Lost Love [ Taekook FF ]

Chapter 26

In the dimly lit study, where shadows draped the walls and tension lingered like smoke, Mr. Jeon sat behind his desk, his fingers tapping rhythmically, a calm that masked a brewing storm. His reputation as the most powerful mafia leader and business tycoon in the underworld was not earned lightly. Few dared to approach him without reason, and fewer with personal news.

The door creaked open, and his loyal guard stepped in, head bowed low. He waited for permission to speak. After a silent nod from Mr. Jeon, he began, voice steady yet cautious.

"Sir, there is… something regarding young master."

Mr. Jeon's gaze sharpened, his fingers pausing mid-tap. "Speak."

The guard swallowed, eyes flicking briefly up to gauge his master’s reaction. "It's been confirmed that young master is seeing someone. The name is Kim Taehyung—a middle-class boy, attending the same university as the young master."

A shadow passed over Mr. Jeon’s face, but he remained silent. Sensing the tension but compelled to finish his report, the guard pressed on, voice lowering as if whispering a dark secret.

"There… are rumors, sir, that young master may… have certain feelings for this boy."

He dared a glance at Mr. Jeon, only to meet a gaze as sharp as a knife. The words he wanted to say died in his throat, strangled by the unmistakable fury simmering beneath his boss’s cold stare. The silence that followed was thick and suffocating, as if the very air had frozen.

Mr. Jeon’s jaw tightened, his gaze hardening. His voice, when he finally spoke, was low, but laced with a lethal edge. "My son... Jungkook... in love with another man?" His fingers curled into fists, veins straining beneath his skin. A dark fire flickered in his eyes, a hatred he rarely displayed openly. "This... cannot be."

The guard flinched, feeling the chill of his master’s anger seep into the room. Mr. Jeon’s voice cut through the silence again, a command wrapped in steel.

"Call Jungkook. Tell him to meet me. Urgently."

The guard gave a short bow. "Yes, sir." He retreated quickly, grateful to escape the wrath that radiated from his boss. As he closed the door, he cast one last look back, feeling a deep, ominous dread settle in his bones.

The room fell silent once more, save for the slow, measured breaths of a man grappling with the reality that his only son might carry a secret that could shatter the iron legacy he had built.

♡♡♡

The familiar buzz of the café surrounded Tae as he worked, balancing trays, refilling coffee pots, and ringing up orders. The warm smell of roasted beans filled the air, mingling with the quiet hum of conversation and the soft clinking of mugs. It was just another ordinary shift—or so he thought.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure strolling in: Jungkook. Again.

Tae exhaled sharply, hiding his irritation behind a polite smile as he watched Jungkook coming up to the counter, that annoying smirk already tugging at his lips. For days now, this routine had repeated. Every afternoon, like clockwork, Jungkook would follow him to the café, order the same coffee that cost exactly $1.43, and then make a big show of it. Tae knew exactly why: 143, as in I love you.

Tae steeled himself as Jungkook leaned on the counter, flashing him a grin.

“Afternoon, Tae,” Jungkook greeted, eyes twinkling. “I’ll take the usual.”

Tae didn’t respond at first, his fingers moving to the register as he punched in the order, determined not to give Jungkook the satisfaction today. Not today, he thought.