Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength.
━
The Art of War
Sun Tzu

≣

"The CEO of Korean National Oil . . . I'm his son."

Silence.

Stillness.

Time froze as Taehyung waited for a reaction, his heart beating rapidly in his chest. He barely even breathed, nervous that the slightest of sounds could upturn the world around him.

What the fuck did he just do? How could he so carelessly reveal his identity to someone he didn't completely trust?

But the answer was obvious. Watching Jungkook unravel, seeing the uncertainty and betrayal in his eyes, hurt more than Taehyung anticipated. He couldn't let the younger believe this was all a trap; he couldn't let him fear for his life.

So he spoke the words that could very well be his death sentence. He abandoned all logical thinking - put his life on the line - to comfort his own imposter.

"Kook?" Taehyung asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His feet moved incrementally, stepping closer to the boy in an effort to close the distance between them.

But Jungkook retreated, walking backward until his back collided with the closed doors to the balcony. A myriad of emotions flashed over his face: doubt, alarm, clarity, and understanding. He seemed to be processing a wide array of emotions all at once.

And either Jungkook was a phenomenal actor or he was genuinely shocked . . . There could be no in between. It was possible that he knew Taehyung's identity the entire time, playing along until he had the right opportunity to strike. Even now, seemingly terrified and cornered, he could pull out a gun and shoot Taehyung dead. This all could have been nothing but an elaborate scheme, constructed to destroy Korean National Oil from the inside out.

Or . . .

Or Jungkook could have somehow gotten himself involved in a mess he didn't even begin to understand, and was simply along for the ride. No hidden motives, no secret missions, just sheer stupidity.

Taehyung didn't know for sure, but that didn't stop him from speaking his truth. He let his weak and softening heart take control, eliminating all common sense and proper protocol from his mind. After his father became the company's CEO, he was told never to reveal their relationship under any circumstances. The reasons and risks had always been clear enough: Taehyung was a liability; people could use him to influence his father for personal gain.

But everything he learned - the lessons, procedures, and safety measures - meant nothing when the boy he cared about feared for his own life.

Maybe if Taehyung didn't have such a trusting, kind, or fucking peaceful heart, he wouldn't be in this position right now. But he did. He wasn't ruthless or cunning, not harsh or manipulative. He couldn't possibly watch Jungkook convince himself that Taehyung was playing with him or setting him up for defeat. So he threw caution to the wind and opened up.

If this all went poorly, Taehyung had no one to blame but himself.

After another moment of silence passed, Taehyung cleared his throat. He had no idea how to question someone properly, but he was willing to give it a shot. Although Yoongi and Jungkook already met, he didn't want to involve the Chief before Taehyung had the chance to talk with his imposter.

"Have you ever heard of Kim Chinhwa?" He asked, watching the younger's face for the tiniest of movements.

A small shake of the head was the only answer he got. There was no flash of recognition, no widening of Jungkook's doe-like eyes. There wasn't even a victorious smile, an egotistical gloating after finally uncovering the truth. There was nothing at all.

Again, Jungkook was either truly clueless or he was lying once again.

"Alright. What do you know of the oil industry, of Korean National Oil? Are you working with one of our competitors, trying to gain intelligence?"

"Tae, I swear I know nothing," Jungkook finally spoke, his voice shaky with nerves. "Namjoon kept me as far away from his job as possible. The only name I ever heard him say was Korean National Oil."

Taehyung shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to think of what to ask next. In a sense, it almost didn't matter what questions he came up with. There was no reliable way of validating the younger's claims or arguments. The only thing Taehyung had, the only thing he could rely on, was his gut instinct.

"Did you know he was a bodyguard? Did you know who he was in charge of protecting?"

At that, Jungkook dipped his chin. "Yes. Joon said he was responsible for the CEO's family, the man's wife and son. I knew he was in Seoul at the family's house and had even visited a couple of times in the beginning. But when he left the city three years ago, I had no idea where he - where you all - went."

Taehyung hummed, considering all the facts. "So you knew we all left. Interesting."

"Namjoon was my brother, Tae. Of course, he told me he left the capitol. I used to visit him, and he couldn't have me searching for his whereabouts. But that didn't matter anyway. I never knew any sort of information that could jeopardize his safety or job status. I never even knew how to call him," Jungkook explained, an unsteady hand pushing back his hair.

Taehyung believed Jungkook.

It was probably just another one of his stupid and reckless conclusions, but deep in the marrow of his bones, he didn't think the younger was lying. It all went back to that pesky gut instinct; no alarm bells were going off in Taehyung's head that ordered him to get away. Not only did he want to have faith in Jungkook, but he did.

So Taehyung chose to believe him, however unwise that decision was. He needed to trust his convictions and remain hopeful that they wouldn't get him killed down the road.

"Are you . . . Are you really the CEO's son?" Jungkook asked hesitantly, his teeth sinking into his lower lip.

Taehyung raised his eyebrows. "I said I was, didn't I?"

"You also said you were the bodyguard, hired by Korean National Oil to protect the CEO's family," the younger argued, his eyes narrowing as he stared back at Taehyung.

"I didn't lie about that."

And that was true - Taehyung got the job due to his own skill and merit. Granted, the Chief definitely wouldn't have hired him if his identity had been known at the time, but still. He didn't lie when he first met Jungkook . . . He just didn't disclose the entire truth.

But Jungkook still didn't understand. He shook his head, doubt creeping into his gaze once more. "That doesn't make any sense. Why would . . . Why would you . . .?"

The smart move would be to have Yoongi come to their room. The three of them could talk openly, review all of the events from the beginning, and clear the air. Then, depending on how that went, Taehyung could continue with his side of the story.

But looking at Jungkook, Taehyung had the unjustified priority of placating the boy before adding the stress of an interrogation to the mix. So he ignored the correct customs and instead followed his own rules.

Naturally, his own rules had always gotten him into trouble, but he ignored all of that for now.

"Do you remember when you asked me why I took this job?" He probed, recalling their conversation from the car. "I told you I was tired of people dying. What I meant was . . . I was tired of people dying for me."

"But why would your boss hire you as your own bodyguard? Do you see why I'm confused?" Jungkook pushed away from the wall and stalked over to the couch, sitting and burying his head in his hands. "How do I know this isn't some setup? How do I know you are who you say you are? How can I trust you?"

Taehyung walked closer, but still left a fair amount of distance between them. "Don't you think I've asked myself all of those questions about you? I found you in my house, knowing answers to security questions only Namjoon and I should've known. You said you were me."

There was a slight pause, a moment where neither spoke. Both boys were lost to their thoughts, wondering how they could best determine fact from fiction. There were no good ways to trust the other; no, that trust had never been properly built from the beginning. So now, all they were left with was confusing details and unclear details.

If only they could go back and start over.

"I thought you were going to kill me that first night," Jungkook said from behind his fingers, his voice muffled and distorted.

Taehyung watched him closely. "Why?"

"Why?" Jungkook dropped his hands, moving them to wrap around his stomach defensively. He found Taehyung's gaze again, fear evident in his wide eyes. "When you and I met, you had a gun against my head. I had no idea who you were, and I was fucking terrified. And even though you said you worked for the same company as Namjoon, I still couldn't trust you. Not knowing you were a part of Korean National Oil."

That made absolutely no sense to Taehyung. "What do you mean? I don't -"

"Ever since Namjoon started working at the company three years ago, he repeatedly told me how corrupt and vicious the people were there. He said the CEO hated outsiders and wouldn't hesitate to kill his opposition. That's the belief I always operated under. So, when you said you worked at that same company, I was convinced you'd kill me without question."

Confusion overtook Taehyung's ability to think clearly. He'd known the bodyguard for three years, and not once did that man ever appear to despise or fear Korean National Oil. Namjoon - the professional and respectful Namjoon - did all he could to keep Taehyung and his mother safe, no questions asked. So to hear all of this, that he thought so negatively about the company, didn't add up.

But before Taehyung could further analyze this new information, Jungkook continued with his side of the story.

"When you asked me if I was the CEO's son, the person who you were supposed to protect, I made a choice. I thought I'd have a greater chance of making it to morning if I pretended to be . . . to be you."

If that was all true, Jungkook was more impulsive than Taehyung thought. Over the last few days, the younger frequently acted without thinking of the consequences, instead choosing to dive headfirst into everything. And each time, Taehyung had to be the one to save his ass. So learning this didn't really surprise him. No, this sounded exactly like the boy he'd come to know.

"You're something else. I don't even know what," he muttered under his breath, thinking that the younger was some concoction of recklessness and spontaneity.

If Jungkook heard him, he didn't comment on it. "I just wanted to survive until Jin came back to the house and could help me resolve everything. At most, I thought I'd pretend for a few hours. But then the house got broken into and we were trying to escape and then we were running from the attackers and there was that guy with the gun and -"

"Kook." Taehyung interrupted the younger's nervous rambling, finally joining the boy on the couch. "It's okay. I believe you."

Jungkook sucked in a sharp breath. "You do?"

"I'm putting my trust in you," Taehyung confirmed, quickly licking over his lower lip. "Please . . . Please don't make me regret that decision."

"I won't," the younger murmured, voice quiet but tone convincing. "And Tae . . . I never wanted to hurt you by lying. The whole time, I was so afraid I'd get you in trouble or fired because of everything I did."

"Well, I ended up doing all of that for myself," Taehyung smirked, remembering his conversation with Yoongi last night. "To say Yoongi was pissed would be a massive understatement. When he learned who I really was . . . Yeah. He fired me as a bodyguard."

The Chief of Security at Korean National Oil was not amused when he learned he'd been fooled, lied to, and taken advantage of. He didn't scream or curse, but his deadly stare said it all. He was furious. Livid.

"I guess it all makes sense now . . . Why you didn't want me going to the Chief. Why you didn't want me to leave the room. You knew I planned on coming clean," Jungkook speculated, nodding to himself as he put the pieces of the puzzle together.

"It's like I told you. I always had your best interest in mind," Taehyung agreed, shrugging a shoulder casually. "I never wanted to see you get hurt."

"Because of Joon?"

"In the beginning."

Jungkook drew his legs up on the couch, folding them like a pretzel. "And now?"

Taehyung chuckled gently, running a hand through his hair. "How many times do you want me to say that I care for you?"

The younger looked down, a shade of red tinting his cheeks. "It means so much more to me now. You don't just care about me because it's your job to. It . . . It was never your job to look out for me."

"No, not really."

It was a quiet admission.

Fuck, how could it be so early in the morning and yet Taehyung was already completely exhausted? This last week and a half had been so incredibly tolling on his heart, mind, body, and soul, and by now, he was burnt out. He needed time - so much fucking time - to sort through all of his pain and to begin the grieving process. But he had none of it.

However, there was one monumental weight off of his shoulders: he no longer had to keep his massive secret hidden from Jungkook. He had been so drained this entire time, filtering his words and doubting himself each step of the way. So now that he decided to no longer guard his identity, he felt relieved.

And at this point, he'd take any reprieve from this mess that he could get.

Jungkook ran his hands over his bent legs, finally directing his gaze back at Taehyung. "You must think I'm such a fool, lying to you for so long. What . . . What went through your mind when we first met?"

"A lot of things," Taehyung confessed, angling himself to face the younger better. "When you claimed to be me, I was going to knock you unconscious then call Yoongi for backup."

"Fuck," Jungkook murmured, rubbing at his neck. "Really?"

"Yeah, but then the break-in happened. All I cared about was getting out of that house, and since you had a car . . ."

"You used me," Jungkook finished, leaning against the armrest. "Did Namjoon used to tell you to use people until -"

"Until you got your worth out of them," Taehyung cut him off, nodding his head. "Yeah. So, I figured I'd get myself to safety then question you. Probably knock you out, steal your keys, then drive us to the company."

"So once you found out that I was Joon's brother, you had a change of heart?"

"Namjoon was my only friend for three years, but I never even knew he had a family. You shook everything I knew by saying he was not only married, but had a brother. And to find out that that brother was pretending to be me . . . It was a lot. But I didn't doubt you. Something told me you were telling the truth. So I threw all of my initial plans away and vowed to myself - to Namjoon - that I'd do everything possible to keep you alive."

And that was precisely how it happened; those were the exact thoughts that went through Taehyung's mind. Even though he recognized the stupidity of his actions, he owed Namjoon his life. The least he could do was keep the bodyguard's brother safe.

Jungkook hummed in understanding, though his eyebrows settled low on his face. "Why didn't you ever confront me about the lie? Why let me continue with this for so long?"

Taehyung asked himself these questions over and over again. "I still didn't understand your motives. I didn't know why you'd pretend to be me. So, I figured I'd keep my eye on you, watch you closely, and see what you were up to."

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer," the younger summarized, a wistful smile pulling at his lips.

And despite the serious aura coating the room, Taehyung laughed. "You sound like Namjoon."

"Well, The Art of War was his favorite book," Jungkook grinned in return. "He loved quoting anything from Sun Tzu, didn't he?"

Taehyung nodded, memories of his late bodyguard swarming his mind. The mood sobered once more, the knowledge of what happened to Namjoon bringing back the layers of sadness and confusion.

"Tae?" Jungkook asked, his smile drooping as he fiddled with his fingers. "What happened?"

It was obvious what the younger wanted to know. And even though Taehyung shouldn't disclose his story, should really get up and call Yoongi, he leaned deeper into the cushions.

He wanted - no, needed - to talk about this.

"My dad was elected as the CEO five years ago. He'd been at the company for a while, slowly moving up the ranks, when he interviewed for the position. And he got it," Taehyung started, remembering how excited he had been for his father. "But honestly, not much changed in the beginning. I was already in Seoul for school, so my parents bought and moved into the Seoul house. We lived there for a couple of years."

Taehyung vaguely recalled those early days, when he knew nothing about his father's job or the oil industry. None of it interested him; he never took the initiative to learn because he knew he didn't want to be involved in the industry. Instead, he took a mix of classes at his university, studying everything from chemistry to marketing to architecture. He was a free spirit, curious to learn about anything that piqued his interest.

"I met Bogum a year or so after that. His father had been in charge of Golden Oil for a while, and we ran into each other at a party. He was sophisticated and well-versed in the oil business, and I got it in my mind that I should be just like him. We dated for nine months before I finally had enough."

"What happened?" Jungkook asked, fingers tracing over his tattoos. "What ended things?"

Taehyung wasn't sure he was ready to disclose that story just yet, so he shrugged his shoulders. "A lot of things, I guess. We can . . . We can talk about that later."

The younger nodded, remaining quiet as he waited for Taehyung to continue.

"Right around the time Bogum and I broke up, my family started receiving threats. They were mostly aimed at my mother and me, and included everything from kidnapping to murder."

"Shit," Jungkook breathed, the word seeming to escape unintentionally.

"There were a lot of precautions put into place, including multiple security details, but it was all so . . . ridiculous. I couldn't go anywhere without a team, even if I was going to class or hanging out with friends. It was absolutely absurd, and most of the time, it made me more of a target."

"So, how did Namjoon get involved?"

Taehyung tilted his head back, easily looking back on the day of Namjoon's interview. "To make things more inconspicuous, the security team decided to hire personal bodyguards for my mother and me. Your brother interviewed, and he and I got along really well. He was like the big brother I always wanted. So, I begged the then-Chief to hire him, and they agreed he'd be the best fit. He moved into the Seoul house shortly after that."

Jungkook nodded, though he still wore a confused expression. "I never heard Joon talk about another bodyguard."

"There never was a second. They didn't find a suitable one for my mom before the first attack." That day was still so clear in Taehyung's mind, the first of multiple attacks that plagued him and his family over the years.

"The first attack?" The younger clarified, eyes bulging out of his head. "How many were there?"

Pursing his lips, Taehyung attempted to count them, but it was futile. There were too many. "At least ten during the first six months. My mom, Joon, and I bounced around the country for a while before settling on our last home. We were there for two and a half years, far removed from the world."

At first, when Taehyung was winding down from his club-going ways, the transition was torture. He couldn't talk to his friends or go anywhere unattended. Computers and electronics were out of the question. It had felt like he regressed through time, getting less and less technologically advanced until he had almost nothing.

But after a year, he got used to it. The simpler ways of life eventually became preferential, and he found joy in activities like gardening and reading. Namjoon also taught him self defense and how to use a gun, both activities that Taehyung detested. But the bodyguard always persisted, saying Taehyung needed to know how to protect his mother, just in case.

Taehyung shook his head, not wanting to concentrate on all of that now. "Everything seemed to be going okay until almost two weeks ago, when . . . when . . ."

"The murders," Jungkook murmured, correctly guessing the unspoken words. 

Taehyung looked down at his hands, not sure how he wanted - or if he even could - open up about that day. As soon as he started to speak about what happened, he knew he'd spiral downwards. Even last night, when he recounted everything to Yoongi, he couldn't go into descriptive detail. Just thinking about that day pushed Taehyung closer and closer to falling apart.

But maybe he should try to talk about it. Maybe it would be cathartic. Maybe Jungkook - the boy who managed to break past his defenses - could provide the consolation he needed.

Taehyung took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Namjoon was busy that morning, running all around looking for god knows what. He always used to misplace his things, so it wasn't an odd occurrence. I wanted to go into town to buy some fruit, but Joon wouldn't take me. He said it could wait until later . . . He forbade me from going on my own. That really pissed me off, reminding me yet again how little freedom I possessed. So . . . I snuck out.

"Everything would've been fine if I went straight to the store and then right back home. But I wandered around, just so fucking happy to be by myself for once. It was so freeing to go outside and not have someone right there. But as I was walking, I overheard a man asking for directions. He wanted to go to a farm near my house, so I pointed him in the right way."

Taehyung brought his hands up to his eyes, rubbing over the skin there like it would erase the memories.

It didn't.

"Was he the gunman?" The younger questioned softly, resting a hand on Taehyung's ankle in a show of support.

A soft hum in confirmation left Taehyung's mouth, the only sound he could make at the moment. His mind was attempting to transport him back to that day, the worst day of his entire life. The day he lost his loving mother and his trusted friend, his bodyguard.

The day he failed.

"Tae, you don't have to talk about it," Jungkook murmured, hand now running up and down his calf. "I . . . I understand. All that pain you hold in your heart . . ."

But he didn't understand. Not really. No one could understand what it felt like to watch your loved ones die, standing back and doing absolutely fucking nothing. No one could understand that guilt or shame.

"I got back to the house shortly after," he forced himself to continue, clenching his hands into fists. "And I overheard an argument between my mother and someone else, a voice I didn't quite recognize. I crept through the rooms, stopping when I saw that same man confronting my mom.

"I had a Glock on me; Joon had trained me on that gun early on, and I carried it whenever I went outside. When the man reached for his pocket, I reached for mine. When he aimed his gun at my mom, I aimed my gun at him. All I had to do was shoot."

The loud, caustic voices filled Taehyung's mind, an endless loop of arguing and yelling and then screaming. It got louder and louder with each passing second, so he spoke again to drown out the noise of it all.

"Namjoon came in the room, ordering the man to drop his gun. I don't remember too much of what they said, but I know the man asked where I was. Neither my mother or your brother answered . . . That's when the first two shots were fired, right into my mom's chest."

It was starting again. The screaming and the gunshots and the vision of blood splattering everywhere. Taehyung was transported back to that day, and all he could see was his mother collapsing and the thick, red liquid pouring out of her. All he could feel was the shaking of his hands around the gun, the silent tears wetting his cheeks.

"I could have stopped it," he said, more to himself than to the younger. "I just had to pull the fucking trigger, and then they'd still be alive. It . . . It's all my fault. I'm the reason they're dead."

Taehyung opened his eyes, fighting against the sting of tears. Jungkook's hand was frozen on his knee, his eyes shining.

"After my mom was shot, Namjoon screamed at the man, but it was all a blur. My ears were ringing from the sounds of the gunshots; my eyes were fuzzy from crying. And I was in the process of collapsing when that third gunshot rang out. Your . . . Your brother was on the ground, covered in blood next to my mom, and . . . It was so quiet."

Taehyung looked at the tattooed-covered hand on his knee, wishing he could hold it for comfort. But he was so afraid to move. He was terrified that Jungkook would rebuke him, blaming him - and rightfully so - for the death of his brother.

"It's all my fault," Taehyung breathed when the younger remained quiet. "I was the one who led the gunman there in the first place. But when I was needed most, I failed. I could've saved them, but I couldn't pull the fucking trigger. They're dead because of me. And it should've been me, not them. The guy wanted me."

Tears were pouring down his cheeks now, a small release of Taehyung's grief, but there was a pain in the center of his chest that rendered him breathless. All of the emotions he didn't want to feel, everything he suppressed, started to rise full force. But he deserved to feel the pain. He deserved to implode and crumble.

Everything was his fault. He should bear the consequences.

Warm hands cupped his cheeks, pulling his face upward. "Tae, look at me."

Taehyung shook his head, attempting to back away. "I'm sorry, Kook. I could've saved him . . .  It's all my fault. You have every right to hate me and -"

"Angel," Jungkook said softly, the tenderness in his voice new and previously unheard of. "You didn't kill your mom or Joon. You weren't the one who fired the bullets at them."

"But I could've stopped it, I could've -"

"I don't hate you," the younger spoke steadily, even though he was openly crying as well now. "You didn't kill them. You are not to blame. This isn't your fault."

Taehyung lacked the energy to form a rebuttal. He . . . He couldn't breathe. He needed to get away; he needed to find a place where he could release his anguish.

He scrambled off of the couch, not sure where he was going until he ripped open the doors to the balcony. Once outside, he gripped the railing, head resting on top of his hands. If he could just get some air into his lungs, if he could only push away the memories, maybe he'd be able to endure.

Not two seconds went by until Jungkook was there, pulling him up and into his arms. He tucked Taehyung's head into his chest, holding him against the rapid beating of his heart.

"I got you," the younger assured, cupping the back of Taehyung's head with one hand, and securing the other around his waist. "You're not alone in this. I'm not . . . I'm not going to let you go through this on your own, okay?"

Taehyung struggled for breath as he held onto Jungkook, the only tangible thing keeping him here. If he let go, who knows where his grief would transport him. So he clung to the boy - the imposter and the brother and the brat and his only companion.

"Why don't we take a break from this?" Jungkook offered, his chin settling on Taehyung's head. "We can lie down, take a walk, or -"

"I want to get it all out now," Taehyung said hoarsely, fingers spraying wide over Jungkook's back. Being this close gave him more comfort than he expected, and he didn't want to let go any time soon.

But Jungkook pulled back, looking him in the eye. "Are you sure?"

Taehyung nodded, knowing that it would only continue to hurt if he didn't say it all out loud. So he let the younger lead him back inside, where he was lightly pushed down onto the bed. Jungkook joined him on the other side, and they stretched out with barely a foot of space between their bodies.

The younger took hold of one of his hands. "We could always sleep, too."

"Are you just saying that so you can kiss me again?" Taehyung softly smiled, the corner of his mouth lifting.

Jungkook's eyes widened. "You . . . How . . .?"

"I'm a light sleeper, remember?"

As soon as Jungkook had scooted closer to Taehyung this morning, the mattress dipping and sheets sliding, Taehyung began to wake up. And when the younger's lips pressed against his own, when he murmured that sweet apology, Taehyung had been fully awake.

"But . . . You didn't say anything," the younger defended, cheeks red once more.

"I know," Taehyung murmured, thumb tracing over the back of Jungkook's hand. "It was cute, and I didn't want to spoil the moment. I ended up falling asleep, only to wake up to find you missing."

Jungkook chuckled lowly, like he was slightly embarrassed over his actions. "I'm sorry . . . For everything, Tae. I really, truly am. And I know there's no reason for you to believe me, but it's the truth."

"I know, Kook. And I do believe you. But let's talk about that later. I want to tell you the rest."

"Okay."

With his free hand, Taehyung plumped the pillow underneath his head to get more comfortable. "After the murders, I knew I had to get out of the house. The guy was still inside, so I couldn't take much with me. All I had time to grab was Namjoon's Sig Sauer before I went running. I had no money, no phone . . . Nothing. Well, almost nothing. I had Yoongi's name."

"How did you know about him?" Jungkook asked lightly, tone gentle but curious.

"Namjoon told me right after Yoongi was hired," Taehyung explained. "The old Chief was fired because he leaked my mother's name to a competitor. Granted, that competitor was Golden Oil and the Park family already knew this information, but it was a sign of betrayal. I don't know what happened to him. But your brother told me Min Yoongi was hired as the new Chief of Security in his place. I had no reason to speak with Yoongi, but it was good to know who he was, at least."

Namjoon never said much about Yoongi, though his general impression was that the new Chief was young and lacked experience. And while Yoongi seemed agreeable, the late bodyguard had his concerns.

Taehyung sighed as he slipped back into his memories, trying to concentrate on the feel of Jungkook's hand rather than the pain. "I made my way to Seoul on foot, stealing food or flirting with strangers to get a meal. I slept when I could find shelter,  but oftentimes I walked through the night. A couple of days into the journey, when I was hungry and exhausted, I stupidly called Korean National Oil from a bar. I let them know I was coming and estimated the day and time I'd arrive."

Jungkook hummed in understanding. "When Jin was at the house, packing up Joon's belongings, he told me the company expected the son to arrive the next day. That's why I never assumed you would be the son . . . It was a day too early."

"Yeah, I moved more quickly than I expected," Taehyung affirmed, remembering how he barely stopped on his trek to Seoul. And if he didn't get lost so many times, if he asked for more directions, he probably would've arrived even sooner.

"When I finally got to the company, I was running on fumes," he continued after a pause. "Honestly, I had half a mind to leave everything behind, even my father. I was convinced I'd be putting him at risk if I stayed, so I seriously debating starting over. I almost didn't go inside. But I did. I decided to meet the Chief, then figure out if I wanted to stick around.

"But then, unbeknownst to me, I met Yoongi on my way up to his office. He talked about all the new security measures and how the son - how I - would be watched even more closely than before. It sounded like a cage and I just couldn't imagine that life for myself any longer. So when Yoongi assumed I was there to interview, I didn't correct him. I saw that as my sole shot at freedom. And besides, I wouldn't have to put anyone else in danger. It would be me . . . Just me."

And that was everything.

Everything that had happened, all of the misfortune that led Taehyung to where he was now, was finally out in the open.

And it fucking hurt.

After the days of running, hiding, and keeping his identity a secret, he had no time whatsoever to unpack all of his emotions. They kept growing, however, never once giving him a moment of rest.

But all of his actions - his inaction and faults - were out in the open. And instead of being rebuked or scolded, Jungkook offered support. He held onto Taehyung, letting him know he was there with him.

And while there were so many questions left, so many points of confusion, Taehyung could breathe again.

"Thank you for sharing all of that with me," Jungkook murmured, squeezing his hand tighter. "Thank you for trusting me. All this time, I thought you were going to hate me once you found out."

"I thought you were going to hate me, too," Taehyung responded, getting lost within the younger's eyes. "This . . . This is all such a mess."

Jungkook chuckled, his nose scrunching up. "It really is. Fuck, this feels like some weird dream we need to wake up from."

"I know. But we can't."

"Nope, this is our reality," the younger agreed. "There's no going back."

Taehyung shook his head. "Maybe not, but . . ."

"But what?"

"Maybe we can start over," he offered, a tentative proposal. "You and I."

Jungkook smiled, nodding enthusiastically. "I . . . I'd love that, Tae. I want to get to know you. To know you the right way."

"Alright. Well . . . I'm Kim Taehyung."

"It's nice to meet you, Kim Taehyung," the younger grinned, lifting their joined hands to kiss Taehyung's knuckles. "I'm Jeon Jungkook."

Jeon Jungkook. This was the first time Taehyung ever heard his full name.

Taehyung leaned forward, resting his forehead against the younger's. "It's nice to meet you, too."

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

So much revealed here, and yet there is STILL more to come!

Tell me how you guys are liking the story!

Also FYI: I'm going on vacation, and will be giving my brain a vacation as well! Next chapter should be up July 8, but I'll keep my bio updated!! I will see you all soon - love you so much 💜