Purple Tiger [Taekook] ✓

Chapter 8

Mina's three-year-old daughter falls asleep peacefully in the car seat next to her. Again and again, Mina's eyes wander over to her little angel, who's her pride and joy. She wants only the best for her child and is more than happy to have made this wonderful day in the aquarium possible. For the majority of families such weekend trips are pretty normal, but not in her case. She had to save money for a long time.

Just like Jungkook, she's a single parent. Maybe that's why she was attracted to him in some way when they first met.

She has the feeling that he could understand her the best. After all, it's anything but easy to balance a job and being a mother. She needs the money for her daughter and therefore cannot afford to work only part-time. She would like to give her daughter presents and experience more excursions with her, just like today. However, she can't forget about food and apartment rent. Hyo-seop, of all people, has found her weak point: money.

From the beginning she didn't feel comfortable playing "spy" for him, but the money he offered her was too tempting. For a long time, everything went well because nothing much happened in Taehyung's life. There was no real "danger" for Hyo-seop, whereas in Mina's eyes he already missed his chance with Taehyung a long time ago. And yet, he doesn't want to face the fact that Taehyung shows no interest in him and probably never will.

Now that Mina has seen Taehyung and Jungkook together she doesn't want to play the wrong game any longer. The lives of the two men are none of her business, same goes for Hyo-seop. Under no circumstances will she tell him that she has seen them so intimately together.

During the whole car ride, Mina sinks into her thoughts. Maybe she should take the next step and finally tell Hyo-seop that she will give up his money and doesn't want to be blackmailed by him anymore. But...how could she do this?

***

The start of Yuna's birthday was a great success. Right now, Jungkook is on his way home, so the party can continue right away with cake and presents.

He always tries to be an attentive driver, but on this drive, he looks in the rearview mirror more often than usual, because Taehyung is driving close behind him. While Jungkook's car is carrying Yuna, Yeji, and Lia, Taehyung's backseat is occupied by Chaeryeong and Ryujin, all in child seats.

Jungkook can't explain why he invited him so carelessly. At first, he didn't even think about the fact that the party wouldn't be at his apartment, but at his parents' house.

His apartment would have been much too small for so many people, so his parents were kind enough to offer their house as the place for the birthday party, for which Jungkook is very grateful.

But at the same time, this also means that Taehyung is about to meet his parents. When he realized this fact, it was already too late. Taehyung happily accepted and for that smile alone it was already worth it. Jungkook just has to think about how to explain it to his parents.

Once again, his eyes wander to the rearview mirror at the next red light. Completely relaxed, Taehyung lets his arm hang out with the car window open, looking incredibly sexy with those dark sunglasses on his handsome face. The children's laughter in his car doesn't keep Jungkook from his daydream, unlike the traffic light turning green.

Taehyung follows him to his parents' house and parks on a shoulder right in front of Jungkook.

With his heart pounding, Jungkook hesitates for a brief moment before pushing down the handle of the car door, being hit by a veritable heat wave outside. This summer delivers what it promises; hot days and little rain.

But the truth is, that it's Taehyung's presence that causes beads of sweat on Jungkook's skin. Although they know each other better by now, and although they might even be called "friends" by now, he's still nervous around him. He does his best not to let it show, but right now his hands are shaking.