His Darkest Desire ||Taekook||

chapter fifteen

Paris France

Taehyung stands alone on the Pont Alexandre III, the golden glow of sunset casting long shadows across the Seine. A soft breeze lifts his bangs as he leans against the ornate railing, eyes fixed on the horizon. He exhales slowly, the weight of unspoken thoughts pressing gently on his chest, wondering—quietly, achingly—where his path is leading him now.

It was early morning when he slipped out of the apartment—the one Yoongi had already arranged for him and Mina—and set off for a quiet walk. The city was still drowsy, wrapped in soft light. Mina was meant to meet him here in an hour, knowing well she liked to sleep in a bit before catching up with his unhurried morning routine.

His thoughts drift back to Korea—to the chaos of the past month, to the whirlwind that had become his life. And now, the revelation that it was Jungkook who had killed Mina's parents left a knot in his chest, something cold and unsettled. Mina hadn't taken it well either. She wore strength like a mask, but he could see through it—see how the cracks were forming beneath the surface, how the weight of it all was slowly breaking her from the inside. She hadn't spoken about it. She hadn't left. It was as if she were frozen in place, trapped between grief and disbelief.

Yoongi had been the one to call, his voice low and serious as he explained what had happened. The moment Taehyung heard it, a wave of sickness washed over him—Jungkook had completely lost control. Cruel. Unrecognizable. Not the same person who had once confessed to him with trembling honesty. Those words still echo in his mind, faint and persistent, but he pushes them aside. Now isn't the time. He needs to stay present, focused on the life he's trying to hold together.

What would life have looked like if he had never met Jungkook? Would he be married to Hoseok by now—settled, safe, maybe even happy in a different way? The thought sends a chill through him. He hasn't spoken to Hoseok in what feels like forever, and only Yoongi knows where he is now. That silence, that distance, says enough. Taehyung shakes his head, trying to dispel the tangle of what-ifs pressing in on him. He exhales slowly, eyes drifting to the Seine below, where sunlight filters through the clouds, making the water shimmer like it's hiding secrets of its own.

"Isn't it a beautiful day for a walk?" a voice says behind him.
Taehyung's breath catches, his brows knitting together the moment he hears Korean—unexpected, out of place. He spins around in a blur, heart skipping, and his eyes widen in disbelief. For a second, it feels like the world tilts. Standing just a few feet away is a face he never thought he'd see here. Not now. Not like this.

"Y-You... how did you know I was here? Did Jungkook send you?" Taehyung stammers, his voice barely above a whisper.
The man lets out a low chuckle—but it's hollow, unsettling.

A flicker of darkness passes through his eyes as he reaches into his coat pocket. Taehyung's breath catches when the glint of cold steel emerges—a gun.

Panic coils in his chest as he instinctively takes a step back. This doesn't make sense. It's broad daylight, and they're in the open. There should be people around. But when he glances in both directions, the bridge is eerily empty. As if the world had quietly vanished, leaving only the two of them—and the weight of whatever's about to unfold.

"Did you really think Jungkook was the only one with access to elite hackers?" the man says, his tone sharp, almost amused. "Especially your little friend—the one who wiped the airport records so thoroughly that Jungkook couldn't even prove you existed anymore."
He takes a slow step forward, the metal glint of the gun catching the sunlight.

"But I was the only one who could dig past all that. The only one who knew where to look. I'm guessing Yoongi gave you his phone?"
Taehyung's heart pounds in his chest. Junghyun. He hadn't seen him in years—and yet here he was, smirking wide like a predator savoring the fear in its prey.