:: 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟐𝟔 ::

"he is my lover, father"

for quite some time, there was an eerie hush that persisted, causing taehyung to struggle to maintain eye contact with his shocked father. however, he refused to be the first to avert his gaze, resolutely standing his ground and confronting the old man.

while jungkook was feeling perplexed and uncertain about whether he had heard taehyung correctly when he referred to him as his lover. at first, jungkook found it amusing and could have laughed it off as a joke. however, the seriousness of the situation made him reconsider his initial reaction.

this didn't seem like a joke.

"what. . . did you just say?" the old man breathed out. he wanted to believe the aging was getting to him so he heard his son wrong. but taehyung's next reply made it all too clear that he said what he said.

"i said, he is my lover"

the old man clenched his fists while gritting his teeth as his eyes reddened from anger. if taehyung was playing, he was playing a very bad game.

without being able to control himself, he lashed out at his son with a forceful punch that sent taehyung stumbling backwards.

jungkook took a step ahead at the raven head but controlled himself when taehyung stood upright almost instantly, wiping the place he was hit on just in case it started to bleed before staring straight into the raging man's eyes.

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FUCKING MIND KIM TAEHYUNG! DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO?!" taehyung was startled by the intensity of his father's anger as he shouted with all the fury he had within him. despite having witnessed his father's harshness on numerous occasions, he had never seen him display such aggression before.

so this can trigger him? taehyung thought to himself as he smiled.

"what makes you so mad, father? is it me using my motorcycle or dating a man? or perhaps. . . both?"

the man only fumed further as he stepped closer to the grinning taehyung and jabbed a finger at his chest.

"stop this madness or you will see the consequences"

"what consequences? fire me from your goddamn company? you know, i'd like that very much"

taehyung knew he was being very rude to his father but it wasn't like he had ever been particularly respectful towards him either. in the past, he just never cared enough to put on energy into being rebellious but now, after enjoying his time with a certain faded green-haired boy, he didn't need his father's crap. especially the same blame for his mother's death which his father knew hurt him like hell.

if his father can't care for his feelings, why would he?

"TAEHYUNG!" the old man this time slapped taehyung hard across the face, which actually led to a bleeding lip.

taehyung faced the other side for a few seconds and jungkook couldn't hold himself back this time. he stepped in between the two men and gently grasped taehyung's arm, guiding him to lean against his chest.

seeing the skinship, the old man just raged even further if it was even possible and looked dead into jungkook's eyes. "get your dirty hands off my son!"

"i'm sorry if i come off rude but sir, you're actually crossing the limits now. you can't hit him like that, he's bleeding" taehyung was moved by jungkook's words. he didn't know why would he stand up for him in this situation where it was clear, he was using him. either way, his words made taehyung feel somewhat nice.

"now you will tell me what to do? who the hell are you?! a disgusting faggot!" jungkook was really controlling his anger. if it wasn't for taehyung, he would be showing the old man what else he could be if he wanted to.

however, if he can't speak for himself there was someone else who could.

"so does that make me a disgusting faggot too, father?"

the old man turned his gaze towards taehyung who wiped off the blood with his thumb and remained close to jungkook, standing in front of him as if he was protecting the boy.

"don't ridicule me taehyung. you are doing this all to simply anger me — i won't fall for your silly traps" he laughed, knowing well enough that his son couldn't be attracted to men and was just doing this to get on his nerves.

pfft he saw right through your lies, now what will you do, kim? jungkook wondered, holding his laugh because it was really funny how he tried to fool his father. he doesn't know what's the deal between the father and son, but it surely was serious and jungkook didn't want to get involved so it was better if the old man catches onto taehyung's lies.

"oh, so this all looks like a joke to you?" taehyung chuckled and the old man knitted his eyebrows in sheer anger.

"okay, tell me now if it still seems like a joke to you" taehyung smirked as he turned around to jungkook, who was confused about what was he plotting but he had no time to process as the raven head grabbed him by his shirt collar and then,

smashed their lips together.

both jungkook and the old man widened their eyes at taehyung's unexpected move. jungkook couldn't even kiss back because of how shocked he was while taehyung continued clumsily kissing him, seemingly trying to prove to his father that they were indeed in a relationship.

and maybe his point was proved as the old man screamed like he was on the verge of having a heart attack, "TAEHYUNG!"

upon hearing his name in such a harsh yet powerless voice, taehyung smirked against jungkook's unmoved lips before he finally pulled away. jungkook just stared at his face, thinking what the hell just happened but before he could say something, taehyung again spoke.

"i love this man, father. may you like it or not. but your son is a disgusting faggot for him"

the old man stumbled on his feet as he slowly stepped towards taehyung and grabbed him by his arms, tears glistening in his eyes.

"are you doing this because i said you're happy your mother died? are you mad at me? son, please come back to your senses"

taehyung shrugged off his hands and moved back.

"so you knew, you fucking knew your those words stabbed me in my heart like crazy, they made me lose all my senses. but did that stop you from saying them? no right?" the old man remained silent and looked away which only made taehyung laugh.

"even now, you are trying to sugarcoat your words because you don't want me to be seen with a man. after all, it will tarnish your name! not that you have other heirs that you will pass on the company to, so you have no choice but to make me your lab rat! isn't that fucking right, father?"

his father still didn't know what to say because whatever taehyung was saying was word-to-word correct. taehyung was the next heir and if it's not him, it can't be anyone else. the man was scared for his name and the future. he never really thought what taehyung wanted and even now, he didn't want to know what taehyung felt for him to behave like this.

he just wants taehyung to be his puppet.

"just because of you, i left my passion for bike racing. why? because you made me feel like i was going to become a fucking murderer. but you knew it was an accident right? mother just happened to have the worst luck and get stuck between those bikers."

taehyung took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to speak his mind, despite the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes.  but he couldn't stray away from his bravery now. for the first time in his life, he was actually standing up against his father, the one who killed his inner child and made him into the heartless person he is now.

"i sort of accepted the fact that maybe, maybe i was really becoming a murderer and my mother wasn't going to like me racing bikes and going the way that she got killed off. But now, my eyes are open. i know now what a stupid lie you've fed me." taehyung advanced towards the elderly man, whose eyes were bulging with fury, and seemed to be on the verge of physically attacking him. but that didn't scare taehyung anymore — his father didn't intimidate him anymore.

"i won't be your puppet anymore, father. if you support me in what i do, then alright. but if not, you won't see my face ever again"

"does that mean you're leaving the company?" his father inquired in a composed manner, aware that expressing his anger at the moment would not be a wise choice.

"i never said that. i'm just gonna focus on what i like more from now on."

"alright"

taehyung and jungkook both looked at the old man, surprised. he accepted it so easily?

"what?"

the old man sighed and rubbed his temple, "if you won't leave the company and fulfill all your responsibilities as before, i won't meddle in your business"

the raven head's eyes glinted with excitement as he smiled widely, "thanks father!"

"but. . ."

"but?"

taehyung's father shifted his gaze away from his son and onto jungkook, causing the latter to feel uneasy and uncomfortable under the scrutinizing stare of the elder.

"you're not gonna see this boy ever again"

taehyung's actions suddenly made him feel uncertain. he began to question whether kissing jungkook in front of his father was truly necessary to gain the freedom to do as he pleased.

because a big part of what he wants to do, jungkook is involved in that list. despite his hatred towards the boy, taehyung couldn't help but feel drawn to him. there was a certain charm about him that piqued taehyung's interest and added a touch of excitement to his otherwise mundane existence.

he was too adamant to admit that though.

so now, to ride his motorcycle without being called a murderer — to finally live his life the way he wants to, he won't be able to see jungkook anymore? the deal itself felt unfair. but can he blame his father? jungkook is a guy, and the very guy he kissed and confessed to being his lover in front of his homophobic father. it was only natural his old man won't let them see each other again.

his irrational actions made because of his silly anger are costing him something big now.

wait big? is jungkook really that much of a big deal?

so what if he can't see jungkook anymore? isn't that for the best? he wanted to never see jungkook after that race anyway. it's just the circumstances made him entangled with jungkook again and teach him his moves. if not, they would already be in their separate ways.

so is the offer really that bad? isn't it in his favor?

taehyung licked his bottom lip and glanced at jungkook who looked at him with hopeful eyes. what was jungkook so hopeful about? to maybe say yes to the offer and part ways? taehyung was feeling increasingly frustrated as he pondered the idea of jungkook never wanting to see him again. are things really gonna end this way?

however, taehyung knew it was for the best. every time they are in each other's company, negative outcomes seem to prevail. particularly for him, considering he let a guy — no less, jungkook fuck him. he let a man penetrate him when he is very much straight.

this just goes to show how much jungkook messed him up.

he was letting someone as arrogant and toxic as jungkook change him. so maybe, this was a sign — to finally end things with him.

"is that all?" jungkook's gaze lingered on taehyung, his lips parted as he observed taehyung's expressionless face while uttering those words. it seemed as though he held no value in taehyung's eyes, not even for a moment.

"yes. cut ties with him and you're free to do whatever you like"

"sure, that's not a big deal. i'll cut ties with him" taehyung glanced at jungkook who looked as though he was hurt. but why would he? didn't he want the same?

"don't make a promise you won't be able to keep, taehyung. isn't he your lover? you're ready to let go of him that easily?" his father sneered, looking at the faded green-haired lad with disgust in his eyes.

"he is not my lover. i lied"

the elderly man seemed to sense a rejuvenation of his life force as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. he let out a deep sigh of relief, followed by a joyous laugh "i knew it, i knew my son can't be a faggot" he then eyed jungkook which pissed the boy off.

jungkook finally reached his limit. he couldn't take it anymore. taehyung was treating him like a toy, and jungkook couldn't understand why he had put up with all the insults for so long. he had only endured them because of taehyung, but it seemed that taehyung didn't care about him at all.

which hurt him very badly.

"you son and dad duo can talk shit all ya want. but kim, tell your father to not call me a faggot when it was clearly you, who kissed me" jungkook finally spoke, and it was so clear that he was hurt by taehyung's actions and words. even the raven head realized that but can he back away now?

"you—" the old man stepped towards jungkook, thinking how someone as low as him dared to speak about him. however, taehyung stopped his father in track and walked to jungkook instead.

they stood facing each other, their eyes meeting in a moment of intense gaze. taehyung seemed unfazed while jungkook eagerly anticipated a positive response from the raven head.

he continued to hold onto the hope that taehyung had some sort of impression of him, even if it wasn't necessarily romantic. a glimmer of acknowledgment would suffice in proving that their connection was not that of strangers.

having gone through the stages of bickering, hatred, and suffering, they found comfort in each other, sharing secrets they had never told anyone and revealing their vulnerable selves. in the end, their bodies were entwined in the most intimate way. so after coming so far, was taehyung really going to throw him away? did all that mean nothing to him?

jungkook hoped not. he didn't want to part ways with taehyung, not yet at least.

but taehyung did the exact thing he feared he will.

"jeon, i apologize on behalf of my father. i'm also sorry for kissing you. . . that was very wrong of me" taehyung let out, not knowing why he was feeling so crappy all sudden.

"kim—"

"i know you have always hated me and you also want this, so. . ."

taehyung looked into jungkook's eyes and muttered,

"let's not ever see each other again. let's end it all"

━━━━━

q. anyone missed this book?