"Hyung.."

Jin flinched as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced and saw Taehyung standing behind him.

"Oh... you're up." He uttered, standing from the chair to gesture the food he had set on the table.

"Have your breakfast." He added as he averted Taehyung's gaze.

"Is something wrong?" Taehyung asked.

He had been calling his brother for how many times but he seemed to be in deep thought.

"Nothing.." Jin immediately answered as he forced a smile.

"Go and eat. You wouldn't want to be late." He continued, tapping Taehyung by the shoulder before heading to his room to get ready for work.

Taehyung didn't say anything as he began eating the meal his brother had prepared for him.

At that time, his phone suddenly rang and on screen was Jimin's name.

"Hey, Tae." Jimin greeted as soon as Taehyung answered the call.

"Hey." was Taehyung's only response.

"I'll come by to pick you up. Let's go to the company together." Jimin informed.

"Okay." Taehyung could only agree before ending the call.

He finished his meal in a few minutes before heading to his room to get ready just in time for Jimin to show up in front of their apartment roughly half an hour after the call.

It was Jin who had opened the door for the other.

"Good morning, Jin-hyung." Jimin greeted which earned a smile from the older who opened the door wider for him.

"Taehyung is still in his room." Jin informed as he stared at the younger in the eyes.

The two of them had their gaze fixated in each other for a long time when Taehyung finally appeared next to them.

"You're early." Taehyung noticed as he saw Jimin smile.

"I'm always early." Jimin said before glancing at Jin who's getting ready to leave as well.

"Are you going with us?" He asked to which Jin immediately declined.

"You two go ahead. I'll check the locks first." He said.

"Okay. We'll be going ahead, hyung." Jimin uttered, giving the older a tap on the shoulder.

"Okay. Be safe." Jin smiled as Taehyung and Jimin left together.

As the two went out of the apartment, Jimin looked back at Jin who also had his eyes on him before the door finally closed.

————

It was a usual day in the office. Taehyung was busy typing some codes that his supervisor asked him to do when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

That Hyung
You left without messaging me.

He read the message for a couple more times before deciding to key in a reply.

Sorry, hyung. I forgot. I had to rush earlier because Jimin picked me up.

He sent the message and not a minute passed when two consecutive messages came.

That Hyung
You have to make it up to me tonight.

That Hyung
Have you seen the gift I left in your drawer?

The last message had Taehyung's attention. He gazed at the screen for the longest time before he began typing another reply.

What gift? I haven't checked my drawer.

An instant message came and Taehyung quickly opened to read the text, only to be disappointed.

That Hyung
That's for you to find out

He suddenly felt the urge to go home. It was foreign, as if there's something in his stomach that made him feel strange things.

There was an unexplainable sensation at the pit of his stomach at the thought of the gift Jungkook had prepared for him. He was about to reply when Jimin appeared next to him.

"Hey." Jimin smiled, glancing at his phone.

"Who are you messaging?" He asked as he peeked once more.

Taehyung didn't say anything, immediately hiding his phone inside his pocket.

"Do you need anything?" He asked and Jimin was quick to hold him by the arm.

"Let's grab lunch together later." Jimin said which had Taehyung nodding.

"You pick a place." He said.

"Okay." Jimin beamed, showing a thumbs up before heading back to his cubicle.

The other was long gone but Taehyung's gaze was still fixated at the direction he went.

He was staring at nothing for a long time before he snapped back to reality.

As Taehyung began working once more, his mind drifted back to the message Jungkook had sent.

It was the first time he couldn't concentrate in his work as his mind wander back to the gift the ravenette mentioned.

This thought filled his mind until lunch time came and Jimin dragged him to the café across the street.

"Let's not go somewhere far. The food's not bad here." Jimin said as he went to the table near the window.

Taehyung didn't comment, eyes already wandering inside the café as he looked for a specific ravenette.

"Oh yeah... your neighbor works here, right?" Jimin asked, noticing how Taehyung was practically looking around in search for someone.

"Yes." was Taehyung's response before his eyes caught sight of the ravenette emerging from the staff room.

Their eyes met, and Taehyung couldn't break eye contact.

"What should we have today?" Jimin asked which caught Taehyung's attention, abruptly looking away from the ravenette.

"I'll have the same as yours." He said.

"Okay. Hm.. Let me think." Jimin contemplated for a long time while Taehyung darted his gaze back at Jungkook who had his eyes on him as well.

It's as if they were conversing through their gaze, locked on nothing but each other.

"This sounds appetizing. Okay, let's have this." Jimin beamed as he turned to look at the waiter.

"Excuse me." He called, gazing at Jungkook who began walking towards them.

"Isn't he the one?" Jimin whispered discreetly to which Taehyung simply nodded.

"Good day. May I take your order?" Jungkook asked, eyes fixated on Taehyung who immediately greeted him.

"Hyung.. hi." The younger uttered which was answered by a soft smile from the ravenette.

"Taehyung.." Jungkook acknowledged before glancing at Jimin who started enumerating their orders.

As soon as Jimin was done, Jungkook excused himself, all the while Taehyung had his eyes on him.

He was too fixated on the ravenette that he didn't notice Jimin's serious gaze directed on him as he fished his phone out and started typing a message.

————

The day had finally ended with Taehyung almost hurrying home. He saved all the files he had finished for the day before making sure to shut down his computer.

He was placing his things inside his bag when Jimin approached him.

"Let's go." Jimin said.

"Have you finished your work?" Taehyung asked in return.

"Yeah. You?" Jimin inquired back.

"I did." Taehyung informed.

The two began heading out of the office where they bumped to some regular employees who were heading home as well.

"Thank fuck we're done for the day." Jimin groaned, stretching his arms up to relax his tired shoulders.

Taehyung didn't comment as he speed walked to catch the bus that was about to leave from the bus stop.

As soon as his bum hit the seat, he took his phone and messaged Jungkook.

I'll be heading home now. See you tonight.

"Hey.. what's with the rush?" Jimin asked as both of them were finally sitting side by side inside the bus that started driving off the place.

The question did not register in Taehyung's consciousness for a while. His mind was drifted to the only thing that mattered at that moment - Jungkook's gift for him.

"Hey.." Jimin repeated, nudging Taehyung by the shoulder to get his attention.

Taehyung glanced at the other, face still blank as he blinked a couple of times.

"You were saying?" He asked which earned a scoff from Jimin who looked away.

"Nothing." was all he could say as he silently gazed outside the window.

During the whole ride, Jimin and Taehyung didn't converse anymore. A deafening silence befell in between them until Taehyung's time to get off the bus.

"I'll be going." Taehyung said, gazing at Jimin who nodded his head.

As he stood and went for the door, Jimin suddenly called him in a rather hushed voice.

"Be safe." Jimin mouthed and Taehyung could only nod in response as he finally get off the bus, leaving Jimin who still had a worried look on his face.

His eyes didn't leave Taehung's retreating back as he whispered the words he truly wanted to say to him.

"... I'm sorry." He uttered before taking his phone out of his pocket and dialing a number he had come to know too well.

He could only look at Taehyung one more time as the bus started moving just in time for the voice on the other line echoed in his ears.

Meanwhile, Taehyung almost ran the distance to his apartment. He couldn't stop the foreign feeling tugging along his chest and at the pit of his stomach as he finally reached the door of his apartment.

He was taking his keys out when the door opened, revealing Jin's face.

"Hey.. you're here." Jin greeted with a smile.

"You didn't go to work, hyung?" Taehyung asked in return, seeing Jin in casual clothes.

The older averted his gaze before forcing another smile.

"I did... I just returned actually." He answered, opening the door wider for Taehyung who didn't ask anymore.

He went inside the apartment while Jin remained by the door. His eyes were deeply fixated on Taehyung's back before he finally closed the door behind.

_________

Little Lamb
I'm home now, hyung.

It had been almost an hour before Jungkook was able to read Taehyung's message. He had been preoccupied by doing some cleaning in the café before the closing time that he missed to reply.

He immediately typed a message after finishing for the day.

That's good. I'm assuming you've finally seen my gift.

The thought of Taehyung's blank face after seeing his gift came to mind, and it instantly made Jungkook grin.

He knew Taehyung is happy, but his face would still be as blank as slate. However, Jungkook need not to see Taehyung smile to know that he's happy.

Even the lack of expression would not be a hindrance for Jungkook to understand Taehyung.

A few minutes passed before a reply came.

Little Lamb
I did. Thank you, hyung.

Jungkook didn't realize that he's been smiling as he left for work and rode the bus going home.

To his home named Taehyung.

As the ravenette quietly sat on the farthest seat at the back, another message from Taehyung came.

Little Lamb
I can't wait to see you tonight, hyung.

Jungkook halted as he stared at the message for a long time. He contemplated hard before typing a reply.

Okay. See you.

With those words, Jungkook placed his phone back inside his pocket. For the whole ride, his eyes were in no particular thing outside the window, for his mind was already deep in thought until he reached the apartment complex.

He waited in his own apartment unit until dark before he could finally see Taehyung and join him in bed, a routine they both had been used to by now.

As Jungkook finally decided that it's time to sneak to Taehyung's room, his eyes darted at the knife on top of his drawer.

He stared at it for the longest time before deciding to leave through his own balcony which was only a block away from Taehyung's own.

Jungkook effortlessly jumped and swung across the block in between his and Taehyung's balcony.

Without a sweat and as slick as a cat, Jungkook landed on the balcony of Taehyung's room. The door was open as usual, an invitation for Jungkook to enter.

And just like the previous nights, Jungkook went inside.

He was welcomed by an empty bed, but instead of being fazed, a small smile crept from his lips when he finally felt something pressing on the back of his head.

"Don't even think of doing anything funny." A voice warned, not Taehyung's.

Jungkook didn't say anything as the gun was pressed harder on his head before the light finally illuminated the room.

Inside were four more men in black who had their guns pointed at the ravenette.

"Drop your weapon and put your hands on your back." Another command was given by the same voice which Jungkook had already guessed the owner by now.

"Where's Taehyung, detective?" Jungkook asked instead of doing what he's told.

However, detective Hoseok didn't answer him as well and instead, he stood in front of him, gun still pointed at the ravenette's head.

He stared at him in the eyes deeply.

"How does it feel to be betrayed by the same person you thought you're trying to protect?" Detective Hoseok spat, eyes condescending.

Jungkook understood the implications of the detective's words.

Taehyung betrayed him.

The ravenette knew what he meant, but instead of remorse, a smile appeared on his lips.

He leaned forward which had the other four men move closer, threatening to shoot but Hoseok was quick to give a signal not to do anything.

"I know Taehyung better than any of you. If you want me to go with you without a fight, you should be smart enough to answer me." Jungkook whispered which earned a sharp look from the detective.

Hoseok glared at him, eyes piercing on those dark charcoal eyes that seemed to laugh at him.

"If you don't want him involved in this mess and come out unscathed, do as I say." Detective Hoseok warned.

"What did you do to him?" Jungkook asked in a threatening voice.

"Nothing. I won't do anything to him, and it could stay that way only if you would cooperate." Detective Hoseok uttered, meeting the ravenette's intense gaze.

"Now drop your weapon. If you don't want Taehyung to rot behind bars with you, drop your fucking weapon." He reiterated.

Jungkook scoffed as he raised his hands up in surrender.

"You already know I have none." He said as he smiled at the detective who seemed baffled.

Detective Hoseok could tell.

He could clearly tell from Jungkook's unfazed behavior that he was able to discern their plan to entrap him, and yet he still came.

And to add it up, he came unarmed.

"What are you planning?" Detective Hoseok asked as one of the men finally went near to search Jungkook for a weapon.

And true to his words, he had none.

"Nothing." Jungkook answered as he was cuffed.

"You can't fool me. Why did you come if you already knew?" Detective Hoseok asked, eyes piercing on the other.

"Didn't you ask me to come? I just did what you told me. Didn't you say "I can't wait to see you tonight, hyung." Jungkook smirked which had Hoseok sighing.

"If you so wanted to pretend to be Taehyung, you should've done a bit more research. Taehyung wouldn't be sending such a cringe message." Jungkook added and it only caused the crease on Hoseok's forehead to deepen.

"If you already knew back then, why come?" Detective Hoseok asked once more, still couldn't understand how this man's mind work.

"Why do you think so?" Jungkook asked instead. His eyes were as black as the night as he stared at the detective who could finally understand.

All for Taehyung.

What this man had been doing was all for Taehyung.

Hoseok had his doubts before about this man's true intentions in approaching Taehyung again. He thought it was revenge, but the evidence he had gathered had made him think otherwise.

There's only one conclusion that Hoseok could form in his mind. Even though Jungkook knew what awaited him, he still came because he understood it's his only option to at least save Taehyung from getting involved.

It was his only way to take all the blame and protect him.

Now that his identity had been found out, Jungkook had to make a decision whether to go down with Taehyung or go down alone.

And Jungkook knew the answer even in the blink of an eye. He knew even before that when it came down to it, he wouldn't let Taehyung be harmed.

"Stick to your words, detective." Jungkook warned before he was taken by the men out of the apartment.

Detective Hoseok could only stare at the ravenette's back. He never knew facing him could leave such a bitter taste in his mouth.

As he finally went to follow them out, one of his men handed him the listening device Jimin had planted underneath Taehyung's bed.

"Our job is done here. Call Mr. Kim and tell him we captured the killer, so he could finally be at ease." Detective Hoseok commanded which his subordinate immediately followed.

Hoseok placed the listening device inside a tightly sealed plastic bag before heading out the hallway. He could hear the siren coming from the police car which made him look down.

He saw Jungkook being taken inside one of the cars, but before the ravenette entered, he looked up and stared at the detective who did not break eye contact.

And in that brief moment, Hoseok knew what went inside the mind of the ravenette.

Still Taehyung.

————

Love you 💜