Chapter 3

Dressed in a sharp gray suit, Hoseok stood beside Taehyung, who looked ethereal in his all-black outfit, as if he had descended from the heavens.

“Always stay healthy and happy. May God protect him from the evil eye,” Min Eun-je praised, her voice thick with emotion. She was overwhelmed by the smile that graced Taehyung's face after so many years.

But the anxiousness in his eyes and his evasive behavior brought a faint, knowing smile to Jimin's lips.

"If only he had come in a decent suit instead of that maid’s outfit, we would have been spared this second round of trouble," Yoongi remarked, his gaze fixed on Jimin's flushed face.

"Have you seen yourself?" Jimin retorted sharply.

“Don’t flatter yourself. I was just uncovering the secrets of your heart,” Yoongi said haughtily before walking away without a backward glance. He left Jimin with the urge to lock himself in his room and shut out the world. But he had no choice but to stay.

After receiving everyone's prayers and praises, he stood apart, a solitary figure beside Hoseok.

"Come here, Jimin," Hoseok called out, noticing his isolation. Taehyung grew visibly restless, sensing his presence.

"I'm fine here, hyung," Jimin declined coldly. His harsh tone made Hoseok's fists clench tightly at his sides.

"Mini, my dear, today is your birthday as well. Come here, stand beside your hyung," Min Eun-je urged.

Jimin, with a gaze filled with the world’s hatred, looked at his own hyung, Taehyung.

"Forgive me, Aunt. I tried my best, but I can't anymore," Jimin said, his voice breaking. "I cannot forgive that murderer, that witch who swallowed my happiness, who took my parents from me!" he screamed, the words tearing from his throat as he broke down into tears.

And there stood Taehyung, silently praying that he were deaf as well as blind, or that Jimin's curses would take effect, leading him to perish.

"Take me to my room, hyung," Taehyung whispered through his tears, bringing Hoseok back to his senses.

Everyone stood in shocked confusion. There had been peace when he hadn't come before, but now that he was here, what was the reason for this spectacle? Hoseok’s mind was spinning.

"Yoongi, take Tae back," Hoseok instructed, breaking Yoongi’s silent stance. He nodded, and led Taehyung away.

As soon as they departed, Hoseok stood in front of Jimin, who was wiping away his tears.

"What is the reason for all of this?" Hoseok's harsh tone made Jimin raise his eyes.

"Hoseok," Min Ha-jeong interjected, noticing his son’s demeanor.

"No, Appa, let him explain why he said he wanted to be part of this surprise," Hoseok insisted. "Why does he inflict new wounds on him every day? Weren't those his parents, too?" he growled like a lion, on the verge of lashing out at Jimin.

"What do you think of yourself, Kim Jimin? Are you the only one who's helpless, orphaned, and alone? So is Tae; he has no one but us," Hoseok shouted, his voice filled with fury.

Always the silent sufferer, Jimin felt a cold satisfaction seeing Taehyung's happiness shattered. The sight of him in that black outfit had sparked a fire within Jimin, but now that fire had been quenched. He stood there quietly, fearlessly, listening to Hoseok's yelling.

The man who had always loved him, who had always stood by Taehyung, who had always dreamed of being with him, was now seeing his dreams finally begin to shatter, and deep down, Jimin was reveling in it.

It was past midnight, and there he was, standing right in front of him, in whatever form, but right in front of him. And Tae was far away, beyond his sight.

"Thanks for this beautiful gift," Jimin said, ignoring his shouting, and ran away.

Behind him, Min Ha-jeong, Min Eun-je, and Hoseok stood in stunned silence.

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"I need to sleep now, Yoongi hyung. You can go," Taehyung said in a broken, defeated voice as he reached for the cane near his bed.

"But, Tae…."

"No…I said I need to sleep, hyungie, please," he pleaded. Yoongi, seeing the utter exhaustion on his face, quietly nodded and began to leave.

As soon as he left, Taehyung locked the door, slid down to the floor, and burst into tears.

"What can I do, Mini, to lessen your pain? What can I do?" He muttered helplessly, burying his face in his knees.

"Yoongi, Tae.." Hoseok anxiously called out when he saw Yoongi returning.

"It’s better that we leave him alone. We’ve already caused him so much pain," Yoongi said, placing a hand on Hoseok's shoulder.

"Jimin, Jimin, he didn’t do the right thing," Hoseok said, smashing his fist against the wall in frustration.

"He needs more than just an ordinary person he needs a support as strong as a mountain," Yoongi said, and without waiting for a response, he walked away.

Understanding the meaning behind his words, Hoseok let out a deep breath. "I promise you, Tae, I will protect you from every evil shadow," he vowed, staring at the closed door.

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"Sir, there’s a pack of dogs ahead. How do we get past them?" the driver asked Woo-seok, who was seated beside him, as the headlights illuminated the deserted alley.

"Just drive. They'll scatter when they see the car approaching," Woo-seok replied nonchalantly, closing his eyes.

The driver shrugged and moved the car forward, but as they drew closer, he slammed on the brakes again.

"What is it now? Did you see a pack of cats this time?" Woo-seok quipped, rubbing his forehead and glaring at the driver.

"Sir, look ahead," the driver said, his eyes wide with surprise as he pointed to the ground where the pack of dogs was gathered. Blood was seeping out of a bag, staining the earth.

"Gyeon, go and check it out," the driver said to the officer sitting in the back.

"No, Gyeon, it could be a trap. We should alert DCG about this situation," Woo-seok advised, making the other two look at him. Following Woo-seok’s suggestion, DCG Min Hoseok soon arrived at the scene.

"Sir, what do you think this could be?" Woo-seok asked as he joined Hoseok, pulling on gloves.

"We’ll only know by looking at it, Inspector," Hoseok replied tersely as he stepped forward.

"Sir, I think it’s a setup, maybe even a bomb in that bag," Woo-seok suggested, his voice laced with concern.

"Come on, open the zipper," Hoseok ordered, crouching down beside the bag with a serious expression.

"But sir, the bomb—" Byeon Woo-seok’s voice trembled as he hesitated.

"I said open it. If we die, we’ll die together," Hoseok commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Reluctantly, Woo-seok knelt down and began unzipping the bag with trembling hands.

"Aaah... Aaah... A ghost, a ghost!" Officer Gyeon screamed as he saw the contents of the bag—a severed head resting on top of the body parts of Lee Do-kyun.

"Oh my God," Hoseok muttered in shock.

"Sir, this has happened before, too," Woo-seok said, stepping back and laughing nervously. Hoseok looked at him, bewildered.

"Sir, the people we can't catch, the Beast deals with them. He’s the best in the crime world, where only his law prevails. If anyone tries to break that law, this is what happens to them," Woo-seok explained casually, unaware of Hoseok’s darkening expression.

"What rubbish are you talking about? Whose law are you referring to? A monster’s?" Hoseok roared, making Woo-seok fall silent.

"Sorry, sir, I was just repeating what I heard," Woo-seok mumbled, lowering his head in embarrassment.

"Keep your hearsay to yourself, and don't mention such beasts in front of me again," Hoseok warned, pointing a finger at him. Woo-seok quickly nodded in agreement.

"I'll inform the CG about this situation," Woo-seok said, moving to the side to make the call. "He’ll find out soon enough," Woo-seok muttered to Officer Gyeon. "Everyone knows about the Beast, and here he’s telling me to keep quiet. He’ll get it when he sees the CG’s reaction to the news tomorrow."

“Sir, this note…” The officer called out to Hoseok, prompting everyone to gather around.

“Where did you find it?” Hoseok asked, taking the note.

“Sir, from the bag…”

“Why did you handle it?” With that, Hoseok began reading the note from the Beast. His face turned red with intense control.

“I will deal with you, Jeon Jungkook…”

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"Viewers, we bring you breaking news that emerging politician Lee Do-kyun was kidnapped last night while driving. Yes, the rising star of the political world, Lee Do-kyun, has been kidnapped. The reason? His past connections with mafia gangs."

"His wife stated that Lee Do-kyun was not a good person and that this is the consequence of his actions."

"What nonsense are you listening to?" Yoongi, who had been watching the news with wide eyes, suddenly turned off the TV in shock.

"What, hyung? That was such an exciting news update!" Yoongi protested, reaching for the remote.

"Sit quietly, I have a headache," Hoseok snapped.

"Why do you have a headache? People like him deserve such an end. I’m very happy, but I wonder if I’ll be able to sleep tonight?"

"He's ruthless, that beast; he’s not a human, just an animal," Hoseok gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw.

"Did you even think once about his wife and children?"

"Well, his wife herself said it was a good result." Yoongi said.

"Maybe because his second marriages had come to light," Hoseok said thoughtfully.

"No, I cannot believe that a wife would say such things about her husband's death just because of second marriages. There must have been some other wrongdoing," Yoongi offered his perspective.

"Shut up and don't be so sympathetic towards him," Hoseok scolded, ruining Yoongi's mood.

"How’s Appa?" he asked, taking a chip from the plate on the table and looking towards the kitchen.

"Appa went to Daegu for business, and Jimin is at university. Eomma, whom you are trying to see in the kitchen, is with Tae," he said in one breath before collapsing on the sofa.

"Why is Eomma with Tae? Is everything alright?" he asked, worried, sitting up.

"Yes, he has had a high fever since yesterday and can’t go to the hospital, so Eomma is with him."

"Why are you telling me this now, you fool?"

"Hoseok… Yoongi…" Hoseok was still speaking when they heard Min Eun-je calling from Taehyung’s room.

"What happened, Eomma?" both of them asked in unison as they arrived.

"Hoseok, look, he had a fever since morning. I kept insisting, but he wouldn’t go to the hospital, and now he’s unconscious," Min Eun-je said, crying after seeing Tae in a state of unconsciousness.

"Oh my God, Eomma, he has such a high fever. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?" Hoseok said, lifting him, feeling the intense heat of the fever, then hurriedly moved ahead without waiting for a reply.

"Come on, Eomma, with me," Yoongi said, taking her along as Hoseok went ahead.

________________________________________

"Are you still sitting here?" Seeing Jimin sitting alone in the waiting room, his friend approached and spoke.

"Yes, I’m waiting for Yoongi. I don’t know why he’s late, and the number is also busy," he said, calling again, getting a busy signal.

"Come with me, I’ll give you a ride," his friend offered as he sat on a chair.

"No thanks, but Hoseok doesn’t like this," he smiled and declined.

"Then I’ll sit with you," he said, putting a bubble in his mouth.

"What’s going on? Were you so busy with some girlfriend that you forgot to take me?" he asked angrily, standing in front of him.

"Get in the car, I’ll explain," seeing his serious demeanor, Jimin sat in the front seat.

"Now tell me," he asked, turning towards him.

"Taehyung developed a high fever after last night’s incident and is now unconscious in the hospital, so I got delayed," Yoongi said, trying to gauge his reaction. But Jimin looked as if he had heard of a dog dying nearby.

"Jimin, why don’t you forgive him? He’s your hyung, he’s alone, and loves you dearly. Why have you not forgotten all this?"

"Look, Yoongi, I don’t want to ruin my mood by discussing this topic. It’s better if we don’t talk about it at all," he said and turned to look out the window.

"Be careful, Jiminie. Don’t become so blind in your hatred and selfishness that you end up regretting it later," Yoongi said, watching his back and then looking straight ahead.

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