Jungkook's gaze was unreadable, his presence commanding, but V saw the flicker of recognition in his dark eyes. He knew.But before V could process what this meant, before he could even utter a word, Jungkook moved with the cold precision of a man bo...
The grand ballroom of the Kim Mansion was buzzing with guests, the atmosphere filled with soft classical music and the clinking of champagne glasses. Ornate chandeliers bathed the room in warm light, casting long shadows across the marble floors. The Kim family, despite the chaos and fear lurking behind closed doors, was putting on a public face.
This was their way of keeping the rumors at bay, to show the world that nothing was amiss, even as Taehyung's absence became more glaring with each passing day. For now, no one outside the inner circle knew the truth.
Among the guests were close family friends-Taemin and Kai-who had been invited to the event. Both were aware that something had changed within the family, but neither had the courage to ask directly.
As Jimin strolled through the ballroom, greeting guests with a practiced smile, Taemin approached him.
Taemin: "It's been a while, Jimin. I haven't seen Taehyung around. I heard rumors..."
Jimin's expression didn't falter for a second. He gave Taemin a soft smile, the kind that held no answers.
Jimin: "Rumors are just that, Taemin. Taehyung is... busy with family matters. He'll show up when he's ready."
Kai, who stood beside Taemin, raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing the underlying tension but choosing not to push further.
Kai: "I see... Well, it's good to know everything is under control."
Jimin nodded, his mind racing. He knew Taemin and Kai weren't fooled, but the lie had to hold for now. They couldn't afford any cracks in the facade.
Across the room, Jungkook leaned against the balcony railing, staring out at the night sky. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, the cigarette trembling slightly between his fingers. His chest felt tight, and he hadn't been able to breathe properly all evening, but he needed the nicotine to steady his nerves.
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His mind kept replaying old memories - Taehyung's smile, his laughter echoing through this same ballroom years ago. Back then, even though their families were rivals, there had always been a public front to maintain. They had still danced together, hidden behind masks of formality, but Jungkook had only ever attended for Taehyung.
Now, everything seemed hollow without him.
As Jungkook turned away from the balcony, someone brushed past him-too close. The brief contact jolted him, and he glanced up, seeing a stranger smirking at him from the crowd.
Stranger: "It's a night to see you, Jeon."
Jungkook's eyes narrowed in confusion, but before he could respond, the man disappeared into the sea of guests. Something about the encounter left him uneasy, but he couldn't dwell on it. Not here.
_________________________________________
Jackson was seated at a table near the edge of the ballroom, his jaw clenched in frustration. This party was a waste of time. They had more important things to do-like find Taehyung-but instead, they were stuck maintaining appearances for the sake of the Kim family's reputation.
