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Chapter 19         /         Words: 6726

Tarhyung thought his life was beyond delusive fairytales and melodrama, but fairytales weren't as scary as the complexity he was facing these days.

His life before twenty five was so boring that he sometimes pinched himself to confirm if he was still breathing or not. His single forever ass couldn't even gather the confidence to seduce a boy. Nobody kissed him except his bestie.

But suddenly Korea's two most eligible bachelors were back to back confessing their love for him—it was indeed terrifying.

He pushed the man back who was hovering over him and talking hallucinatory things in his ears. "Mr Jung, what are you saying?" His heart was racing and his breath became faster. "You just can't say things like that!"

Hoseok took some time to study his every gesture, the boy before him seemed confused, shocked and scared; it wasn't his intention to make him scared. But at this crucial moment he couldn't deny the truth, "Taehyung, I'm serious. I love you. I love you so much. Trust me."

Taehyung didn't know whom to trust, he wasn't habituated with so many plot twists at a certain time. "But how can this be possible? How can you be my poor friend Hobi? How can I trust you when I don't know who's the one telling me the truth? You or him?"

"We're the same person. I am your friend." Hoseok grabbed his hand into his and came closer. "I didn't lie to you that night. And also not now."

Taehyung snapped his hand back, frowned. "Don't try to fool me. I can remember everything. You said you didn't have a family. But Mr Wen is your grandpa. You also said you didn't have any money but you are the only grandson of the richest man here."

Hoseok sighed. "When I said I didn't have any money, that moment I actually was penniless. I even showed you my empty pockets." He hopefully looked at the other boy, but failed to find any sympathy.

"What about family?" Taehyung rasped, eyes narrowed on him.

Hoseok looked away, "That, I can't tell you now."

"Huh! I knew it." Taehyung shaked his index finger before Mr Jung, "Ok fine, tell me why were you going to jump from there?"

"No I wasn't." Hoseok came closer to him, put his hands on his shoulder, drawing his full attention on him, "You'd assumed that I was going to suicide. I was actually talking with my mom and you interrupted."

"Mom?"

Hoseok sighed again, "Yeah. When I was in my high school, my mom died in a car accident. The car lost control on the bridge and flipped down in the river." He put his hands down, eyes still on him. "Taehyung, can you sit for a moment and let me explain everything?"

Coming out of the daze, Taehyung mumbled, "I-I have to go." He thought Jungkook must be waiting for him downstairs.

"No please listen to me." Hoseok held his hand again to stop him. This time Taehyung didn't pull it away.

"I don't know what to say Mr Jung. My brain is going to explode. I only knew a man who was extremely poor who couldn't even buy food for himself. I was happy to get a friend like him. Then one day suddenly I found him in a party full of rich people and the biggest surprise; he was the richest there. Now he's saying love and marriage kind of stuff. What should I do and what should I think, can you please enlighten me?"

"Taehyung, have a seat first. Please!" Hoseok guided him to his sofa. Taehyung sat with a blank face. One part of his mind was pushing him to get out of there, another one couldn't decide if it should listen to the other part or not. Mr Jung aka Hobi continued, "I sometimes go to Han river to talk with my mom. I know this may sound stupid but I feel relaxed and happy when I go there."

"But why do you have to go there in disguise? Do you like roleplay or wanna start your career in acting?" He's quite good looking and good at fighting too: Taehyung thought looking at him.

"If I go there wearing three piece suits, riding in a luxurious car and with three to four bulky bodyguards behind, don't you think it would create a scene?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes upwards, imagined that scene, nodded when he realized this man was telling the truth; it would indeed grab unwanted attention. "Oh yeah you're right. What about your friends? Do they know about you?"

"No. I didn't tell them. They are my only genuine friends. Hoseok took a deep breath before digging into his past. "From childhood till now, I only saw my classmates trying to talk with me because I was rich. They used to fulfill my every order like I was a God and they could do anything to please me. Even they competed with each other to sit beside me in the class. Only Kai and his friends treated me like their friends. Talked with like a normal person. I'm glad that I found them."

Taehyung shook his head, "I still can't believe this. Why did you act like you don't know me in front of everyone in the party? Why? Was it because Jungkook was there and didn't want to let everyone know that his poor secretary is your friend?

"No Tae, it's not like that." Hoseok's voice shaked in nervousness but he maintained his serious expression, "You saw my secretary was there, right? She works under me but takes orders from my grandpa. She's literally his spy. If my grandpa somehow comes to know about my midnight ventures, he'll never let me go out again."

"Oh I see." Taehyung nodded, then got up, thinking about his boyfriend. "I have to go now."

"No please! Please don't go." Hoseok didn't touch him this time. His heart was racing erratically. This feeling was so uncommon for him. He could get anything if he wanted, even a person but he only wanted him. Only Taehyung. "I love you Taehyung."

Taehyung closed his eyes for a moment. Hoseok's soft voice touched his heart but that heart belonged to Jungkook. He thought Hobi was his friend and he obviously couldn't see him more than that, but still he wanted to know if this guy was telling him the truth or trying to trick him. He took a sharp breath and turned, "Why? Why do you love me Mr Jung? I'm not an important person. You don't even know me that well."

"Who said you're not important?" Hoseok's blazing eyes rooted on him, expression soft, "I've never seen anyone as kind as you. You told me you will be my friend when you didn't even know me. I went there several times but no one talked with me. No one was interested in a lonely boy who was standing on the bridge railing dangerously. But you did. You even bought me food, when you didn't have enough money to buy your own food. You said your boss was giving you extra work and treating you like a shit, but you still wanted to continue this job because of your family. You tried to save your sister when you knew you can't beat those four people alone. Now tell me where can I find a perfect person like you? My love for you isn't a love-at-first-sight thingy, I love you because everyday you make me think of you. Whenever I'm with you or we're apart, I can't stop thinking about you."

"I'm sorry. But, I don't love you. I can't love you because I love someone else." Taehyung expressed tenderly, looking into his eyes.

Hoseok's eyes darkened, "I know. He's Jungkook. Right?"

"How did you know?"

"When I came back from Las Vegas, I heard everything. How Jungkook fired you from office and you went to Busan. But when I heard he went behind you, I guessed." He sighed looking down. He regretted not being here at that time. The thought of Taehyung crying on the streets alone, made him more insipid.

Taehyung's eyes got bigger in confusion, "As you know everything, then why did you ask me to marry you?"

"Because Jeon doesn't deserve you. He's not the right person for you."

Taehyung didn't like the cynicism in his voice, he muttered bitterly, "How could you say that?"

Hoseok loosened his tie around his neck and opened the first button of his shirt. The continued building tension was making it hard to breathe. "I knew him for a very long time as our families used to attend the same parties. But when I met him at our college, I didn't like his arrogant attitude at all. We weren't on good terms, maybe he told you before." He paused for a moment, the other boy nodded, "Girls and boys were crazy for him but after one night stands, he used to neglect them. He even slept with our professors. He never cared about other people's emotions, that's why I didn't like him."

Taehyung huffed. He knew: everyone tells stories their own way, from their own perspective. Now Hoseok was telling him about how bad his boyfriend was and if he asked Jungkook, he might tell him how awful Hoseok was in their college. But those were all simple past. "I don't want to think about the past Mr Jung. He has changed. He loves me and cares for me. And I love him too. Our present is all that matters to me."

Hoseok became restless, "You aren't understanding, he loves his company more than anything. If he ever has to choose between you and the company, he will go for the company."

"Isn't that good?" His eyes glittered feverishly while he tried to prove his point to Hoseok, "I know that he loves his company more than anyone because it was his father's dream. I'm glad that he loves his mom dad more than me. We just met a few days ago and his parents raised him all these years. If I ever have to choose between Jungkook and my mom, I will definitely choose my mom."

Hoseok made an annoyed noise. Why it was so hard to convince him; why he was so stubborn, but he was determined to save his love at any cost. "Taehyung, maybe you're naive and can't see his true self, but I can't let you end up with a moron like him."

"Mr Jung!" Taehyung had it enough. "I don't want to hear anything more about him. I'm leaving." He quickly went near the door. But Hoseok's pleading voice made him pause for a moment.

"Taehyung I love you and I won't let you go away from me. I'll make you fall in love with me." Hoseok's voice cracked, he found love after a decade, he couldn't just let him this easily. If his LOVE loved a good person, he won't complain, maybe stepped out from them, but to him Jungkook was the worst person in Korea and he would never let his love run after him. "I'll make you forget about him."

"That will never happen." Taehyung spoke without turning back, hands on the door handle, eyes were on nothing.

Hoseok howled from behind, "Yes that will! If you don't accept me, I won't accept his proposal. You have to come back to me."

Taehyung opened the door and moved from that overheated place. He made his mouth round and exhaled some hot breath. Now he could finally see his lover.

Meanwhile Jungkook was strolling restlessly in the parking lot. Pressing the life out of his car keys under his fist. "That's it hyung, I'm going in. I told you I don't trust that man."

"But you trust Taehyung, nah? Just wait for some minutes." Namjoon was resting his hips at his car door, hands folded across his chest, yawning from time to time. When his eyes found the much awaited man on the entrance, he shifted on his toes, "Here he comes."

Jungkook followed his eyes and found his boy, a sense of relief washed over him. "Tae, what took you so long?" 

Taehyung bit his lips, "Um, he was busy." 'Busy talking with him', but he couldn't say it aloud. He knew Jungkook was trying to maintain a cheerful persona before him but the insecurities about his company were eating him inside. He just didn't want to make his bunny more upset. "I had to wait."

"Oh! Alright just get inside the car. Weather is getting colder, you may catch a cold." Jungkook opened the door for him. He sat and secured himself with the seatbelt.

"Jungkook, I'm leaving then. I'll call you tomorrow, ok?" Namjoon gave the couple one last look and drove his own car.

After getting into the driving seat, Jungkook started the engine. His Rover roared silently and moved fast. "Hey, do you want to come to my house?" He asked the older guy softly.

Taehyung turned his head towards him, "No. I want to go home. I haven't seen my brother yet. He went for his coaching classes that time and mom said that she wants to say something important."

"Oh." Jungkook's eyes were fixed on the road as his car was running above average speed on the midnight streets. "We get only one day off before our office starts."

"Yeah." Taehyung nodded, he knew.

For a second, Jungkook turned his eyes on him, "Do you wanna go on a date tomorrow?"

"Can we?" His eyes beamed brighter than the streetlights.

"Yes." Jungkook smiled seeing his excitement, "You can choose the destination. But not the hiking again."

Taehyung chuckled, remembering how awkward his boss was when they were climbing that mountain. "Fine." He rubbed his fingertips under his lips, "Umm, what about playing video games in a cyber cafe?"

Jungkook liked that idea, "Sounds nice. Then we can go for a dinner date."

"Yes yes." Nothing would be more perfect than that. Taehyung agreed.

Parting ways from the loved ones was always painful. Jungkook held his hand and pulled him to a deep kiss when Taehyung was about to go out.

"Night baby. I love you." He hugged him for the last time of that night.

Taehyung closed his eyes, his cold body melted in his warm embrace like the snow melts away when the sun came out. "Love you too."

As soon as the door opened, he met his brother's happy eyes.

"Hyung, I missed you." Sunoo said, smiling.

Taehyung's heart melted again. He missed him so much. Every year they spent their Christmas holidays together. Dahyun used to dance on some random K-pop songs while all of them used to sing together for her. He missed his mother's cake and father's blessings this year. His life had become so much hectic; all his past happy moments felt like a dream.

He blinked rapidly to dry up the saltiness from his eyes. "How are you Sunoo?"

"I'm good." Sunoo gave him a thin white envelope, "Here's your Christmas card. Like every year I made it myself, for you and noona."

"Let me see." Taehyung opened the envelope and pulled out a hard paper, where his name was written under a cute drawing of his. His mouth parted as it was as beautiful as his brother's thoughts, he simpered, showing his rectangular grin, "Sunoo, your art is amazing. Thank you my baby brother. Did you like the watch I brought for you?"

"Yes, see this, it's perfect for my wrists." Sunoo raised his hand and showed him how beautifully the leather straps circled his slender wheatish wrist.

"Taehyung-ah, have you eaten there?" Their mother asked from the kitchen. She was almost done with her kitchen works.

"Yes mom. I'm full." He quickly released his party outfit and dressed in his comfortable red pajamas. After Sunoo got into deep sleep, he knocked at his mother's door. "Mom, I'm here. What did you want to say?"

"When you weren't here, a parcel came." His mother pulled out a big brown box from her cupboard and placed it on her bed, "Here it is. But the sender's name wasn't here."

"What?" Taehyung's eyebrows knitted together, this was indeed a surprise.

"Yeah somebody rang our bell and disappeared before I opened the door." Haesook opened it and pulled out a bundle of papers wrapped with a blue ribbon. "This is the first thing that came out. Our property papers." She raised her eyes to her son, "This means our loans are paid."

"I knew that actually, Jungkook told me somebody paid our loans. But I forgot to tell you that day."

She sighed, another envelope came out where a neatly folded white paper was in that. "This is your brother's admission bill from Seoul college. And all these books for your sister."

"Oh!" Taehyung peeped and saw the rest of that box was filled with books.

His mother repacked the box again and looked directly at him, "Do you know who sent these?"

Taehyung bit his lips, "Maybe I know. He's my friend. And these things are nothing compared to his wealth." He was surprised that Hoseok didn't even mention this to him.

"I see. But why is he suddenly helping us? Did you ask him?" She never taught her children to beg before anyone. Her poorness was her pride.

"No mom, he's a very nice person." Taehyung didn't want to make his mother worry. He smiled a little to make her mood lighter, "And don't worry, I'll return his money. Someday."

"Ok. It's already midnight. Go get some sleep." She put the box inside her cupboard as it was there before.

"You too." Taehyung told her good night and went to his own bed.

Several minutes passed, but he couldn't sleep.

He squeezed his eyes shut and prayed that all of his life problems could vanish like magic and he could live happily ever after with Jungkook. He knew God was taking a surprise exam without giving him any preparation time. One Park Rose wasn't enough, God sent another Jung Hoseok to upgrade his level. Double jeopardy.

But he would stay strong and make a good score. After all he was 'Jeon Jungkook'— that is what Jungkook told that girl in the pottery shop. Taehyung giggled like a little kid on his pillow, as he recalled his boyfriend's jealous face at that moment.

Sleep touched his eyes much later that night.

The next day,

When the bus stopped near the gaming cafe Jungkook told him before, Taehyung came down immediately. He searched for his boyfriend as he knew he would be there somewhere. After a quick search he could finally see him, waving his hand at the gate with a cute bunny smile. Blue jeans and a black hoodie was complimenting his boy next door look. his doe eyes were glassy and his cheeks were glowing like they'd met after a long year.

"Hey." Taehyung waved his hands and moved his light legs. He was wearing the red jacket Jungkook gave to him.

"Hey. You're looking tired, didn't you sleep well last night?" Jungkook asked as he came closer to him.

"Yeah." Taehyung shyly smiled. He wanted to say so many things to him, but when last night's conversation with Hoseok hazed his mind, his smile dropped. "Jungkook!"

"What?" Jungkook could see how quickly his expression changed. He frowned thinking if anything was bothering his boyfriend or not, "What is it baby?"

"I missed you." Taehyung mumbled, his eyes were sunk into deep thoughts.

Jungkook raised his hand and beckoned him to come closer, "Come here." He said as he pecked at his forehead.

Taehyung held his neck and kissed his mouth. His lips were unhurriedly moving in a rhythm, tongues collided together like a yin-yang circle; not too dark, not too innocent.

Jungkook pulled back first. A smirk formed on his glossy lips, "You want it right now, don't you?"

Taehyung shaked his head, blushing, "No. God! I just missed you Kookie."

"Good then.