TEMPESTUOUS TIES

REVENGE

AUTHOR'S POV:

It was 1:30 AM, and Jungkook's bedroom was dimly lit by the soft glow of his study lamp. His normally tidy room felt suffocating as he hunched over his notebook, furiously scratching lines across the pages. His thoughts were spiraling, trapped between rage and bitterness.

The pen stopped suddenly in his hand as a wicked smirk spread across his face. A thought crossed his mind-an idea that brewed with malicious intent. "Be ready, Kim Taehyung. You will learn how to respect me. I'm not easy," Jungkook muttered under his breath, his smirk deepening with satisfaction.

---

The next day felt like any other on the surface, but the tension between Jungkook and Taehyung had turned the usual walk to school into an unbearable stretch of distance. The silent, invisible wall between them had grown thicker.

Once at school, Jungkook made his way to his locker, where a crowd had gathered. Among them were Lisa and some of their mutual friends. He approached, deliberately choosing to play his cards.

"Hey, Lisa, why are your friends here? Is it to see me?" Jungkook asked, nonchalantly unlocking his locker.

"You think!" Lisa mocked, rolling her eyes. "Of course you're handsome, but they're here for that alien."

Jungkook chuckled. "Their loss. He's not here."

"Why isn't he?" one of Lisa's friends asked.

"He used to drop you off here every day."Another added, "Has he stopped doing that?"

The last chimed in, "He's been so dull lately."

Jungkook leaned closer to the group, lowering his voice to a whisper. "The thing is, come closer. I think he's into guys. I saw him forcing himself on a boy. So obviously, I should keep my distance."

The girls gasped, giggling and whispering excitedly.

'The timer for your blast has started, Kim Taehyung,' Jungkook thought to himself as he walked away, his smirk widening. The rumors spread through the school like wildfire, infecting every grade, every hallway. The gossip traveled fast-fast enough that even Namjoon and Hoseok caught wind of it. Though they heard the whispers, they chose to remain silent.

But it didn't take long for the rumor to reach Taehyung's classmates, including Jimin and Seoyoung. Both stood up for their friend, declaring, "So what if he's gay? What's wrong with that?" But despite their defense, Taehyung remained oblivious to the stares and whispers trailing behind him.

---

At the end of the day, like yesterday, Taehyung felt the urge to leave early. He sent a message to their group chat and began walking down a long alley, lost in his thoughts. His mind was too clouded to notice the four figures that suddenly blocked his path.

Jeonghan, Joshua, Taeyong, and Seungcheol stood before him. Initially, Taehyung thought he had accidentally walked into their way, so he tried to step aside. But they blocked him again. His eyes lifted slowly, meeting theirs.

"You jerks! Move aside," Taehyung growled, his frustration clear.

"Jerks, huh?" Seungcheol mocked with a smirk. "The world has changed so much. Not-so-called boys are now scolding us jerks."

"Yes, yes. Where are you going, whore? To your boyfriend?" Joshua asked, leaning dangerously close to Taehyung's face.

"Hey, don't get too close. He might kiss you," Jeonghan taunted.

Taehyung's eyes narrowed in confusion, his heart pounding in his chest. "What the hell are you talking about? I don't understand your point straight." Despite trying to play it cool, his stomach twisted with unease. He refused to believe that they knew.