Forbidden Love ➸ Taekook ✓

- Thirty-eighth -

Taehyung's gaze hardened.

"What?"

"You heard me perfectly, Mr Kim."

Taehyung would almost have laughed at the absurdity of his words, if they hadn't aroused a deep anger in him. The man slowly put his half-empty glass back on the glass coffee table, then settled back comfortably on the sofa, glowering at John.

The courtesy was over. It was time for the masks to come off.

"Ah, I think you've got a lot of nerve for a man whose name nobody even knew a few weeks ago."

John held back a grimace. His view of Taehyung had changed radically in just a few hours. When he arrived here, he'd wanted to make him an ally, a friend. Now the mere sight of him annoyed him. He hated people like Taehyung: people who thought a pretty face and a bit of power could buy anything. Jungkook would never be happy with a man like that.

"Whether you like it or not, I'm now an undeniable part of Jungkook's life. I would remind you that he and I are engaged."

John didn't miss the change in Taehyung's mood, which darkened a little more at the words. Engaged. It repelled him. As long as it didn't involve him and Jungkook, he hated it, pure and simple.

"Swallow your confidence, John." Taehyung spat. "Jungkook still can't remember your name. You're no more than an insect to him."

These words hurt John. Much more than he would have liked to admit, and he tried as hard as he could not to let it show. But pain was hard to hide, especially when it was spontaneous. Especially as the man in front of him was none other than Kim Taehyung, one of the greatest manipulators and calculators in Seoul. And such talent did not come without observation. A sly smile played across his lips.

"Whereas I am his world. There's nothing you could do to separate us, even if you wanted to."

"But I want to. And I intend to try."

It was so sudden that John was startled. Taehyung burst out laughing, a laugh so loud and deep that it plunged the rest of the room into silence, all eyes turning to him. Because the rest of Bangtan knew what that laugh was: it was rare, because Taehyung was usually a calm, thoughtful man, but it was dangerous.

"Kid, go back and play in your sandbox." Taehyung hissed menacingly when he finally stopped laughing. "Jungkook is mine. No one's going to take him away from me, certainly not some wayward child who just wants to be a hero. If you're so desperate for affection that you need to steal it from others, that's not my problem. Go fuck up another couple's relationship. Because you're taking far too many risks with mine."

John gritted his teeth, the anger on his face masking the pain these words had caused him. But Taehyung wasn't fooled, he knew he'd hit the nail on the head.

"I'm not trying to be a hero. I just want what's best for Jungkook."

"Why?"

This question caught John off guard. Wasn't it obvious?

"Because I'm attached to him."

Taehyung grinned, which continued to annoy the American.

"Who? Jungkook? You don't even know him."

"I know enough about him."

Taehyung shook his head.

"No, because otherwise you wouldn't be here trying to separate us. The very fact that you're being so stubborn shows me that you don't know him at all, and that you're just selfish. Because if you really wanted him to be happy, you'd never have declared yourself his fiancé."

John frowned, ready to answer, but Taehyung wouldn't let him.

"Because by forcing yourself on him, by making a pact with his fucking mother, you've only done one thing: made him suffer. Ever since you came into his life, you've done nothing but inflict pain on him. Wake up John, you're not what you think you are: you're just Hyeri's puppet, who's found yet another way to make his son suffer."

John's eyes widened, his lips completely sealed. He thought he had so much to say, but at the moment, nothing could come out of his mouth. Taehyung's words went round and round in his head, piercing his heart a little more each time. Everything the man had just said was excruciatingly painful to hear. He felt dizzy and didn't know what to think. He didn't understand everything the man had said, and didn't even know if he should believe half of it. Hyeri was a good woman who constantly showed that she wanted what was best for Jungkook. Taehyung, on the other hand, was just using him for his own pleasure. John only wanted what was good for him, he wanted to make Jungkook happy, that was all that mattered to him.

"I think that's enough for today."

The two men turned in unison.

"Jin?"

The young man stared at them neutrally, although there was a mixture of sadness and tiredness in his eyes.

"I got down there before the others two, and I'm glad I did." Jin explained.

He paused.

"I think this discussion has gone on long enough."

Then he turned to John, who still looked as upset as ever.

"You'd better go, John. You've... done enough."

"I..."

"John. Please." Jin insisted.

John let his gaze sweep over the room, and he knew from the looks he saw that it was indeed best for him to leave the party. He was no longer welcome in Bangtan. So he stood up without another word, bowed politely to everyone, and left the room.

He climbed the stairs slowly, as if they went on forever, seeming endless. And when he finally reached the top, he came face to face with Jungkook and Jimin. The three stared at each other for a moment, in a heavy silence. John's discomfited expression was not missed by anyone.

"Um, I'm going to join the others..." muttered Jimin before slipping away quickly.

Jungkook watched him walk away before refocusing his attention on John, who had never taken his eyes off him. They remained silent for another long minute.

"You haven't left yet? I thought by now you'd have understood..."

Those words were like an arrow through John's heart. He had to admit that for the first time in his life he felt... miserable. He was normally a humble and simple person, which had enabled him to avoid embarrassment for a good part of his life. So today was a blow. He felt alone against everyone, convinced that he was defending a just cause.

"Does my presence bother you that much?" he managed to articulate.

Jungkook hesitated for a moment, searching for words. He didn't like being mean, especially when the person in front of him didn't seem to have bad intentions.

"In other circumstances, it might not have bothered me."

"Which circumstances?"

"One where you weren't pretending to be my fiancé."

John sighed.

"Are you that repulsed by the idea?"

"Yes."

He hadn't even hesitated for a moment. It had come out so naturally that John could only be hurt.

"You won't leave him, will you?" John finally asked. "Even if this relationship is unhealthy for you?"

Jungkook shook his head.

"You'll never give me even a little bit of your affection?"

Same. John held back his tears.

"I see. I'll tell your mother I'm breaking off our engagement. I'll be leaving for New York within the week."

Jungkook didn't reply. Not even a goodbye as John closed the door behind him. After all, he had no reason to bid goodbye to a stranger.

~🍁~

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