DECEPTIVE SHADOW (Tk) ✔

Chapter 23: Unveiled Shadows

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Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room as Jungkook slowly opened his eyes. For a moment, everything felt peaceful; the weight of the past few weeks faded in the gentle light, and he felt secure, wrapped in the lingering warmth of Taehyung’s presence. He reached out instinctively to the empty side of the bed, only to find it cool to the touch.

Taehyung's already up, he thought. Listening, he quickly identified the soft hum of the shower running in the nearby bathroom.

Jungkook stretched and sat up, taking a deep breath to shake off the remnants of sleep. He was about to get up and start his day when the sharp trill of a phone ringtone filled the silence. He looked around, spotting Taehyung's phone vibrating on the nightstand.

He hesitated, his instinct to respect Taehyung's privacy. But the ringing was relentless, the call coming through again and again. His curiosity piqued, he reached out and picked up the phone, his thumb hovering over the screen. Maybe it’s important, he reasoned, finally accepting the call.

“Hello?” he murmured, unsure of what to expect.

The response came without hesitation, a voice cold and businesslike. “What do you want us to do with the bodyguard? You’ve taken his place, as planned. Do you want us to eliminate him like the others?”

The words hit Jungkook like a slap, freezing him in place. His mouth went dry, and he opened it to respond, but no sound came. Eliminate... bodyguard... like the others? The meaning sank in slowly, a twisted puzzle piece snapping into place.

Taehyung, he thought, horrified. His mind raced, trying to reconcile the gentle, caring Taehyung he’d grown close to with the person on the other end of the call. Suddenly, the silence around him felt deafening, only broken by the soft sound of the shower coming to a stop.

Panicking, Jungkook ended the call, dropping the phone as though it had burned him. He scrambled back into bed, his mind spinning. Could Taehyung really be behind the strange things happening around him? Was he the stalker all along?

As the bathroom door opened, Jungkook quickly schooled his features, pushing down the flood of confusion and fear. He glanced up to see Taehyung stepping out, a towel slung low on his hips, droplets of water still clinging to his skin. He flashed Jungkook a warm smile that only deepened Jungkook’s internal conflict.

"Good morning," Taehyung said, his voice gentle as he began drying his hair. “I thought you’d sleep in a little longer.”

Jungkook forced a smile, nodding as he stretched lazily, trying to seem casual. “I guess I’m an early riser today.”

Taehyung chuckled, reaching over to brush a stray lock of hair from Jungkook’s forehead. The touch was gentle, the warmth of his fingers seeping into Jungkook’s skin. But now, it only added to the swirl of conflicting emotions, blurring the lines between what he wanted to believe and the horrifying reality that might lie beneath the surface.

“Why don’t you go freshen up?” Taehyung suggested. “I’ll make us some breakfast.”

Jungkook nodded, murmuring a quick thanks before slipping into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind him. He leaned against the door, closing his eyes and taking a shaky breath as his mind replayed the words he’d heard over the phone. What should I do? Confront him? Act normal?