Infirmitas

Chapter 30: Lost and Found

Yoongi's POV

"Who is Taehyung?"

Jungkook burst into the conference room. Jin hyung motioned for everyone to leave. The circle rose and left the room hastily.

"Sit down." Jin hyung calmly said.

Jungkook heaved a deep breath. "I will not listen to any of your lies and won't accept omissions anymore."

"Sit down."

He forcefully took a seat.

"He was your lover." Jin hyung answered.

"Where is he?"

"Nobody knows."

"What happened?"

"He was with you when you were taken. You're supposed to run together to Japan. But the other gangs took you. That's when you had your injury. He betrayed you and sold you. Then he left you there to die."

"He didn't." I casually interrupted.

Jin hyung snapped his head to me. "What?"

"He didn't betray him. He was also trying to get to him. Trying to save him. He even cut off his own hand."

Jin hyung looked at me sharply. "How did you know?"

I took a deep breath. I hope this is not the hill where I'm going to die.

"I hid him."

There was a loud slap on the table. "Yoongi! How could you betray me? I've been looking for him!"

"Exactly! And what are you going to do? You're going to kill him. Do you think Jungkook will ever forgive you?"

"He betrayed him!"

"He did not! He's just like you. He desperately tried to save him. And he died when he thought he's dead. Just like you. I don't even know if he's alive. I never told him that Jungkook was just in a coma. He's been trying to die when he escaped."

"He might be dead?"

"There's a possibility." I turned to Jin hyung. "I'm sorry for deceiving you. You...you were so distraught. And I know you think that at that moment, it's the right thing to do. But I wanted to take care of you. Save you from something you will regret. Jungkook loved him. And more than anything, you love Jungkook. And I can't...I can't bear the thought of him hating you. Because he will. Once he knew that you killed Taehyung. Once he knew that you killed the one he loved the most. But when it happens, you can't do anything anymore. You can't take back what you've done. I want to protect you from that. So I lied to you."

Jin hyung looked at me incredulously. His eyes shook and sharpened. It's the first time he looked at me that way. He pursed his lips.

"I don't think I can trust you anymore." He stood up and turned to leave. "Pale Man, I absolve you of being my right-hand. It's time for you to retire." He held my gaze sternly. "Your blood has been severed."

He left. I chuckled. All I can do is chuckle. Eighteen years. Eighteen fucking years. What will I do now?

Jungkook looked at me with guilt in his eyes. It was also the first time he gazed at me like that. The first time in four years. He hung his head low.

"Why did you do it?" He quietly asked. "Why did you disobey Jin hyung?"

"Because of what I just said." I spaced out looking at a speck on the table. "It's for him. And for you. For the both of you."

"Taehyung means that much to me?"

Jungkook's voice thickened. I turned to him and witnessed his eyes brim with tears. I nodded.