Past continues—

The oppressive tension in the air weighed heavily as Taehyung's voice cut through the silence. "We're being followed."

Y/n's eyes widened in alarm. Whipping her head around, she spotted the ominous black car trailing closely behind them. Her pulse quickened. "I've been noticing that car for quite some time," Taehyung explained, his tone grim as his grip on the wheel tightened. "I even took a shortcut home to confirm my suspicions, and here it is still on our tail. And to make things worse, we didn't bring a gun. Brilliant." He let out a frustrated growl, his frustration palpable.

Before either could act, the black car suddenly accelerated and rammed into the back of their vehicle. Y/n lurched forward, restrained only by her seatbelt, as the car swayed violently under the impact. "Shit!" Taehyung swore, regaining control of the steering wheel before pulling over to the side of the road. He swiftly unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to her, his hands gentle but trembling as they gripped her arms. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?" His eyes scanned her face and body for any signs of injury, his worry etched deeply across his features.

"I'm fine, Taehyung." Y/n reassured him, forcing a small smile to alleviate his worry. "Are you?" He gave a curt nod, but his gaze shifted forward as the black car came to a screeching halt in front of them. A low groan escaped his lips.

"Stay here," he ordered, his voice firm yet soft, as if trying to shield her from the danger ahead.

"But Taehyung-" she began, her voice quivering with concern.

"Please," he interrupted, giving her a fleeting glance, a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine." He stepped out of the car, his jaw set, and his demeanour emanating a dangerous confidence.

From the opposing car, a group of men emerged, each wielding knife that gleamed ominously under the dim light. Taehyung's gaze hardened as his eyes landed on the leader of the group-Lim Hee-sung. The smirk playing on Hee-sung's lips was maddening. Taehyung, however, let out a mirthless laugh, unwrapping the bandana from his wrist and binding it tightly around his knuckles.

“Hee-sung,” Taehyung drawled, a humourless chuckle escaping his lips. Reaching up, he yanked the bandana off his head and wrapped it tightly around his knuckles. "Ah, Lim. What a delight it is to see you again."

The man smirked, his expression dripping with arrogance. "It’s been two years, Taehyung. The last time we crossed paths, I was painting my hands red with your brother’s blood."

Taehyung's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly as fury simmered beneath his calm façade. His fists curled at his sides, his knuckles turning white. "As much as I’d love to revisit old grievances, I didn’t come here to talk about the past," he said, his voice low and menacing. "I came to end you."

Hee-sung rolled his eyes, his smirk widening. "You really believe you’re a match for me? How amusing."

Taehyung cocked his head, a dangerous glint sparking in his eyes. "The real joke," he replied, his lips curling into a smirk, "is that you think you were a match for me."

Hee-sung's smirk widened as he gave a subtle nod to his men. One of them, eager and swift, immediately lunged towards Taehyung, the knife raised high. Yet Taehyung, with an almost predatory grace, crouched low and deftly dodged the strike. In a fluid motion, he extended one leg, expertly sweeping it across the man's feet, causing him to trip and fall with a loud thud. The knife flew from his grasp, its gleaming edge skittering across the ground. Without a moment’s hesitation, Taehyung seized the blade, a devilish smirk curving his lips as he looked down at the fallen man. "Thank you for the knife, by the way," he said, his voice laced with a dark amusement.

Before the man could even process the shift in power, Taehyung grasped his hair roughly, yanking him to his feet. In a single, brutal motion, he drove the blade into the man's stomach three times, each striking a ruthless punctuation to his vengeance. The man’s body crumpled lifelessly to the floor, and Taehyung released his grip, letting the dead man slump to the ground in a heap. He wiped the bloodied knife clean with a flourish, his eyes locking with Hee-sung’s, a malevolent gleam flickering in his gaze. "Who's next?" he inquired, the words dripping with cold anticipation.

As though on cue, another man came charging at him, knife raised, poised to strike. But Taehyung. with the same fluidity, stepped aside, his leg sweeping out to trip the attacker. The man faltered and tumbled, crashing to the ground with a grunt of surprise. Taehyung rolled his eyes in exasperation, watching as more of Hee-sung's lackeys closed in.

He ruffled his hair in a gesture of mild annoyance. "This is going to be damn tiring," he muttered to himself, his tone dripping with disdain.

Two men closed in, swinging their knives with deadly intent aimed at his throat. Taehyung crouched low, evading the blows with uncanny precision, and in one swift motion, he slashed at one man's leg, causing him to stumble back with a sharp hiss of pain. Without missing a beat, Taehyung surged upwards, his knife flashing as he sliced the man's throat open in one clean motion. But the second assailant, not to be outdone, managed to land a blow, his knife cutting deeply into Taehyung's arm. A sharp hiss escaped from Taehyung's lips as he looked at the blood beginning to ooze from the wound.

He raised his gaze, locking eyes with the man who had dared to strike him. The assailant's face paled, and the terror in his eyes was almost palpable.

Taehyung's lips curled into a mocking sneer. "Are you a coward?" he taunted, his voice dripping with scorn. "Haven't your boss taught you not to attack from behind? Damn, your boss is such a coward." He clicked his tongue in mock disapproval before, with a swift motion, he drove the knife into the man's chest, ending his life with cold, calculated efficiency.

"Kim Taehyung," he heard Hee-sung's voice call out, his name cutting through the tense air. Turning his head, his gaze immediately locked onto Hee-sung, but his smirk quickly faltered. A wave of dread swept over him when he saw Hee-sung’s men holding Y/n firmly in place, a knife pressed cruelly against her delicate throat. Her hands were bound behind her back, and she struggled against their firm grip. "Y/n," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely a whisper as he began to move toward her, each step heavy with dread.

"If you take even one step closer, your girlfriend will be dead, just like your brother," Hee-sung's voice rang out, cold and threatening. Taehyung froze, a tight knot of panic twisting in his chest.

"Hee-sung, don't do this," Taehyung’s voice trembled with desperation. "Your quarrel is with me. Deal with me, but leave her out of it." His words were frantic, pleading. "I'll do anything—just don't hurt her."

Hee-sung’s lips twisted into a cruel smirk as he raised an eyebrow. "Anything?"

Taehyung nodded quickly, his eyes wide, as if any hope of saving Y/n rested on that single word. "Anything."

Hee-sung chuckled darkly. "Don’t make me regret it, Taehyung. If you want her to live, then do as I say."

Y/n's eyes widened in horror, and she shook her head vehemently, her voice breaking with fury. "No, Taehyung, don’t listen to this bastard!"

Hee-sung's glare sharpened at her, and with a swift motion, he nodded to his man. The man complied immediately, pressing the blade into Y/n's throat just slightly, drawing a thin line of blood. Her face contorted in pain as the crimson trickled down her skin.

"No... please, no!" Taehyung’s voice cracked with desperation. "I won’t fight back, just please, don’t hurt her." His hands trembled as he slowly dropped the knife to the floor, showing Hee-sung his empty palms.

Hee-sung’s smirk widened in cruel satisfaction as he signaled his men. Without hesitation, they lunged at Taehyung, their movements swift and violent.

Y/n's heart ached as she watched helplessly, her eyes welling up with tears as she saw Taehyung being mercilessly beaten by Hee-sung's men. "No, stop it! Please, don’t do this!" she screamed, her voice breaking, but Taehyung remained still, not fighting back.

One of the men kicked Taehyung squarely in the stomach, causing him to groan in pain and collapse to the ground. Y/n’s breath hitched in her throat as she watched in agony. "TAEHYUNG, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? FIGHT BACK!" Her voice echoed in desperation, raw with emotion, but

A flicker of defiance ignited within Y/n. She knew she couldn't simply stand by and watch. Her pulse raced as she wrestled against the ropes binding her hands. Each twist of her wrist sent a sharp burn through her skin, but she refused to relent. With a breath of determination, she finally felt the ropes give way, the knot loosening enough to free her hands. A surge of adrenaline coursed through her as she flexed her fingers and immediately grabbed the man’s wrist, which was pressing painfully against her throat.

Without hesitation, she bit down hard on his hand. The man let out a muffled scream, his grip faltering, but Y/n was already one step ahead. Her free hand clamped over his mouth, silencing him as she yanked the knife from his grasp. In one swift, desperate motion, she plunged the blade into his chest. The man’s eyes widened in shock before his body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Y/n didn’t have time to process what she had done; her focus shifted to Hee-sung, who remained completely unaware of her actions. She lunged at him, her hands tangling in his hair as she yanked him backwards with brutal force. His startled grunt was cut short when she pressed the knife to his throat.

“HEY!” Y/n’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding. “IF YOU DON’T STOP, YOUR BOSS WILL DIE RIGHT HERE!”

The men who had been advancing on Taehyung froze in their tracks, their gazes darting to Hee-sung. He raised a trembling hand, gesturing for them to stop.

Y/n tightened her grip on his hair, her voice cold and resolute. “You’re going to call off your men. You’re going to leave us the hell alone. Do you understand?”

Hee-sung nodded stiffly, his defiance tempered by the blade at his throat.

Y/n turned her gaze to Taehyung, who was slumped against the car, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He was breathing heavily, his body battered and bruised, but he managed to meet her eyes. She gave him a brief nod, a silent exchange of understanding.

Taehyung wiped the blood from his lips and forced himself to his feet, a pained hiss escaping as he stumbled but quickly steadied himself. His jaw clenched as he limped toward Y/n, determination burning in his eyes.

Y/n released Hee-sung just as Taehyung reached them. Without missing a beat, Taehyung grabbed Hee-sung by the collar and slammed him against the car with a force that made the metal groan. Hee-sung let out a sharp hiss, his back arching against the impact.

“You’re a fucking coward,” Taehyung growled, his voice low and menacing. “Instead of facing me yourself, you hide behind your men. You don’t even have the guts to fight fair.”

Reaching for Hee-sung’s waistband, Taehyung pulled out the man’s gun, his movements slow and deliberate as he stepped back, examining the weapon. His dark eyes flicked up to meet Hee-sung’s terrified gaze, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.

“Don’t look so scared. I’m not going to kill you—not yet, anyway. You don’t deserve a quick death.” His voice was chillingly calm, each word laced with venom. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t make you suffer.”

Before Hee-sung could respond, Taehyung raised the gun and fired. The crack of the shot echoed in the stillness as the bullet tore through Hee-sung’s leg. He screamed, crumpling to the ground as he clutched his bleeding thigh.

Taehyung crouched down, gripping Hee-sung’s jaw with brutal force. His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Think twice before you come after me again, Lim Hee-sung. Next time, you won’t walk away.” He shoved Hee-sung’s face aside with a sneer, rising to his feet as he glanced down at the spreading pool of blood. “You might want to get that leg looked at. Stitches and bandages should do the trick.”

Without sparing another glance at his enemy, Taehyung turned to Y/n. She stood rooted in place, her face pale but composed, her eyes fixed on him. He crossed the distance between them, his steps unsteady but purposeful, and took her wrist gently in his bloodied hand.

“Let’s go,” he said quietly, his tone soft yet commanding.

Y/n didn't resist as he led her to the car, his limp pronounced but his grip steady. He opened the car door with a quiet grunt, carefully guiding Y/n into the passenger seat before closing it with a firm click. Circling the car, he slid into the driver’s seat, his movements slow and deliberate, each one betraying the pain he was trying to mask.

Y/n’s gaze lingered on him, her chest tightening as she took in his battered state. His lips were split, dried blood crusting along the edges of the wound. A small gash adorned his forehead, a thin line of crimson trickling down towards his temple. His cheeks bore fresh cuts, and his shirt was stained with blood seeping from the deeper wound on his shoulder. Even his arms weren’t spared, scratches and bruises marring his skin.

“Stop looking at me like that. I’m fine,” Taehyung said suddenly, his voice was steady yet laced with exhaustion. He flicked a glance at her before turning his focus back to starting the engine, the car rumbling to life.

Y/n’s brows furrowed, her worry bubbling over into frustration. “Are you an idiot?” she snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. “Why the hell would you take all those hits without fighting back?”

Taehyung’s hands tightened momentarily on the steering wheel as he navigated onto the road, his gaze fixed firmly ahead. “If I’d fought back, he’d have killed you,” he replied matter-of-factly, his tone calm but resolute, as though the very idea of sacrificing himself was of no consequence.

Her breath hitched at his words, the weight of his reasoning settling heavily in her chest. “Taehyung…” she began, her voice softer now, but he cut her off before she could continue.

“It’s nothing, Y/n. This is normal in our world—you know that,” he said, his tone unwavering as though dismissing his injuries would make her believe they were inconsequential.

Y/n turned her head towards the window, her lips pressing into a thin line as her fingers clenched in her lap. Her sigh was almost inaudible over the hum of the engine, but it carried the weight of everything she couldn’t put into words. She didn’t argue further, but her silence spoke volumes. She knew his world was harsh, but watching him bleed for her was something she would never learn to accept.As they moved away from the chaos, the weight of the night settled heavily between them, unspoken yet understood.

———

Taehyung sat on the edge of his bed, a low groan escaping his lips as he shifted slightly. Despite Jisoo’s careful treatment of his wounds, the dull ache lingered, a reminder of the events that had unfolded. He leaned back against the headboard, his eyes heavy-lidded with exhaustion, but the sharp click of the door handle pulled his attention.

Y/n stepped inside, her face etched with worry as her gaze immediately sought him out. “Are you okay?” she asked softly, her voice trembling just enough to betray her concern.

Taehyung offered her a faint nod, his tone steady yet subdued. “I’m fine.”

Still unconvinced, Y/n crossed the room and lowered herself onto the bed beside him, her presence bringing a strange mix of comfort and unease. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, her voice broke the silence.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “This is all my fault.”

Taehyung turned his head towards her, his brows knitting together in frustration. “Don’t,” he said firmly, shaking his head. “What happened today was not your fault. You were supposed to enjoy yourself on our date, and things just went wrong. None of us could have anticipated it, so don’t be foolish and blame yourself.”

Y/n let out a shaky sigh, her lips pressing into a thin line as tears threatened to spill. “I can’t help but feel like I’m the cause of it all. I don’t even know why… but it’s like I’ve been a burden to everyone since the day I was born. First my parents, and now you…” Her voice cracked, her shoulders trembling as unshed tears welled in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Taehyung.”

A pang of something unspoken flashed through his chest, and without hesitation, he reached out, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him, her eyes glassy and rimmed with uncertainty.

“You will never be a burden to me, Y/n,” he said with quiet conviction, his deep voice softening as it carried the weight of his words. “Don’t let thoughts like that consume you. Don’t torture yourself with things that aren’t true. You’ve done nothing to apologise for—nothing.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, and Taehyung brushed it away with a tenderness that made her chest ache. For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of vulnerability in his dark eyes, but it vanished as he exhaled deeply.

“But…”

Her brows furrowed at the hesitation in his voice. “But what?” she whispered, her heart tightening as she waited for his response.

Taehyung hesitated, his gaze dropping for a fleeting moment before he met her eyes again, his expression unreadable yet heavy with resolve. He inhaled slowly, steeling himself for the words that he knew would hurt them both.

“We need to break up.”