Loving The Wrong Man (SD) ➸ Taekook ✓

- Thirty-fourth -

When Taehyung returned to the kitchen, he could see with some relief that Jungkook had stopped crying. The poor boy's eyes and nose were red, and he was sniffling with difficulty, wiping the few lingering tears from his cheeks as best as he could. Seeing Taehyung coming, Jin moved aside a little, knowing well that the two men would now need a little space. He decided to slip away discreetly for that exact reason.

Taehyung didn't even notice the thirty-year-old, his only concern being Jungkook. He rushed over to him and embraced him, placing his hands safely on his waist.

"It's all right, sweetheart, it's all right..." He tried to reassure him lovingly. "I'm here, look, you're safe now..."

The teenager let himself go without protesting, burying his face in the crook of his neck. He inhaled the man's scent for a long time, the most comforting and reassuring scent in the world in his eyes. A good minute later, Taehyung felt his breath subside, proof that the boy had calmed down. He waited a little longer before parting, his hands leaving his hips to rest on his chubby cheeks.

"Feeling better?" he asked in the softest voice he could muster. "You know, I hate seeing my little baby like this..."

Jungkook couldn't stop the red from spreading to his cheekbones at the nickname, and a pretty, childlike smile played across his lips, melting Taehyung's heart. That smile was undoubtedly his greatest weakness.

He began to stroke his cheek tenderly, while the teenager unconsciously tilted his head, leaning in his tenderness. They plunged the kitchen into a long silence, in which time seemed to stop. Taehyung didn't want to rush him, he'd just been through a traumatic experience, he needed to feel good, safe. He had to understand that he was safe with him.

"I know you don't want to, kitten, but we're going to have to go back." he explained.

He felt the teenager freeze when he heard him, and the distress in his eyes tightened his heart.

"No, Taehyung, I don't want to go back. He'll be there too..."

The thirty-year-old took him back into his arms, engulfing him in his chest.

"I'll be there, kitten, I won't leave you for a moment. And I can assure you that he won't do anything to you. That bastard won't even look at you. Trust me, baby..."

Jungkook bit his lip, not the least bit motivated, but he knew he didn't really have a choice. So he nodded reluctantly.

"A-All right..."

Taehyung gently took hold of his chin and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"My baby is so brave..."

This compliment drew another embarrassed smile from Jungkook, who gladly accepted any token of affection the man could give him.

After another minute of hugs, kisses and praise, they headed back to the dining room. When they arrived, all eyes were on them, except for Shou, who was finishing his plate with a livid look on his face. He didn't even dare look up.

***

"Is everything all right?" asked old Jeon, who was the only one in the room apart from the Kim couple to be at least a little concerned about his grandson's condition: in fact, his eyes were flushed and he'd been gone for a good ten minutes; something had clearly happened.

They both sat down, Taehyung taking care to swap places, sitting himself next to Shou, and putting a discreet but protective arm around Jungkook's shoulder.

"Y-Yes..." Jungkook murmured, his eyes downcast.

"Have you been crying?" the old man insisted.

Ah, it was almost laughable: all his life he'd wanted his family to pay attention to him, and the only time he hoped they'd ignore him was when the man had to worry about him. He didn't mean any harm, but now was clearly not the time. Especially as he now had to come up with an acceptable excuse, and he wasn't exactly the best liar at the table, not to say the worst.

"He got his finger stuck in a drawer." Taehyung replied as the boy began to panic. "It's nothing serious, but at the time he let out a few tears."

"Oh, there's a first-aid kit in the bathroom on the ground floor, just in case."

"Mmh, we'll see how it goes."

And so the discussion resumed as if nothing had happened, with Shou strangely silent. The Jeons tried to include him, but the man only offered a few brief answers, feeling Taehyung's inquisitive gaze on him. He stayed on for another half hour, then politely slipped away, without a glance for the teenager, who breathed a sigh of relief. He sincerely hoped he would never see him again, and the feeling now seemed to be mutual.

***

They returned two days later, without any major incident. To say that Jungkook wasn't disappointed at leaving his uncles would have been a lie, but Taehyung had enthusiastically offered them to visit their home whenever they liked, especially as they didn't live that far from them. The couple accepted immediately, soothing the teenager's heart a little.

What's more, we can't say that the return from holiday was advantageous for Taekook. During the first week, Taehyung had to catch up on all the work he'd accumulated during his days off, reluctantly leaving Jungkook for most of the dinners. They couldn't get any closer as Soyoon was always at home, particularly clinging on to Taehyung, no doubt trying to win back his love (an idea from her mother), though she hasn't been loved in the first place.

The second week, Jungkook was away on a school trip. They exchanged messages every day, sometimes even called each other, but that was as far as the contact went. In conclusion, they spent almost three weeks without sleeping in each other's arms. The lack and frustration reached unbearable levels for them.

Settled at the kitchen table, the three of them were enjoying their breakfast in an ordinarily heavy silence. As Taehyung emptied his cup of tea in one gulp, Soyoon suddenly looked up from her phone and put her cup of coffee on the table.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, but I won't be here this weekend." she announced to her husband.

Taehyung frowned.

"Weren't the three of us planning to have dinner with your parents?"

"I know, but we'll have to postpone it until next week: I have to visit a client who's in bed because of a car accident..."

The CEO nodded as he finished his drink.

"All right, I suppose there's nothing we can do about it."

Silence fell again, but in the heads of the two men, ideas were flowing. Although their thoughts were going in all directions, one thing was certain: they would be alone all weekend. And they were going to enjoy it the fullest.