Stolen sweetheart |kth × jjk| taekookff

37

The hall was still glowing with golden lights, champagne bubbling in glasses, laughter and soft music weaving through expensive perfume and tailored suits. But Taehyung barely noticed any of it.

His arms were wrapped tightly around Hyunwoo, who clung to his neck like a lifeline. The party, the whispers, the guests—everything blurred into a muffled hum in the background. His chest felt hollow. He had come here hoping for a connection, for a moment. Instead, he'd spent the night watching Jungkook float around the room like a distant star, too far to reach.

He didn't even notice when Jungkook began looking for him.

the door slammed shut an hour later. taehyung didn't bother coming out of the bathroom. jungkook's voice echoed faintly through the hallway, then closer, and then—

"tae?" he was knocking. "taehyung, why the hell did you leave without telling me?"

taehyung opened the door slowly, wiping his mouth, still pale. "i wasn't feeling well."

"you should've told me." jungkook's brows furrowed. "i was looking for you."

taehyung shrugged. "i didn't want to cause a scene."

"you wouldn't have," jungkook said, softer now. his eyes scanned taehyung's face, taking in the pale skin, the dampness in his lashes. "you... don't look well. are you sure you're okay?"

"i just said i wasn't." taehyung laughed bitterly, brushing past him. "doesn't matter now, does it?"

jungkook turned, confused. "what does that mean?"

"nothing," taehyung muttered. "just... forget it."

taehyung wasn't sure what hurt more—jungkook's growing distance or how well he'd learned to pretend everything was okay.

for the rest of the night, the air between them was heavy but silent. jungkook had taken a late shower, stayed on his phone, and taehyung didn't bother trying to speak again. he couldn't keep dragging conversations out of him. he was already exhausted.

he held hyunwoo close while the toddler curled against his chest in sleep. taehyung pressed a kiss to his little forehead, whispering soft apologies he couldn't say to anyone else.

—

the next morning, everything felt rushed again.

taehyung had barely eaten breakfast, but the thought of food made his stomach turn anyway. he just changed into an off white flowy shirt with white slacks and tied hyunwoo's tiny shoelaces. the child was babbling something, unaware of the tension hanging in the air like a storm.

"are you coming to the office?" jungkook asked, adjusting his watch.

taehyung looked up, surprised he was even asked. he nodded quietly, reaching for hyunwoo's bag. "yeah. we have final touches for the presentation today."

they drove separately. taehyung hated it.

—

he tried not to notice the new secretary that followed jungkook around like a shadow.

chulsoo was tall, poised, with perfectly styled ash-brown hair and a dazzling smile that most of the female staff had already gossiped about. he was polite, formal, and always a step behind jungkook. too close.

taehyung tried not to care. but jungkook laughed at something chulsoo said in the hallway, and taehyung had to turn away, pretending to answer a call.

he ignored jungkook completely that afternoon. didn't go to his office. didn't wait for lunch.