$moke Break || TAEKOOK

21

Yoongi had been trying to keep his distance from Nari. He told himself it was just a passing attraction, a mere admiration for her talent and spirit that would fade with time. After all, she was only 19—ten years younger than him. The very idea of having feelings for a teenager seemed absurd and inappropriate. Yet, every time Nari came into his office, his resolve crumbled. His heart would race, and he’d feel an almost magnetic pull towards her. Maintaining professionalism was becoming increasingly difficult.

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"What’s wrong with me?" he muttered under his breath.

"She’s literally a teenager. I shouldn’t be feeling this way."

But the rational part of his mind couldn’t overpower the emotions that surged every time he saw her.

As he sat at his desk, lost in thought, a soft knock on the door snapped him back to reality.

"Come in," he called, trying to steady his voice.

Nari entered, a bright smile on her face and a file in her hands.

"Mr. Min, I have the project report you asked for," she said, approaching his desk.

Yoongi forced a smile, taking the file from her. "Thank you, Ms. Jeon."

As he flipped through the pages, he couldn’t help but be impressed by her work. Her writing was clear, concise, and insightful.

"This is excellent," he said, genuinely admiring her skill.

Nari beamed with pride.

"I’m glad you think so. I put a lot of effort into it. If you look at the third section, I’ve included some new strategies for content engagement based on recent trends."

Yoongi glanced at the section she mentioned, nodding appreciatively.

"You’ve done a fantastic job analyzing the data and coming up with these strategies. It’s very thorough."

Nari's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.

"Thank you! I’ve been reading a lot of industry articles and thought these ideas could really work for the next campaign."

Yoongi felt a surge of admiration and something more, something he tried desperately to suppress.

As Nari explained her project with such confidence, Yoongi found himself drifting into a daze. He admired her passion, her intellect, and the way she carried herself with such poise. Every word she spoke pulled him deeper into his conflicted feelings.

"Your dedication is remarkable, Ms. Jeon. Keep it up."

Just as Nari was about to respond, Yoongi's phone rang, interrupting their conversation. He glanced at the caller ID and saw Taehyung's name.

"Excuse me, I need to take this," he said, giving Nari a quick nod.

Nari smiled and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. As she walked away, Yoongi couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. He longed to tell her how he felt, but he knew it was impossible. He had to maintain his professionalism, no matter how difficult it was.

Yoongi answered the call, his senses immediately on high alert.

"Taehyung? What’s up?"

"Hyung..." Taehyung’s voice was strained, filled with an urgency that made Yoongi sit up straighter. "I need your help."

Yoongi's worry deepened. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"I..I'm okay.. It’s just I need you to get someone's current location," Taehyung explained, his words rushed and desperate.

Yoongi frowned, concern etched on his face. "Current location? Who's it? What happened Taehyung? "

"Hyung please.. I need it urgently.. I'll tell you everything later... I'm sending you a document", Taehyung pleaded.

Yoongi’s heart clenched at the distress in Taehyung’s voice.

"Okay, send me what you have. I’ll get on it right away. Do you need me to come over?"

Taehyung took a shaky breath.

"No, just find his location for now. If it gets worse, I’ll call you back."

Yoongi wasn’t entirely convinced but nodded anyway.

"Alright, I’ll start working on it. Stay safe, Taehyung, and keep me updated."

"Thank you, hyung. I owe you one," Taehyung said, his voice heavy with gratitude.

As he hung up, Yoongi felt a sense of urgency propelling him into action. He quickly checked his messages, finding the information Taehyung had sent. His mind raced with possibilities as he began his search, hoping to find this missing person and ease Taehyung’s worries.

But as he worked, Yoongi couldn’t shake the lingering thoughts of Nari. Her smile, her voice, the way she looked at him with those bright, hopeful eyes—it was all too much. He wondered how long he could keep up this facade, pretending his feelings didn’t exist. Pushing aside his personal turmoil, Yoongi focused on the task at hand. He had to help Taehyung first. Everything else, including his conflicted heart, would have to wait.

Taehyung sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. His mind was a whirlwind of worry and fear. Jungkook had been absent from school for three days, and each day had intensified Taehyung's anxiety. He couldn't shake the image of Jungkook's gentle smile, the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, and the earnest way he approached every task. Jungkook had become a bright spot in Taehyung's life, and the thought of him in trouble was unbearable.

His heart ached at the thought of something bad happening to Jungkook. He pulled out the envelope his stepmother had given him and looked at the photos inside. The sight made Taehyung’s blood run cold. His heart clenched.

Taehyung's heart raced as he gripped the steering wheel, his palms sweaty. The images of Jungkook in the photos haunted him, each snapshot a painful reminder of how vulnerable Jungkook might be. Face full of make up, extremely revealing clothes, with different males.. hotel rooms... bruises, and Jungkook being in not so good form... lying on the bed...

As he received the message from Yoongi with an address, a surge of determination overcame him. He had to find Jungkook and make sure he was safe. Without hesitation, Taehyung started the car and drove towards the location. The drive was over two hours, giving Taehyung plenty of time to wrestle with his thoughts. He replayed every moment he had spent with Jungkook, every smile, every laugh. He admired Jungkook's resilience, his quiet strength, and the way he brought light into Taehyung's life.

But..

What if he was too late? What if something terrible had already happened? His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he pushed these thoughts away, focusing on the hope that he would find Jungkook safe.

When he finally reached the address, his heart sank. The area was run-down, the buildings old and neglected. It was nothing like the bright, hopeful image he had of Jungkook. He parked the car and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Each step towards the door felt heavy with dread.

Standing in front of the apartment door, he rang the bell. His heart pounded against his chest, the sound echoing in his ears. There was no response. He rang the bell again, his anxiety mounting with each passing second.

"Come on, Jungkook, please be okay," he whispered to himself, his voice shaking.

After what felt like an eternity, he heard footsteps approaching the door. His heart was in his throat as the door creaked open, revealing a familiar face standing in front of him.