Taehyung was sweating buckets as he ran laps around the field. The stitch in his side was painful but he ignored it and pushed forward. He needed the activity, he had gotten too lax over the break, barely working out, stress eating rubbish and drinking too much. He needed to get back in shape.

Spring break was officially over and they had started practice for the upcoming soccer season. He was going to be on top of his game, it was drafting season. If he played his cards right, he would be playing professionally this time next year. He wasn't going to let anyone or anything stand in the way of his dream.

Not even a certain raven haired bunny who was making him question everything about himself.

He pushed through his fifth lap even though most of the team had given up and was lying down on the ground wherever possible, panting and wheezing.

He hadn't seen Jungkook in days, since the whole fiasco at Jimin's dorm. The boy had stayed away from him. Even when they had all met up at their favourite sports bar, Jungkook was disturbingly missing. The fact, that he had not only noticed his absence but felt disappointed by it, irritated him. Also, that it all seemed intentional was grating on his nerves.

Was he avoiding him on purpose?

Rafe had told him that Jungkook's lawyer hadn't made any claim for the company's shares yet. It made him uneasy to be honest, not knowing what the younger was after. Why hadn't he claimed the share? It would easily make him a multimillionaire. He must have done his research by now, found out how much Taehyung was actually worth. Yet, he hadn't claimed it. Jungkook must know that they would get divorced either way, why was he still holding on then?

Was he expecting to gain more by staying married?

Taehyung's lungs burned but his legs kept moving. His mind was wandering but since that distracted him from the pain in his lungs and thighs, he let it wander freely.

He saw Jimin give up at one point and claim a bench on the side. He was completely out of breath and fell like dead log on to the ground and then crawled up on to the bench.

He missed seeing his friend around. Jimin had moved in with Yoongi last week and Tae missed him terribly since he mostly used to hang out with Jimin at his dorm. He obviously couldn't go over to Yoongi's to hang out. So he was left in his huge-ass, empty apartment all alone.

His breaths had turned painful now. Every inhale burned and every exhale hurt.

Almost there.

Just fifty more meters. Come on, Tae! He pepped himself up.

Once he had crossed the finish line however, he didn't stop, heading straight for the hurdles. He'd need an ice bath after this, he knew it, but he was okay with that. He needed to push himself.

"Nothing comes easy, nothing is free, everything comes at a price, if you want it, you work for it and you earn it." His father's voice echoed through his mind. The man hadn't raised his son to quit so easily.

He was panting as he quickly stepped through the little rings on the ground, balancing on his tippy toes, his feet moving so fast, they were a blur.

His teammates watched him in awe as he cleared the hurdle and moved to the next one, zigzagging through the markers. Three more rounds through them and he was just about ready to collapse but he didn't slow down, quickly moving on to the next one instead.

He ran to the soccer ball placed in the middle of the field and lightly kicked the ball, smoothly manoeuvring it in circles around the strategically placed cones on the field.  When he had reached the last cone, he swerved the ball and kicked it right into the goal post. His team cheered and he laughed, jogging towards Jimin.

He dropped on to the ground near the bench where Jimin was sitting and laid down on his back, his breathing heavy and laboured. Jimin looked over the bench at him and grinned.

"I think you can win this season on your own TaeTae. You only need us to fill the field." Jimin giggled. "At this rate we would probably only stand around and watch you do all the work."

Tae snorted "I wouldn't have to if you guys cared to move your fat asses."

"Yah! My ass is boney." Hobi groaned from the ground behind the bench.

Taehyung laughed. "What the hell are you doing back there?"

"I fell here and now I'm too tired to move." Hobi whined and Jimin laughed, almost falling off the bench in mirth.

Taehyung snorted again and turned onto his side, trying to ease the stitch that was caught there.

"Damn, its very hot today, isn't it?" He asked as sweat soaked through his t-shirt . He sat up and pulled it off his head and then he shook his hair - which was plastered to his head - with one hand.

A few girls who had been watching the practice from the bleachers, squealed in delight.

"Uhm.... Probably got even hotter for them" Jimin chuckled.

Taehyung ignored the girls and continued to wipe the sweat off his face with his t-shirt.

Jimin handed him a bottle of water which he promptly grabbed and poured half onto his head to cool off and drank the rest.

The girls were screaming now, calling his name, trying to get his attention. He turned away.

Jimin frowned at him. Usually, Tae would get shy or wave at the girls or wink at them, making them swoon while he laughed, the cocky bastard. Today, he just looked annoyed, as if he didn't care about the attention he was getting from them.

Taehyung's phone rang but he ignored it.

"You should get it. It's been going off non stop for the past 20 minutes." Jimin said pushing Taehyung's bag towards him.

Tae frowned and unzipped the bag, pulling out his phone. He hurriedly answered the call when he saw it was from Rafe, his lawyer.

Was he finally free?

"Hey!" Tae answered. "Sorry I'm at practice."

"You need to come to the office, Tae." Rafe said, his tone sombre.

"What's wrong?" Tae asked curiously.

"I'll tell you when you get here."  Rafe answered.

"Tell me." Tae insisted.

"Your plea was rejected."

~~~~~~~~~~

Jungkook sat down at the conference table with his lawyer as they waited for Taehyung to show up. Rafe had informed them that he was at practice and will be in a bit late.

They had been informed of the plea being rejected, but Beckett had said it was none of their concern, since it had been filed without his consent. However, Rafe had requested them to come to the office because there were a few more things that he wanted to discuss face to face.

So here he sat now, waiting for his husband to show up. He still couldn't get used to the fact that Kim Taehyung was his husband. He also couldn't get over how he seemed to hate him now. They had settled into a comfortable friendship before the wedding and Jungkook would be lying if he said he didn't miss it, the teasing and the light hearted banter had come to mean more to him than he had realised. But now he was forced to avoid him.

His emotions felt very raw these days. He missed Tae and every time he woke up in the morning, his mind would rewind back to the morning of their wedding. The memory of the look of disgust and anger on Taehyung's face tore through him every single time. It had scarred him so bad, that he was now afraid to meet his eyes. No matter how much his friends convinced him, it had cut deep and the wound had only festered over the last few months, making him avoid going out anywhere that would put him in Taehyung's path.

Jungkook took a large breath and exhaled slowly to clear his mind. He needed to think of something else or he'd have trouble talking when Tae joined them.

Jungkook fumbled with the elastic on his wrist. He had decided to leave his hair open today. He would have to cut it soon though, since he was starting practice for the next season too but he had grown attached to having it a bit long.

"Have you decided on what to do with the shares, JK?" His lawyer asked him when they were left alone.

"I already told you, I don't want them." He answered still fidgeting.

"As a lawyer, I would advise you against it. They are yours to keep, by right. It would leave you with a comfortable nest egg..." She said softly.

"I don't want his money, I've never wanted it." Jungkook insisted.

"He still thinks you're after it though." She replied

"Well, he's an asshole."

"Watch your mouth, Jeon." Taehyung warned as he walked in, followed by Rafe.

He was dressed in a casual t-shirt and jeans with a dark jacket on top. His hair was still wet from his shower and he looked incredible to Jungkook, who had missed looking at him.

He plopped down on the chair opposite Jungkook and stared at him with narrow eyes, looking through the locks of hair that had fallen on his forehead and was shielding his eyes.

Jungkook gulped and looked down at his hands on the table, playing with his elastic again.

Tae kept staring at him. Jungkook seemed small and vulnerable in his baggy shirt and cargos. He was withdrawn and his mouth seemed to be pulled down at the corners. His long dark hair fell over his shoulders and framed his face making him look softer than usual. He was absentmindedly tonging his lip piercing and playing with something on his wrist.

Tae looked at the younger's hands, no ring, he noticed. A sharp and unexpected pain seared through him. It shouldn't matter, but it did. It mattered because that tiny annoying part of him howled in pain against his heart causing it to clench painfully in his chest.

He averted his gaze. It doesn't matter, he means nothing, he told himself. Reciting it in his over and over again until he could force himself to believe it. He'd be free of him soon anyway, and he would never have to see him again except for on the field. They had maybe two matches this season which was negligible. Easily ignored.

Rafe sat down and ruffled through the papers nervously as they all waited for him to start.

"So, as you are aware, upon Mr. Kim's request, I had filed for divorce." Rafe started hesitantly. "Like I informed you all earlier today, the plea was rejected."

Taehyung huffed in irritation.

Rafe cleared his throat before continuing. "The judge who presided over your case is known for being a little eccentric."

"Judge Riley?"  Beckett asked and Rafe nodded.

She sighed softly and looked at Jungkook with pity.

"What?" Jungkook asked her, slightly panicked.

"He's a little weird." She answered. "What did he do this time?" She asked Rafe.

"He rejected the plea and he decided to make an example out of the two of you." He said uncomfortably.

"Example?" Jungkook asked.

Rafe nodded. "He said he's tired of presiding over divorce cases of young people who get married when they are drunk. He wants to teach you guys a lesson and make an example out of you."

"What do you mean?" Taehyung asked, sitting up straighter.

"He has passed a judgement that says you are not allowed to file for a divorce again.... for a year." Rafe explained.

That's not too bad, Jungkook thought. He had expected something much worse.

Taehyung clenched his jaw, why was the whole universe against him? He just wanted to be rid of this man. "Why would he do that?" He whined.

"Like I said, weird." Beckett answered. "Anyway, it's not our concern since you went ahead and filed a plea without us. If we are done here, my client has a shoot to attend."

Jungkook made a move to get out of the chair, not meeting Taehyung's eyes.

"There's more." Rafe said, his expression looked pained and Jungkook froze.

"What else is there?" Tae asked through gritted teeth.

"You cannot file again for a year, but even then you can only file for divorce if you fulfil certain... conditions." Rafe explained.

"What conditions?" Beckett asked.

Both the boys held their breath as they looked at Rafe.

He swallowed. "You have to live together for the whole year and attend marriage counselling sessions, with a court prescribed councillor, twice a month..... Together."

"Fuck, No!"

~~~~~~*~~~~~~*~~~~~~

Author Note:
Ooooh.....!!!
Now we're getting somewhere.
I'm so excited.
Are you?

How many of you fell for Tae's hair prank?
🙋🏻‍♀️

He can be such a little bitch sometimes.
But I still love him to death.

Disclaimers:

Names of teams / mascots / universities/ schools / education institutions have been used only to make the story more authentic. There is no malicious intent behind the usage of the name, neither do my books depict or reflect anything that is even remotely real about these institutions except their names. I hold all educational institutions and providers in the highest regard. Hence no offence or malice is intended.

Any and all characters in this book are fictional, any resemblance to anyone dead or alive is purely coincidental.

Pictures/Audio/Video/Song/Lyrics Credit goes to the original source/artist/owner.

No malice or offence is intended to any race, religion or sexual orientation.

I donot promote shipping of any members in real life.

🔞 This book is meant for mature audiences only 🔞

BTS and its members belong to themselves and Bighit/Hybe. They do not belong to me. Their names and characteristics are used only for entertainment purposes.

Kim Mingyu of Seventeen doesn't belong to me either.

See you in the next chapter

Borahae💜