02

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...

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