"Uncle Hobi, how do you play this?" Junghyun asked as he looked at the newly bought toy train of his uncle.

"First, place it here in the trail way and then turn it on like this... Tada!" Hoseok beamed, seeing Junghyun's amused face as the train began working.

His eyes were twinkling as he stared at the toy with amusement. Hoseok ruffled his hair as he stood, making his way to Jungkook who's looking at his son with a fond smile.

"You can go now. I'll look after him." Hoseok assured which made Jungkook smile thankfully.

"Thanks, Hoseok." Jungkook said. He looked at his son and smiled, seeing how he's so engrossed with the toy train.

"Baby, daddy's going." Jungkook called which made the little one raise his head.

"Bye bye daddy." Junghyun ran towards him, enbracing his legs as he looked up and smiled.

"Behave, okay? Don't make uncle Hobi's head hurt." He picked him up and kissed him on the forehead.

"Junghyun won't be bad. Promise." Junghyun raised his hand, pledging.

"Good. Grandpa Jungho will pick you up later, okay?" Jungkook reminded to which Junghyun nodded.

"I'll get going. Go play with your new toy." Jungkook kissed him on the cheek before putting him down, immediately running back to his toy train.

"Thanks, Hoseok." Jungkook tapped his friend's shoulder as he made his way out of the house and into his car.

It took him half an hour to arrive at his destination. As he entered the establishment, he was welcomed by the fragrance of the flowers and the calming scent of the whole place.

"Mr. Jeon." The worker smiled and greeted him.

"Hey, Mark. Are my flowers ready?" He asked, tapping the latter by the shoulder.

"Yes, Mr. Jeon. I finished them first thing in the morning." Mark smiled as he ducked down to get the two bouquets Jungkook had ordered.

"Thank you, Mark." Jungkook smiled, taking the flowers.

He stayed for a while for a small talk with the latter before finally deciding to leave.

Jungkook was making his way to his car when he heard a voice.

"Jungkook?"

He turned around, brows furrowed as he saw who had called him. He was surprised, not expecting to see her again after all these years.

"Lisa." Jungkook uttered.

Lisa smiled. Her face was glowing and full of happiness, far from the image he had seen of her 7 years ago.

"Can't believe it's really you. How have you been?" Lisa asked, looking at the bouquets in his hand.

"Just the same. How about you? When did you arrive?" Jungkook asked in return.

"I've been here for a few months already." She lifted her hand, showing a diamond ring.

"Busy preparing. Actually we're here to check for flower arrangements and all." She giggled, pointing out to the man walking toward them.

Jungkook turned to look and saw a handsome guy smiling fondly at Lisa.

"Hey." The man greeted as he securely placed his arms around Lisa's waist.

"Babe, this is Jungkook. A childhood friend of mine. Jungkook, this is Bambam... my fiancé." Lisa introduced.

Bambam extended his hand which Jungkook politely took.

"Nice to meet you, bro." Bambam said, finally retracting his hand as he looked at Lisa.

"We better head inside babe." Bambam said, smiling.

"You go in babe. I'll follow you." Lisa assured to which Bambam nodded his head.

"Okay." Bambam kissed her in the forehead, making her smile even more.

He gave Jungkook one last look, smiling at him before getting inside the flower shop.

"You should go ahead. I'm leaving anyways." Jungkook said as he looked at Lisa.

"I just want to say something, Jungkook before you go.." Lisa uttered, making Jungkook stop.

"I know it's long overdue... but thank you." Lisa sincerely looked at him with a soft smile on her lips.

Jungkook sighed. "No need to thank me. I didn't really do anything. It's all on you."

Lisa shakes her head. "If you haven't done what you did before... I wouldn't have found my real happiness now."

There was a long silence as Jungkook stared at Lisa for a long while. He had remembered what he did back then, sighing thankfully that it had helped her even though his ways were harsh.

(a/n chapter 38 if you forgot)

After the fight Lisa and Taehyung had, the woman was desperate to file a case against Taehyung.

She would've gotten him in prison with her family's influence but Jungkook quickly intervened.

When he said he was leaving the country for two days for a business trip, in truth, he had worked on ways to stop her.

He talked to his lawyer, made sure that any legal step Lisa attempted to do would be countered.

He had arranged a meeting with Lisa's father and revealed to him everything that his daughter had been doing.

He showed him proof of her obsession, from how she hired people to spy on him and Taehyung.

Jungkook threatened Lisa's father that he will pull out all his stocks from the latter's company and file a case against Lisa if she won't leave the country, undergo psychological treatment which she badly needed, and vanish in his life for good.

He had made it clear that he won't be hesitating to break off whatever ties their family have if his conditions weren't met.

Jungkook was unsure back then, why he had done those things for Taehyung.

or maybe he knew but was too filled with hatred at that time to even admit it to himself.

That behind his anger was love.

"I'm happy for you, Lisa." Jungkook sincerely uttered, offering a smile to the latter.

"Thank you.. and I'm sorry." Lisa whispered, looking down on the pavement.

"It's all in the past now, Lisa. I'm sincerely happy for you." He said, finally giving her one last smile before he went to his car.

As he drove away, Lisa couldn't help but think to herself how Jungkook had changed.

She couldn't point it out but there's something different in him now. She sighed as she made her way inside the flower shop with a contented smile.

---------

Jungkook slowly placed the bouquet in front of his mother's tomb as he uttered a short prayer for her.

He had come to accept the truth and had already found forgiveness in his heart for her.

He had it tough but came to realize that at the end of the day, she's still his mother regardless of what she had done.

Having Junghyun made him realize how it's like to be a parent. He had experienced the extent to which a father would do anything just for the sake of his child.

That's why he had also forgiven his father from keeping the truth from him.

He knew his father's intention to protect him was good, but his ways weren't.

It's true that truth hurts like a knife piercing through your heart and killing you in an instant.

But lies burn your flesh, little by little, making you suffer from the pain bit by bit until your death.

Truth might have hurt, but lies do greater damage.

However, Jungkook had come to realize that forgiving the people whom he had loved dearly could bring him peace in his heart.

"I'll come by again next time, Mom... with Junghyun and Dad." He whispered as he smiled.

Today was the day he had lost his mother.

The same day Taehyung lost his father.

Jungkook sighed as he looked at the dark clouds indicating that a heavy rain would come.

--------

The dark clouds didn't stop Taehyung from visiting his father. He had borrowed Jimin's car for the day which the latter didn't hesitate to let him use.

Today is his last day in Korea. He had booked a flight for tomorrow, going back to Canada where his work awaits him.

He was supposed to leave tonight but had to hold off, remembering what today signifies.

Taehyung slowly parked the car and went out, flowers in one hand and keys on the other.

He looked at the sky, noting to himself that he should've brought umbrella with him.

Not much people can be seen as he made his way to where his father was buried.

He had to stop for a moment, only to shrug off his shoulders and continue to walk, finding the idea that came to his mind ridiculous.

The moment he had reached his father's tomb, rain started pouring as if the weather was sharing the sadness he's been feeling.

As he went nearer, Taehyung couldn't help but furrow his brows, seeing a bouquet of flowers in front of his father's tomb.

And it's still fresh.

He looked around, heart thumping off his chest when he remembered why he had stopped on his tracks earlier.

He thought he had seen Jungkook which he thought to be ridiculous.

And now, it all made sense. Maybe it was really him.

He doesn't know why but he found himself going the opposite direction, looking around to find him.

The rain started pouring heavily, making Taehyung curse. He was drenched as he ran to take shelter on the pavilion.

Maybe his eyes were just playing tricks on him.

He sighed, patting off the dirt on his shirt when his keys slipped from his hand, making him curse even more.

"Damn keys."

He turned around and picked it up, checking whether something might have fallen off from the bunch.

He stood, lifted his head only to freeze at the sight.

Jungkook was standing in front of him with the same shocked expression on his face.

The two of them just stared at each other, wide eyed from surprise.

It's as if time had frozen with only the two of them, gazing intensely at each other as the rain continued to pour outside.

It's been years since their eyes met like this.

It's been years...

Taehyung cleared his throat as he looked away. He turned his attention outside, watching the dark clouds and the heavy pour of the rain.

He couldn't shrug off Jungkook's presence, his senses were on full alert, noting the ravenette's every move.

From his peripheral vision, he could see Jungkook staring at him, making him anxious, goosebumps forming on his skin as shivers ran down his spine.

"I don't think it'll stop any time soon."

Taehyung snapped his head toward the ravenette's direction, hearing his low voice.

"Uh.. I guess." He responded, gripping hard on the bouquet on his hand. He could feel his heart beating loudly off his chest.

They were silent for a while as Taehyung looked at the flowers in his hand, trying to push away his discomfort.

"I saw the flowers on my father's tomb." Taehyung said in barely a whisper.

The sound of the rain almost drowned his voice, but Jungkook was able to hear him.

Jungkook sighed, filling his lungs with air, gaining courage as he turned to look at the brunet.

"Taehyung."

"Jungkook."

The two of them said in unison, making them stop. Their eyes met once more as Jungkook finally took a step forward, braving the storm.

"I know it's already years too late..." Jungkook trailed off, staring deeply at Taehyung's eyes.

He breathed in, eyes not leaving Taehyung's own as he whispered.

"I'm sorry, Taehyung."

Taehyung looked at Jungkook, feeling his sincerity in every word.

"I have hurt you and treated you in the worst way imaginable." Jungkook started, eyes starting to glimmer with tears.

"I fucked up and threw your love away." Jungkook admitted, feeling so little in front of Taehyung.

"I could understand if you couldn't forgive me." He said as tears finally flow down his eyes.

"But hear me when I say... I'm really sorry." Jungkook could feel his knees losing strength from all the pent up emotions he had been keeping bottled up inside him.

He took a step, only to fall on his knees as tears continued to drown him.

Taehyung felt his heart tightening, his eyes started to water as he looked at the ravenette.

He could feel his pain, his regret, his sincerity that made him sob. He covered his mouth as tears continued to flow down his eyes.

7 years.

Took them long enough to say the words they should've said.

Took them 7 years to finally listen.

"I'm sorry." Jungkook whispered once more as tears flow down his eyes. He looked down, body shaking as he begged for Taehyung's forgiveness.

The flowers slipped down from his hands but he didn't care as he slowly dropped down to his knees, face wet from his own tears as he lifted the ravenette's head.

Their eyes locked on each other.

No words were said.

Only their eyes revealed what they truly felt.

Jungkook reached out his hand and pulled Taehyung, caging him in his arms as both of them cried.

A lot of things were said which they couldn't take back.

A lot of things were done which couldn't be undone.

But they came to realize one thing.

They couldn't turn back the time and rewrite their yesterday.

However, they can definitely do something about today, so their tomorrow could be better.

Taehyung embraced him closer, face buried on the ravenette's chest as he whispered the words he had been keeping to himself.

Words he should've said sooner.

"I forgive you, Jungkook." He sobbed, feeling the heavy boulder finally being lifted off his chest.

"I hope you forgive me too. I'm sorry." Taehyung uttered, breathless.

His body shakes as the two of them communicated with their tears.

Jimin was right.

Forgiving was something he should do for himself.

He felt so good, so free like a torn was finally pulled out of his heart after all these years.

He finally learned the truth that forgiving Jungkook means forgiving himself.

Jungkook slowly cupped his face as he smiled through his tears.

"Thank you, Taehyung." Jungkook whispered, tenderly caressing the brunet's face.

He saw how Jungkook looked at him with too much emotions that drowned him.

Taehyung closed his eyes, feeling the warmth coming from Jungkook's hand.

"I have loved you, Taehyung." Jungkook whispered, caressing Taehyung's face with his hands.

Taehyung nodded his head, keeping himself close to the other as he held him by the arms.

"I know." He responded, looking longingly at the ravenette.

He knows because he had always felt the same way too.

"I have loved you too, Jungkook." Taehyung answered, returning the warmth he felt from the ravenette's words.

Both of them stared at each other for a long time as a sad smile appeared on their lips.

They have loved each other.

But both of them know that part of loving is letting go.

Letting go of the past.

Letting go of the pain.

Letting go of each other.

Forgiving doesn't mean it's time for them to go back in each other's arms.

Love is there, but they know it's not enough.

They need to heal.

Truly heal.

Right now, being together will only cause them another heartache.

Being together will only destroy them again until they can no longer fix themselves.

Two broken pieces won't be able to fix each other.

They need to fix themselves and when they're finally ready, only then will they be able to truly love.

Their eyes met again and so were their lips in a short yet heartfelt kiss.

A kiss goodbye.

The rain had finally stopped, giving way to a bright sky.

The dark clouds had finally faded away, revealing the mesmerizing colors of the rainbow, painting the blue sky.

There's beauty after the storm.

There's light after the darkness.

And just how the weather brightened up, Taehyung and Jungkook were finally able to smile.

The kind of smile that reached their eyes.

--------

"This is the final boarding call for passengers on flight 372A to Canada. Please proceed to gate 3 immediately. The final checks are being completed and the captain will order for the doors of the aircraft to close in approximately five minutes time. I repeat. This is the final boarding call for passengers on flight 372A to Canada. Thank you."

Taehyung stood from his seat, hearing the final announcement for his flight.

He sighed, finally feeling contentment in his heart as he pulled his luggage.

He had requested his friends not to send him off because it will only make him cry.

He doesn't want to leave Korea in tears again.

He wanted to leave with a smile and a loving heart.

As Taehyung neared the gates, he stopped for a while, looking at his surroundings one more time.

He smiled, promising to himself that he'll be back.

And once he does, he'll stay for good.

He turned around, sighing in relief as he looked ahead.

He'll focus on loving himself, so that he could truly love others.

So that he could finally love him again.

Taehyung slowly lifted his hand to touch the pendant hanging on his neck and smiled.

After all, he had kept this necklace for a reason.

He had kept it because he knew his love for him is greater than his pain.

All he needs now is the time to grow on his own.

Time to see that he's more than what his past dictates him to be.

He could do this.

After all he's a queen, a badass one.

---------

End.

Thank you for reading and supporting Badass Queen. 💜

There won't be a book 2 so please don't ask anymore. 😭

There's a special chapter though. (already posted. Just scroll to the next page you lovely human being ☺️)

I hope you learned something from this book even a tiny bit.

I'll be working in a few more days (still not sure because of the pandemic) which means lesser time to write new books and update my ongoing ones.

I'll probably unpublish the books that I won't be able to finish.

Though I'll try but I'm not promising to finish everything and then probably have a short break. (still depending on my work if it will really resume in a couple of days.)

Again, thank you for reading.

Love you 💜

Your girl,

Rosie 🌹