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"I am sorry, I really do realise my mistakes, Taehyung. Please, just-"

"Not another word, Jiwoong." Taehyung's face was stern. A single emotion couldn't pass through his almost lifeless eyes right now. At this moment, Jiwoong actually felt threatened and wished for a miracle to save him.

"Taehyung,"

"Not you too, hyung." Taehyung cut Namjoon off, not letting him take Jiwoong's side again.

It had always been like this since as long as they can remember. Jiwoong, being as he was, couldn't help but attract trouble everytime and Taehyung's temper couldn't take it, so Namjoon would have to chime in, solving their disrupt and saving Jiwoong from Taehyung.

But not this time around. Taehyung was determined to see this through because now it was about Jungkook.

He hadn't forgotten what took place after all that drama and how hurt Jungkook looked upon not getting satisfactory answers from him.

"And what about Jin hyung? Is he gonna be alright? Where is he?" Jungkook's voice was rather calm and composed as he had just got out of bed, although he didn't sleep a wink, but his mind could now think properly.

"It can not be undone." he took the glass filled with milk, offering it to Jungkook who stared at the ground, not sparing him a glance.

Seeing him frozen in place, Taehyung continued, "What has happened already can not be altered but-"

"What's the point?" Jungkook blurted out.

"Huh?" Taehyung couldn't help but question back. This was the first time he couldn't read what was going on in Jungkook's head. Jungkook didn't want to hear him out.

"What's the point of playing when Jin hyung can't be back? Am I not just risking the lives of my other friends this way?" he chuckled, which sounded dry as he continued, "heck! They probably don't even know that Jin hyung..." he couldn't keep talking as his legs gave up on him, staggering back on the bed.

Taehyung put the glass back on the table. "It is not about risk, Jungkook. If you manage to win, or make it till the end then it is possible for-"

"I trusted you," he looked up, "Kim Taehyung."

"Not anymore?" Taehyung was dumbfounded. He has never had this moment in his life where he has to find comprehensible words.

"Not anymore." Jungkook replied blatantly.

"But I will keep playing, and I will win your fucking game, throw that fact on your face when I do and take my friends back."

He stood up again, taking a step closer to Taehyung and spoke, "you can not touch me." his index finger poked the soft part on Taehyung's chest as he looked right into his eyes, not afraid this time.

"Oh really? You amuse me, sweetheart. I am looking forward to that day." Taehyung's hand was already gripping Jungkook's finger which was previously on his chest, "but for you to win, you have to eat up like a good boy, hm?" he brought Jungkook's hand down, and stepped back.

"Rest a bit more. I need to pay someone a visit." and just like that, he was out of the room like a gush of wind.

"What does he think of himself, huh? Bloody vampire." Jungkook scoffed, brushing his finger clean as if he had touched an animal poop just now and began eating nonetheless.

Food should not be wasted, after all.

Jungkook was not going to give in. Taehyung needed to see just how determined he can be and he was willing to show him.

The memories flashed past Taehyung's eyes as he recalled Jungkook's words. Even though he had laughed it off in front of Jungkook, in reality, he was angry. But he didn't let it show on his face.

"But, Taehyung, it's not a big deal. All that matters to you is Jungkook, right? He is alright. And I'm sorry, okay? I know I'm at fault." Jiwoong tried to reason with him but Taehyung didn't want any excuses.

"Did we agree on not harming anyone or not?" his words were sharp as if it threw daggers at Jiwoong.

Namjoon couldn't speak anything after getting the warning from Taehyung. Not when he looked so serious, he didn't want to make matters worse.

"We did, but... why do you have to care so much about a human? He wasn't even important to us!"

"He was important to Jungkook and I had promised him not to hurt any of them severely." Taehyung couldn't believe he was answering Jiwoong back. Why was he wasting time on him? He didn't know.

"Really?" Jiwoong scoffed eventually feeling angry, "so what? You know this game is so stupid, don't you? All of this is not needed when you can just force him to do whatever you want."

"You do not get to decide that, Jiwoong." Taehyung's eyes were deadly, his hands were coiled in a fist. One snap of his fingers and Jiwoong would be done for, but there wasn't any trace of fear on his face.

"He trusted me, and now because of you, we are back to square one."

"Wow!" Jiwoong's face was full of astonishment. "Does he matter that much to you? What? Do you love him now?"

"Jiwoong!? Stop talking-" before Namjoon could stop him, Taehyung was already there. Jiwoong struggled as Taehyung's hands were fixed on his throat so suddenly.

Jiwoong was pushed back to the wall, where they all stood, in the living room of their mansion. Soon, Jiwoong could manage to speak again.

"W-why? Why is he so important to you? I have served you for so many years and yet, you never trusted me. You never cared for me the way you do for a lowly human."

"Jiwoong, please shut up." Namjoon tried to intervene, stepping closer to those two who were stuck to the wall but, Taehyung paid no attention to him.

"Trust you? After you have done all this? If you can remember, I have already done a mistake of trusting you once." Taehyung's hold on his neck tightened, the veins on his skin popping up due to the pressure.

"Why? Why can't you just accept me? Why can't you be like Namjoon hyung? I've tried every way to make you accept me into the family, but I'm always the outsider in your eyes. I hate it." Jiwoong wasn't smiling now, he was serious and his voice felt hurt. It hurted him to even speak a word while being strangled like that and yet he kept talking.

"This! This mouth of yours is the problem. I should have just finished you earlier then it would never come to this day."

"Taehyung, please, you ought to calm down." Namjoon was still trying his best.

"Kill me then? Can you?" Jiwoong spat, eyes bulging because of the shooting pain.

"Taehyung, wait, let us talk it out, yeah?" Namjoon put his hand on Taehyung's which held onto Jiwoong without mercy. If it was any normal human in place of Jiwoong, they would have been gone by now.

"I can not tolerate him anymore, hyung." his eyes shot towards Namjoon and for a second, they softened at the sight. Namjoon was never so desperate like he was now. Maybe, he really had done a bit too much this time.

"Please," Namjoon repeated a couple of times as Taehyung's grip loosened.

"Fuck off before I lose my mind and never show up in front of me unless I tell you to." Taehyung harshly yanked Jiwoong away from the wall and onto the floor as he coughed uncontrollably, gasping for air.

"Get out." Namjoon glanced at Jiwoong but didn't spare him a look of concern. He knew that Jiwoong was at fault.

Taehyung sighed, exhaling through his nose as he ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair in frustration. "Where is he?"

"I couldn't do much, but his body is now with me. We can only wait and watch." Namjoon answered honestly.

"He is important to Jungkook, make sure to do all you can." Taehyung remarked lastly, turning away and marched off towards his room.

In his room, Jungkook was done with his food. Eating something good after so many days, he couldn't help but feel better.

"Enjoyed it, sweetheart?" Taehyung's sudden appearance made him flinch, but he didn't look at him.

"I shall take that as a yes." Taehyung sat down on the sofa chair again. As he sat down, he wondered about Jiwoong's words.

"Do you love him now?"

Does he? Is love even possible for someone like him?

His gaze naturally travelled to Jungkook who was silently staring at the wall, hair jumbled, just like his thoughts. He observed as Jungkook averted his gaze, picking up the glass of water, he slowly gulped it down.

A trail of water trickled down his chin, running from his jaw to his neck and drenched the hem of the collar of his shirt. The wet mark slowly spreaded on the fabric, making Taehyung look at the space on his skin which was kept uncovered as the first two buttons were open.

"Staring is bad manners, even for vampires." this snapped Taehyung out of his trance.

A breathy chuckle left his mouth as he looked away, thinking, "Of course, I only want him for his blood. I am not capable of loving anyone," he again glanced at him, "let alone someone like Jungkook." he shook off his thoughts.

"If you are done with everything, can we just start already?" Jungkook said in a tired voice.

"You seem tired. Are you sure that you do not need more sleep?"

"I'm sure." Jungkook said in a bland tone, not understanding why Taehyung cares about it.

"Well, then, if you despise me that much, I have no other choice, sweetheart."

"Goddamn! Can you stop calling me nicknames already?" this was his last stroke. He had had enough of everything and his brain was tired of constantly thinking of a way to escape.

"Why does it bother you?" Taehyung started walking and Jungkook obliged to follow him as he opened the door.

"Because it's freaking annoying. Your voice is anything but pleasing and you calling me nicknames grosses me out, so stop." he couldn't see anything ahead of him as he followed Taehyung from behind, his back was the only thing in his vision.

"Ouch! How cruel!" Taehyung managed to bring out a feeling of hurt in his voice so that even if he didn't turn around, Jungkook could sense it.

"I can try." Taehyung muttered after a while.

"Try what?"

"To stop using the nicknames," he paused, his steps came to a stop as well, "but remember, habits do not go so easily." he turned his head around, his body still facing forward.

"Whatever! I don't care." Jungkook looked away and Taehyung smiled, walking once again.

"Alright, darling, oh," Taehyung's lips were stretched into a teasing smile, "pardon me." he apologised in a very polite manner.

"What does he eat everyday? How can someone be so... expensive-looking even when apologising?" Jungkook mumbled under his breath so that Taehyung wouldn't hear him.

"Would you like to enter now?" Taehyung asked, now standing aside, giving him a view of the forest out of the mansion. He let Jungkook believe that he didn't listen whatever he said just now.

Jungkook gulped, "yeah," and he left the warmth of the mansion, embracing the cold wind blowing around him as soon as he put a foot outside.

Now it's time to start working again!

"Who is it this time?" Jungkook's heart was beating louder with nervousness.

He was more anxious than usual because of what happened to Jin. He could still feel the lump in his throat whenever he thought about Jin and his smile surfaced on his mind but he needed to stay strong for his other friends so he endured it, gulping down the tears.

"You will know that soon." Taehyung answered as they walked side by side. This time, Jungkook maintained a safe distance from Taehyung even when they walked together. This was enough to show Taehyung that things were not the same anymore.

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Exams are here again! (God, I hate it!) But I tried my best to keep writing. After this, it might take a while for me to update, so please be patient.
Remember, I love you all! ♡
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