Four months.

Four months pass by in a frenzied blur. Full of people like Jungkook and Taehyung moving on with their lives, going on as if the Tuesday night hadn't happened, as if Jimin was still somewhere – living his own life, Taehyung his, and finally, Jungkook his own. But...there is only one exception. And his name is Jeon Jungkook.

Jungkook couldn't keep himself still. He could not, by all means, go on with his life; not knowing whether or not Jimin was alive – Jungkook often doesn't think of the worst, but as each day passes, he couldn't help but think of the worst. The absolute worst.

He would prowl the news, day in, day out, checking to see if anyone had any news on the disappearance of Park Jimin. He'd drive past Jimin's street everyday on his way to work, just to catch a glimpse of any furthering police work, and on top of that, he'd stay up all night, constantly checking his phone for anything from Detective Lee.

But like each cyclical day, the days that seem to loop on and on, forever unending, nothing. No news. No information to be added to the already scarce list: nothing.

Four months pass by slow. Like each day was a chore, to wake up and have never ending questions that just couldn't be answered by anyone. To know that he couldn't be of help. To know that Jimin could be out there needing help. The days seem to bore on. Weird, because it is winter – meaning that the days almost ended just as they had started, but to Jungkook, the days always moved like the first speed when turning on a treadmill...only there was no button to speed up his life, and bring him at his goal even faster.

Jungkook tried, by God he tried, to look for something, to rack his brain from any piece of information that might help make developments in the case, but he just couldn't. Every thought of his led back to the same, unwinding question that brought Jungkook to a feeling of poker hot dread, every time he'd think about it: why were Taehyung and himself listed as the emergency contacts? Even after everything.

Even knowing that neither Taehyung, nor Jungkook had been in Jimin's life for the past five years. It just didn't make enough sense. Why would Jimin do that? Did Jimin know that he was going to be put in danger and that's why he changed it?

He stayed awake every night, scrolling through many online news articles, the tab of the first newspaper to comment on Jimin's disappearance always loaded on Jungkook's screen, his eyes scimming the bright page over and over again each night.

At this point, he had learnt the newspaper by heart.

Jungkook didn't know why he did this. Maybe he thought reading the article again and again would somehow change the words on the screen from "Missing twenty-six year old: Park Jimin," to "Park Jimin: found, and safe."

Presently, Jungkook is at work, sitting at his desk, many of his co-workers beside him, typing away at their own computers, some flipping through books that have many written annotations on them. He looks around himself, and with a sigh, he places his head softly onto his desk.

He is supposed to find new ways to market books, the old ways of using hard covers being outdated and less likely to be picked up by the younger generations. But Jungkook is too focused on the satisfying feeling his eyes get when he closes them for a brief moment, the burning of keeping them wide open and staring at a bright screen of artificial light stopping for a temporary moment. 

Jungkook's phone pings, probably the next text from his boss telling him to run some pathetic errand. With a groan, Jungkook sits up, the tiredness in his eyes being crystal clear. He checks his phone. Yup, he is right, "bring me some coffee, you know how to make it," he reads out loud, getting looks of sympathy from his colleagues beside him. Jungkook stands up, grabbing his fob card, as he quickly runs down to the bottom floor, the elevator taking too long.

After a few minutes, Jungkook finally reaches the bottom floor, heading into the staffroom to find that one of his friends, Rosé is also in the room, drinking some tea out of a white mug.

Jungkook had liked Rosé since she had always been real with Jungkook, telling him how it is, and helping him whenever he needed help.

"Hey Rosé," Jungkook pants, quickly grabbing a hold of the many things needed to make his boss's “perfect” coffee. Rosé smiles at Jungkook, taking one big gulp from her tea before asking, "how's it going Jungkook?"

Jungkook shrugs, leaning against the counter, facing the red haired girl as the water heats up, "you know, the usual – running around for bossman, procrastinating on my work. God, sometimes I still feel like I'm in college with the way I avoid doing my work," he chuckles a little bit.

Rosé smiles, "you know, you should ask the others to help you once in a while, you don't always have to do things independently," she places her empty, tea-stained mug into the sink, looking at him, adding, "no matter how hard you try, teamwork makes the dream work," she then begins to wash her mug.

"I just prefer to work on my own," he replies, making the coffee, his back to Rosé. It seems like the conversation has come to a halt, and Jungkook expects Rosé to leave, but instead, she hangs around. After a minute of silence, Jungkook hears her say, "so...has there been any developments in the Park Jimin case?"

Jungkook freezes.

No one has ever asked about Jimin. Not in the four months since Jimin's disappearance has been notified of. Rosé notices Jungkook's tense body, and quickly adds, "I do read the news, I just didn't want to ask earlier just in case I was being insensitive."

His body relaxes, and then he turns around, "it's okay I guess," he says softly. Silence falls between the two once more, and then Jungkook says, "police are no help. I do believe that somehow, Taehyung and I can be of help but they've silenced us, pushed us out."

"Has Taehyung talked to you about it?" Rose asks wearily, knowing that the two have a deep rooted past. Jungkook pauses for a moment, "um, well, not exactly – but I do know–"

"Then how can you be so sure that Taehyung can be of help?" Rosé cuts in. Jungkook pauses once more, already at a loss. Rosé has the power to be curt, and short with her words, silencing even the talkative of people, "I think I know that we can be of help," he says with a final tone, but Rosé still looks somewhat unsure.

She steps closer to Jungkook, "babe, you know, I'm all for helping you, but with Jimin's case, you don't have a lot of options. Number one, you can sit tight, doing what you do. Reading the news daily, always checking your phone for detective Lee's calls, and you'll move on with your life eventually, but Park Jimin will always be at the back of your mind...do you want that Jungkook?"

Jungkook glances around the room, looking everywhere but at Rosé. He suddenly finds interest in the little splash of dried coffee on the counter before he finally mumbles, "and what's number two?"

"Number two, you can get up, and start figuring out things for yourself. The police won't be of no help to you, and you know that Jungkook. You should demand Taehyung to work with you! And not because you two knew Jimin in the past, but because whatever Jimin thought of when changing the names of his emergency contacts, he bound you and Taehyung together once more. I believe that he did that for a reason, and Jungkook, so help me God, if you don't find your friend," she says with a pant, but a look of triumph in her eyes.

"Where am I supposed to even start? This is all so complicated. I have my own life to deal with. God, I even think Mark is going to propose soon, I mean I found the ring all, and it's so pretty, and I love him, with all my heart but I just can't do this right now," Jungkook rushes out, chest rising and falling with breaths of panic.

Rosé rushes over to Jungkook's side in shock, rubbing his back in soothing little circles, telling him to breath over and over again like a mantra – this went one for a while, until Jungkook finally regains his calm composure.

Jungkook sighs, "it's all just too much for me Rosé," his head lolls to his chest, as his eyes flutter close, his breaths deep and long as his mind races back and forth between two worlds: Jungkook is in limbo.

Rosé thinks for a moment, "I think you should go home babe, Mark is at work, no?" Jungkook nods, "yeah he's at work, he'll be back home around six," Jungkook says quietly, almost in a whisper. Rosé nods, "I'll take the coffee to boss, and speak to him, you collect your things and work from home. But make sure to rest."

She grabs the cup full of coffee that was now beginning to get cold. Rosé groans, knowing that her boss will be complaining for the next century about today, but she is willing to risk everything just to make his friend feel better.

Jungkook, after a few seconds of fighting himself, decides that he truly needs to be in the comfort of his own home. He nods, grabbing his fob key, heading out of the staffroom with Rosé by his side. They walk all the way up to his department. Rosé parts ways with him the moment he steps inside, allowing the glass door to shut behind him.

Slowly, he walks into the room, feeling as if every single colleague of his, has their eyes on him, watching him stealthily. At this point, Jungkook feels as if he's being delusional. No one is going to be watching, plain and ordinary Jungkook.

He gets to his desk, turning his computer off, gathering his things before sliding them into his bag carelessly, and he walks away. No one questions his sudden leave, and he's glad, not wanting to explain to anybody as to why he suddenly decided that he didn't want to be in work today.

Jungkook takes his departure from work slowly, taking his sweet time to walk back down the stairs (even though he did have the patience to wait for the elevators) he wants to be moving, feeling like if he's still for too long, the world is going to collapse onto him, and weigh him down with shackles and chains, like Jacob Marley in a Christmas Carol.

It's funny that one person, one singular person, in a world full of seven billion people, could feel like the entire world is floating just above them, ready to fall right when life couldn't get any more worse than it already was. It is a sick way of forcing negativity more and more into someone's life, and often, more often that anyone thought, it worked.

Reaching his car, in the carpark, Jungkook gets in. Finally, in the solitary of his own car, his own company, Jungkook weeps. The weight of the world heavy on his shoulders, too heavy for him to continue acting like everything is okay, when clearly, it isn't. Jungkook rests his head on the steering wheel, wishing that someone else could he driving him home, but after ten minutes of sitting in silence, Jungkook takes in a deep breath and begins to drive home, often sniffling when his nose felt runny, wiping as the anomaly tears that would escape his eyes.

Meanwhile, Kim Taehyung sits in front of his desk, in the biggest office of the modernly building that he owned. He takes a pen, clicking it, and then begins to write, he couldn't care less about what he is writing, but still, he writes nonetheless, knowing that the future of his company, would always rest on his nimble fingers.

He then goes ahead and starts to email different staff, and board directors, trying to arrange a meeting with other companies. Taehyung knows he can do it. He's Kim Taehyung for God's sake, not some poorly dressed man in a crinkled suit, shivering on his tippy toes at the mere thought of disappointing large company shareholders.

"Mr Kim, there's an urgent memo waiting to be read by you," his assistant says, walking in casually without knocking. Taehyung glances up from his computer screen, uninterested, before he mumbles, "Miss Jung, how many times do I have to tell you that you knock before walking it," he says, although quiet, loud enough for Jung Hoseok's sister to hear the stern tone in his voice.

Jung Eunha flips her shiny hair, "relax Mr Kim," she purrs, "there's no audience to hear the informality of my tone." Once more, Taehyung glances up at her, and then, he cracks a small smile, "sit down Eunha, what's the memo?"

Eunha takes a seat comfortably in front of Taehyung, reading out the words on the paper she held in front of her, "Chief Xiao from China has decided to end ties with your partnership. Decided that he can find a better deal elsewhere, especially since there's bigger industrial companies willing to pay more for his trades," she then explains.

Taehyung takes the sheet from Eunha, reading it carefully, he then says, "well there's not much that we can do then, can we?" Eunha smirks, "well," she begins, clasping her hands together, "I know that I'm just your assistant, but I think we need to try and strike a deal with their rival company and offer a bigger payment deal. When Chief Xiao hears about this, he'll come running back and accept the deal for less."

"I taught you well," Taehyung says, smiling proudly at Eunha.

Eunha and Taehyung knew each other for a while, and Eunha was one of the bestest friends Taehyung could ever ask for, but the public didn't know that. Eunha made him promise that no matter what, her and her family would be kept out of the scandalous limelight that the public viewed Kim Taehyung in.

Taehyung straightens out his suit jacket, standing up at his full height, "how's the children?" He asks, walking over to the door, Eunha following right behind him. Eunha smiles gleefully, "Dae-hyun is his usual mischievous self, my god for a four year old he's so sneaky – gets it from his father, and Hae-lee...well she can roll over now," she coos, holding in a squeal. Taehyung chuckles, a real, hearty chuckle that only came out whenever he is around Eunha, "fast leaner, like her mother then," he compliments.

"Stop it you," Eunha says loudly, but Taehyung doesn't miss the slightly tinge on her cheeks, "now hurry, otherwise you'll miss the meeting!" Taehyung rolls his eyes, "I'm the CEO, I am the meeting."

But regardless, he steps out of his office, his usual demeanor back onto his facial expression as he stalks smoothly through the hallways of the building, watching as his employees scurry back to whatever it is that they were supposed to be doing. 

Taehyung walks into the meeting room, less of a room considering that it has no privacy. The walls being floor to ceiling glass. A long, rectangular table in the middle, the staff needed for today's meeting already sat at their designated seats, only a single seat empty – Taehyung's seat.

He greets them with a nod, to which a flurry of, “good morning Mr Kim,” is sent at Taehyung. He does not reply, silence being one of his key features, and takes a seat, Eunha standing just behind him with her notepad out, ready to take notes as fast as she can.

A middle aged man, named Min Jaehee, clears his throat, flattening down the hair that remained on his already balding head, "well let's get on with this meeting," he starts, voice high pitched for a man of his age, slightly nasally, his flat nose twitching when no one replies. He looks over at Taehyung for confirmation, but Taehyung simply glances at him and then his eyes sweep over the room to find Jung Hoseok.

Hoseok hides a smirk at Taehyung's dark eyes, but then decides that he should speak first, especially when he sees a small nod from Eunha, his sister.

Clearing his throat, he says, "this meeting is called by Jaehee," Hoseok points at Jaehee, who shifts uncomfortably, clearly wanting to have spoken first – but he doesn't speak upon it, knowing that Taehyung is in the room. "In order to discuss the matters of Chief Xiao and his recent decision."

A few people whisper to each other before the room falls silent. Taehyung sits up straight, straightening the lapels of his black suit blazer, raven hair parted to the side in curls. His finger rests upon his chin in thought as he watches Hoseok hand out sheets to each of the staff members.

Jaehee speaks up, "we need Chief Xiao to be on board with us, but he doesn't want to accept our short cut, as he would describe it to be." Taehyung wets his lip with the tip of his tongue as he tilts his head.

Another person, this time, a voice from a women, speaks up. Taehyung doesn't regard her though, because he sees her plan as useless. "Does Mr Kim need Chief Xiao though? We can very obviously cut better deals with people, who will accept less than what we are offering Xiao and Lodgings, here's some examples of better companies," she says, bringing out a stack of papers to pass around the table.

Eventually, Taehyung takes one of the sheets, looking at the information with narrowed eyes. He places the paper down softly, raising his hand, "I decided on Xiao. Nothing is going to change that unfortunately," he says, staring at her darkly, voice deep and dominant, "unless you think that my judgement is not a good one?"

She gulps, sitting up straighter than before, "my apologies Mr Kim, that's not what I meant. What I meant was-"

"What you meant," Taehyung cuts through, "is that you want my company to work with companies that have criminal allegations against them. Do you want the reputation of this company to crumble?" He says quietly, using his index finger to point out one of the companies listed on the A4 pieces of paper.

Immediately, she shakes her head, "no no, Mr Kim-"

Once more, she doesn't get to express her view, for Taehyung speaks up, a little louder this time, "all for paying a little less. That won't work no. Surely, you won't mind if I decrease your paycheck? Won't you?"

The room is silent. Taehyung falls back into his seat, tan skin gleaming under the white lights.

He breaths through his nostrils softly, "Miss Yoon-ha," he says almost in a whisper, "you keep messing up. Let this be the last time you so confidently slip up in front of me," Taehyung whispers. "Yes Mr Kim," Yoon-ha says, staring straight, holding back tears. And with the wave of his hand, the rest of the staff continue with the meeting.

This time, Hoseok says, "so, does anyone else have any other bright ideas?"

Everyone looks everywhere but at Hoseok. Jaehee sighs, knowing that the meeting would get nowhere, and Taehyung would only be disappointed. Deeply disappointed. And Jaehee couldn't have that.

"Is it possible, Mr Kim, that we raise our offer just a little bit?"

An elderly man gasps out, before Taehyung can even decide if he wants to answer Jaehee or not, "that's preposterous! If word gets out that we raised our offers for someone like Xiao and Lodgings, then every other partnership is going to want more money from Mr Kim!"

Jaehee glances at Taehyung. Taehyung merely nods, agreeing with the aging man who had just spoken.

The meeting went on for a while, and Eunha, watching, doesn'tt understand for the life of her, why Taehyung isn't speaking up about what she told him in the office. She continues to scribble down the notes until she hears the soft sound of Taehyung's fingers clicking. He's looking straight at her. She bends down to hear what he's got to say, "Eunha," he says quietly so that no one else could hear (at the moment, Jaehee was boasting about he could use techniques from a past successful deal to get Chief Xiao on board.)

"Eunha," Taehyung repeats, "tell your idea to the staff." Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head. He looks at her sternly. Eunha frowns, knowing that Taehyung, as nice as he is, is also stubborn – and nothing is going to change his mind about now.

Taehyung faces forward again, zoning in on whatever Jaehee was speaking about, "and that's how I believe that Chief Xiao will get on board. It will work, it's worked countless times before, how is now any different–"

Eunha clears her throat from behind Taehyung, and once more Jaehee falls silent. Everyone turns to look at Taehyung's assistant, Hoseok smiling to himself, Taehyung being the only to continue looking straight, almost as if he isn't bothered.

"Yes?" Jaehee says, sounding bored.

"Well, I've sort of had an idea that could help you secure your deal with Chief Xiao. If you could just hear me out–"

Jaehee chuckles, a loud sneering laugh, cutting of Eunha. Eunha pauses, glancing at the back of Taehyung's head before speaking, "and I do believe that my idea would be the best move to do, in order to secure the deal, and for less."

"Girl, you're just an assistant, you're supposed to be writing notes, not speaking in a crucial meeting. Everyone is important in this room, and we don't have time to spare for silly, little ideas like yours," he spits out. Once more, silence falls on to the atmosphere of the room. Jaehee gathers his papers, "now–"

Taehyung clears his throat, he turns around, to glance at Eunha before turning back to Jaehee.

"Quite the contrary, Jaehee," Taehyung begins. Once more he sits up straight, "as you said, everyone in this room is important, and Eunha, as Hoseok's sister, is just as important. And as my assistant, only I have the say as to if she has a say in this meeting or not," Taehyung glares at Jaehee, a content feeling in his heart when he sees sweat pooling at Jaehee's upper lip, a worried expression on his face.

Taehyung says, "continue Miss Jung."

Eunha clears her throat, "well, after hearing about Chief Xiao's needs, it's clear that he believes that to sign a deal, he needs more leverage. And so declined the offer, unless we pay more. Instead of doing what Xiao wants, I say we move to make a deal with their rival company. The news would obviously reach Xiao's ears, especially if there's a rumor saying that we are paying a substantial amount. Chief Xiao would come running back to sign a deal with Mr Kim and accept any pay – because Chief Xiao can't lose out on a deal like this."

The room is silent for a few moments, before slow and quiet murmurs of agreement arise, making Eunha's chest swell double the size with pride, smile beaming, pearly whites on show. Taehyung mentally grins, and stands up, buttoning his blazer, "we go with Miss Jung's plan. That is all," he finalises, before sweeping out of the room quick, but gracefully, heading back to the safe quarters of his office, where no man ever decided to venture through.

Taehyung's lunch break consists of, still, working through mountains of paperwork, and sipping small sips of the coffee that Eunha brings him.

"Mr Kim, there's someone here to see you. They say it's urgent," Taehyung looks up at Eunha, who's standing in the doorway, head peeping out. Taehyung sighs, rubbing his face, eyes beginning to feel tired, "I have no other appointments today. Send them away," Taehyung says clearly, dismissing whoever came to see Taehyung.

Eunha closes her eyes, knowing that Taehyung couldn't pass up this moment, "it's Jeon Jungkook who's here for you Taehyung," she says, words dull and short.

Taehyung's eyes widen, and for the first time today, Taehyung is left feeling speechless. "What?"

She nods, still not fully in Taehyung's office, "yeah, drove all the way here, says it's urgent – not leaving till you agree with him," Eunha explains in what seems like bullet points. Taehyung mentally groans, as if his day isn't already tiring, he has to speak with his ex husband as well. And he can't just send Jungkook away. Taehyung knew Jungkook. Jungkook would sleep in the building for a fortnight if it meant that Taehyung would eventually talk to the younger.

"Send him in," Taehyung says, but before Eunha has the chance to leave, he also adds, "and lock the doors once he does come in. I don't want any other surprise visitors. People live to make connections about me and the outside world," he states. Eunha nods, and leaves, Taehyung's office now silent, he looks around himself.

Standing up, he tidies his already neat office just a little bit more. Gathering the private and confidential documents, and putting them in a drawer beneath his desk before locking it with a small key. Truth be told, he knows he can trust Jungkook, but he also must not take any risks, or give people a chance to find his weak spots.

Taehyung then opens his laptop screen, and sits down on his chair, checking the surveillance camera footage of the cameras outside is office. And there, sitting patiently on one of the chairs in front of Eunha's desk, sits Jungkook.

He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose, and watches as Eunha speaks to Jungkook, Jungkook nods and then walks in – without the courtesy of knocking.

Jungkook braces himself as he steps inside of the lion's den, or as others would call it, Kim Taehyung's office. Where the man that holds the glitz and glamour of many people's hearts, resides.

He steps inside, immediately meeting Taehyung's dark and alluring eyes. Jungkook holds in a gasp, shutting the door behind him as he walks foreword. Taehyung doesn't say a word, and doesn't need too, as Jungkook takes it upon himself and sits in the armchair resting in front of Taehyung's overly large desk.

Upon his desk, Jungkook notes, is a laptop, one cup of coffee, a few pens and scattered papers. A few foldered documents and a phone that lay flat, screen facing downwards. To Jungkook's surprise, even Taehyung's office looked dismal and dull – like he didn't even enjoy working there at all. No sign of personality lives in that office, no picture frames, no untidy things like crumpled pieces of papers that often told a tale of stress and anger, or even more than one cup of coffee that shows how tired a working person can be.

Taehyung breaths in slowly, observing Jungkook. The way Jungkook's nose is dusted a pearly pink, eyes a little swollen and puffy, lips red from constant biting. Taehyung knows that Jungkook had cried, sometime before he decided to meet Taehyung, that's for sure. The question, “why were you crying?” lives on the tip of Taehyung's tongue, however, instead of speaking his heart, he forces the worry and words down his throat.

Clearing it, he says, "you say it's urgent?" Jungkook's mouth opens, obviously, he tries to think of the best way to word what he needs to speak to Taehyung about. His mouth shuts, and for a moment, looking into those deep, dark horizons, Jungkook loses track of time and space, he finds himself trapped in those eyes. But reality gives him a large check, and soon, he says, "I want us to work together."

Words short and curt, he uses Taehyung's own medicine against him.

"Work together on what?" Taehyung asks, a pen in-between his index and middle finger. He taps it on one of the papers on his table, other hand resting on his chin to the side. Jungkook takes in another breath, feeling as though he's being judged by a higher council; only this higher council only consists of Taehyung's, and his own judgement.

"I want us to work together to find Jimin," Jungkook looks at Taehyung's face to try and get a look at what could be running through his mind, but he's met with a blank look.

Taehyung sighs, shifting on his seat, one side of his hair covering his left eye in wispy strands, "I thought that was the job for policemen. Detective Lee is in place for a reason, you know that Jungkook," he reasons, voice monotone and dull.

Jungkook tries his best to hide his frustration, "yes, but it's been four months already, as we don't know anything that's going on – we don't even know if they found a tissue with Jimin's snot on it."

"Well, maybe we haven't heard anything because there's nothing to hear. Cases like this take time," Taehyung replies, pushing some papers together in a stack. "You and I will just have to sit tight until detective Lee calls us, and–"

Jungkook tries once more, cutting through Taehyung's words, "but can't you see how confusing it is? Jimin changed his listing to our names! And it can't just be a coincidence, maybe he wants us to help him."

Taehyung, growing impatient with Jungkook's words says clearly, "I haven't spoken to Jimin since he broke my marriage, so I wouldn't know what he's expecting from me." Jungkook gasps, brows furrowing in anger, "Do not try and blame Jimin for the reason why our marriage ended. It takes two to tango, and if I'm not mistaken, it's not Jimin's fault that he fell in love with you. The druggie twenty year old who couldn't control himself," he seethes, cheeks flushing.

Mouth wide open, Taehyung stares at the boy seething in anger in front of him, and then he regains his composure, pushing his shock at Jungkook's words to the back of his mind, "Jimin is not my friend, therefore, I don't have the responsibility to care for him, or to search for him. When the police needs me, I will only answer then."

Jungkook huffs, standing up, eyes narrowed, "I should've known that you wouldn't make the effort," he starts softly, "you didn't even make the effort to keep our marriage, why did I think any different now. I'll find Jimin without you if I have too Taehyung, I will," he says with a firm tone.

Taehyung also stands up, "Jungkook–"

"No, save it Taehyung," Jungkook says, his hands raised, "I am stupid for thinking that I meant anything to you. That you loved me. Clearly you don't, you never did," Jungkook finishes, walking over to the door.

"How can you say that Jungkook?" Taehyung says weakly. His usual deep, demanding voice softer, and more fragile. Jungkook turns his head to the side, not knowing whether or not he should walk away from Taehyung, or stay.

"What we had means so much to me," Taehyung starts, stepping around his desk to walk closer to Jungkook. Still, Jungkook remains facing the door. "I think about it everyday. Everything that I lost because my eyes weren't open, I couldn't see that I had all the gold right in front of me, and yet I crawled around on the dirt trying to find silver coins," Taehyung doesn't get a reply from the boy in front of him, so he calls out his name, "Jungkook?"

Taehyung reaches out, his fingers slipping into Jungkook's hand. Jungkook gasps, a warm fluttering feeling trickling down from his heart to pool at his stomach, awakening the dormant butterflies that he owns. Taehyung guides Jungkook to face him.

Jungkook looks into those eyes. Those story tellers. And sees that Taehyung is being genuine. Not a lie to be sniffed out.

"Why are you telling me this now?" he asks, almost in a whisper, staring up. Taehyung allows his lips to raise little at the corners, hand letting go of Jungkook, to cup his sharp jaw. Another gasp is caught in Jungkook's throat, his head slightly tilted upwards. The two bodies of the ex-husbands standing close to each other, only a centimeter of space between them.

Taehyung doesn't answer, until he says, loud and clear, "because...I didn't get to tell you this all those years ago."

Jungkook's eyes drop to the ground, in realisation that he shouldn't be this close to his ex-husband, and so, very begrudgingly (he doesn't show it) he detaches himself from Taehyung, putting miles of space between the two.

"Well, it's too late," Jungkook forces out, voice gravelly. Taehyung nods, "better late than never," he calls out, watching Jungkook spin on his heels, towards the office doors. Jungkook freezes, but after a second of composing himself, he rushes out of Taehyung's office.

Taehyung stands in the empty room, contemplating on what to do, but before his mind could argue with him, he rushes out into the hallway, chasing after his ex-husband.

"Jungkook!"

By then, Jungkook is already standing in the elevator. Taehyung just about reaches the elevator, holding the doors with his arm, Eunha watching the scene playing out before her with her mouth open in shock.

"My place, we'll discuss things about the case there. I'll text you the details," Taehyung pants, moving away from the elevator. Jungkook can only nod, not knowing what to say. And then the doors close.

Taehyung on one side, Jungkook on the other.

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