Like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.
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The Art of War
Sun Tzu

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Jungkook somehow managed to get a few hours of sleep, a blissful nothingness not even disturbed by dreams.

When he awoke, opening his eyes and adjusting to the rising sun, he found a still-sleeping Taehyung just one foot away from him. In their slumber, they must have turned towards each other, like two magnets attracted to their opposite pole.

In his defenseless state of sleep, Taehyung showed no trace of his usual seriousness. His expression was void of pain, with no unspoken anguish tightening his features. Relaxation and peace were like an aura around the elder, making him appear younger and less stressed out. To Jungkook, he seemed to be an entirely different person, a person he probably didn't let others see.

Jungkook knew Taehyung experienced a tragic suffering, something he didn't feel comfortable talking about. It was easy enough to assume the elder locked up the boy he used to be, all so that vulnerable part of him didn't get hurt as well.

But Jungkook saw a glimpse of that person - that version of Taehyung - last night, when the influence of alcohol liberated the elder. No longer was Taehyung tense and restrained; no, he smiled easily and flirted brazenly with Jungkook. He seemed to forget the depth of his sorrows, and for a fleeting moment, Taehyung appeared to be happy.

And seeing the elder smile . . . Fuck, Jungkook had never beheld something so stunning. The brightness and pure joy contained in that one gesture took his breath away, making him want to do anything to keep Taehyung smiling like that.

Because that smiling, happy side of Taehyung . . . Jungkook loved it.

But - even though the elder could get bossy and controlling - Jungkook had come to appreciate Taehyung's more serious side as well. After all, those characteristics kept them both alive, so who was Jungkook to complain? And if he had the time to get to know Taehyung, he'd probably discover even more appealing qualities about the gorgeous bodyguard. He'd probably fall for him, too.

But that was the thing - there was no time at all. In fact, both Taehyung and Jungkook were operating on borrowed time. Unknown enemies openly hunted them, waiting for the smallest of mistakes to occur so they could strike. This whole running-for-their-lives gig was not exactly leaving many opportunities for the two boys to sit down and really talk.

And then there was the whole fact that their connection was based on a lie.

From the very beginning, honesty was not something Jungkook practiced, and look where that got him. He was fearful for his life, completely reliant on someone who didn't know he wasn't who he pretended to be. And when that person found out - when Taehyung learned of his deception - he was going to hate Jungkook unquestionably.

And while Jungkook didn't want to admit it, he wasn't ready to see Taehyung look at him with betrayal in his eyes. The bond they created, both new and undeveloped, couldn't possibly survive. Their slowly budding relationship - whatever that entailed - was too untested, and Jungkook knew it would snap. . . There was no other outcome.

And even though his connection to Taehyung was based on hidden truths and intricate secrets, it was still a connection.

Jungkook found something within Taehyung - an intrigue, or maybe even an attachment - that he still needed to explore more. But once the bodyguard finally learned that he was nothing but a nobody, a person unworthy of protection, it would all be over.

Taehyung would never care for Jungkook again.

Whatever they had, whatever spark that tried to ignite amongst the damp kindling, would burn out. It couldn't survive the truth. And even though they hadn't known each other for very long, Jungkook didn't want to say goodbye to yet another person.

He wasn't ready.

But it didn't matter if he was ready or not . . . The time had finally come.

Before he faced the reality of his situation, however, he allowed himself five more minutes of pretending. With the gentle morning light and the sounds of chirping birds setting the stage, Jungkook scooted closer to the sleeping bodyguard.

This was the last time he'd be with Taehyung like this.

Staring at him up close, just a few inches of space separating their bodies, caused Jungkook to inhale sharply. Fuck, Taehyung's beauty never failed to make his stomach flutter, to weaken every one of his muscles. His hands ached to draw the elder closer, to hold him appreciatively and savor how someone this magnificent could exist in the world. But he kept those inches between them, choosing to admire from afar.

Taehyung's dark hair, both fluffy and limp in sleep, messily fell over his forehead. His eyes were hidden by closed eyelids, with his feathery eyelashes fanning over his cheeks. And his lips, pink and slightly pouty, were parted as he exhaled gently through his mouth.

Seeing the elder like this - unguarded and without that hard exterior - made Jungkook care for him inexplicably more than before. And after Taehyung admitted he no longer had many people to look after him, a desire ignited within Jungkook to be someone he could rely on. It was silly and naive, sure, but he wanted to be by Taehyung's side in whatever capacity was allowed.

And for the first time in so long, Jungkook felt the need to reveal his true self. It was easy to hide behind cockiness and arrogance, superiority and ill-formed confidence. But at the end of the day, he was more than all of that. He was a person looking for affection and validation. He was a person who wanted to care for someone and be cared for in return.

Last night, he let his mask drop completely. As he took care of the elder in his tipsy stupor, Jungkook secretly enjoyed attending to Taehyung's needs. Their interactions felt normal, almost like they were two people who just started dating.

And Jungkook absolutely loved it all.

But there were no reasons for him to delay any longer. The time had arrived for Jungkook to tell the truth . . . He just hoped Taehyung got a good enough impression of who he really was . . . He hoped Taehyung wouldn't be as inclined to turn on him.

He'd find out soon enough.

One thing Jungkook didn't exactly know how to handle was the actual telling of the truth. Should he go to the Chief first or attempt to talk with Taehyung? Informing the two simultaneously sounded too intimidating, though it could be helpful to have Taehyung there to act as a buffer to his boss. That was, of course, if the bodyguard didn't attempt to strangle Jungkook's throat after learning the truth.

But Jungkook held onto the knowledge that Taehyung cared for him . . . That was all he had. And maybe Taehyung would be sympathetic, hearing out his side of the story calmly and rationally.

But that probably wouldn't happen.

After a few more minutes of deliberation, Jungkook decided to confront Taehyung first. Depending on how that went - meaning, if he was still alive and unrestrained - they could speak with the Chief together.

But before he made his big reveal, he needed to mentally and physically prepare. First, he'd clean himself by showering and dressing in presentable clothing. Then, he'd find some food and wake his mind up with coffee. And hopefully, by the end of all that, he'd have the words needed to make his case - he'd know exactly what to say to avoid getting shot in cold blood.

With a sigh, he took one more look at Taehyung, wishing things could be different between them. He wondered what they could have been if they met like normal people, like at a cafe or even a club. Maybe they'd be nothing at all, or maybe they'd be something more. Either way, there was no use in imagining false beginnings.

All they were - and all they could ever be - was Taehyung the bodyguard and Jungkook the liar.

But right now, in the quiet of the bedroom and the warmth of their sheets, he pretended they were just Jungkook and Taehyung. Just two people.

Jungkook reached out, grazing his knuckles over the elder's defined cheekbones. He kept his touch feather-light, not wanting to wake the sleeping boy. His fingers traced all over the bodyguard's features, committing the feel of his skin to memory. And all the while, Taehyung's breathing remained deep and even, a signal he was lost in a place free from his anguish.

And in a moment of weakness, Jungkook closed the distance between them, pressing a faint kiss against the elder's lips. He knew the gesture crossed the line; he knew he took advantage of the fact that Taehyung remained asleep. There was no excuse, yet Jungkook didn't beat himself up too much. It was his last opportunity to kiss Taehyung.

After today, the only kiss the elder would want to give him was the kiss of death.

Jungkook pulled back, studying Taehyung's face one last time before he got up. He'd forever regret the decisions that led him to this point, but he had to own up to his mistakes and atone for them all.

Hopefully, he'd be given the opportunity to do so.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to the bodyguard, repeating his apology from last night. "For everything, but most of all, for lying to you."

As quietly as possible, he rolled out of bed to get ready for the day. For all he knew, it could potentially be his last.

Thirty minutes later, Jungkook snuck out of their room and down to the first floor. It was too early in the morning for breakfast to be served, so he made his way to the kitchen to scope out the options. Before last night, he hadn't had the chance to explore all of the bed and breakfast that Hoseok worked so hard to build. But when the lodge owner came pounding at his door, demanding for him to collect his drunk boyfriend, he had the chance to see more of the hidden spaces.

The kitchen, organized and well-stocked, boasted a few items for Jungkook to fill up on. He snagged some pieces of fruit and a couple of baked goods, parking himself on the barstool he sat in last evening. He spaced out as he ate, giving his restless mind a rare reprieve.

Taehyung would've been impressed at his ability to be quiet.

As he finished eating, a worker entered the space, scaring both Jungkook and herself half to death. After a few awkward chuckles, she let him know that coffee and pastries had been set up in a small sitting room off of the lobby. And as usual, Jungkook could always eat more, so he eagerly set off in search of the place.

Not too many people - guests or workers - were up yet, so Jungkook made it to the sitting room without pausing for conversation. He was thankful for that; it was too early in the morning for him to converse with anyone intelligently.

The room was charming, boasting a couple of armchairs situated in front of a television. Off to the side, a spread of coffee, teas, croissants, and donuts beckoned Jungkook over. He stuck a donut between his lips while pouring himself some coffee, the artificial sugar tasting sweet on his tongue. He got comfortable in one of the armchairs, turning on the television and deciding to hide out here for a while.

A news station came to life before his eyes, a weatherman detailing the highs and lows for the upcoming week. It was going to be a hot few days, which would be quite uncomfortable if he continued to wear his long-sleeved shirt. A little belatedly, he realized the weather would be the least of his issues if today didn't go well.

Once the man finished his report, a story on politics or whatever filled the screen. He was never really fascinated by debates, trade wars, or national security; he supposed those topics were necessary to be aware of, though they didn't hold his attention. So now, even though Jungkook was tempted to put on something more exciting, he figured he should stay up to date on the world around him.

With everything going on, he felt somewhat disconnected.

The door behind him opened gently, letting in a thin man with an apathetic expression. Jungkook nodded to him in greeting, turning back to watch the news. Though he wasn't really watching; while he tried to pay attention, it bored him too much in the end.

So he let his mind drift instead, wondering how pissed off Taehyung would be if he woke up to find him missing. Pretty pissed, if Jungkook had to guess.

And he couldn't help it. He smiled at the thought.

"Can you turn that up?" A flat and controlled voice asked, sounding pretty close.

Jungkook realized the man had seated himself in the other armchair, a cup of coffee gripped between his fingers.

"Oh, sure," Jungkook complied, reaching out for the remote. He raised the volume, ears tuning out whatever depressing story the newscasters droned on about.

The man hummed in satisfaction, sinking deeper into the chair and otherwise ignoring Jungkook. His gaze fixated on the screen, barely even blinking as he listened to the story.

Jungkook busied himself by eating his donut, already debating if he should get another. And maybe it'd be nice of him to bring some pastries up for Taehyung, a small gesture to show his gratitude. It might also help butter up the bodyguard, making him more willing to hear out Jungkook's revelation.

Hell, maybe he should bring up all the pastries here on the table. Anything to help his case, right? Satisfied with that conclusion, he placed his hands on the armrests and prepared to stand.

"Are you from around here?" The man spoke up suddenly, eyes still trained forward.

Jungkook looked at him, eyebrows rising slightly. He needed to get back to the room - to Taehyung - though he didn't want to be outright rude. "I am. You?"

"I've been in Seoul for the last ten years," the man said, setting his cardboard cup onto a small coffee table. "Just passing through."

"That's cool," Jungkook smiled stiffly. He really didn't have time for idle chitchat with a stranger. "I'm going to get going -"

"You sticking around the bed and breakfast for a while?" The man probed inquisitively, coming off as a little too nosey.

An aggravated sigh pushed through Jungkook's lips as he guessed what was going on here. "If you're trying to hit on me, don't waste your breath. I'm here with my boyfriend, and he's not the type of guy you want to irritate."

That prompted a dry chuckle from the man, who finally turned to meet Jungkook's gaze. "I'm not hitting on you. Just looking to make conversation."

Jungkook's eyes narrowed, not sure of what to think of his strange companion. Regardless, he didn't have any additional patience to humor the man. "I really have to go -"

"Have you been keeping up with this story?" The man interrupted, nodding towards the television.

"I haven't watched the news in a while," Jungkook responded, eyes flicking to the bright screen. He saw two men - one scowling in anger and the other with a gentle smile - posing for pictures, palms clasped in a handshake.

"This story is an interesting one," the man drawled, crossing one leg over the other. "It's highlighting a potential business deal that could change the landscape of the energy sector. Those are the two company heads. They've been talking about this deal for a while."

Jungkook nodded, though he didn't care at all. These types of stories had no impact on his daily life; anything business-related like this was nothing more than a dull filler for the more interesting pieces of news.

The man continued, unaware he lost Jungkook's curiosity. "Yes, the CEOs of Korean National Oil and Golden Oil Corp. are certainly creating a buzz with all of this."

The blood from Jungkook's face drained. He looked back to the television, studying the unfamiliar faces of the two CEOs.

If the man noticed the stiffening of Jungkook's back, he didn't comment. Instead, he folded his arms over his chest, still consumed with the report. "They say the CEO of Korean National Oil is one of the wealthiest guys in the country. What do you think of him?"

Jungkook swallowed, eyes flitting over the angry-looking man. He wore a fitted suit, with glossy hair and bejeweled fingers. Compared to his companion, who dressed in more modest attire, the man certainly appeared outrageously well-off.

"He looks mad," Jungkook offered, knowing he was tip-toeing a dangerous line. "I wouldn't want to get on his bad side."

"Mad, huh?" The man commented, his tone heavy with unnamed emotion. "I'm not sure I'd use that word to describe the CEO."

And even though Jungkook knew he should leave before he somehow got himself into trouble, he was curious. He wanted to learn more about the man who ran the company his brother once worked for.

"Alright, how about vengeful, then? Does that fit better?"

The man smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "The mad, vengeful man you're describing is Park Yongsun, CEO of Golden Oil Corp. The other man, the man with the kind smile and sad eyes, is the CEO of Korean National Oil."

Jungkook didn't know what to say, so he remained still and silent. He was surprised such a pleasant-looking person was the leader of a company Namjoon always referred to as ruthless and hostile. Either the guy on the screen was a phenomenal actor, or Namjoon was misinformed.

"I figured you would know this fact," the man added after a minute, drawing his attention back to Jungkook, "since you told my employee you are the son of Korean National Oil's CEO. Do you not recognize your own father, Jungkook?"

Fuck.

Fucking shit.

Jungkook was dead.

"I -"

"My name is Min Yoongi, Chief of Security at Korean National Oil," the man stated fiercely, eyes sharp like daggers as they bore into Jungkook's face. "Tell me, Jungkook, are you the son of my boss?"

Over. It was all over.

Jungkook scanned over the man - Yoongi - in search of any weapons. If the Chief wore any, they were well concealed on his body. "I'm . . . I'm . . ."

"Well, go on," Yoongi smirked, a subtle lift to the side of his mouth. "The suspense is killing me."

"I'm not the CEO's son," Jungkook admitted at last, breathing out the secret he kept since meeting Taehyung. "Taehyung thinks I am, though."

The Chief stared him down, his fingers purposely running over his hip bone. He most likely had a gun there. "If you cooperate with me, this will be as painless as possible."

Nausea rose within Jungkook, and he had to take several deep breaths to calm himself down. "Are you going to kill me?"

"Not right this second, unless you give me a reason to pull out my gun. I gave my word that no harm would come to you, and I am a man of my word. Within reason, of course."

And even though that statement made absolutely no sense, Jungkook dipped his chin. He would cooperate.

"Let's start simple. Who the fuck are you?" Yoongi demanded, getting up to lock the door to the room.

Jungkook's mouth went dry and he had to lick his lips several times before he was able to answer. "I'm Jeon Jungkook."

"Did you ever tell Taehyung your full name?"

"No," he shook his head. "Just my first name."

Yoongi turned his chair to face Jungkook dead on and sat, legs spread wide and hands gripping his knees. "And how did you end up at the CEO's Seoul home?"

"My brother . . . half-brother . . . was Kim Namjoon. I knew some details about his job, like where he worked and who he worked for. Once I learned that he died, my brother-in-law, Kim Seokjin, told me I could come to Seoul for a while. Jin works at your company, too. He's family and knew I was grieving over my brother."

"Yes, I know of Jin," Yoongi supplied, his intense gaze unwavering. "He works in the finance department. After I hired Taehyung, I had my team contact Namjoon's spouse to collect his belongings at the house. Go on."

"I arrived earlier than expected, but luckily Jin was there to let me inside. He had to leave, though, and told me to stay in the house until he came back in the morning," Jungkook continued, remembering the events of that insane night. "But then I ran into Taehyung, and I panicked."

Yoongi's eyes narrowed, and he leaned in closer. "Why did your brother-in-law have to leave?"

"I don't know," Jungkook answered honestly, trying to recall the conversation Jin had had on the phone. "He sounded upset or something and rushed off. He never told me what he did at the company, and truthfully, I never asked."

"I'll dig into that," the Chief muttered under his breath. "So, tell me why the fuck you'd imposter yourself as the son of the CEO. Did you see an opportunity for yourself? Are you working with someone? Were you somehow involved with the attacks or -?"

"No!" Jungkook rushed to say, voice thick with fear. The last thing he wanted was to for the Chief to think he had any ill intentions. "I told you, I ran into Taehyung - who had a gun against my head - and I panicked. I didn't even know he was a bodyguard at first. But then as we were talking, it sounded like he worked with the company, and I asked him the security questions Namjoon and I used to use. But when he asked if I was the son . . . I was terrified he'd shoot me if I said no. All I wanted to do was buy myself time. Make it to the morning when Jin could come get me. But then the house was broken into, and the attackers saw my face and -"

"Alright, take a breath," Yoongi cut him off, but Jungkook was quick to interrupt again.

"Please, I swear I didn't mean any harm. I was just stupid and afraid and I never thought I'd pretend for more than a few hours and I . . . I . . ."

"Will you just shut up?" The Chief rose his voice, a twinge of irritation coating his tone. "Do you know how much time you've wasted? How many resources you've wasted?"

"I know," Jungkook whispered, wishing he had the opportunity to tell Taehyung first. "I'm sorry."

"Let me ask you this. So you planned on just keeping up the ruse for a few hours, got it. But after that, once you and Taehyung were on the run, did you ever stop to consider the real son? The son, who witnessed two murders, coming home and expecting protection yet having none. Did you ever think of the danger you put that young man in by pretending to be him? You stole his protection for yourself."

Jungkook had only thought briefly about those implications. Because if he started to think about how his lie endangered multiple people, the guilt became too much. He buried his head into his hands, wishing more than anything he could go back to that first night.

"I'm sorry," he said again, knowing the apology meant nothing to the Chief. "I'm so sorry."

"Were you ever going to come clean?"

"Yes," Jungkook answered, his voice muffled by his hunched over positioning. "Last night, I told Taehyung I wanted to talk to you. I planned to tell you the truth then. But Taehyung wanted me to wait, that way we could all talk together."

As those words came out of his mouth, he flinched. Fuck. Once again, he never thought about what he said before speaking.

"Please don't fire Taehyung," he added quickly, lifting his head to implore the Chief of this small favor. "He had nothing to do with this. He doesn't know I'm not the person he's meant to protect. I lied to him this whole time . . . he couldn't have known."

Yoongi regarded him for a moment, an unreadable expression back in place. But even though the Chief tried hard to remain neutral, Jungkook saw signs of heavy exhaustion weighing the man down. The bags under his eyes, unshaven cheeks, a slightly slumped posture . . .

"Here's what we're going to do," Yoongi stated, leaning back into the chair. "You, Taehyung, and I are all going to talk. Every little thing you know will be shared, and we will decide together what to do with you. Is that clear?"

Jungkook nodded his head rapidly, his heightened nerves causing the movement to be uncoordinated and jittery. "Yes. Okay."

"Go back to your room, Jungkook. And stay there," the Chief ordered, finally turning away from Jungkook in dismissal.

Without further question or argument, Jungkook flung himself out of the chair to get the hell out of the Chief's presence. Just because the man felt charitable at the moment, didn't mean it'd last for long. So he went to the door, attempted to pull it open, before remembering it was locked. With shaky hands, he unlocked the bolt and fled from the room.

His heart raced wildly in his chest, a response to many different things. First, for being found out. Second, for not getting outright shot in the head. And third, for now having to open up to Taehyung.

That thought seemed to summon the bodyguard, because as Jungkook rounded the corner into the lobby, he ran right into the beautiful man himself.

"Tae -"

"Back to the room. Now," Taehyung demanded, wrapping his fingers around Jungkook's wrist and pulling him along.

Jungkook stumbled after him, trying not to trip over his feet as they nearly ran up the stairs. The elder appeared to be in a rush, attempting to get them back to the safety of their room as quickly as possible. Luckily for them, they didn't run into any passerby that could potentially slow them down.

They reached the landing of the second floor, with Taehyung's fingers digging into the skin of his wrist even harder. Jungkook wouldn't be surprised if bruises formed in a few hours, that was how firmly the elder held onto him.

Almost like he'd disappear if he were to let go.

Taehyung fished their room key out of his pocket, quickly unlocking the door and bringing them into the quiet serenity of the bedroom.

"Tae -"

Taehyung rounded on Jungkook, shoving him against the closed door and pinning him in between his arms. "When I tell you to do something, it's not a simple suggestion. I asked you not to leave this room for a reason, Jungkook."

Jungkook met the elder's fierce gaze, noting how unhinged his eyes were. "I was just getting some food."

"I don't care what your reasons were, I told you not to leave," Taehyung panted, his breath fanning over Jungkook's face. "When you weren't here when I woke up, I thought -"

"What?" Jungkook interrupted, eyeing the pronounced tendons in the bodyguard's neck. "You thought I ran off on you or something?"

"I thought you got hurt."

For some reason, Jungkook didn't expect that. He thought the elder would be angry, sure, but not this. Not . . . afraid.

"You're my responsibility," Taehyung murmured, head bowing lowly. "I thought I failed again."

Again? What did he mean by that?

"Tae, you haven't failed at anything. I know I've made things difficult for you, but you've never failed. You've kept me alive."

"I'm so unqualified for this," the elder continued, almost like he didn't absorb any of Jungkook's words. "I was never prepared to protect anyone properly. . . just myself. But now, I don't even think I'm skilled enough for that."

Jungkook hesitantly reached up to Taehyung's face, his palms gently cupping his cheeks. He lifted the elder's head so they were eye to eye once more. "You are qualified. Look at everything you've done for me. I . . . I can never thank you enough. I don't deserve it. You shouldn't have done any of this for me in the first place."

"Kook, stop," Taehyung said, eyes flitting all over his face. "I told you, you're my responsibility -"

"No, I'm not. I shouldn't be, at least."

He knew he was stalling. He knew it'd be easier just to come out and say it. But he didn't want the bodyguard to hate him. He was so afraid to watch Taehyung's face harden and close off before his eyes.

So the two stared at each other, moments of silence stretching between them. And if this was the last chance Jungkook had of seeing Taehyung like this - concerned over his welfare - he was going to enjoy it while it lasted. After the elder learned the truth, he'd look at him like everyone else always did: with disappointment and contempt.

But right now, Taehyung looked at him with such care and tenderness, his eyes wide and pleading.

"Kook, I need you to trust me, okay? I promise that I won't purposely put you in harm's way. Everything I've done, all the orders I've given you . . . All of that was to make sure you didn't get hurt. But if I let you out of my sight, I can't keep you safe. If I don't know where you are, I can't protect you."

And even though Jungkook wanted to agree and simply let the elder look after him, he knew that wasn't possible anymore. If he didn't tell Taehyung now, the bodyguard would find out through his boss, and the whole thing would be a mess.

So with a deep breath, Jungkook dropped his hands from Taehyung's face. "I met Yoongi this morning."

"You what?" Taehyung questioned, taking a step back in shock.

Jungkook pushed off of the door and walked further in the room, hands wringing together. "Yeah . . . He and I talked."

Fuck, he should just say it, should just say, I lied, Taehyung. I'm not who you think I am. But his tongue felt heavy in his mouth; his palms were clammy in anticipation.

"What did you two talk about?" Taehyung asked, voice close as he approached from behind. "Did he question you . . . Did he seem angry?"

It was interesting that the elder assumed his boss would be angry. Maybe he thought the Chief was pissed about being dragged into this mess, forced into helping them out . . .?

It didn't matter. Fuck. He couldn't prolong this anymore.

"Tae, I need to tell you something," Jungkook murmured, turning to face the elder. "I need to tell you something I've been hiding, and I'm so scared you're going to hate me."

"Jungkook, stop. I'm not going to hate you. I don't hate you."

"You can't mean that without knowing what I'm going to say. Because of what I did, I probably got you into a lot of trouble with your boss. And I asked him not to fire you, though who knows if he'll listen to me . . . I'm a nobody."

Taehyung's mouth kept opening and closing, like he was trying to speak but couldn't produce the words. Jungkook knew exactly how he felt; he didn't know the best way to tell the bodyguard of his trickery and deceit.

So he decided just to rip off the bandaid.

"I've been lying to you this whole time," he whispered, wanting to look away from Taehyung but held captive by his stare. "I'm not the CEO's son, Taehyung. I don't even know the guy's name. I'm . . . I'm just Namjoon's brother. Nothing more."

Jungkook searched Taehyung's face for a reaction, a widening of the eyes or an influx of breath perhaps. But there was no visible response to his words.

There was nothing at all.

"Tae?"

"I know."

The sound of Jungkook's heartbeat thrashed in his ears. "What?"

Taehyung's face remained inscrutable, his body unmoving. "I know you're not his son."

Jungkook wanted to run. He wanted to crumble to the floor, curling his knees up to his body. How . . . How did Taehyung know? When did he find out?

"Since when?" He asked, his question barely audible as he fought for control of his breathing. "How long have you known?"

Taehyung finally moved, bringing a hand up to push back his thick hair. "I've known from the very first moment we met."

The nausea from earlier came back, and Jungkook had to fight not to throw up. Realization was dawning on him, slowly and incrementally, but he was beginning to understand.

"This was all just a game to you," he said, chills erupting over his skin. "You were toying with me this entire time. Fuck . . . Were you going to kill me? Were you just distracting me until you could get your boss here?"

He was a fucking idiot. Taehyung never cared for him, he was only preoccupied with, with -

"No," Taehyung interrupted Jungkook's downward spiral, cutting off those dark thoughts. "Jungkook, I swear. I was never going to hurt you. I promised to look after you, to keep you safe. That's why I didn't want you to go to Yoongi without me. I was terrified he'd hurt you. But I made him promise not to touch you, I -"

"I don't believe you," Jungkook barged in, shaking his head and backing away. "Why would you keep me safe? Why protect me if you were meant to be protecting someone else?"

"Because you're Namjoon's brother! As soon as you told me you were related to him, I decided to do whatever I could to look after you," the elder declared impassionedly, taking a small step closer. "It didn't matter that you lied. It mattered that you were Namjoon's family. So I had to help you. I owed him that much."

Confusion pressed down upon Jungkook's shoulders, clouding his thoughts so he couldn't make sense of what the elder was saying. "I don't get it. Are you saying you knew Namjoon?"

"Yes."

If Jungkook's head didn't explode, it would be a Christmas miracle. "How -?"

"Namjoon was my bodyguard," Taehyung said with a raw voice, pain slicing through and weakening his tone. "He was my bodyguard for three years."

Oh, god. Fuck . . . That would mean . . .

Taehyung brought his shaking hands up to his hair, his fingers knotting in the strands.

"The CEO of Korean National Oil . . . I'm his son."

Holy fucking shit.

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

AHHHH!!! JK is just Joon's brother and Tae is the son . . . AHH!

I'm so happy that part is finally out in the open! But I have to say, I absolutely LOVED reading everyone's theories. Obviously there is more to come - explanations and even more questions - but we're one step closer to uncovering the full scoop.

Tell me what you guys thought about this plot twist!