03

Jungkook stopped right in front of the door, his posture straight, yet there was something unsettling in his eyes. Taehyung could feel the tension in the air, the thick night wrapping them in a silence that felt like a tangible force. Nothing but the sound of their heartbeats echoed in the quiet, almost as if they were racing against each other.

When Jungkook turned, his gaze was sharp, and although his face remained neutral, there was something unspoken in it. For a brief moment, they simply stared at each other. “You think I’ll just let you go like that?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying challenge in it.

Taehyung took a step forward, his movements deliberate but measured, as if testing the waters. “I don’t know, Jungkook-ssi,” he said, his voice low but clear. “But I want to know.”

Jungkook looked at him for longer than necessary, his lips pressed tight, as though holding something back. For a brief moment, the room seemed to shrink around them. Neither of them spoke, but the silence hummed with an unspoken understanding, a magnetic pull they couldn’t deny.

Without a word, they moved closer. Taehyung felt the heat between them growing stronger, the air thickening with the weight of their proximity. Jungkook’s hand lifted, gently brushing Taehyung’s cheek in a slow, almost hesitant touch. Taehyung closed his eyes, letting the soft contact soothe the unease he hadn’t realized he was carrying.

When their lips finally met, it was like a spark that set off a chain reaction. The kiss started gentle, almost questioning, as though both of them were trying to make sense of what was happening. But then, the tension built. Taehyung’s hands found their way to Jungkook’s chest, feeling his heart racing in sync with his own. There was no longer any hesitation; it was as if their bodies knew what they needed even if their minds didn’t.

Jungkook pulled away first, breathing heavily, his expression conflicted. “I can’t,” he murmured, his voice thick with something unidentifiable.

“Why?” Taehyung whispered, his voice almost pleading, but there was a layer of something deeper—something unspoken in his words.

Jungkook shook his head, his fists clenching. “Because this isn’t me. I don’t do this.”

Taehyung stood still, watching him. “Then who are you, Jungkook-ssi?” His words were soft but sharp, as though he were searching for a piece of Jungkook that had been hidden for so long.

Jungkook was silent. He didn’t have an answer, or perhaps he didn’t want to answer.

Without another word, he turned toward the door and left, leaving Taehyung alone in the quiet room.

---

The next day, Jungkook buried himself in work as if the previous night had never happened. He drowned in financial reports, back-to-back meetings, and endless calls. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to focus, the image of Taehyung kept creeping into his thoughts.

“Jungkook-ssi, are you okay?” Sejin asked, his ever-reliable assistant, looking up from a file he was working on.

Jungkook didn’t look up, his voice distant. “I’m fine. Just focus on the presentation.”

Sejin hesitated, sensing something was off, but he knew better than to push further.

Later that evening, Jungkook stood by his office window, looking out at the bustling city below. Beneath all the wealth, the power, the facade he had built, there was a gaping emptiness inside him. And somehow, Taehyung had disrupted that emptiness.

---

Meanwhile, Taehyung sat on his small couch, staring at his phone, waiting for any sign of communication from Jungkook. But the hours passed, and nothing came. His heart sank as the silence stretched on.

“Idiot,” he muttered to himself, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “What did you expect, Taehyung? He’s not the type to…”

But even as doubt filled his mind, something inside him refused to let go. There was something more beneath Jungkook’s cold exterior—he was sure of it.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. A message appeared on the screen.

“Tomorrow, 7 PM. Café in Cheongdam-dong. Don’t be late.”

Taehyung stared at the message for a long moment, a small smile creeping onto his face. Jungkook.

---

Taehyung arrived early at the café, a high-end spot favored by the wealthy. He felt slightly out of place in his worn brown jacket, but he didn’t care.

Jungkook arrived right on time, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his presence commanding the attention of everyone around them. The moment he walked in, all eyes were on them.

As they began speaking, Taehyung accidentally knocked over Jungkook’s coffee while reaching for the sugar. The dark liquid spilled across the table, spreading toward Jungkook’s expensive gray suit.

“Oh, crap!” Taehyung exclaimed in panic, rushing to grab napkins.

Jungkook froze, staring down at the stain with an unreadable expression.

“I—I didn’t mean to,” Taehyung stammered, trying to clean the mess, but his frantic movements only made it worse.

The nearby patrons watched with soft chuckles, but Jungkook raised a hand, signaling for Taehyung to stop. His face was still impassive, but there was a flicker of patience behind his eyes. “That’s enough,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind.

Taehyung stood stiffly, the napkins still in his hand, his face flushed with embarrassment.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” Jungkook said, his voice flat, though there was a hint of something else in his tone now.

Taehyung looked down at the mess, feeling guilty, but then, to his surprise, he heard something that made him look up.

Jungkook chuckled softly.

The sound was rare, unexpected. “Don’t do that again,” he said, his tone a little lighter now.

Taehyung blinked in confusion, but the tension in the air had shifted slightly. “Uh, yeah… I promise,” he said, still trying to process what was happening.

But the moment shifted again when Jungkook’s phone rang. He answered it quickly, his expression turning serious. After a short conversation, he hung up and stood up.

“There’s something I need to take care of. Stay here,” he said, his voice clipped.

“What’s going on?” Taehyung asked, concern creeping into his tone.

“This isn’t your business,” Jungkook replied coldly.

Still, Taehyung couldn’t resist. He followed Jungkook out of the café, slipping through the door as discreetly as he could.

---

Across the street, Taehyung watched as Jungkook entered a small building. Through a slightly open window, he saw Jungkook talking to a woman. She was dressed in a long black coat, her face mostly covered by a scarf.

Taehyung crept closer, trying to find a better vantage point. He saw the way Jungkook stood close to the woman, his posture stiff, yet there was an intensity in the air. The woman looked uncomfortable, her body tense.

Jungkook’s body language shifted, taking on a more commanding posture. He stepped closer to the woman, and she recoiled slightly, pressing herself against the wall. Jungkook’s eyes were focused, his expression unreadable.

The tension between them was palpable.

Taehyung’s heart raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. What was this all about? Who was this woman?

He barely noticed the can rolling under his foot as he shifted to get a better view. The sound broke the silence, making the woman turn her head toward the window. Jungkook also glanced over, his eyes narrowing.

“Who’s out there?” Jungkook’s voice rang out, sharp.

The woman’s nervous gaze turned toward the window, but Jungkook raised his hand to silence her. He stepped toward the door, heading outside to investigate.

Taehyung’s heart pounded in his chest. He pressed himself against the parked car, holding his breath, waiting.

Jungkook’s footsteps grew closer…

---

To Be Continued...

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