314.

Once the court hearing was over, Jungkook excused himself to go to the restroom. The session was finally over with the judge asking the other side to produce more evidence. Though it wasn't entirely a smooth ride, they made it out unscathed.

Attorney Kim patted his back, commending him for standing his ground while Myung engulfed him in a side hug, saying, "I knew you had it in you."

He moved away when he saw Na-Ra approaching Mr. Park. He told Kwan that he had to use the restroom, wanting to be anywhere else but near her.

The court restrooms were at the end of the second corridor to the right from where the sessions were held. One side was for the alphas while the other one was for the omegas. The betas had their own down the hall.

He scoffed when he saw the familiar "Purebred Omega" and "Regular Omega" signs on the designated doors. They even had separate toilets. Such were their societal standards. If not for good hearted people like Mr. Park, their situation would have been the worst. And Jungkook didn't want to think of their past history right now.

The restroom was empty save for the one omega that exited the room when he entered. It had three cabins and two sinks, surprisingly clean. As he shut the door behind him and entered the free cabin, he wondered how his relationship with Jimin was going to work in the long run.

It shouldn't bother him. He saw Attorney Kim and his mate Myung with his own eyes. Still, it wasn't going to be an easy path. Because unlike Attorney Kim and Myung, Jimin was filthy rich. Where there was money, there was always a problem. There would always be people who wanted to make use of Jimin's wealth in one way or another. And there would be more like Attorney Na and Na-Ra, who openly despised his kind.

Jimin was right. It wasn't going to be easy for him and his alpha wasn't going to be with him every hour of the day. He'd have to learn to protect himself. More like he'd have to harden his skin to face whatever was thrown at him.

As he was washing his hands after using the toilet, he heard the door open but lifted his head to see who had entered the room since he couldn't smell them. It was common for folks to use scent blockers in public places. It offered safety. For one, the others weren't able to easily tell their subgender unless they got too close and smelled the pheromones of their alpha or a family member. Only purebred wolves had the ability to identify them even without the pheromones. It was in their biology.

The omega froze when he saw who it was. He straightened immediately and whirled around, drying his hands on his pants instead of grabbing the paper towel as he planned to do earlier.

His brows furrowed as he slipped a hand inside his pockets. "You've come to the wrong toilet, sir," he said, tone firm. He grabbed his phone, blindly reaching for the spot where he thought the lock was.

The other man's lips curved up with a malicious smile. "I don't think so. I have come to the right place." Attorney Na's broad frame blocked the door so Jungkook wouldn't be able to walk past him even if he wanted to.

Jungkook heard a small pop sound of his phone unlocking and he quickly reached for the call button, praying that it worked. He was afraid the attorney would snatch his phone if he tried to pull the phone out and call someone in front of him.

The man looked imposing and there was no good intention in those predatory eyes. Jungkook tapped the upper right corner, hoping it'd dial the last called person as he considered his options. This was a public place. Attorney Na wouldn't dare doing something when anyone could walk in at any given moment.

Jungkook didn't let his increasing fear show. "No, you're not." He kept his voice steady. "I'll scream bloody murder if you don't leave this instant."

"Then scream." Attorney Na's face contorted with malice. "I'll tell them that you asked me to meet you here secretly and tried to seduce me."

Jungkook scoffed. "As expected of an asshole."

Attorney Na's demeanor changed immediately. "What did you say?" he growled.

"I said you're not my type." Jungkook pulled his phone out, pretending to casually check the screen and noticed the call had actually gone. To his relief and horror it was Jimin's number he had dialed instead of Kwan.

Uh-oh.

"It's getting late," Jungkook said smoothly. "Attorney Na Hak-Kun, it's not good manners to corner someone in the public toilet. Can you move from the door please?"

Na scoffed. "I said I'm right where I want to be. We're not done talking, you low life. How dare you talk back to me?!"

Jungkook folded his hands across his chest. "The last time I checked, you weren't my parent or a guardian. I'll talk however I want. I said move."

"I wonder what that bastard sees in you," Attorney Na countered. "I know you're fucking him."

Jungkook's eyes widened and he realized his mistake soon because Attorney Na's smile was filled with victory. "I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, staring at the wall above Na's shoulder.

Jimin was already listening to their conversation. Someone should be here soon.

"Why do you think you're still alive and walking?" Na took a menacing step forward. "It's because Park Junior has his guard dogs tailing your every step," he said with so much disdain in his voice. "You see, this Jimin has a reputation and saving damsels in distress wasn't one. We all wondered how he magically appeared in that parking lot to save your day. So we had men tailing you and guess what they had found?" He grinned and Jungkook thought that must be the ugliest grin he'd had the displeasure to see in this life. "Don't you wanna know? Come on. Say yes and I'll tell you."

Jungkook cocked a brow. Of course they had. Because they were nasty and shameless. "It's not like you're gonna stop just because I told you to stop."

Attorney Na scoffed and produced his phone, flipping through the images he already kept ready. Jungkook realized that he'd been waiting to confront him and couldn't have been able to do so because of the guards.

"See this?"

Jungkook averted his gaze from his nasty face to look at the screen. There were photos of him and Jimin entering the restaurant on the first day they met and then there were photos of Jimin entering his building. Also the ones where they were exiting the club he worked together. It was the only photo where they looked close. Jimin had his arm at his lower back.

"Stop stalling and tell me why you're here," Jungkook said in a serious tone. What's taking so long? Why isn't nobody here?

Attorney Na's gaze scanned him from top to bottom. "Admit it in the court that you and Jimin are indeed fucking. I'll handle the rest," he said. "Here's my offer, just confess you were in that parking lot to meet Park Jimin that night and I'll go easy on you. Else these photos are going right to the judge and I'll make sure this world will see your true face."

Jungkook scoffed. "Better luck then." He exhaled and tried to walk around him. But Attorney Na grabbed his wrist.

"Not that fast, Omega!" he growled, his voice rising a few octaves.

Jungkook growled right back, hissing under his breath, "I'm not your omega! Let go!"

Instead of letting go of his hand, the bastard tightened his grip even more with a challenging glint in his eyes. Right. They're all the same. Except for one.

"Let him go!"

Both whipped their heads around to see Mr. Park standing at the door, several bodyguards behind him. He lifted a hand to gesture at them before entering the room, his gaze blazing with fury glanced at their hands.

"Take your filthy hands off him, Na!"

Attorney Na scoffed. "It's like that, huh?" He glanced at Jungkook. "You're sleeping with both of them."

"That's enough!" Mr. Park strode toward them, his gaze unwavering. "My son, Park Jimin, has a message for you, Attorney Na," Mr. Park spoke from behind him. "He wants me to tell you that he will give you a matching scar on the other side of your face, and this time he will carve his initials on your forehead so everyone knows who gave you these two scars this time."

His voice not only carried a warning, but also contained rage. When he came to stand beside Jungkook, he looked taller than he always did. His posture was intimidating and reminded him of someone he was way too familiar with.

"Taking your position as his legal guardian too seriously, huh?" His hold on Jungkook's hand tightened. "What is your son's business with this omega?" he hissed. "Didn't think his tastes would decline to this level. I must admit though, for a regular omega, this one is quite a catch."

Mr. Park's jaw clenched. His gaze fell on Attorney Na's hand that was still holding Jungkook's wrist in a tight grip. He grabbed Na's hand and began to apply enough pressure "Let go of my son-in-law this instant. I might not look that much, but my wife often tells me that my son inherited my temper and short fuse from me. If I were you, I wouldn't test that theory."

Mr. Na's face grew red and his face contorted as if he was in pain but didn't want to show. His grip on Jungkook's hand tightened, his touch trembling. However, as Jungkook winced, he also felt the grip on his hand loosen.

"I won't let this slide," Mr. Na growled. He let go of Jungkook's hand but Mr. Park didn't release the attorney.

"You're just a dog, Na Hak-kun," Mr. Park spat. "You've been licking up the boots of the upper class for so long so you should know what would happen if you went up against us." He crowded his space, walking forward and Na took one step back after the other. "Don't forget the father you shunned and threw in the elderly home is a regular alpha. I don't expect you to respect others because you're incapable of it. But try to dig your claws into my son-in-law one more time, I'll show you what the Park family is capable of. And I can guarantee you that even the Choi family won't be able to save you."

Mr. Park pushed him and the attorney stumbled on his legs, steadying himself by grabbing the wall behind him.

"Forget this meeting ever happened and I'll let you keep this useless life you have going on. Jungkook is none of your concern and pray to the Gods my son doesn't cut off your hand for touching what's his." He gestured at Jungkook, who immediately sidled up with Mr. Park. "Jeon Jungkook is not just my legal responsibility. He's family. Maybe beg him on your knees so when my son finds out about this, he might consider persuading his alpha to spare your life."

Mr. Na looked so furious, his face red and fists clenching by his side.

"Don't you dare take this shitty route in the court," Mr. Park said. "Because you won't get out of this unscathed after planning to do what you're planning to do. I'll send out a public statement, claiming him as my son-in-law. You know how the law works if one alpha is to touch someone else's omega, especially if that omega is claimed by a purebred."

Jungkook didn't think Attorney Na had it in him, but his face paled and he looked troubled since he entered the restroom.

"Didn't think this through, did you?" Mr. Park taunted. "Go back to the hole you crawled out of. And do not dare to speak ill of my son-in-law again. Release those photos and I'll have them sue you for stalking and violation of privacy."

Attorney Na didn't speak but Mr. Park wrapped a hand around his shoulder.

"Come on, pup. We're done here."

As they walked past Mr. Na to exit the restroom, Jungkook glanced at him with a smirk. It felt so good to be at the giving end for once. If he had any doubt while he was entering the restroom, now he had none left.

With his head held straight, he walked side by side with Mr. Park.

***

One Step Closer - Extra #15 - JM's POV - Court Hearing - Part 3 - is now available on Patreon for interesed readers.

This update was commissioned by BBM.