Unloved | tk

ch23

Taehyung and Yoongi opted to make the most of the time while his father attended to his business clients. Upon the arrival of the black-haired male at the restaurant, the younger promptly rose from his seat to welcome him, "Hi hyung, how're you?"

A warm smile adorned the elder's face as he motioned for Taehyung to remain seated while he took his own chair. "Better, but you seem a bit troubled. What's on your mind, Tae?"

Attempting to dismiss the implied concern, the younger nonchalantly shrugged. "Um, nothing in particular, just the usual."

The elder's eyes rolled in response to the younger's transparent antics, showing no sign of being swayed. He retorted, "Don't attempt to deceive me, young man."

Taehyung protested assertively, "I'm not one to lie."

The younger deadpanned, "And I'm not claiming to be handsome."

With a snicker, Taehyung added, "Well, I don't entirely disagree—"

Yoongi widened his eyes, injecting a playful warning into his tone. "Kim Taehyung! Show some respect!"

The younger sulked, pursing his lips in a pout, well aware that he held a special place in Yoongi's heart, a connection that involuntarily bound him to Kim's empire. "You look cuteeeee," he teased.

Despite Yoongi's efforts to resist, a subtle smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Attempting to preserve his composure, he retorted, "Yeah, whatever. Now spill, what's on your mind?"

"I wanted to ask something"

The elderly person encouraged, "Please continue," as he perused the menu to make his selection.

Taehyung, displaying a sense of maturity mixed with uncertainty, inquired, "Um, what's a 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺?"

This question sparked the elder's curiosity, prompting him to glance up from the menu and inquire, "Hmm, a 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺? I haven't come across that term before. Where did you come across it?"

Trying not to sound suspicious, the younger individual scratched the back of his neck and explained, "I—I stumbled upon it while reading a book."

Despite Taehyung's attempt to avoid raising suspicion, the elder, engrossed in deciphering the term, furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "A book? Since when did you start reading?"

Offended by the words, the younger playfully protested, "Hyung! That's not the concern!"

Yoongi had always aspired to live a simple life. Taehyung, Jimin, and Yoongi had been childhood friends since their time in the orphanage, as if the universe had orchestrated their bond and transformed them into a family. When Taehyung was adopted, Yoongi and Jimin remained at the orphanage. They maintained their connection through phone calls, and everything seemed fine until Taehyung reached the age of 13, marking a tumultuous turn in his life.

Initially, when Taehyung failed to reach out to the orphanage, Jimin would go the extra mile to contact his best friend, and Yoongi consistently supported their efforts. Despite being only 16 at the time, Yoongi ensured their safety. Recognizing the deteriorating situation for his best friend at the adopted mansion, Yoongi, upon turning 18, took a job under Kim's Empire, just to stay close to Taehyung and guarantee his well-being. He earned to not only ensure Taehyung's safety but also to support Jimin's education.

Yoongi never protested when Taehyung attempted to display his playful side, posing silly questions and embracing his true self for a brief moment. Yoongi served as the perfect conduit for him to experience a fleeting sense of liberation. Despite not understanding the term, he made an amusing guess, suggesting, "Perhaps the guy has diabetes or something—why does it matter to you?"