Ep:4

                A DANGEROUS GAME

The night after the exhibition, Taehyung couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. It was the kind of unsettling sensation that clung to his skin, like a lingering smell of smoke that couldn’t be washed away. He stood in the middle of his studio, staring at the same painting he’d been working on for weeks—only this time, it felt off. The brush in his hand trembled slightly as he added another layer of color, though it didn’t bring the same sense of calm that it usually did.

Was it him? Taehyung wondered, the image of Jungkook’s gaze still haunting him. Why does it feel like he’s inside my head?

Every interaction with Jungkook felt like a game—a dangerous, enticing game that Taehyung wasn’t sure he wanted to play but couldn’t seem to resist. The CEO’s words from the night before replayed in his mind.

"You’re not offering me art, Taehyung. You’re offering something far more valuable. Your trust. And you don’t even know it yet."

Taehyung wanted to dismiss it. He wanted to brush it off like the passing wind, but Jungkook’s cold, confident demeanor had a way of digging into him, pulling at his buried emotions, his insecurities. It was as though Jungkook could see the broken pieces of Taehyung, the parts that he hid so carefully, the ones he hadn’t allowed himself to examine in years.

The truth was, Taehyung didn’t know how to feel. On one hand, he felt a desire to push Jungkook away—to slam the door shut and never let him near. But on the other hand, there was something about Jungkook that drew him in, something magnetic in the man’s coldness that made Taehyung want to uncover the layers underneath.

Why am I so affected by him?

He had been through so much. He had dealt with pain, betrayal, and loss, all of which had left him scarred, but nothing had ever made him feel this much. His body felt like a live wire, buzzing with the remnants of their conversation. The simple look Jungkook had given him had sent his pulse racing, making him question everything.

This is dangerous. I can’t let it happen again. I can’t let someone break me again.

But Taehyung was nothing if not a creature of habit. And deep down, he knew that he was never really as strong as he liked to pretend.

The next morning, Taehyung found himself standing in front of his studio window, watching the city below. The streets were bustling with the usual chaos, but it all felt distant, out of reach, like he was watching life from behind a thick glass wall. His thoughts kept drifting back to Jungkook, to the way the man’s eyes had held his in that gallery, the challenge in his words.

“I’ll be seeing you again,” Jungkook had said before walking away. And for some reason, Taehyung believed him.

His phone buzzed on the table, breaking his train of thought. It was a message from Seokjin.

“You good, Tae? You seemed off last night.”

Taehyung sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m fine. Just tired. Exhibition stuff.” He quickly typed back before dropping the phone on the counter. Seokjin was his closest friend, the one person who had stuck by him through everything, but there were some things that Taehyung couldn’t share—things he wasn’t ready to face.

As if on cue, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was from an unknown number.

“I’m coming by your studio this afternoon. Let’s talk. - Jungkook.”

Taehyung’s heart skipped a beat. He stared at the message, his grip tightening on the phone.

This is insane. Why can’t he just leave me alone?

But despite his protests, Taehyung knew deep down that he couldn’t ignore it. He couldn’t just pretend Jungkook hadn’t left an impression on him.

He looked out the window once more, his breath fogging up the glass as he stared at the city’s skyline. The distance between them felt too wide, too vast, but somehow, Jungkook had managed to close that gap in the span of a single conversation. And Taehyung didn’t know if he was ready for what came next.

Later that afternoon, the doorbell of Taehyung’s studio rang. His heart pounded against his chest as he walked to the door, unsure of what to expect. When he opened it, there stood Jungkook, dressed in his usual sharp suit, his presence filling the doorway like an imposing shadow.

“Good afternoon,” Jungkook said, his voice smooth as velvet. “We need to talk.”

Taehyung stared at him for a long moment, his mind racing. He wanted to close the door. He wanted to slam it shut and forget this entire interaction ever happened. But he didn’t. Instead, he stepped aside, allowing Jungkook to enter.

Jungkook didn’t waste any time. He walked straight into the studio, his eyes scanning the room with that same intensity he always carried. His gaze fell on the painting Taehyung had been working on, and for a moment, he said nothing.

Taehyung’s heartbeat quickened. “What do you want from me?” The words escaped his lips before he could stop them.

Jungkook turned to him slowly, his expression unreadable. “I want you to stop pretending. You’re not fooling anyone.”

Taehyung’s eyes narrowed. “Pretending?”

“You’re a broken man, Taehyung. You’re hiding behind that paint, behind your art, but I can see through it. I can see the cracks,” Jungkook said, his voice low, almost a whisper. His words sent a shiver down Taehyung’s spine. “And I’m not here to judge you. I’m here because I think you’re more than what you let everyone see.”

Taehyung’s throat tightened. The audacity of this man—how dare he?

“Stop acting like you know me,” Taehyung snapped, his voice rising. His emotions were spiraling out of control, and he hated it. He hated the way Jungkook could make him feel so exposed, so vulnerable, just by being near him.

“I know enough,” Jungkook replied, his tone unshaken. He took a step closer to Taehyung, and despite himself, Taehyung’s breath hitched. “You don’t have to hide from me. I’m not here to hurt you. But I will be here, whether you like it or not.”

Taehyung felt his anger flare up, his fists clenching at his sides. “You don’t know anything about me.”

Jungkook’s eyes softened, just for a moment. “I know more than you think.”

For the first time, Taehyung felt a flicker of doubt. Was Jungkook right? Was he really hiding? And if so, what would happen when Jungkook finally broke through all the walls he’d built?

“Why are you doing this?” Taehyung asked, his voice quieter now, the anger giving way to something far more complicated—fear.

Jungkook didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped closer, his breath brushing against Taehyung’s ear, sending a thrill of discomfort and something else through his body.

“Because, Taehyung,” Jungkook said softly, his lips almost touching the shell of Taehyung’s ear, “I want you. I’ve always wanted you.”

And with that, Taehyung’s world tilted.

...To be continued...💜...

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