GOLDEN HEADLINES

33: My Tiger

"WASH YOUR HAND!!"

Alessia stood in the dimly lit alley just outside her office, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her jaw clenched in restrained anger as she faced Kairan.

She couldn't believe he had the nerve to show up, let alone try to justify himself. The memory of his name being dragged through courtrooms and headlines disgusted her.

And now, seeing his smug face only reignited that fire.

"Why the hell are you here, Kairan?" Alessia spat, her voice sharp enough to cut through steel. Her eyes bore into him, her hands trembling with suppressed rage.

"You should be rotting in a cell, not strutting around like you own the place."

Kairan smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he leaned casually against the wall.

"Alessia, you need to stop listening to rumors. I didn't do anything. That girl made everything up to ruin me. You know how the media works."

"Rumors?" Alessia's voice shot up an octave, incredulous.

"You're seriously going to stand here and act like you're the victim? Do you even hear yourself? You're disgusting, Kairan. Disgusting."

_______

Across the city, Jungkook sat in his villah, freshly out of the shower, a loose black shirt clinging to his still-damp chest.

His hair was messy, beads of water dripping onto his collarbone. He had been about to pour himself a glass of whiskey when Alessia's voice cut through the silence of his room.

The ring.

This Ring wasn't just a normal tracker but
Everything that Jungkook needed.

He froze, setting the glass down, his sharp gaze shifting to the small earpiece on the counter. The subtle smirk that played on his lips earlier vanished as he caught the venom in her tone.

Alessia was angry—furious, even. And then came another voice.

Kairan.

Jungkook's jaw clenched as he grabbed the glass and filled it to the brim, taking a long, slow sip as he leaned against the countertop.

The sound of Kairan's voice grated on his nerves, like nails on a chalkboard. He took a drag of his cigarette, letting the smoke swirl around him as he listened.

______

"Kairan," Alessia said, her voice low and dangerous now, "the only reason you're walking free is because of your father's money. But let me make something clear—money doesn't erase the truth. It doesn't erase what you did."

Kairan scoffed, pushing off the wall.

"You don't get it, do you? I didn't do anything! But sure, keep playing the saint. You're so righteous, aren't you? Is that what Jeon Jungkook tells you to be? His little pawn?"

Alessia's eyes flared. "Don't you dare bring him into this," she snapped, stepping closer.

"Jungkook is ten times the man you'll ever be. And don't act like you know him, because you don't. He's everything you'll never be—honorable, fearless, and not a coward hiding behind his daddy's wallet."