FORELSKET ( ✔)

17- A Lion's Path

Jungkook stepped into the room, immediately struck by its gloomy atmosphere. The once cheerful smiley face balloons now seemed to cast an eerie shadow over the space, their bright colors muted in the dim light.

He placed his keys on the table with a sense of detachment and glanced at his phone. A message notification from Taehyung caught his eye. With a heavy heart, he hesitated before picking up the phone and noticing it was a voice message.

Taking a deep breath, he reluctantly tapped to open the message. As the recording began to play, Taehyung's voice emerged from the phone, breaking the oppressive silence and resonating in the darkened room.

"Hi,I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how incredibly proud I am of you. I have complete faith in everything you do and know that whatever path you choose in life will always be the best one. You have this amazing ability to navigate through any challenge, and I believe there won't be any darkness in your life because you always find a way to outsmart any problem that comes your way."

Jungkook surveyed the room, and his eyes began to well up with tears as he took in the disarray. The once orderly space was now a chaotic mess, reflecting the turmoil he felt inside. Amid the clutter, his gaze fell on the book that Taehyung had always kept close-a symbol of their promises and shared moments. The sight of it brought a fresh wave of sorrow.

Next, his eyes landed on a photograph of himself and Taehyung, both of them smiling. The image seemed to highlight the stark contrast between their joyful past and the present pain. Jungkook closed his eyes tightly, struggling to hold back his tears as the weight of his grief pressed heavily on him.

Determined to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the room, Jungkook quickly grabbed the keys to his jeep. Without another glance, he headed out, driven by a need to find solace or perhaps a way to confront the overwhelming emotions that filled him.

_______

In a nearby mansion, Minghao sprinted up the stairs, urgency propelling him toward the rooftop. As he reached the top, he found Yoongi alone, engrossed in a solitary drinking session. Yoongi sat on the edge of the rooftop, the city lights shimmering around him, a stark contrast to the dark mood he seemed to embody.

Minghao, breathless from his run, came to a halt in front of Yoongi. He tried to steady his breathing as he delivered the alarming news. "Boss, Jungkook is heading this way," he said, his voice tense with the weight of the situation.

Yoongi's expression darkened as he placed a hand on his forehead, a gesture of resignation and concern. He could sense the gravity of the impending confrontation and knew that things were about to take a turn for the worse. The atmosphere around them grew heavier as the reality of Jungkook's approach set in.

________

The mansion was situated near the edge of a cliff, a location that held poignant memories for Jungkook. It was here that Taehyung had once joked with him, affectionately calling him an "angry bird" during one of their lighter moments. As Jungkook approached the mansion, that memory flashed vividly in his mind, creating a stark contrast between the carefree past and the intense present.

Though Jungkook was unarmed, having left his gun behind, his determination was unwavering. He relied on his sheer physical strength to clear his path, pushing through obstacles with his fists. When he finally reached the rooftop, he stood directly in front of Yoongi. The weight of his emotions and the gravity of the situation were evident in his posture and presence, as he faced Yoongi with a resolute and confrontational stance. 

Minghao, his hand steady as he aimed the gun, was on the verge of pulling the trigger when Yoongi abruptly intervened, stopping him with a commanding gesture.

Yoongi turned his attention to Jungkook, his voice carrying a cold clarity. "Jungkook, today I've come to realize that a dog only understands its place when it encounters a lion," he said, his tone laced with a mix of finality and disdain.

Jungkook's voice trembled with disgust and hatred as he confronted Yoongi. "Why did you kill him?" he demanded, his words heavy with the anguish of loss.

Yoongi's reaction was a mix of incredulity and dark amusement. He let out a cynical laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "What? Did you really believe that I would eliminate the reason for your existence?" Yoongi's voice grew softer but more intense as he continued. "Jungkook, I raised you like a son. Why on earth would I destroy the very thing that gave you purpose?" His words were a chilling reminder of the complex, twisted bonds that defined their relationship, and the unsettling reality of the situation Jungkook now faced.

Jungkook's gaze remained fixed on Yoongi, his eyes seething with intensity and disbelief. The tension between them was palpable, and the anger in Jungkook's expression spoke volumes.

Yoongi, undeterred by the hostile stare, continued with a measured tone. "If you still don't believe me," he said, his voice carrying a cold challenge, "then prove it."

He took the gun from Minghao's trembling hands, causing Minghao to look on in shock but remain silent. Yoongi then extended the weapon toward Jungkook, placing it firmly in his hand. "Here," Yoongi said, his voice steady. "Take this gun and shoot me if you believe I am the one responsible."

Jungkook's grip tightened on the gun as he seized Yoongi by the collar, the cold metal pressing against his palm. He aimed the gun steadily at Yoongi's forehead, his heart pounding with a mix of rage and confusion.

Jungkook's voice was filled with anguish as he demanded, "Why did you kill him?"

Yoongi's response was cold and detached. "Shoot me," he said simply, as if daring Jungkook to follow through with his threat.

Overwhelmed by frustration and inner turmoil, Jungkook closed his eyes tightly, his grip on the gun shaking. The weight of his emotions was almost unbearable, and the thought of taking Yoongi's life was more than he could handle. With a deep, shuddering breath, he fought to suppress his anger and grief.

In a fit of desperation, Jungkook turned away from Yoongi, his hand trembling as he pulled the trigger. The gunshot rang out, echoing into the sky as he aimed upwards. The sound was a release of his pent-up frustration, but it did little to alleviate the storm of emotions raging within him. The shot marked his unwillingness to act on his darkest impulses, and the noise seemed to symbolize the conflict between his desire for vengeance and his own moral boundaries.

Jungkook took one final, lingering look at Yoongi and Minghao, his expression a mix of defiance and turmoil. Without another word, he turned on his heel, ready to leave the confrontation behind.

Yoongi's voice cut through the air, carrying a commanding and intense edge. "Jungkook," he called out, his tone imbued with a dark intensity, "Don't let this anger cool down. Set the world on fire with it. Only after you've done that should you return here, to me. Because a lion truly belongs in the jungle. You are my lion."

Despite the weight of Yoongi's words and the challenge they posed, Jungkook did not falter or look back. He continued his stride, resolute and unmoved by Yoongi's commanding voice. His mind was already focused on the path ahead, driven by the fiery resolve that Yoongi had urged him to embrace.