Chapter 32: The Clue

The evening settled quietly around them, the atmosphere filled with the faint hum of cicadas outside the apartment. After eating at the small restaurant Taehyung had suggested—a cozy place tucked into an old street with food that reminded him faintly of childhood comfort—they finally arrived at the apartment Jungkook had rented for their supposed “visit.”

From the outside, the building looked modest, almost too ordinary, yet it was far from the busy neighborhoods, sitting on the edge of a secluded area where only a few houses were scattered at a distance. The silence was heavier here, but not suffocating—almost deceptively calm. Taehyung didn’t question it. The scenery surrounding the apartment was picturesque: mountains fading into the horizon, a ribbon of river glistening faintly in the dusk. It was beautiful enough to mask the unease that stirred in his chest.

“Taehyung, baby.”

His name rolled off Jungkook’s lips softly, a dangerous kind of gentleness. Taehyung was still kneeling in front of the wardrobe, neatly folding their clothes into the cabinet. He turned toward the doorway and saw Jungkook standing there, leaning casually against the frame, watching him with unreadable eyes.

“Yes?” Taehyung asked lightly, forcing a smile.

Jungkook stepped inside, his expression calm, almost too calm. “I forgot to buy you a new phone today. Can I get it for you next time instead?”

Taehyung blinked, then nodded without hesitation. “Of course. I don’t mind. Besides, it’s already too late for you to go out again.” His tone was casual, reassuring, though deep inside he felt a flicker of unease.

“If you need to call someone in the meantime, you can use mine,” Jungkook offered smoothly. His phone was still charging on the small table near the window, the screen face down, glowing faintly.

Taehyung smiled again, hiding the twist in his stomach. “I understand. Thank you.”

Jungkook’s hand reached out to ruffle his hair, an affectionate gesture that made Taehyung freeze for a second before forcing himself to relax. “You should take a rest after you finish. I’ll just check something outside,” Jungkook said casually, as if it were nothing, before slipping out of the room.

The door closed, and a faint smirk curved on Jungkook’s lips once he was beyond Taehyung’s sight.

Meanwhile, miles away, the atmosphere was the complete opposite.

“What do you mean you can’t locate Taehyung?!” Yoongi’s voice boomed across the villa’s living room, sharp with fury. His hands clenched at his sides, veins standing out on his arms.

Namjoon looked troubled, guilt clear on his face. “The GPS was functioning earlier. But suddenly, the signal disappeared. It’s not just turned off—the device itself is completely untraceable. That usually means one thing: it’s broken. And it’s more likely Jungkook did it on purpose.”

Yoongi’s jaw tightened, teeth grinding audibly. “If Jungkook destroyed Taehyung’s phone, it means he knows. He must’ve figured out that Taehyung was working with us. Damn it—he won’t let something like that slide.” His voice lowered into something darker, colder. “Taehyung could already be in danger.”

Namjoon frowned, anxiety etched across his features. “Have you heard anything from him? He must’ve been waiting for your update about Jimin’s parents. No calls? No messages?”

“Nothing,” Yoongi hissed, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. “His line is completely dead.”

A timid voice broke through their tension.

“Uhm…”

Both men turned sharply. Ilene stood hesitantly at the edge of the room, her hands clutching her shirt nervously. Her face was pale, but her eyes carried a flicker of determination.

“I don’t know if this helps, but… I think I overheard something.” Her voice trembled. “Jungkook and Taehyung—before they left—I heard them talking about Daegu. I think they’re going there to visit someone.”

“Daegu?” Yoongi’s eyes narrowed, calculating.

Ilene nodded quickly. “Yes. That’s all I caught. I’m sorry I don’t have more.”

Yoongi shook his head. “No, this is enough. It’s something.” His gaze shot at Namjoon.

“Go tell that friend of yours to help us track Taehyung,” Yoongi ordered, his tone sharp and urgent. “Have him check both Taehyung and Jimin’s addresses. And if he can expand the search, even better. It’s too suspicious for Jungkook to take him only to Daegu—and stay there this long. He’s definitely planning something.”

Namjoon didn’t waste a second; he rushed out of the villa to find Jin.

Although Jin had once sided with Jungkook, even helping him locate Namjoon, their bond wasn’t built on loyalty. Namjoon knew Jin well—money spoke louder than friendship. And with Jin’s knack for uncovering information, even the smallest clue was enough for him to pinpoint Jungkook’s location. Turning him against Jungkook would be all too easy with the right price.
That night, under the dim golden light of the apartment’s bedroom, the air was still and heavy.

“Taehyung, are you awake?” Jungkook’s voice was low, soft, and almost lulling. He was lying on his back, staring at the ceiling, while Taehyung lay on his side with his eyes closed.

“I can’t sleep yet,” Taehyung admitted honestly, voice faint.

A long silence passed before Jungkook spoke again, his words cutting through the quiet.

“What do you think of living on an island? Just the two of us—away from everything?”

Taehyung’s eyes shot open, confusion flashing across his face. He slowly turned to look at Jungkook, who was gazing at him with a strange calmness.

“What’s with that question?” Taehyung asked cautiously.

Jungkook chuckled softly, brushing it off. “It’s just a thought. A what-if situation. Don’t take it too seriously.”

Taehyung hesitated before answering. “I mean… it sounds peaceful. A beautiful island could be nice. But I don’t think I could live that far from the city, from people. I’d feel… isolated.” He paused, studying Jungkook’s expression. “And… don’t you think it would be strange? Just the two of us? You have a family, Jungkook.”

The mention of his family made Jungkook laugh bitterly. “You know I don’t care about them. Do you really think I can stand living with people I despise? Isn’t it better for us to leave all that behind? To be together, away from everything?”

The seriousness in his tone sent a chill down Taehyung’s spine. The idea wasn’t romantic. It was suffocating. A trap.

“Jungkook,” Taehyung began softly, choosing his words with care. “I understand how you feel. I know it’s hard for you. But you can’t run from reality forever. You have a family—you’re a father. You need to face that, no matter how much you hate it. You can’t just cut yourself off from the world and pretend it doesn’t exist.”

He swallowed, forcing himself to smile gently. “I’m grateful that you care for me. Really, I am. But don’t tie me into all of your choices. I’m your friend, Jungkook. A friend who will always be happy for you, who will always support you. But that doesn’t mean we can lock ourselves away together.”

Jungkook’s face remained expressionless, eyes dark and unreadable. His silence was heavy, frightening.

Taehyung forced himself to continue, reaching out and wrapping his arms around Jungkook, snuggling into his chest as if to soften the blow of his words.

“No matter what happens, even if our paths separate someday, I’ll still be your friend. I’ll always be here for you.” He smiled lightly, trying to dispel the tension. “You’re not mad at me, right?” he asked half-jokingly.

For a moment, there was nothing—no reaction, no emotion. Then Jungkook’s arms came around him, pulling him close, tighter than before.

“Of course not,” Jungkook whispered. “I understand you.”

Taehyung chuckled softly against his chest, relieved, unaware of the storm brewing behind Jungkook’s quiet tone.

Because deep down, Jungkook didn’t understand at all. He couldn’t. His obsession had already rooted too deeply inside him. And he wasn’t planning to let Taehyung go—ever. If he had to get rid of everyone, he would definitely do it without hesitation just to be with Taehyung.