Growing up as orphans, Taehyung and Jungkook were inseparable, navigating the hardships of life in an orphanage side by side. Their bond was a lifeline, making the challenges of their childhood bearable-until everything changed. Jungkook was discove...
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Chapter 4
Jungkook slumped back in his office chair, a weary sigh escaping his lips. The weight of unanswered emails pressed down on him, each one a reminder of the responsibilities that never seemed to end. He diligently typed away, his fingers flying across the keyboard, determined to conquer the ever-growing pile of correspondence. But just as he was finally finding a rhythm, a soft knock at the door shattered his concentration.
"Come in," he called out, his gaze shifting to the door as it creaked open. His eyes met the warm smile of Taehyung, who stood there holding a tray laden with snacks and a glass of milk.
"Good evening, Mr. Jeon," Taehyung greeted, bowing his head respectfully.
"Good evening," Jungkook replied, his eyes darting back to his computer screen as he rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit he couldn't seem to shake.
"Mrs. Singh asked me to bring you these," Taehyung said, carefully placing the tray on Jungkook's desk. The glass of strawberry milk sat beside a steaming bowl of ramyeon, Jungkook's favorite. "If you need anything else, just let me know, and I'll get it for you." He smiled again, his eyes lingering on Jungkook, who seemed to be avoiding his gaze.
"N-no, I'm fine," Jungkook mumbled, clearing his throat.
"Okay, I'll take my leave then, Mr. Jeon. Have a nice night," Taehyung said, bowing once more before turning to leave.
"Wait!" Jungkook blurted out, springing from his chair.
Taehyung turned around, a look of confusion clouding his features. "Yes, Mr. Jeon? What is it?" he asked.
Jungkook himself couldn't explain why he had stopped Taehyung. It was as if an invisible force had taken control of his body, leaving his mind scrambling to catch up.
"Ahm, well, uh..." he stammered, his words failing him. "Your finger! That's right, your finger. How is it?" Jungkook was relieved that his brain had finally managed to function, allowing him to escape the awkward silence. He felt a blush creep up his neck as he realized how foolish he must have sounded.
"Ah, this..." Taehyung looked down at his fingers, then back at Jungkook. "It's fine now, Mr. Jeon. It just grazed me earlier. But thanks for your concern." He smiled genuinely.
"Y-you're welcome," Jungkook mumbled shyly. "Please be careful. If cooking isn't your thing, you can just leave it to Mrs. Singh. There's no need to put yourself in danger." His voice was laced with concern, a stark contrast to the cool facade he usually maintained.
"I understand, Mr. Jeon. I'll be more careful next time," Taehyung assured him.
"T-that's all..." Jungkook muttered, his voice trailing off. "You can leave now. Thanks." He said it, but there was a hesitant tone in his voice, as if he didn't want Taehyung to go.
"Alright, good night, Mr. Jeon," Taehyung said, finally turning to leave. He walked out of Jungkook's office, leaving Jungkook alone with his thoughts.
Jungkook sank back into his chair, letting out a shaky breath. His heart pounded in his chest, a frantic rhythm that mirrored the turmoil within him. He could feel his face burning with embarrassment. His heart was so hopelessly entangled with Taehyung's that he couldn't even begin to understand how he was going to keep up his act of indifference.
“How's Mr. Jeon doing?” Mrs. Singh asked, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled warmly at Taehyung. He had just descended the grand staircase, his steps echoing through the luxurious hallway.
“He's fine, Mrs. Singh,” Taehyung replied, his gaze drifting toward the towering stack of paperwork that seemed to have taken over Jungkook's desk. “Maybe just a little stressed with all that work,” he added, a hint of sympathy in his voice.
It must be exhausting, he thought, picturing Jungkook hunched over his desk, his brow furrowed in concentration as he meticulously read through each document. He knew Jungkook wasn't a fan of paperwork, so the sheer volume of it must have been a daunting task. But even as Taehyung felt a pang of concern for his employer, a playful smile tugged at his lips. It was the same Jungkook he had known as a child, the one who always seemed to be surrounded by mountains of books and papers.
“I see,” Mrs. Singh said, her tone shifting to a more serious one. “You can take a rest as well. We'll be busy tomorrow.”
“Hm, why?” Taehyung asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Well, you see, we’ll have a visitor tomorrow. His parents are coming, and Ms. Seo Aera will be here too,” Mrs. Singh explained.
“Seo Aera? Who’s that?” Taehyung frowned, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“Oh, I had forgotten you’re newly hired here,” Mrs. Singh chuckled softly. “I’m not sure about the details, but it seems his parents want him to be engaged to her. They’re trying everything to make them close. You know, the usual rich people stuff. That’s how his parents’ marriage happened.”
“Is Jungkook okay with that? I don’t think he’s the type to be forced into something he’s uncomfortable with,” Taehyung said, voicing his concern.
“You’re not wrong,” Mrs. Singh agreed, a sigh escaping her lips. “He’s been avoiding the engagement for years. He doesn’t want to get involved with them. The only good thing about it is that it might make him lessen his work hours and get a peaceful life for a while. He’s been a workaholic, almost forgetting he has a normal life.” There was a hint of disappointment in her voice as she spoke.
“But still, forcing him to do something he doesn’t like won’t solve anything,” Taehyung insisted, his voice firm with conviction.
“Well, that’s something we can’t help. We’re just staff here, and we shouldn’t interfere with their lives. We wouldn’t understand their lifestyle,” Mrs. Singh retorted, her tone laced with resignation. “That’s why tomorrow, make sure to make as much contact with Ms. Seo as possible. She doesn’t like people like us, and if she orders you around, just do it to avoid any consequences. Do you understand?”
Taehyung sighed, his heart heavy with pity for Jungkook’s predicament. He nodded silently, agreeing to Mrs. Singh’s instructions. It was clear that the world of the wealthy and powerful was a complex and often cruel one, a world where love and happiness were often sacrificed at the altar of ambition and social standing.
