The corridor was almost empty.
You had walked out fast.
Too fast.
Jimin followed you, but he didn't stop you.
Not yet.
Because he knew—
you needed a moment.
But you didn't get one.
"Y/N."
That voice.
You froze.
Your chest tightened again.
Jimin stopped too.
Slowly—
you turned.
Taehyung.
Standing there.
Alone this time.
Nari wasn't with him.
For a second—
no one spoke.
Then—
"I need to talk to you," he said.
Jimin looked at you.
Not stopping you.
Not leaving either.
Your voice came out weak—
"…About what?"
Taehyung stepped closer.
"…Just… talk."
Silence.
You didn't want to.
You really didn't.
But your feet didn't move.
Jimin exhaled quietly.
"I'll be there," he said softly to you.
Not leaving completely.
Just… giving space.
You nodded slightly.
He stepped aside.
Now—
it was just you and Taehyung.
Again.
"…Why did you come?" you asked.
He looked at you.
"…Because I didn't like how it ended."
You let out a small, tired laugh.
"It didn't end."
"That's the problem."
Silence.
You crossed your arms slightly.
"What do you want me to say now?"
"Nothing."
That surprised you.
"…Then?"
He looked at you for a long moment.
Then—
very quietly—
"I'm sorry."
You froze.
That word—
you didn't expect.
"For what?" you asked.
"For not telling you."
A pause.
"For letting things go that far."
Another pause.
"And for making you feel like it meant something… when I knew it couldn't."
Your chest tightened again.
Because this time—
he wasn't avoiding it.
He was admitting it.
You looked down.
"…It did mean something."
Your voice came out softer than before.
"I know," he said.
"And that's why I'm sorry."
Silence.
Heavy.
But not sharp anymore.
Just… tired.
You took a step closer.
Not thinking.
Just… feeling.
"…I hate that I still feel like this," you whispered.
He didn't reply.
Because he knew.
And then—
you did something you didn't plan.
You stepped forward—
and hugged him.
Tight.
Like you were holding onto something that was already slipping away.
For a second—
he didn't move.
Then—
slowly—
his arms wrapped around you.
Not pulling you closer.
Not pushing you away.
Just… there.
Your face pressed against his shoulder.
Tears came again.
Quiet this time.
"I didn't imagine it… right?" you whispered.
Your voice barely audible.
A pause.
Then—
"…No."
That answer—
broke and healed you at the same time.
You tightened your grip slightly.
"Then why does it feel like I lost something that was never mine?"
Silence.
Because there was no easy answer.
After a moment—
you slowly pulled back.
Your eyes red.
His expression—
calm.
But softer than before.
"…Take care of yourself," he said.
Not "stay."
Not "wait."
Just that.
You nodded.
Because now—
you understood.
This wasn't love.
Not fully.
But it wasn't nothing either.
And that's what made it hurt.
He stepped back.
This time—
he was the one creating distance.
You didn't stop him.
Didn't call his name.
Didn't ask anything else.
Because now—
👉 everything had already been said👉 everything had already been felt
Behind you—
Jimin walked back.
Slowly.
"…You okay?" he asked softly.
You nodded.
"…Yeah."
But your voice still carried everything.
He didn't ask anything else.
Didn't question.
He just stood beside you.
Close.
And this time—
you didn't feel confused.
Just…
tired.
For the first time—
👉 one chapter closed👉 even if your heart wasn't ready