Taehyung entered his apartment building's lobby as he returned from a walk outside.

This afternoon was one of the first times he'd ever ventured out on his own. Time was an issue previously - he never had enough of it. But now, with time being one of the only things he had to his name, Taehyung wanted to put it to good use.

He wasn't as afraid of being alone with his thoughts anymore, which was a welcome change. The sessions with Lee Hyun changed his mindset and way of reflecting on the past. What once was painful to remember now was easier, since Taehyung could objectively recall the events of his childhood. He had a long way to go, but he already felt so much freer.

Taehyung waved to the security as he headed towards the elevators, only to see them point towards the couches.

"You have visitors," one of the guards announced, directing Taehyung's attention back towards the seating area.

His heart did a little jump, thinking maybe it was Jungkook or one of his friends. It was irrational thinking, since the tour was just extended another three weeks. But hope still coursed through his body as he made his way to the designated area.

When he saw who waited for him, however, all remnants of hope disappeared. He made eye contact with his guests and walked quickly to the elevators.

"Taehyung!" A rich voice boomed after him, echoing around the lobby.

He tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for his escape to arrive. Why were these elevators so damn slow today?

"Please, Taehyung. Just hear us out," a woman's voice said just over his shoulder.

"You said you were going to call Jungkook and you never did," Taehyung hissed out, turning to face Jungkook's parents. "You should really be focusing on your relationship with him rather than coming here to berate me."

Jungkook's father knotted his hands together. "I know. We know how badly we screwed up. And we want to let you know how sorry we are."

"Taehyung, we never knew what happened. We never knew the depth of your friendship all those years ago. And we certainly didn't know you were V," Jungkook's mother added, her voice straining against tears. "We want to make things right with Jungkook. But we feel we need to make things right with you first."

The elevator doors opened and Taehyung stormed inside. He entered his access code to the penthouse and watched as the metal doors started closing. Jungkook's parents looked at him through the narrowing space, crushed.

He stuck his hand in between the doors and they reopened immediately.

"I'm doing this for Jungkook's sake," he muttered, allowing his boyfriend's parents to step inside the elevator.

Five minutes later and they were all awkwardly seated at the dining room table. Taehyung remained quiet, waiting to hear what they were going to say. He'd give them a few more moments of his patience before he lost it completely.

Luckily, Jungkook's mother spoke up. "Taehyung . . . we have so much to apologize to you for. For all the hateful things we said, the assumptions we made. And . . . and for never realizing that you were suffering when you were a child. We'd known you for years but we never got to know you. If only we'd taken the time, maybe we could have helped back then. We are so sorry for that."

Taehyung sat stoically, unsure of how to interpret the apology. He wasn't used to being on the receiving end of such admissions. Usually, he was the one expected to be remorseful over his actions.

When he didn't say anything further, Jungkook's father stepped in. "Ever since Jungkook entered into this mentorship program, we never gave you - V - the benefit of the doubt. We'd seen a different side of you when you reached out to us those months ago, a side that made us realize you weren't everything the tabloids said. We should have given you the opportunity to explain before jumping to conclusions. We're so sorry we accused you of advancing on Jungkook without his consent."

"We didn't know he was interested in boys," his mother revealed sheepishly. "So when we saw the picture, we jumped to conclusions."

Taehyung sighed. He knew this was partly due to the image he crafted for V. "As I told you before, I regret how I let myself be perceived as V. I did it to protect myself from the pain I was in, never thinking I'd get through to the other side. But Jungkook coming back into my life saved me. He saved me from myself and I love him more than anything."

The two adults looked at each other, unspoken words passing between them. When they still didn't say anything after a few moments, Taehyung stood up.

"Wait!" Jungkook's father exclaimed, half rising out of his seat. "Please, just give us a couple more minutes."

"Jungkook thinks you hate him," Taehyung responded, rolling his shoulders back. "Regardless of why you didn't call him, he thinks you are against him because of his sexuality. Because he chose me over listening to your demands."

"We could never hate him," Jungkook's mother breathed, a tear leaving a wet stripe down her cheek. "I know we forced our viewpoints onto him, without getting his input or letting him grow on his own. We just wanted his life to be successful and only now do we realize how much we hurt him."

"And we've learned we have no right to dictate his decisions because they are his own. We will fully support him in whatever he does and whomever he loves," Jungkook's father finished in a rush, trying to get his words out.

Taehyung stared back at them, clearly seeing their regret over their actions. His defense mechanisms were screaming at him to tell them off and force them out. But something stronger - his love for Jungkook - was gently suggesting he do something different.

"Call him," Taehyung let out, relaxing his limbs to let go of his anger. "Say those things to him. He loves you both so much and your opinion means the world to him, even if he tries to deny it. So let him know that you love him no matter what."

The two elders nodded, standing and walking towards the door. When they got there, they turned back to look at him.

"Taehyung," Jungkook's father spoke tentatively. "Thank you. For hearing us out and for taking care of our boy. We haven't been there for him, but knowing you have . . . thank you."

They left, leaving Taehyung alone to his thoughts. But he felt he shouldn't just stew on this. He needed to talk everything out with someone he trusted.

An hour later, he was back in Lee Hyun's office.

"Missed me already?" The therapist joked, sitting on his desk with his signature smile.

Taehyung laughed, easily falling into their comfortable rapport. "Come on, you know you enjoy our sessions. I doubt other people's sessions give you as much entertainment value as mine."

The therapist shook his head while pretending to zip his mouth closed. "Patient confidentiality, Taehyung. Now, what warrants two visits in one day?"

Taehyung proceeded to share the encounter with Jungkook's parents. He explained how he desired to kick them out but let them speak their piece. He questioned if he believed their motives and intent.

"Well," the elder started after hearing the crux of Taehyung's story. "I just want to remark on how far you've come. You were able to put aside your emotions for the sake of someone else, which is not an easy feat to master. I'm really impressed, Taehyung."

The younger smiled, realizing that he truly had changed a little. Weeks ago, he'd never been able to react like he did today. It was a side of himself he wanted to keep developing.

The two talked a little more about the event before Taehyung shifted the direction of the conversation.

"I've been thinking," he began, fiddling with his fingers in his lap, "thinking a lot about V."

His therapist nodded. "What specifically about V?"

"I don't think my career will ever be what it was before. I think that chapter of my life has come to its close. I think I may even be okay with it, to an extent. But . . . it's really terrifying to imagine leaving that part of myself for good."

Lee Hyun jotted a couple notes down on his pad of paper. "It's a change. And change is generally terrifying for us humans."

Taehyung agreed with him, though his fears weren't assuaged. "What if I miss being V?"

"Let me ask you this," the therapist countered. "What is your favorite part of being V?"

This one was easy. "The music. I love getting to share my stories through the lyrics. I always hope they'll help someone, somehow."

"What's your least favorite part?"

Another easy answer for Taehyung. "Everything else."

The therapist chuckled at that. "You put a lot of time into crafting V's persona, but you never really nurtured Taehyung. So maybe it seems scary to give up something you spent years making. But it's also exciting to put energy into creating something even better."

Taehyung thought about that for a minute, a sense of understanding washing over him. "I guess I wanted to separate myself from all the painful memories. I hid who I really was, Taehyung, to protect him from the harsh reality. But I don't want to hide him away anymore. I want to reclaim him . . . I want to reclaim me."

A smile was shared between the two before his therapist asked, "So I take it the journaling has helped?"

"It’s weird, but it feels like I'm being the big brother to the old me. I'm extending my hand out to him. When I didn’t know if I’d make it out or if the pain would ever go away, it’s like I’m telling that boy everything will be okay because I’m better now."

They chatted for a little while longer before Taehyung left feeling different. He felt new and fragile and eager to explore what life had to offer.

His mask as V had finally fallen.

It was then he made a promise to himself: step by step, he'd keep working towards becoming Taehyung again.

And he had a few ideas on how to continue that progress.

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》《

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