Ties of Fate

Beneath The Surface

Taehyung stepped out of the hotel’s back
entrance, taking a deep breath as the cool evening air hit him. The press conference had been a whirlwind, and even though everything had gone according to plan, he couldn’t shake the unsettled feeling gnawing at him. Jungkook’s words lingered in his mind: “You really don’t care, do you?”

He did care. More than he wanted to admit. But that didn’t mean he was ready to show it.

Leaning against the wall, Taehyung stared up at the sky. The night was quiet, far from the flashing cameras and questioning reporters. He feels much relief, but yet he still feels the weight of the lie they were living. To the world, they were the perfect couple, but the truth is so far from that illusion.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence, and he turned to see Jungkook walking toward him, his hands deep in the pockets of his tailored coat. His expression was guarded, his steps deliberate, like he had something to prove just by standing there.

"Are you just going to stand out here and sulk?" Jungkook asked, his voice cutting through the stillness.

Taehyung gave him a sidelong glance, crossing his arms over his chest. "I’m not sulking. I’m thinking."

"About what?" Jungkook pressed, his gaze unyielding.

"About how we just sold a story to the media that we’re supposed to live for the rest of our lives," Taehyung said, his tone dry but with an undercurrent of frustration. "Doesn’t that bother you?"

Jungkook’s jaw tightened as he took a few steps closer, standing directly in front of Taehyung now. "We knew what we were getting into. Why are you acting like this is new to you?"

Taehyung shrugged, feigning indifference. "Because actually doing it feels a lot worse than I thought it would. Watching everyone believe this picture-perfect romance when we both know it’s a lie."

Jungkook’s expression softened, but only slightly. "We agreed to this. For our families. For the company."

"I know," Taehyung muttered, his voice quieter now. "But that doesn’t make it any easier."

The silence between them was thick, both of them struggling to find the right words. Jungkook’s eyes never left Taehyung’s, and for a moment, the usual tension between them seemed to shift into something more complex—something neither of them was ready to address.

"Why are you really doing this?" Jungkook asked suddenly, his voice softer than before. "For the company? Your family?"

Taehyung blinked, surprised by the question. It was one he hadn’t fully allowed himself to answer, not even in his own head. He had always hidden behind the persona he projected—the one who didn’t care, the one who couldn’t be bothered by expectations or duty. But deep down, he knew there was more to it than that.

"Does it matter?" Taehyung replied after a pause, his tone laced with an edge of uncertainty. "We’re both stuck in this. Whatever the reason, we’re in the same situation."

Jungkook frowned slightly, his gaze piercing. "You make it sound like we’re both victims."

"Aren’t we?" Taehyung countered. "We didn’t choose this. We’re just… following orders."

"I don’t see it that way," Jungkook said firmly. "We’re doing this for our families. For the future. That’s not something to resent."

Taehyung scoffed, shaking his head. "Of course, you don’t. You’ve always been the perfect son, haven’t you? Always doing what’s expected, never questioning anything."

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed, the tension between them flaring once again. "And you? What have you done, other than push people away? You act like none of this matters, but you care just as much as I do. Maybe even more."

The accusation hit Taehyung harder than he expected. He wanted to brush it off, to make a sarcastic remark and walk away. But Jungkook’s words were too close to the truth. Taehyung did care—about his family, about the company, about everything he was trying so hard to distance himself from.

For the first time in a long time, Taehyung found himself at a loss for words. Instead of responding, he turned away, trying to put some distance between himself and the conversation.

---

The next few days were a blur of wedding preparations, business meetings, and endless media attention. The world saw a perfect partnership—two heirs coming together to solidify their families’ legacies. But behind the scenes, everything felt fragile, like the slightest misstep would expose the truth.

Taehyung’s phone buzzed with yet another reminder of the wedding plans, and he sighed in frustration. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep this up—pretending to be okay with the lies, with the performance.

He shot a text to Jungkook before he could second-guess himself:

“Can we talk? I’m done with all of this.”

The reply came quicker than he expected:

“Meet me at the office. I’ll be there.”

---

That night, Taehyung found himself in Jungkook’s office at Jeon Corporation, the city’s skyline glowing through the tall windows. The room was quiet, the usual hustle of the day having died down. Jungkook stood by the window, his silhouette outlined by the lights of the city below.

"Why now?" Jungkook asked, turning around to face him. "What’s changed?"

Taehyung crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "I’m tired of pretending. We can’t keep acting like we’re just business partners when we’re about to spend the rest of our lives together."

Jungkook’s brows furrowed, clearly confused. "I thought that’s exactly what we agreed to—keeping it professional, doing what’s necessary for the company."

"I’m not talking about the business side," Taehyung said, his voice quieter now. "I’m talking about us. How are we supposed to survive this marriage if we can’t even be honest with each other?"

Jungkook was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Taehyung, like he was trying to figure him out. "What are you asking for, Taehyung?"

Taehyung took a step closer, his heart racing in his chest. "I’m asking how long we can keep pretending. We can’t go on like this, hating each other. We need to figure out what we’re going to do when the cameras aren’t on us."

Jungkook didn’t respond immediately, his expression unreadable. But something in his posture softened. "I don’t want to hate you," he said quietly. "But I don’t know how to fix this either."

The admission caught Taehyung off guard. He had expected Jungkook to push back, to argue. But this—this was different.

"Maybe we stop pretending," Taehyung suggested, his voice barely above a whisper. "At least with each other."

Jungkook’s eyes met his, and for the first time, the tension between them didn’t feel like a battle. It felt like an understanding, fragile but real. They weren’t enemies, not anymore. But what that made them, neither of them knew.

"We can start with honesty," Jungkook said after a long pause. "No more pretending between us."

Taehyung nodded slowly. "Agreed."

It wasn’t a solution. But it was a start. And for now, that was enough.