Chains of Command// TK// ONGOING

Strings and Scars

Obsession never starts with a scream.

It begins in silence.A glance that lingers a second too long.
A breath that gets caught in a throat.A boundary crossed not by force—but by inevitability.

Monday Morning – Jeon Enterprises

Taehyung walked into the towering glass building feeling like a man dragging chains invisible to everyone but himself. He wore the wine-red suit again—not out of loyalty, but because there was a subtle pressure now, hanging in the air like static. It wasn't a rule Jungkook had written down. But somehow, it was one Taehyung knew he could no longer break. Every step into the marble-floored corridor felt heavier than the last, like his ankles were dipped in lead. Though no one said it aloud, the office knew something was different about him now—about the CEO's secretary. He wasn't just "the newest hire" anymore. He was the one Jungkook looked at.

And everyone noticed when Jeon Jungkook looked at someone.

Taehyung hated that he'd begun to notice it too.

...

HR Department – Secret Visit

The HR floor was quiet, sterile, and distant from the executive wing—as if deliberately placed to be away from Jungkook's pulse. Taehyung stepped in and quietly asked to meet with the senior coordinator. The officer, a woman named Ms. Han, greeted him kindly. But as soon as he made his request, her expression faltered.

"You're requesting a department transfer?" she asked, tilting her head with concern.

"Yes," Taehyung said, eyes downcast. "I believe I would function better in a less... high-pressure environment."

Ms. Han's brows furrowed. "You've only been here for two weeks, Mr. Kim. Is there an issue with your supervisor?"

"No. There's no issue," he replied quickly, too quickly.

"Then may I ask what prompted this?"

Taehyung hesitated, fingers tightening slightly on the edge of the desk. "It's... a personal boundary I'd like to maintain. I was never prepared to work so closely under the CEO. It wasn't what I expected."

Ms. Han nodded thoughtfully and assured him that the request would be considered discreetly. But as Taehyung stepped out of the office, the hallway suddenly felt too narrow, too suffocating. He wasn't sure if it was instinct or fear—but something in him knew Jungkook would find out.

And when he did, it would not end quietly.

...

That Afternoon – CEO's Office

Taehyung returned to his desk late in the afternoon, only to find a text flashing on the sleek monitor of his company device:

"Inside. Now." – JJK

His breath caught.

He knew what this was.

When he walked into Jungkook's office, he was met not with shouting or fury—but something far more dangerous.

Silence.

Jungkook sat behind his desk like a monarch on a throne, eyes narrowed, fingers steepled beneath his chin. There was no warmth, no irritation. Just cold, glacial calm.