MONSTER | VKOOK

┌EIGHT┐

Once again, the act of dissecting a playful game unfolded. Itching from a profound sense of shame and tumultuous emotions, the pain that accompanied it felt so damn right.

No guidance was ever provided to him on the subject of love, nor was he ever enlightened about its true nature. His father never instructed him on experiencing emotions, let alone demonstrated how to address them. Mr. Kim failed to provide any positive influence or even reach out to hold her hand. Taehyung found it challenging to cope with everything, with his father failing to exhibit the qualities of a responsible man.

Since Taehyung was never taught how to navigate his emotions, he resorted to his own unconventional means, even if they lacked beauty. He resorted to slicing open his own flesh, allowing the crimson blood to flow down his palm, and subsequently concealing the deep wounds beneath a bandage, hiding them from sight with his shirt sleeves.

Observing the enraged young man before him, fingers crossed in a rare display. It was an undeniably uncommon sight, one that evoked fear and an unsettling aura. Taehyung was consumed by anger, his usual demeanor vanished, as he directed a gaze filled with animosity, accompanied by a lifted eyebrow and a clenched jaw, toward Jimin.

The boy standing before him, Jimin, had his fingers crossed tightly, presenting an extraordinarily uncommon sight. It was alarming and foreboding. 

Strangely enough, Taehyung remained eerily silent, which heightened the anxiety of the other boys. He refrained from screaming or yelling, choosing instead to wait patiently for the culprit to come forward and admit their mistake. Only after that would Taehyung take matters into his own hands and seek justice in his own way. With dark eyes and raised eyebrows, Taehyung scrutinized the tense expressions of those around him.

Jungkook, leaning against the bedroom door they shared, had cried until his tears dried up over the passing hours, resulting in puffy cheeks. Despite his desire to confide in Taehyung about the betrayal and the excruciating pain he had endured, Jungkook decided to step back for now. He wanted to allow Taehyung to handle the situation, not as his boyfriend anymore, but rather as his bodyguard.

"Who was responsible?" The commanding growl sent a shiver down Jin's spine, prompting him to gulp nervously. It was evident that even Taehyung was struggling to control his anger toward the others. Hence, it seemed less likely that he was the culprit. The Taehyung known to all was typically reserved, composed, and kept to himself or his small group of friends, which was not particularly extensive according to everyone's knowledge.

Witnessing Taehyung's fury today was an entirely unfamiliar sight for them. Breaking his deadly silence, Taehyung repeated the question, finally shifting his gaze toward Jimin, who wore a smug smirk, evidently pleased with how long Taehyung had been fixated on him alone.

"Which one of you aided Ky in escaping from this place? Either confess or all six of you will meet a grave fate. I value Jungkook's life above yours, so I will not hesitate to sacrifice yours to ensure his safety."

"Taehyung, I suggest you try to compose yourself. Let's approach this situation calmly and consider the possibility that someone outside our group helped him in his escape," Namjoon suggested in an attempt to defuse the tense atmosphere. However, his words failed to have an impact. Taehyung abruptly pulled away when Namjoon placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Do not dare tell me to calm down, Namjoon. The circumstances are highly suspicious. One of you assisted Ky in his escape, indicating that we have a traitor among us." Taehyung's composure crumbled, evident in his furious eyes and narrowed eyebrows. His words carried an aggressive tone, issuing from his mouth with a sharp snap and a low growl. Clenching his teeth together, Taehyung redirected his intense gaze from Namjoon to Jimin.