chepter 5 : you never asked me why?

Character Card: Kim Taehyung

Name: Kim Taehyung

Age: 26

Role: CEO of Kim Empire

Status: Emotionally guarded, dangerously controlled

Past: Betrayed by Jungkook, abandoned the idea of love, built an empire from ruins

Personality:

– Charismatic and cold

– Speaks rarely, but his silence hurts more than words

– Believes power is the only protection

Weakness: Jungkook’s memory. And maybe, still... Jungkook himself.

Quote:

"I don’t forgive. I erase."

.........

Location: Kim Empire Tower – 3rd Basement Archive

It was 2:17 a.m.

No one came here.

Except Taehyung.

The underground archive smelled of old paper, dust, and memories meant to be buried. But he couldn’t sleep. Not after what Jungkook said:

> “You think I forgot how your silence killed me?”

He hated how those words crawled under his skin.

Hated that they meant something.

And now, he was here.

In the very place where his father's legacy had been recorded, sealed, and—eight years ago—ruined.

He pulled out the old case file.

“Internal Breach – Year 20XX.”

Jeon Jungkook.

Accused.

Leaked documents.

Arrested. Expelled.

Case: Closed.

Except…

There was something new taped inside.

Taehyung’s breath caught.

A letter.

Written in familiar, messy handwriting. Yellowed edges. Never sent. Never read.

---

To Taehyung,

I’m sorry.

You’ll hate me anyway, but I need to say this once before I disappear—

Taehyung sat down on the cold archive floor, reading with frozen hands.

---

"I didn’t leak anything. I took the blame because your father made me promise.

He said if I protected your reputation, you’d survive in this world.

He said you didn’t know. And I shouldn’t tell you.

He made me swear on the one thing I never wanted to lose—

You.

So I did it.

I gave up everything.

But you never came.

And I broke.

—Jungkook."

---

Present – Taehyung’s Apartment

The letter hit the floor.

Taehyung stood in front of the glass wall, forehead pressed against it. Eyes closed.

Eight years.

Eight years of blaming him.

Of hating him.

Of turning love into poison just to breathe.

And now…

The truth was a noose.

---

Later That Day — Jungkook’s Private Training Room

Taehyung didn’t knock this time either.

But he didn’t speak right away.

Jungkook was shirtless again, sweat running down his back, gloves on, fists pounding into a sandbag like it owed him everything.

"You took the fall," Taehyung said.

Jungkook froze.

Then turned slowly.

"You read it."

Taehyung's jaw clenched. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You wouldn’t have believed me.”

“You could’ve fought—”

“I didn’t want you to look at me with pity.”

Taehyung swallowed.

"You should’ve told me."

Jungkook stepped forward.

"I tried. But you never asked me why. You just vanished. You let me rot."

Taehyung looked away.

Because it was true.

And that guilt? It burned hotter than hate.

---

"You always had a choice," Taehyung whispered.

"So did you."

Their eyes locked.

And in the silence, something more dangerous than anger passed between them.

Recognition.

Not forgiveness.

Not love.

Understanding.

Jungkook pulled the gloves off.

“I was yours before the world taught us to be enemies.”

Taehyung stepped back. “I’m still angry.”

“Good,” Jungkook said. “That means you still feel.”

---

Flashback — Age 18

“Do you ever wish we weren’t born into this world?” Jungkook had asked, lying next to Taehyung on a rooftop, eyes watching the stars.

Taehyung had whispered, “Every day.”

Then closed his eyes when Jungkook touched his hand under the sky.

It was never about lust.

Not even desire.

It was the safety of being seen.

---

Present — Elevator, Going Down

Taehyung stared at the elevator buttons, heart loud in his ears.

His reflection in the gold panel looked older tonight. Sadder.

He didn’t know what scared him more—

The idea that Jungkook had always loved him.

Or the thought that... maybe... he still did too.

......................

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