:: 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟑𝟒 ::

"is he picking up your calls, joon?" jungkook asked, pacing back and forth in his small bedroom where he held taehyung in his arms even a week ago.

but now it's been over a week and there's no news on taehyung. he isn't receiving his calls, messages and jungkook doesn't know how to reach the raven head at this point. taehyung said he would give him a call that night he left but there's nothing from his side.

it felt as though taehyung was ghosting him. but why would he?

"no man. i haven't heard from taehyung for so long. he doesn't pick up my calls or even show up at the company" namjoon's worried voice tensed jungkook further.

now, this was becoming concerning. what on earth happened that made it impossible for anyone to contact taehyung? jungkook even called his secretary, who appeared to be withholding information he didn't tell him.

"okay i see. i'm going to taehyung's place tonight"

"yeah i think you should. that guy got everyone worried"

"handle deville with jimin tonight. i don't think i'll be able to come"

"it's alright. take your lovely time with taehyungie~" namjoon teased and jungkook just laughed; oh he definitely will.

╍╍

around twelve, jungkook hopped on his bike and rode to taehyung's place. at first, he had considered going a little earlier but he was aware that taehyung might or might not be home so early. he simply didn't want to take any chances.

when he arrived at taehyung's neighborhood, he came to a gradual halt on his bike upon seeing guards outside taehyung's house. there were two security guards positioned on each side of the gate.

there never used to be any security guard before and suddenly after his disconnection with the raven head, this happened?

at that moment, jungkook realized that something was surely wrong.

he altered his route and chose a different path to reach the backside of taehyung's house. fortunately, there was nobody around at such a late hour. otherwise, he could have been in real trouble. observing the towering walls that protected the house, he positioned himself on his bike and leaped, gripping onto the wall's edge and eventually managed to climb over and land on the opposite side.

taehyung's duplex house had a large balcony on the second floor that was most likely attached to his bedroom. letting out a sigh, he observed the pipeline that extended all the way to the rooftop.

"oh the things you make me do, kim taehyung"

he slowly climbed up, grabbing onto the pipeline. despite the slippery and challenging conditions, his athleticism allowed him to successfully ascend the pipes. when he reached taehyung's bedroom's balcony, he jumped and held onto the railing, gritting his teeth as he pulled himself onto the balcony. after taking deep breaths and wiping the sweat from his face, he knocked on the large windows, with curtains obstructing the view from inside.

after a few more knocks, he heard the curtains move and there, taehyung peeked at him from inside with widened eyes.

"open it" jungkook mouthed, not wanting to make any noises.

without making a sound, taehyung immediately opened the windows to allow jungkook to enter. jungkook released a long sigh before collapsing onto taehyung's bed, closing his eyes for a brief moment of rest. that was a great amount of labor he did just now.

"what are you doing here?" taehyung's voice was stiffened and filled with a sense of fear.

raising his head, he looked at taehyung and knitted his eyebrows.

"good seeing you too taehyung" jungkook smiled bitterly as he got on his feet, walking close to the male who tensed up, looking away.

"do you know how much you worried me? seriously not even picking up my calls?"

"i. . . i was busy"

"busy with what? you haven't even gone to your company"

taehyung glanced at jungkook and then averted his gaze but jungkook grasped his chin, compelling him to face those angry yet concerned eyes.

"tae. . . what's wrong?" the gentle and soothing tone of jungkook's voice, paired with the deep concern reflected in his innocent and doe-like eyes caused a profound ache within taehyung's core. merely gazing upon jungkook had the power to make taehyung's mind go blank, as he sought nothing more than to be in his presence. but how bounded he was.

"nothing gguk. you should go, it's not safe for you here" taehyung quickly looked around, knowing that his house was filled with security cameras everywhere, except for his bedroom. he had begged his father to let him have some privacy and although he agreed, he still felt uneasy. the thought of being watched all the time made him anxious.

"what the hell are you even saying? not safe? i'm so confused right now!" jungkook whispered loudly and taehyung was grateful that he wasn't being loud; that wouldn't be good for either of them.

"we. . . we need to stop seeing each other"

"what?"

taehyung noticed the familiar expression on jungkook's face, the very same one he had worn when he had spoken those exact words in front of his father to him. it seemed that even jungkook had grown tired of taehyung's constant hesitations and lack of bravery. but he had to protect jungkook and even if it resulted in hate from him, he would silently endure it. after all, there was nothing he could do.

"you heard me. let's stop. . . this was stupid from the very start" averting his gaze, taehyung was unsure of what was going on inside jungkook's head as the other side remained completely silent. nevertheless, he didn't want to know, all he wanted was for jungkook to leave him forever.

"your father huh?" taehyung snapped his head at jungkook, eyes slightly widened and jungkook smirked, confirming his assumption.

"the same old shit again?" jungkook tilted his head, jaw clenched.

"it. . . it has nothing to do with him. i just thought it through and, and-"

"why lie when you know you suck at it tae?" jungkook held his gaze on taehyung who just can't seem to meet his eyes, making things even clearer.

"no it's not-"

"wait your hands. . ." jungkook noticed that taehyung had been hiding his hands behind his back all this time. he hadn't realized taehyung's condition because he was too preoccupied with the conversation.

as taehyung caught a brief glimpse of jungkook's eyes, their gazes locking for a moment, he couldn't help but quickly avert his own gaze and take a step back, concealing his hands even further.

"it's n-nothing"

"show me your hand"

"i said-" jungkook held onto taehyung's forearms tightly, applying a strong force that made him show his hands and when jungkook saw taehyung's hands, he was clearly shocked.

taehyung had his hands all wrapped up, the bandaging job was a bit sloppy, so jungkook could catch a glimpse of the cuts that were starting to heal and turn into scars under the white wraps.

"who. . ."

taehyung looked up from his own hands to jungkook who still had his gaze fixed down on his hands.

"who did this to you?" jungkook lifted his gaze and met taehyung's eyes that didn't look away this time. how could he? jungkook looked so hurt. as if he was the one enduring all of it.

maybe he was.

"jungkook. . . please"

"please what?" jungkook softly asked. but anger was building in his system the more he looked at the poorly bandaged hands.

the cuts looked deep and even though they were healing, jungkook could tell it hurt a lot. taehyung couldn't have gotten them by accident. someone did this to him.

"leave me, please" taehyung's voice quivered with an overwhelming mix of emotions. in this very moment, he just wanted to hug jungkook tightly, allowing his tears to flow freely and pour out the hurt inflicted upon him by his own father. he yearned to surrender to his vulnerability, to seek solace from the one person he knew would truly understand and genuinely care for him.

but he can't.

"you say that while grabbing my hands this tight." jungkook smiled subtly as he looked down making taehyung do the same and he realized just how tightly he was holding jungkook's hands.

he tried to pull his hands away but jungkook intertwined their fingers and stepped closer, so close taehyung could practically hear his heartbeat in that quiet room.

"why tae? why are you always running away? can't we just face all of it together?" jungkook's voice grew faint as he rested his head on taehyung's shoulder, while taehyung gazed ahead, biting his lower lip to prevent any tears from escaping.

"we can't. . ."

"why not?" jungkook mumbled against his shoulder making the man ticklish. if it was some other time taehyung would have ruffled jungkook's soft faded green hair but he refrained from doing so. he wanted to push jungkook away, for his own good but when he was so close to him, how could he?

"we just. . . can't"

"it hurts, right?"

"my hands? no they are all healed now-"

"no, not that. your heart, it hurts doesn't it?" jungkook lifted his head and stood upright, now staring into taehyung's teary eyes.

pressing his trembling lips together taehyung squinted his eyes and shook his head. oh no, he was about to cry.

"it does, i know"

"n-no. . ." taehyung shook his head again, a tear rolling down his face.

wiping that tear away, jungkook smiled at taehyung. "my heart hurts too. it hurts so much seeing you in pain"

taehyung couldn't take it anymore as emotions hit him hard and then tears just started flowing uncontrollably. desperate for comfort, he leaned in and hugged jungkook tightly, going against his own promise to never let himself get so vulnerable in front of the male. all he could do at that moment was give in to his pain, burying his tear-soaked face in jungkook's comforting embrace, and crying his heart out.

"what's so wrong in being happy gguk? why can't i just be happy?"

jungkook softly stroked taehyung's hair, feeling his heart ache as he saw how vulnerable taehyung was. it was tough for jungkook to witness his emotional breakdown but at the same time, he felt strangely grateful that he was the only one seeing it all.

"you can, my love. you can be happy"

"n-no he won't let me but gguk if you're happy, that's enough for me." taehyung pulled away, wiping his tears as he sniffled. "please be happy without me, jungkookie"

letting out a dry chuckle, jungkook grabbed taehyung's arms and looked into his eyes. hurt clearly seen in those bambi eyes taehyung has come to like so much.

"happy? without you? how does that work?" licking his lips, jungkook uttered, "you are my happiness kim taehyung"

"when i see you smile, i smile. when you cry, i feel like crying" jungkook breathed out, tears whelming in his eyes that sparkled under the moonlight and taehyung's heart ached seeing it.

"seeing your bruised hands, i feel the pain. if you hurt, i hurt. so how dare you say, i should find happiness somewhere else when it has already become you?"

lowering his head taehyung sobbed. he should push jungkook away but his heart won't let him. he was so used to dissing people's feelings. be a cold hearted bastard that always cared for his own self- funny how he was also like that with jungkook but things changed without his notice and now even saying a simple lie that he doesn't like him seems impossible.

"what have you done to me, kim taehyung?" jungkook sniffled, seeing those tears in taehyung's eyes he felt himself crying as well. "why did you drag me so deeply in love with you and now push me away? don't i have feelings?"

"b-but. . . if you are with me. you'll lose everything. i don't want that to happen"

jungkook clenched his jaw and pierced his eyes, "your father again?"

taehyung nodded.

he didn't want to but at this point, he was unable to lie anymore. he was tired of dealing with shit alone.

"what happened? let's sit down and tell me everything"

they both sat down on the bed and taehyung at first with hesitation but eventually told jungkook everything, breaking down in tears in between but he made sure to tell him. from how his childhood was, to how his mother died, to how his father tortured him till now and is still doing and lastly how he had to break things off with jungkook to stop his father from doing what he threatened to do- taehyung told jungkook everything.

after hearing everything, jungkook stayed silent for a minute. taehyung looked at him with uncertainty before replacing his gaze down at his bandaged fiddling fingers.

how would jungkook even feel about all this? deville was at risk - his entire existence. he couldn't take this lightly.

however, taehyung was proved wrong when jungkook laughed out.

puzzled, taehyung tilted his head at the laughing man who lay down on the bed and covered his eyes with the back of his hand and continued laughing, his bunny teeth on display.

taehyung found even that attractive for some reason.

"this is serious jungkook" taehyung frowned. perhaps jungkook had lost it finally because even after that, he continued laughing.

"jungkook!" taehyung glared at the male who had stopped laughing and sat down, with his hands raised in surrender. however, he soon burst into laughter again. looking away, he chuckled a little more and then glanced at taehyung who was now pissed.

"okay. i- uh i'm sorry." jungkook bowed his head slightly and apologized, taehyung sighed as he looked around making sure they were really alone. this entire situation had made the raven head very paranoid.

"you think this is some sort of joke?"

"no not really but was this the reason you isolated yourself?" jungkook's amused face was now morphed into a blank one. however his eyes spoke volumes.

taehyung felt intimidated but didn't look away. "you don't get it jungkook. my father can actually destroy deville. your escape from reality- our escape from reality"

"oh my tae" jungkook cupped taehyung's swollen face due to all the crying and weeping, then puckered his lips by pressing his puffy cheeks.

"that will never happen"

blinking his eyes in disbelief, taehyung sat straight and turned his body to jungkook. "what do you mean will not happen? did you not hear what i said?"

"do you think, a place as big as deville, swarming with people in the darkness of the night was never noticed by the police?" jungkook let out a grin.

"tae, i have lost count of how many times deville was raided"

"then. . . how is it still open?"

jungkook placed his hands behind him and leaned against them, staring up at the ceiling before looking at taehyung.

"we have the police in our favor"

"you do?!" taehyung's reaction was hilarious so jungkook couldn't help but scrunch his nose at his cuteness and nod.

"min yoongi, a friend of jimin is the chief officer of gwangju's police department. he always helps us whenever police raid the place so eventually, nobody raids deville anymore."

"damn. . . min yoongi? i've heard he's really intimidating, far more than me if i'm being honest. how is he a friend of that shortie?"

"uhh honestly, it's more than friendship. yoongi likes jimin but jimin doesn't know. you know when you're in love, you can't see the person you love in pain" jungkook looked at taehyung with a loving gaze which made taehyung blush slightly.

"so of course if deville shuts down. it's not only me but also jimin whose entire life will be in ruins. yoongi won't let that happen"

"besides, i'm not just gonna sit there and watch all that shit happen either. your father will see hell if he dares messing up with anything or anyone i love" jungkook's tone changed into a serious one as he rolled his eyes and peered outside the window.

for a brief moment, taehyung gazed into jungkook's side face, noticing his expression tinged with annoyance, before shifting his attention forward. his heart raced within his chest, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. jungkook appeared infuriated, consumed by anger but taehyung couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. it was evident that jungkook felt this way because of his suffering.

guess, he wasn't the only one hopelessly entangled in the depths of love.

it was silent and taehyung again reminisced what his father said that day. uncertainty filled his once beating loud heart and he dropped his hands by his side.

"i still don't know gguk. i don't want anything to happen to you or anyone else."

"baby" jungkook turned to taehyung and grabbed his bandaged hand with care, placing it tenderly above his. he then looked into taehyung's sparkling eyes- how come taehyung is so fucking pretty even with all the snot and swelling from crying?

"i won't let anything happen to us. i promise"

"you don't know my father" taehyung sighed. he didn't doubt jungkook or his words but the way his father reacted the other day made him really wary of the old man. the man who didn't even flinch after hearing all that from his son or even seeing his son bleed, be hurt and cry for some kind of comfort from his father- a man like that can do anything he wants.

jungkook stared at taehyung, his brows furrowed with concern as he pondered the situation. he could sense taehyung's anxiety, and in all honesty, jungkook wasn't entirely confident himself. he lacked money and status to shield taehyung from his father's wrath but that didn't mean he wouldn't do everything in his power to protect him. no matter the cost, jungkook was willing to go to great lengths to ensure taehyung's safety. however, taehyung's fear was palpable and overwhelming and before anything else, jungkook knew he had to find a way to alleviate that fear.

laying down on the bed, jungkook looked up at the ceiling while putting his one arm under his head and lifting the other to draw an imaginary star in the air.

"i have fallen in love once before. have i told you that?" hearing such a random yet sensitive question, taehyung turned his head at jungkook, nodding.

"his name was seonghan. when we first met, i was 16 years old and he was 23. my mom discovered she had diabetes and was hospitalized for a check-up. it was in the hospital corridor where i first met him."

taehyung listened attentively and jungkook smiled a little seeing his attentiveness before continuing.

"dunno how it all happened but he comforted me. guess i was crying too much thinking something big happened to mom. . . well it is big. mom's in a diabetic coma for a few months. doctors are saying it can be deadly if she doesn't wake up in the next two months"

"jungkook. . ."

"it's okay. she's showing improvements and i hope she will wake up soon. . ." covering his face with his hands, jungkook took a minute to compose himself and taehyung even though wanting to say so many things to comfort him knew right at the moment, jungkook wanted him to just listen.

"okay, back to what i was saying" taehyung this time turned his whole body to jungkook, sitting comfortably.

"he comforted me. we were sitting outside the room while mom talked inside. i was wary of that stranger yet i sat with him and we talked about random stuff. later, we met a few more times in the hospital and eventually got close."

"you know tae? deville wasn't always this big, it wasn't always mine either"

taehyung tilted his head, "it was seonghan's?"

"yeah. seonghan originally built deville and he took me in, saw my passion for motorbikes and at the age of 17 i learnt everything about motorbikes because of him"

"if it wasn't for hyung. . . i don't know what i would be doing in my life right now. mom's hospital bills, rent, even my education, daily needs- all were paid off thanks to deville. seonghan fixed my life, made me the man i am today but. . ."

taehyung noticed the corners of jungkook's eyes whelming in tears.

"but i ended his life in return"

taehyung wanted to hug jungkook because he really looked like he needed one but seeing how even after tears threatening to spill, jungkook wanted to speak made taehyung stay mute.

"i don't know when and why i fell in love with hyung. he always saw me as a helpless kid, a younger brother who was fond of him. that's why i never got the courage to confess and before i could build up that courage, he was already dead and gone" a tear rolled down jungkook's eye, all the memories rushing in his head.

"i was 18 and it was hyung's 25th birthday. there were a lot of hyung's friends who kept him busy all day but around ten he was finally free. we cut the cake in deville. when i asked, hyung's wish was to race with me. it wasn't really a wish, he saw that i was sulking all day and to make me happy. . . god, i should have never been sad that day." jungkook chuckled through tears.

taehyung dragged himself closer to the sniffling male, putting his head on his lap and hugging his head softly. "it's okay, you don't have to continue"

kissing taehyung's hand, jungkook looked up at him with a forced smile. "no, let me speak tae. you talked about your biggest trauma, can't i too?"

"yeah, only if you want to" taehyung kissed jungkook's forehead and he continued.

"even though i was only 18. i was really good at biking. not better than hyung though" taehyung smiled. "we started, hyung let me speed up and he was behind, purposely. whenever we did races, he would always win but that night, he let me have it and i was so excited to see myself ahead of hyung that i accelerated more. hyung was telling me to slow down but i didn't hear him. does that ring a bell tae?"

eventually taehyung widened his eyes remembering how that night the race he did with jungkook, he accelerated a bit too much making jungkook panic and telling him to slow down. now things were making sense.

"i was going on full speed. young me didn't care about the consequences of my actions but hyung did. before i knew a truck was coming from the opposite side and luckily i was fast enough to do a drift but the truck driver lost balance because of my sudden turn and before hyung could move out of the way- it had already happened" jungkook emotionlessly told it all and taehyung couldn't imagine how hard it was for jungkook.

no wonder that night, when he crashed his bike's side along jungkook's front, refusing to slow down or stop his bike. jungkook ended up having such dangerous panic attacks.

now when taehyung thinks about it, he is disgusted with himself. how could he let jungkook relive the worst time of his life just because of his own selfishness? even looking at jungkook right now was a crime. after all he had done to the boy.

sensing taehyung's discomfort, jungkook looked up at taehyung and lifted his hand to caress the raven head's face. jungkook was taken aback when he felt tears against his face. taehyung was crying again.

"hey baby" jungkook wiped those tears. "it's not your fault. you didn't know"

"i'm sorry gguk." taehyung sobbed, taking jungkook's hand in his and putting his forehead against it, he sobbed softly. "you suffered so much because of me"

"make it worth it, will you?" jungkook smiled through his own tears.

"i will" taehyung kissed jungkook's hand.

"you know, i thought i had loved enough. love turned out to be so painful for me in the past, so i was scared to fall in love again. i haven't been the same since i lost hyung but when i met you, it all suddenly changed. i realized hyung wouldn't want me to be grieving over him all the time either. so i decided to give love a second chance" jungkook looked into taehyung's teary eyes.

"and i think i made the best decision falling in love with you"

wiping the tears, taehyung leaned his head down and placed his lips against jungkook's, both tasting each other's tears but with a smile.

"you're my best decision too. i'm sorry i was being a coward. you have overcome your trauma so bravely for me, now i will do the same for you"

ruffling taehyung's hair, jungkook giggled. "that's like my baby"

"wanna go out for a race?" jungkook offered.

smiling enthusiastically, boxy smile on display, taehyung nodded. "you bet"

━━━━━━━

we are close to the end.
however, it's not going to be easy hehehehehe