Hearts on the line

Chapter 3 : Blood And Shadows

As Jungkook stumbled into his mansion, the coolness of the empty house made the air feel even colder. He was slightly tipsy, his shirtless body still carrying the remnants of the wild party he'd just left. He made his way through the dimly lit halls, the sound of his footsteps echoing off the marble floors, when a low, stern voice suddenly cut through the silence.

"Jungkook."

Jungkook's eyes narrowed, a curse slipping out of his lips under his breath. "What the hell now?" he muttered, his voice full of annoyance.

Turning, he saw the figure of his father, Mr. Jeon. A man in his fifties, still sharp-looking, even in his tuxedo. A glass of dark liquor was in his hand, but before Jungkook could react, Mr. Jeon threw the drink at him. Jungkook was quick, dodging the glass with ease, a smirk forming on his lips as he looked his father dead in the eye.

"Oops, you missed, daddy," Jungkook teased, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Better luck next time."

The words stung like venom, and Mr. Jeon's face flushed with fury. Without another word, he marched toward his son, his hand slapping across Jungkook's face so hard that blood instantly trickled from his split lip. Jungkook recoiled, the sting of the slap a sharp contrast to the alcohol in his system, but his glare never wavered.

Mr. Jeon's voice was a growl, his anger rising. "Where the fuck were you? Out there partying and making a fool of this family? You're spoiling my reputation!"

Jungkook's gaze remained cold as ice, his smirk still present even as he wiped the blood from his lip. He took a deep breath, his voice laced with mockery. "Oh, I’m sorry, did I embarrass you, daddy? Maybe next time I should stay home and help polish your precious reputation. Would that make you happy?"

Without waiting for a response, Jungkook turned on his heel, the sound of his father's furious shouting trailing behind him. He didn't care. He ran up the grand staircase and slammed the door of his room shut, shutting out the noise from downstairs.

The house went eerily silent, save for his father's continued yelling in the living room. Jungkook’s room, dark and quiet, felt like the only place where he could truly be himself—away from the chaos, away from his father's expectations.

---
Next morning, Jungkook woke up with a hangover. He hissed, feeling the sting from his injured lips. Groggily, he got up and went to the washroom, his face a little red with puffed-up eyes. "Jimin Hyung's going to nag again," he muttered to himself, shaking his head before heading to take a quick shower. He dressed quickly, not bothering with breakfast, and headed to the backseat of the car. The driver took him to university in silence.

Upon arrival, Jungkook adjusted his black hoodie, threw on his sunglasses, grabbed his backpack, and turned back to thank the driver. "Thanks, uncle," he said, watching the car drive off before walking through the gates.

As soon as he entered, he was attacked from behind, a familiar body jumping onto his back. He knew it was none other than Park Jimin.

The two of them laughed as they walked together, but all around them, whispers filled the air. "That's Jungkook, he looks cute today." The admiration was clear as their peers couldn't help but stare.

They all knew Jungkook was the son of Jeon Entertainment. His transfer to this university was the talk of the campus, but Jungkook didn’t care. For once, he felt content, especially with Jimin by his side.

As they walked, with Jimin still playfully clinging to his back, a loud shout broke their easy-going mood. Jungkook smirked, already recognizing the voice. It was none other than Kim Taehyung.