Jungkook tapped his fingers impatiently against the steering wheel, his foot tapping a rhythmic beat on the car floor. Traffic had crawled to a standstill, and he was surrounded by a sea of cars with no end in sight. He grumbled under his breath as he thought about the meeting earlier that day. Taehyung, his cousin, had presented a proposal that had left everyone impressed. He had effortlessly charmed the board with his innovative ideas and confident demeanor. Jungkook couldn't help but wonder when Taehyung had become so adept at the business, perhaps even more so than himself. Now, it seemed he abd his parents plans to take over the company would become null and void if he didn't find out just what on earth Taehyung was up to. For now, he would have to put on an act, pretend to be the docile accommodating cousin in other for him to get what he wants.

As he sat in his car, stewing in frustration, a commotion up ahead caught his attention. He craned his neck and saw Taehyung, shielded by his tall frame, facing off against a group of menacing thugs. What caught Jungkook off guard was the sight of the petite, good-looking man standing at Taehyung's side, a visible swell beneath his shirt indicating a pregnancy. Jungkook's eyes widened in shock at the unexpected sight.

"Wait! Is that guy pregnant?" He rubbed his eyes to be sure he knew what he was actually seeing. He stared harder. It really seemed so. That was a goddamn herring. What was Taehyung doing with a herring out in public and what on earth could be their relationship. Curiosity got the best of him and it took all of his strength not to march up there and demand answers. However, the traffic could clear up at any time and Jungkook figured that would be a very bad idea.

Meanwhile, amidst the mounting tension, Taehyung's face contorted in concentration as he defended the pregnant man from the thugs. He grunted as one of them landed a punch on his cheek, but he stood his ground, unwavering in his protection. However, just as the situation seemed to be escalating, a young man suddenly pulled up, and Jungkook's heart lurched as his ex-boyfriend, Yoongi, stepped in, looming over the scene with a palpable air of authority.

"What on earth!" Jungkook cried. "He knows them?"

"Hey! You punks better step back or I'll have the police on your tail in seconds flat," Yoongi growled, his sharp gaze chilling the air with a tangible menace. The thugs hesitated for a moment before deciding to make a hasty retreat, not eager to incur Yoongi's wrath.

Jungkook fought the urge to approach Taehyung, restrained by the complicated emotions that Yoongi's sudden appearance had stirred within him. Their break up had been less than pleasant and the last thing he needed was to go on a trip to memory lane. He couldn't bear to face him so Instead, he maneuvered his car out of the bottleneck and sped away, his mind whirring with questions about the enigmatic relationship between Taehyung and the mysterious pregnant man. He would do anything to find out what their relationship was. If it was what he was thinking, then he would have the upper hand.

*****
Seeing the thugs had dissapeared, Taehyung sat on the curb, nursing his bruised skin. His lips were torn and there was small blood spilling past it which Taehyung wiped continuously leaving a bloody patch on the back of his hands. An uneasy silence settled between them until Taehyung finally broke it.

"What on earth were you thinking?" He said through gritted teeth. "Do you realize what you have done."

"I'm sorry, I just..." Jimin gulped. "I just needed to get some air. That house was stuffing plus I and Yoongi  just wanted to help find a new wood supplier for the business," Jimin explained, his eyes imploring Taehyung to understand.

"You need this Taehyung, I need you to be stable at least for the sake of our child. I can't be secure leaving him under such a situation. If that's the case then why would I give up full rights to the baby to you and your parents."

"But you should have told me!" Taehyung shouted. He stood up. His face reddening in anger. "Do you have any idea what could happen to you out here if you were discovered."

Jimin nodded his head finally understanding where his anger stemmed from.

"I can see, your reputation and your family's are at stake. That's why you'd rather prefer locking me up so as not to embarrass you..."

Taehyung ran his hand over his hair in frustration.

"No... that's not...You would have been hurt. That's what I'm saying"

Jimin rolled her eyes. "As if you care..."

Their argument was cut short by Yoongi's intervention. "Whoa, Taehyung, ease up on him, will you? He's in no shape for your scolding," Yoongi remarked, his voice a soothing balm to Jimin's frayed nerves as he defended him.

Taehyung, noticing the fatigue etched into Jimin's features, took a deep breath to calm his nerves.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you. It's just..."

He stopped himself and took another deep breath, "What can I do for you, Jimin? Is there anything you want"

Jimin was frowning at first but then his eyes lit up at the thought of a simple pleasure. "Ice cream," he murmured with a shy smile.

As Taehyung made his way to fetch the requested treat, Jimin remained by the roadside, his gaze latching onto Taehyung's retreating form.

"He's hurt pretty badly. You should take care of him when you both get home." Yoongi said but then shook his head. "He surprised me. I didn't think he would stand up for you the way he did."

Jimin remained silent, several thoughts crossing his mind. He really hadn't expected Taehyung to step in. He had actually risked himself to help him. What if someone he knew saw them during the scuffle? It wouldn't have ended well. Taehyung returned with vanilla ice cream on a cone and Jimin greedily snatched it from him slurping it all up without a moment hesitation. From the side, Taehyung watched him with a slight smile on his lips wincing every now and then at the painful cut in his lips.

Feeling somewhat thirdweeled, Yoongi decided to take his leave.

"Don't fight you two," he said and pointed a warning finger at Taehyung. "If you so much as hurt Jimin, I will come for you."

Within seconds, he had dissapeared leaving Jimin and Taehyung in awkward silence, neither knowing what to say until Jimin finally spoke.

"Tell me Taehyung, Why did you really take those beatings for me? You didn't have to step in you know" Jimin asked, the concern evident in his voice. He didn't know why he asked that or what he wanted to hear but somehow, a desperate hope filled him as he waited patiently. Taehyung hesitated, unable to voice the weight of his unwavering protection, choosing instead to hide behind his murmured response, "It's for the child."

With a straight face, he murmured. "Let's go home"

Jimin tightened his lips dissapointed. Just what hsd be been expecting to hear?

The walk back home was accompanied by Jimin's weary sighs, leaning into Taehyung every now and then. Taehyung, couldn't ignore him anymore and hoisted Jimin onto his back, eliciting a flutter of butterflies in Jimin's stomach, the sweet intimacy of Taehyung's care leaving a warm glow in his heart.

They returned home, and Mrs. Gong met them the minute they entered the house.

"Where have you been?" She looked crossly at Jimin. "Did you steal the spare key...?"

But Taehyung cut her off. "We've had a stressful day. Let's not add to the fuss.

"But what happened to you?" Mrs Gong asked as she observed Taehyung's bruised face, concern etched deeply into her features, Taehyung and Jimin recounted the events of the day.

"Thank goodness nothing bad happened to you," Mrs Gong said. "But things would have become a lot worse if the master and mistress returned home to find that you aren't there. They would have brought the entire house down."

She sighed, "But it's fine that isn't the case." Then she smiled warmly at Jimin. "I understand that it's boring and stifling being stuck up here the entire day. But next time if you want to leave, simply ask me."

Jimin raised an eyebrow suspciously, "Really?"

"Really. I always keep my word."

Jimin smiled, "Thank you Mrs Gong but can you help me with a first aid kit, I would like to treat Taehyung's injuries."

Both Taehyung and Mrs Gong had their eyes wide open.

"Are you sure you want to treat him yourself?"

Jimin nodded and Mrs Gong wasted no time and quickly fetched the first aid kit. Jimin started immediately and Mrs. Gong, her keen eyes missing nothing, sensed the undercurrent of tension between them. How both of them flinched when their skins touched, how they avoided staring at each other yet when somehow, their eyes would meet, it was as if they were locked in a staring contest. The air was charged with tension. It was as if everyone was holding their breaths until Jimin was done sealing the wound with plaster.

"There. It's done. You'll be better in no time."

Jimin gulped. "I'll head to my room now."

His face was practically as red as a tomato as he practically left, Taehyung's eyes following him.

Now that they were alone, it was time to prodd Taehyung for an explanation. "What's going on, Taehyung? You two seem different today." she inquired, a knowing smile teasing at the corners of her lips.

Taehyung faltered, grappling with the enormity of his emotions for Jimin. "I don't know, Mrs. Gong, it's just, I've never been that scared in my entire life. Today, I did something I never did in my entire life...get into a fight." he confessed, his face filled with confusion. Mrs Gong stared at him with a newfound understanding. Sure, how would he know that he was in love with Jimin and probably always had been. She had watched him from the time he was a baby. Taehyung was as clueless to his own feelings as a new born child. She didn't know if it was the right thing to let him continue being oblivious. That would be the best. perharps it was because being with Jimin would ruin everything and Mrs Gong couldn't let that happen. So Taehyung should never realize his feelings or things could get out of hand.

Thank you so much for reading. Happy New year and I want to send a shout-out to the following Wattpad writers. Do check out their works and support them. Their books are really good. Thank you all so much as you do.
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