Catching Her Heart

JK's POV

Trauma - a reaction to events that carve deep scars into the mind, shaping a person in ways they never would have chosen. It lingers like a shadow, an invisible weight they carry, born from a moment that altered everything. Trauma becomes a quiet force, guiding them to avoid anything that might even remotely remind them of that pain—anything that could bring them back to the day their world changed. Over time, this instinct becomes second nature, a reflex to turn away from places, people, or memories that draw too close to that hurt.

What if Ridhi harbored a haunting past that left her with trauma, the very reason she struggles to believe in love? The thought of her past intrigues me, stirring a deep curiosity within. My heart aches at the mere notion of someone breaking her heart, leaving her unable to piece herself back together, bleeding from the wounds of her pain.

“Jungkook-ah, just because I’m her bias doesn’t mean I have a chance. It doesn’t work like that,” Taehyung said, a hint of concern in his voice. “How does she interact with everyone else? Is she the same way with Eunwoo? Does she meet him late at night too?”

“No, it’s just me,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

“If anyone has a chance, it would be you. Just because she says she doesn’t believe in love doesn’t mean she won’t fall for someone. Love isn’t something anyone can control, Kookie.” His voice was soft and comforting, a reassuring presence amidst my confusion.

"How much did it hurt you, hyung?" I asked cautiously, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn't want to open any old wounds.

Taehyung smiled, but it was a sad smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. He looked down, lost in thought, as if he were searching for a memory buried deep within him. No matter how much we try to forget, certain moments in life force us to walk down that painful memory lane—like how Taehyung was doing now.

He had liked someone in high school, but he never found the courage to confess. I could picture him back then, a younger version of himself, heart pounding, rehearsing his words over and over, only to be silenced by fate.

"Hm... it was one-sided, so initially, it hurt to watch her fall for someone else. I had to witness her happiness, knowing I couldn't be the reason for it." His voice was soft, and his gaze drifted toward the floor as if he were staring into the past. “I guess that's the thing about love—you want the other person's happiness even if it's not with you.” The last words slipped from his lips like a sigh, heavy with unspoken regret.

I noticed the way his shoulders slumped slightly, a silent admission of the weight he still carried. There was a wistful glimmer in his eyes, as if he could still see the girl who had captured his heart so long ago, a fleeting glimpse of a love that never was.

"I don't think I can survive seeing Ridhi with another man. I just can't!" I confessed, my voice strained as I imagined myself in Taehyung's shoes. The thought of her falling for someone else felt like a heavy stone lodged in my chest, pressing down with a weight I could barely bear.

Anger simmered beneath the surface, an unyielding fire ignited by the idea of her choosing another. My fists clenched at my sides, imagining the way she'd smile at him, the laughter we shared replaced by moments that belonged to someone else. It felt as though the ground was slipping away beneath me, leaving me in a void where her absence would echo endlessly.

Taehyung let out a soft chuckle, his hand resting reassuringly on my shoulder. "If you can't bear the thought of her with another man, then act on your feelings. Take a chance, Jungkook. Don’t give up until she tells you she doesn’t love you."