Fear is only temporary,
Regrets last forever...

Taehyung groaned as he opened his eyes, the evening sun piercing through the curtains and bathing the room in a warm, golden hue. It took him a moment to adjust his blurred vision, and as the world around him came into focus. The room felt oddly familiar. The clock struck 4 in the evening. He had been sleeping for a whole day.

Suddenly, the reality hit him like a punch to the gut. He jolted upright, heart racing as memories flooded back: he had been with Jungkook in the car when the building exploded. "I need to go to her!! She needs me!!" he muttered to himself, his voice strained with urgency. With a frantic energy, he grabbed his jacket and bolted out of his apartment, each step filled with dread and determination.

Meanwhile, Seokjin was visiting Taehyung's apartment to collect some of his belongings. He had just parked his car and stepped out when he caught sight of Taehyung getting into his vehicle. His mind raced in disbelief, and he blinked to confirm his eyes weren't deceiving him. But before he could call out, Taehyung had already started the engine and sped past him, oblivious to the older man's presence. Jin's heart dropped, and without a second thought, he sprinted after him.

"YAH!! KIM TAEHYUNG!!! WAIT!!" Jin shouted, his voice filled with a mix of concern and frustration. But Taehyung was already disappearing into the distance, the roar of the engine swallowing Jin's words.

Realizing he might need help, Jin fumbled for his phone and dialed Hoseok's number, urgency gripping his chest.

Taehyung drove through the dense forest, uncertainty gnawing at him. The path ahead blurred, and he focused on the landmarks he remembered from his time with the gangsters. Relief washed over him when he finally spotted the familiar mansion in the distance.

But as he pulled up, the sight that greeted him shattered his heart. The Titans' mansion was a shadow of its former self, utterly ruined. The once-glimmering logo was tarnished, the vibrant exterior now a haunting canvas of charred black and crumbling gray. The fountain lay shattered, the trees decimated. An eerie silence enveloped the area, wrapping around him like a heavy shroud.

"Anyone here??!!" Taehyung shouted, desperation clawing at his throat as he ventured into the wreckage. The living room was a nightmare, disheveled and filled with remnants of violence. Blood splatters adorned the walls and floors, and the sight of half-burnt bodies scattered about struck him with a wave of nausea. This was the aftermath of a war that had raged just a day before.

He fought back tears, his heart breaking with each passing second. "Sri??!! Can you hear me??? It's Taehyung!! Your annoying doctor!" he called out, a sad smile creeping onto his face as he recalled their playful banter.

As he navigated the wreckage, it became painfully clear that the rooms had been reduced to ashes, devoid of life or hope. Taehyung's heart sank further when he realized he couldn't find any of the Titan gangsters' bodies; it was as if they had never existed. The weight of his regret pressed heavily upon him, and he fell to his knees, exhaustion washing over him. "I'm sorry... I misunderstood you," he sobbed, tears streaming down his cheeks, turning into heart-wrenching cries. "Please give me another chance and come back. I love you, Jeon Sri!! Soojung!! Please!!"

But the silence that surrounded him offered no solace, no forgiveness. He was too late.

Amidst the debris, something glimmered in the dirt—a shining silver bracelet, unmistakably hers. It lay there like a cruel reminder of the love he had taken for granted. He picked it up, holding it tightly in his palm, and the weight of his grief felt insurmountable. As he wept, the bracelet slipped from his fingers, landing softly on the ground, echoing the permanence of his loss.

.........

It was 8 PM when the doorbell rang at Seokjin's apartment. He opened the door, surprised to find his younger brother standing there. Taehyung looked slightly skinny, his eyes puffy and red, but overall, he seemed fine.

"T-taehyung?" Jin stammered, momentarily at a loss for words.

The younger bit his lip, managing a small, strained, "Hi."

"How come—? You came here—" Jin's voice trembled with overwhelming relief and confusion.

Without a moment's hesitation, Taehyung threw his arms around Jin, who embraced him just as tightly. "Hyung! I missed you."

"Me too. I thought I would never see you again." Jin smiled, his eyes glistening with tears. "I am so happy that you're back! Let me tell eomma!"

"Hyung—" Taehyung choked on his words, unable to hold back the flood of emotions any longer. He broke down, sobs wracking his body.

"Hey, hey!" Jin patted his back soothingly. "It's okay. I would be scared too, in your shoes."

"Hyung, she is gone!" Taehyung cried, anguish pouring from his voice.

Confused, Jin looked at his brother, struggling to understand. Taehyung had been taken by the Titans, but he sounded utterly heartbroken. "Get in first. We'll talk inside." He ushered Taehyung into the apartment, closing the door behind them.

"Now tell me what happened," he urged, handing Taehyung a glass of water.

"Hyung, this sounds ridiculous, but I'm sorry," Taehyung began, taking a deep breath. "I'm in love with S. But I messed everything up! I wanted to be free, but not at the cost of her life." He sniffed, his emotions spilling over.

"Maldo andwae... (This can't be...). You're in love with the most dangerous woman in the world?!" Jin gasped, disbelief etched on his face.

"Believe me when I say she treated me very well. I was only caged, but they didn't torture me. Jungkook and Jimin were considerate too! I know what she did was wrong, but she had her reasons. She was trying to change. She's much better than you think. But everything ended." Taehyung sobbed, feeling the weight of regret. "If only I had realized it sooner."

Seeing the devastation in his brother's eyes, Jin felt a surge of sympathy. But no matter how good S seemed, the reality was that she was a criminal. Their love story felt doomed from the start. He wrapped his arms around Taehyung, offering comfort. "I'm sorry. Hyung is always here for you."

The next morning, Seokjin and Taehyung visited Hoseok at the police station. Hoseok was back at work, a familiar uniform bringing him a sense of purpose. His temporary suspension had been lifted, and now the police were on a nationwide hunt for S.

"Welcome! Glad to see you back, Dr. Taehyung," the officer greeted, his grin infectious.

Taehyung managed a faint smile, though it faded quickly, the pain of his circumstances weighing on him. "Great to see you healthy, Officer."

Hoseok turned to Jin. "I want to take him to the interrogation room. Hope you'll cooperate with us." Jin nodded, anxiety creeping in as he watched them.

Hoseok led Taehyung to the interrogation room, motioning for him to take a seat at the empty table. "Keep a watch from outside. The recordings should be clear," he instructed Soobin and Hunengkai, who nodded in understanding.

Hoseok sat across from Taehyung, his demeanor serious. "Dr. Kim Taehyung, I hope you'll cooperate and answer my questions honestly." Taehyung nodded, keeping his gaze downcast.

"Can you tell me everything that happened from the day you were kidnapped?"

"I treated S when she was shot and was brought into Savior. Later, one of their men forced me with them. Jungkook, the underboss of the Titans, wanted me to be her personal doctor. When S woke up, she wanted me dead because I was an outsider, and no outsider ever came out of the Titan mansion alive. They were dealing with gangs like the Dark Squads, and my death was delayed for that reason."

"Okay... How did you get out alive? Did you run away?" Hoseok inquired, leaning forward.

"S let me go. Jungkook probably dropped me off at my apartment. I was unconscious then."

Hoseok's eyes widened at Taehyung's straightforwardness, "They did that?" The doctor's expression was serious, revealing a truth Hoseok couldn't ignore. "Why do you think they let you go?"

"I'm not sure. S was supposed to kill me that day, but the enemies attacked suddenly, and she left me tied up in a room. Jungkook escorted me out."

"Do you think the Titans had a motive behind this?"

Taehyung bit his lip, recalling S's desperate attempts to protect him. She had sacrificed everything for his safety. "I have no idea. What's the point of all these interrogations? S is already dead; I saw the house explode in front of my eyes."

"Do you really think the world's top mafia would die so easily?"

"W-what do you mean?" Taehyung sat up straighter, a flicker of hope igniting within him.

"S is very much alive, as are her gang members. They supposedly left the country. Don't worry; we will get her soon. The police will protect you and your family until then."

A breath of relief escaped Taehyung as he processed this information. At least Sri was alive. He only needed to wait for her return. Even if she didn't come back, the knowledge that she was out there, breathing the same air, under the same sky, brought him comfort. "I see."

Hoseok observed Taehyung closely, a hint of suspicion forming in his mind. "Doc, didn't anything else happen that you should tell me? Like any confidential information about the gang? You've been with them for eight months now."

Feeling Hoseok's piercing gaze, Taehyung cleared his throat. "I was locked in my room most of the time. I only got out when S needed treatment or took me along on missions."

"Do you know any of their enemies besides the Dark Squads?"

"As far as I remember, she completed every mission, and no one was left alive."

"Names of the dead?"

"I'm sorry; I can't remember any. I wasn't given any information."

"Thank you for your cooperation. We're done for today." As Taehyung stood, he bowed respectfully before being escorted out by Hunengkai.

"Taehyung?" Hoseok called before he left the room. "Please don't hide anything from us. We're doing this for the good of the country. I guarantee your and your family's safety. So, please don't hesitate to say anything."

Taehyung gulped but replied casually, "I will. Thank you for your concern, officer."

Merry Christmas Chimes!! 
😊💜🎊

Just a clarification, Taehyung didn't support Sri. He just didn't want to see her in pain.