"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."

Chapter 9: Cabin

The village faded into the rearview mirror as Taehyung's cab sped away, leaving behind the echoes of his mother's frustrated shouts. He had no classes today, but he had a destination in mind - Jungkook's cabin, a sanctuary far from the suffocating pressures of his family.

He directed the driver towards Jungkook's address, a quiet, secluded spot nestled amongst the pines.  As the cab pulled up, his phone buzzed with a familiar voice.

"Son, why don't you just come with me? I'll make your life better," his father's voice, laced with a mixture of desperation and control, echoed through the phone.

"I told you, I don't want to be like you! I want to be me!" Jungkook growled, his frustration palpable even through the phone.

"Are you enjoying what's your status right now? I can give you all you want, just do what I say," his father exclaimed, his voice a blend of authority and desperation.

"I don't want to follow you! I'm not your dog, and you're not my owner!" Jungkook shot back, his voice laced with defiance.

"Son, I want what's good for you, why are you making your life difficult?" his father inquired, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration.

"I'll do what I want, just act like you don't have a son," Jungkook retorted solemnly, ending the call with a finality that left no room for argument.

He lit a cigarette, the familiar ritual a small act of rebellion against the suffocating world he was trying to escape. He sat down on the leather couch, the scent of pine and woodsmoke filling the air. He puffed the cigarette between his lips, blowing out a stream of smoke that seemed to carry his frustrations with it. He was tired of his father's relentless attempts to control his life, he just wanted to live peacefully, to be himself.

He flinched slightly as the door creaked open, revealing Taehyung, his eyes scanning the room, searching for any sign of another presence.

"What are you doing here?" Jungkook asked, his legs stretched out, his hands resting on the back of the couch, the cigarette still smoldering between his fingers.

Taehyung looked at him, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

"Nothing, just wanted to stay here for a while. I thought you wouldn't be here," Taehyung retorted, settling down beside Jungkook.

"Why? You have a fiancé, you can stay with him," Jungkook stared, squinting at the tip of his cigarette, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.

Taehyung rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, his frustration evident.

"I don't like him, why would I stay with him?" Taehyung enquired, his voice laced with a hint of sass.

"How can you not like him? I saw him yesterday, he said he can give you everything you want, what else do you need? You have him," Jungkook replied, his gaze fixed on Taehyung.

"I don't need him, can we just stop talking about him? I'm already stressed with my mom, please don't add to it," Taehyung sighed, his voice weary.

"I'm just asking though, an engaged boy like you shouldn't be meeting someone like me," Jungkook stated, his voice laced with a hint of self-deprecation.

"You know what, if you keep mentioning him, I'll leave instead. I'm here because I want to talk to you, not about him. I'm here because I need you," Taehyung snarled, standing up on the couch, his mood darkening.

He was about to leave, but Jungkook reached out, catching his left wrist, his fingers tightening around it.

"I'm sorry, I won't mention him again. You can stay here with me. I'm sorry," Jungkook said, pecking each knuckle of Taehyung's hand, his touch gentle and apologetic.

Taehyung glanced at him, their eyes meeting, a silent understanding passing between them. He sighed, settling back down beside Jungkook, leaning his head against Jungkook's shoulder.

"What happened? You seem out of sorts too," Taehyung inquired, intertwining their fingers, his touch a comforting gesture.

Jungkook sighed, soothing his thumb on the back of Taehyung's hand.

"Family problem," Jungkook replied, his voice a low murmur.

"What happened?" Taehyung asked, his eyes searching Jungkook's face for answers.

Jungkook glanced at him, pulling Taehyung's hand to his lips, pecking it again, his touch lingering.

"Not ready to tell you yet," Jungkook replied, his voice a mixture of sadness and reluctance.

"It's okay, I'll wait," Taehyung smiled, his eyes filled with a gentle understanding.

"Take a look at this," Jungkook said, pointing to a box on the table, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"What's that?" Taehyung asked, confused, standing up on the couch.

"Go and open it," Jungkook giggled, his voice laced with playful anticipation.

Taehyung went to the table, his curiosity piqued. He opened the box, revealing a beautiful strawberry cake, his favorite dessert. A smile spread across his face, his eyes sparkling with delight. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around his waist, Jungkook's chin resting on his left shoulder, his breath warm against his skin.

"Do you like it?" Jungkook asked huskily, his lips ghosting over Taehyung's shoulder blade, his voice a low murmur.

"Yep, This is my favorite," Taehyung smiled, licking the icing on his finger, his eyes meeting Jungkook's.

"I know," Jungkook replied, his voice a soft whisper.

"How?" Taehyung asked, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"I just guessed it when I saw you buying strawberries, you looked so cute that time," Jungkook giggled, his voice filled with a playful warmth.

"Yahh, I was scared that time! How can you say I'm cute!" Taehyung pouted, his cheeks flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and amusement.

"It's because I said so," Jungkook snickered, touching Taehyung's nose with the icing, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"You big meanie! Go and play with your Victoria!" Taehyung whines, pushing Jungkook away, his voice laced with mock annoyance.

Jungkook cackled, messing Taehyung's hair, his laughter echoing in the cabin.

"Why would I play with her if you're here?" Jungkook inquired teasingly, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Then call her," Taehyung rolled his eyes, his voice laced with a hint of playful jealousy.

"Okay," Jungkook smirked, picking up his phone from the couch, his fingers dialing a number.

"What are you doing?!" Taehyung scowled, his voice sharp with alarm.

"Hello, oh Victoria, you want to see my cabin, right? We--"

"Stop that! I'm just kidding! Don't call her!" Taehyung yelled, grabbing for Jungkook's phone, but Jungkook stopped him by touching his forehead, his touch gentle but firm.

"Sure, I'll text you-- ARGHH!" Jungkook winced in pain as Taehyung bit his finger, his voice a mixture of surprise and pain.

"Stop that, it hurts!" Jungkook groaned, pulling his finger out of Taehyung's mouth, his expression a mixture of amusement and pain.

"That's your fault! You're not listening to me!" Taehyung shot back, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and frustration.

"It was you who told me to do so," Jungkook yelled, but he immediately regretted it when he saw tears welling up in Taehyung's eyes.

"A-are you mad? I-I'm sorry," Taehyung cried, covering his eyes with his hands, his voice choked with emotion.

"Hey, I'm sorry, I'm not mad, sorry," Jungkook softly said, hugging Taehyung tightly, his voice filled with remorse.

"Buh-but you sound mad, y-you yelled at me," Taehyung sobbed on Jungkook's shoulder, his body trembling with emotion.

"Shush, of course, I'm not mad, my finger just hurts, that's why I yelled," Jungkook comforted, caressing Taehyung's back, his touch gentle and soothing.

"You're mad, you called your Victoria," Taehyung sniffled, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and insecurity.

"No, it's not her, it's Jimin hyung, trust me. I won't ever call her, I'm just kidding, lastly, I didn't own her, she's not mine, don't call her your Victoria," Jungkook replied, scolding himself for yelling, his voice filled with sincerity.

"Okay," Taehyung retorted, his voice a mixture of relief and playful defiance. He took a final bite on Jungkook's shoulder, his teeth sinking into his flesh.

"Aish, what was that for?" Jungkook groaned, pulling away from the hug, his expression a mixture of pain and amusement.

"Payback for making me cry," Taehyung rolled his eyes, running upstairs, his laughter echoing in the cabin.

"Ghosh, this strawberry boy, he's lucky he's cute, or else I already punched his face," Jungkook sighed, his voice filled with a mixture of exasperation and affection.

He messed with his own hair, following Taehyung upstairs, his heart filled with a mixture of amusement and love for the stubborn, sweet boy who had captured his heart.