32
Third Person Pov
They stood there for some time, neither speaking.
The cool air brushed against their faces, carrying the scent of damp earth and the faint tang of the city far below.
Taehyung hugged the coat tighter around himself, eyes fixed on the hazy skyline, trying not to think too much about the man standing beside him.
"I think... I should get back home," he murmured finally, breaking the silence. His voice was small, uncertain, like he was testing the waters.
Seokjin turned to look at him. But there was hesitation in his eyes. He didn't voice it, though. Instead, he just hummed softly, a low acknowledgment that sounded far calmer than the emotions flickering across his face.
Taehyung pressed his lips together at that, noticing the hesitation, but said nothing more. He opened the car door and slipped inside, settling in his seat with the bouquet of air still clinging to him. He stared at his lap, waiting for the familiar hum of the engine to break the tension.
Seokjin walked to the other side of the car, but just before he could open the driver's door, his steps faltered.
Taehyung frowned slightly, watching through the glass as the older man paused, then without a word turned away and disappeared down a narrow path that dipped further along the cliffside.
Confusion wrinkled Taehyung's brow. He shifted in his seat, craning his neck to follow the man's retreating figure, his heartbeat quickening with unease.
For a moment, he wondered if Seokjin had left him there altogether.
He shook his head at the ridiculous thought and sighed, leaning back against the seat.
It didn't take long before Seokjin reappeared, walking with his usual calm composure, though this time his hands were hidden behind his back. He moved around the car and slid into the driver's seat as if nothing had happened.
"Where did you-" Taehyung started, but the words froze in his throat when Seokjin pulled his hands forward and extended them towards him.
A small, uneven bunch of flowers rested in his palms. Flowers that grew stubbornly on the edge of the cliffside, fragile yet defiant, swaying in the morning breeze.
Taehyung stilled, staring at them. They weren't perfect, petals slightly crushed from being plucked but they looked oddly beautiful, raw, and real.
Seokjin's lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself halfway. His eyes flickered briefly toward Taehyung before quickly averting, his gaze fixed firmly on the steering wheel instead.
"They looked beautiful. Just like-" He cut himself off abruptly, jaw tightening as he gripped the wheel. "...like you." The last part came out small... but Taehyung heard it anyway.
Taehyung looked stunned by the confession, and for the first time that morning, he couldn't find a single word.
Seokjin still held the flowers out, eyes ahead, his composure firm but his heart was betraying by beating too fast.
Taehyung swallowed hard, his fingers trembling slightly as he reached out and took them.
He held them close, inhaling their faint, fresh scent, something grounding in the middle of everything chaotic inside him. "...Thank you," he murmured, voice softer than he intended.
Seokjin only gave a curt nod, keeping his gaze forward, hands steady on the wheel as if the flowers had never happened.
And Taehyung sat with the coat still wrapped around him and the flowers clutched tightly in his hands.
The road stretched endlessly before them, winding through green ridges and dipping valleys, but neither spoke. The low hum of the engine was the only sound inside the car, steady, almost lulling.
Seokjin's hands rested firm on the steering wheel, his posture collected as always, yet his eyes betrayed him. Every so often, they flickered sideways, catching fleeting glimpses of the passenger beside him.
Taehyung sat turned slightly toward the window, the morning light spilling across his face, brushing over the curve of his cheekbone, his lashes, his parted lips. In his lap, his hands cradled the flowers, delicate stems pressed gently between his fingers.
He wasn't even aware of how tenderly he held them... like they were something precious, something fragile worth protecting. His fingertips brushed idly against the petals, almost reverent, as though even the imperfect blooms deserved care.
Seokjin exhaled. For someone who had built his life among towering buildings, boardrooms, and polished perfection, this sight unsettled him in ways he couldn't explain.
He was used to grandeur... luxuries that screamed for attention, deals worth millions that people bent over backwards to secure. But Taehyung... Taehyung was different.
He found joy in the smallest things. The kind of joy that didn't need embellishment. A bunch of half-wilted flowers could make his eyes soften, could make his lips curl faintly despite the weight he carried on his shoulders.
And maybe that's what drew Seokjin in. That quiet, unassuming gentleness. That softness that the world, with all its cruelty, hadn't managed to beat out of him.
The thought burned inside Seokjin, and he glanced again, just in time to see Taehyung tilt his head and sigh, the flowers pressed against his chest for warmth. His expression was neutral. somewhere between exhaustion and something softer, something almost vulnerable.
His heart felt unsteady, betraying the image of composure he always wore. He swallowed hard, eyes glued back to the road, yet the image lingered.
Why does he have to be like this?
Taehyung, meanwhile, sat silent, his own thoughts far away.
He didn't dare look at the man beside him. Didn't dare acknowledge the weight of the silence pressing down on them. But when Seokjin's profile caught the corner of his eye, the sharp jaw, the calm demeanor, the occasional tightening of his knuckles on the wheel Taehyung's chest constricted.
But then....
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. One second the hum of the engine lulled them, the next, Seokjin's car jolted violently under the impact.
Taehyung's breath caught in his throat, his hand flying to the seat in front of him as his eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
The screech of metal against metal echoed as Seokjin's grip tightened on the wheel, his other hand snapping to Taehyung's arm instinctively, steadying him.
The force rattled through Taehyung's chest, but what made his heart truly plummet wasn't the crash... it was when his gaze lifted and he saw who sat behind the other wheel.
"Mr. Kim..." Taehyung's voice cracked, his whole body going cold. His chest tightened like the air itself had betrayed him.
Seokjin's eyes narrowed, expression hardening, every muscle in his jaw ticking as he held the steering firm.
He clicked his tongue, swerving the wheel to break free, but before he could veer off, the sharp crack of a gunshot split the morning air.
The tire exploded. The car lurched violently, skidding until it stopped dead with a bone-rattling jolt.
Taehyung's breath hitched. His heart slammed in his chest as his trembling fingers reached instinctively for Seokjin's sleeve.
"He's... mad," he whispered, voice trembling like a child's, eyes wide with fear.
Seokjin's hand covered his instantly, firm and grounding. His grip was steady, protective.
And then, the car door on the other side opened.
Jungkook stepped out slowly, every movement deliberate. In his hand gleamed a metal rod, swinging lazily at his side as though he had all the time in the world.
The calm precision in his steps was more terrifying than rage, he wasn't flustered, he wasn't wild. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Taehyung's legs weakened, his instinct to retreat overwhelming as Jungkook's gaze cut straight through him.
"Step out." Seokjin said.
He stumbled out of the car when Seokjin commanded, but the moment those piercing eyes flickered to him, he froze in place, like prey caught in the line of fire.
Jungkook didn't speak. His silence was louder than words as he approached the front of Seokjin's car.
CRACK.
The rod came down on the windshield. The glass splintered into a spiderweb of cracks, a sharp gasp leaving Taehyung's lips as he staggered backward, eyes wide, chest heaving.
Jungkook lifted the rod again, shoulders taut, muscles flexing with precision.
CRACK.
This time the glass gave in, shards collapsing onto the dashboard as the rod tore through with merciless force. Jungkook's jaw tightened, his knuckles pale around the weapon.
Seokjin finally stepped out, his tall frame squaring as he closed the door behind him with deliberate calm. He didn't flinch, didn't show a trace of fear. His eyes locked with Jungkook's as the weight of silence fell heavy between them, the tension thick enough to choke.
"Enough." Seokjin's voice rang out, low and firm.
But Jungkook didn't even glance at him. His eyes, sharp and blazing, remained on Taehyung.
Taehyung took another hesitant step back, clutching the flowers Seokjin had given him without realizing it. His lips parted, the silent terror that he was about to witness Jungkook lose control entirely.
Jungkook's steps were deliberate, each one striking the ground with the weight of intent. To Taehyung, it felt like a countdown, every echo dragging him closer to something he wasn't prepared to face.
The CEO's gaze never left him. Instinct took over; Taehyung staggered backward, his body trembling, though the chill of the morning did little to explain the shiver crawling up his spine.
Just as Jungkook's hand shot forward, another grip stopped him mid-motion.
Seokjin.
The elder's presence was like a wall between them, broad shoulders cutting off Jungkook's path. His eyes locked onto Jungkook's, steady and defiant, steel clashing with fire.
Jungkook's jaw flexed, but his expression carried a dangerous calm, the kind that unsettled more than rage. His gaze flicked past Seokjin's shoulder, pinning Taehyung with a look sharp enough to slice through him.
"I'll deal with you later." Jungkook muttered, his voice low, the words dripping like venom meant to linger.
Taehyung's chest tightened, his fists curling against his sides as if bracing for impact that hadn't yet come. His lips parted, a protest on the edge of breaking free but the moment collapsed.
Jungkook's fist flew, faster than Taehyung could register.
The crack of impact rang through the morning air as his knuckles collided with Seokjin's jaw.
Taehyung's breath caught in his throat, horror flashing in his eyes.
"Stop!" he cried, voice breaking with panic.
But Seokjin didn't falter. His head snapped to the side, blood painting the corner of his lip, and then slowly deliberately, he turned back to face Jungkook. His stare was unwavering, a storm brewing behind his calm exterior.
In a flash, Seokjin's hand fisted Jungkook's collar, yanking him forward, and his own punch landed with brutal precision against Jungkook's face. The sharp thud of bone against bone reverberated, louder than Taehyung's racing heartbeat.
Neither man yielded.
They collided again, fists and fury, their anger crashing together like waves in a storm. It wasn't just a fight, it was a war of pride, resentment, and unspoken truths exploding into raw violence.
"Stop it!" Taehyung's voice tore through the chaos, his throat burning with desperation. But the plea dissolved into the air, unheard, as both men remained locked in their brutal dance, blind to anything but each other.
Jungkook's fury only deepened. He growled, shoving Seokjin hard against the car with enough force to dent the metal.
His forearm pressed tight against Seokjin's throat as his other hand raised the rod before tossing it aside replacing it with something far deadlier.
The gleam of a gun.
Taehyung's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach as Jungkook shoved the barrel straight against Seokjin's forehead.
"How dare you touch what's mine?" Jungkook's voice was guttural, raw, animalistic. The gun trembled ever so slightly, but his grip was iron, knuckles white.
Seokjin didn't flinch. Instead, a cold, humorless smile tugged at his lips, even as the barrel pressed hard into his skin. His tone was steady, sharp enough to cut.
The words sliced through the air, sharper than the steel in Jungkook's hand.
Taehyung's breath hitched, knees buckling beneath him as terror surged through his veins. His chest rose and fell too quickly, his lungs struggling to keep pace with the chaos.
But Seokjin only shook his head, his chin lifting just enough to press into the muzzle of the gun. His voice was low, taunting, dripping with defiance.
"Then do it," he dared. "Pull the trigger. Blow my brains out and see how fast he runs from you. He already hates you, Jungkook. Kill me, and you'll lose him forever. You know it."
The challenge hung in the air like poison.
Taehyung's vision blurred, heat stinging his eyes as tears welled. His voice cracked as he screamed, "STOP IT! Both of you!" But the sound was swallowed by the storm between them, too fragile against the weight of their fury.
Jungkook's head snapped toward him, eyes narrowing. His finger pressed harder against the trigger, veins standing taut along his arm. His lips curled into a grin...dark, sinful, unhinged.
"Don't you get it?" he murmured, voice dangerously soft. "Whether he lives or dies... you're still mine."
Seokjin spat blood onto the ground, his smirk refusing to fade. His voice rasped like gravel, yet his conviction was iron.
"Over my dead body."
The three of them stood in a standoff rage, fear, and defiance locking them together in a moment that could shatter with a single pull of a finger.
Taehyung clenched his jaw, fury burning through the haze of fear as he stormed toward them.
Without hesitation, he snatched the gun from Jungkook's hand and hurled it onto the gravel. The metallic clatter echoed across the cliffside. Both men froze, but Taehyung's bloodshot eyes didn't waver as they blazed at them.
Jungkook turned slowly, his chest rising and falling, eyes narrowing into slits. He closed the distance in two strides and seized Taehyung by the waist, fingers digging in harshly, possessively.
"Am I not enough?" Jungkook's words tore from between clenched teeth, his face mere inches from Taehyung's. The heat of alcohol laced his breath, but his gaze was ice... piercing, unyielding.
Taehyung's throat bobbed as he forced himself to meet it. His palms pressed against Jungkook's chest, desperate to push him back, but the man didn't move an inch.
"Enough," he said, voice cracking but firm. "Enough is when there's a need. And I don't need you, Mr.Jeon."
The words landed like poison. Jungkook's jaw tightened, but his expression didn't falter. Only his grip shifted, stronger, fingers digging into Taehyung's sides with the precision of someone claiming, not pleading.
"This-this marriage is fake," Taehyung pressed on, chest heaving, voice sharp despite the ragged breath. "A business deal. I don't owe you anything... and you don't owe me either."
From behind, Seokjin's silence pressed into the space like a blade at Jungkook's back. His fists trembled at his sides, his gaze steady and burning, waiting threatening.
Taehyung's voice grew harsher, his hands clawing at Jungkook's wrists. "And it shouldn't even matter to you where I go..."
Jungkook's eyes narrowed, pupils blown wide, veins standing beneath taut skin. He leaned closer until his words brushed against Taehyung's ear like a dagger dragged slow across flesh.
"You're wrong," he murmured, voice low, deliberate, like ice sliding over steel. "I don't need love. I don't need your permission. All I need..." his fingers dug into Taehyung's waist, sharp and claiming, "is for you to never forget one thing. Contract or not, fake or not... I'm your husband."
The words fell like a verdict, ice-cold and unshakable.
"You don't get to decide-"
Taehyung's words died on his tongue as Jungkook's mouth slammed onto his, violent and unyielding.
The kiss wasn't affection. It was an assault. A punishment.
Taehyung's eyes flew wide, his body rigid with shock as Jungkook's lips bruised his own. Teeth scraped and bit, claiming him with merciless force. The CEO's hand clamped his waist in an iron grip, dragging him flush against a body that radiated control, not warmth.
Taehyung shoved, clawed, palms striking Jungkook's chest with frantic force but the man didn't shift an inch. His strength was immovable, his intent terrifying.
A sharp sting split across Taehyung's lip as Jungkook bit down, a muffled cry tearing from him, swallowed whole by the unrelenting kiss.
A low growl rumbled in Jungkook's chest as he angled Taehyung's chin, deepening the punishment, swallowing every sound of protest as though silencing his rebellion at its source.
Across them, Seokjin's fists coiled tighter, knuckles cracking under the strain.
His jaw ticked, the veins on his forearm standing out as his fury clawed for release.
Watching Jungkook devour the man he loved burned like acid in his veins.
His silence was no longer restraint... it was a threat waiting to detonate.
Tears spilled down Taehyung's cheeks, hot with humiliation and rage. His lungs burned, his body writhing under the unyielding hold. With a last surge of desperation, he shoved forward with all his strength.
Jungkook staggered back half a step, lips glistening with blood and defiance, his eyes dark, wild, and unrepentant.
Taehyung's chest heaved violently as he wiped his mouth with the back of his trembling hand, smearing the crimson from Jungkook's bite. His eyes blazed, wet with furious tears.
"Don't-" his voice cracked, raw and trembling, yet sharp enough to cut. "Don't you ever touch me like that again!"
The air between them pulsed with rage. Seokjin shifted forward, his patience unraveling, while Jungkook only tilted his head,as though Taehyung's resistance was nothing more than another challenge to break.
The air around them burned, alive with violence.
"All you do is use me, punish me like some toy." Taehyung's voice ripped through the air, jagged and raw. His chest heaved, his eyes glistening with unshed fury. He bit down on his lip until the tang of iron spread across his tongue, but he didn't stop. His voice broke on the edges of his anger.
"What have I ever done to you-" his breath hitched, trembling, "-to deserve this?!"
Silence answered.
Seokjin stood rigid, his jaw locked tight, bloody collar clinging to his neck, fists white at his sides. Jungkook only stared, his stillness more suffocating than any threat.
The weight between them pressed like a storm about to break.
"Just leave me alone. " Taehyung spat, his voice cracking into the cold morning air, echoing against the cliffs like shattered glass. "I don't need you. I don't need either of you!!"
He turned sharply, his back straight, every step deliberate, as if walking away could stitch back the pieces they kept tearing apart. Mist curled low across the asphalt, swallowing him as he strode into it, every footfall a declaration of freedom.
For a heartbeat, there was nothing.
Only the sound of the ocean wind and his ragged breathing.
Then....
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Footsteps. Heavy. Steady. Relentless.
The sound crawled across his skin, threading down his spine. His fists curled tight, his throat went dry, but he didn't turn. He walked faster, each stride fueled by rage, but the footsteps grew louder, dragging after him like chains.
Finally, his restraint broke. He whirled around, hair falling into his eyes, face flushed with fury and tears.
"Stop following me!!" His voice split the air, raw and desperate, yet sharp enough to wound.
But they didn't stop.
They weren't following him together.
They were chasing him through each other.
Jungkook's gaze was fixed not on Taehyung's retreating figure, but on Seokjin's every move. Seokjin's eyes burned back at Jungkook, his silence loud with the promise of violence.
Taehyung felt it deep in his bones.
This wasn't about him anymore.
It was a war being waged through him.
He didn't say a word. His jaw was locked, his steps steady as he kept moving forward.
Jungkook followed, hands shoved deep into his pockets casually, every step measured, as if the world itself bent around him. Seokjin trailed just behind, eyes burning holes into the back of the CEO's head, silent and calculating.
The morning air was heavy, thick with unspoken tension, until the screech of tires shattered it.
A black car skidded violently to a stop, dust curling in clouds around its tires.
"Open your eyes---look at those rich fuckers," a voice taunted from inside, laughter rough and careless. Four boys spilled out, their swagger raw, reeking of alcohol and entitlement. They were young, reckless.... the kind who thrived on picking fights they couldn't win.
One whistled low, eyeing the glint on Jungkook's wrist. "That watch alone could pay off my rent for years."
Another's gaze flicked to Seokjin's chain, lips curling with greed. "And that chain... Jackpot."
They fanned out, blocking the narrow road completely, forming a wall of arrogance.
Taehyung froze, instinctively pressing closer to the shadows behind Jungkook and Seokjin. His pulse thumped painfully in his throat. He could feel the weight of the two men in front of him silent, still, predatory. Their quiet was more dangerous than any shout.
Then Jungkook smirked.
It wasn't humor. It wasn't arrogance. It was sharp like a blade waiting to pierce.
"Well...aren't we reckless?" he drawled, voice slow, lazy, almost casual, as if he had been expecting this interruption all along.
His hand slid from his pocket, knuckles flexing with the precision of a predator ready to strike. "I could make this fun... or painful. Your choice."
The boys faltered, caught between bravado and the edge in his voice. None of them moved.
Seokjin shifted slightly, silent, his expression a mask of stone, but his eyes scanned each intruder with surgical precision ready to strike.
"Take off the chain," one of the boys barked, forcing confidence into his trembling voice.
Seokjin tilted his head slowly, lips twitching, not a smile, not quite. "Touch it," he murmured, low, venomous, "and you won't have fingers left to hold your own cock."
The boy faltered, his bravado cracking in the cold, lethal weight of Seokjin's words.
Jungkook's head tilted slightly toward Taehyung, just enough for the group to notice the figure lingering in the shadows behind them.
"Oh," Jungkook said softly, mock surprise curling over each word. "They've seen him too... bad fucking idea."
Taehyung stiffened at the weight of his gaze. For just a second, Jungkook's eyes were all possessive, warning. Then they snapped back to the boys, who snickered nervously, mistaking the tension for something else.
"Four of us. Two of you," one sneered, spitting on the ground. "Do the math, rich boy."
Jungkook shook his head in amusement "You're right," he agreed smoothly. His steps were slow, deliberate, every move calculated. "But-" His voice dropped lower, lethal, curling in the air like smoke. "-I don't fight fair."
Before the boy could react, Jungkook's fist cracked across his jaw with a sound that echoed through the road. The boy flew back, his body collapsing to the dirt with a strangled grunt.
The others lurched forward, but Seokjin was already moving. Efficient. Ruthless. His hand snapped around another's wrist, twisting it with such brutal force that the bone cracked audibly. The boy's scream ripped out, but Seokjin shoved him away like he was nothing more than a broken toy.
Taehyung's breath lodged in his throat, his eyes wide, chest tight. He couldn't move. Couldn't even blink.
The remaining two faltered, panic flickering across their faces. But Jungkook wasn't finished. His tongue darted over his lip as he rolled his shoulders, stalking forward like a predator savoring the fear in its prey.
"You picked the wrong rich fuckers," he murmured, before driving his boot into another's stomach. The man folded instantly, collapsing onto the road, gagging on his own breath.
The last one scrambled back, but Seokjin was already there, pressing him against the car with a forearm digging mercilessly into his throat. His expression was calm. Detached. Cold.
"Run," he whispered, voice soft, deadly. "And tell your friends exactly who you crossed."
The boy nodded frantically, eyes wide with terror, before Seokjin shoved him off. He dragged his broken friend, the others limping, groaning, scrambling back to their car.
The tires screeched again, fleeing down the road, leaving nothing but silence in their wake.
And then Jungkook looked at Taehyung. Seokjin turned too, his chest still rising evenly. His gaze wasn't mocking, it was searching. Heavy. Like he wanted to know if Taehyung hated him more... or Jungkook.
Taehyung trembled. His lips parted, but no words came. His heart was slamming against his ribs, his stomach twisted.
This was violence in its rawest form. Blood-soaked. Merciless.
And the worst part? Neither Jungkook nor Seokjin looked shocked at their own brutality. They looked... normal. Like this was part of who they were.
Jungkook moved forward without hesitation, his boots clicking sharply against the road. His hand shot out, curling around Taehyung's wrist, and he yanked him closer.
"That's enough for today." Jungkook muttered, his voice low.
Taehyung's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. His wrist ached in Jungkook's grip.
Jungkook started dragging him away, steps merciless, grip unyielding.
Taehyung's eyes darted desperately to Seokjin.
The older man stood there in the middle of the empty road, chest rising steadily, face unreadable. For the first time, Seokjin didn't move forward. He didn't step in. Didn't fight back.
He just watched.
Watched Jungkook take him. Watched Taehyung's body pulled along like a prisoner being claimed.
Their eyes locked for a fleeting second. Seokjin's gaze was heavy, unsaid words screaming through it. Taehyung's lips trembled, his steps faltering for just a second, wanting, begging... for him to stop this.
But Seokjin didn't.
He stayed rooted in place, silent, carved from stone, as Jungkook dragged him past.
Taehyung's heart sank. His chest tightened until it hurt to breathe. He looked forward again, teeth biting down on his lip to keep it from trembling.
By the time they reached the car, Taehyung's eyes flickered down. His heart clenched.
The flowers.
The fragile stems lay abandoned on the ground, petals crushed against the dirt. His breath hitched... because for once, someone had done something so gentle for him, something that didn't demand anything in return.
Jungkook's gaze followed his line of sight. His lips curled, not with jealousy but something darker. With a casual swing of his boot, he kicked the flowers aside, scattering them into the dust.
Taehyung's chest squeezed painfully.
"Get in," Jungkook ordered, opening the car door before shoving Taehyung inside.
He stumbled onto the leather seat, his fingers clutching the edge of the cushion, eyes burning as he watched the broken flowers vanish from his view.
Jungkook circled the car with calm precision and slid into the driver's seat, shutting the door with a dull thud.
For Taehyung, the silence inside the car was louder than the fight they had just witnessed.
Because outside... Seokjin was still standing there. Watching.
And inside... Jungkook's grip on the steering wheel promised he wasn't letting go.
Taehyung sat rigidly in the passenger seat, shoulders stiff, fingers clutching his own knees. He dared not move. He dared not breathe too loudly. His head turned slightly, eyes flicking toward the window.
Seokjin was still there.
The older man hadn't moved. He stood in the middle of the empty road, the morning sun cutting across his face, casting long shadows.
"Don't."
The single word froze him.
"Don't look at him," Jungkook said, his tone quiet, deadly calm.
He reached over suddenly, his hand gripping Taehyung's chin, jerking his face toward him. Their eyes locked, Jungkook's gaze burning, fierce, dangerous. "When I'm here... when I'm the one holding you---you don't look at anyone else."
Taehyung flinched at the harsh grip, tears pricking his eyes. "Why do you care?" he whispered, voice hoarse. "Why do you care when you don't even-"
"Because you're mine." Jungkook said, cutting him off. And Taehyung's lips trembled as Jungkook finally freed his chin.
Taehyung tore his gaze away, looking out the window again, desperate for air. But Seokjin was gone.
The road was empty.
Something inside him cracked.
His body went limp against the seat, shoulders sagging, eyes closing as a single tear slipped down his cheek.
Taehyung wasn't crying because of Seokjin's words. Not because of the confession, not because his heart stirred for the older man. No.
He was crying because of the difference.
The difference between being treated gently and being treated like an object.
Because for the first time in what felt like forever, someone had draped a coat over his shoulders when he shivered. Someone had brought him flowers from a cliffside, just because they thought he deserved to hold something beautiful.
And then, in the blink of an eye, it had all been ripped away.
Crushed under Jungkook's boot like it meant nothing.
The contrast made his chest ache until it was unbearable.
He wanted to be treated like that again. Like he mattered. Like he wasn't just a body for someone to use, punish, and cage.
His fists clenched in his lap, nails biting into his palms.
He was crying for himself. For the Taehyung who still believed he deserved better than this. For the Taehyung who longed just once... to be chosen, not chained.
And sitting beside Jungkook, with the weight of his hand bruising his wrist, with the echo of that cruel kiss still burning his lips, Taehyung realized one truth so bitter it hollowed him out:
He was not a fool.