Desolate Innocence ||T.K.V||

▶︎ Chapter 17▶︎

This is most requested chapter of this book, so I need comments likewise or I won't be updating.☔︎

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"Hey, sweetheart," came the deep, hoarse voice that startled Jungkook.

Jungkook jumped in place, his grip on the cup slipping. It fell to the ground with a sharp clatter, shattering into pieces. Gasping loudly, Jungkook instinctively stepped back, his eyes fixed on the broken shards scattered across the floor. He quickly looked up and found Taehyung casually leaning against the counter. His strong, bulky arms were folded as he rested them on his formal black pants, his posture relaxed but commanding.

Jungkook's doe eyes widened in surprise, his heart racing as he met Taehyung's gaze. His cheeks flushed a deep red, embarrassed by both the mess he had made and the unexpected attention from the older boy. The way Taehyung stood there, watching him with a confident smirk, only made his pulse quicken further.

"Oops!" Taehyung chuckled darkly, his voice low and teasing as he took in the sight before him. Standing in front of him was Jungkook, who resembled a baby deer caught in headlights—his wide doe eyes filled with a mix of surprise and embarrassment. His soft, pink lips parted slightly as if he was trying to find words but couldn't. Taehyung's gaze traveled over Jungkook's flushed, squishy red cheeks, framed by soft bangs that fell over his forehead, giving him an even more innocent look.

Jungkook's snow-white skin made a difference with the pink and black outfit that made him glow like a diamond. Taehyung couldn't help but find amusement in the younger boy's shy, almost fragile appearance, making the moment all the more intriguing for him. His smirk deepened as he enjoyed every bit of Jungkook's flustered state, silently noting how adorable yet captivating the younger boy looked.

"S-sorry! I will clean it quickly," Jungkook stammered, not noticing the sudden change in Taehyung's expression. The playful smirk that had once danced on the mafia's lips was now wiped away, replaced by a dark, unreadable look. But Jungkook was too focused on his own actions to notice. He quickly bent down, intending to pick up the broken pieces from the floor.

However, before his hands could reach the shards, Jungkook suddenly found himself lifted off the ground. He gasped loudly, startled and confused, his body instinctively curling up as if he had no idea what was happening. His eyes squeezed shut in panic, and he clutched onto whatever he could find to steady himself, his fingers gripping tightly to maintain his balance.

Jungkook didn't realize that it was Taehyung who had effortlessly lifted him, and in his confusion, he remained suspended, utterly unaware of the dark aura surrounding Taehyung. Jungkook slowly opened his eyes when the sudden movement stopped, a sigh of relief escaping him. But the moment he glanced to his right, his breath hitched painfully in his throat.

Taehyung stood there, staring at him with a dark, menacing look that made the air feel thick and dangerous. Jungkook gulped nervously, realizing what his hands were gripping. His right hand was tangled in the soft strands of Taehyung's nape hair, while his left clutched the fabric of Taehyung's shirt tightly.

His wide doe eyes met Taehyung's feline-like gaze—cold, blank, and piercing. The silence between them was suffocating. In a panic, Jungkook quickly released Taehyung's neck, pulling his hand close to his chest as though it had been burned, and looked down, trying to disappear into the moment.

Without a word, Taehyung stepped back, his expression unreadable but chilling. After putting some distance between them and the shattered pieces on the floor, he gently placed Jungkook onto the counter. Jungkook immediately gripped the edge, as if it were his only anchor in the world, his knuckles turning white from how tightly he held on.