t he tell us directly?”

Namjoon, always the logical one, leaned back in his seat. “Maybe he didn’t think we’d believe him. Or maybe… he couldn’t. If Taehyung was in danger, it’s possible he couldn’t say too much.”

Jungkook frowned, still thinking about the cryptic nature of it all. “But why the restaurant? What’s the connection?”

Hoseok, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. “Maybe it’s because it’s one of the few places that meant something to all of us. It’s tied to our past. He knew that if we were going to come together again, it would be through something familiar. Something that reminded us of who we used to be.”

Jin nodded in agreement. “Taehyung was always sentimental. He probably knew that, in order to find him, we needed to find each other first.”

The thought settled over them, the weight of it heavy but somehow comforting. They were getting closer to something—what, they didn’t know yet. But Taehyung had left breadcrumbs for them, and they were beginning to follow the trail.

Namjoon glanced at the map again, the coordinates of Taehyung’s last known location still flashing on the screen. “We’ll start here,” he said. “We’ll find out what happened to him.”

Jungkook nodded, his determination hardening. They were in this together now, and no matter what they found at that location, they wouldn’t stop until they brought Taehyung home.

As the city skyline came into view, Jungkook couldn’t help but think back to that night on the street with Taehyung. The playful banter, the teasing words, and the way Taehyung had looked at him with a warmth that Jungkook hadn’t quite understood back then. Maybe he hadn’t missed the signs entirely, but he had certainly brushed them off as just jokes.

Now, Jungkook wasn’t so sure anymore. Maybe Taehyung had been trying to tell him something all along, and he just hadn’t been ready to hear it.

And now, Jungkook was determined not to miss any more signs.

Chapter Text

As the group stepped out of the car and onto the quiet street, an eerie silence enveloped them. The area was oddly still, as if waiting for something to happen. Jungkook glanced around, feeling the weight of the location pressing on him. His chest tightened with the familiar ache of missing Taehyung, though he tried not to let it show.

The first thing that caught Jungkook’s eye was the graffiti on the wall nearby—a simple, yet unmistakable drawing of a rabbit, its long ears reaching high and its eyes wide, almost sad. The lines were faded, the colors dull and weathered, but there was no mistaking it. Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt a pang of recognition.

“Hyung,” Jungkook murmured, turning toward Namjoon. “Look at this.”

Namjoon stepped closer, his eyes following Jungkook’s outstretched hand toward the graffiti. His face shifted from confusion to recognition, his brow furrowing as memories rushed back. “I know this,” Namjoon said softly. “This is Taehyung’s. He painted something just like this during the ‘Love Yourself’ highlight reel.”

Jimin, who had been scanning the area, stopped and turned toward the graffiti as well. “I remember that,” he said. “Taehyung and you were supposed to be best friends in the ‘Wings’ and ‘Love Yourself: Her’ era, weren’t you?”

Namjoon nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah… it was part of the storyline we created back then. This is his style. It’s almost exactly like the painting he did in the reel.”

Yoongi crossed his arms, stepping up beside them. “Do you think he left this here on purpose?”

“It has to be,” Namjoon said, still staring at the graffiti. “It’s too specific. There’s no way this is just a coincidence.”

Jungkook’s mind raced, his thoughts tangling together. Taehyung’s disappearance, the strange locations, and now this—a piece of their shared past left behind, as if Taehyung had planted it here for them to find.

Before they could contemplate it further, the sound of small, hurried footsteps interrupted their thoughts. They turned just in time to see a young girl, no older than six, running toward them. Her hair was pulled into two messy pigtails, her big brown eyes wide with excitement, and her round cheeks flushed pink from the rush. She wore a simple yellow dress, slightly wrinkled from playing, and scuffed sneakers that squeaked as she ran.

Without any hesitation, the girl ran straight to Hoseok and latched onto his leg, looking up at him with wide, adoring eyes. “Are you Jungkook oppa?” she asked, her voice filled with innocent excitement.

Hoseok blinked, clearly taken aback, and gently crouched down to her level. “No,” he said, smiling softly. “I’m Hoseok oppa. But that,” he pointed at Jungkook, “that’s Jungkook oppa over there.”

The girl’s face lit up as she released Hoseok and rushed toward Jungkook, her small legs moving as fast as they could. When she reached him, she stopped just inches away, looking up at him with awe. Her tiny hands dug into the pockets of her dress before she pulled out a bright yellow lollipop and handed it to Jungkook.

Jungkook knelt down, still confused, but took the lollipop from her small hand. “Thank you,” he said softly. “But why are you giving this to me?”

The little girl beamed, bouncing slightly on her toes. “I was told to come here every day and wait for you and your friends. And when you showed up, I was supposed to give you this lollipop.”

Jungkook’s brows furrowed, his confusion deepening. “Who told you to do that?”

The girl giggled, twirling one of her pigtails around her finger. “Tae Tae.”

Jungkook’s breath caught in his throat. “Taehyung? Tae Tae told you to wait for us?”

The girl nodded eagerly. “Yep! He said you and your friends would come here, and I was supposed to give you the lollipop.”

Jimin stepped forward, his voice quiet but urgent. “When did he tell you this?”

The girl scrunched up her face in thought, her lips pursed as she counted on her fingers. “Like… a few weeks ago, maybe?”

Namjoon knelt beside Jungkook, his voice gentle as he spoke to the girl. “Did Tae Tae tell you anything else?”

The girl shook her head, but then her face brightened with a new thought. “Oh! Tae Tae said I could play a game with you guys! He told me how to play it!”

Namjoon exchanged a glance with Jungkook before asking, “What kind of game?”

The little girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “You put someone’s phone on the ground, and then you hit it with a stick! Like golf, but with a phone!” She paused, giggling. “Tae Tae said it’s super fun!”

Jimin’s eyes widened, and he quickly looked at the others. “Wait, that’s from the highlight reel, too. Taehyung had that scene where he played a game like that with his girlfriend.”

Yoongi’s expression darkened, his mind racing. “This can’t be random. He’s leaving us clues, but why?”

Hoseok ran a hand through his hair, still trying to make sense of it all. “This girl isn’t just some coincidence. Taehyung must have known we would come here, and he’s guiding us, but we’re missing something.”

Jungkook looked down at the yellow lollipop in his hand, his thoughts swirling. The graffiti, the girl, the game—it was all connected to their past, to the “Love Yourself” era. But why was Taehyung using these memories? What was he trying to tell them?

The little girl tugged on Namjoon’s pant leg again, her voice soft. “Can we play the game now? Please?”

Namjoon smiled at her, but his expression was tinged with worry. “Maybe later, okay? But first, we need to figure out where Tae Tae went. Do you know where he is?”

The girl shook her head, her pigtails bouncing again. “Nope! He just told me to wait for you here.”

Namjoon nodded, standing up and glancing at the others. “We’re not getting any more information from her, but this is enough to tell us that Taehyung was here recently.”

Jungkook clenched the lollipop in his hand, determination hardening in his chest. “He’s trying to lead us somewhere. He’s using memories from the past, things we’d remember. We need to follow this.”

Yoongi nodded, his jaw tight. “But where does this trail lead? The graffiti, the game, the girl… it’s all pieces of something bigger.”

Hoseok took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the street. “We need to keep looking. There has to be more. Taehyung wouldn’t leave us with just this.”

Jungkook stood, his mind racing as he tried to piece everything together. Taehyung had planned all of this. He had known they would come, and he had left these clues for them to find. But the question remained—why? What was he trying to lead them to?

The little girl, now distracted by a butterfly fluttering nearby, skipped away, leaving them alone with their thoughts. As they stood there, the sun beginning to dip lower in the sky, a sense of urgency settled over the group. They were close to something, something Taehyung wanted them to find.

And whatever it was, they couldn’t stop now.

“We need to keep moving,” Namjoon said, his voice firm. “We’re not leaving until we figure out what this all means.”

Jungkook nodded, his heart racing. They were on the right path, but the deeper they went, the more dangerous it felt. Taehyung was guiding them toward something, and now, more than ever, they had to follow his trail—wherever it might lead.

Together, they would find him.

Chapter Text

As the group made their way down the quiet, narrow street, the eerie silence pressed down on them like an invisible weight. The night was thick with tension, and even the gentle breeze felt heavy. Jungkook clutched a lollipop in his hand, a strange keepsake from the little girl they had encountered earlier. It was such a small, innocent thing, yet it felt like a connection to the cryptic mystery Taehyung had left behind—bright and simple on the surface but filled with a depth they had yet to uncover.

Namjoon walked beside Jungkook, his long strides purposeful but slower than usual, as though the weight of the situation was bearing down on him more than he let on. His brow furrowed in thought, eyes darting around the street, always scanning, always calculating. Namjoon wasn’t the type to show his emotions outright, but Jungkook knew him well enough to recognize the storm brewing beneath that calm exterior. He’d seen Namjoon like this before, during tough times when they had to make difficult decisions, when the future was uncertain.

Namjoon’s mind was always running a mile a minute, processing everything at once—the graffiti, the restaurant, the little girl. To him, this wasn’t just a series of random events. It was a puzzle, and Namjoon had always been the one to put the pieces together, no matter how complex.

“He’s leading us somewhere,” Namjoon finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was quiet, almost like he was thinking aloud, but there was a sharpness to it. “Taehyung’s making us retrace our steps, remember things from the past.”

Jungkook nodded, trying to keep up with Namjoon’s thoughts. “Even that restaurant we went to earlier when we were rookies and met Wooshik there?”

Namjoon glanced at him, the corners of his mouth twitching in what could have been the start of a smile but quickly faded. “Yeah,” he murmured, his voice contemplative. “That restaurant… it’s like he’s pulling us through these old memories for a reason.”

Hoseok, pacing back and forth just a few steps ahead of them, finally chimed in. “Yeah, but why these specific memories? What’s he trying to make us remember?” Hoseok’s usual sunny demeanor was replaced with a more serious edge tonight. His shoulders were tense, his movements restless, as though the energy he usually burned on stage had nowhere to go.

Yoongi, ever the quiet thinker, straightened up from where he had been leaning against a streetlight. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp, taking in everything as he spoke. “He’s showing us pieces of the past that meant something to him. We need to figure out the pattern, but we’re still missing something.”

Jimin, who had been mostly silent, walking behind the group, finally spoke up. His voice was soft, but it carried the weight of the worry that had been gnawing at all of them. “Do you think he’s in danger? All these memories and places... it feels like he’s trying to protect us, or maybe himself.”

Namjoon’s eyes darkened at Jimin’s words, and Jungkook could feel the shift in his energy beside him. Namjoon was always the one they looked to in moments like this—the leader, the one who had to keep it together no matter what. But beneath that responsibility, Jungkook could sense the fear Namjoon was trying to keep hidden, the fear that something had gone terribly wrong.

“It’s possible,” Namjoon admitted, his voice low, almost grim. “Taehyung doesn’t do anything without a reason. He wouldn’t vanish like this unless something serious was going on.”

The group stood in tense silence, the weight of their unanswered questions pressing down on them like a heavy fog. Each of them was deep in thought, trying to make sense of the clues Taehyung had left behind. The trail was there, but it felt incomplete, like a maze they had yet to fully navigate. Jungkook’s heart pounded as he thought back to their time together, to the carefree moments they had shared, and how distant those memories felt now. Everything had changed, yet somehow, Taehyung was pulling them back to those simpler times.

Jungkook broke the silence, his voice soft but determined. “There’s still the rooftop. We haven’t been there yet.”

Namjoon’s eyes flickered with recognition. “You’re right,” he said, a slight edge of excitement creeping into his voice. “The rooftop was Taehyung’s favorite place. He used to go there all the time after practice. He loved the view, the quiet. It was like his sanctuary.”

Jin crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “If Taehyung is leading us back through memories, the rooftop could be the next clue. It was important to him.”

Without wasting any more time, they headed back to the car. Namjoon was the first to slip into the driver’s seat, his hands gripping the wheel with a quiet intensity. He was always the one steering them—literally and figuratively. As the engine hummed to life, the atmosphere in the car thickened with anticipation. No one spoke much during the drive, the silence broken only by the occasional sound of the tires on the road and the soft buzz of the city outside. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, trying to piece together the puzzle Taehyung had laid out for them.

Namjoon’s focus, as always, was unwavering. His sharp eyes flicked between the road and the GPS, but Jungkook could tell his mind was working on multiple levels. Namjoon was always the thinker, the one who could process everything in layers. He wasn’t just thinking about the next move, but about the bigger picture, about what this all meant, and where it could lead them. It was what made him such a strong leader, but Jungkook also knew it was what weighed on him the most. Namjoon always carried the burden of responsibility for the group, and now, with Taehyung missing, that burden felt heavier than ever.

“He wouldn’t do this to us,” Namjoon muttered under his breath, almost too quiet for anyone to hear. But Jungkook caught it, glancing over at him. There was a tension in Namjoon’s jaw that hadn’t been there before, a tightness that told Jungkook how deeply he was feeling this.

“You okay, hyung?” Jungkook asked softly, not wanting to break the fragile quiet but needing to check in.

Namjoon didn’t take his eyes off the road, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened ever so slightly. “Yeah,” he said after a beat, his voice steady, but there was an edge of strain beneath it. “Just thinking.”

Jungkook didn’t push. He knew Namjoon well enough to know that he would talk when he was ready. Instead, he nodded and leaned back in his seat, staring out the window as the city blurred by.

They arrived at the old dorm building just as the night deepened, the once-bustling streets now empty and quiet. The sight of the building stirred something deep inside all of them. The old brick structure stood tall and silent, its façade worn and weathered by time. The windows were dark, and the dorm, once filled with the sounds of laughter, arguments, and the frantic energy of their trainee days, now felt like a ghost of the past. Forgotten, abandoned, yet still holding the echoes of who they had once been.

Jungkook hesitated at the entrance, memories of their trainee days washing over him in waves. The door they used to sneak in through was still there, its hinges rusted, creaking slightly as they pushed it open. The inside was exactly as they remembered it—dim, dusty, with that faint smell of age and disuse clinging to the air. The narrow hallway stretched ahead, the peeling wallpaper and scuffed floors standing as a testament to how long it had been since anyone had set foot in this place.

“It feels weird being back here,” Jimin murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as his eyes scanned the familiar space. “Like we’re walking through a memory.”

Namjoon nodded beside Jungkook, his gaze heavy with nostalgia but also something darker. “It’s like nothing’s changed, but at the same time, everything has.”

Yoongi, ever pragmatic, glanced around. “No one’s been here in years. It’s like a time capsule.”

They moved through the building, passing the old dorm rooms where they had once lived, stayed up late talking about their dreams and their fears. Every corner, every crack in the wall, brought back memories that felt distant, yet still so vivid. But the silence of the building weighed on them now, the emptiness almost suffocating compared to the chaos that used to fill it.

When they reached the narrow staircase that led to the rooftop, their pace slowed. The stairs creaked beneath their feet, the metal railing cold and chipped. As they reached the top, a cool breeze from outside brushed against their skin, carrying with it the familiar scent of the city they once knew.

They pushed open the rooftop door, and the city skyline greeted them, just as it had all those years ago. The lights of the city twinkled like stars, a breathtaking view that had always made the rooftop feel like an escape from the weight of their world. But tonight, it felt different—there was an underlying tension in the air, a sense that something was waiting for them.

And there it was, in the center of the rooftop, placed carefully on the cracked tiles—a Jenga tower.

Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of it. It was unmistakable, instantly recognizable. They had played this game together countless times, but it wasn’t just any game to them. It was one of Taehyung’s favorites, a game that carried more weight than it seemed. Taehyung had always been the best at it, pulling out pieces with ease, making it look effortless while the others struggled to keep the tower from collapsing.

“That’s...” Jimin whispered, his voice trailing off as he moved closer to the Jenga tower. “We used to play this all the time. Remember?”

Namjoon’s eyes widened as recognition dawned on him. “In the video we filmed together, right? Taehyung was the one who always won.”

Jungkook nodded, his mind racing. “Yeah, he always made it look so easy. He loved this game.”

Yoongi, standing beside the tower, knelt down, inspecting it carefully. “This isn’t a coincidence,” he said, his voice steady but filled with certainty. “Taehyung put this here for us. It’s another clue.”

Jin frowned as he stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the tower. “But why a Jenga tower? What’s he trying to tell us?”

Namjoon, ever the thinker, ran a hand through his hair, deep in thought. “Taehyung always used games as metaphors. Jenga’s about balance, about removing pieces without causing the whole thing to collapse. Maybe he’s trying to tell us that something’s fragile. Something’s on the verge of falling apart.”

Jungkook swallowed hard, his gaze locked on the tower. It didn’t feel like just a game anymore. It was a symbol, a message, and Taehyung was speaking to them through it. But the meaning was still just out of reach, like a word on the tip of their tongues they couldn’t quite grasp.

The group circled around the Jenga tower, the atmosphere between them tense. The rooftop, once a place of freedom and laughter, now felt heavy with the weight of the mystery surrounding Taehyung’s disappearance. The city hummed quietly below them, but up here, it felt like the whole world had gone silent.

“It’s fragile,” Hoseok said quietly, his voice carrying a sadness that echoed in the stillness. “Just like us.”

Jungkook’s chest tightened at Hoseok’s words. He knew what he meant. The tension between them, the distance that had grown over the years, the unspoken things that had been left to fester—it was all there, unspoken but undeniable. The fragile balance of their relationships felt as precarious as the Jenga tower before them, waiting for one wrong move to bring everything crashing down.

“We have to be careful,” Namjoon said, his voice calm but filled with the weight of a leader’s burden. “If we make the wrong move, everything could fall apart.” The metaphor wasn’t lost on any of them. It wasn’t just about the game. It was about Taehyung, about their friendships, about the delicate balance of their past and present, all tied together in ways they were only just beginning to understand.

Jungkook took a deep breath, stepping closer to the Jenga tower. His hand hovered over the pieces, but he hesitated, unsure of what to do next. It felt like whatever move they made, it had to be the right one, or everything—Taehyung, their friendships, their future—would collapse.

“We’ll figure this out,” Jin said, breaking the silence, his voice steady but filled with determination. “Taehyung wouldn’t have led us here if he didn’t trust us to put the pieces together.”

The others nodded, but the uncertainty still hung in the air, thick and palpable.

As they stood there, staring at the Jenga tower under the moonlight, they all realized that the path they were on was growing darker with each step. Taehyung was out there somewhere, waiting for them to find him, but the truth they were searching for felt elusive, just out of reach.

The fragile balance of their friendships, their past, and the mystery surrounding Taehyung’s disappearance—it was all connected, but the answers were still just beyond their grasp.

Jungkook’s hand finally dropped away from the Jenga pieces, and he stepped back. “We need to think about this,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “We can’t rush this.”

Namjoon nodded, his eyes still on the tower, but there was a deep understanding in his gaze. “We’ll come back tomorrow,” he said. “We need to figure out what this all means before we take the next step.”

With that, the group slowly made their way back down the staircase, leaving the Jenga tower behind, a silent symbol of everything that was hanging in the balance.

They would return, but for now, they needed to regroup, to think, to prepare for what was coming next.

Because whatever was waiting for them—it wasn’t going to be easy.

Chapter Text

The rooftop air had grown cooler, but now, as Jungkook sat in his room, the chill lingered in his thoughts. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was slipping away. The cryptic trail Taehyung had left behind—the Jenga tower, the memories, the scattered clues—was pulling them back to a time when things had been simpler, but now everything felt complicated.

Jungkook lay back on his bed, scrolling through his phone absentmindedly, trying to distract himself from the growing sense of dread. Headlines about Taehyung’s disappearance buzzed all over social media, and fans were speculating wildly. None of it made sense, and none of it helped. He wanted answers, but they seemed further away than ever.

As he scrolled through Instagram, his mind drifted back to a different time. It had been a rare night off, and the group had scattered for some alone time after they finished shooting for Run! BTS and got back home. But Jungkook had ended up in Taehyung’s room, like he always did when he wanted to unwind. They’d decided to play video games, a common way for them to relax and forget about the outside world for a while.

“Are you ready to lose?” Taehyung had asked, grinning from ear to ear as he handed Jungkook a controller.

Jungkook had scoffed, cracking his knuckles dramatically. “You wish, hyung. Tonight, I’m going to destroy you.”

They had sat down in front of the TV, the glow from the screen the only light in the room. The game started, and within minutes, they were engrossed in their competition. The sound of buttons clicking and controllers rattling filled the space as they trash-talked each other relentlessly.

“You call that playing?” Jungkook teased, his character flying across the screen to land a winning combo.

Taehyung leaned forward, furrowing his brow in concentration. “I’m just warming up. Don’t get cocky, Kook.”

The rounds went by, each one more intense than the last. Taehyung was a natural at games, but Jungkook was fiercely competitive, and it wasn’t long before the scoreboard was neck and neck. They were both laughing, the tension of their busy schedules melting away with every playful taunt.

At one point, Taehyung landed a perfect hit, his character delivering the final blow to Jungkook’s. The screen flashed with a victory message, and Taehyung threw his hands up in triumph. “See? Told you! You can’t beat me.”

Jungkook groaned, tossing his controller onto the bed. “You cheated. No way you could’ve dodged that last move.”

Taehyung grinned, turning to face him, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “It’s not cheating if you’re just bad at the game.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. “Oh? Big talk for someone who was losing all night.”

Taehyung chuckled, nudging Jungkook with his shoulder. “I was going easy on you. You know, because you’re cute when you’re frustrated.”

Jungkook felt his cheeks warm slightly at the unexpected comment, but he wasn’t about to let Taehyung have the upper hand. He leaned in even closer, smirking. “Oh yeah? Well, you’re pretty cute when you’re about to lose.”

Taehyung blinked, a faint blush creeping up his neck. “Excuse me? I don’t lose.”

Jungkook laughed, sensing an opportunity to turn the tables. “You’re blushing, hyung.”

Taehyung narrowed his eyes, clearly flustered. “I’m not blushing. You’re imagining things.”

“Oh, I’m definitely not imagining it,” Jungkook teased, his grin widening. He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “Admit it. You blush every time I get close to beating you.”

Taehyung scoffed, trying to hide his embarrassment. “You’re full of it.”

Jungkook shrugged, still grinning. “If you say so. But the scoreboard says otherwise.”

For a moment, they both just looked at each other, the playful banter hanging in the air. The tension between them was palpable, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of tension that always bubbled beneath the surface with them—something unspoken, something neither of them had ever really addressed.

As the teasing faded, Taehyung suddenly grew quiet, his playful grin softening into something more serious. He placed his controller on the table and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “Do you ever think about what happens when this all slows down?”

Jungkook blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. “What do you mean?”

Taehyung sighed, still staring at the ceiling. “I mean… what happens when we’re not doing this anymore? The touring, the fame. What if we’re just… us?” Jungkook sat up, frowning slightly. “I guess I haven’t really thought about it. It’s hard to imagine not doing this.”

Taehyung glanced over at him, his expression contemplative. “Yeah, but it’ll happen someday, right? We won’t always be BTS. There’s gonna come a time when we have to figure out who we are without all of this.”

Jungkook leaned back, thinking. He had always focused on the present, on the next concert, the next performance. The idea of slowing down, of finding themselves outside of the group, wasn’t something he’d really considered.

“I don’t know who I’d be without this,” Jungkook admitted quietly. “It’s been my whole life.”

Taehyung nodded, his gaze softening. “Yeah. Same. But sometimes I wonder what it’d be like to just… live. Without all the pressure. Without all the eyes on us.” Jungkook didn’t respond right away. He could see the weight in Taehyung’s expression, the way his shoulders seemed heavier as he spoke. It wasn’t often that Taehyung opened up like this, and Jungkook wasn’t sure what to say.

“Do you ever get tired of it?” Jungkook asked, his voice quieter now.

Taehyung shrugged, his eyes still focused on the ceiling. “Sometimes. But it’s not the music. It’s… everything else. The expectations, the pressure to always be perfect.” He paused, glancing at Jungkook. “And sometimes I wonder if we’ve had enough time to figure out who we really are.”

Jungkook felt the weight of Taehyung’s words settle over him. He understood what Taehyung was saying—their lives had been shaped by their roles as idols, and it was hard to imagine who they were outside of that. But it wasn’t something he was ready to face yet.

“I think we’ll figure it out when the time comes,” Jungkook said after a moment, offering a small smile. “And whatever happens, we’ll still be us.” Taehyung smiled back, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Yeah, maybe.”

They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation hanging between them. It was a rare moment of vulnerability, one that Jungkook wasn’t used to, but it felt important. Like they were on the edge of something they didn’t quite understand yet.

Jungkook grabbed the controller again, trying to shift the mood. “Alright, enough deep stuff. Let’s play again. This time, I’m winning.”

Taehyung laughed, the tension easing slightly as he picked up his controller. “You can try, but we both know how this is going to end.”

Jungkook grinned, the playful banter returning, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that their conversation had meant more than either of them was willing to admit.

As they played, the room filled with the familiar sounds of competition and laughter, but the memory of their serious talk stayed with Jungkook. It lingered, like an unspoken question that he wasn’t quite ready to answer.

Now, lying in his room, the memory of that night played over in his mind. Taehyung’s words, his vulnerability, the way he had opened up—it all felt more important now, with Taehyung missing. Maybe Taehyung had been trying to tell him something, something Jungkook hadn’t fully understood at the time.

His phone buzzed, pulling him back to the present. It was a message from Hoseok.

Hoseok: I made a group chat for us. We need to figure this out together.

Jungkook opened the group chat, seeing the familiar names pop up—Namjoon, Jimin, Yoongi, Jin, and Hoseok. They were all there, together, but Taehyung was still missing. The chat felt like a reminder of how much had changed between them, how they had all drifted in some way.

Namjoon: Good idea. We can’t let this slip through our fingers.

Jin: We’re not giving up. We’ll find him.

Jungkook stared at the chat for a moment, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. He wanted to say something reassuring, but the uncertainty gnawed at him. He quickly typed a message, hoping to bury the doubts swirling inside him.

Jungkook: We’ll find him. No matter what it takes.

The chat lit up with responses, the determination flowing between them. But as Jungkook lay back down, staring at his phone, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the closer they got to finding Taehyung, the more complicated everything would become.

And deep down, he wondered if they would ever really be the same again.

Chapter Text

The next morning, the group gathered at a quiet café tucked away from the bustling streets, away from prying eyes and curious fans. The tension from the previous day hadn’t completely lifted, but there was an air of determination among them now—a sense that they were finally getting somewhere, even if they were still fumbling through the dark.

Jungkook arrived last, sliding into the booth between Jimin and Yoongi, his gaze downcast, still carrying the weight of the unresolved tension with Hoseok from the rooftop. He hadn’t been able to shake the heaviness from their argument, and now, being around the others only reminded him of how fractured things still were.

Everyone had their drinks in front of them, untouched. The clinking of coffee cups and the distant hum of other café patrons seemed to fade into the background as Namjoon broke the silence first, his voice low but steady. “We’ve all had a night to think. Has anyone come up with anything?”

Yoongi, who had been staring out the window, turned to the group, his expression thoughtful. “I’ve been thinking,” he started, his voice calm as always. “Maybe we’re not seeing the bigger picture because we’re not looking in the right places. We’ve been following these clues, but we haven’t talked to the people who know Taehyung best—his family.”

Jungkook’s chest tightened at Yoongi’s words, a feeling of dread slowly creeping in. The thought of facing Taehyung’s family, of digging into the past, made him uneasy.

Yoongi continued, his eyes scanning the faces around him. “We all know how close Taehyung was to his family. They still live in Daegu. If anyone knows what’s been going on with him these past years, it’s them. They might have noticed something, even if Taehyung didn’t tell us directly.”

Namjoon nodded slowly, considering the idea. “That’s a good point. We don’t really know what Taehyung’s been going through since the disbandment. He shut us all out after that night.”

Jin, who had been sitting quietly at the end of the booth, shifted uncomfortably. He leaned forward slightly, his brows furrowed in thought. Jin, despite being the eldest, was often just as chaotic as the younger members—Jungkook, Jimin, and Taehyung. He was loud, funny, and wasn’t afraid to stir things up, often jumping into their antics with just as much enthusiasm. But today, his energy was different, more subdued. While Jin was usually the one to lighten the mood with a joke or sarcastic comment, right now, the weight of the situation made his usual chaos seem distant.

“I don’t know…” Jin began, his voice cautious but straightforward, as was typical of him. “Do you really think his family’s going to open up to us? It’s been years. We haven’t exactly been keeping in touch.” Jin was always the most blunt, often speaking without fully considering how his words might come across. He wasn’t trying to be insensitive—it was just how he processed things. He always preferred to cut through the fluff and get to the heart of the matter.

Jin could be blunt to the point of sounding harsh, but everyone knew that beneath his directness, he cared deeply. He was the first to comfort anyone when they were down, the first to offer support when things got tough. Despite his straightforward nature, he always looked out for the others, even if he didn’t show it in the most conventional ways.

Yoongi shrugged, his voice measured. “It’s worth a shot. If Taehyung’s leaving us these clues, he might want us to understand more about what’s been happening in his life—what led him to disappear like this.”

The idea of going to Daegu and talking to Taehyung’s family made the atmosphere in the group feel heavier. Jungkook, who had been quiet this whole time, felt a deep guilt settle in his stomach. He hadn’t seen Taehyung’s family since… well, since everything went wrong.

Hoseok, who had been leaning back in his chair, sighed, his frustration palpable. “Are we really going to do this? Go to his family and ask them what? Why their son hasn’t been talking to us? Why he disappeared?”

Jungkook flinched at Hoseok’s words, feeling the heat of blame creeping up on him again. He tried to steady his breathing, but the guilt was suffocating. He knew where this conversation was heading, and the knot in his stomach tightened with every passing second.

Hoseok’s voice grew sharper as he continued. “Let’s be real for a second. We all know Taehyung’s been hurting for years, and no one here can pretend like we don’t know why. I mean, look at what happened eight years ago. Look at how everything fell apart.” His gaze settled on Jungkook, the accusation clear in his eyes. “Look at what you did.”

Jungkook’s head snapped up, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the weight of Hoseok’s words hitting him like a punch to the gut. “I didn’t—” he started, but his voice faltered. He knew what Hoseok was referring to. He had been carrying that guilt for years, but hearing it thrown at him like this still felt like a fresh wound.

“Stop it,” Jin interrupted, his voice sharp as he sat up straighter, his usual chaos subdued by the seriousness of the moment. Jin wasn’t often the one to raise his voice, but when he did, it was a clear sign that things were spiraling out of control. “We’re not doing this here. Not again.”

But Hoseok wasn’t done. “No, Jin, he needs to hear this. Taehyung called him—he called him—that night, and Jungkook didn’t even pick up. Didn’t even have the decency to talk to him after everything fell apart. And now we’re chasing after clues like it’s some game. But this isn’t a game, Jungkook.”

Jungkook’s hands were trembling, and he could feel his pulse pounding in his ears. “You think I don’t know that?” he shot back, his voice shaking with the weight of his own guilt. “You think I haven’t been living with that every day since it happened?”

Jin stood abruptly, slamming his hands on the table, his voice rising above the argument. “Enough! Both of you!”

The café, quiet as it was, felt like it shrank in on itself as Jin’s voice echoed through the air. The other customers glanced over, but no one said anything. Jin turned to Hoseok and Jungkook, his eyes flashing with uncharacteristic anger. “We’re all hurting. Taehyung’s hurting. Fighting isn’t going to bring him back. This is bigger than the two of you.”

Jungkook slumped back in his chair, feeling drained, the fight leaving him as quickly as it had come. Hoseok crossed his arms, his jaw tight, but he said nothing. The air between them was thick with tension, but Jin’s words seemed to cut through it, pulling them both back from the edge.

Jin was always the one to step in when things got too heated. He had an innate sense of when to be the voice of reason, when to calm everyone down, even if he could be blunt in his approach. Despite being the most straightforward, he cared deeply about everyone in the group and knew how to diffuse a situation before it spiraled. He had a knack for saying the hard truths, even if it stung, but his intentions were always rooted in concern.

Jungkook stared at the table, his mind racing. Memories from that night eight years ago flooded back—memories he had tried to bury for so long. He remembered the sound of Taehyung’s voice, broken and full of hurt, yelling at him in front of everyone.

“I cared about you so much, Jungkook, and this is what you do to me?”

Taehyung’s words had cut him deeper than anything else. The look in Taehyung’s eyes, the raw pain and betrayal, had stayed with him all these years. Jungkook had never been able to forgive himself for what happened that night—for the way he had hurt Taehyung, for the way everything had fallen apart afterward.

“I know I messed up,” Jungkook said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know I hurt him. I’ve never forgiven myself for that.”

Hoseok’s gaze softened as he watched Jungkook, the anger in his eyes fading into something more akin to regret. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, Kook. I didn’t mean to come at you like that. I’m just… I’m scared, okay? I’m scared that we won’t find him in time.”

The tension slowly began to ease as the others watched the two of them, unsure of what to say. Jin, ever the caretaker, placed a hand on Jungkook’s shoulder and gave him a gentle squeeze. “We’re all scared. But we’re in this together. We’ll figure it out.”

Jin’s words carried a weight of their own. He had always been the one to hold the group together, to remind them that they were stronger as a unit. In moments like this, when the cracks in their bond were starting to show, Jin was the glue that kept everything from falling apart.

Jimin leaned forward, his voice soft. “We’ve all made mistakes. We can’t let them tear us apart now.”

Jungkook nodded, though the guilt still sat heavy in his chest. But the warmth of his friends around him, the solidarity they shared, made it a little easier to bear.

Yoongi cleared his throat, cutting through the lingering tension. “So, we’re agreed then? We’ll go to Daegu tomorrow. We need to talk to Taehyung’s family, figure out what’s been going on with him.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, though the air between them still felt fragile, like it could shatter at any moment.

“We’ll need to talk to our managers,” Namjoon said, shifting gears to practical matters. “We’ll need to get permission for the trip, but we can’t give them too many details.”

Jin nodded. “We’ll keep it low-key. Just tell them it’s important. If we handle it right, they’ll understand.”

The group began to discuss the logistics—how they would convince their managers, when they would leave, and how they would approach Taehyung’s family. But as the conversation flowed, Jungkook’s mind kept drifting back to that night eight years ago.

“I cared about you so much, Jungkook, and this is what you do to me?”

The words echoed in his mind, over and over, as if Taehyung was standing right there, saying them again. Jungkook clenched his fists under the table, fighting the wave of guilt that threatened to overwhelm him once more.

Tomorrow, they would go to Daegu. They would face whatever truth was waiting for them. But tonight, Jungkook would lie awake, haunted by the past he couldn’t change.

Chapter Text

Later that evening, Jungkook found himself back at home, sitting on the edge of his bed and staring at his phone, contemplating how he was going to approach this conversation. His manager, Beom Seok, had always been more than just a handler for him. He was someone Jungkook trusted, someone who had guided him through some of the most difficult times of his career. But convincing him to let him go to Daegu on such short notice, with everything still up in the air, wasn’t going to be easy.

Taking a deep breath, Jungkook dialed Beom Seok’s number. It only rang once before the older man picked up.

“Jungkook? What’s going on? You okay?” Beom Seok’s voice was filled with concern, and Jungkook could already sense the pushback that was about to come.

“I’m fine, hyung. I just… I need to talk to you. Can you come by my place?” Jungkook asked, trying to keep his voice steady, but there was an urgency he couldn’t hide.

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Beom Seok sighed. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

True to his word, Beom Seok arrived a few minutes later. Jungkook let him in, motioning for him to sit down. The atmosphere in the room felt tense, but it was more out of the weight of what Jungkook was about to ask than anything else.

“What’s going on?” Beom Seok asked, leaning forward slightly as he sat on the couch, his eyes fixed on Jungkook.

Jungkook ran a hand through his hair, not sure how to begin. “Hyung… I need to go to Daegu tomorrow.”

Beom Seok’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Daegu? Why?”

Jungkook hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to say. “It’s about Taehyung. We think his family might know something, and we need to talk to them. It could help us figure out where he is.”

Beom Seok’s expression immediately shifted from confusion to concern. “Jungkook, I understand you want to help Taehyung, but this isn’t something you can just take off and do on your own. You’ve been all over the place lately, disappearing without telling me where you are. You can’t keep doing that. It’s not safe.”

“I know, I know,” Jungkook said quickly, trying to explain himself before his manager’s frustration grew. “But this is important, hyung. I need to do this. I can’t sit here and wait for answers that aren’t coming.”

Beom Seok sighed, leaning back against the couch, rubbing his temples. “You’re putting me in a tough spot here, Kook. I’m responsible for you, and this is more than just a personal trip. It’s not like we can just go on a whim.”

Jungkook bit his lip, feeling the desperation rise in him. “I’ll keep in touch with you the whole time. I’ll share my location, pick up your calls, and respond to your texts, no matter what. I won’t disappear again. Please, hyung, I need this.”

For a moment, Beom Seok said nothing, his face conflicted. He knew how much this meant to Jungkook, but as his manager, there were rules, protocols, and concerns that couldn’t be ignored. He was silent, weighing the situation.

Finally, he sighed. “Fine. But under one condition—you share your location with me for the entire time you’re in Daegu, and you answer your phone or respond to my messages immediately. If I feel like you’re slipping away again, I’m pulling the plug on this, understood?”

Jungkook tried not to roll his eyes too obviously, but the relief was palpable. “Deal. I’ll keep in touch the whole time, I promise.”

Beom Seok gave him a stern look, but Jungkook could see the small flicker of relief in his manager’s eyes. “Don’t make me regret this.”

Jungkook grinned and nodded. “I won’t. Thanks, hyung.”

After Beom Seok left, Jungkook felt the tension in his chest ease. He had managed to get the permission he needed, but now, there was another task at hand—packing. He opened his closet, grabbing his suitcase from the top shelf, and began tossing clothes onto his bed, not really caring about what he packed at first.

As he folded a few shirts, another memory surfaced, uninvited, and he found himself pulled back to a different time. It was from their world tour in 2021, back when everything had still felt so exciting, so full of possibility.

He and Taehyung had been packing together in their hotel room, each of them throwing random clothes into their suitcases with little thought. At some point, the packing had devolved into something more chaotic. Taehyung had tossed a shirt at Jungkook’s head, laughing as it hit him square in the face.

“Seriously, Taehyung?” Jungkook had grumbled, but there was a grin on his face. He grabbed a hoodie and threw it back at Taehyung, hitting him in the chest. Taehyung gasped dramatically, clutching the hoodie to his chest as if he’d been mortally wounded. “You dare challenge me?” he teased, his voice playful.

Jungkook rolled his eyes, but before he could say anything, Taehyung grabbed a ridiculous outfit from his suitcase—a brightly patterned shirt paired with neon pants—and struck a ridiculous pose in the middle of the room. “What do you think? Fashion icon or disaster?”

Jungkook laughed, shaking his head. “Definitely a disaster.”

Taehyung grinned and walked over to him, draping the neon pants over Jungkook’s shoulder. “I think you’d look great in these.”

Jungkook wrinkled his nose, but a mischievous smile tugged at his lips. “Oh yeah? I bet you’d wear them better.”

Taehyung’s eyes twinkled, and he leaned in closer, his voice lowering just slightly. “I’d wear anything for you.”

The teasing tone was there, but so was something else. Something that made Jungkook pause for a split second. He felt the air shift between them, the playfulness giving way to something heavier, more charged.

In a rare moment of boldness, Jungkook leaned in even closer, their faces inches apart. “You flirt like that with everyone, or just me?” he teased, his voice lower, testing the waters.

He watched as Taehyung’s eyes widened in surprise, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. Taehyung’s composure faltered for a split second before he quickly tried to recover, but there was no hiding the way his breath hitched or how his gaze flickered down to Jungkook’s lips for the briefest moment.

Jungkook was about to push further, maybe tease him more, but instead, he laughed, leaning back and playfully pushing Taehyung’s shoulder. “Look at you, acting all gay again.”

It was meant to be a joke—something light to break the tension. But the moment the words left his mouth, Jungkook saw the way Taehyung’s expression faltered. Just for a split second, the light in his eyes dimmed, and his smile turned a little sad before he forced it back into place.

Jungkook had noticed it then but hadn’t said anything, brushing past it like he always did. They had moved on quickly, changed the subject, and the moment had passed.

Now, as Jungkook folded another shirt and placed it in his suitcase, he couldn’t shake the memory. He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He had always been too quick to dismiss those moments, too quick to laugh things off and change the subject. It wasn’t until later—until it was too late—that he realized how much weight Taehyung’s words had carried.

Jungkook zipped up his suitcase, feeling the heaviness settle in his chest once more. Tomorrow, they would go to Daegu and try to piece together what had happened to Taehyung over the last eight years. But tonight, he would sleep with the echoes of the past swirling in his mind, reminding him of all the things he hadn’t seen—of all the ways he had failed to understand.

With a heavy sigh, Jungkook lay down on his bed, his mind still replaying that memory, that moment when Taehyung had looked at him with something more than just friendship in his eyes. He closed his eyes, hoping that sleep would come soon, but knowing that tomorrow would bring a whole new set of challenges.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Jungkook found himself awake early, his mind still foggy with the weight of everything that had happened the night before. He quickly showered and dressed, tossing the last few essentials into his bag. Today, they were heading to Daegu, and though the trip had been planned, the uncertainty of what awaited them there left a pit in his stomach.

As agreed, they all met at a small café in Seoul before hitting the road. The café was tucked away, quiet and cozy, a welcome contrast to the turmoil they all felt inside. Jungkook arrived to find the others already seated—Yoongi sipping on his usual black coffee, Namjoon going over something on his phone, and Jin, Hoseok, and Jimin chatting quietly. There was still tension among them, but it felt less suffocating than the day before.

“Morning,” Jungkook said, sliding into the seat next to Jimin.

“Morning,” Jimin replied with a small smile.

“Ready for this?” Yoongi asked, glancing up from his cup, his gaze shifting between Jungkook and the rest of the group.

Jungkook nodded, though he wasn’t sure how truthful he was being. “Yeah, I guess.”

They all ordered some light food and takeaways for the road, knowing the drive to Daegu would take at least three hours, maybe longer with traffic. There was an unspoken understanding among them—this trip wasn’t just about solving the mystery of Taehyung’s disappearance; it was about facing everything they’d left unresolved. The silence, the guilt, and the distance that had grown between them—it all needed to be confronted.

The previous night, they had decided in the group chat that they would take Yoongi’s car. It felt right—Yoongi’s calm, steady presence had always made him the quiet anchor for the group, the one who could keep things together when everything else seemed like it might fall apart.

As they gathered their things and made their way to the parking lot, Jungkook noticed Yoongi was unusually quiet, though there was something in his eyes—something more than just worry about Taehyung.

“You okay, hyung?” Jungkook asked as they approached Yoongi’s car.

Yoongi gave a brief nod, his expression thoughtful. “I’m worried about Taehyung, of course, but… I’m also excited. It’s been a while since I’ve seen my family. They’re still in Daegu.”

Jungkook smiled softly, feeling a pang of warmth in the midst of the uncertainty. Family. Even with everything happening, there were still things that could bring some comfort. “That’s good, hyung. I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you.”

They loaded into the car—Yoongi at the wheel, Namjoon in the passenger seat, and Jin, Jimin, Hoseok, and Jungkook squeezed into the back. As they drove off, the tension from the previous day seemed to linger in the air, especially between Hoseok and Jungkook.

Jungkook had been thinking about their argument, how things had escalated so quickly. He didn’t want there to be any bad blood between them, especially now. As if sensing his thoughts, Hoseok cleared his throat and spoke first.

“Hey, Jungkook…” Hoseok began softly, his voice sincere. “About yesterday… I just wanted to apologize. I was out of line, and I shouldn’t have put all of that on you. I was frustrated. It wasn’t fair.”

Jungkook, caught off guard by the apology, blinked before he responded. “No, it’s okay, hyung. I know you didn’t mean it like that. I’ve been feeling guilty too… we’re all on edge.”

Hoseok nodded, relief evident in his eyes. “Yeah, we are. But I didn’t mean to blame you. We all made mistakes.”

Jungkook offered him a small smile, feeling some of the weight between them dissolve. “Thanks, hyung. I appreciate it.”

With the apology behind them, the mood in the car lightened just a bit. They settled in for the long drive, the tall buildings of Seoul shrinking behind them as they moved toward the quieter countryside. For the first forty-five minutes or so, the conversation stayed focused on Taehyung—how they would approach the situation with his family, what kind of clues they had, and what his cryptic messages might mean.

“Do you think his family knows more than we do?” Jin asked seriously.

“I don’t know,” Namjoon replied. “But if anyone does, it’s them. We have to tread carefully, though. They might not want to talk about everything.”

“We have to be prepared for anything,” Yoongi added, eyes fixed on the road. “Whatever they tell us might be hard to hear, but we can’t stop now.”

The weight of those words hung over them for a while, the silence in the car punctuated only by the occasional sound of the road beneath them. But after nearly an hour, Hoseok suggested they put on some music to break the tension.

“Let’s play something familiar,” he said, scrolling through his phone before settling on one of their old songs.

The familiar beat of Run filled the car, and almost instantly, the mood shifted. One by one, they began to sing along, the nostalgia wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. The lyrics, the melody—it all felt like home, like a piece of the past that hadn’t been tainted by the years of separation. As the chorus hit, they laughed and sang louder, their voices blending together as they used to.

Jungkook felt the tension in his chest begin to ease. This was what he missed—this sense of closeness, of laughter, of being together in a way that made everything else seem a little less overwhelming. For a moment, it felt like nothing had changed, like they were just kids again, chasing their dreams and enjoying the ride.

As the song ended, Jin turned in his seat with a grin, though a trace of sadness lingered in his eyes. “Taehyung would have loved this.”

“Yeah,” Jimin said with a soft laugh. “He’d probably say something ridiculous and make us all crack up.”

The mention of Taehyung brought a momentary pause, the weight of his absence settling in again. But none of them wanted to dwell on it, not when the trip had finally brought a sense of unity back to them. So, they kept talking—reminiscing about old times, laughing about funny moments from their tour, and teasing each other about things Taehyung used to do.

By the time they were about thirty minutes from Daegu, the atmosphere in the car was much lighter. They had been eating their takeaways, laughing, and singing along to more of their old songs. It felt good—like they were all healing, even if just a little.

But then, Namjoon’s phone rang, cutting through the laughter. He glanced at the screen, and his expression tightened when he saw the caller ID. “It’s one of the police officers,” he said, his voice suddenly serious.

The car fell silent as Namjoon answered the call, putting it on speaker for everyone to hear.

“Namjoon-ssi, this is Officer Kim,” the voice on the other end said. “Are you and your members doing alright? I wanted to reach out because we’ve come across something regarding Taehyung.”

The tension in the car skyrocketed as everyone held their breath, waiting for the officer’s next words.

“What is it?” Namjoon asked, his voice calm but edged with urgency.

There was a brief pause before the officer continued, his voice carrying a heavy tone of regret. “We found a dead body almost a week ago at one of Taehyung’s last active locations. We didn’t want to alarm you or your members when you guys came to the station or before we had any confirmation, but… well, the body matches Taehyung’s description.”

The words hit the car like a physical blow. Jungkook felt his stomach drop, a cold shock racing through his veins. He could feel the tension rising around him, everyone frozen in disbelief.

Officer Kim hesitated before continuing. “We’ve been waiting for the post-mortem report for two days now. We should have confirmation by tomorrow or the day after. I didn’t want to scare you all with this, but I thought it was important to give you a heads-up. It’s been hard not to think about the similarities. I sincerely hope the report proves that it’s not Mr. Kim.”

The car was silent. Each of them was processing the officer’s words in their own way, but the gravity of the situation hung over them like a dark cloud.

“A body?” Jimin whispered, his voice trembling. “It matches his description?”

The officer’s tone softened. “We’re doing everything we can. The body’s appearance lines up, but we’re still holding out hope that it’s not him. I know this is a shock, but I wanted to make sure you’re prepared for whatever we find. We’ll keep you informed as soon as we know more. Since you were their leader, I wanted you to be aware of it first. I hope you could check up on the members about it?”

Namjoon took a deep breath, his voice steady despite the horror in his eyes. “Thank you, Officer Kim, I’ll do that. Please keep us updated.”

The call ended, and silence filled the car once again. No one said anything, each of them lost in their thoughts, their hearts racing with fear and disbelief.

“I-It can’t be him, right?” Jimin stammered, his voice breaking as tears welled in his eyes. “It can’t be Taehyung.”

Jungkook sat frozen in his seat, his mind racing. Images of Taehyung flooded his mind—his bright smile, his teasing laughter, the way he used to light up the room. He couldn’t process it, couldn’t let himself believe that the body might be Taehyung. His heart pounded in his chest as panic clawed its way up his throat. He closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing, but his mind betrayed him, flashing back to that night eight years ago—Taehyung’s voice, broken and filled with tears.

“I cared about you so much, Jungkook, and this is what you do to me?”

The memory hit him like a punch to the gut. He had never forgiven himself for what happened that night, for the way things had fallen apart between them. Now, the thought that Taehyung might be gone—without him ever getting the chance to make things right—was unbearable.

“I just… I want to see him again,” Jungkook whispered, his voice trembling. “I want to apologize. I want to hold him and tell him I’m sorry.”

The others remained silent, each of them struggling with their own emotions, the fear that they might already be too late looming over them like a shadow.

As the car sped toward Daegu, the weight of what they had just learned pressed down on them, suffocating and all-consuming. But for Jungkook, there was only one thought that kept repeating in his mind, over and over:

Please, don’t let it be Taehyung

Chapter Text

When they finally arrived in Daegu, the weight of the long, emotional journey sat heavily on their shoulders. The silence in the car had grown thick with anticipation and fear after the call from the police, and now, as they turned onto the familiar street leading to Yoongi’s family home, there was a flicker of something more—a momentary escape from the tension. It was a place that had always felt safe, a reprieve from the chaos swirling around them.

Yoongi’s house stood just as they remembered it: warm and inviting, with a small, neatly kept garden out front and the comforting scent of home-cooked food wafting out from the open windows. The sight of it stirred something in each of them—a bittersweet blend of nostalgia and the realization of just how much had changed since their last visit here together. It had been years, but some places carried the weight of memories more profoundly than others, and Yoongi’s family home was one of those places.

As they parked and began to step out of the car, the front door swung open, and Yoongi’s mother appeared on the doorstep, her face lighting up the moment she saw them. Her joy was palpable, the lines of worry that had been etched into her features softening as she rushed forward to greet them.

Yoongi’s mother was a petite woman with warm, kind eyes that crinkled when she smiled. Her hair, once dark, was now streaked with gray, tied back in a loose bun that made her seem both delicate and strong at the same time. There was a softness to her that made everyone feel instantly at ease, and her nurturing nature was apparent in every movement she made, from the way she wiped her hands on her apron as she came toward them, to the warmth that radiated from her hugs. She was the kind of person whose love was felt in the smallest gestures—the way she prepared meals with such care, or how she remembered every small detail about their lives, even after all these years.

“Oh, my boys!” she exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. Her voice trembled with emotion, but there was so much love in it that it felt like a balm to their bruised hearts. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you all together like this.”

She moved from one to the next, pulling each of them into tight hugs. Jin was the first to wrap his arms around her, smiling as she squeezed him, murmuring, “You’re all too thin.” Hoseok followed, his grin widening as she fussed over him, asking if he was eating properly. Jimin teared up a little as she held him, her warmth reminding him of the things they’d lost and missed in the years since the disbandment.

When she got to Jungkook, her hug lingered, her hand gently rubbing his back as if she could sense the storm brewing inside him. “It’s so good to see you again, Jungkook,” she said softly, her voice a little heavier, perhaps sensing the burdens he carried. He smiled, though the weight of guilt and fear hadn’t left him, and for just a moment, he allowed himself to sink into the comfort of her embrace.

“You all look tired,” she said, finally letting go. “Come inside. There’s food waiting for you.”

They all filed into the house, greeted by Yoongi’s father, who was standing in the living room, his face lighting up as they stepped inside. Yoongi’s father was a tall, sturdy man with a quiet presence that commanded respect without needing to say much. His hair, now mostly silver, was neatly trimmed, and he wore glasses that gave him a thoughtful, almost scholarly look. Unlike Yoongi’s mother, who wore her heart on her sleeve, Yoongi’s father was more reserved. But his warmth was evident in the small things—the way he smiled at them, the gentle pat on the back he gave each of them as they entered, the way his eyes softened when he looked at his son.

The house felt as cozy as ever—filled with the familiar scent of warmth and comfort, the furniture still the same as it had been years ago. It was like stepping back in time, to a place where things had once felt simpler.

“It’s good to see you boys again,” Yoongi’s dad said with a wide smile, pulling Yoongi into a quick hug. Then, his expression grew more serious, his eyes scanning the group. “I heard about Taehyung,” he said carefully, his voice low and filled with concern. “Any news?”

The question hung in the air, a reminder of the gravity of the situation. The comfort they’d felt walking into the house dimmed slightly as they were pulled back into reality.

Namjoon, ever the spokesperson for the group, nodded solemnly. “We’re still waiting for confirmation,” he said, his voice steady but heavy. “The police found a body that matches Taehyung’s description. They won’t know for sure until the postmortem.”

Yoongi’s mother gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as tears brimmed in her eyes. “Oh, no… not Taehyung…” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She quickly sat down, her hands shaking slightly as Yoongi moved to her side, gently resting a hand on her shoulder to calm her.

Yoongi’s father looked pained, the news settling over the room like a dark cloud. “We’ll hope for the best,” he said quietly, though the doubt in his voice was clear. “But you boys have been through so much already. You need to take care of yourselves, too.”

Yoongi, standing beside his mother, was quiet. He had always been the one to internalize his emotions, processing things in his own time and way. Yoongi was the type to keep his feelings close to his chest, preferring action over words when it came to supporting those he cared about. He was steady, like the rock that held everyone together, but his calmness wasn’t a lack of emotion—it was a quiet strength that helped him handle even the most difficult situations with a level-headedness the others often relied on.

He rarely showed his emotions outwardly, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t feeling the same turmoil the rest of them were. While some of them might cry or vent their frustrations, Yoongi was the type to retreat into his thoughts, working through the heaviness in silence. His care for the group was never loud or obvious, but it was always there—unwavering and strong. Whether through his music, his quiet presence, or simply being there when they needed him most, Yoongi was always dependable.

As the air grew heavier with the reality of what they were facing, Yoongi’s mom, ever the caring figure, gently shifted the conversation, trying to lift the weight off their shoulders, even if just for a little while.

“Enough of this for now,” she said, her voice still trembling but determined. “I’ve prepared a meal for you boys. Yoongi told me you’d be coming, so I made sure to cook all of your favorites.”

Her words brought a small, grateful smile to their faces. It was just like her to try to bring comfort through food, through warmth. They all followed her into the dining room, and when they saw the spread of dishes she had prepared, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude wash over them. The table was laden with food—simple but comforting dishes they had shared many times over the years during their visits to Daegu.

“Wow, you really went all out, didn’t you?” Jin said with a soft laugh, his eyes wide as he took in the sight of the food. “We’re going to be spoiled.”

Yoongi’s mom smiled, though there were still traces of worry in her eyes. “I wanted to make sure you were well-fed. You all look like you could use a good meal.”

They sat down at the table, and for the first time in days, there was a sense of normalcy. As they ate, the conversation turned to lighter topics—memories of their time together, their lives since the disbandment, funny moments they had shared. The laughter was genuine, if a bit quieter than it had once been, but it was a much-needed reprieve from the tension that had been hanging over them.

Yoongi’s father joined in on the conversation, asking them about their careers, how they had been adjusting to life after their time as a group. It felt good to talk about other things, to remember that there was still life beyond the uncertainty of the moment.

As the meal went on, they teased Yoongi about telling his mom ahead of time that they were coming, knowing that he wasn’t one to show his emotions so openly.

“So, you were the one who spilled the beans, huh, Yoongi?” Hoseok grinned, nudging him playfully. “I didn’t think you were the type to let anyone know how much you missed us.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes, though there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Shut up, I was just being practical.”

His dry sense of humor was another aspect of his personality the group had always appreciated. While Yoongi wasn’t the loudest in the group, his wit and sarcasm often added levity to even the most serious moments. His straightforward nature was refreshing, and though he didn’t always say much, when he did, it left an impact.

They all laughed, and for a moment, it felt like old times—like they were just six friends gathered around a table, sharing a meal and enjoying each other’s company. The shadows of what lay ahead still loomed in the background, but for now, they allowed themselves to find comfort in the present.

After the meal, Yoongi’s mom suggested they rest for a while before heading to Taehyung’s family home. “You’ve had a long journey,” she said gently, her eyes filled with concern. “You need your strength for what’s ahead.”

They all nodded, grateful for the offer. The emotional toll of the past few days had worn them down, and they knew they needed a moment to breathe before they could face the next step.

One by one, they found quiet places in the house to rest. Jungkook settled into the guest room, the familiar scent of Yoongi’s childhood home surrounding him. As he lay down, staring at the ceiling, his mind wandered back to Taehyung—the way he used to laugh, the way he always made everyone feel at ease.

He could still hear Taehyung’s voice in his head, playful and teasing, but always with that underlying warmth that made him who he was. The thought of never hearing that voice again sent a sharp pain through Jungkook’s chest, and he squeezed his eyes shut, willing the tears away.

They would find him. They had to.

With that thought in his mind, Jungkook drifted off into a restless sleep, knowing that when they woke up the next day, they would be one step closer to facing the truth—whatever it may be.

Chapter Text

Jungkook was floating in the soft haze of a dream, somewhere between memories and longing. He was back in the old dorm, sitting beside Taehyung on the couch as a horror movie played in the background. Jimin was sprawled out on Taehyung's other side, sound asleep despite the eerie music and tense scenes flashing across the screen. It was always like this—Taehyung and Jungkook cuddled up under a blanket, close and comfortable, while Jimin drifted off somewhere in the middle of whatever they were doing.

Cuddling wasn’t unusual between any of the members. They had been together for years, sharing the highs and lows of their lives as idols, living as a family. It was a way to feel grounded, to remind themselves that no matter what happened, they always had each other. But this moment with Taehyung felt different. The air between them was thick with something unspoken, a tension that hummed beneath the surface of their closeness. There was something in the way Taehyung leaned into him, the soft brush of his breath against Jungkook’s cheek, the way their faces were only inches apart.

Taehyung’s voice was a whisper, barely audible over the sound of the movie. “You’re not scared, are you, Jungkook?”

Jungkook grinned, his heart skipping a beat at the sound of Taehyung’s voice so close. “You wish.”

Taehyung chuckled, the sound low and intimate in the quiet room. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he shifted slightly, their legs tangling together under the blanket. “I don’t know,” he teased, his voice dropping lower. “You’re awfully close for someone who’s not scared.”

The flirting wasn’t new—Taehyung had always been like that, playful and teasing, always finding ways to get under Jungkook’s skin. But tonight, something felt different. The way Taehyung’s hand brushed against Jungkook’s arm, the heat of his body radiating through the blanket, the way his gaze lingered on Jungkook’s lips—it all felt more intense than usual, more charged.

Jungkook didn’t pull away. In fact, he found himself leaning in closer, his heart beating faster as he matched Taehyung’s teasing with his own. “Maybe you’re the one who’s scared. That’s why you always need me around.”

Taehyung’s grin widened, his eyes twinkling with something deeper. His hand drifted up, lightly trailing across Jungkook’s cheek and down to his neck, sending a shiver down Jungkook’s spine. “Maybe I just like having you close,” Taehyung whispered, his voice soft but heavy with meaning.

Their faces were inches apart now, their breath mingling in the space between them. Jungkook could feel the heat of Taehyung’s body, the way his fingers lingered on his neck, teasingly close but not quite touching. The tension between them crackled in the air, like a storm waiting to break.

Jungkook swallowed, his throat dry as his gaze flickered down to Taehyung’s lips. He felt his heart racing, his mind spinning with the thought of what might happen if he just leaned in a little closer, if he closed the distance between them. The thought of kissing Taehyung sent a rush of heat through him, a desire he had kept buried for too long now bubbling to the surface.

“Careful,” Taehyung murmured, his voice teasing but his eyes serious. “You’re looking at me like you want to kiss me.”

Jungkook’s breath hitched, the teasing words striking something deep within him. He wanted to laugh it off, to throw back another playful comment, but the intensity in Taehyung’s gaze stopped him. For the first time, the flirting didn’t feel like a joke. It felt real, raw, and dangerously close to something more.

“And what if I do?” Jungkook whispered back, his voice barely above a breath, his eyes locked on Taehyung’s. He wasn’t sure where the boldness came from, but once the words were out, there was no taking them back.

Taehyung’s eyes darkened, and his hand slid up to cradle the side of Jungkook’s neck, his thumb brushing lightly against his skin. For a moment, they were suspended in time, their faces so close that Jungkook could feel the warmth of Taehyung’s breath against his lips as his own fingers slipped underneath Taehyung’s shirt. It would be so easy to lean in, to close the distance, to finally give in to the feelings he had been trying to ignore for so long.

But just as quickly as the moment had come, panic set in. The weight of what they were about to do, of what this could mean for their friendship, their group, their company, hit Jungkook like a cold wave. He couldn’t—he couldn’t cross that line, couldn’t risk everything they had built together. The thought of losing Taehyung, of ruining their bond, terrified him.

He pulled back suddenly, coughing to cover up the awkwardness as his hand fell from Taehyung’s face. “I—uh—should get some water,” Jungkook mumbled, pushing the blanket aside and standing up quickly.

Taehyung blinked, confusion flickering across his face, but he didn’t say anything as Jungkook hurried out of the room, leaving him there with Jimin still fast asleep beside him. Jungkook could feel the weight of Taehyung’s eyes on him as he left, but he didn’t look back. He couldn’t.

Jungkook woke up with a start, his heart still racing from the dream. His breath was shallow, and for a moment, he could still feel the warmth of Taehyung’s body next to his, the lingering sensation of their closeness. The dream had felt so real, so vivid, it was as if he had been transported back to that moment. He lay still for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts a tangled mess.

What if he hadn’t pulled away that night? What if he had kissed Taehyung like he had wanted to? Would things have been different? Would they have ever been the same again?

With a heavy sigh, Jungkook sat up and ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the lingering feelings. The dream had brought back emotions he had been trying to ignore for years—feelings that had always been there whenever Taehyung was around, but ones he had buried deep inside.

He pushed the thoughts aside, knowing this wasn’t the time to get lost in what-ifs. Today, they were going to Taehyung’s family home, and the weight of that reality pressed down on him like a stone. After a few moments of sitting in silence, Jungkook swung his legs out of bed and got up, heading to the bathroom to wash his face. He splashed cold water onto his skin, hoping it would help clear his mind.

When he stepped out of the guest room, he found the others already gathered in the living area. They were talking quietly, the mood still somber but less tense than before. Only Yoongi was missing, still getting ready upstairs.

As soon as Yoongi joined them, the group exchanged looks, silently agreeing that it was time to leave. They bid goodbye to Yoongi’s parents, who hugged them all one by one, wishing them strength and good fortune.

“You boys stay safe,” Yoongi’s mom said, tears glistening in her eyes as she held Jungkook for just a moment longer. “And take care of each other.” With that, they left, piling into the car once again and heading toward Taehyung’s family home. The ride was quiet, each of them lost in their own thoughts about what lay ahead.

Taehyung’s family home came into view about thirty minutes later. The house was tucked away in a peaceful part of Daegu, with a wide garden and a tall gate. As they approached, the first thing they noticed were two small dogs playing near the gate, their excited barks filling the air.

Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat when he saw them. The two dogs, small and fluffy, reminded him so much of Yeontan—Taehyung’s beloved Pomeranian from years ago. They had the same dark fur, the same playful energy, and for a moment, it felt like Yeontan was still with them.

As they stepped out of the car and approached the gate, the two dogs ran toward them, barking excitedly before leaping up against their legs, wagging their tails furiously. Their big, round eyes sparkled with the same warmth and innocence that Yeontan had once had, and the sight of them brought a bittersweet smile to Jungkook’s face.

“They look just like Yeontan,” Jimin whispered, crouching down to pet one of the dogs. The warmth of the moment spread through all of them as they knelt to greet the playful pups, who were now licking their hands and sniffing them curiously.

“I miss Yeontan,” Jin said softly, his voice tinged with sadness. “He was such a sweet dog.”

Jimin nodded, his hand gently ruffling the fur of one of the dogs. “The last I heard, Yeontan died a few years ago. Taehyung was devastated—he shut himself off from everyone, even his family, for months after it happened.”

The mention of Taehyung’s grief cast a shadow over the moment, but the dogs brought a small sense of comfort. They were a reminder of Taehyung’s love for his pets, his gentle soul, and the way he had always been able to connect with animals.

As they played with the dogs, the front door of the house opened, and someone stepped out. It was Taehyung’s mother, her eyes wide with surprise when she saw them standing at the gate. She froze for a moment, taking in the sight of all of them together, and then her expression crumpled as tears welled up in her eyes.

Taehyung’s mother was an elegant woman in her mid-fifties, her once-black hair now streaked with strands of silver, pulled back into a neat bun. She had high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes, which were now red from crying. Despite the obvious signs of stress and grief, she carried herself with a quiet grace. Her delicate features were softened by a kind smile that had always made her seem warm and approachable, and her movements were gentle, as if every step she took was measured in kindness. She wore a simple but elegant dress, the kind of outfit that spoke of her attention to detail without being flashy. There was a maternal warmth to her, a natural tenderness that made them feel instantly cared for, even in their darkest moments.

“I knew you would come,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. She wiped at her eyes, though the tears kept falling. “Taehyung told me you all would come.”

The words struck them all like a blow, and for a moment, none of them could move. Taehyung had known. He had told her they would come. But what did it mean?

Jungkook’s heart twisted painfully as Taehyung’s mother walked toward them, pulling them into tearful hugs one by one. “Thank you for coming,” she whispered as she held Jungkook close, her voice breaking with the weight of her emotions.

As they stepped through the gate and into the yard, the dogs followed them, still wagging their tails and nipping at their heels. But the warmth of the welcome couldn’t fully erase the fear that had settled in their hearts. The question loomed over them like a dark cloud:

Why had Taehyung told his mother they would come?

As they followed her into the house, the familiar scent of home filling their senses, they knew they were about to uncover something—something that would change everything.

Chapter Text

The sun was setting by the time the group arrived at Taehyung’s family home. The once-warm atmosphere that had greeted them in Daegu felt more like a distant memory now, replaced by the somber weight of their unanswered questions. Jungkook stepped out of the car, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread settle deep in his chest. The others were silent as they followed Taehyung’s mother into the house, each of them hoping for answers but fearing what they might find.

Inside, the home was just as they remembered it—filled with familiar photos of Taehyung and his family, along with countless mementos of his life. Jungkook’s eyes swept across the room, landing on pictures of the group from their earlier days. Smiling faces captured in moments of joy now felt like shadows of the past.

Taehyung’s mother led them down a quiet hallway and stopped at a door near the end. “This is where he spent most of his time,” she said softly, opening the door and motioning for them to enter. “He didn’t tell me where he was going or why. But he left these behind.”

Taehyung’s mother had a quiet strength about her, though her grief was palpable. She was a deeply caring woman, soft-spoken but with a certain resilience that seemed to carry her through the darkest of times. Even in her moments of sadness, she maintained a calm demeanor, as if she was holding herself together for their sake, making sure they felt welcomed despite her own heartache. She moved with gentle purpose, never rushing, and her warmth was evident in the way she hugged each of them, in the way her voice trembled when she spoke of her son. She had always been supportive of Taehyung’s dreams, standing behind him with unwavering faith, but now, her eyes reflected a deep worry that no mother should have to bear.

The room was Taehyung’s sanctuary. Jungkook could feel it the moment they stepped inside. It was filled with the smell of paint and pencils, the scent still lingering in the air despite his absence. The walls were lined with canvases, some finished, others left half-done, but each one held a piece of Taehyung’s heart, as if he had poured every emotion he couldn’t say out loud into his art.

Jungkook’s eyes moved over the room, landing on the first painting—a striking image of the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by the Parisian cityscape. The colors were soft, dreamlike, as if Taehyung had painted the memory from a place of deep longing. Next to it were sketches of Yeontan, his beloved dog, who had passed away some years ago. There was a sadness in those drawings that made it clear how much the loss had affected Taehyung.

But what drew their attention most were the portraits—beautiful, haunting representations of the people Taehyung held closest. There were two paintings of the members, their faces carefully rendered, one from their early days when their smiles were full of hope, and another from later in their career, their expressions more subdued, more tired. It was as if Taehyung had captured the exact moment they had started to feel the weight of their success and the toll it had taken on their friendship.

Jimin was the first to spot it—a small, detailed sketch hanging near the corner of the room. It was a drawing of him and Taehyung, arms slung over each other, laughing like they had during their younger, carefree days. At the bottom, in Taehyung’s familiar handwriting, were the words, “You are my soulmate.”

Jimin froze, his eyes filling with tears the moment he read it. His hand trembled as he reached out to touch the sketch, his fingers grazing the paper as if it would somehow bring him closer to the person he had lost. "The lyrics of our song," Jimin whispered, his voice cracking. "He always called me his soulmate. I didn’t know it meant this much to him."

The room grew quiet as Jimin struggled to hold back his tears. Jungkook felt a deep ache in his chest watching him. They had all been close, all shared a bond that went beyond friendship, but this—it was clear now how much deeper it had run for Taehyung.

Jimin, despite his playful exterior, had always been deeply sensitive and emotional. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and while he was often the one making others smile with his mischievous antics, he was also the one who felt things the most intensely. His bond with Taehyung had always been special. They understood each other in ways the rest of the group sometimes couldn’t. Jimin, with his nurturing nature, had been Taehyung’s confidant, his shoulder to lean on during difficult times. Now, standing in front of the sketch, Jimin’s face showed how much the distance between them had hurt.

Jungkook turned away, his eyes scanning the rest of the room. That’s when he saw them. Across from the portraits of the group were three paintings—each one of him. Jungkook stared at the canvases, his breath catching in his throat as he moved closer. The first painting was of him on stage, lost in the music, eyes closed in concentration. The second showed him in the studio, mid-performance, his body poised and focused. The third, however, was different. It was more intimate- Jungkook sitting alone, his face drawn in shadow, his eyes reflecting a sadness he hadn’t realized Taehyung had seen in him.

The paintings felt personal, almost too personal. Jungkook’s mind raced, recalling the moments he had shared with Taehyung, the things he had ignored or chosen not to see. Each brushstroke seemed to hold something unsaid between them, something Taehyung had never spoken aloud.

“He painted you all,” Taehyung’s mother said softly from behind them. “Even when he stopped talking to us, he kept painting. You were always on his mind.” Jungkook swallowed hard, his heart heavy with guilt. What had Taehyung been trying to say through these paintings? What had he been going through that none of them had noticed?

“I miss him,” Jimin murmured, his voice filled with anguish as he stared at the sketch of the two of them. “I haven’t spoken to him in years. We don’t know how we’re supposed to find him…”

Taehyung’s mother looked at Jimin, her eyes soft but filled with sadness. “He told me that if anyone could find him, it would be you, Jimin. He said, ‘Even when no one else knows where I am, Jimin will know.’”

Jimin shook his head, confused and frustrated. “But I don’t understand. I haven’t talked to him. How would I know?”

Her voice trembled as she replied, “That’s all he said. He didn’t give me any more details… just that. He believed in you.”

The weight of her words hung heavily over them. Jimin was clearly lost, searching his memory for any clue, but he came up empty. The room felt suffocating, filled with Taehyung’s presence but no clear path to follow.

After spending some more time looking through Taehyung’s drawings and trying to make sense of what he had left behind, they realized there were no more answers to be found here. They thanked his mother, promising to keep her updated on anything they discovered. She hugged each of them as they prepared to leave, her tears flowing freely now. “Please, take care of each other,” she whispered, holding Jungkook close. “And find my son.”

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The ride back to Yoongi’s house was heavy with silence. Everyone seemed lost in thought, trying to piece together the fragments of Taehyung’s life they had just seen. Jimin sat in the back seat, staring out of the window, his face pale and drawn. The weight of Taehyung’s last words to his mother clearly weighed on him.

“I don’t understand,” Jimin finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. “How could he say I would know? I haven’t spoken to him in so long. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Maybe it’s not something you remember consciously,” Namjoon offered, his voice calm as he tried to make sense of it. “Maybe there’s something he told you a long time ago, something you don’t even realize yet.”

Jungkook listened to their conversation, but his mind was elsewhere. It kept drifting back—back to a memory that had been haunting him since the day Taehyung disappeared.

It was just two days before the disbandment. Jungkook had stumbled into their dorm late at night, wasted beyond reason and covered in hickeys from some random girl he had hooked up with at a club. His body reeked of alcohol and smoke, and his mind was a blur of hazy memories. He could barely stand as he walked through the door, but the tension in the room had sobered him up immediately.

All the members were there, their faces filled with worry. Jimin had been the first to rush to his side, his voice frantic as he asked where Jungkook had been. Namjoon’s face was tight with concern, while Jin stood in the background, arms crossed, his expression stern.

But it was Taehyung’s face that Jungkook couldn’t forget. His eyes had been filled with hurt, and though he hadn’t said anything, the pain was clear in his gaze. Taehyung had always been good at hiding his emotions, but that night, he couldn’t. And Jungkook knew exactly why.

The hickeys.

Jungkook had hooked up with a girl at the club, but he knew, deep down, that showing up like this—covered in the marks of someone else—would hurt Taehyung more than anyone else. The realization hit Jungkook like a punch to the gut. He had done it on purpose, in a way, trying to distance himself from whatever unspoken feelings had been growing between them. But seeing the pain in Taehyung’s eyes had broken something inside him.

Before Jungkook could say anything, his body gave out, and he passed out on the couch.

When he woke the next day, the atmosphere in the dorm was tense. The members gathered around him, their faces serious as they confronted him about his behavior. Jin had been the first to scold him, his voice sharp with disappointment, while Namjoon tried to reason with him calmly, explaining how worried they had all been.

Jungkook had sat there, feeling the weight of their judgment, scared of what they thought of him. But it wasn’t until the others left the room, leaving him alone with Taehyung, that the true gravity of the situation hit him.

Taehyung had stood there, staring at him, his eyes filled with anger and hurt. Jungkook had wanted to say something, to explain, to apologize for what he had done. But before he could open his mouth, Taehyung turned to leave.

In a desperate attempt to stop him, Jungkook had reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Tae—” he started, but before he could get the words out, their manager had walked into the room.

“Bang PD is here,” the manager had said, his tone serious. The rest of the members had come back into the living room, the tension palpable as they gathered around.

Bang PD had entered the room, his expression stressed and disappointed. He was a short man, slightly hunched with the weight of responsibility that came with managing the company. His face was lined with years of hard work, his sharp eyes taking in every detail, missing nothing. His appearance was always tidy—neatly pressed suits, polished shoes—but there was a perpetual exhaustion about him, as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He took a seat across from Jungkook and let out a long sigh. Then, he looked Jungkook straight in the eye and said, “Do you have any idea what you did last night at the club?”

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Jungkook snapped back to the present, his heart racing with the memory. The guilt twisted in his gut as he realized how much he had hurt Taehyung, how that night had been a turning point for both of them.

The sound of Namjoon’s phone buzzing pulled him out of his thoughts. Namjoon glanced at the screen and his eyes widened. “It’s the postmortem report,” he said quickly, unlocking his phone. The tension in the car rose as they all waited for him to read the message.

After a few moments, Namjoon exhaled and looked at the group. “The body they found… it’s not Taehyung.”

A collective sigh of relief filled the car. Jimin slumped back in his seat, closing his eyes as he let out a shaky breath. But the relief was fleeting. Though it wasn’t Taehyung’s body, they were still no closer to finding him, and the mystery of where he had gone remained as thick and confusing as ever.

As the car continued down the road, the questions remained unanswered. What had Taehyung meant when he said Jimin would be the one to find him? And how had everything spiraled so far beyond their reach?

For now, all they could do was keep searching, following the trail Taehyung had left behind, and hope that somehow, somewhere, they would find him before it was too late.

Chapter Text

The moment Namjoon read the message from the police, the air in the car shifted. “The body they found… it’s not Taehyung.”

A collective sigh of relief spread through the car. Everyone’s shoulders loosened, the tightness in their chests momentarily easing. Jimin leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes and releasing a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. Yoongi, who had been gripping the steering wheel tightly, relaxed his hands. Jin muttered a soft “Thank God,” while Hoseok closed his eyes, his lips barely moving as he offered a silent prayer of gratitude.

Jungkook, however, wasn’t sure what to feel. Relief washed over him, yes, but it didn’t erase the gnawing guilt that had been building inside of him. The news was a reprieve, but Taehyung was still missing, still out there somewhere, and that left Jungkook on edge. His mind was racing, replaying the memories of everything that had gone wrong between them.

Namjoon broke the silence again, his voice low and serious. “You guys heard about what happened with Liam Payne from One Direction, right?” His eyes were distant as he spoke, still processing the weight of everything. “They kept saying the band would reunite someday… only for Liam to pass away at the age of 31. The whole time I was thinking about that, praying to God that the same thing wouldn’t happen to us. Not at the cost of Taehyung’s life. Or anyone’s life, to even begin with.”

His words hit them all hard. The thought of Taehyung’s life ending in tragedy—just like that, with so many unresolved issues between them—sent a shiver down Jungkook’s spine. The weight of what Namjoon was implying, that they might never have the chance to make things right, hung over the group like a dark cloud.

“I don’t want us to have any regrets,” Namjoon added softly, his voice laced with emotion. “We can’t let this end like that.”

The others nodded in silent agreement, the gravity of the situation settling in once again.

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The car ride continued in quiet contemplation. No one spoke much after that, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Jungkook stared out of the window, watching as the world passed by in a blur of colors and motion. But all he could think about was Taehyung—the paintings, the cryptic messages, the things he had never said aloud. And the things Jungkook had done that had pushed him away.

When they finally reached Yoongi’s house, Yoongi’s mother was waiting for them at the door, her face filled with concern. The moment they stepped out of the car, she rushed over, her eyes searching each of their faces.

“Any news?” she asked, her voice soft but filled with hope.

Namjoon shook his head, and the group’s mood dropped again. “The body the police found wasn’t Taehyung’s, but… we’re still no closer to finding him.”

Yoongi’s mom sighed, her face falling as she took in the gravity of the situation. “I’m glad it wasn’t him,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “But I can see how much you’re all going through. I’ve prepared some food for you—go shower, freshen up, and we’ll eat together. You need to take care of yourselves.”

They nodded, each of them grateful for her kindness, though none of them could truly relax with the uncertainty still hanging over them. One by one, they headed to their rooms to shower and regroup before lunch.

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Jungkook stood under the shower, the water cascading down his body as he tried to let the heat soothe his tense muscles. But the weight of his guilt pressed harder, and his mind drifted back to that night again—the night that had changed everything between him and Taehyung.

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“Do you have any idea what you did last night at the club?” Bang PD’s voice was low and stern, the disappointment in his eyes unmistakable as he stared directly at Jungkook.

The rest of the members sat around the table, confusion etched across their faces. Jin was the first to speak, his brow furrowed in concern. “Bang PD-nim, if this is about the hookup and cross-fading, we’ve already talked to him. We’ve scolded him, and we’ll make sure nothing like this happens again. By any of us.”

Jungkook, still reeling from the events of the previous night, muttered a soft apology under his breath. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt ashamed, the weight of his actions bearing down on him.

But Bang PD didn’t let it go. His eyes hardened as he leaned forward, placing an iPad on the table in front of them. “It’s not just that,” he said, his voice sharp. “It’s something more. Something that’s already started circulating in the news.”

The members exchanged confused glances, their brows furrowing in concern. Jungkook felt a knot form in his stomach, a sinking feeling of dread taking over him. He bit his lip, trying to remember what had happened after he had blacked out, but his mind was blank.

Bang PD tapped the screen, and the headline of the article appeared in front of them: “Kim Taehyung is such a faggot,” Jeon Jungkook allegedly says at NEOPSYCHO Club during intoxicated night out.

Jungkook’s heart stopped.

He stared at the screen in horror, unable to process what he was seeing. His eyes flicked to Taehyung, whose face had gone pale, his expression filled with shock and hurt. Jungkook’s world crumbled in that moment. He didn’t remember saying anything like that—but the damage was done. Taehyung’s eyes met his, filled with a kind of pain Jungkook had never seen before. A pain he had caused.

Jungkook wanted to deny it, to say it wasn’t true, but he couldn’t. He didn’t remember. And the look on Taehyung’s face was enough to tell him that it didn’t matter whether he had meant it or not. The damage was real.

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Jungkook scrubbed at his skin hard, his hands shaking as he tried to wash away the memory. The guilt, the shame—it was too much. Tears welled in his eyes as he banged his head softly against the wall of the shower over and over again, whispering, “I’m sorry, Taehyung. I’m so sorry. Please come back. I’m so sorry, Taehyung. Please, I’m sorry…”

He didn’t know how long he stood there, letting the water wash over him, trying to drown the pain that was now a permanent knot in his chest.

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After his shower, Jungkook joined the others at the dining table. Yoongi’s mom had prepared a spread of food, the comforting smell of home-cooked meals filling the room. But the tension in the air was thick. Jungkook sat down quietly, his eyes still red and puffy from the tears he had shed in the shower.

Yoongi’s mom noticed immediately, her warm eyes softening with concern. She walked over to Jungkook, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” she asked softly, her voice like a mother’s gentle lullaby.

Jungkook nodded, though his throat tightened, and he couldn’t speak. He was grateful for her kindness, but the weight of his guilt and pain made it impossible for him to find any comfort. Yoongi’s mom gave him a soft squeeze on the shoulder, understanding that he needed space but letting him know she was there if he needed her.

The rest of the meal was quiet. They ate slowly, the tension palpable in the room. Jungkook could barely bring himself to look up from his plate. The others were lost in their thoughts, the worry for Taehyung hanging over them like a dark cloud. Every bite of food felt heavy, every word unspoken weighed down the room. It was Jimin who finally broke the silence.

“I’ve been thinking,” Jimin said, his voice soft but serious. Everyone turned to look at him, their attention immediately piqued by the tone of his voice. Jimin shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his brows furrowed in thought. “And… maybe, just maybe, I have an idea of where Taehyung could be.”

Jungkook’s heart raced at Jimin’s words. He sat up a little straighter, his eyes wide with a mixture of hope and fear. “Where?” he asked, his voice hoarse from the emotional weight of the day.

The others leaned in, waiting for Jimin to continue. The possibility that they were finally getting closer to finding Taehyung sent a spark of urgency through the room. But the look on Jimin’s face told them it wasn’t going to be that simple.

“I’m not sure yet,” Jimin admitted, his voice faltering slightly. “But… I think I might know what he meant when he said I’d be the one to find him. It’s just… something’s not clear yet.”

Namjoon leaned forward, his eyes serious. “Then let’s figure it out,” he said. “We don’t have time to waste. If there’s even the slightest chance that you know where he is, we need to act on it.”

Jungkook’s heart pounded in his chest. The possibility of finding Taehyung—of making things right—felt closer than ever. And yet, the fear of what they might uncover lingered like a shadow, reminding him that the road ahead was still uncertain.

They all turned to Jimin, waiting, hoping that this could be the breakthrough they had been searching for.+

Chapter Text

Jimin sat at the table, his face serious as the others waited for him to speak. He had been turning something over in his mind, something that had been tugging at the back of his thoughts since they started searching for Taehyung. It was a moment from the past—one he hadn’t given much thought to until now, but it suddenly seemed so important.

“I think…” Jimin began, his voice soft but filled with uncertainty. The group turned toward him, their eyes filled with anticipation. “I think I remember something. Something Taehyung said to me a few years ago.”

Namjoon, ever the leader, leaned forward. “What is it?”

Jimin swallowed hard, his mind flashing back to that night. It had been years ago, during one of the rare moments when he and Taehyung had spent time together outside of the group’s busy schedule. They had decided to have a day out—just the two of them. After visiting cafes, walking around, and enjoying the city, they ended up in a quiet spot, drinking and smoking, letting the evening stretch into the night.

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It was a cool night, the sky above them clear and dotted with stars. Jimin and Taehyung sat together, their bodies relaxed as the smoke from their cigarettes curled upward into the night. They had been talking about everything and nothing—about life, about their future, about the way their world had changed so much since the early days of their career.

Taehyung took a long drag of his cigarette, his eyes focused on the horizon as he exhaled. “You ever think about what happens if we disappear?” Jimin raised an eyebrow, turning to look at him. “What do you mean? Like, retire?”

Taehyung smiled that familiar, playful smile but there was something deeper behind it—something more serious. “No, I mean, disappear. What if one day I just decide to leave everything behind? You know, go missing at my own will.”

Jimin let out a chuckle, though he could tell that Taehyung wasn’t entirely joking. “You? Disappear? Where would you even go?”

Taehyung turned to him, his eyes soft but filled with a quiet intensity. “Seoraksan.”

“Seoraksan?” Jimin repeated, surprised. “Why there? I mean, you could go anywhere in the world, but you’d choose a mountain park in South Korea?”

Taehyung nodded, his expression growing thoughtful. “Yeah. If I ever wanted to get away from everything—the chaos, the crowd—I’d go to Seoraksan. It’s beautiful there, peaceful. I’d probably go undercover, change how I look so people don’t recognize me. But there’s something about Seoraksan… it feels like it calls to me, you know?”

Jimin took a sip of his drink, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’ve really thought about this, haven’t you?”

Taehyung chuckled, his eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint. “Of course. If we ever disband in the future—and let’s be realistic, it’ll happen either in good terms or bad terms—I want Seoraksan to be the one place we all reunite at.”

Jimin laughed, playfully nudging him. “You’re really something, Tae. Planning reunions before we even disband?”

“Just thinking ahead,” Taehyung replied with a grin. Then his eyes sparkled with a playful thought. “And can you imagine Hoseok hyung on one of those mountain peaks? He’d be too scared to look down!”

They both burst into laughter, imagining Hoseok nervously peeking over the edge of a mountain, clinging to Namjoon for dear life. The conversation shifted after that, moving to lighter topics as they continued their evening together. But now, in the present, the weight of that memory hit Jimin like a tidal wave.

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Jimin’s voice wavered as he finished recounting the memory to the group. “He told me that if he ever wanted to disappear, he’d go to Seoraksan. It was like he had already planned it, even joked about going undercover. But I didn’t think much of it at the time. I thought it was just one of those things Taehyung says.”

The room fell into stunned silence as Jimin’s words sank in. Jungkook felt his heart pounding in his chest, the pieces of the puzzle finally starting to come together. Taehyung had told Jimin exactly where he would go if he ever disappeared, and it had been right in front of them the whole time.

Jin, who had been quietly processing the information, suddenly stood up, his face filled with disbelief. “You idiot, Jimin!” he exclaimed, though there was no malice in his voice—just frustration mixed with amusement. “We’ve been running all over the place, from Seoul to Daegu, and you couldn’t remember this moment when Taehyung literally told you where he would be?”

Jimin’s face flushed with embarrassment as he held up his hands in defense. “I forgot, okay?! It was years ago, and we were drinking! I didn’t think he was serious!”

The tension in the room broke with laughter, a much-needed release after the days of stress and worry. Jimin shook his head, unable to hide his own amusement. “I really did forget, though.”

As the laughter faded, Jungkook felt a wave of relief wash over him. For the first time, it felt like they were finally getting closer to finding Taehyung. They had been chasing shadows, following cryptic clues, but now they had a real lead—something solid to hold onto.

But just as the relief settled in, Namjoon’s voice cut through the room, his tone serious again. “But wait… what’s with all the clues then? The paintings, the girl with the lollipop… why would Taehyung leave those behind if he had already told Jimin where he’d go?”

Hoseok nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. “Yeah, and if he’s actually safe and just disappeared at his own will, why go to such extremes? The police are involved now, and we’ve been running from place to place. Why would he do that if he’s just hiding out at Seoraksan?”

Jin crossed his arms, his face thoughtful. “What if there’s more to it than we realize? What if there’s something else going on?”

The room fell into a heavy silence again, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Taehyung’s disappearance wasn’t just about running away—it seemed more complicated than that, more layered.

Just then, Yoongi’s mom, who had been quietly watching the conversation unfold, spoke up. “Maybe,” she said gently, “he just wanted to remind you all of the past. Maybe he wanted you to reunite, to talk things through, to get to know each other all over again. Forgive each other for the mistakes you’ve made. It seems like he’s forgiven you all too.”

Her words hung in the air, filling the room with a new kind of silence—one heavy with emotion. Jungkook felt a lump rise in his throat as the meaning of her words hit him. Could that really be it? Could Taehyung have orchestrated all of this not just to disappear, but to bring them back together?

Yoongi’s mom continued, her voice soft but steady. “Maybe he thinks it’s time for you all to come back together, to reunite. Maybe finding him is just part of finding each other again.”

The impact of her words settled over them, leaving each member deep in thought. But before the silence could stretch too long, she added something that sent another ripple through the group. “Or maybe… he really is in danger, and he needs you to find him before something worse happens.”

Jungkook’s heart clenched at the possibility. Taehyung’s clues, his disappearance—had it all been a cry for help that they had been too late to understand? After they finished lunch, the group gathered to discuss their next move. Despite the relief of knowing where Taehyung might be, the mystery surrounding his disappearance still loomed large.

“We’ll leave for Seoraksan the day after tomorrow,” Namjoon decided. “We need a day to get things in order, figure out how to approach this. But we’ll go there, together.”

The group nodded in agreement, each of them determined to finally get to the bottom of Taehyung’s disappearance. They had more questions than answers, but one thing was clear—they were a major step closer to finding him. And now, more than ever, Jungkook felt the weight of what was coming.

As they wrapped up their discussion, Jimin sat quietly, staring down at the table. Jungkook could see the guilt and confusion still etched on his face.

“We’ll find him,” Jungkook said quietly, his voice filled with determination. “We have to.”

Jimin nodded, his eyes softening as he met Jungkook’s gaze. “Yeah,” he whispered. “We will.”

And with that, the group prepared themselves for what lay ahead. The road to Seoraksan would be long, but the journey to find Taehyung—both physically and emotionally—was only just beginning.

Chapter Text

The night was quiet as Jungkook stood on the balcony of Yoongi’s family home, the cold air biting at his skin. He stared out at the dark horizon, the city lights of Daegu flickering in the distance. From the balcony, he could see the rolling hills and a cluster of homes dotting the landscape. The sky was clear, a sharp contrast to the storm brewing inside him. A cigarette dangled between his fingers, the faint glow of its tip flickering as he took a slow drag.

His thoughts drifted, as they always did these days, back to Taehyung. The guilt had been gnawing at him since Taehyung’s disappearance, but now, with every clue, every memory, it felt like the walls were closing in. He had always buried his feelings, buried the pain he had caused, but standing here now, in the stillness of the night, there was nowhere left to hide.

As he exhaled a cloud of smoke, his mind took him back to that day—the day everything had fallen apart.

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They were all sitting in the living room, tense and uncomfortable, waiting for Bang PD to speak after the horrifying headline that had been splashed across the iPad screen: "Kim Taehyung is such a faggot," Jeon Jungkook allegedly says at NEOPSYCHO Club during intoxicated night out.

The silence was unbearable. No one moved. No one spoke. The headline loomed over them, tainting the air, suffocating everything they had built together over the years. Taehyung sat beside Jungkook, his face pale and his eyes wide with disbelief and hurt. Jungkook couldn’t even bring himself to look at him. The shame weighed on him like a boulder, his chest tight as he struggled to breathe. He wanted to explain himself, to say something—anything—but the words stuck in his throat like barbed wire.

Bang PD finally broke the silence, his voice low and filled with disappointment. “Did you actually say that, Jungkook?”

The words hung in the air, heavy and sharp. Jungkook felt his heart pound in his chest. He couldn’t answer. He couldn’t even remember. The night was a blur, lost in the haze of alcohol, loud music, and the reckless decisions he had made. But now, faced with the cold truth staring back at him from the screen, he realized that none of that mattered. The damage was done, and he had no defense.

He stayed quiet, head bowed in shame.

Bang PD shook his head, disbelief etched into every line of his face. He turned to Taehyung, his tone shifting into something far darker. “Are you actually gay?” The question was loaded, filled with judgment, and every member in the room felt it. There was disgust in his voice, a disdain that cut through the air like a knife.

Taehyung didn’t answer. He stared down at the floor, his hands gripping the edge of the couch as though it could somehow keep him steady against the storm brewing inside him. His breathing was shallow, his face drained of color, and his eyes—those eyes that were always so full of life—were now wide with terror.

Bang PD’s voice rose, his tone becoming harsher. “Are you a fucking faggot like Jungkook said?”

The room froze. The members exchanged stunned glances, unable to comprehend the cruelty of the words. They had always known that Bang PD didn’t particularly like Taehyung. Even before their debut, when Taehyung had been the “hidden” member, Bang PD had treated him with a coldness that none of them understood. And even after BTS rose to fame, the distance between Taehyung and their CEO had never closed. There had always been something about Taehyung that seemed to bother him, though no one had dared to ask why..

Namjoon, ever the leader, tried to step in, his voice calm but firm. “PD-nim, this isn’t—”

But Bang PD cut him off sharply. “Don’t take it the wrong way, Namjoon, but I’m not keeping a fucking faggot in the group.” His words dripped with contempt. “We’re the biggest boy band in the world. That’s just a shame, Kim Taehyung. Half of your fans are girls, and if they find out you’re gay, BTS’s popularity is going to plummet. We can’t afford that.”

The tension in the room was unbearable now, thick like a suffocating fog. Taehyung sat perfectly still, his face void of any color, his lips trembling as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. Jungkook could feel the betrayal radiating off of him like a physical force, but he still couldn’t bring himself to speak. His throat felt like it was closing in on itself. He had done this.

“And look,” Bang PD continued, swiping on the iPad to reveal a video, “here’s proof that what Jungkook said wasn’t just a drunken mistake.” He pressed play, and the video showed Jungkook at the NEOPSYCHO Club, intoxicated, surrounded by strangers, laughing carelessly. In the video, his slurred voice rang out: “Kim Taehyung is such a fag. He’s probably eyeing all of us right now.”

The words played on a loop in Jungkook’s mind. He remembered none of it. But there it was—undeniable proof of what he had said, broadcast for the whole world to see.

“If your own member thinks you’re disgusting, then how do you think the world will see you?” Bang PD’s voice was merciless as he directed the question to Taehyung. “We can’t have this in the group. I don’t think you should be part of BTS anymore. You’re a liability, Taehyung.”

The words struck like a knife, slicing through the fragile tension that had been holding them all together. Taehyung’s body shook as he tried to hold it together, but it was no use. His face crumpled, and the tears he had been fighting to hold back finally broke free. He looked broken—completely and utterly shattered.

Yoongi, who had been sitting silently across from Taehyung, clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His voice shook with fury as he finally spoke. “That’s enough, PD-nim. This is bullshit.”

Bang PD shot Yoongi a cold look. “You’re not in charge here, Yoongi. I make the decisions.”

“You’re destroying him!” Yoongi roared, standing up, his face red with anger. “You’re destroying everything we’ve built! This isn’t about being gay—this is about you using it as an excuse to get rid of Taehyung because you’ve never liked him.”

“Sit down,” Bang PD barked, his voice sharp. “I’m not done talking.”

“No!” Yoongi shot back. “You’ve been treating him like shit for years, and now this? You think you can just kick him out like he means nothing?”

But Bang PD wasn’t listening. He stood up, his expression cold. “I’ll send over the paperwork. Sign it by tomorrow evening.”

With that, Bang PD walked out, leaving the room in stunned silence.

Jin’s voice broke through, though it lacked its usual warmth. “Taehyung, why didn’t you tell us?” His voice was shaky, confused. “We should have known. We’re supposed to be a family, right? We could’ve handled this.”

Yoongi turned on Jin, his fury blazing. “Why does he need to tell us? His sexuality is his business! The issue here isn’t that he’s gay—it’s that he’s being thrown out because of it. Can’t you see that, Seokjin?”

Hoseok, who had been quiet up until now, stood up, his face contorted with frustration. “We’re all acting like Taehyung or Bang PD is the problem, but no one’s talking about the real issue here.” He turned on Jungkook, his voice rising in anger. “What the fuck were you thinking, Jungkook? How could you say something like that?”

Jungkook’s throat tightened, his guilt consuming him. He still couldn’t look at Taehyung, who sat sobbing just a few feet away, his entire body trembling with anguish. Every tear that fell from Taehyung’s eyes felt like a stab to Jungkook’s chest.

The room exploded into chaos. Voices clashed as tempers flared, anger that had been simmering beneath the surface for years finally spilling over. Jin and Yoongi were practically shouting at each other, their words harsh and filled with frustration. Namjoon, always the mediator, tried to calm everyone down, but even his usually soothing voice couldn’t cut through the storm.

“We’re supposed to handle this together!” Jin shouted, his voice tinged with desperation. “We’re a team, Taehyung! Why didn’t you trust us enough to tell us?” “I’m sick of this fucking bullshit,” Yoongi snapped back, his eyes blazing with anger. “We’ve all seen how Bang PD has treated him like shit, and none of us did anything about it! Now we’re blaming him for not telling us he’s gay? Are you serious?”

Jimin sat frozen, pale as a ghost, his eyes wide as he watched the group fall apart in front of him. His lips trembled as he tried to speak, but no words came out. Amid the chaos, Taehyung finally spoke. “Why, Jungkook?”, his voice so small, so broken that it barely cut through the noise. But when it did, the room fell silent.

“Why?” His voice was filled with pain, every word drenched in betrayal and heartbreak. His shoulders were shaking violently as he lifted his tear-stained face to look at Jungkook, his eyes red and swollen from crying. “I cared about you so much. And this is what you do to me?”

Jungkook’s heart shattered into a million pieces. He had never seen Taehyung like this—so raw, so vulnerable, so completely and utterly devastated. The weight of what he had done pressed down on him, suffocating him. He wanted to explain, to apologize, to take it all back, but the words wouldn’t come. He was paralyzed by his own guilt, drowning in the pain he had caused.

“You knew I loved you,” Taehyung whispered, his voice trembling as tears continued to stream down his face. “You knew. And you still did this to me.”

Jungkook’s breath caught in his throat. He was utterly frozen, unable to speak, unable to move. Taehyung’s words hit him like a sledgehammer, each one more painful than the last. The room was dead silent, all eyes on them, but Jungkook could only focus on Taehyung—the way his body trembled, the way his eyes looked hollow, shattered beyond repair. The love that Taehyung had always carried for him, the love that had been so strong, was now buried beneath layers of betrayal.

“You knew I loved you,” Taehyung repeated, his voice growing more desperate, cracking under the weight of his own pain. “You knew… and you let me believe… you let me believe that I wasn’t disgusting to you.”

The last word felt like a knife twisting in Jungkook’s gut. Disgusting. He had called Taehyung disgusting, in front of everyone, on a night he could barely remember but one that had now defined their entire relationship. The alcohol had loosened his tongue, but it had revealed an ugliness inside him that he could never take back. The damage was done.

Jungkook finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “Tae, I… I didn’t mean it. I don’t even remember saying it.”

Taehyung let out a bitter, hollow laugh, the sound so unlike him that it sent a chill through the room. “You don’t remember? That’s your excuse? You destroyed me, Jungkook. You humiliated me. You made me feel like I was less than human… and all you have to say is that you don’t remember?”

Jungkook could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, but he blinked them away, unable to focus on anything but Taehyung’s broken expression. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice cracking with the weight of his guilt. “I’m so sorry, Tae. I was drunk, I wasn’t thinking—”

“You weren’t thinking?!” Taehyung exploded, his voice raw, a sob ripping through him as he stood up, the force of his pain radiating off of him. “You weren’t thinking?! You think that excuses what you did? You called me a fucking faggot in front of strangers, in front of the world! Do you know what that did to me?”

Taehyung’s voice broke as he continued, tears pouring down his face, his entire body shaking with emotion. “I’ve spent my whole life trying to hide this part of myself because I was scared. I was scared of what my family would think, of what the fans would think… and I was scared of what you would think, Jungkook. But you? You just threw it out there like it meant nothing. Like I mean nothing.”

Jungkook wanted to reach out, to hold Taehyung, to tell him that he didn’t mean any of it, that he loved him, that he had never, ever seen him as less than—never—but he couldn’t move. He was stuck, trapped in the shame and guilt that was consuming him.

Taehyung let out another sob, his hands trembling as he wiped at his eyes. “You knew I loved you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible now. “You knew… and I didn’t even know how to love myself.”

Jimin, who had been silent for most of the fight, suddenly stood up, his own face streaked with tears. He approached Taehyung cautiously, his voice shaking. “Tae, please, we can fix this… please, just talk to us. We love you.”

Taehyung shook his head violently, backing away. “No. No, you don’t get it, Jimin. You don’t understand. None of you do.”

His voice grew louder, more frantic, as he spoke, his words spilling out in a flood of emotion. “I’ve been hiding for years. Years. I’ve been so scared of what would happen if the truth came out. I’ve had to watch my every move, make sure no one ever suspected, make sure no one would ever think I was anything but the perfect idol you all needed me to be. And now it’s over. Now, because of him,” he pointed at Jungkook, “the whole world knows. Do you understand that?”

Jimin’s face was pale, his hands trembling as he reached out again. “Tae, please…”

But Taehyung was inconsolable. His breakdown had reached a fever pitch, the dam that had been holding back years of pain and fear finally bursting. “I don’t know how to tell my family,” he cried, his voice breaking. “I don’t know how to tell my fans. I don’t even know how to tell myself that I’m gay!”

The room was silent again, the weight of his words suffocating everyone inside. Taehyung stood there, sobbing uncontrollably, his hands covering his face as he shook with the force of his emotions. He looked so small, so broken, and no one knew how to help him. No one knew what to say.

Yoongi, whose anger had not dissipated, stood up abruptly. His voice was low, shaking with fury. “You did this,” he spat at Jungkook, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and disgust. “You did this to him. You broke him. And for what? A few laughs with strangers? Was it worth it, Jungkook? Was it worth destroying him?”

Jungkook couldn’t respond. He felt sick. Physically sick. His stomach churned, bile rising in his throat as Yoongi’s words hit him like a sledgehammer. He had destroyed Taehyung. He had taken something beautiful and precious and ruined it.

Jin, who had been pacing the room, finally spoke again, his voice quiet but filled with hurt. “I never thought we’d fall apart like this,” he said, shaking his head. “We were supposed to be a family. How did we let it get this bad?”

Namjoon, who had been trying to hold it together for everyone’s sake, finally sat down, his head in his hands. “I don’t know,” he whispered, his voice broken. “I don’t know how we fix this.”

Hoseok, who had been sitting quietly, stood up, his face pale. “We don’t. We can’t fix this.” His voice was filled with resignation, the hopelessness of the situation sinking in. “It’s too late.”

Taehyung suddenly turned, grabbing his bag from the couch. “I can’t stay here,” he choked out, his voice thick with tears. “I can’t… I need to leave.” Jimin rushed forward, desperate. “Tae, no, please. We’ll figure it out. We’ll fix this. Just stay. Please.”

But Taehyung shook his head, backing toward the door. “I can’t do this anymore, Jimin,” he sobbed. “I can’t be here. I can’t be me here. It’s over.” With that, he turned and bolted out the door, leaving the others in stunned silence. Jimin chased after him, calling his name, but Taehyung didn’t stop. He ran down the street, disappearing into the night.

Jimin came back inside a few moments later, his face ashen. He looked at the group, his voice trembling. “He’s gone.”

The weight of those two words—He’s gone—crushed them all. The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of Jimin’s quiet sobs. Jungkook felt like he was drowning. His body shook uncontrollably as the realization finally hit him full force.

He had lost Taehyung. He had pushed away the person who had loved him most.

And before he knew it, another fight broke out.

Chapter Text

The room exploded again, voices rising in anger and frustration, the tension finally breaking like a dam. Jimin stood at the center of the chaos, his fists clenched at his sides, his eyes blazing with hurt and fury. “How selfish could we be?” he shouted, his voice trembling, but it was loud enough to echo through the entire room. “We were supposed to be a family. Look at us! Look at what we’ve become!”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, striking everyone in the room with the sharp edge of truth. Jungkook felt like the air had been knocked out of him. Jimin’s words stung because they were true. They had all changed, and not for the better. The bond they had once shared—unshakable, unbreakable—was now frayed and unraveling before their eyes.

Jin, always the one trying to hold things together, tried to maintain his composure, but his voice cracked when he spoke. “Jimin, we’re trying to fix this—” “Fix this?” Jimin snapped, his voice rising again. His eyes were wide with disbelief, and his anger seemed to boil over. “We’re not fixing anything! We’ve been tearing each other apart for years! And now, Taehyung is gone. Do you not understand what we’ve done?”

The room fell silent at the mention of Taehyung. The pain of his absence weighed heavily on all of them, but none more so than Jungkook. Taehyung was gone, and it was all his fault.

Hoseok, who had been sitting quietly for most of the confrontation, finally spoke up. His voice was low, but there was a finality in it that sent a chill through the room. “I don’t want to be part of this anymore.” He looked down at his hands as if trying to ground himself, then looked up at the group, his gaze flickering from one member to the next. “I’m done with this group if this is what we’ve become.”

Jungkook’s stomach twisted violently. Hoseok leaving? The thought had never even crossed his mind, but hearing it aloud, the gravity of it crashed down on him. Hoseok had always been the glue—the light, the one who kept everyone smiling even in the hardest moments. And now he was saying he was done?

Namjoon, always the mediator, always the voice of reason, tried to calm the growing storm. “Let’s all take a step back,” he said, his voice strained but steady, “and think about what we’re saying—”

“No.” Jimin cut him off, his voice quieter now, but it held the same intensity. “Namjoon, look around. This isn’t who we were. We’ve all changed, and not in good ways. Maybe it was better before, when we weren’t so famous, when the world wasn’t watching our every move. Now…” He paused, swallowing hard as if the words were difficult to get out. “Now we’re just shadows of who we used to be.”

The room fell deathly silent. Jimin’s words, though spoken softly, seemed to resonate with everyone. The truth was brutal, but undeniable. Fame had changed them. It had warped their relationships, turned them into something unrecognizable. The very thing they had dreamed of, had fought for, had destroyed the bond they once held so dear.

Hoseok sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. He looked exhausted, defeated. “I can’t keep doing this,” he said quietly, the resignation clear in his voice. “Not like this.”

Jungkook’s heart pounded in his chest as the reality of the situation sank in. He was the reason this was happening. His words, his actions, had led them to this breaking point. Taehyung was gone, and now the group—his family—was falling apart in front of his eyes.

One by one, the other members began to voice their frustrations. Jin’s voice trembled as he tried to explain how he had felt disconnected for years. Namjoon expressed how tired he was of constantly holding everything together, how he felt like he had lost sight of what they were fighting for. Hoseok spoke of how the joy of being in the group had disappeared, replaced by a suffocating pressure that never seemed to let up.

All the while, Jungkook sat frozen, unable to speak. The arguments swirled around him, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. How could he? What could he possibly say to defend himself when everything they were saying was true?

Finally, Jin spoke, his voice quieter than before but no less impactful. “Maybe we should disband.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut, leaving everyone stunned. Disbandment had always been a distant fear, a whispered possibility during their hardest times, but it had never seemed real. Now, though, as the cracks in their foundation widened, disbandment felt like an inevitable reality.

“I don’t want to be part of a group where this is what we’ve become,” Hoseok repeated softly, his voice filled with resignation. “Maybe we do need to disband.” Namjoon, who had always been the rock, the one to push them forward through every hardship, finally broke. His face crumpled, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the situation. “Are we really doing this?” he asked, his voice filled with pain. “Is this how it ends?”

Jimin, who had been pacing, stopped and looked at the group. “I don’t know,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “But I can’t keep pretending like everything’s fine when it’s not.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. No one wanted to say it, but the truth was clear—they were breaking apart. The bond that had once held them together was now too fractured to repair.

Jungkook sat motionless, his mind racing with memories of Taehyung’s tear-streaked face, the raw pain in his eyes as he had walked out. The love that Taehyung had for him, the trust, the care—it was all gone now. He had ruined everything. And now, the group he had once considered his family was falling apart because of him.

“I think…” Jin began, his voice trembling slightly, “I think we should all take some time. Figure out what we want. But if we can’t come back from this, then maybe disbandment is the only option.”

One by one, the members nodded in agreement. No one had the energy to fight anymore. It was too much. Everything was too much. They were too broken. Jungkook, unable to bear the weight of his guilt any longer, finally stood up. His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

No one responded. The words hung in the air, too little too late.

Jungkook left the room shortly after, his legs feeling like lead as he walked down the hall to his bedroom. He didn’t sleep that night. The guilt, the shame, and the deep, aching loss gnawed at him until the early hours of the morning. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Taehyung’s tear-streaked face, heard his voice breaking as he confessed his love, his pain.

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The next morning, Jungkook woke to the sound of a knock on his door. He dragged himself out of bed, his body heavy with exhaustion, and opened the door. There, lying on the floor outside his room, were the disbandment papers. The final nail in the coffin of BTS.

He stared at the papers for a long moment, a deep sense of loss settling over him. This was it. This was the end.

Slowly, he picked up the papers, his hands trembling as he read through them. It didn’t surprise him, not after the explosion of anger and heartbreak the night before. But that didn’t make it any easier.

Jungkook sat down on the edge of his bed, the disbandment papers clutched in his hands. He had destroyed everything. He had pushed Taehyung away, and now he had pushed away the group—the family—that had once meant everything to him.

And just like that, it was over.

BTS was disbanded.

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Jungkook snapped out of the flashback, the memory of that painful night still as vivid and haunting as ever. His fingers trembled slightly as he brought the cigarette to his lips, taking a long drag before exhaling slowly. The guilt that had weighed him down for years clung to him like a heavy shroud, and even the cold night air couldn't clear the suffocating thoughts that swirled around in his mind.

The soft hum of the night surrounded him as he stood on the balcony, the quiet making the weight of his thoughts feel heavier. The memory of Taehyung’s hurt expression wouldn’t leave him, and the guilt that had followed Jungkook for years felt unbearable in moments like this. He took another long drag, exhaling slowly, hoping the cigarette would ease the pain, but it didn’t.

The sound of soft footsteps on the balcony pulled him from his thoughts, and he turned slightly to see Hoseok standing in the doorway. Hoseok—always warm, always comforting, the one who could make anyone feel like the world wasn’t as heavy as it seemed. But tonight, even Hoseok seemed weighed down by the burden they all carried.

"Hey," Hoseok said quietly, stepping onto the balcony with a soft, reassuring presence.

Jungkook nodded in acknowledgment, flicking the cigarette into the ashtray. He didn’t know what to say. They hadn’t really talked—really talked—in years. The distance that had grown between them, the rift caused by mistakes and misunderstandings, felt too vast to cross. But Hoseok, true to his nature, had always been the one to reach out, to heal the cracks within their group. Tonight, however, even Hoseok seemed tired.

Hoseok leaned against the railing, looking out at the quiet city lights of Daegu in the distance. The twinkling skyline seemed so peaceful, so far removed from the turmoil inside Jungkook’s mind. "I couldn’t sleep," Hoseok admitted, his voice soft. "Too much on my mind."

Jungkook remained silent, staring into the night. He felt like he was drowning in guilt, struggling to keep his head above the waves. And yet, Hoseok’s presence was oddly comforting, like a lifeline he hadn’t expected.

"I’ve been thinking a lot," Hoseok continued, his tone calm but weighted. "About everything that happened back then. About Taehyung… and about you. Jungkook’s chest tightened, his pulse quickening with the weight of those words. He had been carrying this guilt for years—buried under layers of regret and shame, but hearing Hoseok mention it brought it all to the surface.

"I’m sorry," Jungkook whispered, the words trembling as they left his lips. His hands shook slightly as he struggled to meet Hoseok’s gaze. "For everything. I never wanted to hurt him… I didn’t mean to—"

"I know," Hoseok interrupted gently, his gaze still focused on the cityscape. "We all know you didn’t mean it. And by now, I think even Taehyung knows that what you said wasn’t intentional. It was a mistake, a big one—but we all fucked up too."

Jungkook swallowed hard, the weight of his words catching in his throat. He remembered what he had done that day. He had crossed a line he could never uncross, and he had hated himself for it ever since.

Hoseok’s voice was soft but filled with understanding. "Jin hyung feels guilty too, you know. For what he said to Taehyung that night. About why Taehyung didn’t tell us… hyung realized later how insensitive that was, and it’s been killing him inside ever since."

Jungkook’s chest tightened further. He hadn’t known how much the others had been affected by that night—how much guilt they were all carrying. He had thought he was the only one still hurting, but Hoseok’s words painted a different picture.

"It’s killing all of us on the inside," Hoseok admitted, his voice tinged with sorrow. "I could’ve handled things better. We all could have. But I think… it wasn’t just us. It was everything. The pressure, the expectations—we were all exhausted, Jungkook. And I don’t think any of us realized just how tired we were until it was too late."

Jungkook’s eyes stung with tears he was fighting to hold back. He hadn’t considered the toll everything had taken on them—their careers, the constant scrutiny, the expectations placed on them by the industry and their fans. It had weighed them down, piece by piece, until they had all cracked under the pressure.

"We love ARMYs," Hoseok continued, his voice soft yet firm. "But let’s not pretend that the expectations didn’t crush us. Sometimes… sometimes I think they forget we’re human too, that we are adults too. That we’re allowed to make mistakes, to be flawed, to explore who we are. But the K-pop industry… it never gave us that space. Why do other artists—Western artists—get to live freely, to make their choices, such as simply smoking or drinking while we can’t and have to be perfect all the time?"

Jungkook felt his throat tighten, a flood of emotions rising to the surface. "I never got to figure out who I was," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "And Taehyung… he never got to explore who he really was either."

Hoseok nodded, his gaze distant but understanding. "None of us did. We were always on display—always expected to be perfect. Taehyung was struggling with so much, and none of us really saw it. He couldn’t even voice his feelings, his sexuality… We never let him. We never stood up for him, not even when we should’ve. Bang PD… he wasn’t kind to him, since the very beginning. And we stayed silent until it was too late."

The weight of those words hit Jungkook like a tidal wave. He had known how much Taehyung had struggled, but hearing Hoseok say it out loud made it all feel too real. They had failed him. They had all failed him, trapped in the same cage of expectations, too busy trying to survive the pressure to realize that Taehyung had been crumbling right in front of them.

"And by the time we were free—by the time the group disbanded, and we all thought we’d finally figure it out, explore who we were—it was already too late," Hoseok added, his voice cracking slightly with the weight of the truth. "For Taehyung… for all of us."

Jungkook’s hands trembled as he listened, the tears finally slipping free and falling down his cheeks. He had been holding onto so much—his guilt, his regret, his confusion. But Hoseok was right. They had all been trapped, all drowning under the same crushing expectations. And Taehyung had suffered more than anyone.

"I’ve been hurting myself," Jungkook finally confessed, his voice barely audible. The shame was overwhelming, but he couldn’t keep it hidden any longer. "Since that night… I didn’t know how else to deal with it. The guilt… it’s been eating me alive."

Hoseok’s eyes widened in shock, and his expression immediately softened with concern. He stepped closer, his hand gently resting on Jungkook’s shoulder as he spoke. "Jungkook… why didn’t you tell us? Why didn’t you tell me?"

Jungkook shook his head, the tears falling freely now. "I didn’t want to be a burden. I didn’t want you to hate me more than you already did."

Hoseok pulled Jungkook into a tight, comforting hug, his arms wrapping around him with a warmth that only Hoseok could provide. "You’re not a burden, Jungkook. None of us hate you. We care about you—so much more than you realize."

Jungkook broke down in Hoseok’s arms, his body trembling as years of pain and guilt came pouring out all at once. "I’m sorry," he choked out, his voice muffled against Hoseok’s shoulder. "I’m so sorry."

Hoseok held him tighter, his voice soothing and full of empathy. "You don’t have to apologize. Not for this. We’ve all been carrying our own guilt, our own regrets. But we’re in this together, Jungkook. You don’t have to carry this on your own anymore."

Jungkook clung to him, the warmth and reassurance in Hoseok’s embrace offering a small sliver of hope—hope that maybe, just maybe, he could start to heal.

Hoseok had always been the heart of the group, the one who brought them together even when things were falling apart. He had an innate ability to sense when something was wrong, to understand when someone was hurting, even if they didn’t say it out loud. Despite his own struggles, despite the weight he carried, Hoseok had never hesitated to reach out, to comfort, to heal. And tonight, Jungkook needed that more than ever.

"We’ll get through this," Hoseok whispered, his hand gently rubbing Jungkook’s back. "We’ll find Taehyung, and we’ll make things right. But you need to stop hurting yourself, Jungkook. You’re not alone. We’re all here for you."

Jungkook nodded against his chest, his tears still flowing, but the crushing weight of isolation he had felt for so long was beginning to lift. Hoseok’s words were like a balm, slowly soothing the wounds that had been festering inside him for years.

"And, Jungkook," Hoseok continued, pulling back slightly to look him in the eye. "I think Taehyung really loved you. It was obvious to everyone. Even if you didn’t see it then, he cared about you in a way that went beyond friendship. And I think… I think that’s why it hurt him so much. He loved you."

Jungkook’s breath hitched, the realization crashing over him like a tidal wave. He had always known there was something more between him and Taehyung—something unspoken, something deep. But hearing Hoseok say it out loud, confirming what he had always been too afraid to acknowledge, shook him to his core. "Taehyung loved you, Jungkook," Hoseok repeated softly. "And I think, deep down, you loved him too."

Jungkook’s heart clenched painfully at those words. The truth was there, raw and undeniable. He had loved Taehyung—he still did. But he had been too scared, too confused, too caught up in the chaos of their lives to ever admit it.

"I don’t know how to fix this," Jungkook whispered, his voice breaking. "I don’t know if I can."

Hoseok gave him a small, sad smile. "None of us know how to fix it. But we’ll try. And we’ll do it together."

They stood there for a long time, the weight of their shared past and uncertain future heavy in the air. But for the first time in years, Jungkook felt like he wasn’t carrying it alone.

As they both stared up at the stars, the memories and the pain still lingered, but there was something else now—hope. Maybe, with Hoseok’s support and the others by his side, they could start to heal the wounds of the past. And maybe, just maybe, they could find Taehyung and bring him home.

Chapter Text

The next morning, the sun barely broke through the cloudy sky as the members gathered in the living room of Yoongi’s family home. The warmth and comfort of being in familiar surroundings helped ease some of the tension that had settled over them, but the weight of the task ahead still pressed down on them heavily. Jungkook sat quietly at the corner of the couch, nursing a cup of coffee, his mind swirling with thoughts of Taehyung, of the things he had left unsaid, and the memories that refused to let him go.

Namjoon, ever the leader, sat in the center of the group, his phone in hand as he mapped out their route. “Seoraksan is about three hours away from here by car, maybe a bit more depending on traffic,” he said, his voice practical but with an underlying current of anxiety. “We’ll have to plan this carefully. We can’t just show up as ourselves, obviously.”

Jimin, who sat cross-legged on the floor, nodded in agreement. “Yeah, the moment people spot us, it’ll turn into chaos. We can’t risk that.”

Yoongi glanced up from his coffee, his expression thoughtful. “We’ll need to go undercover. Sunglasses, hats, whatever we can to keep from being recognized.”

Hoseok, seated on the armrest of the couch, let out a small chuckle. “Even with that, we’re still not exactly inconspicuous. But it’s better than just walking around like it’s no big deal.”

“Do we rent a van or take cabs?” Jin asked, shifting his weight in the chair beside Namjoon. “If we all show up in one car, that might be suspicious too.” Namjoon thought for a moment before shaking his head. “We should split up into two groups. Taking cabs will be easier and draw less attention. That way, if one of us is spotted, the others can still make it without being swarmed.”

Jungkook listened quietly as they planned. It all made sense, but the thought of going back out there, of putting himself in a situation where he could be surrounded by fans, filled him with a familiar dread. After everything that had happened, the constant pressure of the public eye felt suffocating, especially now. But this wasn’t just about them—it was about finding Taehyung.

“We’ll need a different route,” Yoongi added, glancing at Namjoon’s phone. “I don’t think going directly to Seoraksan is the best idea. There are tourist spots near the park that we could blend into, but we’ll need to avoid the main hiking trails. Taehyung wouldn’t go to the obvious places.”

Jimin looked up from his phone, his brow furrowed in thought. “He mentioned going undercover, changing how he looked. We can’t be sure that even if we get there, we’ll recognize him right away.”

A silence fell over the room as the reality of Jimin’s words settled in. Even if they made it to Seoraksan, they had no idea what to expect. Taehyung had left them with clues, but the deeper they dove into the mystery, the more uncertain they became.

Jungkook shifted in his seat, his fingers tightening around the handle of his coffee mug. “If Taehyung’s gone to that much effort to disappear,” he said quietly, “why would he want us to find him? Why leave clues at all?”

Yoongi, who had been gazing out the window, finally spoke. “I’ve been thinking about that too. Maybe… maybe it’s not just about him hiding. Maybe he wants us to follow him, to figure something out along the way.”

Hoseok nodded, his voice soft. “It’s possible. He could have disappeared for reasons we don’t even understand yet. But the fact that he left those clues… he wanted us to come after him.”

Jin, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up, his voice filled with concern. “But what if we’re wrong? What if he’s in danger and didn’t mean for us to follow him this way?”

Another heavy pause fell over the group. The possibility of Taehyung being in danger had always been there, but none of them had wanted to say it out loud. The idea that he might be in trouble, that they might be too late, was too painful to consider.

Namjoon cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “We can’t know for sure until we find him. That’s why we need to be careful, and we need to move fast. We’ll leave in two groups, as we planned. Jungkook, you’ll come with me and Jin in one cab. Jimin, Yoongi, and Hoseok will take the other.”

Jungkook nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t stop thinking about the dream he had had the night before—the memory of Taehyung, of his tear-filled eyes, of the words that had haunted Jungkook for years: “I cared about you so much, and this is what you do to me?” He hadn’t been able to sleep much after that, his guilt overwhelming him. Now, as they prepared to head out to Seoraksan, the weight of that memory felt even heavier.

“Do we need disguises?” Jimin asked, breaking Jungkook from his thoughts. “I have a mask and a hoodie, but that might not be enough.”

Yoongi stood up from the couch, stretching slightly. “We’ll have to go low-key. Sunglasses, hats, maybe some scarves to cover up more. The weather’s on our side at least—it’s cold enough that wearing layers won’t seem weird.”

Hoseok smirked. “We’re going to look ridiculous trying to be undercover, but it’s worth a shot. Better than being mobbed by fans halfway through the hike.”

Namjoon pulled up his phone, typing something quickly. “I’ll call for the cabs tomorrow. For today, let’s finish packing and resting enough.”

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The next day, the members dispersed throughout Yoongi’s house, grabbing their belongings and making sure they had everything they needed for the trip. Jungkook packed his small bag in silence, his thoughts still spinning from everything that had happened. He grabbed a hat, sunglasses, and a hoodie from his bag, hoping it would be enough to keep him from being recognized. As he stuffed them into his backpack, his heart pounded at the thought of what lay ahead.

Taehyung. Seoraksan. The possibility that they might finally be close to finding him—and the terrifying uncertainty of what they would find when they did.

Once they were packed, they met in the hallway by the front door. Yoongi’s mom appeared, holding a warm, concerned expression. “Are you all sure about this?” she asked, her voice filled with the gentle worry of a mother. “It’s dangerous going off like this with no real plan.”

Namjoon smiled softly, his voice filled with reassurance. “We’ll be careful, omonim. Thank you for everything.”

She nodded, her eyes moving from one member to the next. “Please take care of each other. And if you find Taehyung… bring him back home.”

Her words hit harder than they expected. The warmth of her love for all of them, her quiet understanding of their bond, stirred something deep within them. Jungkook felt his throat tighten, but he managed a small smile, nodding as Yoongi’s mom pulled him into a brief, comforting hug.

Once outside, they moved quickly down the street, keeping their heads low as they approached the meeting point for the cabs. The cool morning air bit at their faces, but none of them seemed to notice. They were all too focused on what lay ahead.

When the cabs finally pulled up, Namjoon gestured for everyone to get inside.

“Stay alert,” Namjoon reminded them. “We don’t want to draw any attention to ourselves.”

Jungkook, Jin, and Namjoon climbed into the first cab, while Jimin, Yoongi, and Hoseok slid into the second. As the engines started and the cabs pulled away from the curb, Jungkook felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. This was it. They were finally heading toward Seoraksan. Toward Taehyung.

The three-hour drive stretched before them, but the journey felt even longer. The weight of the past few days hung heavily over them all, and Jungkook couldn’t help but feel like the closer they got to Taehyung, the closer they were to something they might not be ready for.

As the cab sped down the highway, Jungkook glanced out the window, watching the scenery blur by. He didn’t know what they would find when they reached Seoraksan. But whatever it was, he knew it would change everything.

The thought of seeing Taehyung again—of making things right, of apologizing for all the hurt—was terrifying. But it was also the only thing keeping him going.

And so, with the road stretching out before them and the weight of their past mistakes hanging heavily over their heads, the members of BTS headed toward Seoraksan. Toward answers. Toward Taehyung.

Chapter Text

The drive to Seoraksan passed in relative silence, the tension in the air palpable as the cabs wound their way through the Korean countryside. The occasional small talk died quickly, leaving the members alone with their thoughts. Jungkook sat in the backseat, his eyes glued to the passing landscape, but his mind was far away, replaying old memories and wondering what they would find once they reached the mountains.

As they neared Seoraksan, the scenery began to change. The flat roads gave way to rolling hills, and soon, the jagged peaks of the Seorak mountain range loomed in the distance, their rugged beauty shrouded in a light mist. The sight of the towering mountains rising above them had a calming effect, the natural splendor momentarily easing the tension that had been gripping Jungkook’s chest for days.

“Wow,” Jin whispered as the first glimpse of Seoraksan came into view. The mountains were a mix of earthy browns and rich greens, their slopes dotted with pine trees that stretched up toward the sky. The early morning mist clung to the peaks, giving the entire range an almost ethereal quality, like something out of a dream.

Jungkook couldn’t help but feel a surge of awe as they drove closer. Seoraksan was breathtaking, its beauty raw and untouched. The mountains stood tall and proud, as if they had been waiting there for centuries, guarding their secrets. The air was cooler here, crisp and fresh, carrying the scent of pine and earth. It felt like they were stepping into another world—one far removed from the chaos of Seoul, from the noise and the pressure of the lives they had been living.

“It’s beautiful,” Namjoon said from the front seat, his voice filled with reverence. “No wonder Taehyung wanted to come here.”

The cab wound through the narrow roads that snaked around the base of the mountains, taking them deeper into the heart of Seoraksan National Park. The trees grew thicker, their branches forming a natural canopy above the road. Streams trickled down from the mountainsides, the sound of rushing water adding to the sense of peace that seemed to envelop the entire area.

Jungkook leaned forward slightly, watching as the landscape continued to change. The air felt different here—cleaner, lighter. It was the kind of place where one could disappear, where the weight of the world could be forgotten. And maybe that was exactly what Taehyung had been searching for.

By the time they reached the small parking lot at the entrance of one of the less-frequented trails, the mist had begun to lift, revealing more of the mountains’ majesty. The sunlight peeked through the clouds, casting golden light over the peaks and making the entire range glow with a warm, inviting hue. Jungkook stepped out of the cab, feeling the cool mountain air hit his face. He took a deep breath, letting the fresh scent of nature fill his lungs.

“This is it,” Jimin said quietly, stepping out of the second cab with Yoongi and Hoseok. “We’re here.”

The group stood together for a moment, taking in the sight before them. The entrance to the trail was marked by a wooden sign, weathered from years of exposure to the elements, with the words "Seoraksan National Park" engraved into it. Beyond the sign, a narrow path led into the dense forest, the trees towering above them like silent sentinels.

“It’s so quiet,” Hoseok murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “It feels… peaceful.”

Namjoon nodded. “It’s like a completely different world out here.”

Jungkook found himself staring up at the mountains, his thoughts drifting to Taehyung. He could imagine him here, wandering through the trails, his heart lighter, his mind clearer. Taehyung had always loved nature—he was the type to find beauty in the simplest things, in the quiet moments. This place, with its serene atmosphere and stunning views, felt like a reflection of Taehyung’s soul—both gentle and wild, both calm and untamed.

Jin broke the silence, glancing around at the group. “So, what’s the plan? Do we split up and search different trails?”

Namjoon shook his head. “No, I think we should stick together. The last thing we want is to lose each other in these mountains. Plus, Taehyung’s been leaving us clues—he might have left something here for us to find.”

Jimin, still gazing at the mountains, spoke up. “Do you think… he’s here now? Like, watching us?”

The thought sent a chill down Jungkook’s spine. It was possible. Taehyung could be anywhere, hidden among the trees, watching as they searched for him. Jungkook’s heart clenched at the idea that they were so close—closer than they had ever been.

“We’ll find him,” Yoongi said quietly, his voice filled with quiet determination. “He’s out here somewhere.”

The group began their hike, following the narrow trail that wound its way through the forest. The path was uneven, the ground covered in roots and rocks, but they moved steadily, the quiet of the mountains surrounding them like a comforting blanket. Every now and then, the trees would part, offering them glimpses of the towering peaks in the distance, their jagged edges sharp against the sky.

As they walked, the group fell into a comfortable silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The beauty of Seoraksan seemed to calm their nerves, giving them a sense of peace that had been missing for days. Even Jungkook, who had been struggling with his emotions since Taehyung’s disappearance, felt a momentary sense of clarity as he breathed in the fresh mountain air.

After about an hour of hiking, they reached a small clearing, the trail opening up to reveal a breathtaking view of the valley below. The sun had risen higher in the sky, casting a warm, golden light over the landscape. The trees stretched out before them like a sea of green, the mountains rising majestically in the distance.

“It’s incredible,” Jimin whispered, his eyes wide as he took in the view. “I can see why Taehyung wanted to come here.”

Jungkook nodded, his heart aching as he thought of Taehyung standing in this very spot, looking out at the same view. “He always had a way of finding beauty in places like this.”

As they stood there, soaking in the serenity of the moment, Namjoon pulled out his phone and checked the map again. “We’re close to the peak,” he said, his voice filled with purpose. “If Taehyung is anywhere, it’s probably near the top. That’s where the views are the best.”

The group nodded in agreement, their resolve strengthening as they prepared to continue their hike. The thought of Taehyung being somewhere nearby, hidden among the mountains, filled them with a renewed sense of determination. They had come this far—they couldn’t stop now.

As they resumed their climb, the trail grew steeper, the rocks beneath their feet becoming more uneven. But they pressed on, their focus solely on finding Taehyung. The beauty of Seoraksan surrounded them, its quiet majesty both a comfort and a reminder of the task at hand.

And as they climbed higher, Jungkook couldn’t help but feel that they were getting closer—not just to Taehyung, but to understanding everything that had led them here. The mountains had a way of revealing truths, of stripping away the noise and the chaos and leaving only what mattered. And for Jungkook, what mattered now more than ever was finding Taehyung—and making things right.

With the peak in sight and their hearts heavy with both hope and fear, the members of BTS continued their journey up Seoraksan, knowing that whatever they found at the top would change everything.

Chapter Text

The air grew thinner as they climbed higher, the path steepening as it wound toward the summit. Each step felt heavier, not just because of the incline but because of the weight of anticipation pulling at their hearts. The trees became sparser, allowing glimpses of the sky as the trail opened up toward the peak. The crisp, cool breeze carried the scent of pine and fresh earth, and with every inhale, the members could feel the serenity of Seoraksan easing their minds, even if only slightly.

The beauty of the landscape was undeniable, but none of them were here to marvel at it. They were here for Taehyung. And the closer they got to the peak, the more the tension rose between them. They were on the verge of finding him—or at least a clue to where he might be. The possibilities swirled in their minds, both exciting and terrifying.

Jungkook, walking a few steps behind Namjoon and Jin, found himself thinking about the last few days and how far they had come. Every moment, every clue, every conversation they’d had about Taehyung had led them to this mountain. He couldn’t help but wonder: Was Taehyung watching them right now? Was he somewhere close, waiting for them to find him? Or had he disappeared entirely, leaving behind only memories and cryptic clues?

Jungkook shook his head, trying to push away the worst-case scenarios. They would find him. They had to.

After what felt like hours of climbing, they finally reached the summit. The peak of Seoraksan was breathtaking—vast, open, with a panoramic view of the entire mountain range stretching out before them. The sky was a perfect shade of blue, with the distant peaks cloaked in a soft mist that gave the landscape an almost dreamlike quality. It was the kind of view that left you feeling both small and infinite at the same time.

Jimin was the first to break the silence, his eyes scanning the trees around them. “There’s got to be something here,” he murmured, his voice barely audible above the sound of the wind.

The others nodded in agreement, fanning out slightly to look around the area. They didn’t speak much as they searched—each of them was too lost in their thoughts, too focused on finding any sign that Taehyung had been here. Jungkook’s heart pounded in his chest as he looked around, his eyes darting between the trees and the rocks, searching for anything that seemed out of place.

It was Jimin who spotted it first.

“Guys…” His voice trembled slightly as he called out to the group. “Over here.”

The rest of them turned, rushing to where Jimin stood at the edge of a small clearing, his eyes locked on something hanging from one of the trees. Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat as he followed Jimin’s gaze—and there, dangling from a high branch, was a pair of shoes. The laces were tied together, and the shoes swung gently in the breeze, their worn soles turning in the air like a silent signal.

It was a sight they all recognized instantly.

Jungkook’s breath caught in his throat as he stared up at the shoes. The image was unmistakable, a haunting reminder of their past. It was just like the Spring Day music video—an MV they had filmed together years ago. In the video, shoes hanging from trees had symbolized loss, loneliness, and waiting for someone who would never return. And now, here they were again, hanging from a tree at the top of Seoraksan.

“It’s him,” Yoongi said softly, his voice filled with quiet certainty. “He was here.”

Jimin nodded, his eyes still fixed on the shoes. “He’s leaving us another clue. Just like all the others.”

Namjoon stepped closer to the tree, his brow furrowed in thought. “But what does it mean? Is he still here? Or was this just a sign that he was here at some point?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with uncertainty. The shoes, swaying in the wind, felt like a message from Taehyung—but what exactly was he trying to tell them?

Jungkook’s mind raced. He stared up at the shoes, the memories of the Spring Day video flooding back to him. That video had been filled with symbolism—about waiting for someone, about being left behind. Was that what Taehyung was trying to tell them? Was he waiting for them to find him? Or had they already lost him?

Hoseok, standing beside Namjoon, let out a shaky breath. “It feels like he’s trying to remind us of something. Of the past. Of everything we’ve been through.” Jin glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the area. “But why here? Why now? What’s the significance of this place?”

Jungkook couldn’t shake the feeling that they were on the verge of something big, something that would finally explain everything. The shoes, the paintings, the clues—it was all connected somehow. Taehyung had been leading them here for a reason.

“Maybe…” Jungkook began, his voice hesitant as he tried to piece it all together. “Maybe he’s trying to tell us that he’s still waiting. That he hasn’t left us completely.”

Jimin’s eyes filled with emotion as he listened, his hands trembling slightly. “But what if he’s in trouble? What if this is his way of calling for help, but we’re too late?”

Jungkook shook his head, his heart aching at the thought. “No. We’re not too late. We’ve come this far. We just need to figure out what he’s trying to tell us.” The group stood in tense silence, their eyes locked on the shoes hanging from the tree. It felt like they were teetering on the edge of something monumental—like the truth was just out of reach, waiting for them to take that final step.

Namjoon turned to Jimin, his voice filled with quiet urgency. “Jimin, do you remember anything else? Anything Taehyung might have said that could give us more clues?”

Jimin bit his lip, deep in thought. “He talked about Seoraksan. How it felt like it was calling to him. He said it was a place he wanted to go to if he ever needed to disappear.”

Jungkook’s heart pounded in his chest as Jimin spoke, the pieces of the puzzle slowly starting to come together. Taehyung had always been drawn to places like this—quiet, remote, filled with natural beauty. It made sense that he would come here. But the shoes—there was more to it than that. There had to be.

“What if…” Yoongi began, his voice thoughtful. “What if this isn’t just about Taehyung disappearing? What if he’s trying to remind us of something bigger? Something about all of us?”

Jin glanced over, his expression curious. “What do you mean?”

Yoongi sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Think about it. Every clue he’s left has been about the past. About our memories together. The restaurant, the Jenga tower, now this. It’s like he’s trying to make us remember something—something important.”

Namjoon’s eyes widened slightly, a spark of understanding lighting in his gaze. “You’re right. It’s like he’s retracing our steps. Making us relive moments from our past.”

“But why?” Jimin asked, his voice soft but filled with confusion. “What’s the point?”

Yoongi shrugged, his gaze drifting back to the shoes. “Maybe he’s trying to remind us of who we were. Of what we meant to each other. Or maybe… maybe he’s trying to get us to see something we missed.”

The group fell silent again, each of them lost in their own thoughts as they stared at the shoes. The wind rustled through the trees, the sound eerily reminiscent of whispers.

Jungkook’s chest tightened. He thought of all the times he had ignored the signs, all the times he had pushed Taehyung away, not realizing how much he had hurt him. Maybe this was Taehyung’s way of forcing them to confront their past—to confront the things they had buried for so long.

Finally, Namjoon spoke, his voice steady. “We’re close. I can feel it. Whatever Taehyung is trying to tell us, it’s all connected to these memories. We just have to keep following the clues.”

Jungkook nodded, his resolve strengthening. They had come this far. They couldn’t stop now.

As they stood at the peak of Seoraksan, surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and the weight of their past, they knew that whatever lay ahead would change everything. The truth was within their grasp—they just had to be brave enough to face it.

And so, with the image of the shoes swaying gently in the breeze etched into their minds, they prepared to take the next step in their journey to find Taehyung—and maybe, just maybe, find themselves along the way.

Chapter Text

The wind whispered through the trees as the group stood at the summit of Seoraksan, the weight of the moment hanging heavily over them. The crisp mountain air filled their lungs, but there was no escaping the tension that had built up over years of unresolved pain and silence. The shoes, hanging by their laces from the tree, swayed gently in the breeze, a symbol of their shared past. A past that none of them could run from any longer.

Jimin, standing closest to the tree, couldn’t take his eyes off the shoes. His heart was heavy, the words he had spoken in anger on that fateful night echoing in his mind. He turned to the others, his voice soft, barely breaking the silence. “You know… that night I called us all selfish, saying we’d changed... I’ve been thinking about that a lot.” He paused, swallowing hard, his throat tightening with regret. “I’m sorry.”

The others turned toward him, a mixture of surprise and curiosity flickering across their faces. Jimin rarely apologized for speaking his mind, but this was different. This was Jimin acknowledging the hurt he had carried for so long—the hurt he had inflicted as well.

Jin, standing closest to him, crossed his arms, his expression both cautious and concerned. “Sorry for what?” His voice wasn’t harsh, but there was a clear edge of curiosity there. The group had spent so long dancing around the real issues, the truth of their disbandment, and now it seemed like the floodgates were beginning to open.

Jimin sighed, rubbing his hands over his face before letting them drop to his sides. “For that night. I was so angry. We were all falling apart, and I felt like I couldn’t do anything to stop it. So, I lashed out. I said things I didn’t mean, and I blamed all of you for things that we couldn’t control. But now… now that we’re here, retracing our steps, trying to find Taehyung, I realize that maybe… maybe we all lost ourselves along the way.”

The others stood in silence, letting Jimin’s words sink in. Namjoon, who had been quiet for most of the climb, looked up at Jimin with soft, understanding eyes. “We did change,” Namjoon admitted, his voice low. “But it wasn’t just you, Jimin. We all did. I’ve been thinking about that night, too, about everything we said, everything we did... We became selfish, we let the fame and the pressure change us. And Taehyung—he was always trying to remind us of who we used to be, but none of us listened.”

Jungkook, standing at the edge of the group, felt a knot tighten in his chest. He had always known they’d changed. The fame, the expectations, the constant spotlight—it had shaped them, hardened them in ways they hadn’t even realized. But the way it had affected their relationships, their bond—that was what haunted him the most.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to speak. “I missed you guys. I missed all of this, us being together, even when things weren’t perfect. I didn’t realize how much I needed you all until now. And maybe Taehyung’s clues, all these memories he’s making us relive, maybe that’s his way of showing us that we’re still the same, deep down. We can still find that part of ourselves again.”

Jin’s expression softened as he glanced between the others. “You’re right. I think… I think Taehyung knew that we needed this. He’s making us remember who we were, who we are to each other. And yeah, we’ve changed. But being here, retracing our steps, it’s like we’re starting to find each other again.”

Hoseok, who had been unusually quiet during the hike, stepped forward, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. “I think we all felt like we were losing something back then. We didn’t know how to hold on to each other, so we let ourselves drift apart. But standing here now… I can feel it. We’re still family.”

Jimin looked at him, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I was wrong to call us selfish. We were all hurting, and we didn’t know how to deal with it. But I missed you all so much, and it’s killing me that we let it get this far.”

Yoongi, always the quiet observer, finally spoke, his voice steady and calm. “We did change. And we hurt each other in ways we didn’t even realize. But maybe… maybe Taehyung’s clues are his way of helping us heal. To make us confront the things we’ve been running from for so long.”

Jungkook nodded, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m sorry, too. I’m sorry for everything. For not being there for you all when I should have been. For hurting Taehyung, for saying things I didn’t mean. I never wanted any of this to happen.”

The rawness of Jungkook’s confession cut through the air like a knife. He had carried the guilt of that night, of his words, for years. And now, standing in front of the only people who had ever truly understood him, he felt a small part of that weight lift from his shoulders.

Namjoon stepped closer to Jungkook, his voice soft but firm. “We all made mistakes, Jungkook. We all said things we regret. But the fact that we’re here now, together, looking for him, trying to fix this... that’s what matters.”

Hoseok nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and warmth. “I missed you, Jungkook. And I missed all of us being together like this. It feels… right. And maybe that’s what Taehyung’s been trying to show us. That even though we’ve all been apart, we’re still connected.”

Jin, ever the eldest, placed a hand on Jimin’s shoulder. “It’s time we let go of the anger. We’ve all been carrying it for so long, but we’re here now. And we’re going to find Taehyung. Together.”

As Jin’s words settled over the group, Yoongi shifted, his expression unusually serious. He turned toward Jungkook and Jin, his eyes steady but softer than usual. “I need to apologize too,” Yoongi said quietly, looking directly at Jungkook. “I was hard on you, Jungkook, back then… especially after everything that happened with Taehyung. I was angry, but I didn’t handle it right. I blamed you for more than what you deserved, and I never should have spoken to you the way I did.”

Jungkook blinked, his eyes wide with surprise. Yoongi rarely opened up like this, and hearing him apologize hit deeper than Jungkook had expected. He had never been mad at Yoongi, not really. He understood why Yoongi had been so angry—he had been hurting, just like the rest of them. But to hear Yoongi acknowledge it now, all these years later, brought a lump to his throat.

“I... I understand why you were mad, hyung,” Jungkook said, his voice soft. “I don’t blame you for any of it. I messed up, and I didn’t handle things well either. I’m sorry for putting all of you through that.”

Yoongi shook his head slightly, his lips pressed into a thin line. “You don’t have to apologize, Jungkook. We all played a part in this. I was too harsh on you, and I pushed you away when I should have been there for you.”

Jin, who had been watching the exchange quietly, sighed. “Yoongi’s right. We all pushed each other away. That night… I said some things too. To Taehyung, to all of you. I let my anger speak for me, and I didn’t think about how it would affect any of you.”

Jungkook, still processing Yoongi’s apology, looked at Jin, his expression softening. “Hyung, you were just trying to hold everything together. You were doing your best, just like the rest of us. I get it. I never held it against you.”

Yoongi glanced at Jin, his expression filled with a mix of regret and warmth. “I’m sorry to you too, Jin. I was unfair to you that night. I lashed out at everyone, but especially at you. I felt like everything was slipping away, and I didn’t know how to deal with it. I should have handled it better.”

Jin nodded, his eyes flickering with understanding. “We were all under so much pressure, and we didn’t know how to handle it. But we’re here now, and that’s what matters.”

A brief silence fell over the group, the weight of their shared apologies settling like a soft blanket over them. It wasn’t just words—they were finally acknowledging the pain they had inflicted on one another, the misunderstandings that had driven them apart.

“I’ve missed this,” Hoseok said softly, breaking the silence. His eyes shone with emotion, his usual bright demeanor tinged with sadness. “Being together like this, talking about everything… it feels like we’re healing. Slowly, but we’re healing.”

Namjoon smiled faintly, his voice warm as he replied, “We are. And I think Taehyung knew that this was something we needed to go through, to understand ourselves and each other again.”

Jungkook, feeling a little lighter after the heartfelt confessions, glanced at the shoes hanging from the tree once more. The shoes were a symbol of their past—of everything they had been through, the highs and the lows. But now, standing together, they felt like something more: a reminder that they could still find their way back to each other.

“We’ve all been carrying so much guilt,” Jimin said quietly, his voice wavering with emotion. “But maybe it’s time we forgive ourselves, and each other. We can’t keep holding on to the past.”

Yoongi nodded, his voice steady. “We’ll find Taehyung, and when we do, we’ll make things right. Together.”

For the first time in a long time, the group stood united, not just in purpose, but in heart. They had faced their demons, their regrets, and their mistakes. And now, they were ready to move forward—together.

The moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps crunching on the gravel path behind them. Jungkook turned, his eyes widening as he saw an older man approaching. He had white hair, neatly combed back, and a thick, white mustache that curled slightly at the ends. His face was weathered, deep lines etching his features from years of life’s experiences, but his eyes were sharp and kind. He wore a simple hiking jacket and trousers, and in one hand, he held a walking stick.

“Excuse me,” the man said in a low, gravelly voice, looking at the group with curiosity. “Do any of you have a bottle of water? I could use a sip.”

Hoseok, ever the generous one, quickly pulled a water bottle from his backpack and handed it to the man. “Here you go, sir.”

The man nodded gratefully, taking a long sip before handing the bottle back. “Thank you.”

As they continued to stand in the clearing, the group resumed talking quietly about Taehyung, careful not to use his full name in case anyone overheard. They didn’t want to risk the media or the public finding out what they were doing.

The older man, still lingering nearby, seemed to be listening to their conversation. After a moment, he cleared his throat, catching their attention. “Are you talking about Kim Tae?” he asked casually, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity.

The group froze, their eyes darting toward one another in shock. Jungkook’s heart raced. Kim Tae? The name was common, but there was no mistaking the gravity of what the man had just said.

Namjoon, ever the cautious leader, nodded slowly. “Yes, we are.”

The man’s eyes glinted with something that looked like understanding. “He’s been waiting for you,” the man said simply, his gaze steady as he looked at each of them in turn.

The group stood still, stunned by the man’s words. Jungkook’s pulse quickened. He’s been waiting for us? Was this real? Could it really be happening? After everything they had been through, were they finally on the verge of finding Taehyung?

Jimin stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, “He’s been waiting for us?”

The man nodded, pointing down a narrow path that veered off from the main trail. “Go that way. You’ll find him.”

The weight of the man’s words hit them like a tidal wave. Jungkook’s heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with a mixture of hope, fear, and disbelief. Was this it? Were they finally about to find Taehyung after all this time?

Namjoon, taking a deep breath to steady himself, looked back at the others. “Let’s go.”

Without another word, the group set off down the path, their hearts racing, their minds swirling with questions and emotions. The trail ahead was uncertain, but they knew they had to follow it. They had come too far to turn back now.

Jungkook’s mind was spinning. Every step he took felt heavier than the last, but there was something in the air, something that told him they were closer than ever. He couldn’t stop thinking about Taehyung—about the way he had left them, the way he had made them remember who they used to be. But most of all, he couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility that they were about to find him, that they were about to bring him home.

The air was thick with anticipation as they walked, each step bringing them closer to the answers they had been searching for. They had all been broken in different ways, but now, with the promise of finding Taehyung hanging in the air, they felt a glimmer of hope.

As they continued down the trail, the mountains towering above them, they knew that whatever they found at the end of this path would change everything.

And for the first time in a long time, they were ready to face it—together.

Chapter Text

The air was cool and fresh as they followed the path that the older man had directed them toward. Each step felt heavier, charged with anticipation and nervous energy. The landscape of Seoraksan continued to unveil its beauty around them, but none of the members were focused on the scenery anymore. They were close. Jungkook’s heart raced in his chest, the weight of everything—their journey, their history, and their fractured bond—was almost unbearable now.

As they neared the clearing, the sound of laughter broke through the quiet. Jungkook’s head snapped toward the sound, and his breath caught in his throat. There, just ahead, was a man draped in a cozy, oversized sweater, the soft material wrapped loosely around his lean frame. He had on a knitted beanie that covered most of his dark hair, but it was unmistakable—the way he moved, the way his laughter sounded. It was him.

Taehyung.

He was playing with two young children and a dog, laughing as they chased each other around the open space. The children, a boy and a girl, giggled uncontrollably as they ran in circles, and the dog—small and energetic—barked playfully, bounding between the kids and Taehyung. The sight was so peaceful, so natural, that for a moment, the members couldn’t believe their eyes. Could this really be him?

Jungkook stood frozen, his body refusing to move as he watched the scene before him. It was almost surreal—the man who had been haunting their thoughts for days, standing right in front of them, playing with kids as if nothing in the world was wrong.

The moment Taehyung turned and spotted them, everything seemed to stop. His laughter died down, and his face shifted from surprise to recognition. The familiar, boxy smile that had been missing from their lives for too long spread across his face, full of warmth and joy. He called over to the children, his voice soft and gentle. “I’ll be right back, okay?” The kids didn’t seem to mind, continuing their playful game with the dog as Taehyung began walking toward the group.

“You guys actually, like really, finally, actually came?” Taehyung said, his smile widening as he approached them.

For a brief moment, no one said anything. It felt like all the air had been sucked out of the clearing, the reality of seeing him standing there washing over them like a tidal wave. Jungkook’s chest tightened as he stared at Taehyung, his mind racing with all the things he wanted to say, all the emotions bubbling up inside him. But before he could find his voice, Jin broke the silence.

Jin, who had been holding back his own wave of emotions, stormed forward. “What the actual fuck?” he yelled, smacking Taehyung on the back of the head—hard enough to get his point across but not enough to hurt. “What the fucking hell, Taehyung? You are such an asshole. Do you have any idea how worried we were? How worried your mom was? We thought you were dead!”

Taehyung didn’t flinch at the hit. Instead, his eyes softened as he looked at Jin, and a sheepish smile played on his lips. He didn’t try to defend himself or offer any explanation. Instead, he just pulled Jin into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around his older brother with a warmth that made Jin’s frustration dissolve on the spot.

“I missed you, Jin-hyung,” Taehyung whispered softly, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I missed all of you.”

Jin’s tough exterior cracked, his voice hitching with emotion as tears welled up in his eyes. “You idiot,” Jin muttered into Taehyung’s shoulder, hugging him back tightly. “You had us all scared to death.”

The rest of the group watched, emotions raw on their faces, and a few of them let out soft chuckles at Jin’s predictable reaction. But beneath the humor, there was relief. Taehyung was here. He was safe.

Yoongi was next to approach, his arms crossed but a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You know you deserve another one, right?” he teased before smacking Taehyung on the arm with enough force to make Taehyung wince.

“Hyung!” Taehyung whined, rubbing his arm. “That one actually hurt.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes, pulling Taehyung into a tight hug despite his complaints. “We thought something terrible happened to you, you know that? You’re such an asshole, Kim Taehyung.”

Taehyung laughed softly, hugging Yoongi back with just as much warmth. “I’m sorry, really. I didn’t mean to scare you guys.”

Namjoon stepped forward next, his face a mix of relief and frustration. “It wasn’t funny, Tae. None of it was.” His voice trembled slightly, betraying the tears that glistened in his eyes.

Taehyung’s expression softened, and he pulled Namjoon into a hug as well, his voice gentle. “I know, hyung. I’m sorry.”

But in true Taehyung fashion, he couldn’t resist lightening the moment. “I guess I should thank you for not calling the police on me sooner. You guys could’ve found me days ago.”

That earned a round of laughter, even from Namjoon, who wiped at his eyes before hugging Taehyung even tighter. The tension that had been suffocating them for days seemed to finally start melting away, replaced by the warmth of their reunion.

Hoseok, who had been holding back his emotions for so long, couldn’t stop the tears that finally slipped down his cheeks as he stepped forward. “I’m just glad you’re okay, Tae.” His voice was thick with emotion as he hugged Taehyung tightly, the relief evident in his body language.

“I missed you, Hobi-hyung,” Taehyung whispered, squeezing Hoseok tightly. “You look like you’ve been crying this whole time.”

Hoseok chuckled through his tears, nodding. “Because I have been.”

Taehyung’s gaze shifted then, landing on Jimin, who had been trying—and failing—not to cry from the moment they had arrived. “Jiminie…” Taehyung said softly, his voice breaking as he opened his arms to his best friend. “You’ve been crying this whole time too, haven’t you?”

Jimin didn’t need any more prompting. He stepped forward and practically collapsed into Taehyung’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably as Taehyung held him close. “I’m sorry,” Jimin cried into Taehyung’s shoulder. “I should’ve been there. I should’ve known.”

Taehyung shook his head, rubbing soothing circles on Jimin’s back. “Shh, it’s okay. I missed you so much, Jimin. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

As they hugged, the rest of the members stood by, watching the scene unfold with bittersweet smiles. There was so much love between them, so much that had been left unsaid for years, and now it was finally coming to the surface. They had all missed each other more than they could ever put into words.

Except for Jungkook.

He hadn’t moved from his spot, his eyes fixed on Taehyung but his body rooted to the ground. His heart was racing, his thoughts spiraling as the weight of everything—the guilt, the shame, the love—crashed over him in waves. The sight of Taehyung, standing there, smiling, laughing, hugging the others, was too much for him to bear. He had been carrying the burden of what happened between them for so long, and now, all those feelings were threatening to tear him apart.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Taehyung turned to him, his smile faltering slightly as their eyes met. “Hi,” Taehyung said, his voice soft and tentative, as if he wasn’t sure what to expect.

Jungkook’s chest tightened, and before he could stop himself, he surged forward, wrapping his arms around Taehyung and pulling him into the tightest hug he had ever given. His body trembled as the dam inside him finally broke, and tears streamed down his face, soaking into Taehyung’s sweater.

“I’m so sorry, Taehyung,” Jungkook sobbed, his voice barely coherent through his tears. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m the one who’s a fag—” He paused, trying to catch his breath before managing to joke through his tears, “Okay, maybe not a fag. Bi-fag. Still figuring myself out.”

The others chuckled softly at Jungkook’s attempt to lighten the moment, but there was no hiding the raw emotion in his voice.

“I was scared, Tae,” Jungkook continued, his voice cracking with every word. “Scared of myself. Scared of my feelings. I didn’t know how to accept any of it, and that’s no excuse for projecting it down and outing you, even if I was drunk or not. I’m so sorry for everything—for making you feel like you couldn’t trust me, for making you think you weren’t enough. I’ve missed you so much. I’m such a bad person. I don’t even remember saying those things at the club, but I know I did, and I hate myself for it. I hate myself for hurting you.”

Taehyung didn’t say anything at first. He simply held Jungkook, his arms wrapped tightly around him as he let the younger man cry into his chest. His hand moved to stroke Jungkook’s hair, and his voice, when he finally spoke, was barely a whisper. “You’re not a bad person, Jungkook. We were both scared. But I never stopped caring about you. I never stopped loving you.”

Jungkook’s sobs quieted slightly, but he still clung to Taehyung as if letting go meant losing him all over again.

Taehyung pressed a soft kiss to Jungkook’s forehead, his voice steady and filled with warmth. “It’s okay, Jungkook. We’re okay now. We’re together again, and that’s all that matters. You’ve punished yourself enough. Let it go now. It’s been eight years, and if I have forgiven you, can you forgive yourself now too?” Taehyung glanced over at the others, smiling at them, “And that goes to all of you.”

The rest of the group watched the scene unfold with teary eyes, and one by one, they moved closer, forming a tight, emotional group hug around Taehyung and Jungkook. There were no more words left to say. The pain, the guilt, the regret—they had all felt it. But now, they were together again, and in that moment, it felt like nothing else in the world mattered.

As they pulled away from the hug, wiping at their tear-streaked faces, Jin—ever the mood-lifter—smacked Taehyung on the arm again, a playful grin on his face. “You’re still an idiot, though.”

Taehyung winced dramatically, clutching his arm as if he were truly hurt. “Ow! What is it with you guys and hitting me today?”

Yoongi rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. “It’s because you deserve it. Making us run all over the place like this.”

The group laughed, the sound of their voices carrying across the mountain as they finally allowed themselves to relax. The tension that had built up over the past weeks was gone, replaced by the warmth of their reunion. For the first time in a long time, they felt like themselves again—like a family.

“I really am sorry,” Taehyung said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. “I didn’t mean to cause so much trouble. I just needed to figure some things out. But I missed you all more than I can even say.”

Jungkook, sitting close to Taehyung, couldn’t stop looking at him. The way Taehyung’s face lit up when he smiled, the way his eyes sparkled with mischief and love—it was all so familiar, and yet it felt new. It felt like they were starting over, and for the first time, Jungkook wasn’t afraid of his feelings. He wasn’t afraid of the love he had buried for so long.

After a moment of silence, Yoongi spoke up, his voice breaking the comfortable quiet. “So… what now? What do we do from here?”

Jin leaned back, sighing dramatically. “Well, first, we inform the police and Taehyung’s family that we found this idiot. Unfortunately.”

Everyone laughed again, the relief palpable in the air.

But Taehyung wasn’t done. His playful grin returned as he spoke, his eyes glinting with that familiar mischievousness. “And then… we reband.”

The words landed like a bomb, and for a moment, everyone stared at him in disbelief.

"Reband?" Namjoon repeated, his eyebrows raised. "You're not serious, right?"

"Oh, I'm serious," Taehyung grinned.

Namjoon sighed, crossing his arms. "Tae... K-pop fans don't want a group of thirty-somethings trying to make a comeback. You know how the industry works." Taehyung shrugged, unfazed. "So? We've always done things our way. Why stop now?"

Jin scoffed, but there was a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "The world isn't ready for a group of aging idols trying to make a comeback, Taehyung. Be realistic."

But Taehyung’s smile didn’t falter. "We do it ourselves this time. No Bang PD to stop us. No one to tell us what we can and can’t do. Just us, doing what we love, together.”

Jungkook blinked, his heart racing. Could they really do it? Could they really come back after all this time?

"You really think we'd have a shot?" Hoseok asked, but there was a flicker of hope in his voice.

Taehyung’s eyes gleamed with determination. "First time in K-pop history—an old group coming back with members in their thirties and forties. One of them gay—" he pointed to himself with a smirk, "—one bi—" he gestured to Jungkook, who blushed but didn’t deny it, "and we take on the world again. Because we’re family. And I believe in us.”

For a moment, everyone was silent, processing his words. It sounded insane—impossible even. But as they looked around at each other, they couldn’t deny the fire that was slowly building in their hearts. They had defied the odds before. Why couldn’t they do it again?

Namjoon sighed, a smile tugging at his lips as he looked at Taehyung. "You're crazy, you know that?"

Taehyung just grinned, his eyes shining. "But it's our kind of crazy."

Jungkook, still sitting beside Taehyung, couldn’t stop smiling. His heart was full—full of love, hope, and the promise of something new. He glanced over at Taehyung, his eyes soft with affection. And this time, he didn’t push those feelings away.

“Let’s take on the world together, Tae,” Jungkook whispered softly, leaning closer.

Taehyung turned to him, his smile widening. “You better keep up with me, Jungkook.”

Jungkook chuckled, leaning in until their foreheads touched. “I’ll always keep up with you.”

The laughter, the love, the hope—it filled the air, and for the first time in years, they felt whole. The future was uncertain, but they knew one thing for sure: they were ready to face it. Together.

And for the first time in years, it felt like they were finally home.