Present

18| "Only barks, no bites." 

Hate— Taehyung was so awfully familiar with this word. It had a vital role in his life. He knew the deepness of this word, his clutch was too tight in this emotion. How would he not know when he freaking thrived in it, every minute, every second. His hate was strong and crystal clear, no doubt could tint his vicious passion.

He hated his father with every bone of his body. The man was the only cause of Taehyung's wreckage, because of him, one part of Taehyung had died a long time ago. The deeper Taehyung thought about the man, the darker his wrath goes. Sometimes he had to remind himself that Kim Hyeon was his father, and his blood was running through Taehyung veins yet it wasn't enough to lessen his loath toward him.

Kim Hyeon was Taehyung's great adversary, and he would do anything to crush him in his wake. 

There was a price to pay for ruining the only good thing in Taehyung's life, and Mr Kim was about to render out some great amount of tears.

"Is there any special reason for you to come here to see me?"  Taehyung drawled while stepping into the living area. His voice was icy, he could feel the bitter sound ringing in his empty stomach.

The bleakness in his golden eyes worsened, they were narrowed into thick slits, even dead. He gaped at his father's back who was staring out of the floor to ceiling window, he brought back from his stupor. For a brief second, the dreary thoughts tangled in a ball and galloped around Taehyung's brain, it was pure fiendish. It wasn't just the thought, it was the intense urge to do something that he would not regret later on— Taehyung knew how violent his anger was sometimes. 

Taehyung's fingers prickled to fist Mr Kim's hair and banged his face to the glass window, and witnessed the blood smudging all over his father's face. Or what if he pushed Mr Kim from the window, watched him plummeting on the ground like a useless sack?

Kim Hyeon was a perfect man, would he bleed as perfect as his personality or as ugly as his heart? Taehyung wanted to know. The mere thought was completely pleasing.

"Don't act oblivious." Hyeon enunciated. Taehyung could sense the whiff of anger lingering in his calm, gruff voice. A crude smirk caressed the corner of Taehyung's lips, he was desperately waiting for Hyeon's anger to resurface.

"What are you talking about, dad?" Taehyung flashed a cynical eye roll, shamelessly appearing laze as Mr Kim turned at him with a fresh scowl cradling his brows. 

Mr Kim was in his 40s, he was tall and broad and brawny. His three-piece Italian cut suit stretched around his body, complimenting his grey and black hair that stylishly pushed back. Taehyung was abhorred to even glimpse at him because he could discern the features that he inherited from him. Same dipped in gold like skin, that perfectly angular jaw, a similar set of amber eyes yet Taehyung's eyes were more deep and darker shade, even mysterious. Freaking Gene, Taehyung was absolutely disgusted by the fact.

Whenever he looked at his father, it looked like he was watching his aged self, more experienced, colder and more horrible— it was an agonising torture for Taehyung.

"I see what you're doing. . . You and Nina Wang—" Taehyung clicked his tongue, cutting off Hyeon's words who lowered his chin, his stare honed at his son who appeared so exceptionally irate.

"Don't take her name with your tongue. Her name is too pure, get that." Taehyung hissed, his upper lips coiling into an unpleasant sneer.

"I'm not gonna stretch this conversation, I already have things to do." Like going upstairs, crawling under Nina's skin to annoy the hell out of her until she made her mind to punch in his throat. Or Taehyung could watch her getting flustered by his dirty, flirty comments or he could do a hot, savage make out session until her knees turn weak and her mind fog with his name— Taehyung wasn't picky, he could do all of these at one time.

Yes, Taehyung had many things to do, he was even impatient. 

"Nina is mine. She is going to be my life partner and if you are against it just so you know I don't need to heed your opinion on this, you don't matter to me."  Taehyung bluntly confessed. He didn't bother to be passive-aggressive, Taehyung loved to be direct to his father, he never missed the chance to let Hyeon know how distasteful he was in his one and only son's eyes. 

Taehyung shoved his hands inside his pants pockets, his shoulders were taut as he walked toward the stiff man. Taehyung chest was broad and puffed, his walk was smooth and lethal like a Bengal tiger, his eyes were even focused as if he would tear Hyeon's throat open and it would be a lie if Hyeon would say if he didn't get intimidated by the menacing aura that his son was emitting. 

The anger was real. The hate was real.

"Are you worried that she won't fit in our so-called prestigious, prissy family? Don't worry, she is a smart woman, glorious as well. Nina will learn." Taehyung mocked Hyeon who was gritting his molars. The corner of Taehyung's lips pulled for a wolfish smirk as he slanted his head sideways.

Prestige was everything for the Kim family. Hyeon's father, Taehyung's grandfather had started his fashion company at the age of 20 and after him, Mr Hyeon sank in at the age of 18 and debuted as a fashion model on his own company. The Kim's had the hunger to get more powerful, it was embedded in their DNA, they liked to stay on top of the food chain and they always did. The Kim's were like the blazing sun, they scorched everything in their realm and vicinity. So, Mr Kim always preferred to burn everything for their prestige, he didn't care if he had to demolish everything in his wake. On the other hand, Hyeon reminded Taehyung every day that he should be worthy to be 'A Kim'. His father's son. The next heir. 

Taehyung didn't care about the prestige— The name of his family — His father's thoughts. His Red was his madness, she was important, more than important.

All he wanted was Nina and their shattered bond. 

Taehyung would never tell her, but she was the only one who could sew back his cut open wounds. 

Nina was the only one who could mend the thing inside him that she had shattered seven years ago. It would be futile if Nina denied or fought him, Taehyung was determined to have what always belonged to him. He would make her pay the sleepless night and emptiness that he had felt these whole seven years and Taehyung would make sure to enjoy every damn moment when Nina would have no option but to bow down in front of him, accepting her defeat.

By her thoughts, Taehyung felt a tight pressure smashing his chest as if his heart sang to life. It was so weird yet so familiar. Nina Wang was one of those girls that you would never meet twice, she was the purest form of art, a melody that was scratched in Taehyung's bones. She was out of Taehyung's league, how ironic, he wanted to laugh at it, but it was true.

The red-haired beauty was branded in Taehyung's soul. 

Well, how would he describe himself? For Taehyung, he was a compilation of flaws. It never embarrassed him, he was comfortable by that truth, even he wore his malice like a crown, like a damned King and he was so on the road to conquer his Red.

"You can't marry her, Taehyung." Mr Kim bared his teeth, the veins around his neck flinched. His dubious reaction proved amusing for Taehyung, earning a dark chuckle from him. Taehyung wanted to pull those white sets of teeth, one by one "Don't go this far." Mr Kim drawled, he felt uncomfortable as if Taehyung gaze was alone suffocating him.

"Try me, Mr Kim." Taehyung arched his brows, challenging the older man.

Taehyung was like this, selfish, greedy and ruthless but It was hidden from the eye of the world. Nina knew, she anyhow knew his true self nonetheless her heart was always warmed for him. Nina could see through his evilness, through those soulless golden eyes yet she kissed Taehyung when he tasted bitter and bad decisions. So, No. Taehyung would not let her go.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn, son?" Heyon didn't let any expression pass through his face, he blankly stared at Taehyung. "You know how much I hate it when you talk like this. Do you feel good when you hurt me with your words?" Hyeon bared his teeth.

"Can you stop being so dramatic, your acting is so fucking bland?" Taehyung dismissed Hyeon, he didn't respect him and he never hid it.

"I'm not here to show you my acting. I'm just here to clear one thing. When I say you won't marry her, that means you won't." 

"And you think I'll listen to you?" 

Taehyung wanted to yell at him, tell him that she was his if Nina didn't want even if he didn't want her to be his, but she was his. 

Hyeon would not understand because this was complicated, they were complicated and not that Taehyung wanted his father to understand. Hyeon was a man who didn't care about anything, except himself, he was direct and brutal. If he would spend his time with Taehyung then he could understand how stubborn his son was.

"I've already planted my leg on the battlefield, Stop me father if you can, but it would be a futile attempt because I've set my eyes on my victory. I'm gonna screw you father." More than Hyeon, Taehyung promised himself.

"Screw me? Improper, big words young man. And how would you do that?" Mr Kim spoke, nonchalantly. A vain attempt to hold his ground. 

"Are you forgetting what I'm able to do, are you not scared of me? You don't want me to reveal your dirty little secret to the world, do you? Today I'm the man who you don't want to fuck it. I have the power that I can wield it and I can ruin you with the snap of my finger. Tell me, father, do you want to see the prison from inside? Do you remember your sins?" Taehyung's face scrunched, his eyes went darker. He controlled himself to bark a laugh that was tickling his throat, he was enjoying the fearful expression encompassing Hyeon's face.

Hyeon could see that Taehyung was not the guy that he was in the past, he didn't stumble or tremble under his gaze. The boy in the past easily got shuffled by the one knock, like sand, scattered everywhere to let Hyeon stomp all over him, overpowered him by his intimidating aura and firm voice but not now. Taehyung learned how to pick a war against him, and he was so good at it. 

"if you growl at me, I'll bite you back and let me just tell you, it will be fucking painful." Taehyung's voice dropped into a thickening, husky whisper. He was threatening Hyeon, and enjoying every single damn minute to get into his nerves. Taehyung wanted to see his father slip away from his devil-may-care attitude, losing his cool.

"Taehyung, don't cross your line!" 

"Bark father, you have already been wounded. All you can do is just bark because you know I can easily nail you down. Watch me make her mine, watch me claiming her in the motherfucking aisle. Don't worry, I will invite you." Taehyung patted his father's shoulders and flashed him one of the gentleman smiles that he had perfected so well.

"Are you guilty for the sins that you have committed without any hesitation, does your filthy soul utter profanities at you? Can you give me my childhood back, father?" Taehyung tipped his chin up. He wished that his gaze could turn into black claws to scratch out Mr Kim's eyeballs.

"No." Taehyung's father growled, there was no gleam of shame in his voice. 

"Now I'm mad." Taehyung chuckled, an uncanny glint in his eyes. It happened so rapidly, and Mr Kim found his back slamming on the glass window with a thud, tight pain on his back muscles rattled him. He gasped, trying to claw off Taehyung's hands around his throat. 

"Ow, look someone is struggling to breathe." Taehyung faked a gasp, his voice was sickly sugary. He smirked at him and tilted his head like a maniac.

"You should be sorry, my dearest father. Now remember the world does not revolve around you, but it does around me, they will fucking bow to me and I'll make sure to use my power to drag you down. You are gonna regret the day when you dared to demolish my world. You will regret the day when you dragged me into your house and imprisoned me there with a tag of your son. Spoiler alert, I've never wanted to be close to you but no worries I'll make you mourn the day when you ripped me off from my people." Taehyung jerked his hand back, leaving Mr Kim into a fit of coughing, his broad body slouching against the window. 

"You thought I'm done. Nah, we are just getting started, dad. Soon I'm gonna ruin you as you have ruined me." Taehyung snarled at Mr Kim who could only just hurl a stung glare at Taehyung. Without spouting any word he walked out with urgency as if his shoes were on fire, he slammed the front door in his way. 

And in two minutes, Taehyung heard faint steps as he instantly realized who it was. Nina was there, he didn't have to see her, he could easily sense her presence. 

"Were you eavesdropping, Princess?" Taehyung turned at her but didn't move from his place. He wasn't sounding mad, not even disturbed. The first thing he noticed was her red pendant hanging around her neck— He chuckled, she must upside-down down his whole room to find her precious pendant.  

"If I lie, will you believe me?" Nina snorted a low laugh, she wiggled her brows at him but all he could see was dissatisfaction. 

"Yes, I'll. Whatever my princess says, I'll believe it." Taehyung feigned innocence, he mockingly blinked at her, he just admired the idea to creep under her skin. 

"Trust me." Taehyung cackled, and sauntered toward his couch and dropped his body there, his neck craned at Nina who was mentally wishing that he would magically detonate into pieces on that couch. 

"Liar." 

"See, you know me so well." 

"What's your deal with your father?" Nina chose the straightforward fashion, her ears heated the way his eyes were determined to swallow her in the golden abyss. "I'm not gonna pretend that I didn't listen to the way you were threatening your father." Taehyung brows knitted at her statement, which means she just listened to their last conversation, the male clicked his tongue.

"Are you judging me?"

"No, I'm just curious." 

"I'm glad you are taking interest in my life, but I'd like to keep some things private." The direct repudiation, Nina expected that so she wasn't disappointed yet her curiosity hit the mount that she deep down tried to ebb. 

"Then I'm leaving." Nina chided out, glaring down at him. Her heart shuddered like a leaf when Taehyung stood up and ambled toward her with ease, he came so close to Nina that his chest nearly collided with hers. 

"No, you are not leaving. That's not how kidnapping works." A throaty laugh abandoned his mouth, he was joking— Nina hoped that he was just joking about the kidnapping part. 

"You are obsessed with me." Nina blurted out, watching his boyish smile turning into a wicked smirk and how he could look so dang hot? It was so absurd, she even despised him for that. Nina was awestricken, her pale cheeks turned pinkish shade when Taehyung pressed his thumb on her lower lip, she could even hear the sharpness of his breath under her chest.

"I'm more than obsessed, Red." Taehyung's voice was sinful and gruff. The gleam his eyes had was ravenous, and he looked at her as if she was the shining star plucking from the sky and dropping in front of him, as if she was a rare kind of creation that only mattered for him, only belonged to him.

"Whatcha gonna do? Bite me?" Taehyung rubbed his thumb pad against her lip, tracing the curve of her mouth that he wanted to suck, bite and kiss, as he lowered his head until his breath sizzled her jaw.

"You want me to bite you, Mr Kim?" Nina arrogantly asked, her eyes were hard, she wasn't going to accept her forfeiting. 

"Fangs would be sexy, fucking bury them on my neck at our wedding night." 

"In your dreams."

"Do you wanna know what my dreams are?" Taehyung mumbled.

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