76
Third Person Pov.
It was morning again-soft sunlight spilling into the small room through the thin curtains, warming the faded walls with a golden glow.
Taehyung had already walked Gyubin to the school bus, sending him off with a kiss to his forehead and a long wave until the bus disappeared at the turn of the road.
Now, the house was quiet.
Taehyung lay on the slightly worn mattress, one arm curled protectively around the tiny baby sprawled across his stomach.
Gyuri's cheek was flattened against his shirt, her pacifier bobbing gently as she nibbled on it, eyes half-closed like she was deciding whether to fall back asleep or start her day with a cry.
Soft and delicate coos slipped past her lips, the kind that always melted Taehyung's heart no matter how exhausted he was.
Taehyung let out a small breath.. a mixture of relief and tenderness as he traced slow, soothing circles on her tiny back. She smelled like baby lotion and morning warmth.
Beside him, Daisy stretched in a lazy arc, her paws brushing Taehyung's arm before she curled near Gyuri's feet. Her faint purrs vibrated through the quiet room.
The fan spun with a soft hum, an ordinary sound yet it grounded him more than any luxury ever had.
Taehyung's gaze drifted to the ceiling. Sometimes, fear gnawed at him.... fear of the world, fear of the past knocking on his door. But right now, here in this little world with just the three of them, he felt... safe.
Even if this peace was fragile, even if it could be stolen again... Taehyung held onto it.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, pressing a soft kiss to Gyuri's tiny forehead.
"Good morning, angel," he whispered.
Her small fingers clutched his shirt in response, like she understood he was her home.
Then Gyuri's tiny fists began fumbling at Taehyung's shirt again determined, tugging, almost stubborn.
It was her special signal, the same one she used with her mother to ask for milk.
.. and Taehyung would still flush red every time she did it to him.
He wasn't her mother.... he couldn't breastfeed but Gyuri refused to understand such technicalities.
Taehyung sighed with fond exasperation.
"You already finished a whole bottle," he murmured, raising a brow. "Are you trying to become a chubby dumpling?"
Gyuri blinked up at him with huge doe eyes.... innocent, shiny, and ridiculously persuasive.
His heart softened instantly, and he leaned forward, placing a tender kiss on her small button nose.
But that didn't stop her.
She only increased her efforts... little hands aggressively grabbing his shirt again, as if the fabric itself would magically feed her if she tugged hard enough.
"Ah..." Taehyung chuckled, shaking his head. "You're embarrassing Appa again. You know that?"
He carefully lifted her off his stomach and placed her on the bed beside him.
"You stay there. That's your punishment."
Gyuri kicked her tiny feet in protest, pacifier falling out as she let out the smallest, most offended squeal.
Daisy, lying like a lazy marshmallow nearby, didn't move.... only opened one eye as though supervising the drama. Then she yawned and snuggled back in, deciding this was not her problem.
Just then, Taehyung's phone rang.
He picked it up. "Yes?"
"Taehyung-ah..." the landlady's slightly strained voice came through. "Can you please get me some medicine from the store? My grandson is at school, and my head is throbbing."
Taehyung glanced at Gyuri, still wriggling like a restless caterpillar on the bed.
"Of course... I'll come right away," he said gently.
He hung up and leaned down, scooping Gyuri into his arms with feather, like care. She immediately clung to him.... a tiny koala claiming her chosen tree.
"Stay with heolmoni for a while, hmm?" he whispered.
He placed the pacifier back into her mouth, which she accepted with a pout, still glaring up at him like a betrayed princess.
With a soft chuckle, Taehyung stepped out of the house.
The door clicked shut behind them.
Daisy watched half-heartedly from the bed, too sleepy to even meow then buried herself deeper into the blanket, deciding to wait for her humans to return.
.
.
.
Taehyung walked toward the landlady's home, it was just a few small steps away, practically part of his daily route by now. She owned several houses lined up in this area, a simple but clever businesswoman who always managed to keep her tenants close... and her heart even closer.
He pressed the doorbell lightly.
Within seconds, the door cracked open the landlady peeking out with one hand on her temple, a faint tiredness in her eyes... but the moment she spotted Gyuri, that exhaustion melted into a soft smile.
"Awwie my little princess... give her to me," she cooed, opening her arms eagerly despite her headache.
Taehyung chuckled, shifting Gyuri into a better position before carefully handing her over.
Gyuri blinked up at the grandma bottom lip jutting slightly as if confused why she was being transferred to another pair of arms.
"I'll be back soon, baby," Taehyung whispered, brushing his thumb over her cheek gently.
Gyuri stared at him... pout deepening... tiny brows scrunching...
But grandma was ready... she immediately began humming a playful tune, softly bouncing the baby as she closed the door. Gyuri's pout began to wobble into a more curious expression, tiny hands reaching to grab the grandma's necklace.
Taehyung smiled to himself... relieved she didn't burst into tears.
He adjusted his shirt, taking a breath as he turned away from the warm doorstep.
The morning air brushed against his skin as he walked out to the street, his steps light yet purposeful, heading toward the small store at the end of the lane. The neighborhood still smelled of early sunshine, wet leaves, and the nostalgic calm that came after children had already rushed to school.
With one last glance back toward the house.... where his little girl's soft squeals faded into quiet comfort Taehyung began his short journey to buy medicines...
Completely unaware that by the time he returned...
His life would change again.
Because someone he left behind once...
Was already on his way back into his world.
.
.
.
The CEO stood in front of the floor-length mirror, a simple olive shirt clung to his frame, and loose black jeans.
Branded, of course. But it wasn't his usual armor of perfectly tailored suits and polished shoes.
His hair was ruffled, falling slightly into his eyes instead of the strict slick-back he wore to conquer boardrooms.
He exhaled shaking his head.
"What kind of pathetic clothes are these." he muttered, tugging at the collar.
He removed his Rolex... the one custom-designed for him and dropped it onto the glass counter with a dull clink. He replaced it with layered silver bracelets that felt foreign on his wrist. Along with Taehyung's red bead bracelet that he always wore.
"I look like a clueless college boy."
He said his voice holding a hint of amusement now.
He shoved one hand into his pocket, a cigarette box peeking out just enough to remind him of one vice he still kept.
Two guards stood frozen with his bag, waiting for instructions. Jungkook didn't look their way as he spoke:
"Book a cab."
Not a request... a command.
They blinked in confusion. A cab?
For the CEO?
But the sharp tilt of his head made them snap into action instantly.
Jungkook grabbed his black card from his wallet... paused... then placed it back in the drawer of his private locker. He only kept a few notes.. enough to survive, nothing more.
If he was leaving the luxury behind, he was leaving everything behind.
He lit a cigarette but didn't smoke yet just held it loosely between his fingers as he looked at the rows of perfectly grown peonies and the shark tank.
"Take care of the pets. They better be alive when I return," he warned, eyes narrowing.
Then, as if it were equally important-
"And the flowers. Water them properly. If one petal falls, I'll know."
The guards nodded frantically.
Jungkook threw the strap of the bag over his shoulder... a normal bag, one without his initials engraved in gold. His eyes were sharp as he walked toward the door.
He paused only once... turning slightly, voice low but lethal.
"No one should know where I go."
.
.
.
Jungkook paid the cab and stepped out, the heavy door shutting behind him with a dull thud.
He tugged the black cap lower over his eyes.
The neighborhood was quiet... too quiet for someone who'd built his life on noise, power, and chaos.
His gaze swept across the row of modest houses, everything looking painfully ordinary.
He exhaled as he walked to the landlady's home. He pressed the doorbell... one short, sharp push.
Inside, the landlady was gently bouncing Gyuri in her arms. The infant was resting against her chest, pacifier bobbing rhythmically.
"Oh? Looks like your appa came back."
She shuffled to the door, still patting the baby's back.
But when she opened it. She froze for a second.
Not Taehyung.
A tall stranger. Cap casting a shadow over cold, sharp eyes.
Gyuri was safely nestled in her arms, head resting lazily on her shoulder. Her round eyes blinked open at the unfamiliar presence... and then locked onto his face.
The CEO just stared back.
"Jungkook."
His voice sounded like concrete-flat, heavy.
He never looked away from the baby the tiny girl with the pacifier still in her mouth, drool wetting her chin, gaze glued to him like she'd found something... someone.
"Oh! Our new tenant," the landlady exclaimed, happily. "Wait here, let me grab the keys and show you the house."
She turned away for just a moment.
Gyuri shifted in her arms.
Her small hand lifted-reaching.
Not knowing why.
A little whine escaped her, a soft, breathy sound around the pacifier:
"mm...ba..."
Something like broken syllables of appa... but she was too young to really understand them.
Jungkook's jaw tightened.
Emotion... sharp and unwelcome pricked him like a needle.
The landlady came back with the keys, smiling cheerfully.
"Alright! Let's go, Mr. Jeon."
Jungkook shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, stepping aside... but his eyes his eyes did not leave the baby.
And Gyuri. Eight months old
Barely grasping the world Kept staring right back.
The landlady walked ahead, stopping in front of the single-storey house with a tiny yard and a slanted roof. The evening breeze rustled the laundry hanging from the neighbour's line Taehyung's line. Baby shirts. Tiny socks. A pastel blanket.
Jungkook's eyes lingered there for a brief, almost imperceptible second.
Then he turned away.
"This is your house," the landlady said, unlocking the gate. Her voice held her usual cheer, unaware of the quiet storm that Jungkook had become.
He nodded once. "Alright."
His gaze swept the modest house. No discomfort. No surprise. Just acceptance. He had already made his decision whatever it took to stay close.
Gyuri cooed from the landlady's arms, small fingers tugging curiously at the gold necklace she wore. The woman laughed softly.
"Oh, this girl... she has hands like glue."
Jungkook's eyes flickered toward the baby... barely. A tiny glance. But enough to send a subtle sting through his chest.
The landlady opened the door and immediately groaned.
"Aish, this boy... always leaving things everywhere."
Her grandson's Art papers, crayons, and a half-made school project lay scattered on the floor. She sighed dramatically and then looked at Jungkook.
"Hold her for a minute while I clean this."
Jungkook froze.
Not visibly, his face didn't change but something in his posture stiffened.
Still, he stepped forward silently.
Set his bag down at his feet.
Wiped his palms subtly against his jeans.
Then extended his arms... slow, controlled, careful.
The landlady handed Gyuri over with ease. Gyuri didn't hesitate for even a second. She practically melted into him, her small hands pressing into his chest like she had found a stable wall to lean on.
Jungkook inhaled sharply, a faint, quick breath he hoped no one heard.
She was light. Too light.
Her tiny heartbeat tapped against his sternum like a shy knock.
He adjusted his hold instinctively, one hand under her back, the other supporting her bottom. His movements were gentle. Natural, almost. Like something in him already knew how to hold her.
Gyuri blinked up at him, big doe eyes shining, mouth sucking lightly on her pacifier. Then, her hand rose clumsily... and grabbed a fistful of Jungkook's shirt.
He looked down slowly.
Her fingers curled into the fabric with surprising determination.
Jungkook's throat tightened, but he kept his voice even. "...You hold on strongly," he murmured. Just a quiet observation.
Gyuri cooed in reply, pressing her cheek against his chest.
The landlady, busy fussing over craft supplies, didn't look back, but she laughed.
"She's already clingy, ah?"
Jungkook said nothing.
He didn't know how to answer that.
So he simply shifted her weight more securely in his arms, the way he'd seen Taehyung do with Daisy... palm wide, protective yet steady.
Gyuri pushed her little hand toward his jaw next, patting it clumsily.
His eyes softened before he caught himself and neutralized the expression.
He whispered, barely audible.
"...Careful."
Not a warning. Just soft... the kind of softness he didn't allow himself often.
The landlady returned, wiping her hands.
"you hold her well, Jungkook. I thought you'd be stiff like most bachelors."
Jungkook blinked once.
"She's... light."
It was all he said all he could say without revealing more than he meant to.
The landlady beamed.
"You'll be a good tenant, I can feel it."
Jungkook gave a polite nod, calm as ever, though his fingers still rested carefully along Gyuri's back, keeping her steady.
He wasn't here to show attitude.
He wasn't here to show power, either.
But he was here with a purpose.
And the tiny girl breathing steadily against his chest made his resolve feel frighteningly real.
.
.
.
Taehyung walked back toward the landlady's house with a small, content smile brushing along his lips. The late-afternoon sun warmed his back, and the paper bag of medicines crinkled softly in his hand as he hummed under his breath. Everything felt calm, quiet, safe.
But the moment he reached her gate, something inside him stilled.
The front door was wide open.
His smile faded into a puzzled frown.
Mrs. Han never left her door open--not for a minute, not even when carrying groceries.
He stepped cautiously into the living room. "Mrs. Han?" his voice echoed softly, careful and polite.
Silence answered him.
No clatter from the kitchen.
No gentle cooing from Gyuri.
No familiar hum of domestic warmth.
He stepped further inside. "Mrs. Han?" he repeated, louder this time. "Are you here?"
Still nothing.
A pinch of unease tugged at him, and he stepped back out to the yard, lightly biting his bottom lip.
Then he remembered she had mentioned the new tenant earlier. She might be next door showing him around.
That made sense.
Taehyung turned toward the neighboring house--the one with fresh curtains and swept steps. The door stood open there too, as if inviting him inside.
He let out a small, relieved breath and smiled faintly.
"She must be inside with Gyuri," he murmured to himself, already imagining the older woman fussing over the new renter while holding the baby.
He entered casually, expecting something ordinary.
But the moment he stepped past the doorway, his breath simply stopped.
A man stood in the center of the living room.
Tall. Straight-backed. Broad shoulders filling out a simple olive shirt. Dark loose jeans hanging comfortably around his frame. He stood naturally.
Yet something about his posture... something about the line of his back...
felt painfully familiar.
But Taehyung's gaze dropped further-
Gyuri.
Pressed against the man's shoulder, tiny cheek smushed into the fabric of his shirt. Her small fist clutched him like she'd always known him.
Taehyung's smile evaporated.
His feet glued to the floor.
A quiet, broken inhale escaped him.
No. No, it couldn't be.
That silhouette. That stillness.
That quiet strength in the shoulders.
His heart lurched.
Why... why does he feel like...
Taehyung shook his head hard. No. Impossible.
Jungkook didn't wear casual clothes.
Jungkook didn't stand like that outside the city. Jungkook wouldn't come here.
And Jungkook would never--never-break his word.
Taehyung had told him, voice cracking, eyes swollen,
If you love me, you wouldn't follow me.
And Jungkook had listened.
So why would Jungkook be here?
His chest tightened painfully, buzzing with a fear he couldn't name.
"Oh--Taehyung, you're back!" Mrs. Han suddenly called, stepping out of the kitchen with jangling keys in hand.
The man didn't turn at the sound of his name, but Taehyung saw it... a small shift in his shoulders, like a breath caught, like a heart stuttering against its cage.
Taehyung swallowed. Hard.
"Uh... yeah. Your medicines." His voice came out thin, uncertain, eyes glued to the man's back as if afraid to blink.
Mrs. Han smiled. "Thank you, dear. And this-" She angled her chin with pride toward the tall figure. "This is my new tenant. Your neighbor."
The man turned.
And Taehyung's world jolted.
Air punched out of his lungs.
His eyes widened---just a minute shift.but enough to betray everything inside him.
Jungkook stood there.
Not the cold CEO in sharp suits.
Not the man shielded by wealth and distance.
Just Jungkook.
Hair falling across his lashes softly.
Olive sleeves rolled to his forearms.
Casual jeans. Wrist layered with bracelets and one of them was his read beads one. Gyuri asleep against his chest like she belonged there. He looked domestic. Too domestic.
Taehyung took a step back, breath shaking.
Jungkook's eyes locked onto him--and something in them shattered quietly.
All the steel, all the detachment, all the cold armor... gone.
He looked at Taehyung like a man who had been walking through waterless lands, and suddenly found a river.
But Taehyung's gaze wasn't gentle.
His held hurt. Accusation. Betrayal.
A silent scream.
Jungkook's jaw tightened. His grip on Gyuri steadied, fingertips curling slightly into her blanket as if grounding himself.
He knew he shouldn't have come here.
He knew he had crossed the line Taehyung begged him not to cross.
But he was here.
Standing in front of him again.
Because he couldn't stay away.
Gyuri let out a soft, sleepy giggle, patting Jungkook's chest with her small hand.
The sound cut through Taehyung like a blade. His trance broke.
He tore his gaze away, staring at the floor, jaw tight, expression carefully blank---as if the man in front of him was a stranger he had never known.
And Taehyung pretended.
Pretended he didn't recognize the heartbeat he had lived with.
Pretended he didn't feel his entire world tilt.
Pretended he didn't know Jungkook at all.
Mrs. Han grabbed the packet of medicines from Taehyung with a grateful smile. "Thank you, dear. My head would've killed me if you hadn't gone."
Taehyung nodded, shoulders stiff, gaze lowered. "It's fine, Mrs. Han. Just... take them after eating, okay? They might upset your stomach otherwise."
He said it gently, voice steady but he did not look at Jungkook.
Not even once.
Mrs. Han didn't notice the tension. She chuckled, waving her hand at Jungkook.
"His name is Jungkook. Hitting Thirty-Eight but looks quite young, right? These youngsters age backward nowadays."
Taehyung forced a soft hum in response.
A polite sound. Nothing more.
Still... not a single glance at Jungkook.
Jungkook, meanwhile, stood silently, Gyuri resting heavily against his chest. the stillness in his hands betrayed how tightly he wanted to hold onto something-someone.
Taehyung cleared his throat lightly.
"I need to make lunch for my son," he said, voice quiet, neutral. "Could you...?"
He finally stepped closer but his eyes remained fixed on Gyuri, never drifting an inch toward Jungkook. He extended his arms toward her, palms steady, expression sharp.
Jungkook shifted Gyuri toward him, careful, almost hesitant.
Gyuri clung instantly, her tiny fist curling around Jungkook's shirt, refusing to let go.
Taehyung's lips parted for a second. A tiny breath slipped out.
He reached out, fingers brushing over Jungkook's hand feeling a shiver run down his spine at the touch, he then loosened the baby's grip gently from the older.
"come here my love," Taehyung murmured, his voice softer than anything he had used for Jungkook.
Gyuri collapsed against his shoulder, immediately nuzzling into his neck.
She began sucking on the warm skin there, searching for comfort.
Taehyung let out a faint laugh, breathless.
"Oh--you're hungry again?" he whispered, rubbing her small back. "You dropped your pacifier somewhere, didn't you?"
Jungkook watched them.
Watched the tiny baby clinging to Taehyung. Watched Taehyung holding her like she was air, his whole body shaped around protecting her.
His fingers twitched, an involuntary movement. He wanted to reach out.
Hold Taehyung's hand. Touch his waist. Pull him close and bury his face in his neck where the baby had just been.
But Taehyung didn't even give him a second glance.
He turned away, adjusting the baby's weight in his arms.
"Take care, Mrs. Han," Taehyung said, polite and distant. "Call me if you need anything. I'm always there."
Mrs. Han nodded gratefully. "Of course, dear."
Taehyung offered her a brief smile, a soft, genuine one and then walked toward the doorway.
He didn't ask Jungkook why he was here. Didn't question him.
Didn't acknowledge him.
He walked out without a single backward glance.
His figure crossed the threshold, then disappeared past the small iron gate. The sound of it clicking shut echoed faintly.
Jungkook's eyes followed him the entire time. Hands shoved in his ppcket.
But his heart... His heart was still reaching after Taehyung long after he was gone.
.
.
.
Taehyung pushed open the door to his small house with his shoulder, Gyuri pressed against him. The moment it shut behind him, he let out a shaky exhale one he had been holding since the second Jungkook turned around.
He walked into the living room in slow, uneven steps.
"How could I believe..." he whispered, voice cracking around the edges, "...that he would ever listen to me?"
His jaw tightened, a vein pulsing at the side of his neck. Bitterness coated his tongue like poison he had swallowed willingly.
"He would never leave me."
The words were low, almost a growl, almost a plea.
"He'll just keep making my life hell..."
The moment he said it, Gyuri stiffened slightly in his arms. Her tiny hands clutched the collar of his shirt, her big doe eyes blinking up at him as if she had felt something shift inside him, something wounded.
Taehyung looked down at her, exhaling shakily.
"I'm sorry... baby," he murmured, brushing his thumb gently over her cheek. "I didn't mean to scare you."
But even as he tried to calm himself, his thoughts swarmed him mercilessly.
His mind was no longer in this tiny living room. It had gone back to the one year with Jungkook.
The nights he couldn't breathe around him. The mornings he pretended not to stare. The way his heart beat violently whenever Jungkook's fingers brushed his.
Then their end... a cruel end.
What started as a contract had twisted into something he never intended.
Something messy.
Something dangerous.
Something he was still bleeding from.
Taehyung sucked in a long, shaky breath.
"What do I do..." he whispered to himself, barely audible. The question wasn't meant for anyone. But it escaped anyway, carrying all his confusion and helplessness.
Why was Jungkook here?
Why now?
Why in casual clothes, looking like a completely different man?
Why did he walk away from everything?
Nothing made sense.
Because the Jungkook Taehyung knew...
the Jungkook who never compromised, never paused... that Jungkook loved his work like a religion. Loved his company like it was his heartbeat. Loved his empire more than any person ever could.
So why had he shown up here?
Why had he crossed that line?
Why had he followed him?
Taehyung's teeth dug into his bottom lip as he shook his head again, frustration simmering under his skin. He didn't want hope. He didn't want questions. He didn't want that man unmaking his life again.
He walked to the couch and sank down slowly, Gyuri warm in his arms. The baby curled against him instinctively, her tiny fingers clutching his shirt.
Taehyung pressed her closer, but his eyes stayed lost, somewhere far away, somewhere he tried so hard to escape,
somewhere Jungkook still lived too vividly.
.
.
.
Taehyung was standing in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up as he stirred the simmering stew. The soft aroma of green onions and rice drifted through the apartment, mixing with the faint sound of Gyuri babbling in the bedroom.
He had left her on the soft blanket, toys scattered around her--she was safe, comfortable, and busy chewing on Gyubin's bunny as usual.
Taehyung wiped the sweat forming near his hairline. Cooking always steadied him, but today... today his thoughts wouldn't stay still.
Because Jungkook had moved into the house next door. Not passing by.
Living there.
He didn't cross the boundary.
Didn't knock.
But Taehyung could feel him there--like a storm pressed against the walls.
The front door suddenly clicked.
Taehyung turned instantly.
"Binnie?" he called out.
Gyubin stepped inside, backpack slipping off one shoulder, cap slightly crooked. He looked small, tired... but the moment his eyes landed on Taehyung, his whole face softened.
"Appa..." Gyubin's voice came out like a sigh of relief before he walked straight into Taehyung's arms.
Taehyung kneeled and wrapped him up, kissing the side of his head. "There you are, my baby."
Gyubin clung tighter---he always did after school--his skinny arms wrapped around Taehyung's neck like he never wanted to let go.
"How was your day?" Taehyung asked, loosening his tie with tender fingers.
"It was... tiring," Gyubin murmured, lips brushing Taehyung's shoulder as he spoke. "We played basketball. But I got tired quickly. So I sat most of the time..."
Taehyung exhaled softly, smoothing Gyubin's hair. "That's perfectly fine. You're still healing, love. You don't have to push yourself."
Gyubin leaned back slightly, keeping one hand fisted in Taehyung's shirt. "Where's Riri?"
"In the bedroom," Taehyung chuckled. "Probably chewing your bunny again."
Gyubin's eyes widened. "Appa! Not the bunny!"
Taehyung laughed, tapping Gyubin's cheek. "Well... she thinks it's hers now."
Gyubin shook his head with exaggerated seriousness. "She's tiny but she's a thief."
Taehyung raised a brow playfully. "And you love her anyway."
Gyubin's pout melted. "...Yes."
Taehyung kissed his forehead. "Go to her. I'll finish lunch."
But Gyubin didn't move.
He just tightened his arms around Taehyung again---hugging him with all the quiet desperation Taehyung always pretended not to notice. He just let his boy be.
"You okay, baby?" Taehyung whispered.
Gyubin nodded slowly. Then in a tiny voice: "I missed you."
Taehyung's heart shattered softly. He hugged back, rocking him a little. "I missed you too."
After a long moment, Gyubin finally let go and padded off to the bedroom. Taehyung watched him go, smiling faintly when Gyubin stopped by the washroom--washing his hands and face before touching the baby, just like Taehyung had taught him.
Then the boy hurried to the bed.
"Riri... Binnie is here," he whispered as he sat beside her.
Gyuri blinked up at him, her big eyes sparkling before she let out a tiny excited giggle. Gyubin's entire face lit up. He placed a feather--light hand on her head, stroking the soft baby hair.
"You missed me, huh?" he whispered warmly.
She kicked her feet.
He kissed her cheek.
She squealed.
Taehyung leaned against the doorway, his chest softening at the sight.
☆☆☆☆
Jungkook dragged a hand through his hair, the strands falling messily back over his forehead as he sank into the small couch. His legs spread loosely, one hand hooked over the armrest, the other resting on his thigh as he leaned back.
The door was still open and the silence that followed was suffocating.
Taehyung hadn't even looked at him.
Not once.
And Jungkook--who had spent his entire life not caring who looked at him, who bowed to him, who feared him--felt something ugly twist in his chest at that.
He had never craved someone's eyes the way he craved Taehyung's.
That brief moment, when Taehyung had stepped into the house.
.. Jungkook didn't breathe. He waited for him to look. Just look.
But Taehyung's gaze stayed coldly away.
Jungkook tilted his head back, jaw ticking. And the way Taehyung had held that baby girl...
Gyuri's tiny arms wrapped around Taehyung's shoulder, her small face buried into his neck, trusting him, clinging to him, something about that image lodged itself inside Jungkook like a knife.
Jungkook had always wanted a family.
Not that he ever said it out loud.
He wasn't the kind of man to soft--dream.
But somewhere deep down, buried under ruthlessness and ambition, he had always wanted kids. A life that didn't revolve around power struggles and boardrooms.
He just never believed he deserved it.
Never believed anyone would want to build it with him.
And with the kind of man he was, that dream stayed locked away.
Until Taehyung entered.
No...
until he fell in love with Taehyung.
That was when things shifted. That was when he started believing he could build something... real.
He wanted Taehyung.
He wanted Gyubin.
He wanted that baby girl Taehyung held so naturally---as if she was his own daughter.
He wanted Gyubin running around with Daisy the kitten. He wanted the picture in his head-warm, chaotic, full.
For the first time in his life, the picture felt possible.
But Taehyung was not ready. Not for him. Not for the past he couldn't erase.
Jungkook's fingers slowly tightened on the couch armrest, the veins in his hand showing.
He wasn't a man who lost.
He wasn't a man who let go.
People who betrayed him-he destroyed.
People he wanted---he held.
Taehyung fell into the second category.
And whether Taehyung wanted it or not, Jungkook wasn't leaving without him.
He leaned his head to the side, eyes darkening, a cold resolve settling over every line of his body.
He had come here to take Taehyung back. And he would take him back.
No matter what stood in the way.
No matter who stood in the way.
No matter what it cost.
Jungkook didn't lose.
And he wasn't starting now.