Mr. Jeon, you called?" Jackson asked from behind Jungkook who was currently standing at the front porch stairs of the law firm. Jungkook nodded and signaled his assistant with his finger to stand closer to him. The brunet gulped but obeyed Jungkook's silent order and took a few steps forward, knitting his brows in confusion when he saw for the first time his boss smoking.
Jungkook took a drag from the nicotine before detaching the paper roll from between his lips, he stares down at the paper stick for a few seconds while gray smoke trailed out his nostrils and evaporates into the thin air. The more he stares down at the death stick, the more memories of Taehyung flood his brain.
Jungkook shook his head and slightly tilted his head to the left to side glance at Jackson. "Find your minions and tell them to search for Kim Taehyung in every single hospital not only in Seoul but the whole of South Korea," Jungkook ordered, turning his head more to the side to look at Jackson properly over his shoulder, watching how all the colors from Jackson's face was draining away.
"W-Whole South Korea? Mr. Jeon it's going to be really tough—" Jackson halted his sentence before even he could entirely complain about the order he just got when he saw the perilous dark glare coming from his attorney boss.
Jackson gulped hard and straighten up his posture before speaking, "O-Of course, sir. Just give me f-few days." Jackson replied, fiddling his fingers, fisting and unfisting them while shifting on his feet uncomfortably.
Jungkook kept his glare on the assistant as the cigarette left abandoned between his fingers. When the blonde didn't utter a word, Jackson gather up the courage to finally glance at Jungkook for a mere second before immediately bowing his head hastily and turning around to leave.
Jungkook turn back his gaze to the front yard of the law firm, watching busy lawyers rushing their way back to the firm or leaving the firm, some police officers dragging the criminals they caught to the courtroom for trials. The attorney looked down at his tattooed hand where he is holding the cigar between his fingers. He hesitantly brought the butt of the cigarette close to his lips before taking another drag, exhaling deeply as the smoke again trail out of his nostrils and merged with the invisible air.
🥀
The elevator door opened with a ding sound. Jungkook comes out of the elevator holding his blazer in his hand that was dangling in the air, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up and the hem messily tucked in. He seems exhausted as he dragged his feet near Taehyung's apartment.
Jungkook insert the passcode of the said apartment and the door unlocked as usual. He closed the door shut after stepping in, immediately halting on his spot when he noticed the apartment lights were turned on since it was pretty dark outside already.
He slowly sauntered deeper inside the apartment while at the same time making sure to note his surroundings in case he comes across something that seems a little off to him. Little by little Jungkook made it to the stairs and started to climb up, when he reached the second story, the blonde crooked his eyebrows even deeper when he saw the door of the bedroom was ajar open.
Jungkook soundlessly pushed open the door even more and sneakily peeks inside with narrow eyes, slowly coming to a view of a lady standing beside Taehyung's closet. Jungkook let out a sigh of relief when he realized it was none other than Taehyung's mom.
The blonde finally stepped inside, making his presence evident to the lady inside the room. "Oh! Jungkook. Nice to see you again." The lady greeted the blonde with a gentle smile yet her eyes weren't the same as her smile. They look swollen and lifeless, It's understandable since she lost her son just a month ago.
Jungkook avoided his gaze from the elder but subtly nodded his head in response to her greetings. He deliberately walked closer to the king-size bed and rest himself on the edge, still avoiding his gaze from the elderly woman.
Mrs. Kim's smile slightly evaporates and she turns around to face the closet. Jungkook raised his gaze to see what she was doing, watching her dusting off the clothes and the suits, unfolding some of the clothes to dust them off as well before folding them again to place them back in their prior spot.
"Heard from Do-Yun that you are currently taking care of this place so I decided to pay a visit too." Mrs. Kim spoke softly as her delicate hands fondles the clothes.
Jungkook yet again did not respond as he looks down at his hands, randomly playing with the rings around his fingers. He seems to develop this habit recently since he never felt nervous in his life. But during this whole month, Jungkook couldn't stop himself from getting anxiety attacks and feeling nervous around anyone related to Taehyung. So this playing with ring habit just automatically evolved inside him.
He heard Mrs. Kim's soft sigh in the extremely pin-dropping silent room before the lady started to speak again, "Taehyung used to talk about you a lot." She announced, immediately catching Jungkook's concentration.
Jungkook can feel the soft smile lingering on Mrs. Kim's lips right now. "You know what surprised me when Taehyung wouldn't shut up about you?" She asked and turned around to peer at the blonde head, chuckling softly when she caught the younger beaming up at her with curious eyes. She turned back to the closet again and smiled.
"I don't know if Taehyung has told you already but he once came to me when he was confused between you and Jimin." Jungkook's face was masked with a heavy frown of confusion as he straightened his posture and listens to the lady more attentively.
"You know, I sensed that there was something off between Taehyung and Jimin's relationship a long time ago. I used to tell Taehyung over the phone to divorce him but every time he would answer me the same thing," Mrs. Kim Paused before she repeated the same exact words Taehyung used to tell her, "Ma, I don't think I can ever have the heart to decide on giving divorce to him. And when I would reply with Why? he would answer back, Because I don't think I can ever stop loving him." Mrs. Kim stopped her movements for a few minutes as she just stood there beside the closet while staring at the wooden surface of the Almirah dumbfounded while she recalls her old conversation with her late son.
"That's why I was a bit shocked when he wouldn't shut up about you. When he asked me to help him choose who he should end up with. With you or with Jimin." Mrs. Kim turned around after saying that. She smiled down at Jungkook who was already peering up at her as if it was his first time hearing someone speak. He was awestruck.
"I was stunned because the same Taehyung who used to tell me again and again that he doesn't think he can ever stop loving his husband was the same person who was questioning his love for Jimin only because of you." Mrs. Kim emphasizes the last phrase while staring deep into Jungkook's eyes with a dainty smile. Jungkook's heart twists in his chest and his stomach flipped as he felt a funny sensation wiggling inside his internal organs after hearing the said last statement.
"That time I realized that he is falling out of love but at the same time falling in love with you." Mrs. Kim added and turns to her left to saunter towards the dresser.
"But I knew why Taehyung was confused between you and Jimin. Because I remembered in the back of my head what he used to say. That he can't ever imagine stopping loving his husband. That's why I told him to leave both of you for a while to realize who he craves the most." Jungkook turns his head to the side to peer up at the woman who was currently rearranging the stuff over the dresser. He slowly started to understand the whole scenery. He slowly started to catch up on what exactly she is talking about. She is talking about that day when Taehyung left him again only to invite him to his birthday party.
Now that he thinks about it, the invitation wasn't really only for the birthday ceremony. The invitation was to enter Taehyung's life again and that's why the older was over the moon when Jungkook arrived at the resort. Because he chooses to return to Taehyung's life again. He chooses Taehyung, over and over again.
"And he chooses you." Mrs. Kim's voice seized the younger back to reality and he looks to his left to see Mrs. Kim sitting over the dresser stool. "He left both you and Jimin for a while but ended up choosing you again." And that's the moment he realizes, they both choose each other, again and again, even after being given multiple opportunities to leave.
"Just when my son was able to love again someone to the fullest, life seized back the opportunity from him." Mrs. Kim uttered in a shaky tone as her eyes started to absorb a thick amount of tears that were almost blurring her vision.
Mrs. Kim wiped her tears and stood up. "I was worried about this place but now that you are taking care of it, I am a bit relieved." Mrs. Kim announced loudly while roaming her eyes around the bedroom until her gaze rest on Jungkook who also stood up from his position.
"I will still visit this place from time to time." She affirmed and flashed a motherly smile at Jungkook who only stare back at her with his own orbs glimmering with tears.
"Don't cry. Taehyung loved you, he really did. I think he wouldn't like to see you cry like this." The lady comforted as she stroll forward and gently cupped Jungkook's cheeks, stroking the smooth skin with the pad of her thumbs.
Mrs. Kim sighed as her smile suddenly evaporate and she let go of the younger's cheeks and passed by him to walk out. "I doubted your son's love for me." Jungkook suddenly uttered, causing the elder lady to halt on her steps. She slightly turned around and tilted her head to the side in confusion.
"What?" She asked.
Jungkook gulped and gritted his teeth and fisted his hands tightly. He squeezed his eyes shut, a tear rolled down his cheeks as soon as he did so. He was planning to confess the fight between him and Taehyung from the accident night. But suddenly, Jungkook refused to do so.
Because he knows if he confesses, Mrs. Kim will turn her back on him too like Seokjin did and he doesn't want that. He does not want as precious and welcoming as this lady to hate him for the words he threw at her son.
"Nothing." Jungkook ended up saying that, still keeping his eyes squeezed shut as he muttered those words.
Mrs. Kim was confused for a few seconds before she smiled slightly and bid Jungkook a small goodbye and walks out. Jungkook slowly opened his eyes, feeling more peccant than ever.
🥀
Jungkook was switching off the lights in Taehyung's apartment after he thought it was his time to head home already. He was almost done with turning off every single light in this apartment but when he was about to turn off the last switch in the living room, his eyes fell on something.
Jungkook knitted his brows together in a dense frown when he noticed a CCTV camera and it wasn't just a normal CCTV camera, this CCTV can pick up audio too. Jungkook can tell just by looking at the tiny dots of holes over the plastic thing just above the camera. The tiny dots of holes represent the microphone itself.
Jungkook looked at the camera and then behind his back, noticing how it was directly directed to the living room area. But then Jungkook's eyes fell on another CCTV camera, the same brand as the other one placed right over the kitchen area.
A sudden possibility popped into his head but the question was, where can he watch the footage of the CCTV camera? Jungkook stood there in silence for a few seconds while resting his hands on his hips, trying to figure out a solution because there was no way he is letting go of the opportunity.
The truth is, that evening a hot-headed Jungkook stormed outside the apartment after seeing his lover kissing his soon-to-be ex-husband. He never got to see what happened after that which he is curious about now. He wants to see what happened after he left.
Suddenly Jungkook realized something, he jogged towards the stairs and climbed up to the second story again, switching on the lights as soon as he enter Taehyung's bedroom. He started to stroll from here to there, in search of the older's laptop because if there is a CCTV camera, the footage has to be in Taehyung's personal laptop.
Jungkook's eyes then suddenly fell on a suitcase. How did he not notice this suitcase before? Similarly, it's the same suitcase Taehyung took with him on his birthday trip to Jeju Island. So he never even got to unpack his things?
Jungkook rushed towards the suitcase and placed it on the bed, unzipping the lid, the first thing he came across is Taehyung's MacBook. A sigh of relief left the younger's lips as he sits on the mattress and pulls open the laptop lid. He furrowed his eyebrows together, allotting his whole concentration to the laptop screen as his fingertips dragged over the mouse pad.
After a few minutes of searching, Jungkook finally came across the folder where all the CCTV records are lined up date to date. Remembering the date of the night damn well when his whole life reversed and took the most possibly worst turn, Jungkook clicked on the exact same date and the footage popped up.
He started to fast speed the video to the evening time when all the chaos erupted. He stopped by the footage where Taehyung was having a conversation with Jimin and Namjoon since he never got to know what really happened in that period. He took the earbuds from the same suitcase and connected them to the laptop and listens to the conversation carefully. He was currently watching the clips of the footage from the CCTV camera that is situated around the kitchen area so that he can listen to the conversation closely.
Jungkook can feel how angry Taehyung was at that moment just by his tone which gave a sudden wave of chills down his entire being and he slowly started to feel getting goosebumps all over his body.
After listening to the whole conversation- sometimes getting the urge to break into the laptop and teleport to the past just to punch Namjoon again for not accepting his fault -Jungkook finally came to the footage where Jimin kissed Taehyung.
"I won't kiss you back," Taehyung replied which Jimin responded with a small watery chuckle.
"I know. You don't have to. Because now, at the moment I am the one with feelings, you are not, anymore." Jimin uttered with a sad smile. His small hands reached upward to cup one of Taehyung's cheeks. His teared-filled eyes admired Taehyung's features lovingly. Knowing that this is probably the last time Jimin will see Taehyung was paining his heart even more. He just wants to stare at Taehyung the whole night, to print the younger lad's face in the back of his head, in his memories for the rest of his life.
Taehyung felt a hand cupping his nape to hold himself still even though Taehyung didn't move a bit the whole time he was standing with Jimin beside the kitchen counter. He felt the proximity of their faces, he felt the warm breath hitting his skin and soon a pair of lips making contact with the corner of his lips. Taehyung noticed how Jimin didn't kiss him on the lips directly. He was respecting the fact that Taehyung doesn't have feelings for him anymore but still granted his wish because that's how he is. A people pleaser who can never say no.
It was a simple peck at the corner of Taehyung's mouth that lasted for a few seconds only before Jimin leaned back and showed Taehyung a smile of gratitude but the pain wasn't unnoticeable either. "Thank you." He said after and lean forward again to pull Taehyung into a tight hug. Just like the honey-brown head didn't respond to the older's kiss, the same way he didn't hug Jimin back as well. He just lets Jimin cherish the last moment with him until they part their ways, forever.
Jungkook let out an aggravated sigh and clenched his jaw watching the scene again in front of his eyes. He could see himself storming out of the apartment from the other angle of the CCTV camera. Jungkook was about to close the lid of the laptop, not being able to handle watching them hugging each other but the next scene retrained him from closing the lid.
Taehyung suddenly jerked Jimin's body away from him with wide eyes. "Why did you kiss me?" He let out, his perilous stare piercing right through Jimin's skull.
"Taehyung you—"
"Did I say 'yes'?" Taehyung questioned, not letting the other the chance to speak meanwhile the shorter male was too stunned to speak.
"But you—"
"Did I say fucking 'yes', Jimin?!" Taehyung suddenly yelled out a growl, causing the other to flinch.
"No, you didn't." Jimin finally answered his question.
"I said I won't kiss you back. I was warning you. What's wrong with you?!" Taehyung yelled again, later biting down on his lips and turning around in frustration. He ruffled his hair, sometimes gripping them too before returning his gaze to Jimin again. "I used to fucking crave for your affection and you wouldn't give a shit. Now that I don't even want it, you are suddenly desperate for me even though I said I won't give anything back to you? Not my feelings, neither my body." Taehyung asserted deeply, venom lacing through his tone, watching how the silver head's orbs glimmered with fresh new tears.
"Why didn't you push me away then?" Jimin asked in a quivering tone.
"Because I was fucking awestruck! I thought you were going give me a cheek kiss!" Taehyung again yelled out but this time Jimin didn't flinch, he only gazes at Taehyung's figure through his blurry vision who was visibly regretting whatever just happened between them.
"I didn't even say 'yes', Jimin. Which part of it that you did not understand?!" Taehyung again gritted out in rage, suddenly kicking a chair to let out his frustration but nothing seems to cool him down.
"I am sorry, Tae—"
"Just sign the divorce paper and leave." Taehyung again interrupted the older through his mid-sentence. He was currently facing the other way from Jimin.
The silver head gulped, feeling how the lump wasn't letting the watery liquid push through his throat. He sniffled and nodded his head. The smaller male slowly strolls toward the counter and picks up the pen and then holding a heavyweight inside his chest, Jimin finally signed the divorce paper.
When Taehyung felt the older leaving the kitchen area and climbing to the second story to their bedroom to probably pack his stuff, the honey-brown head sauntered inside the kitchen and rested his back against the sink while looking up at the ceiling dumbly.
"How am I going to tell this to Jungkook?" He spoke out loud even though there was no one to listen to him. Taehyung's face then flashed with visible fear when something hits him.
"Will he leave me if I tell him?" Taehyung asked himself. The mention of Jungkook leaving him brought an awful twist to his stomach that almost made him nauseous.
"No-No. . .I don't want that. Should I not tell him? Would I be. . .selfish to do so?" He again asked himself. Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut and hits both of his palms against the kitchen counter and stays there leaning over it like this while hanging his head low for a few minutes.
"Fucking shit!" He cussed out loud and kicked one of the stools near him. Both the guilt and the fear, fear of facing Jungkook started to anger him. He knows Jungkook is hot-headed, he knows Jungkook wouldn't try to understand his P.O.V even if he tries to. Because it's not the first misunderstanding that happened between them. He felt fucking pathetic as he strolls around the kitchen, throwing tantrums here and there until he was exhausted and slid down the kitchen counter and hung his head low.
Because of the camera angle, Jungkook wasn't able to see Taehyung's figure anymore because he was sitting behind the counter now so he rested four of his fingers on the top rail of the lid and closed the laptop shut.
That night, Jungkook wasn't able to move after watching the rest of the story that was kept hidden from him for the past month. He sat there on the bed for 30 minutes straight, trying to figure out did he really didn't give Taehyung time to explain himself that night or did the elder refused to say anything about Jimin and was defending him rather?
Either way, who's at fault really?
🥀
"Did you find any information?" Jackson, who was smoking a cigar behind a pillar of the law firm got startled by his boss's familiar voice and immediately threw the cigarette away before turning to Jungkook.
He smiled awkwardly while shifting from one foot to another. "Uhm—" He trailed off while trying to avoid the other's piercing gaze. Jackson sealed his lips shut before slowly trailing his gaze upward to meet the other and gradually shook his head in a 'No.'
Jungkook let out an aggravated sigh, turning to his left while placing both of his hands over his hips, staring at nothing in disappointment.
"We have tried everything, Mr. Jeon. We've Informed all of our agents around south Korea to search every single hospital. He's nowhere unless. . ." Jackson trailed off with a deep frown, suddenly getting nervous when Jungkook turned his gaze back to him and tilted his head upward in a demanding way.
"Unless? Unless what?" Jungkook questioned, voice cold and harsh.
Jackson gulped and look down, fidgeting with his fingers as he tried to earn at least a tad bit of courage to finish his sentence. "Unless he's actually d-dead and still somewhere in the river—" Jackson choked out a gasp as he physically flinched when Jungkook suddenly grabbed the call of his blazer.
"Say that again and you are dead." Jungkook rasped out in a perilously dark tone while glaring down at the frightened brunet. Jackson jerked backward when Jungkook harshly let go of his collar.
"Don't try to negotiate in my business or give me stupid fucking advice. You follow my orders, that's it." The blonde then added, muttering the words through his gritted teeth while fuming in anger. Jackson immediately looked down but didn't respond to Jungkook's words. He seems kind of enraged as well.
Throwing a last glare at Jackson, Jungkook turned around to leave but in just between a few steps, he was called by Jackson again. The blonde stopped walking but didn't turn around.
"Mr. Jeon, I might get fired for saying this right now but if you had control over your words or your actions, maybe your life would've been much better?" Jackson commented but there wasn't any hint of anger or hatred in his tone. He rather let out the words calmly. Even though Jungkook just told him to not give him any advice, he still let out the words in a suggestive way.
"I get it you lost your lover, sir but that doesn't mean you are allowed to take your frustration over anyone. it was already a challenge for me to work with you but now it's getting extremely hard because of your bad temper." He then added, clenching his fist tightly because he was actually feeling bad saying those words to his boss who was already in grief. But he can't deny that it had to be said, sooner or later.
"I feel anxious every time I try to approach you."
Jungkook didn't turn around. Even though Jackson doesn't know anything about the fight between him and Taehyung before his possible death, about his venomous words, the words his assistant just threw at him still pierced through his skin like little thorns. It felt like a wake-up call for him.
Jackson sighed and rested his back against the pillar in exhaustion after Jungkook stomped away from his view. He's sure he's getting fired for saying those words to his hot-headed boss. The assistant then took out another cigar from his slack pockets and lit it up before dragging out a long trail of smoke.
On the other hand, Jungkook slammed his chamber door shut and threw whatever stuff was placed over his desk to the floor in enrage. He placed both of his palms over the wooden surface of the same desk and bend his back forward and hung his head low.
Jungkook harshly hit the surface of the table with his fist, his knuckles turning purple because of the strenuous whack before his shoulder started to tremble as he began to cry again.
He admits Jackson is right. Even though the fight between him and Taehyung wasn't entirely his fault, Jungkook himself is tired of his anger issues and his bad mouth. It's not something new though. He was like this from the very start, from his high school era. He was always that bad-mouth guy who is a little too arrogant for anyone's liking.
Jungkook didn't give two shit about others' opinions about his bad attitude and foul mouth, but now that he lost his love for that very mouth, he couldn't be more repentant.