"Jungkook," Jiya stood in front of him, her expression serious.
"What?" he asked, a hint of anger in his voice.
"Whatever he said, don't take it seriously. I need money to start a business. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise?" he frowned.
"Otherwise, I'll ask for my share from Appa."
"Noona! I'm still paying off the debt for this home. If you ask for your share, we'll have to sell the house. Jain is just 15 Year-old girl. Where will Appa, Mom, and Jain go?"
"I don't care... I'm pregnant. I need a stable life. You have to help me. I need money."
"I'll find the money," Jungkook said. He grabbed his bag, said goodbye to everyone, and walked out of the house with a heavy heart.
***********
"You should share your problems, Jungkook," Taehyung said while driving.
"I'm alright, hyung. Just tense about the marriage and all. It's very close, you know. Just 11 days."
"So what? Do you need money?"
"No... no... it's all set."
"Are you sure?"
"Ye... yes..."
"Liar... I can help you, Jungkook."
"No... I..."
"I'll cut it from your salary," Taehyung said.
Jungkook looked at him. "Then, I need some money."
"How much?"
"Ah... it's 3 lakh... is... is that possible?" Jungkook felt his self-esteem hurting.
"Possible?" Taehyung laughed. "Yes, I'll ask the accountant to transfer the money."
"Thank you, hyung," Jungkook smiled. He thought to himself, 3 laksh... where should I get the remaining 47 lakhs? She asked for 50... He leaned against the glass door.
"Jungkook, I'm not a stranger," Taehyung said as he stopped the car.
"I know... you're mine... but it's different, hyung. You don't understand." He smiled.
"Okay, my dear daffodil, your hostel is here. You can go."
"Thank you, Mr. Kim. Take care and good night."
***********
The days passed like falling leaves. Jungkook found solace in the companionship of his good friend and loving noona, Hana. She had a profound impact on him, changing not only his outlook on life but also his appearance. With her encouragement, he became more confident and began to make friends in the office.
However, as Jungkook's social circle expanded, so did the whispers among his colleagues. People began to murmur about the way Taehyung behaved towards Jungkook. To Taehyung, his actions were nothing out of the ordinary, just the way he treated someone he cared about deeply. But for Jungkook, these murmurs cut deep. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was not an equal partner for Taehyung. The weight of their words pressed on him, making him question his worthiness.
This insecurity led Jungkook to distance himself from Taehyung as much as possible in the office. He avoided shared spaces, took different routes, and even changed his lunch breaks. Despite Taehyung's attempts to reach out, Jungkook's self-doubt created an invisible barrier between them. The tension was palpable, but Jungkook felt it was necessary to protect himself from the perceived judgment of others.
