Taehyung saw the post late.
He didn't mean to.
He was just scrolling, trying to distract himself… trying to forget how warm she felt in his arms.
But then…
his thumb froze.
Jungkook + Ria.
Too close.
Too perfect.
Too official.
And the caption…
His chest tightened.
He reread it again.
And again.
His mind went blank.
"You won't have to be confused between me and Taehyung anymore…"
A bitter laugh left his lips.
"So that's it?" he whispered to himself.
He locked his phone — then unlocked it again.
His mind kept repeating her words from last night:
"You're as important to me as Jungkook…"
His jaw clenched.
"Was I?" he murmured, voice breaking.
"Or was I just… someone to make him jealous?"
He stood up abruptly, the chair screeching behind him.
He walked to the mirror.
His own reflection stared back.
Tired.
Hurt.
Lost.
He leaned both hands on the table and lowered his head.
"I shouldn't have believed it…"
"I shouldn't have let myself hope…"
His fingers curled into fists.
But then his eyes softened again.
"…But when you hugged me… I felt like I mattered."
And that hurt more than anything.
Scene: The media explosion
The post didn't just reach Y/N.
It exploded.
Headlines started appearing everywhere:
🔴 "JK CONFIRMS RELATIONSHIP WITH RIA"
🔴 "LOVE TRIANGLE BETWEEN IDOL TRAINEE, Y/N AND TWO MEMBERS?"
🔴 "DID Y/N CHEAT EMOTIONALLY?"
Comments flooded in.
Some were supportive.
But most… were cruel.
"So she tried both of them?"
"She wanted attention."
"Poor Jungkook, he looked sincere."
"Y/N was just playing with feelings."
Phones kept buzzing.
Left and right.
Non-stop.
Her notifications wouldn't stop.
She closed her eyes as another call came in.
She didn't pick up.
Her hands started shaking.
Then…
Yoongi's name flashed.
She answered.
"Y/N… don't open anything. Don't read comments."
His voice was calm, but she could tell he was worried.
"…It's too late," she whispered.
He sighed.
"I'll come get you."
In another building…
Jungkook stood in front of a media manager.
"You're sure about this?" the manager asked.
Jungkook nodded once.
No smile.
No emotion.
And in his pocket…
his phone vibrated.
A message from Ria:
"You did great. She'll break soon."
His fingers tightened.
His jaw tensed.
But his face?
Still cold.
Still controlled.
Meanwhile… Taehyung
He turned his phone face down.
Closed his eyes.
Took a deep breath.
Then whispered…
"If this is his plan…
then what am I to you now, Y/N?"
And his heart slowly cracked.
The rooftop was quiet.
Too quiet.
Wind brushed past her hair but she didn't care.
Her eyes were only fixed on him.
He was standing there, looking at the city lights below… pretending they didn't hurt.
"Taehyung…"
Her voice broke his silence.
He didn't turn.
"You came," he said quietly.
She took a step closer.
"You're avoiding me."
He smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Am I?"
Or am I just protecting myself?"
Her hand clenched.
"I never meant to hurt you."
"I told you… you're important to me."
He finally turned.
"And then you let him post that."
"And let her humiliate me in front of the whole world."
She shook her head immediately.
"You think I wanted that?"
"You think I had control over his stupid plan?"
Her voice cracked.
"He did this to make it clear for him, not for me."
Taehyung laughed bitterly.
"And where was I supposed to stand in that clarity?"
"Behind you? Or under his shadow?"
Silence.
The air felt heavy… suffocating.
She walked closer, near enough that he could feel her breathing.
"You asked me not to make you feel lesser than him."
"So don't do that to yourself either."
His eyes softened — just slightly.
"But he already chose, didn't he?" he whispered.
"He stood with her."
She swallowed.
"And I'm standing here with you."
He froze.
Slowly, his gaze met hers.
"…Then why does it still feel like I'm losing you?"
Her hand reached for his sleeve unconsciously.
"You're not."
"Not today… not like this."
But before he could answer…
Her phone buzzed.
And then again.
And again.
Taehyung glanced at it.
Her face turned pale.
"Don't tell me…" he murmured.
Ria's new scandal
Every screen in the building had the same thing.
A video.
A cut video.
Short.
Cruel.
Edited.
It was their camp scene.
But twisted.
They only showed the part where she was close to Taehyung…
and cut the rest.
The caption:
"Y/N already moved on from Jungkook within days?"
Was she playing them both?
Let the audience decide."
Comments were worse than before.
🔥 "She's clearly using Taehyung now."
🔥 "She doesn't care about anyone."
🔥 "Poor Jungkook, he trusted her."
🔥 "She destroys everyone's image."
Her hands trembled.
"This wasn't like that…"
Her voice cracked.
Taehyung looked at her…
then at the screen.
Then back at her.
"They're turning you into a villain."
She laughed weakly.
"They already succeeded."
Another notification popped up.
Ria's story:
"Some girls don't know their limits.
But don't worry… everything will end soon." 💋
Her throat went dry.
"She's enjoying this…"
Taehyung's jaw tightened.
"Because this was her goal."
"To break you."
Jungkook watching silently
In another building…
Jungkook stared at the same video.
His manager was speaking… but he wasn't listening.
Because he noticed something.
The cut.
The unnatural silence.
His eyes narrowed.
"That's edited," he muttered.
Ria smirked beside him.
"Does it matter?
Everyone believes it anyway."
His fingers curled.
"And what if they shouldn't?"
She turned.
"What?"
He locked his phone.
Nothing else.
But the tension in his shoulders didn't go away.
Back at the rooftop…
Taehyung stepped closer to her.
"You didn't do anything wrong," he said softly.
"But they'll make you believe you did."
Her lips trembled.
"And what if you believe it too… one day?"
His hand lifted slowly…
But stopped mid-air.
Because he didn't want to cross another line.
He just whispered:
"I'll believe what you show me.
Not what they edit."