Purple Tiger [Taekook] ✓

Chapter 13

Jungkooks heart feels lighter after explaining Taehyung the truth about his past. But now, when Taehyung is about to tell him his own past, Jungkooks heart hammers against his ribs. What happened between him and Hyo-seop? He wants to know badly, and at the same time, he doesn't want to hear anything about it.

"Hyo-seop and I made the same training to become a kindergarten-teacher. We were close friends back then and spent a lot of time together. By that I don't just mean time to prepare any papers or to study for exams together. We met each other regularly, went to the cinema or went out to eat. All the things' friends normally do. And to be honest, I enjoyed spending my free time with him. I liked his humor and he seemed to be relaxed and cool. Hard to imagine today, isn't it?"

Although Taehyung asked the last question with an amused undertone, Jungkook doesn't feel like laughing at all. His mouth doesn't even manage a twitch while his eyes are glued to Taehyung's lips.

"Anyway, it started getting more complicated when I developed a crush on someone from our class. The guy was shy and didn't talk much to others. Because of that he was kind of mysterious and I liked that."

"Were you never interested in women?"

Jungkook had wanted to ask him that question much earlier, but there was never the opportune moment to do so...until now.

"Women are beautiful. In my school days, I was considered a womanizer because I spent my time mostly with girls. But I never had a real girlfriend because I was attracted to men when I was quite young. So far, no woman has managed to make my heart dance. But you made it dance pretty quickly."

This time, the corners of Jungkook's mouth form a gentle smile, but it doesn't last long.

"I interrupted you, sorry."

Taehyung also smiles and places his hand tenderly on Jungkook's thigh, where he slowly strokes the dark blue denim with his thumb.

"It's all good. What I actually wanted to say is that Hyo-seop changed after I told him about it. He tried to badmouth my crush instead of encouraging me to make the first move. One day when I was trying to muster up my courage to ask him out, Hyo-seop stopped me from doing so. He made me feel guilty for choosing my crush over my good friend. However, this wasn't the only incident he acted weird. No matter who I found interesting, he only ever saw the negative things. Then he started getting jealous when I just went out with my friends. Yes, he was my friend, but not my only friend. And that was his problem."

This narrative only confirms Jungkook's impression he already had of this fake snake. Without a doubt, he's jealous and possessive over Taehyung. And apparently, it's always been that way.

"But I couldn't really let go of him, after all, he had always been there for me when I needed him. It was a constant back and forth but I had never understood the real reason why he was acting so strangely. After we finished our final exams and became kindergarten-teachers, I quickly got the job at the Rainbow Kindergarten. However, I didn't know that he had applied for exactly the same position, which he also got. The contract was already signed and he presented it as if he wanted to surprise me with the news that we will work in the same facility. But in truth, I found it pretty scary. Still, I gave it a chance...well...I had no other option. But then I met someone with whom I could have imagined a relationship. I didn't tell Hyo-seop about it. Unfortunately, he found out anyway when he happened to catch us on a date in town.

tw // sexual harassment

That same evening, he drove to my place and wanted to confront me, as if I had done something forbidden. I explained to him that he should stay out of my private life but he wouldn't listen to me. Hyo-seop pushed me against the wall in my own apartment and pressed his mouth on mine. He gripped me tightly and curled his fingers into my arm muscles. I just pinched my lips together desperately and tried to turn my head away in a panic. Then I bit his lip and brought him to the ground with my knee. For me, this was the only way out, and believe me, even though he was rolling on the floor in pain, like a snake hit by a car, I wanted to kick again...even harder. The only thing holding me back were the memories of who he used to be...but alas, there was nothing left of my former good friend. After that night, I was so pissed that I didn't want anything to do with him anymore. I kicked him out of the apartment and blocked his number. The only thing I could still tolerate was our working relationship. Then, when he was surprisingly promoted to the kindergarten director, I thought he would terminate me out of revenge. But he didn't, on the contrary. He tried to contact me over and over again. He wanted me to give him a second chance but I just couldn't. Much too late I realized that he was obsessed with me and that's why he destroyed all my relationships and friendships. After he attacked me in my apartment and poured out his feelings to me, I lost the interest in dating someone. No relationship lasted long but it was okay for me. I got along well on my own. But ever since I met you, I no longer wanted to be alone."