The silence was deafening.

Jungkook opted not to say a word as he carefully sat on the chair next to the hospital bed where Yeri was sitting, back resting on the headboard as her eyes lingered on the view of the night sky from the window of her room.

Neither was brave enough to start a conversation, one that they'd been dodging since that morning after Jungkook had talked to the doctor in charge of Yeri's condition.

It was hopeless, her case was.

Two years ago, Yeri successfully won her battle against cancer- that which started from the tumor found in her brain.

Unfortunately, the recurrence of cancer cells happened and was detected late.

"We should reschedule our marriage, Jungkook." Yeri uttered, finally breaking the silence.

Jungkook didn't respond, feeling hist heart ache from Yeri's words. He knew exactly what she meant, and it hurt him.

"Let's do it next week." Yeri added, finally glancing to Jungkook to meet his gaze.

The moment their eyes met, Jungkook felt his throat going dry as tears threatened to fall from his eyes.

Yeri had accepted her faith.

And even in her darkest times, Yeri chose to think of Jungkook and what's best for him.

"Yeri.." Jungkook trailed off, feeling his voice breaking.

"We must do this, Jungkook. We can't let our efforts be in vain." Yeri said, reminding him of their goal since the beginning.

"That's not what's important now. You have to focus on getting better more than anything else."

"I'm not getting better!"

Yeri's voice echoed in the room which immediately turned silent as the two of them finally broke into tears.

"I'm not.. and we both know that." Yeri whispered through her sobs.

It's been tiring, fighting a battle with no assurance of winning.

She thought she had won, but fate said otherwise.

"Let's face the truth, Jungkook." She said, clasping her trembling hands.

Jungkook lowered his head as he cried, feeling his heart clench in pain.

They were each other's person.

Seeing Yeri like this had brought back the pain he had felt when he had lost his mother.

"We have to do this before I die.. or else—"

"You promised we'd live." Jungkook uttered, not wanting to hear Yeri's words.

The sorrow in his voice was evident which had Yeri smiling through her tears.

"We did. I did.. but this is as far as I can fulfill that promise." Yeri said, reaching her hand to clasp Jungkook's own.

"So, let's move our wedding date the soonest possible time, okay?" She added with the same smile she had back when Jungkook felt like giving up.

"I'm sorry." Jungkook whispered, bringing his lips to kiss Yeri's hand.

"I'm sorry..." He repeatedly said, tears cascading down his eyes.

He felt so bad for Yeri because everything she did was for him.

This marriage— that of convenience was something both of them had been dragging for a long time.

They've been working together to achieve the same goal— for Jungkook to have power over the Jeons.

Starting from agreeing to be engaged, everything was going according to plan.

When Yeri offered herself to have Jungkook gain power to protect the people he loved, both of them played the part.

Yeri, whose family's influence was greater than the Jeons, asked her father, Yunri who also despised the Jeons, to only accept business negotiations with them if they met one condition: for her to be engaged with Jungkook.

As a result, Sunmi, Jungkook's stepmother was forced to have Jungkook back in the 'family'.

This was where their plan started to take place. With Jungkook being involved in the Jeon's business after he graduated, Yeri and him began doing their research.

From the associates' files, down to the last employee in the company, they both made sure to find even the littlest evidence they could to overturn the hierarchy.

They did business with the people who shared the same enemy and made contracts with them, all under Yeri Kim's name.

With the way Jungkook had been leading the Jeon Enterprises to success, he had gain the trust and loyalty of the associates, more than his father, Junho, did.

They trust him, so wherever he'd go, they'd follow.

Jungkook had been building his own empire using Yeri's connections and her family's name.

The power that he'd been working to have was finally within reach. He only had to do one more thing— marry Yeri to legally have the right to inherit Kim Enterprises.

"I'm really sorry.." Jungkook continued.

He had been receiving a lot of help from the Kims, people who should've been strangers but turned out to be the only people he could really consider his family.

"Don't be. You made my life worth living, Jungkook. This is the least I can do to help make yours worth living, too." Yeri said, giving Jungkook a pat on the head.

"Be free from the chains that bind you." She added, making Jungkook cry even more.

In his life, he had been a puppet of his own family. Now, he can finally be free, but only with the sacrifices of the people he had learned to cherish.

"Thank you... thank you, Yeri." Jungkook uttered, planting a soft kiss on the back of Yeri's hand.

"Just promise to look after my father when I'm gone." Yeri whispered, letting her own tears fall from her eyes.

Yeri didn't even have to ask.

Yunri had made Jungkook a part of their family. Even though he's a Jeon, Yunri promised to help him after seeing the relationship Yeri and him had.

With all the support and love he had been getting, Jungkook had already made it his pledge to protect the people who undoubtedly protected him back.

———

Amid the bustling crowd on the streets, Taehyung discreetly adjusted his cap and muffler to cover his face.

He was out to get his morning coffee before his work, something he could've asked his personal assistant to do but decided not to.

He wanted to feel the cold breeze from the first snowfall of the year.

"Today's cold! Have yourself a hot chocolate!"

Taehyung smiled, seeing the busy and energetic entrepreneurs around. It's as if the streets were filled with life even in the early morning.

As he was about to cross the street, his eyes landed on the huge LED screen by the intersection.

Taehyung stopped, smiling at the sight.

The news of Jungkook and Yeri's wedding which happened the other day was being flashed right in front of him.

He knew about it, even got an invitation to attend, but he chose not to.

Even though Taehyung had convinced himself to understand everything that had happened, he still couldn't bring himself to witness Jungkook's wedding.

It still hurt because he loves him, but he knew this was for the better.

After all, it's the consequence of the decisions he had made.

"Congratulations." Taehyung whispered, feeling a sudden nostalgia.

That could've been him.

Five years ago, Taehyung decided to leave Jungkook with only the best intentions.

He sacrificed their love, and that's okay.

That's how Taehyung had viewed his love for Jungkook to be. He had left because he loved him dearly.

But everything didn't happen according to what Taehyung had expected.

He didn't know leaving would hurt Jungkook more than saved him.

If he had known, Taehyung would've just stayed.

But looking at the screen with Jungkook kissing Yeri on the forehead, Taehyung felt relieved.

Maybe, leaving was the best choice.

After all, everything that had happened led them in the present.

Jungkook finally had his freedom.

Yeri could have someone by her side until the end.

And Taehyung, he finally learned to forgive himself and find his own happiness.

"Congratulations to us." Taehyung said, smiling.

The snowfall got heavier and the cold breeze gushed harder, but Taehyung didn't feel cold.

He felt warm.

His heart did.

—————
Love you 💜