BUSAN CAMP – FIRST DAY
The training ground is huge.
Wider.
Busier.
Colder.
You stand there with a clipboard in hand, scanning the new athletes.
And Taehyung notices it immediately.
Taehyung:
"Stop scanning like you're about to diagnose the whole city."
You blink, then chuckle faintly.
Y/N:
Old habit."
He nudges your shoulder lightly.
Taehyung:
Relax. You're here with me too."
You reply automatically—
Y/N:
I know."
But your mind drifts…
To Seoul.
CUT TO SEOUL CAMP
The court is loud.
Whistles.
Shoe screeches.
Music blasting through speakers.
And there he is.
Sweat on his neck.
Focus sharp.
But someone is walking beside him.
Laughing softly.
Ria.
Her hand brushes his arm as she talks.
Casual.
Almost… practiced.
Teammates notice.
Whispers start.
But he doesn't stop her.
He lets her walk with him.
Train beside him.
BACK TO YOU
You're treating a sprinter's ankle.
But your mind is miles away.
Your phone vibrates in your pocket.
You ignore it.
Again.
Suddenly—
Tae:
"Seoul sending signals?"
You pause.
Don't look up.
Y/N:
"I don't track things that don't belong to me."
He watches you carefully.
Taehyung:
And what if they never did, but still mattered?"
Your fingers tighten slightly.
But you don't answer.
EVENING BREAK – CAMP CANTEEN
You and Taehyung sit with food trays.
You stir your drink absent-mindedly.
He suddenly says:
Taehyung:
"Heard someone transferred to Seoul's national wing today."
You look up, waiting.
Taehyung:
Ria."
Your heart tightens.
But your face doesn't change.
Y/N:
She always wanted spotlight."
He observes your face.
Taehyung:
And what about him?"
You finally look at him directly.
Y/N:
He chose his environment. I chose mine."
Your voice is steady.
But your eyes?
Not as calm.
SEOUL — THE MOMENT
Night training.
Almost empty gym.
Just him.
Ria.
Lights dimmer.
She hands him a towel.
Ria:
You've been quiet since she left."
He doesn't answer.
Just wipes his face.
Ria:
Why do you look so guilty when you didn't leave her?"
His jaw clenches.
JK:
Because I should've stopped you earlier."
Ria smiles faintly.
Ria:
But you didn't."
He doesn't respond.
Not denying.
Not agreeing.
Just… silence again.
TEXT YOU NEVER OPENED
Your phone buzzes again.
Another message.
Same sender.
She trains beside me now.
But she doesn't have your silence.
Or your honesty.
You don't reply.
You lock your screen.
And look up at the Busan night sky.
TAEHYUNG BREAKS THE QUIET
He stands next to you on the rooftop of the dorm.
Looking at the same sky.
Taehyung:
Busan stars are clearer."
You sigh.
Y/N:
They don't lie as easily as people do."
He smirks.
Taehyung:
Then let's stay here longer."
You glance at him.
He isn't flirting.
He isn't pushing.
Just… staying.
The night felt heavier than usual.
Not because of the cold.
But because of the distance — the kind that starts inside the heart before it ever shows on the face.
You stood near the practice hall's glass door, arms crossed, watching them through the transparent walls.
Jungkook.
Ria.
He was helping her with footwork again. His hands barely touching her waist… correcting her posture… speaking softly so only she could hear.
And you hated that it bothered you so much.
Not because you didn't trust him.
But because she wanted this.
And he didn't seem to realize how dangerously close he was letting her get.
Inside, Ria laughed quietly.
Something too soft. Too personal.
You swallowed hard and turned away, your jaw tight.
Just then, Taehyung's voice reached you from behind.
"You're going to break your teeth if you clench them like that."
You blinked, turning to him.
He was holding two coffee cups.
"Here," he handed you one, "Before you break someone's head with your bare hands."
You let out a tired half-smile.
"Don't tempt me. I'm already considering it."
He chuckled lightly but then his expression softened.
"Again?" he asked, gently.
You nodded.
He didn't ask who.
He already knew.
TAEHYUNG'S CAMP – QUIET MOMENTS
You both walked out to the training ground behind the hall, where the cold air hit your face like reality.
Taehyung sat on the edge of the steps and you followed, wrapping your jacket tighter.
"You get angry a lot these days," he spoke casually, staring ahead.
"Maybe I just never had the right to get angry before," you replied.
He glanced at you.
"And now?"
"Now I feel like I do."
There was a pause.
Then he smiled softly.
"That's good."
He leaned back, resting his palms behind him.
"Means you care about things enough to feel something."
"But caring hurts," you whispered.
He tilted his head slightly, watching you carefully.
"Only when you care alone."
Your heart skipped.
"Do I look like I care alone?" you asked quietly.
Taehyung didn't answer immediately.
His eyes softened.
"No," he said.
"You don't."
You turned toward him, your gaze heavy.
"Taehyung…"
Your voice trembled slightly.
"But I'm happy with you too. I like you too as well… don't think yourself lesser than him. You're as important for me as Jungkook."
His breath hitched.
You leaned forward before he could respond…
And pressed a soft kiss on his cheek.
Not rushed.
Not accidental.
Just warm. Real.
Honest.
Then you wrapped your arms around him and hugged him tightly, your forehead resting on his shoulder.
For a second…
He didn't move.
Then slowly, he lifted his arms and hugged you back.
Carefully.
As if you were glass.
As if you were something he never wanted to break.
CUT TO – INSIDE THE HALL
Meanwhile, inside…
Jungkook handed Ria a towel.
"You're improving really fast," he said.
Her lips curved smugly.
"Because my trainer is too good."
"And too busy saving people who don't even look at him," she added lightly.
Jungkook frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Ria leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"You're wasting time, Jungkook. Someone else might win before you realize."
He stiffened.
His gaze immediately drifted to the door.
Where you and Taehyung had been standing.
But now…
You weren't there anymore.
BACK TO YOU
Taehyung noticed his phone vibrating.
He glanced at it.
A message from Jimin:
"He's looking for you."
You sighed.
"You going inside?" he asked.
"…Not yet," you replied.
He nodded.
"Good."
You looked at him, confused.
He smirked slightly.
"Give him time to realize what he almost lost."
The air was silent again.
But this time…
It wasn't lonely.
The practice hall felt different now.
Quieter.
But not peaceful.
Jungkook stood near the mirror, his jaw tight, fingers tapping against his thigh.
Ria was still talking, still smiling, still pretending everything was normal…
But he wasn't listening anymore.
His eyes kept moving to the glass door.
The same door you had walked out of.
The same door Taehyung followed you through.
Ria noticed.
"…Are you even hearing me?" she asked.
Jungkook didn't answer immediately.
"Jungkook."
He finally turned. "You should go."
Her smile froze.
"What?"
"You've practiced enough today." His tone was calm… too calm.
"But—"
"I'll tell the manager you're done," he cut her off.
Ria's expression darkened.
"You're sending me away because of her?"
His eyes sharpened.
"No," he replied.
"I'm sending you away because you're crossing lines you were told not to."
Silence.
"You don't even like her that way," Ria scoffed. "She's just some project for you."
That's when it snapped.
He stepped forward, stopping just inches away from her.
"Careful," he warned.
"Don't talk about her like you know her."
Their eyes locked.
"And you," he continued, voice low,
"Don't get close to me just because you think you can replace her."
Ria's face fell.
"So she does matter to you."
Jungkook looked away.
But not before she saw it.
The truth in his eyes.
He grabbed his jacket and walked out.
His heart was racing.
Not because of anger.
But because of the image stuck in his mind.
You…
Laughing with Taehyung.
Touching his arm.
Leaning close.
And that smile…
The one you didn't give him anymore.
His hands curled into fists.
"Why does it bother me… this much?" he muttered.
PART 2 – SOFT TAEHYUNG COMFORT
You were still on the steps behind the building, staring at the sky.
Clouds covered half the moon, like even it didn't want to see the mess below.
Taehyung sat beside you again, this time closer.
"Still thinking?" he asked softly.
"Always," you replied.
"About him?"
You hesitated.
"…About everything."
He nodded, understanding without forcing you to explain.
"You know," he said quietly,
"People think I'm calm because I don't care."
A small smile touched his lips.
"But actually… I care too much. That's why I stay quiet."
You turned to him.
"Doesn't it hurt?"
"Every day," he replied.
"But when I see you smile…"
"…I forget the rest for a while."
Your heart clenched.
"You deserve someone who won't make you forget yourself," you whispered.
He looked at you then.
"And you deserve someone who won't make you doubt your worth."
The air between you turned warm.
No tension.
No rush.
Just honesty.
His hand brushed yours.
Not grabbing.
Not pulling.
Just… asking.
You didn't pull away.
Instead, you let your fingers stay there.
Intertwined.
For a second longer than necessary.
For a moment that meant too much to be called accidental.
The air changed the moment the door opened.
Heavy.
Charged.
Like someone had poured gasoline onto silence.
You and Taehyung both looked up.
Jungkook stood there.
His hair still damp from practice.
Jacket half-zipped.
Chest rising too fast.
He hadn't meant to find you like this…
Sitting close.
Hands almost touching.
But there you were.
With him.
Taehyung's fingers slowly left yours.
Not because he was scared…
But because he didn't want you to be in between a war.
Jungkook's jaw clenched.
"…So this is where you went."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
You stood up. "Did you need something?"
Something inside his expression cracked.
"You disappeared mid-conversation," he said.
"I thought you would at least say something before walking off."
You let out a breathless laugh.
"Why? So you could clarify in front of Ria again that she's 'just a trainee'?"
His eyes darkened.
"That's not what I was doing."
"You were standing there, Jungkook," you replied.
"Letting her hang off you like it meant nothing. Like I meant nothing."
Taehyung stepped back slightly, giving you space.
But he didn't leave.
He never would.
Jungkook noticed.
"And you?" Jungkook glanced at him.
"You suddenly decided to play support?"
Taehyung looked unfazed.
"Someone had to," he replied.
"When you were busy creating confusion."
The tension thickened.
Three people.
One truth.
None of you saying it yet.
"I told her to stop," Jungkook said.
"To keep her distance."
"And yet she still feels comfortable claiming you," you replied.
Silence.
Then Ria's voice shattered it.
"Because he never pushed me away hard enough."
All of you turned.
She was standing there.
Having followed him.
Her eyes were sharp now, not sweet anymore.
"So don't blame me for crossing lines," she continued.
"Maybe blame him for drawing them so softly."
Jungkook turned to her, furious.
"I never promised you anything."
"But you allowed it," she snapped.
"Every time you corrected my form, every time you stayed late with me—"
"And he trained you knowing all this," you interrupted, voice shaking now.
"He knew you liked him and still let you stay close."
Jungkook's gaze shot back to you.
"I trained her because it's my job," he said.
"Not because I like her."
"…But you never trained me like that," you whispered.
Dead silence fell.
Even Ria froze.
Even Taehyung stopped breathing.
You swallowed.
"That's why I walked away," you continued quietly.
"Not because I was jealous…
…but because you acted like I was replaceable."
Jungkook flinched.
"You were never replaceable," he said under his breath.
But it almost sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
Taehyung finally spoke, voice steady.
"She doesn't need excuses right now," he said.
"She needs air."
He gently took your wrist, not pulling, just guiding.
Jungkook's eyes dropped to his hand.
Something dangerous flickered there.
"You don't get to hold her like that," Jungkook said.
Taehyung didn't let go.
"And you don't get to hurt her and then act like you care," he answered.
The night stood still.
Rain began falling.
Slow.
Cold.
Heavy.
You stepped back between them.
"Stop," you whispered.
"Both of you."
They froze.
"I am not a trophy," you said.
"Not yours. Not his. And not someone to be claimed."
Ria scoffed.
"You're enjoying this attention."
You turned to her.
"No," you replied calmly.
"I'm surviving the confusion you helped create."
Silence again.
Jungkook exhaled.
"Then tell me," he asked quietly,
"What do you want?"
You didn't answer.
Not yet.
You just turned and walked away.
Into the rain.
Leaving three different reactions behind you.
• One filled with jealousy
• One filled with regret
• One filled with guilt
The rain didn't just soak your clothes.
It soaked your bones.
By the time you reached your room, your hands were shaking.
Not from cold…
but from everything you didn't say.
You didn't even remember when you sat on the bed.
Or when your phone slipped from your fingers.
All you remembered was Jungkook's eyes.
The way he looked like he wanted to stop you…
but couldn't.
And then…
darkness.
When your eyes opened again, the world was soft.
Blurry.
A faint heater hum.
The smell of antiseptic.
And someone sitting beside you.
"…You're finally awake."
Taehyung.
He was leaning forward, elbows on his knees, eyes tired.
He'd changed out of his training clothes.
Now he looked like someone who hadn't moved for a while.
"How long…?" you whispered.
"Three hours," he replied.
"You have a fever."
You tried to sit up, but he gently pushed your shoulder back.
"Don't act strong," he said quietly.
"You're terrible at it anyway."
A weak scoff escaped you.
"You sat here the whole time?"
He nodded.
"Someone had to."
"And no… I didn't call him."
You didn't ask who "him" was.
But your heart did something stupid anyway.
Taehyung grabbed the thermometer from the table.
"Still warm," he said.
"Drink this."
He held the cup to your lips. You hesitated.
"I can—"
"Just drink," he interrupted softly.
"Don't fight me over small things today."
You obeyed.
Because for once…
You didn't want to fight anymore.