"What do you mean that you need to fly back?" Hoseok was looking at the duo who paid him an early morning visit at the Gardler HQ.

"Jungkook said he wants to go back." Jimin was standing beside the slightly taller male with his fingers pointed at Jungkook.

"Jungkook. Can't you speak for yourself?" Hoseok crossed his arms as he narrowed his gaze at the younger.

The raven head was looking at his boss with a timid expression. "Yea, I can."

"Then tell me what is this about. Why do you wanna leave? You've been doing so well for the last three weeks managing the teams remotely from our HQ."

Indeed, it was the truth. Jungkook has been doing so well managing his team back in Seoul and Sydney concurrently with the VANTE project. Hoseok couldn't understand why Jungkook needs to fly back to Sydney.

It's been 2 weeks since the conversation happened between Jimin and Jungkook. The night surely brought the two closer than expected as Jungkook didn't hold back his side of the story while Jimin was only able to hold the crying boy in his arm till the next morning. In the end, Jimin knew the reasons behind Jungkook's trigger and what happened on the day Jimin let Taehyung in as he was leaving for an appointment.

It's also been exactly 2 weeks since Taehyung flew overseas. Jungkook is unsure where did the silver head disappeared to. Surprisingly, neither one of the trios who always hold Taehyung accountable and disciplined said anything following the missing of the young tycoon. In the absence of Taehyung, Namjoon stepped into the boss's shoe and been managing the company's affair since then.

"It's been a couple of weeks, I know I've been managing it remotely but I appreciate if I can visit my team on the ground without further ado."

In reality, Jungkook is scared.

It's been two whole weeks and Taehyung was nowhere in sight. The last Jungkook heard about the silver head was the day after their unexpected sex and horror encounter in the office of VANTE. Neither Hoseok nor the trusted trios of Kim Taehyung spoke about the man at his absence. It was almost like Taehyung left for a secret mission and it was not supposed to be talked about.

Then you may ask why is Jungkook afraid? What is the point of being afraid of someone not even present in his vicinity?

The answer lies within the question itself.

Jungkook is afraid of Taehyung although the older is not in the country. Jungkook is afraid of himself and his broken heart. Jungkook is afraid that his broken trust and wounded heart will snap back into an ugly path and direct him to the silver head.

The younger is afraid of his feelings for Taehyung. How does he know he still has feelings for the older? Let us once again recall back to the night where Jimin and Jungkook sat down for a heart to heart talk.

Flashback

"Judy."

Jimin who was stroking the younger's back came to a surprising stop. "Judy?"

"Yea, it was Judy who drove me and Tae apart." Jungkook sniffled and completely stayed unbothered as he was clinging to Jimin like a koala and full on tears.

"Kooks, if you're able to, can you perhaps enlighten me further? I really am starting to lose you to the context coz I have no clue who is this Judy and what is her correlation to you and Taehyung's relationship."

Jungkook nodded. He knows that he can't buy the time with Jimin. He needed to let it all out there to sort himself out and revisit his wounds which stayed unbothered for the past 8 years. Hence, he properly placed himself beside Jimin, now facing him with tears still streaming down his puffed up cheeks as he begins to explain.

"Taehyung and I met when we were at college. It was his last semester and it was my junior year. I was a year behind Tae. He was technically my senior. In general, Tae is a very active person in club and societies and that's how I met him for I was involving heavily in extracurriculars as well. Long story short, we started to date and eventually Tae finished his last semester in University before moving out of the dorm to his penthouse."

Jimin nodded and allowed the younger to continue. Although Jimin wanted to rush to the part where this Judy girl comes in, he needed to wait and follow Jungkook's flow.

"I spent a lot of time at his penthouse and life was beautiful for me with the one I love. It was all short-lived on the night of a New Year's party when Taehyung impregnated Judy which we got to know 4 months later. Judy was one of our friends."

"What the fuck? Taehyung knocked out a girl?" Jimin was bedazzled.

Jungkook slowly nodded, recollecting the painful scene in which Judy confronted him for her baby daddy.

"Judy came to me first to break the news. She didn't know she was pregnant until her tummy showed a little. She went to get a pregnancy test and it was confirmed that her pregnancy was the result of the New Year's party we all attended."

"Jungkook, if you all attended the party then how did Taehyung end up with Judy? Weren't you there?"

"I was. We all got shit drunk by midnight and one of my friend Ezra took me home when he found me laying around the floor passed out with no sign of Taehyung nearby. I didn't know what happened as I woke up at Ezra's the next day. I thought Taehyung went back home alone, but I didn't know he stayed back at the party where he had sex with Judy, eventually resulting her getting pregnant."

"It's so scary how girls can potentially get pregnant with single intercourse. Pardon my french but thank God I'm gay." Jimin blew a sigh of relief. "Sorry Kooks, you may continue."

"I didn't notice much after the party as Taehyung's behaviour towards me didn't change. He was still the usual cocky egoistic man but to me, he was always so lovely."

Jungkook sniffled. He can't bring himself to believe that he meant nothing to Taehyung coz the silver head meant everything to Jungkook.

"But why did you leave him then? Does Taehyung knows about this?"

"At the time of the incident, Judy wanted to speak with me first before confronting Taehyung. That's the worse part Jimin, Judy is not a bad person. I don't fancy her as I know she liked Taehyung in some ways more than a friend, but she is not the typical mean girl slash stupid bitch. For once, she is indeed a likeable person."

"Jungkook. I know it's hard to hate or despise a person if they are nice. But sometimes, what they do might not be the best of intention and they can hide behind their kind or nice facade to get them a free pass. I'm not saying Judy is a bitch or your observation is wrong, but never judge a book by its cover."

"Jimin. I have known Judy for a year back then before this happened."

"Well you know how they say that keep your friends close and enemies closer? Yea. She might have treated you as a friend but who knows her real reason behind that."

Jungkook can't brush away Jimin's hidden meaning behind his gentle comments. The raven head knows that Jimin will never belittle someone or speak ridiculously, so Jungkook refrained from making further comments as he digests Jimin's every word.

"On that day after Judy spoke with me, I wanted to talk with Taehyung. My heart was as heavy as a stone and my mind was tangled. I wanted to see Tae and speak with him about this when things washed into the drain as I had an unexpected argument with him and he asked me to leave if I were to continue behaving like a little kid."

"So you just left?" Jimin asked, dumbfounded.

To this, Jungkook nodded as a reply.

"Not to sound mean Kooks, but that was your first mistake."

Jungkook who always had his biggest trust and love for Jimin since the day he knows the older felt a verbal slap across his face. Did Jimin just say it was his mistake for walking away after hearing Taehyung accusing and giving up on his like a piece of trash? Taehyung impregnated someone and what else can the reason be for Jungkook to stay?

"Hyung, I thought you would have supported my decision."

"Listen Jungkook, I was never the one to put you down or blame you for anything. I have wanted only the best for you coz I see you as my little brother. It just crossed my mind and heart that you perhaps should have spoken on Taehyung a little bit more before leaving."

"But what will I get by speaking with him over the spilt milk?"

"You lost his side of the story Jungkook. That's what you could have gotten. It's been 8 years now, you still have mental breakdowns over a love you called shut away. I highly doubt how well you've moved on, but I think a little bit of his story would have helped you."

Jungkook watched as Jimin spill every word out. It suddenly made sense to Jungkook on how immature he would have looked for Taehyung. The raven head chose to take the older's word and walked out when they had a confrontation. Never did once Jungkook wanted to sit and have a civilised chat. He was too hurt to comprehend.

"I'm such a fool Hyung. I can never do anything right." Jungkook's cheeks were stained in fresh tears.

"Hey, look at me." Jimin cupped the younger's cheeks as he used both his thumbs to caress Jungkook's swollen cheeks and tear-stained skin. "You're such an amazing person Kook, I am merely stating my opinion and it doesn't have to be right. Past is past and although I can't understand why Taehyung is being a meanie I don't think it's entirely your fault."

"But I left him..."

"Jungkook, he cheated on you. Of fucking coz you will be hurt and choose to leave. It's an understandable thing to consider. At least you've moved on and he won't be a nightmare anymore, you're at a better place now."

Jimin scanned Jungkook's face for any sign of agreement but all he got in return was a louder sob and an even pathetic looking Jungkook with his eyes reddening each passing second with a bucket of tears.

"Kook, you've moved on right?" The blond hesitantly asked again.

"No Hyung, I still love him."

Flashback ends

It was that very moment which triggered Jungkook into coming at a conclusion that he never stopped loving the young tycoon. All the raven head every did was patched his broken heart and shoved Taehyung's memory behind a closed door in his heart and mind. His seals came broken like glasses in shattered pieces the second he laid eyes on Kim Taehyung, 8 years later, in the heart of New York City.

Life never felt so complicated for Jungkook as it was at that time.

.
__________________________________________
🥀
My poor heart.
Now where the hell is Tae?
Come and collect your man!

We know JK's side of the story. Will Tae explain his side? What about Judy's side?