| 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 |

Chapter 15: How to Survive a Storm

One long cruise ride later...

A shipwreck was no joke. I'd tried my best to downplay the situation, to make it seem like just another unexpected twist in our journey. But Taehyung wasn't having it.

As we all entered the room together, we found Jungkook standing there, casually chatting with a crew member, as if nothing had happened.

"Welcome back, Ms. Lee and Mr. Kim. I trust your trip lived up to your expectations?" he greeted us with a smile that was just a little too smug.

"Up to our expectations?!" Taehyung's voice echoed through the room, sharp and incredulous.

"Is there something upsetting you, Mr. Kim?" Jungkook chuckled, clearly unfazed.

"I have neither the time nor the patience for your games right now. How dare you!" Taehyung's voice boomed, anger flaring in his eyes.

"Excuse me?" Jungkook's smile faltered, but only slightly.

"How dare you treat us like this?" Taehyung continued, his words laced with frustration. "The deciding factor when I signed up for this show was that you were the one hosting it. I thought, 'I've worked with this man... I know what he's like. He'd never put us in danger like some previous crazy hosts.' Clearly, I was wrong."

Uh oh... They were already going at it, and I was trapped in the middle of their escalating tension. Leaving now would just make it even more awkward.

"You're being dramatic," Jungkook said, his tone dismissive. "There wasn't a single moment where you were in any real danger. That island has never been inhabited, and all the indigenous species are harmless to humans."

Taehyung narrowed his eyes, his anger not abating. "And how would you know?"

"Because I own that island," Jungkook replied, the words rolling off his tongue with a confidence that made me do a double-take.

He owns the entire island?! How rich is this man, anyway?

"How preposterous." Taehyung's voice dripped with disbelief. "Is that why they chose you? Because of what you own? The Jungkook I worked with had a vision for his movies... And I expected to find the same man here. Instead, we get self-aggrandizing speeches and ridiculous events. The man I knew would have revolutionized this show into something greater, something meaningful—not this trivial nonsense."

The air in the room thickened with tension. Sensing the situation spiraling out of control, Jimin and Ishan quickly stepped in, placing themselves between Taehyung and Jungkook in a bid to calm him down. Meanwhile, I stood off to the side, stunned by Taehyung's sudden outburst. This wasn't just anger—it was deep disappointment.

"I thought I'd get to spend quality time with someone," Taehyung's voice wavered between frustration and longing. "Maybe even fall in love... But that's not really what you want us to do, is it?"

Jungkook's expression remained impassive as he replied, "Have you already forgotten the purpose of this show? Or do I need to remind you what keeps it making the headlines?"

Taehyung's eyes flashed with bitterness. "Yes, I know—we're supposed to flirt with everyone! I know it's just a frivolous show where people see each other naked and then pretend they never met a few months later! But have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe..." His voice cracked, the weight of his disappointment seeping through every word.

"...I'm only interested in one person here, and one person only. And I have no desire to sleep around, no matter how much you push for it."

Jungkook's eyes narrowed slightly, but before he could respond, Taehyung continued, his voice firm and resolute. "I'm not even trying to win this show—hell, even if by some miracle I did, I'd donate it all to charity. I've never cared much for money, and I've always been fortunate enough to have more than I need."