Jungkook groans as he forces his eyes open against the brightness of the room, his head pounding as he sits up.

"Oh no." He huffs, holding his head in his hands.

He pushes the covers off of himself and for the first time he realizes he isn't in his room, and he isn't wearing his clothes.

He doesn't even have a second to be confused before he suddenly becomes nauseous.

He quickly rushes to the bathroom, making it to the toilet before he gets sick.

Jungkook wasn't ever a heavy drinker, he wasn't a light drinker either, he wasn't a drinker. Period. And it was mostly due to his father. But he didn't want to be if this was the result of a "good time."

He flushes the toilet, rinsing his mouth out with water before going to his own room.

Though he wants to lay back down and sleep for the rest of his life, Jungkook changes into some day clothes and heads downstairs after brushing his teeth and taking some painkillers.

When he gets down he finds Taehyung in the kitchen, his brown eyes meeting his for a moment before returning to his laptop.

    "Good morning." Jungkook says, stopping at the threshold.

    "I doubt you're having a good morning." The brunette says without looking at him.

Jungkook nods. "I'm alright."

Taehyung sighs, looking up at him with a hard expression. "What happened last night?"

    "Jongun fronted." The younger says walking into the kitchen.

    "Okay? So Jongun fronts and you decide that it's reasonable for the two of you to drink together?" The older asks tilting his head, he almost sounds angry.

    "N-No. I wasn't~ It wasn't my intention to drink with him~"

    "So what happened then?" Taehyung asks shutting his laptop. "You aren't supposed to drink with any of the alters. Especially Jongun, Jungkook. He's a drunk."

    "No, I know. I told him~"

    "I trusted you, Jungkook."

The disappointment on Taehyung's face makes Jungkook feel a different kind hurt, the pain of letting someone he cares about down.

    "I'm sorry." The younger says, hoping  that his sincerity comes across in his words.

Taehyung sighs, standing from the table and silently gathering his paperwork.

    "I don't care what you do when other alters front, but as long as I'm fronting please keep your distance." He says grabbing his laptop and heading out of the kitchen.

    "Taehyung wait~"

    "What happened last night, Jungkook?" The brunette says facing him. "Between you and Jongun."

    "Nothing. Nothing happened." The younger says. "I swear."

    "I don't believe you." Taehyung says, looking him in the eye for a moment before leaving the kitchen for good.

Jungkook hears the front door slam shut, cursing to himself.

He really messed up.

—

Taehyung can't concentrate on his work, everyone is close to the front and Hajoon is co-conscious, everything feels like too much right now.

Why are you upset, sweetheart?

    "Not now, Hajoon." The brunette sighs, trying to force his eyes to focus on his computer screen.

Jungkook's a sweet boy, I'm sure he meant no harm.

    "Hajoon." Taehyung groans, pressing his hand against his forehead.

Please talk to him, love. You'll feel better.

    "You talk to him." The brunette mumbles, closing his eyes. "I don't want to."

Don't worry yourself, love. You'll be okay. Whatever hurt or anger you feel is only temporary. Okay?

Hajoon's tone was always the most comforting thing to Taehyung, Hajoon was always able to relax, reassure, and ground him using only his voice.

Whatever Hajoon said was and whatever was Hajoon said. That meant everything to Taehyung.

The brunette exhales, his shoulders visibly relaxing as he listens to Hajoon.

    "He broke one of our rules. What if I made a mistake trusting him?"

He meant no harm. He's a young man, he's impressionable. And we all know how Jongun can be.

    "He still disrespected my trust." Taehyung says opening his eyes again.

I don't think you're upset because Jungkook broke the rule.

    "Why else would I be upset?" The brunette asks, trying to refocus on his work again.

I think you're upset because you've started to feel things for Jungkook. And you're afraid that what you feel for him, he's feeling for Jongun.

    "That's ridiculous." Taehyung says shaking his head as if Hajoon can see him. "Jungkook's only our caregiver. Not a single one of us should feel anything towards him."

We shouldn't but you do.

    "Why are you doing this to me while I'm working?" The brunette asks.

Because it's not fair for you to be upset at the boy.

    "But it's fair for him to get drunk with Jongun, who has a serious drinking problem?"

Of course it isn't but they're both young. Jungkook's under a lot of stress, the body was under a lot of stress until last night. They're just kids~

   "That doesn't matter, Hajoon."

Jungkook is the first person you've truly trusted in so long, Taehyung. Not only that, Chaehyeon trusts him, Jongun trusts him...and I trust him. He's different. And I think you know that.

Taehyung releases another heavy sigh, the pressure in his head intensifying.

"Mr. Kim?"

Taehyung looks up to find his secretary by his door.

"Yes, sweetheart?" He says, forcing himself not to roll his eyes at Hajoon.

"Th-There's someone~"

"I already told you that I don't need an introduction, didn't I?"

Taehyung stands quickly, his eyes widening. "H-Hyung."

"Brother." The tall, dark haired man smirks. "It's been so long, hasn't it?"

"Excuse us, Secretary Yeo." The brunette says, his eyes not leaving his older brother.

"Should I get your father?" Secretary Yeo asks, worry evident in her voice.

"He said excuse us, get the hell outta here!" His brother yells.

Taehyung flinches, blinking rapidly as he starts to dissociate. "No, Secretary Yeo. That won't be necessary. I'm sure Baekhyun's visit will be brief."

Secretary Yeo bows before leaving the room.

"I haven't seen you in almost six years and you're already trying get rid of me." Baekhyun scoffs, walking over and sitting on Taehyung's desk. "Looks like Dad rubbed off on you in that way."

"I'm busy, that's all." The younger says looking down. "And it isn't my fault we haven't seen each other."

"You're right, it's my fault. Just like everything is." The older says rolling his eyes before looking around the office. "Looks like you're enjoying my position, little brother."

"You've been drinking." Taehyung says sitting down and turning to his computer. "You smell like alcohol."

"Great observation, what do you want? A cookie?" Baekhyun laughs. "I come all this way to see you and you're acting like this?"

"You didn't come to see me you came to make a scene and I'd appreciate if you left now." The brunette says looking up at his older brother. "Before father knows you're here."

"'Father.'" Baekhyun laughs. "He still makes you call him that?"

"Baekhyun~"

"Kim Baekhyun."

Both boys turn in the direction of their father's voice, Taehyung standing and bowing respectfully.

Baekhyun remains seated on Taehyung's desk. "Cool, now the whole gang's here."

"You aren't allowed on company grounds." Mr. Kim says. "You need to leave."

"I came to see my brother. I haven't seen him since your ex-wife's psycho boyfriend stopped locking him in closets~"

"Enough!" Mr. Kim snaps.

"Or have we already decided to forget about that too?"

Taehyung sits back down, everyone rushes to the front to defend the body and Taehyung feels disconnected from reality.

"I'm mean it, Baekhyun. You need to leave. Before I call security."

"I came to see my little brother, dad. Is that a crime?" Baekhyun asks.

Mr. Kim and Baekhyun continue to argue back and forth but Taehyung can't focus on any of it, he can't even tell if he's Taehyung anymore, everything is just fuzzy.

"I'm calling security." Mr. Kim say walking to the phone.

"Stop." Taehyung says closing his eyes briefly, trying to clear his head. "Just stop. Please."

"He has no right to be on this property." His father says. "He's causing a ruckus."

"We'll leave." The brunette says standing and gathering his belongings.

"Excuse me?" Mr. Kim says.

"We haven't seen each other in years, father. He's my brother. I'll take care of it." Taehyung says blinking a few times as he grabs his keys. "I'll finish my work from home."

"Taehyung~"

"I'm fine. I promise."

Baekhyun scoffs, rolling his eyes. "I'm no better than a stranger on the street to you, am I dad?"

"You made yourself a stranger. Not me. Not your brother. No one owes you a damn thing, Baekhyun." Mr. Kim says.

"Come on, hyung." Taehyung says pushing his brother towards the door and out of the office.

"Where are we going?" The older asks as he follows Taehyung.

"I needed an excuse to go home." The brunette says pressing the button for the elevator.

"I'm glad I could be of service to you." Baekhyun says sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Why did you really come here?" Taehyung asks stepping inside the elevator. "Are you broke?"

"Of course I'm broke, my family disowned me and cut me off." The older grumbles. "But that ain't why I'm here."

"What then?" The brunette asks.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright. After everything you went through with mom."

Taehyung's vision blurs momentarily, his head starting to hurt. "I'm fine."

"I don't think you are~"

"We'll talk later. Not now. Not here."

The elevator doors open and Taehyung rushes off towards his car, hoping to get home as quickly as possible.

🔒🔒🔒