Collision of Verdicts

The Calm Before the Reveal

It was Friday evening, and the tension in the air was palpable. Namjoon paced his office, his mind racing as he mentally rehearsed what was about to unfold. His phone buzzed, and he glanced down to see a message from Seokjin.

"Everything ready for tomorrow?"

Namjoon sighed, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. "As ready as we’ll ever be," he texted back. He couldn’t deny the anxiety creeping in. Tomorrow wasn’t just about the merger. It was about the future, about relationships, about trust. And with Jungkook and Taehyung, both unpredictable forces of nature in their own right, he wasn’t sure what would happen next.

He hit "send" and dialed Jungkook’s number, taking a deep breath before speaking.

"Jungkook," he said once the line picked up, "I need you, Yoongi, Soobin, and Taehyun to be at Sparks, Saturday, sharp at 6 p.m. for the team party. It’s a big one."

Jungkook’s voice was as smooth as ever, but there was an edge of curiosity to it. "A team party, huh? What’s going on, Namjoon?"

"We’ll talk about it when you get there," Namjoon replied, his tone leaving no room for questions. "Just be there. It’s important."

He hung up, knowing the others would get the message as well. He looked up at Seokjin, who was sitting across from him, silently reading through some notes for tomorrow. Their eyes met briefly, both of them aware of the storm they were about to face.

"Seokjin, have you called everyone?" Namjoon asked, his voice carrying a trace of unease.

Seokjin looked up, his usually calm demeanor betraying just a hint of tension. "I called Taehyung, Jimin, Jisoo, Yeonjun, and Beomgyu. Everyone will be there. They’re expecting a celebration. Just like you said, we’ll drop the bomb when the time is right."

Namjoon nodded but didn’t say anything. He could already feel the pressure building. He wasn’t sure how his team would react, but he had a sinking feeling it wouldn’t be easy. Hoseok, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, leaned forward with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"It’s going to be fine, Namjoon. You’ve got everything under control, right?" Hoseok’s words sounded more like a challenge than a reassurance.

"Let’s hope so," Namjoon muttered, turning his gaze back to the window. "Let’s just hope everyone stays calm."

---

Saturday, 5:50 p.m. at Sparks

The lavish banquet hall at Sparks Hotel was buzzing with anticipation. Namjoon stood by the door, his eyes darting between the clock and the entrance, as if any moment now, the weight of the evening would come crashing down. Seokjin stood beside him, just as poised and calm on the surface, though Namjoon could feel the unease radiating off of him. Hoseok and Kai were already in position, greeting the arriving team members with their usual charm.

One by one, the first wave of team members started to arrive.

Taehyung and Jimin entered together, as always, their easy friendship evident in the way they bantered on their way into the hall. Jimin, with his ever-present phone in hand, was absorbed in whatever message was lighting up his screen. Taehyung, always the charming one, was animated as he greeted Seokjin, giving him a wide, friendly smile.

"Seokjin hyung," Taehyung said, walking toward him with a warmth that lit up the room. "I was beginning to think you were keeping all the fun for yourself."

Seokjin returned the smile, but there was a subtle nervousness in his eyes that Taehyung couldn’t place. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Still, he shrugged it off and sat next to Seokjin, his usual ease returning as he struck up a conversation with Jisoo, who had arrived with them. Jisoo, as always, was the picture of professionalism, though her eyes darted between Seokjin and the rest of the room, sensing the underlying tension but saying nothing.

The door swung open again, and Yeonjun and Beomgyu made their entrance. Both young men exuded confidence, their sharp suits making them look like they had stepped out of a high-fashion magazine. The two greeted the team casually, exchanging pleasantries with Jimin and Jisoo before heading toward their seats.

The banquet hall was slowly filling up, but the atmosphere was nothing like a celebration. There was an unspoken tension hanging in the air, and everyone felt it, even if they couldn’t name it.

And then the door opened once again.

The sound of footsteps, confident and deliberate, filled the room. The chatter in the room quieted as all eyes turned to the entrance.

Jungkook walked in, his tall figure cutting through the crowd like a blade. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, the faint sheen of his shirt catching the dim light. The moment he stepped into the room, it was as if time slowed. He moved with the grace of someone used to commanding attention, every inch of him radiating authority and an effortless cool that no one could ignore. His eyes scanned the room, catching Namjoon’s gaze briefly before settling on the others. Beside him, Yoongi walked in, his usual reserved self but just as striking, his black suit sharp and his presence equally formidable.

Behind them, Soobin and Taehyun entered, both in crisp suits, their steps synchronized as if they had practiced this entrance a hundred times. Mingyu followed close behind, his easy grin making him look even more dangerous, like a predator in a room full of prey. Together, the group walked in, their coordinated steps and sharp features creating an almost intimidating harmony.

As they entered the banquet hall, the air shifted. Jungkook, as always, had this presence, this aura of power and confidence. He moved like a force of nature, with his team right behind him, all dressed to kill. His sharp eyes locked with Taehyung’s for a brief moment, and Taehyung felt something stir inside him.

The moment felt charged, like two storms about to collide.

Taehyung’s warm smile immediately faded when he saw Jungkook. The man looked like a devil in a suit. His smile, as usual, was a little too confident, too smug. He walked in like he owned the world, and for a brief second, Taehyung could feel his stomach twist.

Jungkook caught Taehyung’s gaze, his lips curving into that familiar half-smile that always made Taehyung’s heart beat a little faster. There was no mistaking it—Jungkook knew exactly what he was doing, and Taehyung hated how effortlessly he managed to throw him off balance.

As the team found their seats, the tension was palpable. Everyone sat, shifting uncomfortably as the length of the table stretched out before them. Namjoon and Seokjin’s seats were positioned at the center of each side of the long, sleek table. To Seokjin’s right sat Hoseok, and to his left was Kai, the two of them already deep in conversation with their respective teams. On Seokjin’s side, his team was seated, all eyes flicking toward Namjoon’s side.

But Taehyung couldn’t tear his eyes away from Jungkook.

There was something magnetic about him, something that pulled at Taehyung’s focus, despite his best efforts to ignore it. Jungkook was sitting now, on the opposite side of the table, his cool gaze already sweeping over the room, seemingly scanning everyone like he could read their thoughts.

Taehyung quickly turned his attention back to Jisoo, trying to keep up with the conversation, but the unsettling feeling in his chest only grew.

He didn’t know it yet, but the storm was about to break. And everything was about to change.