[Quick recap: Taehyung is forced to sign a contract with the mafia leader Min Kyunghoon who's also kidnapped him to marry his daughter Jennie. Jungkook is helping Taehyung secretly so that he can get back to his home safely. But does Taehyung really want to go home or stay with him forever….]

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  Taehyung mentally prepared himself to face the person of his current uninterest— Min Kyunghoon. As assumed, the old man greeted him at the breakfast table with the same archaic smile which he'd found gentlemanly when they first met, but now at this moment he wanted nothing but to snatch it out of his mouth. 

   "Right on time. Come, have a seat here beside Jennie. She's been talking about you all morning." Those words of Kyunghoon burned like acids. Any kind of expectancy building inside to calm his nerves had died down the moment Taehyung's eyes met Jennie's. 

  "Hi, Taehyung-ssi." Chirped the girl, giving a friendly wave from her place. "Good morning." She was so in a good mood that didn't get the meaning behind his eye roll. But the excitement dimmed immediately after Taehyung took the farthest seat of her.

  Having received no reply from him, Kyunghoon started, "I’ve already adjusted your security and told the shopping centre authority to close the building for a couple of hours so that both of you get the things for the wedding. But before that, have your breakfast done. You must be hungry."

  "No I'm not." Taehyung chewed out the words in his deep voice. "Actually having a loss of appetite seeing a pair of psychopaths in the morning." 

  "Psychopaths?" Kyunghoon frowned at him, "That's a bit of a strong term, son."

  "Uh right! But it sits perfectly for the people I'm seeing right now." 

  "You-" Kyunghoon's lips pressed to suppress himself from cursing in front of his children, however the flaring nose and deep wrinkles on his forehead indicated how badly he was pissed. 

  There were two more living beings present inside the room. A chubby Persian cat having some thick porridge-like substance from a bowl, two of its front paws holding the bowl in place while its long bushy tail wagging at the edge of the table.

  It was a charm indeed. 

  And the other was a human in casual grey tee and shorts, messy blonde hair covering almost half of his face, making him look much younger than his age. Silently he was slurping his cereals as if he were isolated in a deserted island and starving for days. Not giving two fucks to anyone. 

  Taehyung bent slightly forward to get a closer look of his face; when realized he'd seen him somewhere made him frown — was it at the party that night? Wasn't this the same guy Jimin was talking about? What was the name— Yoongi?! 

  The thought came to a halt when a light knock made his eyes avert to the door. 

  "Hey, babe." Seokjin entered slothly behind Jungkook and dropped by his side, stretching arms and legs under the table, leaving a noiseless yawn. His face looked pink and swollen, relaxed and pretty comfortable compared to him. 

  "Are we on a vacation, huh?" Taehyung snorted seeing his manager's toothy grin. He glanced back at Jungkook when he pulled the chair back and sat exactly opposite of him. A subtle smile was there on his face which was visible only in that angle. 

  'He is Jkay, don't call him Jungkook.'—Taehyung's mind alerted him. He tried his best not to look at him constantly as it may arouse suspicion.

  Within a moment they were served hot tea, freshly baked bread with different kinds of spreads, eggs and bacon, lukewarm milk and cereals. The aroma made Taehyung's stomach growl and suddenly he realized he hadn't eaten anything last night. Jungkook gave him a silent nod assuring him to go on and he did. 

  "Did you take the medicine last night?" Kyunghoon enquired about his injured leg. 

  Jungkook replied immediately, "Yeah. It's healing fast." Then, waited for a few seconds and said,  "Boss, Ahmed had sent his response. He's willing to sell his things at the price we're offering. But there's a condition. He wants to have face to face communication with you."

  Kyunghoon hummed, "No problem. I'll go and talk with him."

  "Ah," Jungkook suggested, "Why don't you take Hobi with you? He looks perfect for bargaining. Last time he did a good job dealing with him."

  "Yeah but he's going with Jennie. I booked the shopping center entirely for her today."

  "I see." 

  "Don't worry I'll use him in more exclusive deals further. But for today take him with you and don't let Mr. Kim ran away from the mall."

  With a tight little smile Jungkook glanced at Taehyung, "I'll keep him by my side until we come back, don't worry."

  Taehyung didn't even crack a smile, just arched one eyebrow at him. 

  The door clicked again when Jimin burst through it, panting like he was being chased by a doberman. "Taehyung," 

  "Jimin?" Taehyung winced when he immediately got held with a tight embrace. He hugged him back.

  Jimin worriedly asked, "Tell me nobody forced you to come here?"

  "No." Taehyung pulled back to look at him, "But how did you know I'd be here?"

  Jimin said, "Last night I thought you were upset with me so I thought of not bothering you for a while, but when Namjoon told me in the morning you're here for a couple of days, I felt something was off. You always avoided people, mostly people you'd just met and…"

  Taehyung held his biceps, "Jimin, calm down. Take a breath." 

  "Yeah, but are you alright?" He searched in his eyes for the answer. 

  "I am—" till now. "They're good people. Enjoying their company so far." Taehyung forced a smile. 

  "You sure?"

  Nodding, "Yeah. Also I'm sorry for being rude yesterday. You're my only friend and I behaved like a bitch."

  "Oh that's not a problem." Jimin smiled genuinely, "I know you didn't mean that." 

  "Excuse me," Kyunghoon couldn't keep his cool longer, "How did you get in? Where's the security?"

  Two of Kyunghoon's men entered in the same manner as Jimin's and bowed before their boss. "Sorry boss, he ran so fast so we couldn't catch him sooner." One of them said while scratching the back of his neck, "He is a celebrity so we couldn't force him either."

  Kyunghoon sighed and looked at Jimin, "Mr. Park, is that right? I might appreciate your visit to your friend, but there are other ways you could do that other than barging in someone's private area. You could have asked for an appointment or waited in the waiting lounge."

  "Sorry, I," Jimin tensed until he heard a familiar voice. 

  "He's not a cop. Stop freaking out." Yoongi boldly protested. 

  Kyunghoon held his annoyed expression, "I know but I could expect some courtesy from a young person like him. He didn't even knock." 

  "Aish! Again those shits. Give it a break, dad." Yoongi slammed the spoon onto his table with a thud and stood up. "Can't you see he's worried about his friend? Just wants to make sure that he's alright?" He sighed deeply, "Will you ever understand human emotions?" 

  "Yoongi!" Kyunghoon warned him with a sharp glare which couldn't make much of an effect on him. 

  "Y-yoongi?" Jimin froze the moment he realised who this person was. 

  "Yeah." Taking a deep breath, Yoongi turned back to him. 

  "You, you are…!" Jimin looked at him, searching his face for something he couldn’t comprehend. 

  Yoongi could read his mind, so he took a step closer and asked directly, "Shall we talk, privately?" 

  After an eternity, Jimin nodded. "Uh….sure. But…"

  "I'll be fine. Don't worry." Taehyung whispered in his ear, giving his shoulder a small squeeze. 

  No more words, Yoongi took his hand and ushered him to his room.

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  Definitely Taehyung wasn't willing to go out shopping for his so-called wedding outfit but at least he thought he'd have a temporary escape from that prison. The mall was huge. Top-notch brand outlets left and right, polish, decorated in early-christmas red and greens and goldens. Rows of mannequins inside the shop walls felt more alive than Kyunghoon's dummies. He was just starting to feel good. But Jenny's continual attempt to choose the perfect attire and asking him for his opinion everytime made him lose his temper. He grunted annoyedly, "Gosh, you can't even pick a simple dress! How are you going to marry someone for real?"

  "Oh my," Jennie tore her gaze from the dressing mirror and glanced back at him. "Did I make you wait too long, Taehyung-ssi?" 

  Taehyung scoffed, "Do I have to tell you in detail?"

  "Sorry, I was just…." She bit her inner lip, shrugged. 

  Taehyung groaned, running his hand through his hair, pulling some. 

  Hoseok cleared his voice and said, "It's your eighth outfit already Jennie-ssi, still you're not satisfied?" He was holding the long end of the heavily layered backless white gown she was wearing while the bridal stylist was clipping the extra details in it. 

  "What do I do Hobi-ssi," Jenni pursued her lips, "This is my first and most probably the last wedding. I need to look perfect from every single angle."

  Hoseok said, "But you're looking beautiful in every attire. Trust me, you're more pretty than any piece of clothing here."

  "Really?" Jennie glowed at him then sighed, "But the groom isn't saying anything."

  Taehyung muttered under his breath, "If I started you wouldn't be staying still."

  "Pardon?"

  Ignoring her, Taehyung pointed his index finger at the first tuxedo he saw coming here, "I'll take that. The white one in the first row."

  "You surely have an eye Mr Kim." A pale young woman, most probably the manager, said very sweetly. "That's the most unique suit, also the most expensive. Exclusively imported from Italy. Why don't you put it on to check the size?"

  "Ask my bodyguard for it. Our heights are the same. He'd gladly do it on my behalf." He beckoned Jungkook who could do nothing but to agree. 

  The tuxedo was well-fitting, a little tight around his biceps which made it look more sexy. Jungkook looked hot as hell in the dressing mirror, the male stylist who was there to check the fit complimented. Still he felt uncomfortable. Mostly because of the purpose behind buying it. He pulled it out right away, then walked to the counter and asked the shopkeeper behind the counter to make a bill. 

  Crossing his arms over his chest Taehyung strolled straight towards Jennie, who was still struggling to tackle those heavy frills. Leaning  slightly towards her he said, "You don't know what exactly you need in life don't you?" Jennie stared at him affectingly when he continued speaking, not in an angry manner. "How could you know, you're still so young. In your age people gradually make mistakes. They fall for the wrong person and desperately try to make their relationship work. Ask yourself what you need. Focus and navigate what makes you happy. Who adds positivity to your life without any hesitation. Then you'll find the light of your life."

  Jennie perhaps had gotten the context behind Taehyung's words. She thought for a moment and said, "I don't know about other things but you make me the happiest Taehyung-ssi. You're my star, pulling me towards your orbit. I feel butterflies flutter in my stomach and my brain stops functioning when you're near." She tucked her hair behind her ear shyly, "Maybe that's why I couldn't decide what to choose for the wedding…yet."

  Taehyung studied Jennie's face as he rubbed his thumb over his chin, "Cliché, but not bad. Why don't you become a scriptwriter? I'm sure your delusional brain will produce the cheesiest kind of teen-romances."

  "That's a good idea," Hoseok started before he'd finished, "Jennie-ssi, you nagged a few days ago to do a part time job to earn your own money right?" He continued when she nodded, "Becoming a writer would be the safest option."

  Her eyes widened, "If I use a pen-name, dad won't notice it either." 

  "Yes! And you don't have to go out. It'll be a win-win." Hoseok raised his palm and she slapped her with it and both giggled. 

  Taehyung scoffed, "Why do I feel like you two would be a perfect match? The dumb and dumber."

  "But I chose you. The most handsome man in the world." She beamed at Taehyung. Feeling proud of herself. 

    "You want to marry me just because I'm handsome?" Taehyung sounded surprised. 

  Jungkook sighed, drumming his fingertips on the counter. 

  Jennie explained, "Not just handsome, you're super cool and cute too. All of my friends like you, they talk about you only. So how could I like anyone else ...." 

  "Ridiculous." Taehyung grumbled, frustration twining with anger. "You are nothing but the naive version of your father. At least he is aware of what he's doing." There were two glass doors Taehyung could see. He came out of the exit not saying a single word more. 

  "Mr. Kim, wait!" Jungkook, leaving the packet on the counter, rushed behind calling his name but he didn't stop.

  "Are you okay to wait here for a moment?" Hoseok asked Jennie who shook her head, chewing her lips. 

  "I dunno how but I made him upset again." She felt like crying. Getting scolded by someone in public wasn't what she'd experienced before. Even though her dream of marrying her desired person was becoming real, realizing he wasn't happy with her at all pushed her on the verge of regretting her decision. "I need to talk with him before he hates me more." 

  Before the stylist could advise her to go slow, she tried to jog out hurriedly to catch him. However unable to balance herself, she tumbled to the ground, on her knees. 

  "Jennie-ssi," Hoseok rushed and held her by her arm, pulling her back up. Jennie had gripped the back of his neck tightly when her heels tangled with the silk slipped for the second time. But before she would fall again Hoseok's strong arms encircled her waist pulled her against his body. A heartbeat later she gazed up at him to apologize, but found his pupils had dilated, staring at her intensely.

  That was the moment she went still. 

  Hoseok released the breath he was holding, not her. Suddenly he felt so hot inside his stomach, heart began to quicken. Her soft little fingers that were curling around his nape sent shivers all the way down his spinal cord. Goosebumps everywhere. 

  Until now he was pretty proud of his sexuality. Never hesitated, not even a tiny bit, to declare that he was gay. There were some boy crushes in his high school, regular hook-ups in his adulthood. But never imagined a girl would do the same to him. 

  When realized the people in the shop must be staring at them Jennie panicked and pushed him back. "I- I think I should pick something simple." 

  Hoseok swallowed a few times, nodded, "Yeah, I think the same." 

  She vanished inside the changing room for the ninth time, but this time with an urgency to hide her scarlet cheeks. 

  Taehyung had already reached the escalator when Jungkook held him by his elbow and pulled him towards himself. "Hey, stop!" He said in a hoarse voice, "Kyunghoon will double your security if his driver outside tells him you were trying to run away."

  Taehyung exhaled loudly, staring at the ceiling, much higher above their head, then at Jungkook who was just a two or three inches away, "I don't want to go back there."

  "Two days. Give me two days. You will be free, I promise." Jungkook cupped his sulky face lightly like a feather, a lingering brush of his thumb over the pillow of his cheek melted his anger like warm chocolate. 

  Taehyung felt more hopeful than he ever was. 

  "Sorry." 

  "Why?" 

  "For making a scene in there." 

  Jungkook smiled slowly, "You were honest, at least. You said the words I couldn't. But I don't think arguing with her will solve anything. Not when her father is supporting her in her childish vagary." 

  Taehyung nodded, "You're right. Also I shouldn't be the one lecturing her about making right decisions. When I'm the master of making bad decisions."

  "Don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault." Jungkook's hand leaving his face stroked his hair lightly and he closed his eyes feeling like fallen asleep then and there. "Hey, wanna go out somewhere?"

  His eyes popped open. "Sounds good. But that hitler won't approve."

  "Uhmmm…I can convince him." Jungkook smiled mysteriously. 

  Taehyung arched his eyebrows, "Can you?"

  "It's easy for me." 

  "What about his daughter?"

  "Hobi is enough to take care of her."

  Taehyung hummed, held his hand when the revolving stairs carried them to the ground floor. 

  Many popular beaches were there in Ontario, Jungkook took him to an empty beach. Not entirely empty, but people were far enough to recognize a celebrity. Even if they could, they'd probably mind their own business. 

  The late afternoon orange sun was shown against their faces. Fancy tinted clouds drifting across the pale-blue sky. The water was crystal clear here, tranquil waves lapping gently at the shore.

  Jungkook suggested sitting on the light brown sand for a while, Taehyung refused saying he'd like to walk along the waterline just like they used to in Busan. Since then they'd been silent. Walking side by side, holding hands. An ecstatic contentment though had kept overwhelmed their hearts— it also reflected on their faces. 

  After a thousand waves Taehyung opened his mouth to say, "Can I have my phone back for a minute?"

  Jungkook never had his so he fished out his own phone from his jean's pocket to offer, "Are you going to call Jin?" 

 "Actually I want to call your mom. You're alive, she must know it." Taehyung held the one end of the phone and glanced at Jungkook when he refused to let it go. 

  "Don't do this." 

  Taehyung didn't break eye contact. "It's her right to know about her son's well being. She deserves to know the truth."

  Hesitantly Jungkook released his hand, "What will be the aftereffect? She can't tell this to anyone anyways. She'd be more upset."

  "Yeah." Taehyung sighed and gave him his phone back, put his hand inside his pockets as they walked again, then, after a long pause, said, "Can I ask you something?"

  "Go on." 

  "You could choose a better future for yourself. Why didn't you?"

  Jungkook suddenly looked disturbed. "Shall we not talk about the past?"

  "I want to." Taehyung murmured stubbornly, "I still want to know why, for why did you do this to yourself? You could have talked with me. I know I suck at giving advice but we could figure things out. Together."

  Jungkook took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the fresh air, then faced him. Their steps had paused. Taehyung looked more determined to hear him, eyes never left his eyes, waiting. 

  He started, "It was a do or die situation and I chose both. Beggars can't be choosers right? The money came instantly. I couldn't refuse. They trained me for a month and one day told me to kill an elite businessman. Then a couple of more. But being an amature in this field I left traces. The cops got me easily and I had to……"

  While listening to his story Taehyung's hand Instinctively touched his shoulder, sympathy softening his gaze. He wanted to hug him knowing his best friend had to go through a lot. All for him. But could only stay where he was. "I am sorry."

  Jungkook's lips were drawn into a thin line, then he forced a laugh, "Ah, I didn't tell you how fun it was! My life has become a thriller movie now. Everyday is a new challenge. No drama but full of entertainment. Chills. Also I've earned more than I could have if I were there in Korea. I've my own house. Cars. The second position in our business. And, I've achieved it all by myself."

  "I wish," Taehyung squished his shoulder, then left it, "I could say the same." 

  "Huh?"

  Taehyung reached for the back pocket where he used to keep his cigarettes and found it empty. Maybe he accidentally dropped it in the hotel. He huffed a soft, sad laugh. "The fame, the money, the admiration I got throughout the years I thought it's all because of my talent. Talent my ass. Without you I couldn't even get a side role in a drama." 

  Jungkook disagreed, "I didn't do much. You shine on your own light." 

  "Own light?" Taehyung's laugh got wild and free, like he'd kept it inside for long. "Don't lie Jungkook, at least to me."

  Jungkook chewed his lips, deep in thought, maybe regretting telling him all the things he did his best to hide. 

  "Hey," Taehyung's voice softened, "You've promised me to set up my marriage with my crush. Remember?"

  Jungkook's heart sank. "How many times are you gonna remind me of that?" Avoiding eye contact he quickened his pace, Taehyung too. 

  "A zillion times. At the minimum." 

  "Tell me his name. Or address." There was that laugh again and Jungkook halted, "What made you laugh now?"

  "You." Taehyung's hand stretched at him, pointing at him directly, "It's you, dummy. Jeon Jungkook, AKA Jkay."

  Jungkook was too dumbfounded to utter a word. 

  Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut, still laughing. He wasn’t drunk, though he should have been.  "I know," It pained him inside, "I know that you're straight. Maybe dating someone. I'm not really interested in knowing them." He sighed when the laughter dried, "But I've thought about it a lot and realised, I cannot love anyone else."

  "I've a daughter." Jungkook replied without a second thought and stilled with an immediate regret. 

  "Oh!" Taehyung said, a half-smile gracing his lips, but his eyes dead serious. "So you're married."

  "No," Jungkook swore, "I never did. I adopted a baby who has lost her parents, very unfortunately."

  Taehyung frowned at him and tried to understand, "Where's she now?"

  "In Italy with her grandma." Jungkook murmured in a low, reluctant tone. "But her grandma is suffering from cancer. So I've to take custody of her before she dies." 

  "Oh. I'm so sorry. Can I meet her? I mean your daughter." 

  "Why do you want to meet her?" Jungkook chewed his lower lip nervously. 

  Taehyung smiled, "I want to ask her to let me be her papa. So I can take care of her when you're outdoors." For one moment he let himself hope. 

  "Tae,"

  "Please," Taehyung said in a husky voice but his eyes glitter with a silent plea, "You've promised me."

  Jungkook closed his eyes as he couldn't hold that gaze anymore. A faint flutter in his gut, a little hope inside dissolved the moment Kyunghoon's words came to his mind—betraying Min Kyung Hoon means saying bye-bye to earth. 

  He shook his head, shaking off the thought, said, "I've promised her mother to take care of her secretly until she becomes an adult. And with a renowned person around her, I don't think that'd be possible."

  "Coward." Taehyung took a step back, then two, "Why don't you say you can't like a boy? It would look more appreciable." Angrily he walked away in heavy steps. Leaving the sand towards the water. 

  A bunch of seagulls flew right over their heads, he didn't spare a glance. The icy-cold water leveled his knees, splashing on his thighs. Clothes getting heavy as iron with water, he ignored. Didn't stop until Jungkook held him strongly from behind and made him turn around. 

  "Your pants are all soaked. What the hell are you doing?" His voice rasping. 

  Taehyung huskily replied, "Ending my life because I seriously have no idea what to do with this." 

  "Have you gone crazy?" Jungkook held his arms and shook them, Taehyung wanted to release himself, but Jungkook held them too tightly, not allowing to move away. 

  "Yes, I have."  He sobbed out, "You risked your life to make my dreams come true. Got shot I don't know how many fucking times. Ran away from your home, so far. And even when you're away you send someone to take care of me all this time. I was there chilling, partying with people and you were here all alone. You've sacrificed so much for me, Bunny, in return," The hollow ache in his chest throbbed and expanded, tears couldn't stop flooding his cheeks, "I could offer you only my love. But you refused to accept it too. So I dunno what to do now."

  "I told you the reason, nah?" Jungkook took a cautious step closer, his voice breaking on a raw whisper  "I'm bound too."

   "I know you have a big responsibility and I'd be just a burden to you. Still," Taehyung's eyes burned. "My crazy, stupid heart wants nothing but you…" He squeezed them shut. More tears streamed out. He let them. 

  Jungkook framed his face with his hands,  and before he knew it, his mouth was pressed against his. 

  Terrified that it might be a hallucination, Taehyung snapped his eyes open and found himself in the most romantic situation he'd ever imagined. Jungkook had already tightened his arm around his waist and brought their bodies together. His chest vibrated against his. His lips moved awkwardly against Jungkook's gentler ones. Body flooded with fire and water. 

  Fire inside, water outside. 

  Jungkook let out a soft sigh, pulling back, only for a moment, resting their foreheads together murmured softly against his lips, "I have so many regrets. And the last one would be losing you. Never try to do this again. I can't live without you either."

  And his second kiss went on forever. 

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Hey guys, I hope you've enjoyed the chapter. I'm extremely sorry for taking so much time to post it. Life has become complicated these days, I thought of taking a smol break but unintentionally I'd become a huge and i lost track again. Sorry. Sorry and thank you for coming here after so many days, remembering this story and liking it. 

Take care. Have a healthy day💜