Jungkook POV:

The walk to the parking lot was exasperating.

It was only a short trip all the way there, but every step felt like its taking forever. It felt like my heart was supposed to be vomited off my chest, fuck, even my feet felt heavy across the floor.

The way Seokjin was exceeding his intimidating aura, he seemed like the judge who will slam the hammer to my punishment. At this very moment, I understood Jimin's fear against his father. And I, his spouse, even with his unspoken gestures,  also feel the growing fear within me. I never knew him at all, perhaps the three month affair with Jimin, I had dawn to fell in love with the son more than the father.

He wasn't speaking, but I could feel the storm stirring within him. Or perhaps it was only a fragment of my fear, as I was a guilty man and have sinned as his spouse greatly.

But fuck, I had to grow a goddamn backbone.

Jimin was already in his stupor, he fears his father's wrath. He feared his only family's lashing words, and I felt more guilt dawning on me. Pretty stupid myself, I already knew I created a cluster fuck of event since I entered their lives that I somehow kept weighing more and more after another.

No one is to blame other than myself, and my stupidity, that instead of halting I was addicted. I wanted more of Jimin, I wanted that selfish chance with him, I wanted his heart intertwined with mine. My hatred towards Taehyung might even be a form of irony—as obsessed as he was, perhaps in my own way I was too.

But I couldn't let things happen in their way, not Seokjin's way, especially not that brat's way.

I had to stand for Jimin, my future child. If he can't, then I will. Our future. May I be forgiven, especially by my love, that I had to take the liberty to burn the bridges myself first.

He stopped walking, and I halted as well. It was eerie, the cold nighttime and the flickering lamp shade outside adding further to the unnerving atmosphere.

Here it goes.

"I only needed to hear one word with my question to you, Jungkook. The truth, any nothing but the truth."  He wasn't facing me, and somehow thankful he cannot see my expression as I am pretty sure, that my face was painted with fear.

"Go on." I said.

"Do you like my son? My Jimin?"

The question for me isn't that hard to answer, I have the truth within me, but I felt the lump in my throat dry and found myself unable to speak.

"The way you look at my son, you never looked at me like that Jungkook. Not even once."

"Where is this coming from?"

"I am used to people getting over me quickly."

It was confusing me. It was unsettling, how could he ever see how I stare at Jimin? Ever since he moved out and our precious time were within the hiding of the dance studio.

How could he ever know how I stare at Jimin?

"I already knew about the divorce papers. I knew you went to the registry to claim the forms, and I knew you already signed in your end."

There was only one question running through me. How?

"Jungkook. I wanted the truth, and nothing but the truth. I need the answer, or do you wish for me to rephrase it?"

He turned to me, with dull fury written on his eyes.

"Did you fathered Jimin's child?"

I bit my lip. So he knew. He wasn't acting oblivious this whole time at the table. That he can somehow sense the lies swirling in the air, and that he can still read his son after all.

"If I do answer the question, what will happen to Jimin?"

"Answer me." Seokjin demanded.

I remained silent. He already knew the answer, he already knew the infidelity we committed. Somehow I felt protective of my own pride, and I should answer no more.

"Oh, so is this the part where I accept that your silence means yes?"

Slap.

There was nothing but silence in the air after that loud slap that surely bruised me—but the pain itself didn't really sting me too much, numb of my own fear.

What happened to having a goddamn spine?

"The nerve of you..even playing with my son's body and heart. I was lenient of you. Buying what you want, letting you do what you wish, so I could keep you satisfied through the days while I'm busy. But my Jimin? Did you really have to lure him in your honey trap? You may be younger than him but my son didn't know too much! He was naive, I raised him away from people and ideas that could stain him! But you.."

His anger towards me was gradually growing, so was the tone of his voice. But I could never contest to him, he was right after all, that I am shameless. But there was rumble in my chest, deeply, to retract him with his own words. That we are all a part of the problem—that he too  was the first to put Jimin in that little box to 'protect' him when all he does is to belittle his son further. He did said it himself, Jimin didn't knew too much when he has to.

"I never would have thought those stares were only playful back then. I thought you'd find him cheeky after that eventful first meeting. But you..too shameless to even come after your spouse's son. You disgust me. If only I could have known those stares were lusting over him, I should have protected him more. I should have intervened—"

"..you knew I was seeing him, don't you?"

Slap.

"So you knew..you sent someone to follow. And you didn't even stop us in the middle—"

"I was trying not to maliciously imply anything and I thought everything will be better between the two of you! I trusted Jimin, I trusted you! I wanted this relationship to work, that fucking shitty ideology of my son of wanting to see me married and happy! I know Mrs. Choi gifted you that fucking studio, I know she hired my Jimin generously and I let it go, he needed that job to grow! But you..you ruined everything." 

I watched as angry tears fell onto Jin's cheeks. I knew it. I knew he wouldn't let Jimin out of his sight—sending someone to tail on him that he probably does to secure his son from afar. I already had suspicions seeing multiple people of the same stature walk by outside the studio. Someone too familiar, a security personnel I might even be walking along back home.

"..you know Jimin fell in love with me. And you didn't stop him. You knew Jimin was happy."

My eyes widened when I witnessed Seokjin's sobs broke loudly, and I could only feel sorry. I couldn't bring myself to touch him, to comfort him, it will feel wrong to do so when I am the cause for it.

And I know I could hurt him further, when I am holding in another truth within me.

"..I—i..i..my Jimin. He had never been so happy, radiating in the past two months,"

Somehow, hearing that coming from Seokjin even if it was wrong, it gave me a small push to know that my darling was genuinely happy with my company and is radiating of love I showered him.

"I know him, every gesture and the light in his eyes telling me there had been someone to cause those shine. Too lively, asking me how love is even if I never knew the answer to it myself,"

You could have known love. Only if you didn't trample other people, a family you broke and the man you left who sent me discreetly that I even didn't knew to begin with and subjected me into creating a cluster of events, just to hurt you back.

"He was hurt to ask, and he was hiding it from me. Then I knew something is wrong. My Jimin rarely lied to me, and I knew everytime he lies. I am his father, I raised him with my eyes and feelings close to him everytime. From the moment on he sat on the table, I know he was carrying a baggage with him—a lie."

"Please, you said you knew him then stop pushing him to that man! He never wanted him. You wanted Taehyung for him. You said you knew from the start that I sired Jimin but..but your still pushing him to that brat! You are helping to stir another lie when we can get over it quicker!"

"And you? You? Who had nothing to provide to him other than money from the sweat of other people you fraud with fake love? Compared to a man who can provide the best future for him and the child? I'd rather put on a show than giving up my son to an uncertain future with you."

Being insulted within my job just crushed my pride. I know, I have always known, that without wooing women I will never get in any position—nor money. I am yet to know how we would live together working morally, without using any women or men to provide our needs, not even my education can suffice for any high paying job to keep my lover satisfied. Not even a tinge of what Seokjin can provide and the golden spoon on his mouth, but I am willing to change my ways, cooperating and going with the waves. Just for him.

"Then let's not lie anymore. I love Jimin genuinely! We had come to our feelings on our two month affair. We lied to you, you can detest me for that. But Jimin..he never wanted to hurt you. He loved you too much—unfortunately he loved me too. He chose to lie so he wouldn't hurt your feelings. But if its lies, I did the most from the moment I signed those papers to marry you."

I will try to fight for Jimin's behalf now too—even if it wasn't on my disposition.

"Lying to me for goddamn money, even preyed my son, lying to keep that fucking affair afloat! And you would expect me to believe that you will be true to him?  When your an experienced liar that can squeeze hearts in your hands like a toy?"

"Didn't you do the same to Namjoon-ssi? Playing with his heart for money and kept an affair afloat? You even did worse than me, you were a home wrecker who put his wife and child in streets. I was pledging loyalty and faith, yet your coming at me with those words?"

It wasn't a mistake, not a sudden surge of my thoughts— it was intentional. Bringing the pain back to him was intentional. Defending myself this way was an deviant part of me. I was already wrong and I acknowledge it, but somehow being pitted and degraded, it made me grow a goddamn backbone and slam him his past faults.

"You—!"

Aiming to strike me again, I got a hold of his wrist before it can even come in contact.

"Enough."

My grip onto his wrist were tight, putting pressure that made him groan in pain as he was trying to get off my hold. But I wouldn't let go, not until I got the word I wished to hear to stop our cycle of lies.

"I wouldn't be asking for your forgiveness, you can hold contempt to me as you wish. But I'd like for you to know that with the many lies we stirred, my affection for him is the only truth I hold. To your Jimin." I said with conviction, and Seokjin could only scowl further with angry tears streaming his face.

"Let's end this. Sign the papers as soon as possible, I won't contest anything in court."

"Do you think I'll be giving you the pleasure to divorce me? I will never grant it. Not until my Jimin is married to Taehyung. Not until my son and that child is out of your reach."

I know the extent of his protectiveness over his only child. But to think that this argument revealed how extreme lengths he could extend—the lies and fantasies he was willing to feed for his ideal son in law just to save reputation and face, it also boils my blood.

Being the ideal man is far from me. But to deny me my right to my child? To get them away from me? Being chained in the marriage was the least of my goddamn worries.

"You can't deprive me my right, you can't chain me in this marriage."

"I can, and I will. I'll gladly honor that till death to us part vow of ours."

"You do know I can find a way to end this myself now I know too much and can say way too much?"

A soft gasp escaped Seokjin's lips, visibly distraught by my threat. I do not wish to flip cards, but if it that's what it takes..so be it.

"You're nothing but an empty threat to me. You are nothing."

"You know that Namjoon-ssi was really kind to shut his mouth this whole time and let the court decide between your matters. I'm not. I fucked up this situation and I'm sure I can fuck you up big time too."

"Your words doesn't have weight, you don't frighten me with your threats."

"The Geochang Kims and the public wouldn't be too pleased to know that the child is mine, and their in law is nothing but like me too, no?"

----

Jimin sat up from his hospital bed, a tired frown framing his face. Tired with his body feeling lax, his heart beating somehow weak—he too can feel it. But he cannot bring to lay himself in the bed, his thoughts had new streams running through.

Seemed like his anxiety wouldn't die, and it keeps growing further as every scenario wraps up quickly to suffocate him.

He just found out he was pregnant, ended telling his parents. Told Jungkook who was ready to accept him yet with consequences, now he's down in a hospital bed from a panic attack.

And he woke up now as Taehyung's fiancé. Fiancé. Heavy word and attachment that he didn't wish to incline with the best friend he trusted the most, that seemed to be the one to trap him back in his little box.

All of those in span of one day.

When it was hell enough when it was just the beginning, how will he face the other days?

Jimin groaned, feeling his chest tighten.

"Are you okay?" Namjoon worriedly asked while sat on the stool beside Jimin's hospital bed, setting aside the tangerine he was peeling off, bought from the nearby grocery store while out for a few minutes.

"..the tangerine will be nice." Maybe, just maybe, eating will take away all his worries. After all he didn't get to eat properly, and there's two of them now about to share the food. Him, and his little bundle growing in him.

"If your chest hurts, you probably shouldn't. It'll make you feel acidic. I'll tell the staff to prepare you food fit for your health right now."  Namjoon stood, about to leave, when Jimin stopped him and clutched on the hem of his blazer tightly.

"No—no, please. Please don't leave me alone." Jimin held onto him, and Namjoon soften almost immediately. It broke his heart seeing Jimin's pleading expression, desperate for companionship.

"Okay, okay. I won't leave." His hand softly patted the blonde's head, stroking his head calmly that soothed the boy's nerves.

Being with him had always calmed Jimin down in a way. It was different when he's with Seokjin, Namjoon's companionship was more open and welcoming, whereas Seokjin was more close and tightknit.

"Do you miss Seokjin? I think I can get him."

"No, you're more than enough."

Namjoon could see the look in Jimin's eyes, and he already knew what it meant.

"Is this about Jeon Jungkook this whole time, Jimin?" the blonde nodded.

Of course, his appa could pick it up better than his father. After all, Namjoon
have known his sides better, his secrets that he could never tell Seokjin and can read him even from the look of his eyes. Namjoon was a great reader, even with the short periods they see each other because of restrictions, he was, and will always understand his son.

Jimin could never lie to Namjoon as much as he lies to Seokjin.

Namjoon could only wish that he was as sincere as him.

"I know you could read the air at the table! He..he's.."

"The father of the child? Your pained glance at him was enough for me to understand."

Tears pooled onto his eyes once again, the warmth of his tears fallong through his cheeks yet this time, a warm hand wipes his tears immediately and a soothing voice to hush.

"I don't know what to do! I..if..if I give this up you will be the only one left to me, appa. Father, Taehyung, a-and even though I think he wants to tak responsibility, he will be forced to turn his back on me."

"I'll never turn my back on you, 'minnie. You can hold on to me."

Liability. The moral that Namjoon could only hold on by now.

He was the first domino to fall down, unfortunately, Jimin was on the last with nobody to lean on. He didn't expect the turn out of situation at all, he intended a ruinous domino effect with Seokjin the last piece to fall down at the last for his long waited revenge. Everything, ever pain, every regret, it was all orchestrated of him dragging people discreetly onto his domino for Seokjin to receive. Jimin shouldn't even be a major liability in the first place, he was even out of the picture. But the way he was dragged in and became the main subject instead of Seokjin? It plagued Namjoon too much, there was a wrong piece in the middle that disarrayed everything, and it's Jungkook.

And the way Jimin trusted him—he doesn't deserve his trust. But he'll hold onto it, and keep it intact to avoid breaking his fragile heart as a compensation and repentance.

"Please, please, help me. Help us. Jungkook told me he will receive me, t-that he loved me. That he wanted the child too. But—"

"I get it. The Kims will trap you once they got a hold on you, and that fanatical fiancé of yours as well."

It was no secret, even if Namjoon was persecuted on those elite circles after his fall down, everybody knows how the Kims were serenading Seokjin to get their children married for the partnership. They wanted it too bad, much more the son who had been running his mind since childhood to huddle over Jimin as if he's the only person in the world to 'love' for.

To think of, all of them were fucked enough to ruin Jimin's life all at once. A vengeful father figure, a biological father who was too possessive, a bestfriend who was obsessive, and a lover who made him head over heels and fall from grace. All of them circling around Jimin, a boy who was made innocent and tearing him apart one by one.

If only he could get him out of that suffocating circle and only let him be the spectator to chaos.

"Please, help me, appa. Help us run away from here. Set me free, please."

--

This was shorter than the other ones, but god it took me too long because I had to splice, delete, and rearrange the dialogues to fit. It was emotion driven at first, way too much, plus the original manuscript was too fucking cringey apparently, that this whole chapter was a rewrite with almost no salvagable lines or description.

I ommitted all Taehyung's scene in this chapter, because he's the one originally in it after Jin and Jungkook's confrontation, as well as Jimin's hospital scene. The hospital scene was replaced to Namjoon and started to establish their familial relationship while uncovering.

And with enough pondering and rereading, I have come to conclusion that none of them were morally and none were green flags enough, and I exposed it further here.

Sorry for the due, but I hope this chapter will be better received!