chepter 3 : that's the problem that you still feel

Two days later — Kim Empire Subsidiary Collapse

Taehyung’s phone buzzed relentlessly as he stepped out of his black car. Journalists swarmed outside the gates like vultures.

“Kim Empire’s fashion branch shares have plummeted overnight—”

“Did Jeon Jungkook sabotage the merge—?”

“Is this the first sign of war?”

He didn’t answer.

He didn’t flinch.

But inside, something cracked.

Jungkook bought out 60% of one of Kim Empire’s oldest subsidiaries overnight.

No warnings. No leaks. No ethics.

Just one clean, ruthless cut.

And everyone knew—this wasn’t about business.

This was personal.

......

Taehyung’s Office — 9:00 PM

"HE BOUGHT OUT MY COMPANY IN FRONT OF ME!" Taehyung roared, slamming the whiskey glass against the wall. Shards scattered like diamonds.

Hoseok jumped. He had never seen Taehyung like this. Not even after his father’s death.

"Calm down, Tae—"

"I let him in," Taehyung hissed. "I gave him three seconds of eye contact and now he’s playing god with my empire."

"You should’ve crushed him the moment he stepped back into Seoul."

Taehyung stared at the broken glass on the floor.

"No," he whispered. "I want him to try again. I want to watch him fall like he made me"

.....

That Night — Jungkook’s Penthouse

Taehyung didn’t knock.

He walked in like fire.

The guards outside didn’t stop him—one look from Taehyung was enough to make grown men rethink their job security.

Jungkook stood at the window, shirtless, tattoos glinting under soft light, a glass of wine in his hand. Calm. Casual. Completely unbothered.

“You’re late,” Jungkook said without turning.

“Shut the fuck up,” Taehyung snapped.

Jungkook turned, eyebrow raised. “And here I thought we were being civil now.”

“You ruined a company my father built,” Taehyung growled, stalking forward. “For what? To piss me off?”

“No,” Jungkook said, eyes locking on him. “To remind you that you bleed.”

Taehyung pushed him.

Jungkook didn’t resist.

He hit the wall with a low laugh, head tilting.

“I hate you,” Taehyung hissed.

Jungkook’s eyes gleamed. “That’s the problem. You still feel.”

"You're sick."

"You made me."

.....

Taehyung grabbed Jungkook’s collar.

“I should kill you,” he breathed.

“You won’t.” Jungkook’s voice was soft. Too soft.

“Why not?”

“Because the only thing stronger than your hate is your fear,” Jungkook whispered, breath warm against Taehyung’s cheek. “You’re scared that if you touch me any longer, you won’t stop.”

Taehyung’s fingers twitched.

Their lips were inches apart.

The air cracked between them like lightning.

For a moment, something unholy bloomed in Taehyung’s chest.

He wanted to hurt Jungkook.

He wanted to kiss him.

So he did neither.

He punched him.

Blood spilled from Jungkook’s lip—but he only laughed again, wiping it with the back of his hand.

“I missed you like this,” Jungkook whispered. “Wild. Ugly. Real.”

“Go to hell.”

“I did,” Jungkook said. “And it looked like you.”

.....

Back at Taehyung’s Apartment — Midnight

His knuckles were still red.

The elevator mirrors reflected a broken man in a designer suit.

But it was the emotion in his chest that terrified him more than the pain in his hand.

Not hate.

Not rage.

Longing.

And that was dangerous.

Because if Taehyung wanted Jungkook...

Even a little...

He would lose everything he built.

... ...

Flashback – Age 19

"Don’t go," Jungkook had whispered.

Taehyung had stood at the train station, jaw locked, fists clenched.

“I have to.”

“Please.”

“You destroyed everything,” Taehyung said.

“I didn’t mean to.”

“You always mean it,” Taehyung whispered. “That’s what makes it worse.”

Jungkook didn’t follow him that day.

But Taehyung never forgot the look in his eyes.

It wasn’t regret.

It was something deeper.

Something terrifying.

Possession.

....

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