SECRETS & LIES | VKOOK ✓ [EDITING]

six.

Lisa Manoban, her presence as commanding as her looks, settled onto the desk with a poise that suggested both confidence and familiarity. The high heels she wore clicked on the marble floor as she shifted her weight, her short black hair cascading around her shoulders in an artful disarray.

"Decided to finally go, huh?" she said, her voice laced with a mix of amusement and concern. Her eyes followed the faceless man, who was busying himself with the details of his appearance—a refreshing shower, a carefully chosen costume, and a generous application of perfume. Despite his effort to present an image of calm professionalism, there was an undercurrent of tension in his movements.

"Lalisa, I didn't call you. Why did you come here?" The faceless man's tone was clipped, though he could not entirely hide the flicker of nerves beneath his calm facade. He tossed aside the towel he had used to dry his raven hair and selected his attire with a precision that spoke of his usual meticulousness.

"I know you wouldn't mind some company, Viper," Lisa replied with a teasing smile, her gaze drifting towards the door as she prepared to leave. "You know he'll probably be there, right?"

"Probably," he said, his voice steady but lacking conviction.

"So? Aren't you nervous to see your lover?" Lisa's teasing look deepened into one of genuine curiosity.

The faceless man, known to Lisa as Taehyung, gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "He's not my lover, Lisa. Stop it. Even Kim Taehyung is dead to him. Nothing will change that."

Lisa's smile turned into a smirk. "You'll tell, V. You said you met an old friend two days ago. Am I wrong?"

"The man was drunk. He doesn't remember me. It's been three years. Probably all of them have forgotten me," He said, his voice carrying a hint of frustration.

"When will you understand that people don't forget so easily, Taehyung-ah?" Lisa's tone was gentle yet firm. "In both ways. They don't exonerate easily and they don't forget people. Mostly, Jeon didn't forget you since you were his boyfriend."

Taehyung turned to face her, his height and imposing presence making him appear even more dominant. The difference in their statures was stark—about ten centimeters—adding a layer of intimidation to his stance. "Jeon Jeongguk is nothing but a mafia rival to me now. Clear?"

Lisa merely hummed in response as she walked towards the door. "For you...for you," she sang softly, leaving Taehyung alone in the room to prepare in peace.

As the door closed behind Lisa, Taehyung allowed himself a moment of introspection. Her words echoed in his mind: "People don't forget so easily." Despite his attempts to suppress old emotions and memories, he could not deny the truth in her statement. His past with Jeon Jeongguk, his first love, and his previous boyfriend, was not something easily erased.

For the past three years, Taehyung had managed to keep himself hidden from the world while simultaneously building an empire of his own. His life was a carefully constructed mystery, shrouded in secrecy and manipulation. The innocence and charm he had once projected were now masks—one of many layers hiding his true self.

Tonight, he would confront Jeon Jeongguk again, this time not as a lover but as a rival in the dangerous world of the mafia. The transformation from Kim Taehyung to a formidable force in the underworld was complete. The boy who had once seemed so pure and naive was now a complex enigma, and the game of manipulation and power had only just begun.

As he stood before the mirror, adjusting his attire and preparing himself mentally, Taehyung knew that this encounter would be more than just a meeting of former lovers. It was a collision of past and present, a confrontation that would test the limits of both their emotions and their control. For tonight, Kim Taehyung was not merely a name.