He saved my Life|TK

35. break up

a week passed.

taehyung had met with jeongguk in his office twice after the last time. besides the tension and all those hurting feelings and thoughts, nothing had happened. he managed to successfully keep a cold demeanor, while jeongguk remained calm, not trying to ask anything anymore.

it were pretty professional meetings. and taehyung hated it, feelings the distance between jeongguk and him growing, although he knew it was better this way.

he signed the contract. taehyung is confident about his writing and knew even if it wasn't jeongguk in that position, anyone would have approved of his book and writing style.

"chim, i'm leaving!" taehyung informed his best friend, who was still not in favor of taehyung's partnership with jeon publishing, knowing what toll it still had on taehyung to see his ex boyfriend.

even if the younger pretends to be fine, jimin knows he is still not over it. "take care," he responded, hugging taehyung tightly goodbye, "love you."

taehyung smiled warmly as he hugged jimin back. "love you too."

after the last two times, taehyung wasn't feeling as nervous as he did in the beginning when he knew he was going to see jeongguk again. he has been trying to loathe jeongguk, because hating him is the only way it doesn't hurt. yet he knew deep down, he could never hate jeongguk, even if he tries to.

but he can pretend to hate him.

...

"no, i don't want a stranger to design my book cover."

jeongguk pinched the bridge of his nose. "i understand, but we have artists and photographers who, i can promise you, are really reliable. they do a great job."

taehyung rolled his eyes, "any compromises we could take?"

jeongguk stared at him. "if you insist, you can find an artist yourself."

taehyung leaned back in his seat, crossing his fingers on his lap. "i don't know any artists."

"you're an artist, taehyung. why don't you draw your own cover?" the ceo suggested. taehyung had of course thought about doing it himself, before their breakup, he actually already had so many ideas and drafts for a cover.

now, he didn't know if he was capable of drawing a book cover related to the storyline, without breaking down. "i don't have time to draw a cover."

jeongguk raised an eyebrow, scoffing. "are you busy with your new boyfriend?"

"not as busy as you are, i assume," taehyung retorted. there is no new boyfriend, but his little lie about a date he never had escalated a little into something more.

jeongguk gritted his teeth. "maybe he could draw your cover?"

taehyung grinned challengingly. "actually, that's a great idea."

"do you really want my firm to publish your book?"

"it was the only option."

"you're lying. taehyung, you're swimming in lies."

offended, the younger sat up. "assumptions. you have no right to question me."

jeongguk chuckled bitterly. "i can't do this anymore, taehyung. if we don't talk everything out right now, i'm not going to publish your book."

taehyung's eyes widened, his heartbeat rising. "are you serious? very professional of you, mr. ceo."

"i'm done with this shit." the ravenette stated, now angry. taehyung was almost covering seeing the way jungkook glared at him now, but he wasn't having it. "you can't quit me, we have a contract—