Author pov:

The first light of dawn crept into the lavish hotel suite, casting a soft glow over the room. Jin-ah stirred beneath the silk sheets, the events of the previous night weighing heavily on her mind. The bed beside her was empty, and she felt a strange mix of relief and apprehension.

Taehyung stood by the window, dressed impeccably as always, gazing out at the sunrise. He turned as he sensed her awakening, his expression unreadable. "Good morning," he said, his voice devoid of the warmth typically associated with the greeting.

She sat up slowly, running a hand through her tousled hair. "Morning."

He approached the bed, placing a tray of breakfast on the nightstand. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the room. "I thought we could start the day together," he said, his tone implying there was no choice in the matter.

She eyed the tray, then him, her resolve from the previous night still strong. "Thank you, but I can manage on my own."

Ignoring her comment, he poured a cup of coffee and handed it to her. "We have a full day ahead. I've planned a few activities for us."

She took the cup reluctantly, the warmth seeping into her fingers. "You mean you’ve planned a few activities for yourself."

He met her gaze, unflinching. "We’re in this together. Like it or not."

She took a sip of the coffee, savoring the bitterness. "I’m just a pawn in your game, Taehyung. But I won’t be forever."

His eyes darkened slightly, but he maintained his composure. "Finish your breakfast. We leave in an hour."

After breakfast, Taehyung led her to a waiting car outside the hotel. They drove in silence, the tension between them palpable. Eventually, they arrived at a secluded, picturesque garden nestled in the heart of the city. The garden was an oasis of tranquility, with winding paths, blooming flowers, and a gentle stream running through it.

"A garden?" Jin-ah asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's the occasion?"

"I thought we could use some peace," Taehyung replied smoothly. "A chance to just be."

She felt a pang of unease but followed him into the garden. The air was fragrant with the scent of flowers, and the sound of birdsong filled the air. He led her to a small clearing where a blanket had been spread out, complete with a picnic basket.

"You went through a lot of trouble," she said, unable to keep the surprise out of her voice.

"I wanted to do something special," he said simply, motioning for her to sit.

They settled on the blanket, the atmosphere surprisingly serene. He began unpacking the basket, revealing an assortment of fruits, cheeses, and pastries. As they ate, the silence between them felt less oppressive, the beauty of the garden providing a temporary reprieve from their constant struggle.

As the morning wore on, Taehyung suggested a walk. They wandered along the garden's winding paths, the scenery almost enough to make her forget their tumultuous relationship. Almost.

"You always did like gardens," he remarked as they walked.

She glanced at him, surprised by the comment. "You remember?"

"Of course," he replied, his gaze distant. "It's one of the few things we always agreed on."

They reached a small bridge over the stream and paused, the sound of the water soothing. Jin-ah leaned against the railing, her thoughts drifting. "Why did you bring me here, Taehyung?"

"Because I wanted to remind you of the good times," he said softly, his eyes fixed on the water. "Before everything became so complicated."

She sighed, the weight of their history pressing down on her. "Those times are gone. We can’t get them back."

"No," he agreed. "But we can try to find something new."

They continued to walk, the tension between them palpable. She hated how effortlessly he controlled the situation, how easily he made her body respond to his. As they reached a secluded bench surrounded by blooming roses, Taehyung motioned for her to sit.

"I’ve missed this," he said after a long silence.

She glanced at him, incredulous. "Missed what? The control? The manipulation?"

"The connection," he replied, ignoring her biting tone. "Despite everything, there's still a connection between us."

She laughed bitterly. "A connection you forged with lies and dominance."

He turned to face her, his expression softer than she had seen in a long time. "I never meant for it to be this way."

"Yet here we are," she said quietly, her voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow.

Taehyung reached out, his hand gently covering hers. "Let’s try to make the best of what we have."

She pulled her hand away, her resolve hardening. "What we have is nothing but a facade."

As she stood up and began to walk away, Taehyung remained seated, watching her retreating form. The beauty of the garden and the peacefulness of the morning felt like a cruel mockery of their fractured relationship.

Deep down, Jin-ah knew that this was just another temporary reprieve in their ongoing battle. The garden, with all its tranquility and beauty, was merely a fleeting escape from the reality of their lives. And as much as she longed for peace, she knew that the fight between them was far from over.

As Jin-ah and Taehyung continued their walk through the secluded, picturesque garden, the tension between them was palpable.

A young boy on a bicycle came speeding down the path, not seeing her in time. The bicycle clipped her, and she stumbled, falling to the ground with a small cry.

Taehyung's face darkened with anger, and he stepped forward, towering over the boy. "Watch where you're going!" he snapped, his voice harsh and unforgiving.

The boy's face turned pale, and he looked down, tears welling up in his eyes. "I-I'm sorry, sir. I didn't see her."

Taehyung took a menacing step closer, his eyes blazing with fury. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You could have seriously hurt her!"

Jin-ah, wincing from the pain but more concerned about the boy, quickly grabbed Taehyung's arm. "Taehyung, stop. It was just an accident."

His eyes flicked to her, the anger still simmering beneath the surface. "You're hurt," he said, his voice softer but still tinged with fury.

"I'm fine," she insisted, her tone firm. She turned to the boy, offering him a reassuring smile. "It's okay. Just be more careful next time, alright?"

The boy nodded vigorously, still looking down, his shoulders trembling. "Y-yes, miss. I'm so sorry."

Taehyung's jaw clenched, but he said nothing more. He helped Jin-ah to her feet, his grip firm but gentler now. The boy pedaled away quickly, casting anxious glances over his shoulder.

As they resumed their walk, Taehyung's hand remained on her arm, his touch both a support and a reminder of his control. "You should be more careful too," he said softly, the earlier anger still evident in his voice.

She shook off his hand, her own anger flaring again. "I don't need you to protect me, Taehyung."

His expression hardened, but he said nothing, the silence between them deepening the chasm of unresolved emotions. The garden, with all its tranquility and beauty, felt like a cruel mockery of their fractured relationship. And as much as she longed for peace, she knew that the fight between them was far from over.

____

Jin ah pov:

I stepped into the bathroom, the warmth enveloping me like a comforting embrace after our strained walk through the garden. Taehyung had excused himself, citing some work he needed to attend to, leaving me to unwind alone. The scent of jasmine filled the air as I let the water wash away the tensions of the day.

Wrapped in a fluffy towel, I stood before the mirror, the steamy glass reflecting my thoughtful expression. As I dried my hair with gentle strokes, memories of Taehyung and me flooded my mind, back to when we were just thirteen years old.

"Do you think we'll still be friends when we're old and gray?" Taehyung had asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief as we sat under our favorite oak tree in the school garden.

I laughed, tossing a pebble into the pond. "Of course, silly. Best friends forever."

He grinned, that mischievous glint never fading from his eyes. "Promise?"

I nodded, our pinky fingers intertwining in a solemn vow. "Promise."

The memory brought a wistful smile to my lips as I recalled the innocence and simplicity of our friendship. How life had changed since then, twisting our bond into something more complicated and fragile.

Lost in reverie, I was startled by the ringing of my phone. I quickly dried my hands and reached for it, heart skipping a beat when I saw Niki's name on the screen. "Hey, Niki," I greeted him, trying to sound upbeat despite the heaviness in my chest.

My breath caught in my throat what he said, the words hitting me like a tidal wave. Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Unnie," Niki's voice cracked, raw with emotion. "Mum... Mum is no more."

Epilogue:

Taehyung's eyes darkened slightly, but he maintained his composure. "Finish your breakfast. We leave in an hour," Taehyung instructed with a firm tone.

I nodded silently, picking up a fork to reluctantly begin eating the breakfast he had set out for me. The food tasted like cardboard in my mouth, my thoughts consumed by worries about Mum and the uncertainty of the future.

As I mechanically chewed, my phone buzzed on the nightstand beside me. I glanced at the screen and saw a message from Mum: "Thinking of you. Stay strong." Tears welled up in my eyes at her words, a lifeline of love amidst the chaos.

Quickly composing myself, I typed a reply: "Take your medicine on time, Mom. Stay strong. You'll be healthy again soon. I promise."

"I miss your food, especially the kimchi jjigae you make," I added softly, my voice catching with longing for the comforting taste of home.

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Hey everyone, I hope you're all enjoying the twists in Jin-ah's journey. This chapter brought back memories of her past with Taehyung and the unexpected news that shook her world.

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