"What's up?"

Taehyung was in such a good mood he felt like he was cruising through the air. He used the support of his hands as he hopped onto the counter while Jin cleared the cashier from the end of the business hour.

"Where did Jungkook go?"

"He went to his training. He has a match coming up in about a month."

"How is it going?"

"Good. He is amazing, I'm sure he will win this. I know he will. With that, he won't have to fight anymore. I can see how he is training so hard for it." Taehyung could sense the younger's dedication in practice. Since the day Jungkook started his training, he noticed how worn out the younger looked.

"Jungkook is an amazing person, he puts his heart and soul into anything he does, I can see that." Jin complimented the raven head, genuinely feeling proud of the younger.

"What is it Jin?"

"Huh?"

"What is it you want to tell me?"

"Why would you assume I have something to say?"

"Coz for the past hour, you have been avoiding eye contact with me. The last time you did that, you were guilty of confessing you broke my glass cookie jar. Which you have not paid me back." Taehyung crossed his arms over his chest as he waited for his good old friend to come clean.

"What did you do this time?" The brown head commanded.

"Why does it have to be me doing something?" Jin rolled his eyes. He won't lie that he did try to make his way out by hiding his fault the last time but he won't deny that he can't hide for long when he is with Taehyung.

"Then say something. Why do you look so constipated now?"

"Fuck you."

"No thanks. You're not even a top."

"Double fuck you." Jin showed two of his middle fingers as Taehyung ignored his older friend's childish antics. "LUCAS AND JUNGKOOK MET." The older yelled out of his lungs knowing very well the doors are shut for the day so he won't be facing any second-hand embarrassment.

Taehyung was stunned.

"Lucas what?"

Jin sighed. Finally, he can reveal what he has been contemplating for the whole day. Crossing his fingers to hope this won't be the road to hell, Jin finally looked at Taehyung to narrate what happened in the bakery in his absence.

"I don't think so he knows who Jungkook is to you. He didn't stay for long."

"Did he look for me?"

"Nope. He waited for Jungkook to speak with him but Jungkook was too engrossed with Yoongi at that time. I guess Lucas didn't want to spend any second longer without any reason so he just left."

"Does Jungkook knows?"

Jin shakes his head. From his best bet, Jin believes that Jungkook is clueless about who Lucas is. "I don't think so you have been worried about Jungkook. Lucas won't swing that way."

"Jin, that's not what I'm worried about." Taehyung nibbled on his lower lips, almost drawing blood from the intensity he was putting while his mind raced with different scenarios.

"You're worried about the wedding between him and Maya?"

Taehyung nodded. "I can never trust a Kallister. Like ever after seeing what he and Kent are capable of. I don't get why Kent wants me to persuade his son to marry Maya. Lucas won't do it just for the sake of me requesting. I'm not on his good book to even begin with."

Growing up, Lucas Kallister had his fair share of envy with Taehyung. Similar to how he is fascinated by how he can't seem to beat Jungkook academically, he is also envious of how he can never be a better child or heir than Taehyung.

By right, yes the ownership of the business belongs to Taehyung. With the tragic incident of Tae's parents passing, Lucas was equally devastated for he lost good guidance from the older Kim. Although he has an envious heart, it wasn't malicious for him to inflict harm on anyone physically at that time.

Lucas was just a known rebel among the corporate of VANTE who denies his father's request from time to time. Something about pissing Kent off makes Lucas happy with the attention he gets.

As much as Lucas is not a fond member of Taehyung's good image and reputation over his own, Lucas respects the brown head like no other. He does his mischiefs from time to time and wasn't surprised when he was put up as a choice to marry Maya Lim, one of the most beautiful and exotic Chinese-Indian parentage girl he has ever met.

Nothing about Maya repels Lucas but the thought about him not obeying his father's request and wanting Taehyung to beg him to agree on excited Lucas.

You're thinking of him as a psychotic person?

Will you be surprised if I said he is?

It's just his mischievous overload that he wanted to test the patients of everyone around him that drives his actions wild. Again, Lucas Kallister is a brain with mischievousness overload.

"He is delaying his involvement with Maya longer and longer coz he wanted me to persuade him into it. Want me to beg him."

"That nasty little bastard." Jin cursed. Say whatever you want but Jin isn't the fondest of the young Kallister who he knows at the back of his hand.

"Kent on the other hand is asking me to make Lucas commit and brought forward the wedding in the next 2 months coz he knows I am indebted to Aunt Sara. I have no way to repay the loan and get myself out of this mess for the next 5 months."

"So technically, your uncle is trapping you in ensuring you persuade Lucas to commit to the wedding?"

Taehyung nodded.

"I'm so sick and tired of confiding to their commands Jin. I don't understand why they will never leave me alone. Some of the words Kent used hurt me a lot. He said I am an ungrateful child who left his family behind and my parents would have been long gone if they saw me being a stupid patissier instead of a businessman."

The brown head dropped his head, thinking about the verbal insults he had to endure.

"I still don't get why would a man like Kent turn into an ugly imbecile. Does money have that effect on people?"

"You know, Jungkook told me change is the only constant. I couldn't agree more. I think somewhere along the line, people are too blinded by what they have and lose the sense of what do they have. I thought I had a couple of pillars to lean onto when I lost my parents, but I'm glad I choose to walk out of that life and chase the dream I had."

Jin could only smile a little at his friend. He can't deny how hardworking and agile Taehyung is. He is never the one to bask in his silver spoon status since young.

"I know for a fact that if Uncle Kim and Aunt Karlie is here, they would have been so proud of you Tae. And bear in mind, that Kent Kallister has nothing on you."

Jin opened his arms wide and without a second delay, Taehyung was in his friend's arms as Jin patted Tae's back sending some reassuring cheers.

"As for Jungkook, don't worry about him. I can see the love in his eyes for you. He won't be simply persuaded by Lucas and I'm sure you have your faith in Jungkook. Don't give up your ground and follow your uncle's demand thinking you might lose Jungkook."

Taehyung sighed. It's not a huge deal but he reckons he wanted to inform Jungkook about Lucas. The younger deserve to know that the male he is befriending is none other than his cousin brother, Lucas Kallister Kim.

On the day Sara and Kent had to take over VANTE when Taehyung's parents passed, the family was required to also adapt the last name Kim into theirs so that the legacy of the Kims from VANTE will continue.

The day when he had to change his last name to add a Kim on it came, Lucas was bewildered. Not only he had to endure always being second in line, he even had to tweak his last name to fit the societal acclaims.

"I'm happy you found someone as genuine as Jungkook. Don't hide anymore Tae, it's ok to take the risk. Often you'd be surprised where it takes you." Jin ruffled the brown mob of hair he sees. At times like this, Taehyung looks like an ordinary 28 years old man without the care in the world as he scrunched his nose in annoyance when he felt his hair tangling in a mess.

"Guess you're right. I will have to tell Jungkook about Lucas."

"Be careful when you do. We don't want Lucas be getting any ideas to plant more troubles if Jungkook ever confronts him for his real motives."

"I need to find a way to pay off the loan Jin. I don't want to be indebted to that family anymore. I need to do something." Taehyung sighed. He wanted to be free of this burden. Although Kent did not demand or blackmail him to pay back, Taehyung felt that it's probably the only way he can truly shake his identity off the surface.

"You can ask Jungkook for help."

Taehyung was dumbfounded. "I can't believe you even dare to suggest that."

"I bet he will use his prize money from the competition he won. You can slowly repay him hereafter." Jin sees it as an easy solution. He knows that the remaining amount is up to 80 thousand dollars which Tae has taken from Aunt Sara. Jin also knows that winning a boxing match will give you the winning prize nothing lesser than a 5 thousand grant.

"Stop being stupid Jin. There is no way I am going to ask Jungkook for the money. That is for his future. I rather beg Lucas for his commitment than ask Jungkook for his hard-earned money."

"I bet you won't beg Lucas."

"Precisely. And I don't want to be clearing my debt with one person by borrowing and repaying that person all over again. I want to break free from being indebted."

Jin knows that there is no other way in convincing the older. He just hopes that Taehyung won't spiral down too deep into his family chaos forgetting the rationality to keep Jungkook away from all this mess.

"Are you going to watch your boyfriend's match?"

"He is not my boyfriend Jin." Taehyung was done talking with his friend as he unties the apron, already planning to make the older close the shop after cleaning all by himself.

"Says you who can't keep your hands off him." Jin stuck his tongue out and demanded Taehyung to deny.

"He is special alright. I don't want to rush into things and ruin it for us. I am certainly liking Jungkook more and more each day, I will make sure he knows that very soon."

"Be careful Tae, the slower you are, the riskier it can be. Now with Lucas in the picture, I'm concerned."

"We know that Lucas is straight Jin."

"That news dated 8 years ago Tae. He was 16, barely a man yet. 8 years have passed and he might have evolved. Bear in mind, it's Jungkook we are talking about. That fine specimen can make a man like me turn gay. I am as straight as a ruler."

"And I am Prince Diana's favourite grandchild." Taehyung scoffed with an eye roll knowing Jin is as straight as a doughnut.

"But that still doesn't change the fact that what I'm saying might be true. I don't like the vibe Lucas have right now. We didn't hear or seen much of him after your parents passed Tae, he could have changed. Just be careful yea?"

What was supposed to be a good day after spending with his lover boy turned bitter and sour. This is precisely the reason Taehyung want to set himself free from the image of VANTE and Kim from VANTE.

He can't wait for the day to end this debt. Hopefully, he will not have to lose the man he wants to cherish in the process of gaining his freedom.

.
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Will you prefer to have a friend like Jin who is straightforward and honest or just plain outright hides the details from you?

Tae is falling slowly and he is falling hard.