Y/n's pov

A week had passed, and in that time, Y/n had felt herself unraveling. The ache in her chest grew sharper with each passing day, a relentless reminder that Taehyung had become a part of her she could neither forget nor ignore. The struggle between running into his arms and staying away was a battle she waged every second, each moment stretching into an unbearable chasm when he was so close, yet unreachable. When he was near, the pain subsided, a soothing balm that reminded her of what she wanted but could not have. Alone, the emptiness clawed at her, a cruel, hollow ache.

What had he done to her? Why did her soul crave him so desperately that it hurt to breathe? Why did the thought of him make her feel safe, as if in his presence, all fears could be forgotten?

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Taehyung’s pov

A week was all it had taken to fracture everything between them. In the silence that followed, the two of them spoke not a word; instead, they exchanged stolen glances filled with pain, longing, and the unspeakable weight of unspoken words. He watched her, saw the confusion in her eyes, the guarded way she moved through the halls as if she could build walls out of sheer will. Some days, she avoided him completely, slipping past him like a shadow. Other days, she froze in place, staring blankly at him, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her like an iron shroud. The sight of her, so closed off and distant, tore at him, leaving a raw ache where hope once resided.

She was no longer the carefree girl who had captured his heart. She had become someone else—someone fragile and distant, holding pieces of herself back in an effort to protect the parts she was too scared to lose. But Taehyung knew one thing for certain: love, true love, was never easy. It was a battle that tested every ounce of strength, a storm that could both destroy and rebuild. Love demanded sacrifice and resilience; it was a relentless force that made hearts ache and souls stronger.

Some saw love as a myth, a beautiful lie woven into the fabric of fairy tales. For others, it was a drug, addictive and impossible to resist. It could be the light that illuminated the darkest corners or the pain that left a person broken, clinging to memories in the quiet moments when everything else fell away.

But he knew this—what he felt for Y/n was eternal. Nothing and no one could sever the bond they shared, no matter how fierce the storm that threatened to tear them apart. She was the one who could save him from becoming the monster he feared he would become.

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Y/n's pov

Y/n crept through the halls, her footsteps as silent as her thoughts. The late hour cloaked her movements, shielding her from the eyes of others. Yet, she knew he was here. How she knew, she couldn’t say—she just did.

Her hand reached for the doorknob, trembling under the weight of fear and uncertainty. What if she was making a mistake? What if opening that door meant shattering the fragile hope that had taken root in her heart? She closed her eyes, drawing in a shaky breath to steady herself.

You can do this. The words were a whispered mantra, a reminder that this was her choice. Whatever she decided would shape her future, carve the path that lay ahead. But was she truly ready to envision a life without him?

With determination, she turned the knob, pushing the door open to reveal Taehyung. He sat at his desk, head bowed, hands covering his face as if to shield himself from the world. His posture spoke of exhaustion, of battles fought and lost. The sight of him struck her like a physical blow—he looked shattered, broken by the weight of his own heartache. And as the first tear fell, joining the silent pool of anguish beneath him, she realized the depth of his suffering.

Her heart ached as the truth settled in. This is because of you. A man who loved her so fiercely that it broke him, yet she had let him drown in the waves of her confusion.

He sensed her presence, the subtle shift in the air. He lifted his head, eyes red-rimmed and filled with a kind of pain that could only come from deep loss. Their eyes met, and Y/n felt the storm within her churn. He stood, closing the distance between them until they were inches apart, his expression unreadable.

She couldn’t meet his gaze, but he gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look into those brown eyes that seemed to hold the entire universe. The raw vulnerability there made her chest tighten, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.

“I—” The words broke apart before she could say them, caught in the weight of her fear and hope.

Taehyung watched her, patient and silent, until she found her voice.

“I accept you as you are,” she said, the weight of those words pressing down on her like an unspoken vow. The relief in his eyes was palpable, a stark contrast to the desolation that had clouded them moments before.

“You what?” he whispered, disbelief coloring his voice.

“I accept you for who you are,” she repeated, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

The shift in his expression was instantaneous—his lips stretched into a grin so bright that it lit up the dark room, pulling at the fragments of her heart that had been scattered by doubt. For a moment, hope surged through her veins, as strong and wild as the love she felt for him.

“But how?” His voice broke with the weight of his own doubts. “How can you accept a monster like me?”

“Because I love you,” she said, every syllable a declaration.

“Are you sure about this? Because if you choose me, you’re choosing a life with me—a life I don’t plan on letting go of.”

The certainty in her heart flared, unyielding and bright. “I am. I love you. I am in love with you.”

And in that moment, the world shifted. Taehyung’s eyes glistened with a joy that spoke of promises made and a future reclaimed. Without hesitation, he closed the distance and kissed her, a kiss that held all the words they hadn’t said, all the fears they had conquered.

“I love you too. I will never stop loving you—that’s a promise,” he whispered against her skin.

For the first time, Y/n felt what it truly meant to be in love. Magic. Pure, unadulterated magic.