IN THE NAME OF LOVE | TAEGUK

nine.

"the apartment might seem a bit dilapidated, but my friend doesn't owe much money-"

sighing. "taehyung." jeongguk cut him off, making the alpha look at him. "it's okay, those things don't matter. really." taehyung nodded his head, still a bit unconvinced as he unlocked the door before stepping away for the younger boy to enter.

jeongguk mouthed him a small "thank you" before entering the small apartment as he stood in the foyer area, waiting for taehyung who closed the door behind him.

"i'm home!" taehyung informed jimin before slipping out of his shoes, followed by jeongguk who did the same and watched taehyung as the boy kept them in the shoe rack before giving him a pair of slippers to wear. "follow me." the boy spoke, looking down at the omega who nodded, compiling.

taehyung walked into the living room, followed by a clueless jeongguk who stayed close to him, holding onto the hem of his hoodie as if he would get lost if he loosened his grip around the older boy.

"how was your day- oh?" jimin, who was about to greet his friend, stopped when he noticed a presence behind his friend. "who's that?" he asked, confused.

taehyung smiled, peeking over his shoulder as he gently grabbed the omega's wrist, pushing the boy in front of him. "that's jeongguk, the one i work for as the butler." taehyung chuckled as he observed the omega bowing to his friend. jimin blinked, looking at the boy with wide opened eyes before clumsily returning the gesture.

"hello, i'm jeongguk, nice to meet you." the boy smiled, his lips curling into an adorable upturn arch. "and i'm taehyung's friend." hearing his next words, taehyung, who was smiling, out of nowhere choked on his own saliva after noticing jimin's bumfuzzled eyes travelling to him, giving him a questioning look.

shaking his head and pulling himself out of his thoughts, jimin looked at the younger boy before flashing him a bright smile. "hello there. i'm jimin and nice to meet you too." the beta offered the younger boy his hand which jeongguk took eventually, shaking it as he nodded his head.

"uh- do you want something to drink?" jimin asked while jeongguk just shook his head, denying politely.

"oh, you don't-"

jimin cut him off abruptly, startling the younger boy in process. "nuh-uh! i won't take no as an answer, young man!" he chirped, earning an endearing giggle from jeongguk.

"well, if you're insisting, a glass of water would work."

the beta grinned. "accepted and taehyung will help me!" he peeped, grabbing taehyung by his wrist as he dragged the confused boy with him in a really hectic way.

-taehyung.

pulling his wrist off the beta's grip. "what the hell jimin!?" taehyung exclaimed when jimin pulled him inside the kitchen, watching him with a really serious look on his face.

jimin gave him a really skeptical look, glaring at the young alpha. "why did you bring him here? you know if they found out about your past then that's the end of your job! how can you be so reckless!" he whisper-yelled at the younger.

taehyung looked down at the ground, avoiding his glares. "b-but he's not like that, he is- he is different." he spoke, his voice almost inaudible as he clenched his fists, not daring to look up at the beta in the eyes.

there was a moment of silence until taehyung heard him scoffing. "tae, don't be that naive. you don't know him, you don't know his family nor their power to destroy your whole fucking lif-"

"stop it." whispering through his gritted teeth, taehyung cut him off and looked up at him, meeting his stern gaze. "i'm so sick of this bullshit! just because i've a dark past doesn't mean i'm not allowed to make friends!" he glared at the beta and felt his jaw clenching and unclenching. "you almost sound like others right now." he spoke as his voice fell an octave down.

"you're not understanding!" jimin whisper-yelled, running his fingers through his hair. "i'm just worried about you! you already have so much to deal with in your plate, and i don't want you to get into more problems! his father is a very ruthless man, taehyung. he won't think for a second before destroying your already fucked up life!"

"but-" taehyung licked his lips, lowering his gaze as he played with the sleeves of his hoodie. "but jeongguk's different. he's also suffering and he- and he feels the same-" he frowned, breaking his own sentence as he stared at his palms which were hidden beneath his sleeves, thinking about his own words.

"the same what?" jimin asked as taehyung lifted his head up, meeting the beta's worried gaze once again.

his fingers curled into fists as he clutched the fabric of his hoodie, pulling the sleeves down even more. "the same pain i feel." he whispered, almost inaudibly.

jimin raised one of his brows, his facial expressions showing that he was not convinced by whatever he was blabbering. "the same pain?" he asked and taehyung nodded, abruptly.

"he- he told me, he feels like he lost his parents."

"wait-" jimin made a confused face, staring at me. "i-i don't understand? his parents are still there, aren't they?"

"yeah." the alpha nodded. "but they don't care about him. they even forced him to have a fake relationship with this alpha only to push their business." he explained, watching jimin whose eyes widened, probably processing the giving information.

"that poor boy." he mumbled beneath his breath, chuckling bitterly afterwards.

"he's not like them. i-i think he is trying to escape from that life." taehyung sighed, feeling jimin ruffling his hair, smiling warmly at him.

"and instead of being his butler, you're his friend now?"

"hm, but not infront of his parents."

jimin nodded, understanding the meaning behind his words. "and now tell me who created that wound beneath your cheek?" he sounded strict again, worrying around like always.

"not the one who you think it was." taehyung answered since he already expected the beta's suspicion.

jimin looked at him, confused. "and who was it then?"

he sighed. "just a rich dick, he was trying to hurt jeongguk, so i tried to protect him-"

jimin cut him off. "you're not lying to me, right? if it were those guys again-"

"no! i'm not lying, okay? i'm fine, so would you please stop treating me like some damsel and please stop worrying around!" taehyung cut him off, scoffing.

the beta sighed. "fine, i'm trusting you, but if they contact you again or touch you again-"

"yeah, yeah, i'll tell you. got it, got it." jimin grinned and taehyung just playfully rolled his eyes. "now let's get some water for jeongguk, he is certainly waiting." taehyung spoke, grabbing a glass before putting two ice cubes in it, and pouring some water.

"but tae-" as he was about to go, jimin stopped him, pulling him back by his arm as taehyung looked back at him.

"yeah?"

jimin licked his lips before proceeding. "i know you trust him but don't tell him about your past, okay? his father is dangerous, same as the people who are chasing after you."

the alpha's grip around the glass tightened as his jaw clenched, fighting against his anger and sadness as jimin uttered those words. but taehyung somehow managed to calm himself down and took a deep breath before facing the beta properly. "fine. i won't."

to be continued.