IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR ABSENCE

CHAPTER 15

AN YEAR AGO

FLASHBACK

The café was dimly lit, filled with the soft hum of hushed conversations and the comforting aroma of coffee. Park Jimin sat in a secluded corner, his fingers tapping restlessly on the table. His mind raced, replaying the devastating truth he had uncovered just a week ago. The burden of it weighed heavily on his chest, and the anger simmered just beneath the surface.

The bell above the café door chimed softly, and Taehyung entered, shaking off the rain from his umbrella. He spotted Jimin quickly and made his way over, concern etched on his face. As he sat down across from Jimin, the tension in the air was palpable.

"You sounded urgent," Taehyung said, his tone serious as he leaned in. "What's going on?"

Jimin took a deep breath, his fists clenched under the table. "I found out who killed my dad."

Taehyung's expression shifted immediately, his brows furrowing in confusion and concern. "Who?" he asked, his voice low.

"It was Mr. Jeon," Jimin spat, his words filled with fury. "He orchestrated the whole thing. He thought my father was becoming too much of a threat to his power."

Taehyung's eyes narrowed. "Mr. Jeon? I've heard the name before. He's one of the old mafia bosses, right? What happened exactly?"

Jimin's voice was cold as ice. "Mr. Jeon was paranoid. My father was building up alliances, strengthening our family's position in Europe. Mr. Jeon didn't like that. He felt threatened, so he ordered the hit."

Taehyung leaned back in his chair, his expression darkening. "That bastard..." His voice trailed off as he processed the information. "Do you know where he is now?"

Jimin nodded, pulling out his phone. He swiped through a few photos before stopping on an image. He handed the phone to Taehyung. "This is him. He has a son named Jeon Jungkook. They live in Korea. Apparently, Jungkook wants nothing to do with his father's empire, but that doesn't change what their family has done."

Taehyung studied the photo for a moment before handing the phone back. "So... what's the plan?"

Jimin's eyes were filled with a cold, calculated determination. "Jungkook's the key. Mr. Jeon's only weakness is his family. If we can hit Jungkook, we can make Mr. Jeon suffer. But we have to be careful. Jungkook's innocent in all of this, but he's still a Jeon. And Mr. Jeon will do anything to protect his son."

Taehyung hesitated. He hadn't met Jungkook, and from what Jimin was saying, the son wasn't involved in the mafia world at all. But loyalty to Jimin ran deep, and he knew the pain of losing a father. "So... you want to go after Jungkook, even if he's not involved in the mafia?"

Jimin's jaw tightened. "It's the only way. Mr. Jeon has to feel the same loss I did. If Jungkook doesn't pay for his father's sins, who will? You're with me, right?"

Taehyung met Jimin's gaze, the weight of the decision heavy between them. After a long pause, he nodded, his voice firm. "I'm with you, Jimin. Whatever it takes."

Jimin's lips curled into a grim, determined smile. His eyes, once filled with brotherly warmth, were now cold and calculating. "Good. So, here's the plan. You'll go to Korea. I'll send a few of my men with you as bodyguards, just in case things get out of hand." He paused, his voice darkening. "The most important thing you need to know is that Jungkook... he's weak right now."