Purple Tiger [Taekook] ✓

Chapter 14

[Kindergarten]

Hyo-seop is surprised when Taehyung is suddenly standing in the doorway of his office. The door had only been ajar, so Taehyung didn't have to knock. But Hyo-seop isn't happy to see him, as he identifies his serious look rather quickly as deprecating, if not threatening. Whatever is about to happen it can't be anything good. But Hyo-seop is used to that when it comes to Taehyung. No more warm smiles, only showing his cold shoulder.

"You have time?" Taehyung asks in a deep voice, trembling in Hyo-seop's heart.

"I'll take the time. Please come in."

Taehyung closes the door behind him, holding Hyo-seop's gaze as if he shouldn't lose sight of his enemy. A storm rages inside him, ready to drown all their happy memories. Today he can't see his old friend, no, he must not weaken.

He sits down opposite him and clenches his teeth when he sees Hyo-seop smiling. The fact that he can still smile so carefree after all he has done to him and Mina pisses him off. His rage erupts like a beast from a cage.

"How could you do that to her!!!?"

Taehyung presses his hands into fists, digging his own fingernails into his skin. But he feels nothing, everything is numb...his hands...his thoughts...and his heart.

The corners of Hyo-seop's mouth drop but his gaze remains fixed on Taehyung. He takes a deep breath and bites his own tongue, angry at being at a loss for words. Then he swallows nervously and licks his lips. He knows exactly what Taehyung is talking about. He never thought that Mina would really betray him. His speechlessness only increases Taehyung's anger, which is also reflected in his voice.

"I asked you a question!!!"

That threatening undertone alone makes Hyo-seop's hackles stand up. It's as if he's standing off the precipice, and he more than senses Taehyung's need to see him tumble off the cliff.

"What did Mina tell you?"

The slightest glimmer of hope that Mina didn't tell him everything about their deal is extinguished with Taehyung's further words.

"The truth! Oh, that's right, that's a foreign word to you. It means she told me everything about your shitty deal! I know you blackmailed her and I know you gave her money to spy on me. This is sick...YOU are sick!"

"Tae I..."

"DON'T CALL ME LIKE THAT!"

With both palms, Taehyung pushes himself off the table, causing a loud sound and making the drained white coffee cup next to Hyo-seop shake.

"But..."

"DON'T EVEN TRY TO LIE TO ME! HOW CAN YOU GO AROUND TELLING EVERYONE THAT WE'VE BEEN A COUPLE? WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO LIE AND MANIPULATE EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AROUND YOU? YOU'RE EVEN MANIPULATING YOURSELF, DAMN IT!"

Taehyung raises his voice again, aware that the children on the other side of the building are playing in the garden and cannot hear them. After all, the conversation between the two is not meant for others, certainly not for small children's ears.

Hyo-seop doesn't know what to say and instead lowers his eyes in shame. Yes, in a way, he's actually ashamed of his behavior. Now that he sees Taehyung so upset, he wonders if it was all really worth it. In fact, the very first time he had questioned his actions was when he overheard Taehyung and Yuna's conversation over the rainbow. This intimacy between the two, like father and daughter, only showed him that Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook were already much further along. And so, jealousy swung to self-pity, with the realization that he had finally lost Taehyung to somebody else.