"Eclipsed by His Desire"

Among the towering skyscrapers that seemed never to sleep, one light on the top floor remained brightly lit. The clock struck 9 PM, yet the work was far from over for Jeon Jungkook, a young man whose cold charisma made anyone think twice about approaching him. His black suit was immaculate despite the late hour, and his slightly tousled black hair still looked as though he’d just stepped out of a salon. At his large wooden desk, stacks of files and a glowing laptop screen bore witness to his unwavering dedication to his business.

But tonight, something was different. A sudden knock on the door shattered the silence.

“Come in,” Jungkook commanded, his voice sharp, not bothering to lift his gaze from the laptop screen.

The door opened slowly, revealing a figure Jungkook did not expect. Kim Taehyung. The man stood at the doorway, dressed in a worn brown jacket that was far too simple for this luxurious building. His dark hair was slightly messy, but there was something in his eyes—a warm spark, like a hidden star in the night sky.

Jungkook looked up gradually. He usually didn’t care much for others, but there was something about this man that immediately seized his attention. An aura that defied explanation.

“Jungkook-ssi,” Taehyung said softly, his voice calm but firm enough to be heard. “I know this might be rude, but I want to take you out for a while. You look too busy.”

Jungkook tilted his head, gazing at the man with a piercing stare that usually sent people retreating. “What are you doing here? Who are you?”

Taehyung smiled faintly, and that smile was so warm it made the room feel a little brighter. “I’m Kim Taehyung. We met a few weeks ago at a charity event. You probably don’t remember.”

Jungkook frowned, trying to recall. A charity event? Yes, there were plenty of people he had encountered, but this face… This face was impossible to forget. “And what do you want from me?”

“I just want to take you out for dinner. You look tired. I think you need a break,” Taehyung replied, his tone so casual it was as if he were talking to an old friend rather than one of the city’s most untouchable businessmen.

Jungkook furrowed his brows. Nobody had ever dared to speak to him like this. Usually, people only approached him for business or to gain something. But this man… This man didn’t seem like someone who wanted anything from him.

“I don’t have time for dinner,” Jungkook replied flatly, though there was a trace of curiosity in his tone.

Taehyung stepped further inside, closing the door behind him. “Then let me cook dinner for you at my place. I won’t take up much of your time.”

Jungkook sat in silence. The offer was so strange, so… unusual. Yet, for reasons even he couldn’t understand, he didn’t outright refuse. There was something in the way this man spoke, in his gentle yet determined gaze, that made it hard for Jungkook to say no.

“I don’t like wasting time,” Jungkook finally said.

Taehyung smiled again, and this time, it felt like a small victory. “Good. Neither do I.”

---

The ride to Taehyung’s home felt surreal. Jungkook, in his expensive suit, sat in the driver’s seat of his luxury car while Taehyung sat beside him, relaxed as though he were catching a ride with an old friend. The car glided through the city streets, bathed in shimmering lights, yet inside, the atmosphere felt… warm.

“Are you always like this?” Jungkook asked, breaking the silence.

“Like what?” Taehyung turned to him, his gaze curious.

“Inviting strangers out for dinner. You don’t even know me.”

Taehyung smiled again. “I don’t consider you a stranger, Jungkook. And… I don’t know. I just felt like I needed to. It’s like… instinct.”

Jungkook looked at him briefly before returning his focus to the road. That answer left him feeling strange. Nobody had ever approached him like this before. Taehyung didn’t seem afraid, didn’t seem intimidated. Instead, he looked… comfortable.

---

Taehyung’s home was far from anything Jungkook was accustomed to. It was small and modest, but there was something about it that felt warm and inviting. The furniture was minimalist, with soft neutral tones. There was no luxury, no pretense. Everything felt natural, like its owner.

“Take a seat,” Taehyung said as he stepped into the small kitchen. “I’ll whip up something for you. What do you like?”

Jungkook sat on the soft couch, feeling slightly out of place. “Anything. I’m not particular.”

Taehyung chuckled softly from the kitchen. “You sound like someone who’s used to getting everything without choosing.”

Jungkook didn’t reply, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. This man was too relaxed, too… free. And yet, oddly enough, it made Jungkook feel more at ease than he expected.

A few minutes later, Taehyung returned with two simple plates of pasta and a glass of wine. Jungkook watched his every move—the way he carried the plates, the way he sat on the couch, the way he smiled as if the world was so uncomplicated.

“Why do you live in a place like this?” Jungkook asked suddenly.

Taehyung shrugged. “Because I like it. This house is comfortable, and I don’t need more than this.”

Jungkook nodded slowly. The answer sounded so foreign to him. He was used to a world full of ambition and competition. Living like this… seemed incomprehensible.

Yet, as Taehyung looked at him, there was something in the man’s eyes that made Jungkook feel as if the world he knew was nothing but a shadow.

Dinner passed in silence, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. Instead, it was a calm, peaceful quiet that enveloped them, as if there was nothing left to say.

After they finished eating, Taehyung took the plates to the kitchen. When he returned, he brought a cup of warm tea for Jungkook.

“Thank you,” Jungkook said softly, for the first time in a long while feeling somewhat… human.

Taehyung sat back on the couch, smiling faintly at him. “I’m glad you came. I didn’t think you’d agree.”

“Neither did I,” Jungkook admitted.

They looked at each other for a few seconds, and in that silence, there was something unspoken between them—something deep, something smoldering.

“Why are you so kind to me?” Jungkook finally asked, his voice almost a whisper.

Taehyung smiled again, but this time, the smile felt more… intimate. “Because I think you need someone who can make you feel alive, Jungkook.”

Jungkook didn’t reply. He only stared at Taehyung, and in that gaze, he felt something he had never felt before. A desire that slowly began to build within him, enveloping every corner of his heart.

Taehyung leaned in slightly, his eyes locking with Jungkook’s. Their breaths were almost touching now, and Jungkook couldn’t stop himself from wondering what would happen next.

“Taehyung…” he whispered, his voice lower than usual.

Taehyung said nothing. He only leaned closer, and when the distance between them disappeared, Jungkook felt the man’s lips touch his—soft, but full of passion.

And in that moment, the world around them disappeared. All that remained was the two of them, caught in a whirlwind of emotions they could no longer deny.

---

To Be Continued...

Silence filled the small room, broken only by the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Jungkook stared at Taehyung with burning, dark eyes—not out of anger, but from an unfamiliar feeling that began to creep in. The warmth of the other man’s lips still lingered, too vivid to ignore.

Taehyung stepped back slightly, his face flushed, but his gaze never wavered from Jungkook’s. He tried to speak, but the words hung in the air, stuck in his throat.

“Why?” Jungkook finally broke the silence, his voice flat yet deep, like a hammer striking steel.

Taehyung took a deep breath, mustering the courage to respond. “Because I wanted to.”

“And you think I allowed that?” Jungkook’s eyes narrowed, his tone icy, though something inside him started to crack.

Taehyung swallowed hard. “No, but… I see something in you that no one else does.”

Jungkook let out a humorless laugh, rising from the couch, his tall frame dominating the small room. “Don’t think you know me just because of one fleeting moment, Kim Taehyung.”

Taehyung stayed quiet, but his eyes didn’t falter. There was a firmness in them that made Jungkook feel strange—uncomfortable, but also unable to look away.

Jungkook grabbed his suit jacket draped over the chair’s backrest. “I don’t have time for these games.” He walked toward the door without glancing back.

But as his hand reached for the doorknob, Taehyung’s voice stopped him. “Jungkook-ssi, you’re always running away, aren’t you?”

Jungkook froze mid-step. He didn’t turn around, but his body visibly stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“You’re always looking for control, even within yourself. But tonight… just for tonight, let it go. There’s no one here but us.”

Those words, simple yet loaded with meaning, pierced deep into Jungkook’s heart. He stood there, back to Taehyung, grappling with something he’d never allowed himself before—the desire to let go, even for a moment.

He slowly turned, his gaze locking onto Taehyung, who now stood in the middle of the room. Taehyung’s face was still flushed, but the determination in his stance didn’t waver.

“And what will you do if I give in?” Jungkook asked, his low voice almost a whisper.

Taehyung stepped closer to him. “I won’t hurt you.”

Jungkook let out a soft, ironic laugh. “No one can hurt me.”

Taehyung closed the distance between them until only a few inches separated them. “Maybe you’re wrong.”

In that moment, Jungkook felt the walls he’d built over the years start to crumble. Before he could think further, his hand had already pulled Taehyung closer, and their lips met again—deeper, more fervent than before.

Taehyung responded with equal intensity, his hands reaching up to Jungkook’s neck, pulling him closer. Jungkook felt himself drowning, but this time, he didn’t fight it. He allowed himself to be swept away in the moment, something he’d always avoided.

But then, as if struck by lightning, Jungkook pulled away, his breath ragged. “I can’t,” he said, more to himself than to Taehyung.

“Why?” Taehyung asked, his eyes full of questions and a hint of hurt.

Jungkook shook his head, his fists clenched. “Because this isn’t me. I don’t do this.”

“Then who are you, Jungkook-ssi?”

Jungkook was silent. He didn’t have an answer for that. Or maybe, he didn’t want to answer.

Without another word, he opened the door and walked out, leaving Taehyung standing alone in the room.

The next day, Jungkook returned to his routine as though the previous night had never happened. He buried himself in work, drowning in financial reports and endless business meetings. But even amid his busy schedule, the image of Taehyung lingered in his mind.

“Jungkook-ssi, are you all right?” asked Sejin, his ever-reliable assistant.

Jungkook nodded without looking up. “I’m fine. Focus on the presentation.”

But Sejin knew his boss better than anyone else. He knew something was bothering Jungkook, though he also knew better than to press further.

As night fell, Jungkook stood by his office window, staring out at the bustling city. Beneath all his wealth and power, there was an emptiness he could never fill—and Taehyung, somehow, had disturbed that emptiness.

Elsewhere in the city, Taehyung sat on his small couch, staring at his phone. He’d been waiting for a message or call from Jungkook all day, but nothing came.

“Idiot,” he muttered to himself. “What were you expecting, Taehyung? He’s not the kind of man who…”

But even though doubt filled his heart, something within him couldn’t let go. He knew there was more behind Jungkook’s cold facade.

Then, his phone buzzed. A message came in.

“Tomorrow, 7 PM. Café in Cheongdam-dong. Don’t be late.”

Taehyung stared at the message in confusion, then a small smile crept onto his face. Jungkook.

Taehyung arrived early at the designated café. The place was one of those upscale spots frequented by the rich. With his worn brown jacket, he felt slightly out of place, but he didn’t care.

Jungkook arrived precisely at 7 PM, dressed in a flawless black suit, his aura exuding power and composure. All eyes in the café turned to them.

As they started talking, a small incident occurred. While trying to grab sugar for his coffee, Taehyung accidentally knocked over Jungkook’s glass. The dark coffee spilled, spreading toward Jungkook’s expensive gray suit.

“Oh, crap!” Taehyung exclaimed, panicking.

Jungkook froze, staring at his stained suit with a blank expression.

“I—I didn’t mean to!” Taehyung quickly grabbed some napkins, attempting to clean the mess. But his rushed movements only made the stain worse.

The nearby patrons started to notice, some even chuckling softly. Jungkook raised a hand to stop Taehyung, his face full of stern patience. “That’s enough.”

Taehyung stood stiffly, napkins in hand, his face red as a tomato.

“Maybe this was a bad idea,” Jungkook said, his tone flat but clearly running low on patience.

Taehyung looked down, feeling guilty, but then he heard something unexpected.

A laugh.

Taehyung looked up to see Jungkook chuckling softly, a rare sight.

“Don’t do that again,” Jungkook said, his tone lighter.

“Uh, yeah… I promise,” Taehyung replied, still confused but relieved.

The moment shifted, however, when Jungkook’s phone rang. He answered the call, his expression turning serious. After a few moments of listening, he ended the call and stood up.

“There’s something I need to handle. Stay here,” he said.

“Wait, what’s going on?” Taehyung asked.

“This isn’t your business.”

But Taehyung’s curiosity got the better of him. As Jungkook left the café in quick strides, Taehyung decided to follow him discreetly.

From across the street, Taehyung watched Jungkook enter a small building. Through a slightly open window, he saw Jungkook standing with a woman. She wore a long black coat, her face partially obscured by a scarf.

Taehyung crept closer, finding a place to hide. Jungkook and the woman appeared to be in a serious conversation. Although Taehyung couldn’t hear their words, their body language was enough to intrigue him.

Jungkook stepped closer to the woman, his movements slow but commanding. The woman seemed startled, stepping back until her back touched the wall. Jungkook was now very close to her, his intense gaze locking onto hers, his arms braced on the wall on either side of her.

Taehyung felt his breath catch. Who is this woman? What are they talking about?

The woman finally spoke, her words hurried. Jungkook didn’t move, his expression unreadable. But from the way her hands clenched, the tension between them was palpable.

Taehyung tried to inch closer, but his foot accidentally kicked an empty can on the sidewalk. The noise startled the woman, who turned to the window in alarm.

Jungkook also glanced outside.

Taehyung quickly ducked behind a parked car, his heart pounding.

“Who’s out there?” Jungkook’s voice called out sharply.

The woman looked anxious, but Jungkook raised a hand, gesturing for her to stay put. He began walking toward the door, seemingly intent on checking outside.

Taehyung held his breath, pressing his body against the side of the car. He could hear Jungkook’s footsteps growing closer…

To Be Continued...

Jungkook stopped right in front of the door, his posture straight, yet there was something unsettling in his eyes. Taehyung could feel the tension in the air, the thick night wrapping them in a silence that felt like a tangible force. Nothing but the sound of their heartbeats echoed in the quiet, almost as if they were racing against each other.

When Jungkook turned, his gaze was sharp, and although his face remained neutral, there was something unspoken in it. For a brief moment, they simply stared at each other. “You think I’ll just let you go like that?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying challenge in it.

Taehyung took a step forward, his movements deliberate but measured, as if testing the waters. “I don’t know, Jungkook-ssi,” he said, his voice low but clear. “But I want to know.”

Jungkook looked at him for longer than necessary, his lips pressed tight, as though holding something back. For a brief moment, the room seemed to shrink around them. Neither of them spoke, but the silence hummed with an unspoken understanding, a magnetic pull they couldn’t deny.

Without a word, they moved closer. Taehyung felt the heat between them growing stronger, the air thickening with the weight of their proximity. Jungkook’s hand lifted, gently brushing Taehyung’s cheek in a slow, almost hesitant touch. Taehyung closed his eyes, letting the soft contact soothe the unease he hadn’t realized he was carrying.

When their lips finally met, it was like a spark that set off a chain reaction. The kiss started gentle, almost questioning, as though both of them were trying to make sense of what was happening. But then, the tension built. Taehyung’s hands found their way to Jungkook’s chest, feeling his heart racing in sync with his own. There was no longer any hesitation; it was as if their bodies knew what they needed even if their minds didn’t.

Jungkook pulled away first, breathing heavily, his expression conflicted. “I can’t,” he murmured, his voice thick with something unidentifiable.

“Why?” Taehyung whispered, his voice almost pleading, but there was a layer of something deeper—something unspoken in his words.

Jungkook shook his head, his fists clenching. “Because this isn’t me. I don’t do this.”

Taehyung stood still, watching him. “Then who are you, Jungkook-ssi?” His words were soft but sharp, as though he were searching for a piece of Jungkook that had been hidden for so long.

Jungkook was silent. He didn’t have an answer, or perhaps he didn’t want to answer.

Without another word, he turned toward the door and left, leaving Taehyung alone in the quiet room.

---

The next day, Jungkook buried himself in work as if the previous night had never happened. He drowned in financial reports, back-to-back meetings, and endless calls. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to focus, the image of Taehyung kept creeping into his thoughts.

“Jungkook-ssi, are you okay?” Sejin asked, his ever-reliable assistant, looking up from a file he was working on.

Jungkook didn’t look up, his voice distant. “I’m fine. Just focus on the presentation.”

Sejin hesitated, sensing something was off, but he knew better than to push further.

Later that evening, Jungkook stood by his office window, looking out at the bustling city below. Beneath all the wealth, the power, the facade he had built, there was a gaping emptiness inside him. And somehow, Taehyung had disrupted that emptiness.

---

Meanwhile, Taehyung sat on his small couch, staring at his phone, waiting for any sign of communication from Jungkook. But the hours passed, and nothing came. His heart sank as the silence stretched on.

“Idiot,” he muttered to himself, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “What did you expect, Taehyung? He’s not the type to…”

But even as doubt filled his mind, something inside him refused to let go. There was something more beneath Jungkook’s cold exterior—he was sure of it.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. A message appeared on the screen.

“Tomorrow, 7 PM. Café in Cheongdam-dong. Don’t be late.”

Taehyung stared at the message for a long moment, a small smile creeping onto his face. Jungkook.

---

Taehyung arrived early at the café, a high-end spot favored by the wealthy. He felt slightly out of place in his worn brown jacket, but he didn’t care.

Jungkook arrived right on time, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his presence commanding the attention of everyone around them. The moment he walked in, all eyes were on them.

As they began speaking, Taehyung accidentally knocked over Jungkook’s coffee while reaching for the sugar. The dark liquid spilled across the table, spreading toward Jungkook’s expensive gray suit.

“Oh, crap!” Taehyung exclaimed in panic, rushing to grab napkins.

Jungkook froze, staring down at the stain with an unreadable expression.

“I—I didn’t mean to,” Taehyung stammered, trying to clean the mess, but his frantic movements only made it worse.

The nearby patrons watched with soft chuckles, but Jungkook raised a hand, signaling for Taehyung to stop. His face was still impassive, but there was a flicker of patience behind his eyes. “That’s enough,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind.

Taehyung stood stiffly, the napkins still in his hand, his face flushed with embarrassment.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” Jungkook said, his voice flat, though there was a hint of something else in his tone now.

Taehyung looked down at the mess, feeling guilty, but then, to his surprise, he heard something that made him look up.

Jungkook chuckled softly.

The sound was rare, unexpected. “Don’t do that again,” he said, his tone a little lighter now.

Taehyung blinked in confusion, but the tension in the air had shifted slightly. “Uh, yeah… I promise,” he said, still trying to process what was happening.

But the moment shifted again when Jungkook’s phone rang. He answered it quickly, his expression turning serious. After a short conversation, he hung up and stood up.

“There’s something I need to take care of. Stay here,” he said, his voice clipped.

“What’s going on?” Taehyung asked, concern creeping into his tone.

“This isn’t your business,” Jungkook replied coldly.

Still, Taehyung couldn’t resist. He followed Jungkook out of the café, slipping through the door as discreetly as he could.

---

Across the street, Taehyung watched as Jungkook entered a small building. Through a slightly open window, he saw Jungkook talking to a woman. She was dressed in a long black coat, her face mostly covered by a scarf.

Taehyung crept closer, trying to find a better vantage point. He saw the way Jungkook stood close to the woman, his posture stiff, yet there was an intensity in the air. The woman looked uncomfortable, her body tense.

Jungkook’s body language shifted, taking on a more commanding posture. He stepped closer to the woman, and she recoiled slightly, pressing herself against the wall. Jungkook’s eyes were focused, his expression unreadable.

The tension between them was palpable.

Taehyung’s heart raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. What was this all about? Who was this woman?

He barely noticed the can rolling under his foot as he shifted to get a better view. The sound broke the silence, making the woman turn her head toward the window. Jungkook also glanced over, his eyes narrowing.

“Who’s out there?” Jungkook’s voice rang out, sharp.

The woman’s nervous gaze turned toward the window, but Jungkook raised his hand to silence her. He stepped toward the door, heading outside to investigate.

Taehyung’s heart pounded in his chest. He pressed himself against the parked car, holding his breath, waiting.

Jungkook’s footsteps grew closer…

---

To Be Continued...