1 year later ~

"Kim Taehyung!"

The loud, sharp voice early in the morning made Taehyung shoot up on the bed, hair dishevelled and all sense of reality disoriented.

"Eh?"

His blurry eyes focused to find Jeongguk looming over him, hands on his hips. "It's eight in the morning!"

"What?!" Taehyung's eyes widened and his head buzzed like someone had hit him with a frying pan.

"You overslept!" Jeongguk said, yanking the blanket off him. "Your meeting's in two hours, and you're still in bed?"

"Why didn't you wake me earlier?"

Jeongguk grabbed Taehyung's wrist, hauling him out of bed with an exasperated but amused look. "I tried, but you mumbled something about code and rolled over. You're lucky I love you."

Taehyung stumbled toward the bathroom, muttering, "You should've slapped me awake!"

"You looked too adorable for me to wake you up"

"Aha! So it's your fault that I didn't wake up!"

"But I tried and you didn't wake up!"

"You were too whipped for me"

"Your investors aren't going to like your excuses" Jeongguk huffed out. "Get your ass in there"

"This is not how I planned my morning." Taehyung shook his head as Jeongguk pushed him into the bathroom.

"Breakfast is ready!"

Twenty minutes later, Taehyung burst out of the bathroom, shirt half-buttoned, hair still damp, and trying to pull on a sock while hopping across the room. Jeongguk caught him mid-stumble, steadying him with a laugh.

"Slow down or you'll break something," Jeongguk teased, handing him his tie.

"I'm already late," Taehyung huffed.

"Late-ish," Jeongguk corrected. "And looking very handsome."

"Not helping," Taehyung shot back, but a grin tugged at his lips despite himself.

Jeongguk took hold of Taehyung's shoulders, steadying him. Standing on his toes, he straightened up the elder's collar, and fixed his shirt, tucking the parts that weren't properly tucked in.

Taehyung was struggling to tie the knot of his tie, muttering "Fuck's sake, this thing never goes right when I want it to"

"Let me" Jeongguk whispered, taking the tie in his hands and in seconds, his skilful hands tied a perfect knot.

"You're a lifesaver"

"I'm just your to-be husband"

Taehyung hummed. "Can't wait to marry you"

Jeongguk giggled. He straightened out Taehyung's look, tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear as well. Taehyung's heart melted as he watched his boyfriend.

"Now you look perfect," Jeongguk said as he took a step back to admire Taehyung's physique. "Like a top-class businessman"

Taehyung smiled. "Thank you, my love"

Jeongguk helped him shrug into the blazer. "You'll be fine today, by the way. You've been preparing for this for weeks. And you're brilliant. Don't forget that."

Taehyung paused, looking at him. "What would I do without you?"

"Probably sleep through all your meetings," Jeongguk quipped, and they both laughed, the sound filling the room with warmth.

"Eat" Jeongguk whispered, gesturing Taehyung towards the dining table.

"I need to be quick"

"You will not step out of this house without having a proper breakfast"

"Yes sir!"

-

Ten minutes later, Taehyung was stepping out of their home, the crisp morning air sharp against his skin. Their house was tucked in a peaceful suburb about a 30-minute drive from downtown Toronto, surrounded by tall maples and quiet streets. It was cosy, a red-brick two-story with a wraparound porch and potted plants Jeongguk adored. The gentle clang of windchimes mingled with the distant hum of city life. Though the bustle of his workplace awaited him in the heart of Toronto, this quiet neighbourhood was their haven—a balance of Jeongguk's dream for peace and Taehyung's drive for ambition.

They moved here six months ago.

It was after much consideration that Jeongguk and Taehyung decided that Canada was where they wanted to move to. After selling his website, Taehyung had taken quick steps to erase all traces of his involvement with the website, online and offline. After that was done, they slowly started discussing where to move to and while Taehyung finished off the work he was doing with other clients he had, he started planning the next steps of his future.

He was still passionate about giving back to the community. As much as he could easily get a high-paying job in a leading Company in Korea or any other country, the thought of working for such corporations didn't fit right with him. He wanted to do something innovative and meaningful that aligned with his ideals and background. Besides, he had gained avid knowledge from working on the dark web for over 3 years.

Therefore, after much consideration, he decided to start his own Company.

Thus, here he was in Canada, a country that had welcoming policies for entrepreneurs and a growing tech scene. Besides, Jeongguk liked the laid-back culture, which is also why they decided to move into this peaceful area in Toronto, away from the busy and crowded streets.

Taehyung arrived at his office, which was a single floor he had rented out for his start-up company. He had big plans but he needed more people on it, including investors, software engineers, and simply put, more brains. Currently, he only had around 15 staff members, who felt like a second family to him since they too were passionate about the objects of his company, just like him.

When Taehyung walked in, he was welcomed with warm smiles and greetings from his staff. Luckily, he arrived fifteen minutes early, which gave him enough time to run through his presentation.

He was about to sit down at his table in his small office when a woman knocked at his door.

"Mr Kim, good morning" Carol, his secretary greeted him.

"Good morning" Taehyung smiled.

"Everything is ready in the conference room. Would you like to check it out?"

"Yeah, I'll be there. Give me a few" Taehyung nodded. He took out his phone, dropped a text to Jeongguk that he arrived at the office and walked over to the conference room.

Minutes later, the conference room started filling up. The men and women who started streaming into the room were investors who had shown interest in his business. Taehyung greeted each of them; and started his presentation:

"Thank you all for being here today. At EthiNet, our mission is simple: to create accessible, secure technology that empowers communities that are often overlooked by traditional tech giants. We specialize in privacy-focused software and affordable cybersecurity tools tailored for small businesses, non-profits, and individuals who deserve the same level of protection as large corporations. Beyond that, we're building platforms that foster inclusivity and collaboration, helping marginalized groups thrive in the digital age. We aim to make our technology accessible to more countries, even those with fewer resources and limited funds. So our goal transcends the profits we plan to make. Our goal is to build a legacy of trust, empowerment, and innovation that benefits everyone"

The meeting took longer than expected, and Taehyung was satisfied with the interest all the investors showed. It had him feeling hopeful. If this works out, he would be doing what he believes in and giving back to the community, in a more legal way.

Taehyung felt content throughout the day and he was excited to share the news with Jeongguk. He drove home, feeling giddy and as he imagined, he found Jeongguk sprawled on the sofa with a mug of coffee by five in the evening, his laptop open and the camera resting next to him.

"Hyung!" Jeongguk hopped off the sofa as Taehyung walked into their cosy little house.

"Baby" Taehyung grinned, stretching his arms for Jeongguk to walk into. He wrapped his arms around the younger tightly, and pressed kisses all over his face, making him giggle loudly.

"I'm guessing the meeting went well?" Jeongguk grinned, his arms wrapped around Taehyung's neck.

"Indeed" Taehyung smiled. "Better than I expected"

"Tell me everything!" Jeongguk gasped and tugged Taehyung towards the sofa. "You worked your ass off for months, preparing for this. It paid off?"

"I did my best and the investors were happy with what we are doing. All of them looked interested in investing"

Jeongguk gasped, "That's amazing! What did they say?!"

And Taehyung told Jeongguk everything. He loved how enthusiastic Jeongguk was about this, even though this wasn't even his field. Jeongguk was always encouraging Taehyung and supported Taehyung's dreams and ambitions as if they were his own.

"I'm so proud of you" Jeongguk whispered with glassy eyes. "I remember you telling me how you didn't want to give up on your ideologies and I thought you were being ridiculous and that it's not unrealistic. But you found a way to stay true to your values and what you believe in. It's not just an unrealistic dream and you taught me that in the best way possible. You're changing lives and making an impact, and I can't be prouder to stand beside you through it all."

Taehyung smiled, pressing a kiss onto Jeongguk's soft lips. "I'm the luckiest man alive to have someone as supportive as you by my side"

Jeongguk grinned. "I love you so much. And I love how your dreams are so close to becoming a reality"

"Me too. I can't believe that it's finally happening"

"All your hard work is going to pay off"

Jeongguk leaned his head on Taehyung's shoulder, his voice soft yet filled with admiration. "You know, I always envied how fearless you are when it comes to chasing what you believe in. Most people would've just given up when things got this hard."

Taehyung chuckled, wrapping an arm around Jeongguk's waist. "Fearless? You've seen me pacing around this house, stressing out about every little thing."

"But you always pull through," Jeongguk countered, looking up at him. "Even when you're terrified, you don't let it stop you. That's what makes you... you."

Taehyung kissed Jeongguk's temple, a warmth spreading through his chest. "And you always know exactly what to say to keep me going."

"Because I see you, Tae. Every part of you. And I'll always remind you of just how extraordinary you are."

"Baby" Taehyung whispered. "You know I couldn't have done anything without your support"

Jeongguk smiled. "Well, you're gonna have that support for the rest of your life, whether you like it or not"

Taehyung grinned. "Can't be happier"

Jeongguk kissed Taehyung's cheek. "You know, I got paid today"

"Really?!" Taehyung's eyes widened. "I'm so happy for you"

"Yeah, like finally" Jeongguk chuckled. "It took me 6 months in Canada to find a client"

"It's harder for creative professions out there, my love. But you made it! You have a few more photoshoots booked in the coming weeks, right?"

"Yeah, I do. I owe it to you for introducing me at your Company dinner two months ago. It was after all, one of your colleagues' relatives who hired me for her wedding"

"You wouldn't have gotten the job if it weren't for your talent, baby. Don't forget that. And you found all the other photoshoots to do on your own"

Jeongguk shrugged. "There's a long weekend coming in 3 days. I want to treat you to something nice"

"What for?"

"Because I got paid for the first time since coming to Canada! Please, let me. I know you love spoiling me but let me spoil you too, please"

"Fine" Taehyung smiled. "What do you have in mind?"

"Shall we go for a vacation?"

"A vacation?" Taehyung'e eyes widened. He doesn't remember the last time they went on a 'vacation'. The only times they went a little far away from their house to stay at some place was when they visited both their parents' houses, before they migrated.

"Yeah! You deserve some cool down time. You've been working so hard since we step foot in Canada. You have been supporting us, funding your business and paying off loans back home all by yourself"

"That's because I have the money" Taehyung smirked. "From all the illegal work I did back then"

Jeongguk groaned, rolling his eyes.

"And I have bitcoin worth enough to buy out all my investors' businesses"

"No need to flex like that!" Jeongguk whined.

Taehyung chuckled, pressing kisses all over Jeongguk's face once again.

"As I was saying," Jeongguk pushed Taehyung's face away. "Let's go on a vacation. Let's leave on Saturday and come back on Monday"

"Where do you have in mind?"

"That's none of your business. But it is going to be away from the city. I'm thinking a little far away, but not out of Canada"

"Canada is a massive country"

"With many places to see" Jeongguk smiled.

"Sure. Up to you, then. I will follow you wherever you go"

"That's the spirit"

🧊

Epilogue next!