Chapter 17: Aching Hearts

The air hung heavy with unspoken words and unspoken emotions. Jin, ever the perceptive friend, noticed the turmoil churning within Taehyung. He had always been a good judge of character, a keen observer of the subtle shifts in human behavior. The usual light in Taehyung's eyes, the playful glint that always seemed to sparkle, was dimmed, replaced by a somber, almost melancholic haze.

"You seem troubled, Taehyung," Jin inquired, his voice laced with concern. "What's weighing on your mind?"

Taehyung, his gaze distant, fixated on a point in the distance as if lost in a world of his own making. He seemed to be wrestling with a profound internal conflict, a battle between hope and despair. He confessed his anxieties, his voice barely a whisper, as if afraid to utter the words aloud.

"It's the age gap," he mumbled, his voice barely audible. "I'm older, and I worry he's still figuring things out. At his age, I don't know if he can truly understand the commitment I crave. Maybe it was just hormones, the constant proximity, that made him seem attractive to me. Maybe he's confused."

Jin, ever the pragmatist, offered a reassuring smile, attempting to inject a dose of optimism into the somber conversation. "You have a point," he conceded, his voice laced with a gentle understanding. "Hormones play a powerful role at his age, it's the time they hit puberty. But five years isn't a huge gap. There are countless celebrities who've dated people half their age. It's not something I endorse, but as long as both parties are of legal age and consent, it's their choice."

Taehyung, however, remained unconvinced. The weight of his anxieties was heavy, a burden he couldn't seem to shake. He felt a deep sense of unease, a gnawing fear that threatened to consume him.

"It's just...weird, you know?" he admitted, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. "I'm afraid of what people will say. Jungkook comes from a wealthy family, and I'm just...ordinary. If he becomes the heir, he'll be under intense scrutiny. People will criticize him, maybe even ruin his life, and that's something I wouldn't want him to experience. He has so much potential, so many opportunities, and I don't want to be a burden."

Jin, sensing Taehyung's fear, offered a different perspective, attempting to shift his focus from the negative to the positive.

"Have you considered that he might choose you above all else? Jungkook seems willing to fight for his love. He knows when to give up and when to stop, as you've seen. He loves you so much that he stayed by your side even when you were at your lowest. But he didn't chase you, knowing you might be better off without him. He's a bit of a brat, though," Jin chuckled, trying to lighten the somber mood, injecting a touch of humor into the tense atmosphere.

Taehyung, however, remained doubtful. His heart was heavy with uncertainty, a storm of conflicting emotions raging within him. He felt a deep sense of insecurity, a fear of rejection that threatened to consume him.

"Maybe he'll change his mind. Maybe it's best if I'm far away, maybe he'll find someone else. Who knows, maybe he's still figuring out what he wants. He's young and smart, I'm sure he'll find his own path." His smile was tinged with a bitter sadness, a painful reminder of the chasm that now separated him from Jungkook.

Jin, understanding the weight of Taehyung's anxieties, offered a comforting pat on his back, attempting to provide a sense of solace and support.

"You're not wrong," he acknowledged, his voice filled with empathy. "You should think about yourself, Taehyung. You're carrying too much on your shoulders. It's okay to move on, to find peace. It must be hard for you."

Taehyung nodded, wiping away his tears, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, his body trembling with the force of his unspoken emotions. He felt a deep sense of exhaustion as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Jaehyun, Jungkook's mother, confronted her son about his sudden departure. She had always been a protective mother, her heart filled with love and concern for her son.

Her voice, laced with concern, trembled slightly as she spoke. "Are you sure about this, Jungkook? You know that was supposed to be your last chance to see him."

Jungkook, immersed in the world of his PS5, responded with a firm voice, his tone laced with a defensive edge. "What do you expect me to do? Chase him? Beg him to stay?"

"I just think you missed an opportunity to say goodbye," Jaehyun sighed, her voice filled with a mother's worry. "Wouldn't you rather express your feelings to his face than through letters?" She walked behind him, her eyes filled with a mother's worry, her gaze searching for a flicker of emotion in her son's stoic facade.

She knew Jungkook well, she understood his attempts to mask his pain with a facade of indifference. She could see through his carefully constructed walls, sensing the turmoil brewing beneath the surface.

"Whether I say it to his face or not, if he doesn't love me back, it's useless," Jungkook replied, his gaze fixed on the screen, his fingers moving with practiced ease, his focus unwavering.

"Even so, it's better to see him one last time. Who knows, he might not come back, and─"

"He'll come back," Jungkook cut her off, his voice laced with a newfound determination, his tone firm and unwavering. "He'll come back because I'll wait for him."

"I'm just saying, there's a possibility he might not come back. He could find a better life in another country and decide to stay. You've missed your chance to see him for the last time." Jaehyun said.

"It doesn't matter. If he doesn't come back, I'll find him. I'll do anything to see him, even if it hurts me in the end." He was determined.

Jaehyun, sensing the depth of his pain, offered a gentle touch on his back, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder, a silent gesture of comfort and support. "It's okay to cry, Jungkook. Let it out. It's better than holding it all in."

She left him alone, his tears falling silently as he struggled to contain the torrent of emotions. Even though he excelled in the virtual world of his games, he was failing miserably in the real one. He tried to distract himself, to numb the pain, but his mind remained a blank canvas, filled with the haunting image of Taehyung.

The thought of missing Taehyung, of the physical distance separating them, sent a sharp pang through his heart. The age gap had been a hurdle, but now, the distance felt like an insurmountable chasm.