Forbidden Love ➸ Taekook ✓

- Twenty-fifth -

Jungkook couldn't take it anymore, he was exhausted. Jimin had been dragging him from shop to shop for over an hour, making him try on countless outfits. And the result was the same every time: Jungkook tried on clothes, stood in front of Jimin, the blond boy spun him around, watching him carefully, then shook his head.

"No, that's not right, try something else." said Jimin.

Jungkook let out a long sigh, turning to the mirror on his left. The outfit was pretty, but he had to admit that it didn't show off his waistline at all. And yet it was his greatest asset. But Jungkook was getting fed up.

"Why am I the only one trying? Didn't you come to buy yourself an outfit? I just had to come with you!"

Jimin looked at him curiously, before giving him a sly smile.

"Who said I had to find an outfit?"

"Huh?"

"I've got enough clothes at home. I've even got too many, I had to leave some at Hobi and Yoongi's because I ran out of space. No, we've come to buy YOU an outfit."

Jungkook was speechless. That little devil had tricked him. But on the other hand, he had to admit that it had taken his mind off things a bit. Jimin had irritated and exhausted him so much with all those things that his dark thoughts had almost left him. He felt a bit more normal, gradually returning to being the brat who was leading the whole of Bangtan by the nose.

"You're really mean, Jiminie..." muttered Jungkook as a pout formed on his lips. "You fooled me..."

"Ahah, you've finally realised who's the strongest, haven't you, Kook? Perfect! Now be a good boy and go and try on the next outfit I've prepared for you."

The dark-haired boy sighed for the umpteenth time, admitting defeat. If Jungkook was a temperamental brat, it was impossible for him to beat Jimin on his own ground. When Jimin went shopping, there was no stopping him. Not even the youngest Jeon's big doe eyes.

"All right..."

Jungkook turned round and closed the cabin door behind him. He began to undress, carefully removing the clothes he'd just tried on and placing them carefully on the chair beside him. He then reached for the hanger on which Jimin had hung the last of the clothes he was to try on (for this shop). Jungkook didn't take long to put them on, and when he was done, he hurried out of the booth, positioning himself in front of Jimin again.

"What about this one? What do you think of it?"

Jimin looked up from his laptop, and his eyes widened slightly when they landed on Jungkook. It was a simple white blouse with pleats running from the collar, emphasising the teenager's slightly effeminate side. The shirt was accompanied by black trousers and a black jacket, both in velvet. Yes, there was nothing sophisticated about this outfit. But in this one, Jungkook's natural elegance was amplified.

"He looks like a prince..." muttered Jimin.

Jungkook frowned.

"What are you saying?"

"Or a princess...?"

Jungkook snapped his fingers in front of his eyes, bringing the blond boy back to reality.

"What do you think? Do you like this outfit? Can we stop now?"

Jimin seemed to think for a moment before finally nodding.

"Hm, it looks good. Let's take this one."

Jungkook's eyes lit up, and he refrained from jumping to celebrate the end of his ordeal. Jimin, for his part, shook his head and laughed.

"Okay, I get it. Go and get dressed. Once we've paid, I'll buy you something to eat to make up for it."

***

Lies. Always lies. When they left the shop, Jimin immediately dragged him into a new one, and Jungkook had to wait almost another hour before Jimin finally agreed to honour his promise. The result was that when they left the last shop, Jimin had five bags in his hands. And this time, much to Jungkook's delight, they headed for one of the restaurants in the shopping centre.

"You'll still have to show it to me." Jimin continued. "Taehyung told me the other day that since you've had your own office, you've been more creative than ever! I haven't seen one of your paintings for ages!"

Jungkook smiled a little, his cheeks tingling slightly.

"Hm, why don't you come over to the house one of these days and I'll show them to you? I could even paint you a portrait-"

The boy stopped short, his last words dying on his tongue. Jimin immediately turned to him, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the teenager's sudden silence. Jungkook's eyes went wide and his whole body tensed up. He was staring at a point in the distance, and when Jimin followed him, he noticed that about ten metres further on was his mother, accompanied by a young man Jimin didn't know. They didn't seem to have noticed the two friends, and it only took Jungkook a quarter of a second to rush up behind Jimin, crouching down to hide behind his small body.

"Kook? What are you doing?" Jimin asked, getting more and more confused.

"Shh, not so loud! If they notice us, we're finished!"

Jungkook put his head over the blond boy's shoulder, noticing that Hyeri now had her back to them, staring into a shop window.

"Jungkook, what's going on?!" Jimin said impatiently.

He was having trouble understanding. Yes, Jungkook wasn't on the best of terms with his mother, but he'd never acted like this when he saw her. He'd never hide from her so openly. Especially as Jimin still didn't know the identity of the mysterious young man who had accompanied her.

"I'll tell you all about it, I promise, but in the meantime, find a way for us to get away without them noticing us! Please!"

Jimin was obviously going to help him. Keeping an eye on Hyeri, he quickly looked around for an exit and, when he'd finally found the best way out, grabbed Jungkook's hand. They slowly made their way towards the corridor closest to them, the dark-haired boy still hiding behind his friend, and he only came out of hiding when they were finally out of sight.

"Well, are you going to explain it to me now?" Jimin snapped, turning to the teenager, his cheeks puffed out and his hands on his hips.

Jungkook, still not completely reassured, scanned his surroundings nervously, before finally turning to his friend.

"Ah, how can I put this..."

"Who was that guy? He's the reason you went into hiding, isn't he?"

Jungkook could only nod. Jimin was too perceptive to be lied to. Especially as Jimin was beginning to wonder if all this had anything to do with what Taehyung had told him on the phone a few hours earlier.

"So? Who was that guy? And why did your mother seem to cling to him like she was clinging to life?"

The two stared at each other for a moment, before Jungkook finally sighed. He didn't want to talk about it, really. But he knew he had no choice. Jimin was one of the few people he could trust.

"That guy... John Lim... He's... The man my mother engaged me to."

~🍁~

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