“You don’t want to use my card?” Jungkook asked, unwrapping a towel from around his waist, revealing the underwear he had put on in the bathroom. Even though he'd been naked in front of Jin so many times, he was still shy about it. Even now, with Jin eyes trained on him from where he was sat on the bed. Jin had woken up first and then gone on to do his business in the bathroom before coming back in to wake Jungkook so they could have breakfast early, since they’d both barely ate the previous day.

“It’ll get traced.”

“It won’t. It’s not in my name,” Jungkook said. “It’s the one for my bo- Uhm… You know, it's something I did. My dad kind of taught me to have an account that is untraceable in case of an emergency or legal problems that could require all known assets to get frozen for a while or something like that.”

He couldn’t tell Jin that one of those accounts was his JK account. The money he got from his books, which was completely untouched. While the other was just a random account he’d had someone open for him under the Alias – Samuel Park.

An impressed smile stretched on Jin’s lips. “Rich people really are smart.”

Jungkook forced a smile and resumed dressing up. Soon enough he would open up and tell Jin about his books. One day, when they were far away from the possibility of getting caught, when they were in their own home and happy, he would tell Jin about his secret.

The thing was, telling Jin would put a dent on their relationship or more. Hiding the existence of his books from Jin was an intentional act. He knew he had to tell Jin. Jin had given up his life in Seoul for him. He’d abandoned everything, his education, his friends for Jungkook’s happiness and freedom. He deserved to know the truth.

If they were going to start a new life together, it was best to start in on the foundation of transparency and honesty.

“Either way, keep your card. We’ll have use for it sooner than later, for now, we’ll use the one I got from Taehyung.”

“Won’t it be traced? I mean, my parents won’t just look into our records, but our friends’ as well.”

“I know that. He bought the card off someone on the internet. Highly illegal but he has a few of those lying around, kind of like what you have. And the car belongs to his Dog’s nanny, I believe.”

“What happened to my car then?” Jungkook asked, slipping on a white Calvin Klein T-Shirt. He tugged it down over a light blue denim trousers, before walking towards Jin, stepping in front of him. “If Taehyung has it with him, Lee will be arriving here very shortly.”

“He doesn’t. I’m not sure what he did with it, but he’s not with it.”

“Are you sure he’s not with it?”

“I can’t be, baby, but I want to believe he’s not. He told me he’d do something about it and I hope he has.”

“My God,” Jungkook mumbled, worry tearing through him. If by any chance the car was with Taehyung or anywhere around him, his parents’ security will tear down his door and torture him until he told them everything.

“Hey, relax,” Jin said, taking him hand and pulling him between his legs. “We’ll be fine, alright? Let’s just go and have breakfast, then we can talk about what we want to do and where we want to go. Possibly, we could be out of here by tonight.”

His words gave Jungkook a little hope. He was still very much afraid but he knew it was only because they were in the home of someone who could easily be traced. He hoped they would be able to conclude on what to do or at least, have a kind of plan, even if it wasn’t concrete, just so they could get the hell out of there.

So, he nodded. He looked down at Jin who was watching him tentatively. He knew Jin was also afraid of what he was afraid of, but he wasn’t letting it show. Jin was putting on a brave face because of him. “Alright,” he said with a sigh of resolve.

Together, they exited the room, Jin shutting the door behind them. “Jiho already went to school,” Jin explained the reason for the quietness in the house and why their host was nowhere in sight. “He goes to the University in town.”

“What time does he return?” Jungkook asked.

“He said he only has a few classes today, so maybe around noon,” Jin answered.

“Hmm.”

“What?” Jin asked. “I have a feeling you don’t like him.”

They exited the house and Jin locked the gate with a key in his hand which he then put into his pocket. They walked past the car and Jungkook realized they were going to trek to their destination which he wasn’t sure was smart or not.

“Uh, it’s not that I don’t like him, I just don’t know him or trust him,” he said as they walked down a small, empty street. The houses were built too closely together that he was certain neighbors easily overheard each other’s conversations.

“That’s understandable. You’ve never met him before so you have your doubts,” Jin said, tucking his hands into his pockets.

“So, you trust him?”

“Trust is big word. Let’s just say, I don’t think he would betray us. Jiho and Taehyung are very close. They were best friends as kids, and they still have that bond between them. Besides, like I told you yesterday, we hung out a few times when he came to Seoul, and he seems like an honest person.”

Money can turn a lot of honest people around, Jungkook wanted to say, but instead, he said, “Okay. If you say so,” and they continued their journey.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at an in-the-wall shop with frosted glass door and a sign hanging off the wooden roof that read, Jihyeon’s Chicken Shop. “Jiho said they have really good chicken soup here,” Jin said, pushing the door open for Jungkook to walk through.

The inside of the shop was small. It was barely enough to occupy four scraped up tables with two brownish plastic chairs paired with each. The AC must have been broken because even though Jungkook could see one hanging on the wall – the wall below smeared with dirt and ugly scribblings – the place was still hot.

“Are you sure this is the place Jiho told you?” He asked Jin, his gaze sweeping around the place skeptically.  There were a few customers bent over bowls of soups with plates of rice and tofu.

“Positive,” Jin said. He led them to a table, grabbing a rag from another table to wipe down the dirt on theirs, before tossing the rag back where he’d found it.

Jungkook cringed. They didn’t even clean up after the last customer. “Let’s go somewhere else, Jin.”

“Relax,” Jin chuckled as an elderly woman walked up to them with a friendly smile.

“Beautiful boys, what would you like to have?” She asked in a sweet voice.

“Uhm, do you have a special?” Jin asked, returning her smile with a soft one.

“Yes. Our Chicken soup with Rice and Banchan. It’s our delicious everyday special.”

“We’ll have two of that then,” he said to her.

“No, I’m okay. I’m not really-”

“Two please,” Jin said, cutting Jungkook off, as the woman gave Jungkook an uncertain look before leaving. “You have to eat and don’t give that ‘you’re not hungry’ bs.”

“I am hungry, but not hungry enough to eat here. Look at this place,” Jungkook winced. “It’s disgusting, Jin.”

“It’s not that bad. By the way, meals cooked in places like this are the sweetest. You know, the bacteria make it taste even better, trust me.”

Jungkook gagged. “Please, don’t say that ever again if you want me to eat.”

Jin laughed. “I’m just joking. It’s completely fine. There’s no one currently here besides that old woman and she can’t go around wiping every surface, serving customers and cooking. There’s nothing wrong with helping a little.”

“We came to eat, not do chores for someone who we’re still going to pay. The least she could do is keep the place clean.”

“Oh, my love, how am I ever going to give you the life you deserve?” Jin asked, half teasing. In his eyes, Jungkook could see a hint of doubt swimming.

“All I need from you is you. I’ll take care of the rest for us,” Jungkook said to him. He would provide him and Jin the most comfortable life, all he needed from Jin was his heart, body and soul.

Jin blushed a little. Jungkook saw the top of his cheeks tint a little as he tried to fight a smile. “You’re going to be my sugar daddy?” Jin asked, leaning back against the chair and fixing Jungkook with a look.

“Yes,” Jungkook said, shyly. “I’ll give you anything you want.”

“You promise, daddy?” He asked, his voice low, teasing.

Jungkook swallowed and brought his gaze down to the top of the scratched wooden table. “Jin,” he mumbled.

“What?” Jin leaned forward, his elbows planted on the table and stared at Jungkook piercingly. “You don’t want to be my daddy anymore?”

Jungkook licked his lips, his gaze uncomfortably finding Jin’s. “I do,” he said with a bit of a stutter. Last night, he had Jin’s private part in his mouth and now, he was melting from having Jin call him daddy. What the hell was this life?

“Do you like when I call you daddy, baby?”

Hearing Jin use the words daddy and baby messed with Jungkook but not in a bad way at all. Jin had a way of making the most random moment not so random. He could take a very innocent moment and spin it around into one so sexual, Jungkook had to pin his legs together. Just the look in his eyes was enough to undo Jungkook.

“Jin, please stop,” He said, this time, not looking at Jin.

“Why?” Jin whispered. “No one can hear us.”

Jungkook shook his head. It wasn’t about anyone hearing them. It wasn’t that at all.

“Oh,” Jin said in realization. “Shit, baby. Did I turn you on?”

“Wasn’t that your intention?” Jungkook asked.

“Partially,” Jin confessed. “Do you want to go back to the house? Or if it’s too far, we could ask if there’s a bathroom here.”

Jin’s suggestion was enough to ruin the mood. “The bathroom here? If the actual eatery can be this disgusting, I can’t imagine how much worse the bathroom would be. Let’s just eat. I’ll handle myself.”

Jin let out a sigh. “Or I could handle it for you,” Jin said, leaning back against the chair.

“We’re not going to the bath-” Jungkook’s breathing hitched when he felt Jin’s legs on his thigh. Somehow, he had taken off his shoe and had his feet pressed in between Jungkook’s legs. Jungkook slapped his hand around Jin’s leg, holding him still. “Are you turned on, Jin?”

“Maybe,” Jin said, raising a brow.

“You’re always turned on,” Jungkook said before pushing his leg to the ground.

“I hear no lie,” Jin said, biting his bottom lip as the older lady arrived with their meal. Jin instantly dug in, letting out hums of satisfaction. He seemed to be enjoying every slurp and chew, his eyes glinting with happiness. “It’s really good, eat more.”

Jungkook shook his head, satisfied with the one sip of soup he had. It tasted really good, he wouldn’t lie, but he was already very disgusted by the place to actually enjoy it.

“How about we go to a café and you can have your breakfast there?” Jin suggested, seeing as he had eaten his entire food but Jungkook hadn’t. They had just paid for their meal and exited the place.

“I doubt I’ll be able to eat anything in this neighborhood.”

“There has to be a really clean place. Somewhere that is up to your standards,” Jin said.

“You think I’m spoiled,” Jungkook said.

Jin wrapped his arm around his neck and pulled him in to kiss the side of his head. “You are spoiled, baby. But there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Luckily, they did find a Café. A beautiful one with lovely aesthetics like the one Jungkook was used to in Seoul. It had cute cat doodles on the front glass door that automatically slid open when they approached it.

The inside was cool and cozy. The walls were clean and white with cute paintings on the wall with dark brown tables and counters. The ceiling was high and didn’t feel like Jungkook was trapped in a box, and the air smelt sweet and clean, like buns and coffee beans.

Jungkook ordered a serving of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup, a cup of Ice Americano and a latte before carrying the tray to the table Jin had found. He placed the Iced Americano in front of Jin.

Immediately, he dug in, savoring the sweetness of the pancake. It was so good. Then he cut out a portion and held it out to Jin, “Say ah.”

Jin smiled and opened his mouth, letting Jungkook feed him. “Mmmh. Thanks,” he said, wiping the corners of his mouth with his thumb. He waited, taking sips from his drink until Jungkook was done eating. “So, what do we do now? Last night, our action of leaving had been impulsive and abrupt giving us no time to plan, but we have to plan now and decide the way forward.”

A server came up to them to clear the table, leaving behind their drinks. When they were alone again, Jungkook said, “Honestly, I don’t know.” He scratched an itch on his brow. “All I knew was, I had to leave and it had to be immediate. Right now, I don’t know what we should do or where we would go.”

“I guess we’re on the same boat,” Jin said, drumming his fingers on the table. A moment later, he spoke again. “First, we need to know our financial strength, so we can plan around it. I have 5,000 dollars in the card Taehyung gave me. I’ve been saving money with him for a while now.”

Jungkook opened his mouth to respond but instead, asked, “Are you okay?”

“What? Why?”

“Just, you look a bit pale,” Jungkook said, unsure.

“I do?” Jin asked, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead. “I feel fine.”

Jungkook nodded, slowly. “Okay. Like I told you earlier, money isn’t a problem. We’re good.”

“How good?”

“Around 5 million,” he said. It was nowhere near how much he was worth but majority of his money were tied to the name he was running from. He could no longer assess his money so technically, this was all he was worth.

“Dollars?” Jin asked.

“Yes. 5 million dollars. It’s not too much but it’s enough, I believe.”

Jin stared at him, wide-eyed, then slowly, nodded his head, pursing his lips. “Yup,” he said. Then he chuckled, “Baby, you’re going to be the death of me. It is enough. Very enough.”

“Oh,” Jungkook said, although he didn’t get why Jin was laughing. “Alright then.”

“We can’t leave the country because everyone would be looking for us. Our pictures are probably on every media platform,” Jin said, then solemnly added. “My picture, actually. Your parents wouldn’t put up yours.”

The first pang of guilt since they left hit him right in the chest. “Jin.”

“So, we can’t leave, and we can’t go back to Seoul. Our best choice is to find a house in a remote village and just stay there for now. I know it’s vague but we can decide more as we move on. What do you say?”

“Do you want to go back?” He asked. “If you decide to go back now, I won’t protest I promise.”

“I thought we were planning a way forward and not back,” Jin said.

“But if you don’t want to move forward with me, away from Hoseok and Namjoon, Taehyung, the life you lived in Seoul, we can go back and I’ll tell everyone, I made you do it.” Which he did. He made Jin leave.

“Made me do it? You asked me to elope with you and I said yes. You didn’t force me to go anywhere with you. I decided that on my own. So, no, you didn’t make me do anything and I don’t want to go back if you’re just going to be miserable.”

“Are you miserable?”

“Do I look miserable?” Jin asked.

“No, but maybe you’re still in denial. Maybe, you’re trying to hide it from me. I’m trying to tell you that I’ll understand if you don’t want to move forward with the plan.”

“Do you not want to move forward with the plan? Because it seems like you’re the one having doubts.”

“Jin, no. I want to leave with you, to be with you.”

“Then, why are you trying to-” Jin winced, shutting his eyes. He pushed the chair back, leaning forward and wrapping his arm around his body.

“Jin?” Jungkook called. “What is it?”

Jin shook his head, saying nothing but he still had his arm on his stomach, this time he was pressing against it. He let out a groan and shoved the chair backwards. He jumped to his feet, stumbled through the café and headed straight for a door.

Jungkook followed him through the door and found himself in front of a locked bathroom, with the sound of loud vomiting coming from it.