The Arrangement

5

Taehyung raced from the room, blindly walking until he found a quiet corner. He lowered himself to the ground and hugged his knees, trying to calm his breathing.

Jungkook.

Jungkook was here.

It had been six years since Taehyung had last seen the boy. Six years since his heart had been broken into one million unmendable pieces. And seeing him for the first time in so long created a mix of emotions inside of Taehyung.

Anger. Sadness. Longing.

Their last interaction had been devastating to him. It changed the course of his life. If it had never happened, perhaps he wouldn't be where he was today. Perhaps there would be no V.

If the falling out with Jungkook never happened, maybe he would still be Taehyung.

He didn't know what to do. Jungkook knew who he was. The younger could sell all sorts of stories to the press if he wanted. The two had been best friends for years when they were children; Jungkook had a lot on him.

Was that why he was here? To blackmail him?

Taehyung knew he needed to face Jungkook. To tell him to leave. But he couldn't move. He was petrified to speak to the only person he was ever in love with.

Luckily, he was saved from making any immediate decisions. Footsteps were coming down the hall, but thankfully Taehyung was concealed. He tucked his head into his knees, hiding away from the cruel world around him.

"Taehyung?" A soft voice asked - Jin. "Taehyung, I saw you run out. Are you okay? What's going on?"

Taehyung wasn't given an opportunity to answer as another voice sounded, speaking directly to Jin.

"Who are you?" It was Namjoon.

Taehyung lifted his head in interest. Very slowly, he shifted to his knees and peered around the corner of the wall. Jin's back was facing him as he took in Namjoon.

"I asked who you were," Namjoon stated, using a booming voice so he sounded intimidating.

Taehyung saw Jin change his stance, moving into a more relaxed pose. "I'm one of your top eleven candidates."

Namjoon cocked his head. "We only have ten."

"According to your choreographer, there are eleven of us now. Take it up with him," Jin replied with a sassy note to his voice.

"Who were you looking for?"

Jin took a small step forward. "So many questions. Maybe you're the one I was looking for."

"Me?" Namjoon asked, clearly confused.

Taehyung fought the urge to laugh at the scene. This was Jin's idea of getting his producer to fall for him?

"Yes, you, Namjoon," the elder responded.

"Only my friends call me that. I'm RM to everyone else."

Jin let out a laugh. "Well, then. Let's be friends."

Namjoon shook his head. "Nice try. This little stunt won't make me choose you as my mentee."

"I don't want to be your mentee," Jin said. "I think I'd like to be something else entirely to you."

Taehyung could tell from Namjoon's posture that he was getting annoyed.

"You can go home now," the producer said to Jin. "You're cut."

Jin shrugged his shoulders. "That's fine. I have a feeling I'll be seeing you around."