Beauty and the Broken

7| 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐬

"Mr. Kim is here, he seems mad. You should come fast."

"Ok, we will be there". With that, she hung up the call.

"Taehyung's at the office," she announced, her voice small. "He needs both of us there. We should probably leave."

The shift in Jungkook was immediate. The relaxed slump of his shoulders evaporated, replaced by a tense alertness. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his eyes before it was masked by professionalism.

"Alright," he said, his voice a low rumble. "I'll get ready. You should too."

He left her room to get ready and she also got up from the bed and walked towards the bathroom.

~Time Skip~

Aera watched Jungkook drive, his tailored suit accentuating his broad shoulders. The sun poured in, highlighting his sharp jawline and focused eyes. His hands gripped the steering wheel with a casual confidence that made her heart race. Every shift of his muscles seemed to spark an undeniable electricity between them.

"Enjoying the view.. hmm?" he asked teasingly while looking at her.

Aera blushed, quickly looking away. "I was just... admiring your driving skills."

Jungkook chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Is that what you're calling it? Because it seemed like you were more interested in me."

Aera tried to play it cool. "Maybe a little. But only because you're so focused."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "Focused on driving, or focused on making you blush?"

"I didn't mean to—"

Jungkook chuckled, pulling up to the office entrance. "It's okay. I guess I'm just that captivating."

She rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. "Keep dreaming."

As they stepped out, he grinned. "Oh, I do. And I think you might be my biggest fan."

As Aera and Jungkook entered the office, they found Taehyung lounging on the couch, engrossed in his phone. His posture was relaxed, but his sharp gaze lifted as they approached. Aera offered a warm smile. "Sorry for the delay."

Taehyung set his phone aside, rising to his feet with a charming smile. "No problem, actually I am the one who is early."

Jungkook nodded politely, though his eyes were wary. "Taehyung. What brings you here?"

They all sat together on the couch for further discussion.

"I think we should start investigating together as we don't have much time," Taehyung said looking at them seriously.

Aera and Jungkook exchanged looks, nodding in agreement.

Jungkook spoke up, "Where do we start?"

Taehyung paused, considering. "How about we visit your parents' old house first? There might be something we missed," he said while glancing at Aera.

Aera's face tightened slightly, but she nodded. "Alright. Let's go."

The trio drove to the old house, which now stood weathered and quiet. Inside, they searched every room, lifting floorboards and peering into forgotten corners. But it was clear; the place had been thoroughly cleaned.

"No luck here," Jungkook said, disappointment lacing his voice.

Taehyung sighed, "We should check my parents' house next. Maybe we'll find something there."

The drive to Taehyung's old home was silent, each of them lost in their own world of thoughts. Upon arrival, they entered the house, methodically searching through rooms and hidden spaces. Yet, like the first house, it seemed untouched and eerily pristine.