Four more weeks later.
Just enough time for life to feel normal again. Just enough time for Jungkook to let his guards down and happinesses to crawl into his heart,filled with days of domestic joy and nights of undeniable passion.
Of Jungkook running around the penthouse in his sexy, kinky underwear and Taehyung drooling and fucking him practically everywhere.
The younger was living his dream..
One of the many reasons why the white envelope didn't raise suspicions at first. Jungkook's hands picked it up with the rest of the mail, flipping through it casually while walking to the bedroom. Bills, promotion leaflets,travel brochures, nothing important.
Until.. his fingers halted at the envelope with no sender,no markings. A heavy, unsettling feeling rooted in his stomach even before opening it. As he tore it,photos slipped out.
Blurry images, nothing clear just a figure of a man that resembled Taehyung in an extremely poor quality. Jungkook's feet marched towards the window where the light was brighter, skimming through the next ones as he creased his forehead.
They were a bit closer and clearer.
In a jolt, he couldn't breathe past the huge knot in his throat,the images too heavy to hold.
Taehyung.
There was no doubt now.
It was obviously Taehyung inside a luxurious hotel suite,not alone but with another man being dangerously close and intimate,under candlelight,the bed in the background covered in black,satin sheets and rose petals spread on it.
Jungkook's fingers clutched around the photo, feeling it burning his palm as he reluctantly flipped to the last one.
And everything around him crumbled,his heart stopped beating.
The face.
That face was too damn familiar.
Clear,sharp, unmistakable and staring back at him with arrogance.
Deadly arrogance.
The photos tumbled from his shaky hands,scattered across the marble but Jungkook's body refused to move to pick them up.
He simply stood there,frozen, gazing at nothing,his chest now pumping up and down,his mind..
His mind was breaking into pieces." No…" he murmured to himself, bobbing his head left and right." No.. that's.. that's not.. it's.. impossible.."
But it wasn't.
That face was way too familiar to be mistaken for someone else. He had grown up with that face for years.
It was Minhun.
His friend Minhun.
The ground gave way beneath his feet,his reality, everything he held dear until that moment, shattered. Memories flooded him all at once… happy moments,laughter, silence and fear,a disappearance that haunted him for too long.
Now.. happiness gave its place to despair.
Taehyung and Minhun.
The love of his life and his best friend.
Half naked, their bodies tangled as one, kissing.
Taehyung's arms wrapped around another body.. a body that wasn't his.
His lips kissing another man's with fierce need.
Minhun's..
His stomach twisted violently,the room was spinning around him,the walls were closing in,the air was becoming thicker and insufferable.
His hand flew to his mouth, pressing against it as nausea gushed out uninvited and unwanted but extremely overwhelming.
Jungkook staggered, barely making it to the bathroom before the urge to gag hit him. He dropped to his knees, snatching tightly on the edge of the toilet when his stomach erupted, surging out the filth and disgust he was wrapped in.
His mind kept racing, questions were louder,crueler, seeking some kind of reply.
A constant why haunting his thoughts.
Why? Why? Why?
How was that even possible?
Was Taehyung,his Taehyung, the man Minhun was obsessed with? The one who used him, rejected him?
Was Minhun one of Taehyung's ex boy toys?
He broke out in a cold sweat,his breath came out ragged while crawling towards the sink, grabbing the edge and pulling himself up without bothering gazing his face in the mirror.
Trembling,he rinsed cold water to his pale skin, leaving the tap running." Why..? Why would you.. how could.. you..?" he choked out,voice breaking.
The words collapsed into earsplitting sobs.
Sobs he could no longer hush or swallow. He couldn't dare look at himself in the glass knowing exactly what he'd see. Ghostly– pale skin,wet,red eyes, quivering lips mirroring the desperation in his bleeding soul.
" Taehyung? My Taehyung..? " he whispered breathlessly between sobs and whimpers,his shoulders shaking uncontrollably." No.. that's.. no..no.."
This didn't feel real.
It wasn't real.. it couldn't be..
As he tottered into the bedroom, legs weak barely keeping him balanced,they eventually betrayed him and he slumped on the ground as if his soul had been drained.
The photos were still there,spread across the marble as a threatening reminder of the stark reality and the end of his happiness,a visible mockery of his shuttered hopes and dreams.
Their intimacy and passion perfectly reflected on their lustful features and bodies. He let out a broken sound of agonyhands snatching and squeezing his hair, shoulders quivering as he bent forward,hugging his knees,rocking his body back and forth.
" Why Tae? Wh– why..? How co – could you?" His cries turned louder,mixing with rage violently rippling through his veins." Why would..you do this..Why..?"
His chest split in half by a shuddering ache. Not from the shock but from the fear because if this was true,it would change everything.
His life,his relationship with Taehyung,his future. He'd be left alone with a broken heart for a man that not only didn't love him but was also his friend's lover and possibly the reason behind his disappearance.
' Kim ' was the name Minhun's roommate had said was his secret lover. His big shot, tycoon obsession who kept his identity hidden, refusing to acknowledge him.
Like Kim Taehyung.
His heart roughly slammed against his ribs,the pain agonising. " Impossible.. " he immediately blurted out, shaking his head faster as if trying to physically reject the thought. " He's not the only Kim. The name's common.. too common .. it could be anyone and Tae bought the club after he disappeared.. eight months afterwards.. but they could have.. met earlier.. No.." Jungkook refused to believe it." But the photos? Photos.. don't lie.."
The corner of his blurry,watery eyes caught a glimpse of those heated bodies and his veins flooded with bitterness and the green monster of jealousy. With rage for him.. his friend Minhun for even daring to touch Taehyung.
To touch what was his.
It was the first time in his life he somehow felt different towards Minhun. Colder and more distant.
" Oh God! Why is this happening?"
His mind was scrambling, grasping for something, anything,any logic that made sense. His breathing gradually turned slower,still uneven but steady,his sobs seized.
He clenched his fists when his eyes shifted towards the photos again. The twitching in his stomach returned but in a different form. His eyes flashed with a sharp knowledge.
" Why now?" he wondered out loud,brows narrowed sniffling his runny nose and wiping it with the back of his palm.
He crawled on his knees closer to the pictures. Why send them now? After the calls,the messages,the threats? After everything that tried to push him away from Tae?
Jungkook brushed aside their threats and warnings, choosing to stand by Taehyung's side so they used whatever means necessary to drive him away..?
Manipulation.
Messing with his head.
However if they knew about Minhun that meant they knew everything regarding their relationship,his research for his friend,the club and..
The realization hit him hard.
A trap.
A well designed trap.
To break him.
To seed doubts into his mind.
Someone was watching him from the very beginning, waiting for the right moment to strike him and it seemed somehow their lives were connected?
Taehyung's,his and Minhun's..
His head snapped back, eyes sharpening through the dry tears. " I ain't falling for this. I'm not that dumb." he bellowed out, gritting his teeth.
He abruptly pushed himself up, breath still slightly ragged but with sheer determination and his hand grabbed the photos from the floor, stuffing them inside the envelope without care.
" I'm not doing this alone." he muttered to the empty room, already moving downstairs, snatching his jacket and sneakers.
He needed clarity,logic. Someone with no direct involvement who would be objective instead of drowning in doubts and rage.
Jimin.
Jimin would never lie to him.
He'd never sugarcoat his opinion.
Jungkook bolted out of the penthouse, rushing into the elevator, ceaselessly pressing the button, munching on his lips.
He needed answers. A logical explanation to why this was happening and why now.
By the time he got out of the cab, taking the elevator to his old apartment,his breathing was ragged,heart racing and fists banging on the door because in his rushing he had forgotten his keys
" Jimin.."
The door cracked open with Jimin staring at him in slight irritation but quickly changed looking at his distorted features." Kook? What the hell happened? This has to stop.. you showing.." Jimin shut his mouth, witnessing the storm approaching.
Jungkook didn't utter a single word. He simply shoved the envelope into his hand, voice trembling with desperation.
" Please,tell me I'm wrong, Jimin."
_________________
You could cut through the silence as Jimin took the half ripped envelope,pulled out the photos,his brows furrowed while crossing the room to the couch,his gaits slow,his mind railing.
Jungkook followed him like a shadow,pale,hands still shaking, pacing back and forth like a caged animal even when Jimin sat down.
" Hey.. hey! " Jimin mumbled, reaching out and snatching his wrist." You're making me nauseous. Sit."
" How can you ask me that? I can't.." Jungkook shook his head, breath clogged in his burning throat." Jimin,look.. look at them. It's him.. It's Taehyung.. and Minhun."
" I am looking, Kook." Jimin cut him off, stricter that time, pulling his wrist to force him to sit."Sit down. Breathe. Relax. You're spiraling and you're making me dizzy."
Jungkook unwillingly dropped to the couch, next to him but the tension was there. His knees bounced uncontrollably,fingers pressing into his hair as he blinked his heavy eyes to stop the tears from flowing down his cheeks.
Jimin's fingers spread the photos across the coffee table,one by one, as if he was unraveling something important. His expression was sharper and calmer,contradicting Jungkook's panic.
The kind of intense focus that meant his brain was processing the situation and was ten steps ahead.
" Mmmm.." he murmured, eyes moving from one photo to the other with an unreadable expression.
" Mmmm..? Is that all you have to say?" Jungkook snapped at his indifferent reaction.
"Give me a second, will you? " Jimin's eyes were still scanning." My brain doesn't function properly before the second coffee. I'm thinking."
Jungkook released a frustrated sigh, dragging his hands down his face." I'm losing my mind Jimin.. Tae and Minhun.. together.. like that.. It makes me sick to my stomach.. The rich guy is Tae? My Tae?"
Jimin blew a huff, mostly out of annoyance with this entire situation that was getting weirder by the day. " I can see you're losing it. That's why one of us should keep theirs. That's why you came, isn't it?"
That momentarily shut Jungkook up,fingers opening and closing into fists.
Jimin studied the pictures carefully, occasionally dragging his fingers on them then slumped back to the couch,eyes still moving from one photo to the other but with a different expression this time. More calculated.
The photos were clear. There was no question about it.Taehyung was in a hotel room, making out with Minhun. Or so it seemed.
Jimin knew that boy was trouble. All his life he had been nothing but a pain in the ass for both of them. Jungkook chose to ignore it but Jimin wasn't easily impressed by his fake innocence.
One way or the other, Minhun had the power to fuck up Jungkook's life even with his absence.
" The timing is off, Kook" he finally said.
Jungkook's brows narrowed,the crinkles around his tired eyes slightly visible." What do you mean?"
" It means the timing is wrong. " Jimin replied, tapping his index finger on one of the photos."For the last couple of months you've been getting threats,calls,sick gifts. Someone is basically waving a red flag telling you to break up with Taehyung." He turned his head, facing Jungkook." And now, out of nowhere, you get this? Doesn't that make you suspicious?"
Jungkook's eyes blinked,still unable to breathe properly." So..?"
" It's too fucken convenient! Like gift-wrapped convenience! Whoever sent you these, didn't just wake up today and decided to share memories. They waited for the right moment to hit you."
Jungkook's frown deepened, confusion blending with panic and fear." Waited for what?"
" For you to get emotionally involved enough that this.. would actually destroy you. And you might not want to hear this but they know who you are,who Minhun is and they sure as hell know we've been searching for him." Jimin explained bluntly." They've been on to us from the start."
His words landed heavy on Jungkook's chest. If that was true someone had gone to a lot of trouble not only to make him stay away from Taehyung but also to conceal information about Minhun's disappearance.
The fear turned real and threatening.
Jimin hunched forward, elbows on his knees,hands clasped loosely as his eyes wouldn't leave the photos.
Something was wrong with them.
Something didn't add up.
" This isn't random, Jungkook. You're targeted because of your relationship with Taehyung and that is somehow connected to Minhun. Someone out there is pulling strings and they're damn good at it."
The younger 's eyes widened as his breathing gradually slowed." Then. What about the photos? What if they're..real? If those two were.. " It was too painful to say it." Involved? How am I supposed to live with that? Jimin.. the man I love was.. the same one who destroyed my friend.."
Jungkook gawned at Jimin,his throat constricted, swallowing hard." I know Tae doesn't love me. He's only thinking of me as a toy,a contracted lover and I can't stop thinking about the name he whispered in his sleep that night and.. wonder.. I keep wondering.."
" You mean.. What was it? Mmmm..? Taehyn."
" So what if Minhun got in the way of their love somehow.. made them break up and Taehyung got rid of him for revenge? For making him lose the man.. he loved? Oh God Jimin I can't do this.." he exhaled deeply, ruffling his fingers through his messy hair." Too many ' ifs' and 'buts' and ' whys'.. It kills me. It's bad enough I'm in love with a man that sees me as a freaking sex toy now.. this?"
Jungkook's voice cracked, hiding his face onto his palms,chest now rising and falling.
" You're assuming too much without knowing the facts. Taehyn doesn't necessarily have to be a lover. He could be anyone. A friend.. family.. someone close to him. Someone he unexpectedly lost.And assuming that Taehyung somehow made Minhun vanish is far-fetched even for you." Jimin attempted to ease his troubled mind.
" Then explain the photos."
Jimin took a deep breath,leaned back and touched Jungkook's knee." You want to know if they're real? Real doesn't mean what you think."
Jungkook bobbed his head repeatedly, choking a sob." He's kissing him! In a hotel room. It doesn't seem they're having a business meeting." He huffed and puffed from annoyance." They're groping each other's asses and exchanging body fluids for heaven's sake!"
" Photos can lie. They can be edited for a specific reason. You know.. angles matter, content and timing matter." the older said as calmly as possible." They have gone to great lengths to drive you two apart and this is the biggest proof." He flashed the photos in his face then dropped them on the table.
"They fucken send you a coffin and a photo of your grave. They're psychos. What more do you need?"Jimin allowed himself to breathe."Let me ask you something."
Jungkook's muscles tensed, chewing on his lower lip,his hands clenched into hard fists.
" Do you actually believe Taehyung had an affair with Minhun? Do you think he'd kill him?"
" No." Jungkook's response was immediate and firm.
" There you have it. I rest my case."
" Tae isn't like that. He's not a killer. He'd never harm anyone. "Jungkook's eyes burnt but his voice sounded resolute." Sure he fucks around but he'd never do that."
Jimin cracked a small smile, observing him closely." Hold on to that." he stated, nodding and cupping the younger's hand on his knee.
Jungkook's chest felt lighter as if part of the burden was suddenly lifted. Still nothing made absolute sense but he stopped feeling like the ground was shaking under his feet.
The doubts were there but hidden deeper in the depths of his baffled mind. A fog that needed time to dissolve.
Jimin nudged the pictures towards him, placing them in order." I'll hold on to them."
" Why?"
" It's too risky to have them with you in case they accidentally fall into Taehyung's hands and I'm guessing you're not in a position to explain but mostly because I wanna try something. You trust me, don't you?"
Jungkook's head gave a nod." Yeah… ok."
Jimin stood up, reassuringly tapping his shoulder." Go home. Try to calm and not overthink yourself into a coma. And Jungkook, you're not alone in this. I've got your back,baby. Everything will turn out just fine."
" I appreciate it,Jimin." Jungkook slowly rose from the couch,legs trembling and fell into his friend's arms where he always felt safe." I know I'm trouble."
" Don't thank me moron. I might still charge you for therapy! I'll make a fortune out of you!"Jimin joked to lighten the mood.
A faint smile spread across Jungkook's face as he shifted, walked towards the door and left.
As the door behind him shut Jimin's expression turned from amusing to serious. The humour vanished and concern took its place.
He swiftly grabbed his phone from the other side of the table without a moment of hesitation and dialed a number.
Yoongi answered on the second ring,voice rough from tiredness or irritation that someone disturbed him after a night shift." If this isn't about food,I ain't moving,babe."
" It isn't. We've got a problem." Jimin's voice didn't leave room for a ' but'.
It made Yoongi snap his eyes wide open."What kind of problem?"
" The kind that screams manipulation from a mile away." Jimin mumbled, pacing inside his apartment." Jungkook received some photos of Taehyung and.. Minhun. Together. Does that sound serious enough to get your ass here?"
Yoongi nearly choked on his saliva." Are you fucking joking with me?"
" Do I sound like I'm in a mood to joke?"
Yoongi exhaled slowly, throwing aside the covers and jumping out of bed." Real photos?"
" You've got the connections. That's what I need you to find out. Jungkook left them to me. Get your butt here now!"
" I'm on my way,babe." Yoongi rubbed his eyes." Someone is messing with Jungkook and just made his first real move."
___________________
Jimin was walking off his agitation, phone pressed in his hand,the envelope set on the table and somehow the man felt it was mocking him,constantly letting out deep sighs,his cheeks puffing with each exhale, when the doorbell rang.
Jimin stepped aside as soon as he opened it and there was Yoongi dressed down and in a work mood, eyes sharp with an unreadable expression.
" Took you long enough." Jimin threw at him, closing the door.
" I had to pretend I have a life,babe." he unsuccessfully joked just to get a menacing glare from Jimin.
" Convincing performance?"
" Well apparently not quite."
Jimin handed him the envelope containing the photos without so much as a word slipping through his mouth.
Yoongi took it, sliding the photos out,his gaze moving across them in a critical squint, suspicious of hidden clues. His posture shifted, eyebrows knitted together, taking a seat on the couch." Hmmm."
" That's not comforting Yoongi." Jimin crossed his arms over his chest, expecting a much more direct reply.
" It's not supposed to be, babe." He scratched his nose and stretched his legs. His hands gently flipped to the two last photos.
" Recognise him?"
" Oh yeah." Yoongi tapped his index finger on the familiar face." Minhun without a doubt. And Kim."
" What do you make of this?"Jimin asked calmly." Because I'm telling you something is definitely off. Not just with the photos. After the threats and the calls, someone sends him pictures of Tae and Minhun out of the blue? Too damn convenient. That's why I don't buy it."
Yoongi didn't interrupt him but chose to let him share his thoughts because despite his carefree,unbothered personality,Jimin had proven to be an excellent judge of characters.
" What creeps me out is that they most likely know. Who we are,why we came to Seoul,our relationship with that boy." The last sentence contained the disdain he was hiding inside him for Minhun." Damn! Minhun was always a pot–stirrer."
The younger ran his fingers through his hair, agitation simmering under his skin while flumping down beside him." Minhun was never a good boy. Not the way Kook saw him." He exhaled slowly, trying to find the right words.
" Where are you getting at? I already know all that, Jimin."
Jimin puffed out his cheeks." Bear with me. He knew exactly how to push people, especially Jungkook. He'd act all soft and innocent and then twist things just enough to make everything complicated and messy. Jungkook always defended him. Always.. it didn't matter what Minhun did.. how he did it.." he bitterly chuckled.".. Jungkook would find a way to excuse it."
Yoongi hummed softly, tangling their fingers together." People see what they want to see. It happens. They built a version of themselves, hiding the cracks of their character."
" Well, I didn't fall for his act. I saw behind the good boy mask. Every time.. In the way he looked at Jungkook,eyes filled with hate, when he wasn't paying attention. In the tone of his voice.That kid had something.. off. A strategy. Like he was playing a game, moving the pawns according to his mood. He wasn't just trouble, Yoongi. He was a viper. Deadly vicious."
Yoongi raised his brow, shifting position." Let me see if I understood you.. You believe it is him? Minhun? He's behind everything? How is that even possible? Being a bad egg is different from being a criminal."
" I'm not saying that!" He let out a groan." Oh I'm not sure what to think. " Jimin admitted, snorting." I get how absurd it sounds but I know this.. Taehyung isn't the villain in this story."
" Baby.. are you sure about that?" His question was careful and measured.
Jimin gave a swift nod." Yeap, I am. Talk to me about the photos."
" One thing at a time." Yoongi needed to put his thoughts into order. Jimin was hardly ever wrong about people and him believing that Minhun was rotten gave him the green light not to hold back." My gut is saying there's more to this story than Minhun being a problematic kid. You're right.. Something in this doesn't add up."
Jimin chuckled, brushing his thumb over the man's knuckles." When does your gut not say that?"
" When things are simple and in this case they are a tangled web… Don't like it."
" That makes two of us."
Yoongi's gaze went back to the pictures. The first ones were blurry,hard to recognise faces but the last two were perfectly clear. Too clear for his taste.
These high- quality photos were highly unlikely to have been taken from a distance with proper lenses or Tele converters.
The job was done either by a highly skilled professional or from someone standing in the room." I'll take these and run them at our lab. Authenticity,edits, modifications,timestamps.. You see, when you edit a photo that has a secure digital signature,the signature will break telling you that it's no longer in its original state.. from what I know. Hobi's the expert here."
Jimin huffed." Technical terms!"
A faint sneer touched the man's lips." In my line of work, yes. I won't lie to you,Jimin.. It's a funny business. They sure as hell know you're snooping around for Minhun and apparently he,Kim, Jungkook are all connected.. Including you. "
Jimin frowned." But I haven't gotten any threats."
" So far. On the other hand you're not directly connected to Kim if this is about him. What I do know.." he emphasized." is that we're dealing with something staged. A performance. "
" Or we're missing a piece of the puzzle." the younger added, exhaling deeply,the tension still heavy in his chest." How long before we have results?"
" I'll ask Hobi to run them immediately. Keep Jungkook close. Whoever did this, isn't done yet." Yoongi gripped his fingers on Jimin's chin, kissing him gently." And lock the door. "
He stood up, turned around and marched towards the exit, halting and glancing back over his shoulders." If anything comes up,call me. Love you."
" Love you too."
The door shut behind him and Jimin rushed to lock it, leaning against the frame, staring out the window.
The city was hectically moving but Jimin's fear grew stronger and deeper that any other time.
And not being able to do anything was the hardest part.
___________________
Yoongi went straight to headquarters. The building buzzed with its usual constant energy,phones ringing nonstop, keyboards clicking,voices layered over one another but the man was too absorbed in his thoughts, walking through the corridors and offices like they didn't exist.
He didn't stop till he reached his desk and that only to grab a few things he needed, heading downstairs to the lab.
" Hobi?" he called out.
From behind a cluster of monitors and stacks of documents,Hobi lifted his head up, eyebrows knitting." That tone means work,not coffee. I'm disappointed. Where's my coffee and doughnuts?"
Yoongi dropped the envelope on his desk, elbow leaning on a pile of files." You'll survive, partner."
" Not without them!"
" What's with you and doughnuts, anyway? This ain't an American movie. We're Koreans. We eat ramen and kimchi pancakes."
" I'll eat what I want. You're taking all the fun, grumpy old man!!" Hobi's eyes landed on his partner's dour face with a sharp, questioning look." What's up?"
" Trouble,what else?" Yoongi's gaze drifted on the envelope.
That definitely drew his attention. Hobi straightened his back that was actually hurting from sitting down for too long,took the envelope in his hands, pulling out the photos one by one, laying them under the light.
His expression changed from curiosity to focus,then interest. " Well.. hmmm.. that's messy." he lisped under his breath." Isn't that your boss?"
Yoongi bobbed his head." Check them. I need to know if they're real or edited. Whatever you can dig out. It's an emergency."
Hobi glanced up." You think they're fake."
" I think they're too convenient." Yoongi replied without hesitation and his partner huffed a quiet laugh.
" That's not a technical term "
" It is today. It's about Jungkook."
" Huh! Jungkook.." he shook his head." The cutie pie."
Yoongi's face scrunched." Don't ever call him that. He'll reconstruct your face."
" We don't want that! My face is pure perfection!" he unsuccessfully joked as he slumped back to his chair, scanning the two last photos. His fingers lightly tapped on the desk." The lighting is consistent.. At first glance shadows match.. Mmmm, no obvious cut– and –past job."
" So they're real?" That was by far the last thing he wanted at the moment. It would complicate the situation for Jungkook.
" Did I say that, partner?" Hobi fired back."Good fakes don't look fake. That's the whole point. To make them as realistic as possible."
Yoongi nodded in agreement." How long?"
Hobi smirked, cracking his knuckles, already turning towards his computers." Gimme a couple of hours. I'll run them through the system and see what comes up. It's very delicate work,you know!"
Yoongi, for the first time that morning,breathed a sigh of relief. He snapped around, ambling towards the glass door, Hobi's voice momentarily halting him.
" Hey! Where are you off to? I thought you'd wait."
" To get you coffee and doughnuts. You're working better with them. Plus the suspense is killing me."
" Then you picked the wrong job, partner. Bring me an Iced latte Americano and pistachio doughnuts."
" Yeah, whatever.." Yoongi left looking unbothered but deep inside he was anxious for the outcome. They were a lot at stake here. Jungkook's happiness, Jimin's mood and a freaking case that turned weirder by the second.
The minutes ticked by like hours,hanging heavy. Yoongi stayed quiet, leaning against the desk,arms crossed, eyes frequently drifting to the screens as lines of data,layers and breakdowns filled it.
Hobi acted really fast and cautiously. At one point, he strained forward to the monitor, zooming into one of the images,then the other one. His face instantly shifted again,his eyes focusing on the screen." Hmmm.. interesting.."
Yoongi's gaze drifted from his face to the screen and vice versa." What? Mind sharing?"
Hobi didn't answer right away,his fingers clicked through a few more panels, running comparisons, isolating elements." Gotcha you!" He cracked a smile of glory." They've been touched."
" Edited? I was right?" Yoongi's jaw locked.
" Not the way you'd expect." Hobi responded, taking a sip of his latte." The base images? Likely real but there are timing inconsistencies, metadata scrubbed clean and layering that suggests rearrangements."
" In plain language?"
" At first glance they're clean." Hobi said, zooming in." But.. the data tells a completely different story." He pulled up the analysis for Yoongi to have a better view." See this? Compression levels shift here" he pointed at Taehyung's shadow." and here." he pointed at his right hand." That doesn't happen naturally."
" Not following. What am I supposed to be seeing?" Yoongi was never good with that sort of stuff. He leaned more towards the physical side of the job. Kicking and punching and eventually shooting.Questions and analysis was for Hobi.
Hobi huffed and puffed." I broke the image.. here.. into components. Background versus subject, light sources even compression artifacts." Hobi explained to the best of his abilities." Unfortunately for them shadows don't match,the light direction is incompatible and I mean.." he laughed." Kim's finger, his pinky finger is miraculously removed! Someone was slightly careless!Dumbasses!"
Hobi leaned back to his chair observing Yoongi's baffled expression so he rushed in for further explanations." The scenes were stitched. The hotel room is clean. This guy here" his index finger pointed at Minhun." is clean but Taehyung's image was added. Moments taken out of context perhaps from different times then put together to tell a specific story. That these two were banging at a hotel."
Yoongi's heart went back to normal beating."So.. someone built a narrative."
" Exactly." Hobi replied." It's not amateur work. You need expensive equipment and knowledge to pull that off. "
" Meaning.. they must be loaded." Yoongi's mind was already working,his eyes shifting left and right." Can you trace the source?"
Hobi's brow flashed." Metadata's been wiped. They covered their tracks perfectly. I can dig deeper but it requires time."
" Do it."
" I found something else in that journal you gave me." He slid his chair to another screen, clicking buttons and Yoongi moved closer. The computer flashed with symbols that he recognised as Chinese,most of them at least.
"Ok.. It's a code system,a hybrid code that mixes Mandarin, Chinese and Cantonese in one system. This " his finger pointed at a symbol." means ' money' in Mandarin but in Cantonese slang it's 'water '. Could mean ' move funds.' Crossing the river means 'crossing customs'. White paper means 'fake documents'."
His finger was swiftly moving from one symbol to the other." In homophone codes this means shipment. Tea is for 'money'.. cup of tea stands for ' a small amount of laundered money?' A ' pot of tea' though means a large transfer." Hobi turned around to face his partner." There's much more."
" So.. We've got encrypted chatter tied to cargo traffic apart from the money laundering.In what? Guns? Drugs? People?"
" Or all of them." Hobi pointed out, munching on his pistachio doughnut." We've got a full operational language. Recorded in paper by a bartender at Black Swan. Huh! The plot thickens Yoongi."
Yoongi ruffled his fingers through his hair in complete astonishment,a flicker of confusion and built up rage cut through his eyes." Why the hell was Minhun writing them for? Where the fuck was he involved in? "
Hobi wiggled his shoulders." Maybe he accidentally found it, thought he might be worth some money and wanted to blackmail the person behind it."
" And they got rid of him? For messing with the wrong people." Yoongi rubbed his jaw while tapping his foot on the ground. Then he remembered." Jimin said it was Minhun's handwriting. His journal."
" He could have copied them."
" Possible…"
" But you don't buy it, partner." Hobi noted, clicking more buttons." Look what else I discovered. A handwritten conversation at the last pages. Two people talking, probably."
Yoongi was intrigued as his gaze scanned the screen with profound curiosity although they were all Greek to him." Tell me."
" Here it goes.. ' Wanna drink tea tonight? I heard you bought a new pot.' Means ' Is the new shipment from abroad ready?' ' Should we cross the river then?' Meaning ' Shall we move it through customs?' And my favourite. ' We need to be careful, water is deep.' Meaning 'Law enforcement is paying attention.' And there are two more pages with similar conversations."
" What the fuck is going on Hobi? A club involved in money laundering. A disappeared person with a valuable asset on his hands. Calls and threats to Jungkook. Photos appearing out of nowhere. Hmmm.." Yoongi warily tramped towards the other side of the desk,steps heavy." An explosion targeting Kim.. and it all comes down to one person. Minhun.."
" Look I don't know the guy but I hardly think he's pulling all the strings. We're dealing with an organisation with unlimited funds and knowledge. How can an orphan from Busan be a part of this?"
" I'm not saying he's behind it. Simply saying he got in the middle of something dangerous and they " He snapped his fingers." got him out of their way." He said it but deep inside suspicions were itching him. " Somehow every one of these incidents are connected and I have to figure out how."
" I'm positive you will. Think of this as the biggest breakthrough we had in months." He grabbed the journal, flashing it in the air. " And all thanks to this little thing!"
" Did you tell the captain?"
" I debriefed him this morning. He said this is of high priority and asked me to tell he needs you asap. "
" I'm heading there now." Yoongi marched towards the glass door that instantly opened wide,head hanging low and hands stuffed in his jeans pockets." Call me when you've got news."
" Will do! But next time bring more doughnuts,Skroutz Mac Duck."
____________________
By the time Yoongi stepped out of headquarters through the back door after the meeting with his captain and an official from the government,the sky was shifting colours. The city overflowed with the nonstop blur of movement.
He gazed at the sky for a brief moment and pulled out his phone, dialing Jimin's number who picked it up immediately.
Yoongi didn't sugarcoat his words. He told him everything he had discovered not only about the photos but also about Minhun's journal in detail while cautiously walking to his car.
" I fucken knew it!" Jimin muttered,relief and tension colliding with the same force." They created a story to scare Jungkook."
Yoongi's lips let out a tiny laugh." They wanted to convince him that Taehyung is dangerous. The enemy. And they're not done yet,Jimin."
Jimin's body involuntarily shook from fear." I got that feeling too. I'm worried about Jungkook and Kim."
Yoongi stayed quiet for a moment, uncertain of whether to ask or not. He opened the driver's door, sliding in and placed one hand on the wheel, fingers clutching around it." Jimin.. how sure are you Minhun didn't know Chinese?"
" Pretty sure. We took the same classes and we all chose Japanese. I don't know what he did the years he was here." he answered truthfully,his voice slightly dropping.
" I got to go home and change for the club. Tell Jungkook what we know but please don't mention how. I can't blow my cover yet. There's too much going on. We'll talk more tomorrow."
The younger bit his lips, releasing a sigh that felt like a sting in his chest, nodding although Yoongi couldn't see him." Got it. I love you.."
" I love you too baby."
____________________
Three days later.
The kitchen smelt of pork and garlic. Jungkook's hand stirred the sizzling meat in absolute silence and utterly absent-minded, dipped in meddling thoughts. His doe eyes were shrunk and had lost their usual sparkness.
After Jimin's call and the news about the photos being edited,he was like a ship without a rudder, dealing with a situation that defied logic.
And despite the time passing and the knowledge it was all a welll – organised scheme,it had left its marks on Jungkook.
Obviously someone was deliberately trying to scare him so that he'd let go of Taehyung and using Minhun was pretty clever. A genius move but unfortunately for them Jimin knew exactly the right people to uncover the truth.
Jungkook didn't even bother asking him how he had pulled it through and frankly he didn't give a damn. For him the only thing that mattered was that Taehyung wasn't Minhun's lover.
However, to his surprise,he realised that whatever he did, wherever he went, his eyes were alert, searching around for potential danger,his body was tense and Taehyung had noticed it.
The shifting in his mood,the insomnia, twisting and turning in bed every night. How he'd jump up at the slightest noise like the ringing of the phone,the doorbell.
At the club each time customers approached, he'd shrink back,let Jimin talk and pretend he was distracted by something else. Fear had roosted deep inside him and Jungkook detested feeling so powerless and vulnerable.
Mechanically,he removed the wok from the stove, placing the big pot of water to make noodles. His gaze was pinned on nothing and he failed to notice Taehyung entering the penthouse and walking into the kitchen.
" Something smells wonderful."
The sudden voice started him,the spoon slipped from his hands into the pot, splashes of hot water scattered on his hand. " Fuck! Fuck!" he grounded out a string of curses, through gritted teeth.
He exhaled slowly, trying to stay calm but the pain from the burn was searing. He cradled his hand, blowing on it to fight the shock while his face turned pale with a wave of nausea."Goddamn it, Jungkook!" the boy snapped at himself.
Taehyung immediately whirled from the kitchen door,his face rather white as he saw Jungkook recoiling from the steam. He ran to his side,his usual indifference replaced by raw panic." Put it under the water now!" he ordered,his voice hissed through gnashed teeth in anger and sympathy.
While the minutes stretched and the cold water ran over Jungkook's hand, Taehyung moved his head closer to the boy's, cradling the uninjured arm to keep him steady.
He noticed the redness, waiting for the pain to subside as he took deep breaths, slowly regaining his calmness.
" What were you thinking? How can you be so careless?" he snapped at him."We don't mess around with hot water, Jungkook. See now?"
Jungkook kickbacked from the sink, removing his hand from the running water,his puffy cheeks flushing a deep red that had nothing to do with the burn. He was feeling embarrassed that Taehyung had seen him so heedless.
He didn't reply.
What could he say anyway?
As the man lowered his head to check the wound, Jungkook darted his eyes looking sheepish." I was just.. elsewhere.." he lisped,his voice strangled with shame.
He drew a sharp breath,the nausea from the shock starting to ebb, only to be replaced by the weight of his own negligence.
" It seems your mind is frequently.. elsewhere the past few weeks."His gaze was focused on the hand." Would it kill you to tell me why? You don't eat properly,just coffee.. lots of coffee. You don't sleep much. I can feel you restless beside me every night. You finch at the slightest noise. Why?"
Jungkook chewed on his lips without uttering a single word as he couldn't share his thoughts and fears with him without revealing the truth. His truth." I.. I don't know.." he spoke in a hush tone.
Taehyung didn't scold him further for the time being. On the contrary he was remarkably concerned about a small burn,his fingers still fondling the boy's wrist with a tender precision.
However, something inside him itched him to dig more. To learn more.
Had Jungkook regretted their relationship?
Was he having second thoughts?
Was he considering breaking their contract?
Or perhaps that woman had returned to bother him and he was too scared to tell him.
" You're moving like a ghost in your own house. Talk to me. Has Aespa been calling and texting you and you think telling me will make me mad?"His voice sounded low and mellowed.
" No. Nothing like that." Jungkook's response was immediate. He didn't want to give him the wrong idea but couldn't share the truth either.
Secrets.. too many bloody secrets!
Taehyung's concerned look was almost more than the boy could handle. He so much needed to unburden himself but the truth sat unbearably heavy on his chest.
If he spoke, the fragile balance they had found would shatter and he was petrified of the fallout. That the second the words left his mouth, he'd lose the only person he truly loved more than anything.
So he forced a fake smile,placed his hand under the running water, blurring the pain with indifference." It was merely an accident. Don't overthink it." The pot was still bubbling on the stove,half the water had evaporated and he reached out to remove it, turning it off."Accidents happen in the kitchen."
His heart was thrashing against his ribs and Taehyung wouldn't let go,his thumb now tracing a steady,tender rhythm on his hand." Bullshit , Jungkook. You haven't been yourself lately. Distracted.. you're here but in reality you're not.. " the older murmured, undertone gently but with a sharp edge of worry and doubt.
Jungkook's pulse wouldn't pipe down as he exhaled deeply for the hundredth time,a shuddering breath that did little to settle the knot in his stirred stomach.
" I'm.. just tired.. I guess. Work has finally caught up with me. Let's drop it, okay?" he lied through his teeth, retreating behind a solid fortress of excuses.
The man's grip tightened for a fraction of a second,an unexpected, faint jolt. He shifted his gaze towards the window,his own face clouding with a guilty look. There was a hidden truth in his own head,a loose cannon he was unprepared to fire.
" Enough with the water." He unexpectedly changed the subject, closing the tap." Ointment will do the work." He dried his hand gently with a clean towel,drew him towards the table, forcing him to sit as he fetched the ointment from the lower cabinets.
His fingers applied the ointment on the reddish burn with surgical precision and finished by wrapping it in a bandage.
On the surface this care was all part of their transaction. Taehyung was protecting his investment but as Jungkook peered at him,his curious frown had vanished, giving room to genuine worry.
The younger chuckled sharply. Ironically,he wasn't just his sugar boy but a man holding a dreadful truth that could lead them to disaster. To a bitter ending.
" We're simply playing our parts, aren't we?" The words slipped through his mouth before he could measure them and he instantly regretted it as the pain throbbed both in his hand but above all in his broken heart.
Taehyung didn't hoist his head to glance at him,breath stalled in his lungs. He tightened the bandage with tender care, feeling like the 'Sword of Damocles ' was hanging over him and the words stung him like poison.
" The parts keep us safe. The contract sets the rules and we must comply. Secrets are the one thing we have that shadows can't touch."
Jungkook's eyes snapped up, fear roosting deeper inside him now. Taehyung wasn't a man you could easily fool. His insight was remarkable.
Could it be possible he saw through him?
" You've got secrets?" he struck back as a defense mechanism,heart thumping in his ears, creating a splitting headache that throbbed in his temples.
" We all have, don't we? Life itself gives us secrets and we frequently walk on a tightrope. I bet you have plenty of those,you don't share with anyone." Taehyung whispered,his voice tensed but arrogance clearly absent.
Jungkook quickly yanked his hand away,his eyes pinned on it and his tongue tied into a blurry knot of strings as he didn't know what to say. " Secrets are meant to be hidden. Once you tell,they stop being secrets. Lose their value."
Taehyung's head inclined into a nod. He sadly concluded that the world didn't allow secrets. Briskly,he stood up,put the bottle of ointment and bandages back in the cabinet and stuffed both of his hands in his side pockets.
As he walked towards Jungkook,he stooped over, placing a soft peck on his lips.
" Go change. I'm taking out for lunch. You're in no position to cook and my abilities in the kitchen are limited." He moved towards the door, practically bolting out and finally Jungkook could breathe freely.
He winced the moment his phone beeped, his upper body jolting,staring at it for a few seconds before flipping it and the screen flashed with a message.
His heartbeat increased dramatically, anxiously tapping his nails on the table and munching on his lips so hard he practically bled them.
" Jungkook, you're stupid. What more can happen?" he mumbled to himself, picking up the phone, unlocking it and he let out a sigh of relief when he saw it was from Jin hyung.
Hyung had been calling him nonstop over the last few days but Jungkook wasn't in the mood to talk because Jin would see right through him even without seeing him. He had the extraordinary ability to understand him from the tone of his voice.
He was prepared for the scolding but the message was caring and filled with mild worry.
He typed a message back telling him he was fine but tired and promised to call him later. Jin sent back a heart and a smiley emoji.
__________________
Contrary to what he expected, Taehyung didn't pick a fancy restaurant that time. He took him to a cosy Korean barbecue downtown with excellent pork quality and ordered all his favourite dishes.
Jungkook's heart would have leaped in joy by the attention and the large portions of food sizzling in the BBQ grill but his stomach was tied into a knot and couldn't swallow a damn thing.
He was picking at his food, hardly putting anything in his mouth and Taehyung noticed. His gaze was practically glued on the younger,brows frowned, scanning,recording his expressions and gestures.
How his mouth wrinkled and nose scrunched at the scent of pork. How his eyes fretted around like he was expecting something to happen at any moment.
How his throat frequently bobbed and his body blanched at the slightest noise. How his chopsticks stirred the food in slow, pensive moves.
He avoided commenting on why he had lost his appetite all of the sudden or why he seemed so spaced out, afraid Jungkook would find an excuse or change the subject.
He'd find out sooner or later.
When Jungkook flatly refused ice-cream, Taehyung realised the seriousness of the situation. But still,he kept it to himself.
They drove home in an absolute but rather deafening silence. The moment the black sports car entered the private parking of the Kim building, Taehyung's hand reached out to open the door and help Jungkook out,the man's arms pulled him into a tight hug.
Jungkook's head,despite the initial shock, nuzzled in Taehyung's neck and closing the slight gap between them,he securely locked his arms around his neck,the intoxicating scent of his cologne and body hitting his nostrils.
Taehyung's fingers fondled his back in vertical moves." You would tell me if anything was wrong." It wasn't a question,more like a statement of certainty to ease his doubts.
The boy couldn't even look at him without feeling pangs of guilt in his chest and he avoided a direct reply. He merely gave him a nod.
" Jungkook.. Is that woman bothering you again? You can tell me. I won't get angry." the older said in a soothing tone,soft with affection.
" No. Of course not." Jungkook's response was immediate, leaving no doubt about speaking the truth." I haven't spoken to her since that day. I swear. "
Taehyung's soul felt lighter and he sucked in a deep breath. His thumb and index finger hoisted Jungkook's and gripped on his jaw, before settling at the corner of his mouth.
" Good." Tae crouched down, finding his lips. The kiss was hectic, frantic. A loud declaration of their longing after the distance Jungkook had set between them.
The younger tossed his head back as Tae split his mouth open, flicking his tongue inside the wet cavity that tasted of beer and suppressed yearning, deepening the kiss.
Jungkook choked a moan, pressing his lower body on Taehyung's and his mind was empty of disturbing thoughts. Only the desire to be conquered remained.
When they pulled apart, Jungkook's nose brushed against Taehyung's as they shared a heavy breath.
" Better,now?" Taehyung whispered under his breath,voice dropping an octave,his eyes sparkling from desire.
Jungkook let out a gentle,airy laugh, his gaze momentarily bright under the dim light."Much better."
The younger allowed his lover to lead him upstairs through the back door and the elevator, without letting go of his hand.
He felt safe.
For a brief moment..
___________________
The afternoon was warmer than usual but for Jungkook the penthouse brought chills down his spine. Cold and heavy.
The jarring ring of his phone forced him to flinch again. It happened each time and he was beginning to feel irked. He grabbed it with his right hand and a text flashed the screen bright.
His heart jolted when he opened it and read the words.
' Meet me at the Prima Hotel,
Wednesday at 7. I've got infos
for Minhun. Come alone.'
It was from an unknown number. Someone knew about Minhun and their connection. Jungkook was baffled whether he should go or not. He glimpsed at the message,face twisted in a curious frown,his breath coming out in uneven rags.
He replied quickly,his fingers quivering while writing.
'Ok. Send me where.'
There was an immediate answer.
' At the bar. I'll recognise you.'
Thankfully Taehyung was locked in his study making an important business call so Jungkook warily climbed up the staircase, heading straight into their bedroom.
He didn't even bother undressing,he just sat at the edge of the bed,the phone pressed between his palms. His sense of uneasiness and distraction had reached a whole new level,his mind,under – duress, going back to those bloody photos.
Taehyung's arms hugging Minhun's waist. Even though he knew they were fake,the green monster of jealousy had crept under his skin, stubbornly refusing to let go.
He couldn't help but wonder if by accepting that meeting,he was falling straight into a trap but his need to put closure to a story that haunted him for months and finally uncovering the truth was more powerful than fear and doubts.
He'd risk it.
But alone.
Without distractions and Jimin.
Because if he knew, he'd pester him not to fall for it and give him a lecture about potential dangers, concerned by the latest events.
This was something he had to do by himself.
One last attempt to find the truth, if possible, so he'd go on with his life knowing he did everything in his power to find out what happened to his friend.
He let out a deep sigh and then another one till he lost count,his shoulders rising and falling with each unbearable breath.
Jungkook was so wrapped up in his own thoughts,he once again lost track of time and failed to notice Taehyung's figure leaning against the doorframe,arms crossed, observing him.
The second he sensed his presence Jungkook tried to act normal but his hands were shaking, squeezing the phone in a white – knuckled grip and chewing on his lips.
He swiftly tucked his phone inside his jeans pocket,his cheeks warming fast before he could stop it.
" Everything alright, Jungkook?" Taehyung asked in mere concern and curiosity. He ambled towards him, shutting the door.
Jungkook winced slightly, averting his gaze,the truth feeling heavy on his shoulders, staring at the window so that the older man wouldn't notice the panic and anxiety in his narrowed eyes.
He hated lying but speaking at that point would only lead to more problems and Jungkook was scared to death about losing him and dreaded the repercussions.
" Fine." he lied through his teeth." Jimin.. teasing again. I swear one of these days I'll kick him in the nuts."he replied with a pretentious smile and a sense of guilt.
He knitted his brows,eyes sweeping at the view outside, seriously questioning his judgment about agreeing to meet with a total stranger. He was on thin ice, keeping a secret that felt heavier than their contract.
Jungkook exhaled deeply, trying to keep calm. In two days everything might change. He might actually have the answers he was struggling to get for more than a year.
With the corner of his eyes, he took a peek at Taehyung,wanting to reach out to the man but stood his ground.
" Jimin won't appreciate being kicked in the balls." Taehyung scoffed, taking off his grey suit jacket and neatly placing it on the chair. He decided to play along, talk about insignificant stuff and avoid asking questions he might not like the answer.
" Then he should learn to keep his big mouth shut."
The man let a slight chuckle slip from his lips while unbuttoning his white shirt.."Hmm.. that's hardly the case with Park. Shutting his mouth is like asking from hell to freeze."
Jungkook's head dropped into a nod, stretching and folding his feet, leaning his palms against the soft mattress.
" Will you take a shower first?" Taehyung casually asked.
" Nope..You go."
Taehyung's clothes were discarded one by one, hitting the chair in a not so neat way, staying completely naked,his perfectly sculpted body gleaming under the faint light as he made his way into the bathroom, leaving the door open on purpose.
He wanted to check if Jungkook would follow and have a shower with him but the boy was stuck like glue on the bed.
Under different circumstances, Taehyung 's naked body would have turned him on,would have made his veins bubble with need but not today.
Jungkook's mind was elsewhere..
He laid on the bed,arms folded under his head, eyes weary gazing at the ceiling.
Some moments in life arrive dressed as ordinary. That one was wearing a mask of horror.
He didn't suspect it but he was already standing at the edge of his own ending..
The ground beneath him was cracking…