🥀 76. 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 !!?

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"Divorce me," Taehyung repeated, his voice dropping to a whisper as if the words were cutting him from the inside.

The glass in Jungkook's trembling hand slipped from her fingers, shattering against the hardwood floor. The sharp sound reverberated through the room, breaking the suffocating silence.

Water splashed across the floor, tiny droplets catching the dim light like scattered tears.

Jungkook stared blankly at the broken shards, her mind unable to process anything but Taehyung's words. She chuckled softly, the sound brittle, almost hollow.

"This is a joke, right?"

Her voice wavered as she looked up at him, searching his face for any trace of humor, any sign that he wasn't serious.

But Taehyung's expression remained unyielding. His dark eyes, rimmed with exhaustion and something far deeper—regret, sorrow, guilt—met hers with unwavering resolve. The seriousness in his gaze was like a dagger to her chest, twisting with every passing second.

"Mr. Kim," Jungkook said again, her voice cracking as she tried to smile through the lump in her throat. "You don't mean that. You're just... upset. Whatever it is, we'll fix it. Together."

She stepped forward, carefully avoiding the broken glass on the floor, her movements hesitant yet desperate.

Taehyung clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists at his sides. He wanted to believe her words, wanted to let her assurance wrap around him like a balm but the image of her bloodied form, lifeless under the blood moon, burned in his mind like a curse.

"This isn't about being upset, Mrs Kim," he said, his voice firm though it trembled at the edges. "It's about saving you."

Jungkook froze mid-step, her brows furrowing as confusion and hurt warred within her.

"Saving me? By divorcing me? Tell me the reason behind this so-called of divorce." Jungkook asked, her tone sharper now, tinged with disbelief.

Taehyung turned his back to her, unable to face the pain etched in her features. He stared out the rain-streaked window, his reflection merging with the storm outside.

"If I tell you, you'll only try to stop me. And I can't let that happen."

"Stop you from what?" Jungkook demanded, stepping closer despite the sharp shards on the floor. Her bare feet didn't care for the risk; her only focus was him.

Taehyung flinched at her words, his hands gripping the mirror frame tightly as if anchoring himself. He turned then, his eyes fierce but glistening.

"You deserve a life without curses, without darkness. Without me."

Jungkook's breath caught as his words hit her like a tidal wave. He was breaking before her, piece by piece and yet he still thought she'd be better off without him.

"I've already decided," he said, his voice a shadow of its former strength. "It's for the best."

Jungkook let out a shaky laugh, her tears falling freely now. "For the best? you're breaking us. You're breaking me. Is that what's best?"

He didn't answer, his silence a confirmation that crushed her even further.

The storm outside raged on but it was nothing compared to the storm within the room. Two hearts, breaking for each other, stood inches apart yet worlds away. The silence between them was suffocating, broken only by the faint sound of the rain against the windows.

"Why?" Jungkook demanded, her fists clenched at her sides. "Why are you doing this? Don't you dare stand there and tell me it's for my own good."

Taehyung kept his gaze on the floor, his jaw tightening as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

"I don't owe you an explanation," he muttered, his voice low and guarded.

Jungkook let out a bitter laugh, the sound laced with disbelief and frustration.

"You don't owe me an explanation? I'm your wife, Mr Kim! You don't have a right to make life-altering decisions without me!"

He looked up then, his dark eyes glinting with barely suppressed frustration. "It's not just a decision, Mrs Kim. It's necessary."

"Necessary for what?" Jungkook shot back, her voice rising. "Necessary to ruin us? To push me away? To leave me broken and wondering why the man I admire is suddenly acting like I'm some burden to him?"

Taehyung flinched at her words, his fists curling tighter. "It's not about you being a burden," he said through gritted teeth. "It's about keeping you alive."

Jungkook stepped closer, her bare feet brushing against the cold floor as her gaze burned into his. "Keeping me alive by divorcing me? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"You don't understand—"

"Then make me understand!" Jungkook yelled, cutting him off. "Stop shutting me out. Stop making me feel like I don't matter to you anymore!"

"You matter more than anything!" Taehyung snapped, his voice rising to match hers. "That's why I'm doing this! Don't you get it? If you stay with me, you will be affected!"

"What are you even talking about?" the angry wife demanded, her voice trembling with fury and hurt. "Who told you that? Why are you suddenly acting like this?"

Taehyung turned away from her, his chest heaving as he tried to steady himself. "It doesn't matter," he said, his voice lower now but no less intense. "I'm not risking your life for my curse."

Jungkook's brows furrowed as she watched his broad back, his tension radiating off him.

"Mr Kim, look at me," she said, her tone softening but still filled with resolve.

He didn't move.

"Look. At. Me," Jungkook repeated, her voice firm, her words biting through the storm of his emotions.

When Taehyung didn't respond, something inside her snapped. Jungkook crossed the room in a few angry steps and grabbed his shirt collar, jerking him around to face her. The movement startled him and for a moment, his bloodshot eyes met her furious ones.

"Don't walk away from this conversation," she said, her voice trembling with restrained anger. "I don't care about your stupid curse or what you think you're protecting me from. You owe me the truth. Tell me what's going on."

"Jungkook, don't—"

"Tell me!" Jungkook yelled, her hands still gripping his collar despite knowing the danger of their proximity.

Taehyung's control finally snapped. "You want the truth?" he growled, his voice dangerously low.

"Fine. You're going to ďie. That's the truth."

Jungkook froze, her lips parting in shock. The words hit Jungkook like a physical blow, knocking the air from her lungs. Her hands trembled, but her gaze didn't waver from his.

"What...?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw you," he rasped, his voice raw, "lying in a pool of blood, your eyes empty, your body cold—and I could do nothing."

Jungkook's eyes widened, horror creeping into her features.

"I see it every time I close my eyes," Taehyung continued. "I see it, in the mirror, in every fucking shadow. And I—" He let out a broken laugh, shaking his head. "I would burn this world to the ground before I let that happen again. Even if it means burning myself in the process."

Jungkook's lips trembled.

"But leaving me..." she swallowed hard, her voice barely holding together. "That's not protecting me. That's destroying both of us."

Taehyung let out a bitter laugh, his hands running through his damp hair in frustration.

"The curse, Mrs Kim. The one I've been trying to shield you from. The one I've fought against every second since I met you. It's real and it's relentless. The more we're together, the more it tightens its grip on you. It's not going to stop until it destroys you."

" And that's what I saw," he continued, his voice filled with anguish now.

"In Rosie's book. The blood moon, the curse—it all ends with you dead. You, Jungkook! Do you understand what that means? You're my Alara, my light and they want to snuff you out!"

Her knees felt weak but Jungkook didn't back away. "I don't care about some stupid prophecy," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"But I do!" Taehyung roared, his chest heaving as he stepped closer. "I care because I won't survive if you're gone! Don't you get it? They want to take you from me, and I'm trying—God, I'm trying to stop that from happening!"

Her tears spilled over, but Jungkook didn't waver. Because beneath all that anger, beneath the torment in his eyes, was the one truth she couldn't ignore. 

"And pushing me away is the solution? You think I'll just accept that and let you destroy yourself?"

"I don't have another choice!" he yelled, his voice breaking. "I'd rather you hate me than watch you die!"

The storm outside raged on but the one between them was fiercer. Their breathing was ragged, their emotions raw, and neither dared to move, the air between them thick with everything left unsaid.

Jungkook's voice softened then, a whisper filled with pain. "I could never hate you. But I won't let you give up on us, either."

He stared at her, his jaw clenched, his eyes filled with unshed tears. For a moment, the fight drained out of him, leaving only the man who loved her more than life itself.

But the fear—the crippling fear of losing her—remained.

"I am a man made of shadows. The darkness is my only companion. And you... you are the light I should never touch."

Jungkook's lips trembled as she stepped closer, defiant even in her pain.

"Then why do your eyes betray you, Mr Kim? You push me away but your eyes—they pull me closer. Why? Why do you fight something you can't control?"

His fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles still bloodied from earlier, the pain grounding him as he tried to steel himself against the overwhelming pull of her presence.

"I fight it because I have to," he said, his voice low, every word laced with restrained anguish. "Because if I don't, you'll be the one who pays the price. And that's something I can't live with, Jungkook."

Jungkook shook her head, her tears mingling with the resolve hardening her features. "Stop saying that. Stop acting like you're the villain in your own story. You keep saying you're made of shadows, but all I see is a man too afraid to let himself love."

"Don't," Taehyung warned, his tone sharper now, though his voice cracked at the edges. His fists unclenched for a moment, his bloodied hands hanging limply at his sides.

"Don't make this harder than it already is. " Taehyung's voice softened, "Please, understand, my darkness will destroy you," he spat, his voice breaking.

"Let it," Jungkook countered without hesitation. "I would rather burn in your shadows than live without you."

Jungkook took another step forward, her gaze never leaving his. "You say you're made of shadows, Mr Kim? Fine. But every shadow needs a light to exist. And I won't let you extinguish me."

His breath hitched, the raw sincerity in her voice tearing through every barrier he'd built around himself. He wanted to argue, to push her away again, but the fire in her eyes burned too brightly for him to deny.

He turned away from her, his jaw tight, his reflection in the window a haunting reminder of everything he despised about himself.

"I am your destruction," he said, his tone lower now, heavy with self-loathing.

"No," Jungkook said closing the distance between them despite the barrier of the curse. "You are my salvation."

"You don't understand, Jungkook. You—"

"No, you don't understand," she cut him off, her voice rising, raw with frustration, with heartbreak. "You think you're protecting me by pushing me away? That I'll be safer if you leave? You're wrong, Taehyung. You are the only one who has ever made me feel safe. Always watching. Always protecting."

Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut, his fingers twitching at his sides. He couldn't look at her—because if he did, if he saw the fire in her eyes, the way she was still standing so close despite everything—he would break.

"It doesn't matter, Jungkook," he said, "Not this time. Not with this. The curse—it's real. It's killing you. I saw it. I saw you—"

He choked on the words, on the memory of her lifeless body beneath the blood moon, crimson staining her pale skin, her wide eyes dull and empty. The vision was burned into his soul, a nightmare he would never wake from.

Jungkook's lips trembled but she forced herself to keep her voice steady. "Then we fight it."

His laughter was bitter, sharp like the edge of a blade. "Fight a prophecy? You think we can just rewrite fate, Jungkook?"

"If fate wants me dead, it's going to have to try harder than that," she shot back, fire burning through her veins.

Taehyung exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You're so fucking stubborn."

"And you're so fucking scared," she countered, taking another step forward.

"Look at me, Mr. Kim."

His breath caught.

"Look at me and tell me you don't want to touch me right now."

Taehyung's fingers twitched, his entire body going rigid as his gaze locked onto hers. And there it was—his torment, his longing, his need to pull her into his arms despite everything.

"Jungkook," he whispered, her name breaking against his lips like a prayer.

Her eyes softened. "We're already ruined, Tae. So tell me, why are we still pretending we can be saved?"

Taehyung let out a shaky breath, his control slipping. "Because if we stop pretending... then I lose you."

"You never had to lose me."

Silence fell between them. Thick. Heavy. Unbearable.

"And if I leave? What then? You'll destroy yourself trying to fight this alone. Do you think I can live knowing that? Do you think I can survive without you?" Jungkook asked.

"But You'd live!" Taehyung snapped, his voice cracking. "You'd be safe! Away from me, away from all of this!"

"Safe?" Jungkook repeated, her voice rising as she took a step closer, her hair clinging to her flushed cheeks. "Safe from what? From the man who would destroy himself just to keep me out of harm's way?"

He turned away, his shoulders stiff as he tried to distance himself, to bury the storm raging inside him.

"From the curse," he said quietly, his tone hollow. "From me."

"Do you even hear yourself right now?" she asked, circling around to block his retreat.

"I'm trying to protect you," he ground out, his guilt pressing down on him. "Don't you see? You'd have a chance at a normal life without me."

"A normal life?" Jungkook stepped even closer, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Do you think I want normal? Do you think I'd trade this—trade you—for some empty, meaningless version of safe? You're my life. You're my choice."

Her words tore through the wall he had spent years constructing, leaving him bare and defenceless. Taehyung stared at her, his breath uneven, his entire being screaming at him to pull away but unable to move.

"Jungkook..." he began, but she cut him off, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Stop pushing me away. Stop acting like you can bear this alone."

Taehyung swallowed hard, his jaw tightening.

"If I don't push you away, I will pull you in." His voice was soft, but it was a warning.

"And if you pull me in?" Jungkook challenged, her lips trembling.

He exhaled shakily, closing his eyes for a second. "I will destroy you."

The words came out like a confession, like an unshakable truth. But Jungkook only took another step forward.

"Then do it, Mr. Kim."

His entire body tensed, his breath hitching, his hands trembling as he forced himself to stay still. "Burn me, destroy me—whatever your darkness does. But don't you dare push me away."

Jungkook's voice was quiet, but it held more strength than he had left in his entire body.

"Destroy me if you must. But don't—" She exhaled shakily, wiping at the tears on her cheeks, "don't ask me to live without you."

A sharp inhale. A broken exhale. A war between what they wanted and what they couldn't have.

Taehyung looked at her like she was both salvation and damnation.

"I can't," he said, his voice cracking.

Taehyung ran, ran like a coward he is. He ran to the cold balcony to avoid his wife. To avoid his wife's teary orbs, that were demanding his presence. The balcony was an icy haven of solitude, rain lashing against Taehyung's form.

The cold bit into his skin but he welcomed it. Anything to numb the fire that still burned. His knuckles pressed into the iron rail, the metal cutting into his already wounded skin but the pain felt deserved—necessary.

The storm outside paled in comparison to the one tearing him apart inside.

"Why," he whispered to the night, his voice breaking. "Why did I let myself do this?"

Jungkook's voice, her tears, her love—all of it replayed in his mind, tightening the vice on his heart. He closed his eyes tightly, willing the memories to stop, but they wouldn't.

He slammed his fist into the railing, the sharp pain grounding him. "You're a fool," he hissed to himself. "A selfish, cursed fool."

His hair was drenched, plastered to his forehead, and his shirt clung to his body, rainwater tracing rivulets down his tense frame.

Behind him, Jungkook appeared in the doorway, her slender figure silhouetted against the dim light of their room. She hesitated for a moment, her heart aching at the sight of her husband's tormented silhouette. But then her resolve hardened, and she stepped onto the balcony, uncaring of the rain that soaked her in an instant.

Taehyung didn't turn around, though he felt her presence like a brand against his soul. He gritted his teeth, gripping the railing tighter, as if he could anchor himself against the pull of her.

"Don't come closer."

Jungkook ignored him. She stepped forward, the cold seeping into her bones, but she didn't care. Rainwater clung to her lashes, trickling down her cheeks, mixing with the tears she had yet to wipe away.

"Standing out here in the rain won't wash away the pain, Mr Kim."

"Go inside," he said, his voice low but sharp, cutting through the sound of the downpour.

"No," Jungkook continued, her voice trembling with raw emotion as she stepped closer to him. "Do you think you're protecting me? Do you think you're sparing me by keeping me at arm's length? Because all you're doing is hurting both of us!"

Taehyung remained silent, his grip on the railing tightening until his knuckles turned white. The rain drenched him, water streaming down his face and mixing with the storm in his heart.

Jungkook's breath hitched, but she pressed on. She needed to break through to him, to make him see.

"You say you're darkness, fine! But do you know what I see when I look at you?" She marched right up to him now, standing close enough that her words had no escape.

"I see the man who stayed awake all night when I was sick. The man who held me even when he wasn't allowed to. The man who gave me a reason to smile when I thought I'd lost everything! The man who helped me to gather my broken self after mother's betrayal. The only thing that will destroy me is losing you!"

"Stop it," he growled, his voice barely audible over the storm, but still he didn't look at her.

"No, I won't stop! I won't stop until you tell me why!" Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Why is it so easy for you to push me away?"

"Why do you think you have to carry this alone?" Jungkook pressed, stepping closer, her heart aching for him, yet anger boiling in her veins.

"I'm not afraid of your darkness. I'm not afraid of what you think you are. So, What's the real reason, Mr Kim? Tell me!"

Her words were like fire, burning through his defenses. He flinched, his body visibly reacting to her raw questions. His breath hitched, a deep, pained sigh escaping his lips. He turned his face away, trying to hide the vulnerability that was cracking through his armor.

But Jungkook wouldn't let him. She grabbed his shirt sleeve, pulling him back toward her with force.

"Tell me why, Kim Taehyung! Why won't you let me fight with you?"

"Because I fucking love you, damn it!"

The night split apart as a bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, illuminating the storm raging above them.

And between it all, Kim Taehyung stood like a man unraveling, his soaked form trembling from something far more dangerous than the cold.

His roar was raw, torn from the deepest part of him, a confession wrenched free like a wound bursting open. His voice drowned under the storm but Jungkook heard every syllable as if he had screamed it straight into her soul.

She gasped, her breath catching in her throat, her fingers curling against the wet fabric of her dress.

"And I will never forgive myself if you die because of me!"

Thunder crashed around them, shaking the heavens, but it was nothing compared to the storm inside him.

"I love you so much," he continued, his voice dropping to a low growl, rough with anguish. "So much that I can't even look at you without thinking I'm going to destroy you. Don't you get it, Jungkook? I'm trying—to keep you safe from me. From my darkness. From the everything that I am."

Taehyung took a shuddering breath, his fists clenching at his sides.

"I should have stayed away. I should have never let you get close. Because now I can't let you go!"

Jungkook felt her heart shatter at his words but she didn't let him retreat.

She stood frozen for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. Her heart fluttered wildly, as if a thousand butterflies had taken flight inside her chest all at once.

He loves me.

Her lips parted but no words came out at first. It wasn't hesitation—it was shock, awe, disbelief, and overwhelming love colliding all at once. Her tears spilled freely now, streaking her flushed cheeks as she stepped closer to him.

The thought repeated itself over and over, each time sending a fresh wave of warmth through her body.

How could three words spoken with such pain and passion make her feel so alive?

Her gaze softened as she looked at him—this man she had loved with every fiber of her being, who now stood before her completely bare, his emotions laid out like an offering. His dark eyes were clouded with regret and longing, his chest heaving as though confessing had cost him the very air he breathed.

Her heart whispered what her voice couldn't—he's mine and I'm his.

It was overwhelming, this flood of emotions— fear, angry, frustration, hope, love, nervousness and an almost giddy joy beneath it all.

Jungkook wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, to shout at him for making her wait so long and to pull him into a kiss that would silence all the doubts between them.

But they couldn't touch and the reminder tempered her joy with a bittersweet ache. Her arms itched to wrap around him, her fingers yearning to thread through his dark hair. She wanted to lean into his broad chest and feel his warmth surround her.

Instead, she stepped closer, the distance between them narrowing as her love for him filled the space they couldn't bridge. Her voice came out soft, trembling.

"You..." she began, her voice breaking as she raised a shaky hand to touch his face. "You love me?"

Her voice cracked on the last word and Taehyung felt his chest tighten at the vulnerability in her tone. He nodded slowly, his dark eyes locking onto hers, his feelings laid bare.

"I do. More than anything, Jungkook."

That was all it took to break her. A choked sob escaped her lips as she closed the distance between them.

"How dare you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "How dare you try to push me away when you feel this... this much?"

"I didn't want to hurt you—"

"You already did!" Jungkook cut him off, her voice rising as the tears kept falling. "You hurt me by not telling me. By shutting me out. Do you know how many nights I've stayed awake, wondering if you cared even a fraction of what I feel for you? And now, now you just... throw this at me like this?"

Her words hung heavy in the air, and Taehyung couldn't find it in himself to respond. What could he say to someone who had just laid her soul bare for him?

"I love you," Jungkook whispered, her voice soft now, but no less firm. "I've always loved you. And I will always love you. So stop running, Kim Taehyung. Stop running from me. From us."

Lightning struck again, a brilliant white flash that illuminated them both—the man who was afraid of love, and the woman who refused to let him drown in his own darkness.

Taehyung's shoulders shook, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.

"I can't lose you." His voice was barely a whisper now, as fragile as the raindrops slipping from his lashes. "If something happens to you because of me—"

Jungkook took a step forward. They were inches apart.

"And if I lose you?" she whispered. "What then? Do you think I can survive without you?"

The words hit him like a punch to the gut.

"You're my life," she choked out. "You're my choice. And no curse, no prophecy, no damn fate will ever change that."

Taehyung's breath shuddered, his hands twitching at his sides as if he wanted to reach for her—needed to.

"Please," she begged. "Stop punishing yourself for loving me."

His entire body stiffened, his chest rising and falling with the emotions. He looked at her then—really looked at her.

"Jungkook..." Taehyung exhaled shakily, his hands curling into fists as if he were fighting himself.

The storm roared around them.

The rain poured.

Taehyung grabbed her, his large hands trembling as they cupped her face. The pads of his thumbs brushed against her wet cheeks, where rain mixed with her tears. The moment his skin made contact with hers, the curse reacted violently, streaming between them like a live wire.

A sharp current jolted through their bodies, forcing a gasp from Jungkook and a low growl from Taehyung. It wasn't just pain—it was the universe's warning, a punishment for defying its cruel design.

Sparks ignited where his hands met her face, tiny lightning bolts that danced and fizzled against her skin, their light briefly illuminating their intertwined forms in the rain.

Taehyung's entire body stiffened but he didn't pull away. Instead, his grip on her face tightened, his thumbs brushing over the raw sting of the sparks, as if he could will them away through his determination.

Jungkook winced at the intensity of the current but refused to step back. Her hands flew to his soaked shirt, clutching the fabric as the sparks ran up her arms, biting at her skin. She gasped again, her breath hitching, but her eyes locked onto his.

The love, anger, and desperation he'd kept buried clawed their way to the surface, and in that moment, he couldn't care less about the consequences.

"Damn the curse," he muttered hoarsely, his voice thick with emotion. His forehead dropped to hers, the sparks intensifying at the proximity but neither of them flinched. "Damn everything that says I can't touch you, can't love you."

The storm above echoed his words with thunder and the rain poured harder, drenching them as they stood in defiance of fate. The curse roared through them, but Taehyung only leaned closer, his lips trembling as they hovered just above hers.

"It's killing you," he choked out, his voice barely audible over the thunder.

Jungkook shook her head, her own pain lost in the depths of her gaze.

"No," she whispered. "What's killing me is seeing you suffer alone."

Taehyung's chest tightened, his breath hitching as something inside him snapped. Another bolt of lightning tore through the sky, illuminating them in a stark flash of white.

With a broken growl, he pulled her closer—tighter—his grip unrelenting despite the sparks burning his skin.

"I love you." The words were raw, torn from his very soul. "I love you more than fate, more than curses, more than my own damn life."

And then, against every rule of the universe, against the raging storm and the curse that tried to tear them apart—

He kissed her.

It was not a kiss meant for a fairytale. It was desperate, ignited by fire and defiance.

The moment their lips met, the curse screamed. Sparks shot up their skin, burning and biting, a punishment for their defiance. The pain was unbearable—hot and searing, like wildfire coursing through their veins.

But neither of them pulled away.

Instead, the agony only fueled them.

Taehyung crushed her against him, his soaked hands tangling into her hair, gripping tight as if letting go would mean losing her forever. His lips were hungry, pressing against hers with a force that spoke of days of restraint shattering in an instant. His kiss was fierce but beneath the desperation lay something deeper—something terrifying in its intensity.

Love. Pure, unrelenting love.

Jungkook gasped against his lips, her body arching into his, her fingers fisting the drenched fabric of his shirt as she kissed him back with just as much hunger. The curse sent another shockwave through them, making her moan against his mouth, but even the pain was nothing compared to the pleasure of finally having him.

Taehyung groaned, his hands sliding down to her waist, gripping her tight as his lips moved feverishly against hers—devouring, claiming, worshiping. He kissed her like a man starved, like she was the only thing keeping him breathing.

And maybe she was.

Jungkook gasped again as Taehyung's teeth grazed her lower lip, his tongue sweeping inside to taste her, to deepen the kiss until they were completely lost in each other. Every brush of his lips, every heated movement of their mouths was a battle—a war against fate itself.

The rain soaked them, lightning flashing wildly above, illuminating the raw need between them. His hands were everywhere and nowhere at once, gripping her like she was both his salvation and his sin.

And through it all, the curse burned.

Sparks traveled up their skin, wrapping around their bodies like vines of lightning, punishing them for defying destiny. But neither of them cared.

If this was what defiance felt like, if this was the price for loving each other—

Then let the world burn.

When he finally broke the kiss, his breaths were ragged but his forehead stayed pressed against hers. Their heavy and uneven breaths mingled as they both trembled from the aftershocks of the kiss and the electricity it had unleashed.

"Do you see now?" Taehyung rasped. His hands dropped from her face to her shoulders, his touch softer now but no less desperate. "This is what happens when I touch you. This is why I keep pushing you away."

Jungkook's eyes fluttered open, her tears mixing with the rain streaming down her cheeks. Her lips, swollen and red from the force of his kiss, parted as if to respond, but she could only stare at him, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breath.

"This," Taehyung continued, his voice cracking. His fingers curled against her shoulders as another jolt of energy raced between them, sharp and stinging.

"This curse doesn't care about what we feel. It will break you, Jungkook. It will destroy you, and I..." His voice faltered as his eyes shut tightly, his face twisting in despair. "I would rather die than watch it happen."

The desperation in his voice made her heart ache but she didn't back down. Jungkook lifted her hands, despite the sparks that burned her fingertips, and placed them gently against his chest. The current snapped at her palms, making her wince, but she held her ground.

"And I would rather burn a thousand times than let you run from me," she whispered, her voice trembling but fierce.

"You're so consumed by your fear that you can't see the one thing that's stronger than this curse—us."

The rain poured harder, drenching them as thunder rumbled above. Another violent spark crackled between them, making them both gasp but neither moved. Taehyung's hands slid up to cup her face again, trembling as he cradled her like something precious and fragile.

"You're mine, Mrs Kim, even if the world burns for it."

"And you're mine, Mr Kim, even if the stars fall for it."

Taehyung's trembling hands slid down to Jungkook's shoulders, his chest heaving as he tried to steady himself. The storm raged on, the wind howling around them as rain pelted against their trembling bodies. Taehyung's chest rose and fell erratically, his heart pounding like a war drum.

He stared at Jungkook, his eyes blazing with fear and love—a chaotic storm that matched the one outside.

Without warning, Taehyung took a step closer, closing the distance between them.

"Mr Kim, no!" Jungkook gasped, her hands flying up to stop him but it was too late.

He pulled her into his arms, locking her in his embrace. His broad frame engulfed her as if shielding her from the world. The curse reacted instantly, crackling like wild firecrackers around them, the energy biting into their skin like a thousand tiny blades.

Sparks flew from where their bodies touched but Taehyung didn't flinch. Taehyung's breath hitched, a sharp gasp escaping his lips as his knees buckled.

The pain tore through him but he couldn't bring himself to push her away. Instead, his arms instinctively came around her, pulling her closer, holding her as if she might disappear.

"Mr Kim!" Jungkook cried, her voice panicked as she felt his body sag against hers. "You're hurting—stop it!"

"No," he growled, his voice rough and defiant, pressing his face into the crook of her neck. "I won't. Not this time."

Jungkook's breath hitched, her hands trembling as she tried to push him away. "Stop being so damn stubborn!"

Her fists pounded weakly against his chest but he held firm, his arms tightening around her as though she was the only thing anchoring him to the earth.

"Don't you see?" Taehyung whispered hoarsely, his voice breaking as the sparks flared. "It already hurts. It hurts every second I'm away from you. Every moment I can't touch you, can't hold you... it's killing me."

His knees buckled, the pain from the curse intensifying but his grip on her didn't falter. He fell to his knees, dragging her with him. Jungkook gasped, tears streaming down her cheeks as she knelt with him, her hands cradling his face.

"Why are you doing this?" Jungkook choked out, her voice breaking as she stared into his tear-filled eyes. "Why are you so selfish? Why do you think this will solve anything?"

"I'm selfish?" Taehyung rasped, his breath hitching as the sparks surged again, sending another wave of agony through his body.

"Yes, I am. I'm selfish because I can't let you go. I don't care if this curse burns me alive—I'd rather feel this pain a thousand times over than spend another second pretending I don't love you."

"Mr Kim..." Her voice was barely a whisper, her heart shattering as his confession hit her like a tidal wave.

He cupped her face with trembling hands, his thumbs brushing away the rain and tears streaking her cheeks. His bloodshot eyes locked onto hers and the world seemed to stand still.

"I've been a coward, Jungkook," Taehyung admitted, his voice raw. "I thought I was protecting you by staying away but all I did was hurt you. And I can't... I can't do it anymore."

Jungkook shook her head, her own tears mixing with the rain as her hands covered his. "You idiot," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You think I want your protection? I want you, Taehyung. All of you. Even if it means we burn together."

The sparks flared again, brighter this time and Taehyung winced as his body sagged against hers. "Then burn with me," he whispered, his voice cracking as he pressed his forehead to hers. "Burn with me, Jungkook."

Jungkook's sob turned into a shaky laugh as she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close despite the searing pain.

For the first time, he wasn't running. And for the first time, Jungkook wasn't letting him.

The curse arose violently, the sparks swirling around them like angry fireflies. The air was electric. Taehyung's breaths were labored, his body trembling as he clung to her, but his heart felt lighter than it had in years. He gritted his teeth, his body trembling from the pain coursing through him.

Taehyung pressed his forehead against hers, his breath ragged. "I love you," he whispered. "More than anything. More than myself. I've always loved you, Jungkook."

The moment those words left his lips, something shifted. The sparks began to slow, their intensity waning as if the curse itself was hesitating. The biting pain that had gripped them softened, replaced by a strange warmth that spread through their bodies.

Jungkook blinked, her tear-filled eyes widening as she noticed the change. "Mr Kim..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

"The sparks... they're—"

Fading.

The violent curse retreat, its energy dissipating into the rain-soaked air. The sparks dimmed and flickered, like embers dying out in the cold. A golden glow surrounded them briefly, warm and soothing, before vanishing entirely.

Taehyung gasped, his body sagging in relief as the pain subsided. His arms were still wrapped around Jungkook, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he didn't feel the searing sting of the curse fighting back.

Jungkook pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him, her hands cupping his face. "It's gone," she murmured, her voice filled with awe. "The curse... it's gone."

Taehyung stared at her, his own disbelief mirrored in her wide, tearful eyes. A strangled breath escaped Taehyung's lips. His fingers ghosted over Jungkook's cheek, hesitant, waiting for the familiar sting, for the punishment that always followed when he reached for her. But—

Nothing.

No violent sparks. No cruel, searing pain.

Just her. Soft. Warm. Real.

His breath hitched as his other hand lifted, trembling, and cupped her face more firmly this time. Jungkook gasped, her lips parting, but she didn't flinch.

"It's really gone," Jungkook whispered, as if saying it aloud would make it more real.

Her hands slid over his own, pressing his palms into her skin like she needed to feel it—to prove that this was happening. That for the first time since the curse had bound them in torment, they could touch.

A choked, breathless laugh bubbled from her lips, followed by a sob. Taehyung exhaled sharply, his vision blurring as he pressed his forehead against hers.

"Jungkook," he whispered, and this time when he said her name, there was no pain. No agony in his chest, no weight pressing down on him like the universe itself was trying to pry them apart.

Only love.

Only her.

Jungkook let out a shaky breath before surging forward, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. Taehyung let out a breathless chuckle, his arms instinctively tightening around her, pulling her as close as humanly possible.

Jungkook pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him. Rain clung to her lashes, her lips swollen, her cheeks flushed with cold and emotion. She was so breathtakingly beautiful, and this time—

This time he could touch her without fear.

"Say it again," she whispered, her fingers gripping his shirt.

Taehyung's lips parted, his heart stuttering in his chest as he realized what she meant. He brought a hand up, tracing his knuckles over her cheek, relishing in the way she leaned into his touch without a single wince.

"I love you," he breathed, like the words themselves held power. "I love you, Jungkook. I love you."

A shuddering sigh left her lips before she crashed into him again, kissing him with everything she had. This time, there were no painful sparks, no cruel punishment from the universe.

Only warmth. Only the heat of their bodies pressing together, their lips molding perfectly, without restraint, without hesitation.

Jungkook's hands tangled in his hair, tugging slightly, and Taehyung groaned into her mouth, his grip on her waist tightening. The rain poured around them, soaking their clothes, their skin, but neither cared.

They kissed like they had been starved for centuries.

They kissed like they were making up for every touch they had been denied.

They kissed like they were the only two souls left in existence.

And when they finally broke apart, breathless, foreheads pressed together, Taehyung let out a soft, incredulous laugh.

"It can't be..." he breathed, his voice barely audible. His thumb brushed over her cheek as he whispered, "You... you broke it."

Jungkook let out a shaky laugh, tears streaming down her face as she leaned into his touch. "We broke it. Together."

The rain continued to pour around them, but it felt cleansing now, washing away their pain and fear. Taehyung pulled her into his arms once more as if he never wanted to let her go again.

Rain poured relentlessly, drenching them both as they remained on the cold, soaked balcony floor, oblivious to the discomfort.

Neither spoke a word.

The silence between them wasn't heavy; it was deep, filled with emotions too vast for words. Their breaths mingled in the chilled air, the rhythmic patter of rain the only sound accompanying their moment.

Taehyung sat with his legs stretched out, the soaked fabric of his trousers sticking to his skin, but he paid it no mind. Jungkook was curled against him, sitting in between his legs her petite frame was nestled into the protective cradle of his arms.

Her cheek rested against his chest, where heartbeat offered a reassurance words couldn't convey. His arms were wrapped around her tightly, as if to shield her from the storm, though they both knew he wasn't letting go—ever.

For so long, they had been separated by an invisible wall, unable to bridge the gap despite being inches apart. Now, the curse was gone and they could finally feel each other.

It was surreal, like waking from a nightmare to find reality far sweeter than any dream.

Jungkook's fingers clutched the damp fabric of Taehyung's shirt as she nestled closer to him. She could hear his heartbeat beneath her ear, strong and constant, and it brought calm she hadn't felt in days.

"Your heart," she murmured softly, her voice barely audible over the rain. "It's so steady. Like it was always waiting for this moment."

Taehyung lowered his head, resting his chin lightly atop hers. "It was," he admitted, his voice deep and quiet. "It's been waiting for you... for us."

Jungkook shifted slightly, tilting her head up to look at him, her wide, tear-brimmed eyes meeting his. Raindrops clung to her lashes, her skin glowing softly even under the dim light of the thunderstorm.

"I almost forgot what this felt like," she whispered, her fingers brushing against his hand, tracing the veins on his wrist. "Touching you."

His breath hitched as he felt her touch, no longer a fleeting ghost but something real. "I never forgot," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I never stopped imagining... wishing for this."

Jungkook's fingers trembled as they lingered against his wrist, her touch featherlight yet searing. The rain drummed softly around them, but it was the sound of her shaky breaths that held his attention.

Taehyung let out a shuddering sigh, his free hand slowly reaching up to tuck a damp strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her cheek.

Her skin was warm, despite the chill in the air and he let his hand linger there, his thumb gently tracing the curve of her cheekbone. Jungkook leaned into his touch instinctively, her eyes fluttering closed as if she was savoring every second.

"I thought I could handle it," Jungkook admitted. "Not being able to touch you. I told myself it was just a few days, but..." Her words faltered, her lips trembling as she opened her eyes to look at him.

"Every time I saw you, it hurt more. I missed you. So much."

Taehyung's throat tightened. He moved closer, his body shielding her from the rain, his hand cupping her jaw now, his thumb brushing the corner of her lips.

"I missed you too," he murmured, his voice deep and soft, laced with raw emotion. "Every time I looked at you, all I wanted was to hold you, to feel you. And I couldn't. Do you know how many nights I stayed awake, wondering if you'd be okay? If we'd be okay?"

Jungkook's fingers slid from his wrist to his forearm, tracing the path up to his shoulder, her touch was hungry for the connection she'd been denied.

"You were always so calm about it, teasing me and all." Jungkook complained with a small pout. "I thought it didn't affect you as much as it did me."

Taehyung let out a soft chuckle. "Calm?" He shook his head, his lips curving into a rueful smile.

"I was anything but calm, Mrs. Kim. I've spent every moment fighting the urge to reach out for you, to ignore Rosie's warnings. Do you know how hard it was to stay away when you'd sit across the room, looking like..." His words trailed off, his gaze dropping to her lips.

"Looking like this."

Jungkook swallowed, her breath hitching as she felt the heated gaze. Her hands slid to his chest, her palms pressing against the soaked shirt. "I hated it," she whispered. "Not being able to hold you, not being able to feel your heartbeat beneath my hands."

Taehyung's hand slid from her cheek to her neck, his fingers tangling in the damp strands of her hair. His other hand moved to her waist, pulling her closer until their bodies were almost flush against each other. The rain had soaked them both, their clothes clinging to their skin, but neither seemed to care.

"You don't have to miss it anymore," he murmured, his lips brushing against her temple. "I'm here now. You can touch me, hold me... anything you need, Jungkook. I'm yours."

Her fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him impossibly closer. His lips ghosting over her brow, her nose, and finally hovering just above hers. His breath mingled with hers, the heat between them intensifying as his hand on her waist pressed her firmly against him.

Jungkook tilted her head, her lips brushing against his in the light kiss but Taehyung deepened it instantly, his hand tightening in her hair. The kiss was slow, they were pouring days of longing and restrained affection into every movement.

When they pulled back, both breathless, Taehyung rested his forehead against hers, his hands framing her face gently.

"Never again," he whispered. "I'll never let anything keep me from you again, Jungkook."

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she nodded, her fingers tracing the sharp lines of his jaw, memorizing the moment. "Promise me," she said softly, her voice trembling. "Promise me we'll never be apart like that again."

"I promise," he said, his voice firm, his gaze unwavering. "You're mine, Mrs. Kim. Always."

Jungkook smiled through her tears, her hands finding their way back to his chest. For the first time in days, she felt whole again, wrapped in his warmth, their connection stronger than ever.

Her fingers toyed with his hand absently, tracing the strong lines of his fingers, brushing over his knuckles before threading their hands together. She lifted them slightly, watching the way their fingers intertwined, the contrast of his larger, rougher hand against her smaller one.

"You have pretty hands," she murmured, almost to herself, turning his palm over and running her fingertips along the lines etched into his skin.

Taehyung chuckled softly, his breath warm against her rain-damp shoulder. "Pretty?" He squeezed her hand gently, bringing it up to press a lingering kiss against her fingers. "That's not exactly what I'd call them."

Jungkook hummed, turning slightly to rest her cheek against his shoulder. "They hold me just right," she said, closing her fingers over his, pressing their joined hands against her chest, right over her heart. "So yeah, they're pretty to me."

Taehyung exhaled a slow breath, wrapping his arms more securely around her, his chin resting atop her damp hair.

Jungkook let out a soft sigh, shifting slightly in Taehyung's embrace, her back still pressed against his chest. Her fingers trailed absently over his wrist, tracing the faint blue veins beneath his skin. She followed the path upward, fingertips ghosting along his forearm,  trying to commit every inch of him to memory.

Taehyung remained still, letting her explore, his breath slow against her neck. His arms remained around her, one resting loosely over her waist, the other draped across her lap, where their hands still remained intertwined.

They stayed like that, locked in an embrace under the heavy downpour, neither caring about the chill in the air or the wet clothes clinging to their skin. All that mattered was the warmth they found in each other.

For so long, their love had been a battle against fate but now, it was a sanctuary, unshakable and true.

Far away, in the mystical Alara Land, the forest floor trembled as soon as Taehyung's confession left his lips.

The barren side of the ancient tree stood dormant. It had been lifeless for decades, only adorned by couple of flowers. But the moment Taehyung's raw love for Jungkook tore through the air, the barren tree began to stir.

A soft golden light emanated from the base of its trunk, moving upward like the heartbeat of the forest itself. The dry bark glowed faintly, transforming into smooth, lustrous wood. Buds began to sprout along the once-dead branches, their tiny forms glowing with ethereal light.

One by one, they unfurled into vibrant flowers—soft petals of cerulean, lavender, and blush pink, shimmering like they were kissed by moonlight. The fully bloomed tree began to bath in golden light.

Magical creatures surrounded the majestic golden tree.

The forest floor, covered in fallen leaves, began to glow with energy. Dormant blooms burst into life, painting the land with vivid colors. Streams that had run dry for years bubbled to life, their crystalline waters reflecting the sudden brilliance of the awakened land.

The air grew alive with sound.

Forest creatures stirred from their dens, their wide eyes reflecting the miracle unfolding before them. A fox with silvery fur trotted to the base of the tree, sniffing at the blossoms in wonder.

"The Tree bloomed," whispered the fairy, turning its wise gaze toward a family gathering nearby. "It has heard his heart at last."

"The tale of Taehyung and Jungkook," a doe murmured. "The love bound by destiny, kept apart by darkness yet unwavering."

High above, a family of sparrows circled the tree, their chirping joyous and bright. "The curse is weakening," they sang, their small voices weaving together like a hymn.

"The power of his love breaks through!"

The light from the tree grew brighter, illuminating the entire forest. Fireflies danced around its branches, their tiny lights mirroring the stars above. Even the wind celebrated, carrying the scent of fresh blossoms, announcing to the world that something extraordinary had happened.

The tree stood in full bloom, its once-barren half now a radiant mirror of its thriving side. The branches intertwined, their blossoms tangling together like two souls finally united.

In hushed tones, the creatures spoke of the prophecy—of the man made of shadows and the woman who was his light. They marveled at the depth of Taehyung's confession, a love so fierce it had rekindled the very life of the land.

"Love this true," whispered the owl, its ancient eyes shimmering, "can rewrite destiny."

The forest whisper back to the lovers who couldn't hear it yet.

  Hold on. For where there is love, there is always a way.

The tree shimmered in the glow of its newfound life, the fairies of Alara land emerged. Tiny figures with translucent wings flitted about, their laughter like the chime of silver bells.

Each fairy glowed faintly, their colors reflecting the vibrant hues of the blooming tree.

One fairy, her wings a cascade of gold and emerald, perched delicately on a newly bloomed flower.

"Did you see?" she exclaimed, her voice high and melodious. "The Shadowed One, the man cloaked in darkness—he spoke his heart at last!"

"They say his heart was like winter's frost but Alara—the light—she melted him, didn't she?"

A group of fairies danced in a circle at the tree's base, their laughter blending with the magic of the night.

"Oh, how she must love him too," one said. "To look past his darkness, to find the warmth hidden beneath."

"But isn't that what true love does?" a wise fairy with silver hair and sapphire eyes asked. "It sees beyond the shadows. Beyond the flaws. She didn't just melt his heart—she lit it on fire."

A male fairy with wings of crimson hovered closer to the others, crossing his arms as he spoke. "Didn't think the Shadowed One had it in him. Love like that—it's rare. Powerful. Enough to awaken even the oldest of magics."

The golden fairy twirled midair, her laughter ringing out. "And did you see the way the forest responded? The rivers sing again and the stars seem brighter tonight. Their love—it's woven into the land itself now."

High above the bloomed tree, the fairies danced in celebration, their forms weaving intricate patterns of light against the darkened sky. They sang of the man made of shadows and the woman of light, their voices carrying the tale to every corner of Alara Land.

Let the world remember, Of the shadowed heart and the warmth that saved it. Of the man who feared love and the woman who embraced him whole."

One fairy flew to a particularly large flower, peering into its luminous center. "Do you think they know?" she whispered. "That their love is strong enough to reshape fate itself?"

The golden-winged fairy joined her. "Not yet. But they will. One day, they'll see that their love isn't a curse—it's a blessing."

The fairies danced tirelessly, their joy unending, their movements casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the forest floor. The forest creatures gathered quietly at the edges of the clearing, watching in silent reverence.

A wise old fox spoke to a nearby fawn, his voice filled with awe.

"They've written their story in the stars now. It will be told for generations.

The Shadowed One and his Light—forever entwined."

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