SCARRED AFFECTIONS

Chapter 13

It was a busy morning in Seoul, the streets buzzing with life. Cars honked, people hurried to work, and the smell of street food vendors filled the air. Jungkook, dressed in a warm coat, adjusted his bag on his shoulder as he stepped out of his building. The air was brisk, but the hustle of the city gave it warmth. He was heading to the school where he taught, his mind preoccupied with the lessons he had prepared for his students.

Jungkook, despite everything weighing on his mind, had to push through. He had responsibilities, after all—his students were waiting for him. As a teacher, he couldn't let his personal problems interfere with his duties. But even as he stepped out of his apartment building, adjusting his bag on his shoulder, his thoughts were elsewhere. Taehyung had been on his mind constantly. The last few weeks had been filled with tension, and Jungkook found himself longing for clarity, for peace. But he had to focus. His students needed him.

Today was a normal day—or so it seemed.

Jungkook moved with the crowd, crossing streets and nodding absentmindedly to familiar faces. Everything felt routine, like any other day, but beneath the surface, there was a subtle unease that nagged at him. He shrugged it off, focusing on the tasks ahead.

And then it happened.

He had only walked about 30 yards when a sudden, deafening "BANG!" tore through the noise of the city. The sound was sharp and unmistakable—gunfire.

Jungkook didn't have time to react before he felt the burning, searing pain in his side. His eyes widened in shock as he looked down, seeing blood rapidly soaking his shirt. His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto the cold pavement.

Pain rippled through his body, and his vision blurred as people around him screamed. Chaos erupted, and within seconds, strangers rushed toward him, some shouting for help, others frozen in fear. A woman knelt beside him, her hands shaking as she tried to press her coat against the wound.

"Call an ambulance!" someone yelled. "He's bleeding! Someone help!"

Jungkook's breath came in short gasps, his body trembling from the shock. His thoughts were scattered, a mixture of confusion and panic. "Taehyung..."

He could barely keep his eyes open as he lay there, surrounded by strangers, the noise of the busy street fading into a distant hum.

———

Meanwhile, across the city, Taehyung was deep in conversation with his men in his office. They were discussing important business dealings, the atmosphere tense and focused. Taehyung's sharp eyes scanned the documents in front of him, his mind running through strategies and plans.

Suddenly the door to the office flew open, and one of Taehyung's men rushed in, his face pale and frantic. "Boss, there's been an incident—Jungkook's been shot."

Taehyung froze.

"What did you say?" His voice was deadly quiet, but his eyes burned with a mix of fury and fear.

The man hesitated, swallowing nervously. "Jungkook was shot on his way to school. It's serious. They took him to the hospital."

For a moment, Taehyung couldn't move. The words hit him like a punch to the gut. "Shot? Jungkook?" His mind reeled. How could this have happened? He had been keeping an eye on Jungkook, making sure he was protected. Yet somehow, the danger had slipped through.

Without a second thought, Taehyung stormed out of the room, his men following closely behind. "Get the car ready," he ordered, his voice tight with barely controlled panic.

As he raced to the hospital, his mind spun with thoughts of Jungkook. He had been so careful, trying to protect him, but now... now he was in a hospital fighting for his life.