Chapter 7:  The Unseen Threat

The day stretched on, a torturous blend of forced calm and simmering tension. Taehyung lay in bed, his mind a whirlwind of anxieties. Jungkook’s words echoed in his ears, a chilling reminder of the power he wielded, the danger of crossing him. Yet, the image of the man from the store lingered, a persistent shadow that refused to be banished.

He tried to focus on his studies, but the words on the page blurred, his thoughts drifting back to the chilling encounter.

“─ehyung, Taehyung!” he flinched when he heard Jimin yelled at his left ear.

“Hyung, why did you yell like that? You're making me die of a heart attack.” Taehyung sighed.

“I've been calling you since earlier, and you didn't even respond yet at least once; what's wrong with you?!” Jimin said, frustrated by Taehyung's action right now.

Taehyung was not in his senses as if he was lost in his own world. Just like now, since the class began, Taehyung was so lost until the end of the class. They were literally just sitting with each other and he was lucky it was Jimin who was beside him because Jimin could save his ass and get humiliated by their professor.

“I'm sorry, I was just stressed,” Taehyung  mumbled.

“Stress? Or scared? Taehyung, I've been telling you I'm not scared of Jungkook. You can trust me, and I'll protect you. Even if I can force myself to help you, you keep going back to him. Seriously, Taehyung, you knew it yourself; you were a smart person; I couldn't believe you were being this stupid because of him. You can leave him, Taehyung.” Jimin stated with concern in his tone.

“I can't, Hyung, I don't want to,” Taehyung cried.

“He's not sane, Taehyung, he's insane. You're still stuck in the past of what happened to him and he's using it to manipulate you. It's not your fault, you were also a kid back then. You didn't know what would happen that time. He's obviously gaslighting you.” Jimin sighed in disappointment.

“Even if I were able to leave him, he would do anything to find me, Hyung. He would kill you, he would kill everyone who will be involved in my escape, and I don't want to lose you. He would kill me.” Taehyung sobbed; the stress was putting pressure on his mind. He was psychologically being destroyed.

“Taehyung, I can protect myself. That guy, he's a psychopath, and if you carefully think about it, he won't kill you, no, he couldn't kill you. I'm sure he wouldn't dare to do that, you are someone special to him. So Taehyung, use that to your advantage to escape.” Jimin was also desperate to save him.

“I'm sorry, Hyung, I'm really sorry,” Taehyung stood up and rushed outside, leaving Jimin alone in the classroom.

Jimin couldn't help but pity his best friend, no matter what he did, Taehyung would reject him. Jungkook had fully manipulated Taehyung and it was getting out of control. He should do something to get Taehyung, to have him on his own hands. He could dirty his hands just to make Taehyung his.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room as Jungkook returned, his expression unreadable.

“You’re not going to eat anything?” Jungkook asked, his voice a low rumble, his gaze fixed on Taehyung.

Taehyung shook his head, his throat too tight to speak. He felt a lump forming in his stomach, a mixture of fear and apprehension.

“Come on, you need to eat,” Jungkook said, his tone softening slightly. He approached him, his presence filling the room with a strange mix of comfort and unease.

He grabbed Taehyung out of the couch and made him sit on the chair.

“Did you cry again?” Jungkook asked while sitting across from him.

“It’s okay,” Taehyung mumbled, his voice barely audible.“I'm okay I didn't cry.” he lied as if his eyes weren't red as fuck.

“If I kill that man, will you stop being paranoid?” Jungkook's eyes met his and Taehyung shivered. “Once he's dead, will you stop crying?”

“Don't ─ don't kill anyone, please. I promise I'll stop crying now, so please, don't do anything.” Taehyung wiped off his face with the back of his hands.

He forced a smile to assure Jungkook that he was fine. But his lips were trembling.

Jungkook reached out, his hand gently cupping Taehyung’s cheek. “I'll do that if that's what you want. Listen, don't waste your tears on that man; he's not worth your tears. Get him out of your mind and focus on me, did you understand?” he said but his eyes were emotionless.

Taehyung nodded his head and sniffled.

-----

“Oh, if it's not my benefactor, I'm glad you called me.” it was the man who was in the store.

“I'm not your benefactor, I just want you to do what I've told you. It seems like you are trying to disobey me.”

“No, of course not, Mr. Park, I couldn't do that. I was simply trying to think how I would be able to separate them. That kid I've kidnapped before was different and larger than me.”

“You're right, that's why I want you to get the other person instead. You can't get him as you wished back then, he would kill you right away.”

“Oh, who was it again? Kim Taehyung, isn't that right? Now that I've seen him, I won't be lying, he looks gorgeous. I understand why you are anticipating him.”

“I don't like hearing you speak like that to him. That person is mine.”

“I know, I know, of course I wouldn't touch what's yours. Don't worry, I have no intention of doing that. In fact, I was amazed at your brain. I can't believe you'll be able to find out about me and use me to get what you want. I wouldn't be surprised if you have a plan to get rid of me.”

“You sure talk a lot; it would be better if you knew how to shut the fuck up and start doing what I've told you.”

“If that's what you want, Mr. Park~”

And the call ended just like that with a smirk on the man's face.