Chapter 2: Whispers in the Wind

Taehyung stumbled home, the remnants of celebratory drinks blurring his vision and weighing heavily on his conscience. The mortification of his earlier encounter with the CEO still clung to him like a second skin. He collapsed onto the couch, the weight of his foolish outburst pressing down on him.

Nicole, his roommate, was applying eyeliner, her expression one of patient amusement. "Wow, you're drunk. What happened?" she asked, her tone laced with a familiar tolerance for Taehyung's occasional dramatic outbursts.

Instead of a coherent explanation, Taehyung erupted into a torrent of self-recriminating sobs, his wails echoing through the small apartment.  "Uwaaaahhhh! I'm so stupid!" he wailed, kicking his legs in the air like a petulant child.

Nicole sighed, completely unfazed by the display. She was used to this. "I know you are," she said dryly. "What's the matter?"

"I didn't recognize the CEO! I argued with Jeon Jungkook! I'm doomed!" Taehyung cried, his voice thick with despair.

Nicole raised an eyebrow. "What did you do to him?"

"I said awful things! He's my boss!  Jobs are hard to find, and this was my first interview!" Taehyung sobbed, his voice cracking with each hiccuping breath.

Nicole offered a pragmatic assessment. "Then you should expect you won't get the job."

Taehyung's sobs intensified. "But I had such high hopes for that company!Everyone wants to work there! Why am I so unbelievably stupid? Why is everything always so unfair?!"

Suddenly, a notification pinged on Taehyung’s phone. He grabbed it, his tears momentarily forgotten. It was an email from J's Company. He read it, his drunken stupor evaporating as the words registered. His eyes widened, disbelief battling with a burgeoning wave of elation. He'd been accepted – as an intern.

"YAHHH! I GOT ACCEPTED!!!" he shrieked, leaping to his feet, startling Nicole who nearly stabbed herself in the eye with her eyeliner brush.

"What the actual fuck, Taehyung?!" Nicole exclaimed, her voice tight with irritation.

Ignoring her, Taehyung, radiating pure, unadulterated joy, skipped into his room, muttering about the importance of beauty sleep.

The next day, Taehyung practically vibrated with excitement. A wide grin stretched across his face as he approached the imposing J's Company building. He inhaled deeply, savoring the air of opportunity, and confidently entered the building.

He waited for the elevator, his anticipation palpable. He spotted Jungkook stepping inside, and instinctively started to run towards it, only to be stopped by a stern-faced guard.

"You can't go in. This elevator is for VIPs only," the guard said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Jungkook!" Taehyung called out, his voice carrying a note of urgency.

A small, sharply dressed boy beside Jungkook glared at Taehyung. "How dare you call him by his name? He's the CEO! Show some respect and call him Mr. Jeon!"

Jungkook, however, interrupted smoothly. "It's alright, hyung. What is it, Taehyung?" His smile was warm, disarming.

Taehyung's cheeks flushed. "I-I wanted to thank you, Jun—I mean, Mr. Jeon.  I—"

Jungkook chuckled, ruffling Taehyung's hair. "You can call me whatever you want."

Yoongi, standing beside Jungkook, shot him a bewildered look.

"Thank you for yesterday," Taehyung continued, his voice slightly breathless. "And I'm so sorry for what I said. Thank you for giving me this chance. I won't let you down."

"I'm glad to hear that," Jungkook grinned.

"By the way," Taehyung said, remembering his promise, "what did you want me to do?"

"Since you're accepted, just work hard. I'll be watching your progress," Jungkook said simply.

Taehyung's lips pouted slightly in confusion. "That's it?"

Jungkook teased him. "Yes. Want something else? Like mandatory overtime every day?"

Taehyung laughed. "No, this is fine. I'll do my best."

"Good," Jungkook said, turning to leave.  "I'll see you around."

"Okay!" Taehyung beamed, his boxy smile radiant.

Jungkook, unable to resist, poked Taehyung's nose. "Cute," he murmured before disappearing into the elevator.

Taehyung, left alone, cupped his cheeks, feeling the heat rise to his ears. He shook his head, attempting to regain his composure, before stepping into the elevator himself.

Back in Jungkook's office, Yoongi’s curiosity was piqued. "What was that all about?" he asked, his tone laced with a mixture of amusement and concern.

Jungkook, settling into his chair, opened a file. "What do you mean?"

"That guy. Why were you so…nice to him?" Yoongi pressed.

Jungkook looked up innocently. "He's cute, hyung. Can't I poke his nose?"

Yoongi rolled his eyes. "Just because he's cute? You're weird."

Jungkook shrugged. "He seemed to like it."

"Do you like him?" Yoongi asked bluntly.

Jungkook scoffed. "What makes you think that? He's just cute. You'd be weird if you said he wasn't."

"Just don't do that again," Yoongi warned. "It'll start rumors."

Jungkook ignored him, focusing on his work. But the rumors had already begun.

Later that day, Taehyung overheard snippets of conversation in the planning department.

"Did you hear the rumor?" one colleague whispered.

"What rumor?" another replied.

"About CEO Jeon and the intern. They say he hired him because he's his…spouse."

Taehyung choked on his strawberry yogurt shake. "What?  Isn't the CEO single? How can he have a spouse? I thought he was waiting for his mate."

"I know, right? But the craziest part? His spouse is a guy."

This news sent a wave of shock and disbelief through Taehyung. He was still processing the information when his colleagues continued to discuss the rumor.

"I can't believe it. He doesn't seem gay. I thought he was straight."

"I bet that intern is just a toy or something."

"What department is that intern in, anyway?"

"Planning department. Right here."

"But the only intern here was... Kim Taehyung,"

All eyes turned to Taehyung, who was desperately trying to appear nonchalant.

Their team leader, Jimin, intervened, his voice sharp and silencing. "Everyone, back to work! No more rumors. Don't want to get fired, do you?"

Taehyung, his face burning, fidgeted nervously, the whispers of the rumor swirling around him like a storm.