Jungkook was in his usual hiding place away from the loud music pulsing faintly through the bathroom walls,the irritating commotion of customers drinking like a fish and grooving. He had come here to breathe,to escape his demons,his thoughts,his own self. Apparently destiny had different plans, perhaps something wilder.
He was leaning against the wall, watching his reflection in the mirror. Puffy eyes,dark circles,flushed cheeks. He hadn't slept a wink in three days, twisting and turning in bed hard as a mountain rock,dreaming about Kim. Kim fucken Taehyung!Oblivious to the door shifting open,Jungkook didn't need to turn around to see who it was.
" You're in the habit of running, aren't you baby?" Taehyung 's voice spread through the air,throaty but smooth,enough to stir something inside Jungkook's stomach and even lower..
Jungkook inhaled through his nose,hands behind his back as his eyes were scanning the bathroom to find a way to flee but Taehyung had blocked him,standing towering in front of him." I can't catch a break! Don't you have better things to do?" he murmured,staring above the man's shoulder." Or are you desperate for attention?"
Taehyung approached him,his gaits steady and deliberate, closing the gap between them. His expression seemed infuriatingly serene with a dose of smugness." Oh baby, I'm starving for attention." He crouched,lips barely grazing Jungkook's earlobe." But only yours."
Jungkook's eyes blinked rapidly,his breath hiked up while the man's fingers lazily crawled along his chest. A touch meant to force Jungkook's reaction,to brim his skin with desire, involuntarily causing his cock to throb.
" You keep pretending you don't want this."
Taehyung's hot breath attacked his senses."But your body betrays you every time I'm close. Look at you! Trembling..your cock is rock hard. No need to hide it,baby."
Jungkook made an effort to shove him using both hands pressed against his chest that unfortunately proved the wrong move because instead of pushing him away,his hands -as if they had a will of their own,caressed the strong,hard surface, gulping." You're- You're delusional."
The older man chuckled, hooking his hand around the boy's waist, pressing their bodies together."Am I now? You're flushed. Your pupils are blown. You're breathing like you're running a marathon and I can feel your cock twitching on my thigh. You want me, baby boy..you fucken need me.. just admit it."
That taunting,teasing grin on his lips,his haughty words should spawn Jungkook's rage but instead his gaze pinned on the man's lips like he was drawn to them. Taehyung's tongue circled his right ear,gently licking it."Tell me baby." His hand slid lower,above his asscrack, slowly rubbing it." Is it anger that makes you shiver or the urge to grind against my thigh like the desperate little whore you are?"
Jungkook seemed jumbled up,not fully grasping the situation he was dealing with. He wanted to push him away. He wanted to pull him closer. He wanted to break. He bit down a moan,arms cloaking around his neck,nails digging inside the strong flesh." You think you have won..just because you can provoke me?" he let out a sigh at the man's enticing eyes."You'll have to..try harder."
Taehyung's sneer was wicked,frail."Challenging me,huh? Wrong move baby boy because daddy loves challenges." He started moving his thigh, rubbing it against Jungkook's already hard cock, his right hand gripping his ass and his left one snatching his hair, tossing his head back." I'll ruin you. Break you. One moan,one whimper,one quiver at a time. I yearn to have you choke on my cock..drink my cum.And when you're ready to beg, I'll still make you wait."
His voice dropped,plunged in sin and carnal promises that produced an intense heartbeat in Jungkook's heart. The younger 's knees buckled,his pride scuffling to remain unaffected but it was time to admit his defeat. His hips thrashed on Taehyung's thigh, allowing a whimper to be heard.
" This means.. nothing.." Jungkook whispered,retching,his lips brushing on the man's jaw." Kiss me.."
Taehyung chuckled sharply, tilting his head backwards to avoid him. He wouldn't make it easy on him. Jungkook had to fully understand their relationship, accept his proposal and utterly commit to him. He detested sharing what was rightfully his and only his! " Not until you beg."
The younger 's body and senses were ablaze, grinding his cock on his thigh,the friction driving him to the edge,his hand pushing the man's head forward to finally kiss him but Taehyung was strongly resisting. At one point he stuck his tongue out, Jungkook wasn't sure if he was mocking him or trying to make him hornier but he didn't give a damn. He sealed his mouth around the sweet,wet tongue,slurping and sucking it, swaddling in the drizzle of lust.
" Wanna cum? Wanna feel the thrill of cumming?Show me how badly you seek release and I might - might give it to you." He shamelessly provoked him, prompting him to stop fighting the inevitable.
Jungkook's body was instinctively tensed beyond his imagination. The sensation of the friction was an unfamiliar experience he was craving to explore. He pushed him aside,untied his apron's waist straps,tossed it on the floor,fingers sloppily unbuckling his belt, unzipping his black pants and pulling them down along with his boxer. There was no shame. Only mind-blowing,carnal desire.
The sight of his cock- hard,swollen, oozing strings of precum nearly made Taehyung lose his self control. Oh fucking hell! It was big,veiny and thick, ready to be sucked. Yet the man stayed still, curious of what he'd do next.
He grabbed Taehyung's hand, swaddling it around his wet cock, whimpering freely this time and buckled his lower body forward, sharply moving his hips." Jerk me off.." he groaned out a moan, quivering at the sensation." Come on Kim! Faster!"
" Needy much? Not so straight now Jeon! Want me to make you cum?"
" Yeah! Stroke me harder. Make me cum. Oh fuck! Fuck!" Jungkook snatched onto his hand to steady himself as his body spasmed from the intensity of his jerking, slumping forward, panting as he was on the verge of reaching his highs. He hadn't felt so alive before. His senses, every cell of his body was set alight.
A low chuckle rumbled on top of Jungkook, Taehyung trailing his tongue over the boy's dry lips and his voice cracked through the silence of the room." I won't let you off that easily."
Jungkook's throat choked a groan." Please- please–don't. I need to cum."
" And I need you to want me more than anything. I need you on your knees,choking on my hard cock until I have fucked away every curse,every insult you've ever tossed my way. " he murmured softly,his hand sharply pushing down the foreskin and his thumb stroking the drenched tip, clouding Jungkook's mind with blinding desire and uncontrollable lust.
"I need to flood your mouth" a sharp tug." with my cum till this maddening obsession for you stops fucking keeping me awake at night." Another brutal tug, Jungkook hitching." I need to fucken stretch your tight hole,raw and savage." A third,sharper tug." I need to fuck your ass, watch you bleed and teach you how to only take my dick."
Jungkook's legs shivered ,every cell vibrated and his balls tightened as the man squeezed his cock , electricity rushing down his spine. He was desperately seeking release. A neverending,primal orgasm ." Stop talking.. please Tae- make me cum." His pulse pounded against his ribs,his hips moving up and down.
" Daddy. Beg daddy to let you cum." Taehyung's groans sounded like a sin to the younger's ears. The man felt his own cock throbbing, thrumming between his legs. He could no longer sustain the urge to turn him around,plunge his dick deep inside the tight walls of his asshole,fuck him and forget the stupid plan.
The older tweaked Jungkook's fingers away from his and using both hands began jerking him,thumbs clasping the red tip. That was it! Jungkook was drowning in a haze of carnal obsession, thinking solely of cumming. He eventually surrendered, absolved of guilt and shame " Yes.. daddy - make me cum!" The word kind of slipped as his head was abruptly tossed back,nails digging in the older's shoulders, screaming in ecstasy."Cumming! Cumming..fuck!"
In a flash Taehyung seized any movement,knocked him back, smirking cockily."Not yet baby boy. Not just yet." His voice dragged out rigid and stern and to make matters worse he lolled out his tongue garishly licking Jungkook's juices from his fingers.
The younger's heart was thundering in his chest, whimpering and whining at the blatant withdrawal, groaning from the need to cum."Why..? Bas- bastard.. I hate you." he weakly spouted to his face, quivering and striving to suppress his need,his rage and disappointment,his cock standing up proudly, vibrating and dripping all over the floor.
" Hate me all you want." He adjusted the collar of his black suit, straightened his towering figure before taking one last look of Jungkook's red,hard cock and flustered face then turning around, sauntering towards the door, eyes smoldering with unspoken promises." Your body knows better. It recognises its master."
And just like that,he was gone, leaving Jungkook shaking, utterly wrecked and unsatisfied. He leaned against the cold tiles,half naked but totally exposed, tugging his hips,palms shutting his mouth and whimpering Taehyung 's name while shooting his load on the shiny ground untouched, imagining only him.
Kim Taehyung.
Another battle was lost.
______________
Taehyung barely made it to his office, slamming the door shut behind him,chest rising and falling in sharp bursts. His flesh was scorching hot,his hands formed in fists,blood running thick in his veins pumping lust instead of blood. His fingers slithered over his rosy lips, tingled from the taste of Jungkook's need.
" Fuck hell! What have you done to me?" he muttered to himself,tracing his fingers through his hair while pacing back and forth,the ache between his legs was insufferable and he was yearning to run back to that bathroom and give Jungkook a taste of this maddening obsession.
To claim,to touch,to fuck.
The second he decided to take care of his gigantic friend down there and his hands hurriedly unbuckled his brow, leather belt his phone rang. Annoyed for the interruption,he yanked it out of his inner pocket,ready to snap at whoever dared to disturb him but the name on the screen made him freeze.
Seojoon? At this hour? He swiped to answer."What?" His tone was rude and rough.
" We found him. We found Cho."
That was all Taehyung needed to forget about his lust,the fire of Jungkook's image,clawing at his sanity. It was like being dived in cold water."Where?"Taehyung's undertone immediately shifted. No more teasing,no more games. He was ready for war.
" He was hiding in an apartment near Itaewon. Staying low after Taehyn's disappearance,under a fake identity. The boys found him and he's waiting for you. I thought you might like to have a more private.. conversation with him."
Taehyung's fist clenched,his jaw tightened so hard his teeth hurt. Cho definitely had more information about his nephew that's why he vanished. That coward! " I'm on my way. Send me the location." He dashed out of the office, running through the corridors,down the stairs and out in the back alley where his car was parked.
Seojoon's voice dropped but the concern was audible."Taehyung.. don't lose your head. We need him alive."
Taehyung gritted his teeth, squeezing the phone in his hand." I'm not making any promises. If he doesn't talk, I'll rip his head off." He hung up, got inside his jeep,the tires screeching on the road,the engine roaring and pressing on the brakes he drove off into the night.
The storm spreading in his veins was now a sharp blade in his guts. Uncontrollable, dangerous. The monster he was hiding in the depths of his troubled soul was threatening to surface. He'd reciprocate blood with blood. He'd rip out the truth from that fucken bastard word by word. Stop at nothing. The phone buzzed in his pocket. Seojoon had sent him the location.
Cho would spill the truth or he'd bury him six feet underground, letting his body rot.
______________
" Is that him?" Cho?" Taehyung turned towards Seojoon,his eyes dipped in rage and deadly menace. The warehouse was dipped in a pindrop silence,only the echo of Taehyung's footsteps on the cracked,concrete floor were heard. Thick dust floated in the stale air,blending with the smell of rust and mold. His men were scattered in every corner in full alert.
In the middle of the room, a young man in his twenties was slouching on the wooden chair,legs stretched and a sinister leer on his bruised lips." Why did you bring me here? What do you fuckers want?"
Taehyung brushed him off and turned his focus on Seojoon." Did he talk?"
" As you can see" he pointed his head towards the man." he was being a smart ass and the boys taught him a lesson."
Taehyung's eyes filled with darkness and venom in a way that made Cho shiver when he spun around shuffling his feet to the man."Do you know who I am Cho?"
Cho squirmed but kept his head up high and laughed." A dumbass playing mafia and his matcho goons."
Taehyung's eyes narrowed,his lips formed a thin line, hunkering down to the man's level,latching onto the armrest and trapping him between his strong arms." For a smart ass,you sure got yourself into trouble." He pored over his face but he couldn't remember seeing him amongst Taehyn's friends and his snooty, disdainful sneer provoked him more, coiling his stomach with staggering rage.
" You can't keep me here. I got rights, you know.."
Taehyung didn't let him finish. A hard punch landed straight to his jaw snapping Cho's head to the side,a spray of blood and spit hitting the ground." You've got one chance, asshole. Don't waste it feeding me bullshit." Although he was spitting venom, his face strangely remained calm." Start talking." He snatched his jaw and Cho hissed at the pain."Or my goons will give you a taste of their fists."
" Fuck off,asshole!" Cho barked,curtly standing up only to be violently pushed down and grabbed by the hair.
" Fucker! Start talking. Tell me what I need to know or help me God I'll cut you into fucken pieces,fucken moron!" Taehyung snapped back and despite Cho's taunted cockiness he could see the fear in his brown eyes.
Cho spit on his face and barked out a laugh."Screw you. I got nothing to say. I don't know shit!"
Taehyung stood motionless, striving to curb his rage and not kill him on the spot,his ocean eyes turning dark and unreadable. He sluggishly took off his black jacket, tossing it on the ground,rolled up his sleeves and stretched his arms, circling him like a predator.
" I warned you Cho." A sudden backhand crashed his face,the younger 's head snapping to the side,a thin trail of blood venting from his split lip. Cho groaned at the excruciatingly sharp pain, blinking back his tears while Taehyung gripped on his jaw,forcing their eyes to meet." Look at me when I'm talking to you, mother fucker."
Cho's chest heaved and unwillingly obeyed. Taehyung's grip tightened before he released him with a violent shove,sending the chair teetering and Cho on the ground. Without warning Taehyung drove his fist into the man's ribs,a choked cry escaped his mouth as pain surged through his torso.
Another blow,then another one, each strike precise and calculated,served in violent punches,followed by a set of sharp kicks straight to his stomach and ribs." Not so tough now,huh? What happened asshole? Did you lose your balls?" Taehyung piped up,growling and grabbing a fistful of his hair, yanking his head backwards.
Cho,curled up from the pain,cried out,screamed at the ceaseless beating,his vision blurred,his body spasm, tasting copper and the warmth of thick blood in his tongue.
" This is just the beginning..if you insist on keeping your fucken mouth shut!" Taehyung warmed him, spitting on his swollen ,bloody face. Somewhere in the distance a rat scurried across the moldy ground. The warehouse swallowed Cho's whimpers and cries for help, eventually cracking.
" Had enough? Or do you want more convincing?" Taehyung's roars filled the silence of the room.
" E- enough.. please..no more.." Cho coughed,choking on his own blood.Another punch to his gut silenced him,gasping for air. Taehyung's hand snatched his bloody collar,lugging him to the direction of the chair,forcing him to sit his butt down.
The man crouched down,tossing his head back." Tell me what I need and I'll spare your life. If you don't, I'll make sure you leave here in a plastic bag."
"Please..I will." Cho wheezed, holding his stomach as if it would ease his pain." Didn't.. tell..the cops.. I swear.."
Seojoon and Taehyung exchanged weird looks,then his voice dropped to a faint whisper, deadly soft." Where.is.my.nephew? Where the fuck is Taehyn?"
Cho's eyes popped out and his mouth hung open." Taehyn? Nephew?"
" Stop stalling, mother fucker. You think I won't bury you here if you keep playing dumb?"
The boy's gaze darted around, sweat mixing with blood on his bruised face." I'm not playing dumb.. You're Kim? Taehyn's uncle?" He sounded confused when asking.
" Who did you expect?" Taehyung fired back,losing his patience and ready to give him another hard beating." Where is he? I haven't got all day, asshole."
" I thought..you were him."
"Him who?"
" The guy who was.. threatening Taehyn.." he coughed blood and ignoring the pain,he wiped his mouth with the back of his palm.
Taehyung stepped back, bluntly releasing the grip and looked him straight in the eyes." Start talking Cho."
" Taehyn..he saw something.. Didn't tell me what..he was petrified. One night he came home from that club.. ' Black Swan 'and called me in the middle of the night..I went to the penthouse,you were out of the country and he..he told me.."
" What? What the fuck did he tell you?" the man impatiently growled through clenched teeth.
Cho gulped, swallowing thick blood,voice hoarse- trembling." Only that he saw someone..doing something in the alley behind the bar where employees go out for a smoke..I asked him but he said he couldn't tell me because he'd put me in danger. A few days later he was getting messages,threats,real fucked up shit."
Taehyung's face turned pale as a ghost. He stood there, motionless, unable to process what he was hearing. His favourite nephew,his only nephew,had gone through so much and he was totally oblivious. Absent as always. He blamed himself for everything.
" Then one night..the night he disappeared, he called me..they- he was after him..never heard from him again."
" Why didn't he come to me?" He wondered out loud,eyes shifting left and right,unable to focus on anything.
" He wanted to..he thought he could handle it alone. Didn't want you involved. Not ' the Kim Taehyung '. I swear I don't know anything more.."
Taehyung's face was steeped in guilt and bitter regret. A ripple of fear and wrath surged through his veins, bemused in convulsing thoughts. He was the adult one. He was supposed to protect his nephew,not the other way around. He was supposed to take care of,be there in thick and thin.
His fists clenched and fell to the sides,heart hammering in his pounding chest. The pieces didn't fit. If it wasn't club related then what? What did Taehyn see on the alley that scared him and made him disappear off the face of the earth? Why didn't he ask for help?
Taehyung's name was powerful enough to protect him and get to the bottom of this.
He had failed. He had miserably failed.The only scarce hope he had buried deep inside had been crushed by stark reality.
Seojoon drew closer to Cho,doubt and suspicions visible on his expression." Then why did you hide? If you knew nothing, there was no reason to run."
" I got scared..I didn't wanna be next.." he replied, dragging his voice,still holding tight on his stomach." He was being.. followed. Perhaps that man,the one after him, had seen us together and assumed I knew. So I ran."
" You're a fucken coward Cho." he lashed out.
"You let him fight his demons alone. You could have come to me, tell me everything. I could have helped you both before it was too late." He ran a hand down his pale, distorted face, sharply inhaling." You tried to cover your ass without giving a damn about him."
Cho's head hung low,tears of fear mixed with guilt pricking his blurry eyes. His voice cracked when speaking,genuine helplessness coating his words." I'm..sorry.. I didn't know what to do..who to trust.. I'm sorry."
" Well it's not good enough! It won't bring him back, you son of a bitch! I lost him! I lost him forever." Taehyung turned his back to him,pacing and shrilling inside the room like a caged beast. His blood was boiling,his head was buzzing and he needed to punch him again just to feel better.
Deep inside he understood his rage wasn't about Cho. Not anymore. It was the not knowing that killed him. The guilt and the memories that haunted him. Seojoon, leaning closer to him, cleared his throat and whispered to his ear." He's telling the truth. He's a coward yeah,a killer no."
Taehyung's jaw flexed." Then I'm gonna find out who sent those messages. Find out who is behind his disappearance even if it's the last thing I do." It was a silent promise to himself and to his nephew.
" What do you wanna do with Cho?"
" Take him to Wooshik's clinic. Then put him in one of our safehouses. I need him under our control. Make damn sure you don't lose him."
He dashed out,not sparing Cho another glance. The cold,night air thrashed him like a hard slap but it was welcomed,enough to cool the fury bubbling inside him.
Someone had taken Taehyn from him.
Someone had stolen his happiness.
Someone out there had destroyed his family and thought he'd get away with it. Taehyung was dead set on finding him and killing him even if it meant burning the world to the ground to do it.
__________
" You're late."
" I was busy working,not like some people I know." Jungkook threw his shoes in the corner,tossed his keys onto the counter with a tiny clatter and took out his black, leather, biker's jacket,hanging it on the ear of the chair. His fingers raked through his messy hair,yanking a little too harsh,pacing like a live wire ready to snap.
" Well excuse us for having a day off!" Jimin huffed, rolling his eyes. From the looks of him there was trouble in paradise! That should be fun!
Jungkook kept pacing back and forth, occasionally kicking his foot,hands stuffed in his pockets.
Jimin watched him from the couch,legs crossed,arms folded as a grin tugged at his pillow lips." So.. I'm guessing from your little,pace- like- a lion act that today's shift was extra.. eventful?"
Jungkook, as if struck by lightning, spun on his heels,eyes narrowing." Brrrrrh! He did it again! He cornered me in the bathroom this time."
Jimin's eyes popped out and his mouth hung open." Oh Jungkook! You naughty boy! Private setting. Intimate." He clapped his hands,all smiley.
" Shut up,shorty!" Jungkook threw himself onto the armchair across Jimin, legs sprawled, running a frustrated hand down his face." It's not funny. This whole thing is driving me crazy. He's pushing and pushing and every time I'm losing my mind." He groaned into his palms.
Jimin shook his head, leaned forward, elbows to his knees,smirking." What did he do now? Made you hard? Flustered? Weak to your knees? Kissed you again like he wanted to suck the life out of you?"
Jungkook threw daggers at him but Jimin wasn't the least bit intimidated. It only made him grin wider.
" Oh do I have to drag it out?"
" I fucken hate him! I really do!"
" Yeah,yeah! You hate him alright! You hate that you want him. You hate that you need him! Hate that your body goes haywire the moment he breathes in your direction. And you absolutely detest when he kisses you. We got that! What else is new?"
" Don't joke, asshole!" Jungkook snorted,ready to burst." You told me to play along and don't throw myself into his arms. It's not working!"
Jimin frowned." What did you do exactly because it's written all over your pretty face!"
Jungkook's cheeks turned scarlet in a heartbeat as he scrunched his lips together,darting his gaze from Jimin and gulped. What was he supposed to tell him? How was he gonna tell him? It was too fucken embarrassing." I- he.." he huffed and puffed." I kind of made him..you know.." he lowered his head.
" Yeah?"
" Je- jerk me off.." Jungkook hid his face into his palms from shame. It was hilarious how he wasn't embarrassed when doing it but talking about it made him blush like a schoolgirl.
Jimin burst out laughing, holding his tummy and kicking his feet up in the air. Jungkook growled, throwing a pillow at him, hitting Jimin in the face but he couldn't stop. His friend,the tough, straight guy,who at the mere thought of being with a man did the Technicolour yawn( throw up in slang.),was now more than ready to willingly 'board the dude train', made him laugh harder!
" CUT IT OUT, ASSHOLE! IT AIN'T FUNNY!" Jungkook strongly protested,folding and hugging his knees on the armchair.
" Sor- sorry..but it's hi- hilarious!" Jimin couldn't catch his breath from laughing. At some point,he inhaled through his nose,still holding his stomach and stopped.
" Had enough? "
Jimin coughed and folded his legs on the couch. " Fine.. let's get serious. Did you at least cum or the whole show was for nothing?"
The younger one threw another pillow in his direction, only this time Jimin caught it on time."I'm keeping my mouth shut next time." He crossed his arms on his chest and pouted.
" Face it ,Kook! You're doomed! Fighting a battle that's already lost. Maybe our approach isn't the.. right one."
" But you told me not to give in so easily. To resist a little. Not to lose face!"
" Perhaps I made a teeny tiny mistake." Jimin stated, biting his bottom lip." Which is rare because my ideas are always brilliant!" He shrugged, casually resting his chin on his knuckles.
" Your ideas suck!"
" Not my fault you can't control your bonny, little ass around him! Miserable, pent-up and walking around with a permanent hard-on! Just tell him you need his dick up your ass and get this over with!"
" JIMIN!"
" What?"
" You're a douchebag Park Jimin!"
" Simply stating facts."
" I don't wanna look too.. desperate."
Jungkook's face looked like it got the hump but drenched in tantalising blush." Don't forget I hate the guy!"
" But you sure love his dick!" Jimin repeatedly nodded his blond head,breaking into a smile.
Jungkook sank deeper on his chair,a sigh escaping his lips,a bit miffed and with a hint of emotional exhaustion." Why do I even bother? You can't take anything serious."
Jimin's voice softened." If you can't control your urges around him,if it's becoming too difficult" he sighed." admit you want him and make it real. Make it happen. Live it to the fullest and fuck your pride. At the end of the day,all it matters is your happiness."
" I'm scared." Jungkook admitted, utterly defeated. Jimin,seeing his messed up situation,stood up,approached him,stroking his hair and for a brief moment tried to be thoughtful to his brother's frustration but it was damn hard to get rid of Jungkook's image with his little tussy and kookie flashed open in front of Kim.
" Jin hyung used to tell us to confront our fears because it's the only way to get rid of them. I'm fetching us some soju. It's gonna be a long,long night!"
___________
The soft rustle of paper scraping against the marble floor was what drew Jungkook's attention as he entered the living room on his way to the kitchen,a towel wrapped around his torso. He frowned and wondered who the hell leaves notes under doors. Haven't they heard of emails?
He bent to pick up the white envelope,his name written on the front,no sender and rapidly opened the door,peeping out the corridor to see who left it. Nobody was there.
He banged the door shut and curiosity pricked him so he opened it.
' Call this number. He's got something for you. It's about your missing friend.'
Could this be about Minhun? Would they finally learn something about him? He disregarded the fact that there was no name on the envelope besides him because all he cared about was his friend.
It was probably written on a typewriter and below was a local number. Jungkook's heart thundered in his chest. He hurriedly locked himself in his room,fingers shaking when grabbing his phone and dialing the number.
It rang.
Once. Twice. Three times.
" Hello?" A man's voice,sweet and soft, was heard from the other line.
" Hi..Are you Minhun's friend?"
" Yeah.. who's this?" He sounded extremely cautious.
" I'm Jeon Jungkook. His best friend from Busan."
" Jungkook. I've heard of you. Minhun talked about his friends from the orphanage.I'm Soyun."
There was a brief pause,a sharp inhale on Jungkook's part." Nice meeting you. Could we talk maybe?"
" Sure. How's my pal doing?"
Jungkook's breath hitched. He sat at the edge of his bed,legs shaking, profoundly befuddled."You don't know?"
" I haven't seen him since he moved out about a year ago and I've been to Paris for the last ten months. I came back two weeks ago."
" I don't trust phones. Can we meet?" voice low and trembling.
" Yeah. Name the place. I'll be there."
__________
Jungkook left the apartment late in the afternoon without telling Jimin in the pretext of needing to clear his mind and drove his bike straight to a small cafe in Hongdae where he was supposed to meet Soyun.
He found a seat in the farthest corner of the small café,hoodie pulled low,fingers drumming restlessly against the iron,round table, the glass with the iced americano slightly bouncing,barely touched. His doe eyes shifting left and right then focused on the glass door each time the bell chimed,his heart racing a marathon from fear and hope mixed together.
And just like that he spotted him.
A medium height man in his late twenties,slim, casually dressed in black jeans and a white hoodie,hands hidden in his back pockets and a rather handsome face. His eyes fettered around the area when they landed on Jungkook. He made his way over, standing in front of him.
" Jungkook?"
" That's me."
" I'm Kim Soyun." He gave him a small,timid smile, offering his hand which Jungkook eventually shook.
"Please." Jungkook's hand pointed at the empty chair across the table and Soyun slipped into it. " I ordered you coffee. Hope you don't mind."
" That's fine. Thanks.I must admit I was surprised to get your call."
" Who can blame you?" Jungkook swigged a sip of his coffee,now plain,ice water and continued." I need to talk to you about Minhun. He's been missing for a year now." As he started explaining the situation in detail,Soyun seemed lost in thought and staggered.
The older man sighed deeply, slumping back in his chair, narrowing his brows." I had no idea,Jungkook. I'm sorry..I won a scholarship in PSL university in Paris for my Master's degree and I moved there."
" But you were his roommate?"
"Yeah.but he moved out to live with his so-called boyfriend in his penthouse.Told him it was a bad idea but he was so into him,he didn't listen to reason. "
" He never told us about a boyfriend."
Jungkook replied out loud, dumbfounded,his doe eyes popping out." Do you know his name? Where can I find him?"
" Sorry." Soyun leaned closer as if he was scared someone might hear him." Never got a name. He was very secretive but I do know he was filthy rich, apparently famous,older than him. Said they met at a dinner party after one of the plays Minhun was in." He shook his head." He was dreaming about becoming an actor! But between you and me,he didn't have what it takes!"
Of course Jungkook knew that. Minhun was totally obsessed with pursuing an acting career but lacked the talent. That wasn't his concern at the moment." Anything else? Have you ever seen him? By accident?" Jungkook's tone sharpened.
Soyun looked at him, eyes deadly serious."They were extremely cautious,not to be seen in public. It was real hush-hush. The guy wasn't the ' serious type relationship ' but he didn't care. He wanted him!Jungkook I had never seen Minhun like that. Head over heels. Completely smitten. He was all in!"
" What the fuck was going on? It doesn't sound like Minhun. At least not the one I grew up with."
Soyun studied him for a brief moment, reluctant whether or not to continue." Minhun wasn't himself the last few months before he moved out. He was.. distracted. Dipped in thoughts. Edgy and moody. He'd get random texts and his mood would instantly flip. Like he had a split personality or something."
Jungkook's jaw clenched,a muscle twitched as his mind spun. Minhun was involved with a wealthy, older man in a secret affair. Was the man married? Engaged? Could it be someone from the club? Someone from the upper circles? Was he using him for sex, feeding him love bullshit to get him laid?
And how much more they didn't know about their friend? What other dark secrets was he hiding? Jungkook questioned everything and everyone at this point.
" How long were they dating?" Jungkook asked, squeezing the glass in his sweaty palm.
" A couple of months. Perhaps more. It was messy like I told you. He'd disappear for nights,come back looking like he hadn't slept a wink but all smiley. There were fights too. Oh heated ones. Screaming, shouting, begging, crying. One day he was deadset in ending it,the next he was back in it. Couldn't stay away."
Jungkook's stomach coiled, the need to throw up more powerful than ever. He felt suffocated, caught in a trap with no hope to escape. Why didn't Minhun tell him or Jimin? They shared everything since forever and he hid something so important from them.
" Jungkook, did he really disappear? Do you think that man has something to do with it?" His voice was low and his hands slowly rubbed the fabric of his loose jeans.
" Hell if I know! We haven't heard from him for months now. That's why we came to Seoul. To search for him. Find out what the fuck is going on."
Soyun's lips formed a thin line,fingers now tapping on the table." Did you report him missing?"
" Nothing good came out. The police said they didn't have any leads,he was an adult and people often disappear–willingly without a trace in the big capital." He scoffed, agitation rippled through him combined with a splitting headache, thinking how rudely they were treated the moment they set foot in that police station. Jungkook's fists balled under the table,his knuckles turned white from the force.
" Go again. I'll come with you, tell them what I know."
" With what? A mystery lover with no name?" A bitter chuckle slipped Jungkook's lips." A secret affair with nobody? They'll laugh at me." Jungkook leaned back to his chair, inhaling and exhaling sharply, disturbing thoughts racing in his mind. He felt like he was chasing smoke.
" I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help." Soyun shrugged helplessly.Minhun was his friend besides his roommate and knowing he was missing made him feel guilty for not trying harder to put some sense into him.
" Not your fault. Apparently Minhun was hiding things from us..his best friends..his brothers. He didn't trust us enough to open up."
The silence between them was earsplitting. Neither of them could breathe properly. Jungkook's mind reeled. An affair they knew nothing about. A powerful,rich boyfriend who completely changed Minhun's personality. A man who obviously pulled strings from the shadows like all the conceited, wealthy bastards, taking advantage of young people.
Bastards like Kim Taehyung.
The thought made his skin crawl.
" If you remember anything else,call me."
" You'll keep searching?"
Jungkook nodded his heavy head." Until I find out what the fuck happened." He stood up, tossing some money on the table.
" Jungkook..please be careful." Soyun's eyes followed him warily." That man..could be dangerous. If you dig too deep,you might not like what you discover about Minhun."
" A risk I have to take."