Obsession | TAEKOOK FF

Chapter 3: Shattered Pride

Author's Note:
"HUMILITY is the greatest quality a person can have, and ARROGANCE is undoubtedly the WORST." ~ M. Khan

Our poor Tae and Jimin didn't deserve that humiliation! But who do you think owns that limousine? Let me know your theories, my Flowers! 🌸

​Just as Tae reached for the handle of the executive office, the heavy door swung open. A tall man rushed past him in a blur, radiating an intense, chaotic energy.

​Before Tae could process what was happening, Mr. Kook’s secretary stepped forward with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Tae, but there's a sudden change of plans. An emergency came up—Mr. Kook has to rush to the airport to pick up his girlfriend. I will be conducting your interview today instead."

​Tae felt a wave of relief wash over him. He nodded quickly, keeping his composure. "Oh, I understand. That's perfectly fine."

​The interview went exceptionally well. By the end of the day, both Tae and Jimin received the incredible news: they had landed the highly coveted OJT slots at JK's Company, the leading corporate empire in the country.

​As soon as they stepped out of the grand glass building, Jimin practically vibrated with excitement.

​"Hey, Tae! We have to celebrate!" Jimin cheered, grabbing Tae’s arm. "Oh, I know the perfect place! Let's go get some cheese balls from the street vendor down the block. Come on, let's go!"
​"Aish, okay, okay! Stop dragging me already!" Tae laughed, trying to pull his arm away.

​"Eyy, Tae, after we eat, we should hit the mall," Jimin suggested, looking down at his own clothes. "We need some new outfits for our internship. Did you see the corporate staff in there? Everyone looks so formal, crisp, and clean."

​Tae teased him, raising an eyebrow. "Eyy, what do you think of us, huh? Are we dirty?"

​"Yah! That's not what I mean!" Jimin pouted. "I just want us to fit into their corporate standards, that's all."

​"Alright, I get it," Tae chuckled, looking around the busy streets. "But where exactly is this famous street vendor? We’ve been walking for forever."

​"Can you please stop complaining? We’re almost there. Just a little more walking."

​Tae smirked, looking down. "This is definitely your short legs' fault."
​Jimin gasped dramatically. "Hey! What did you just say? Say it again, I dare you!"

​"Hahaha, nothing, nothing!" Tae laughed, the heavy shadows of his past temporarily lifting in the presence of his best friend.

​They finally arrived at the food stall. Since this vendor sold the most famous cheese balls in the area, there was usually a massive line. Fortunately, luck was on their side, and the line was short. When it was their turn, Jimin enthusiastically ordered ten sticks, while Tae opted for a modest five.

​"Mmm! It's so delicious, just like always," Jimin mumbled, his cheeks puffing out as he stuffed his mouth.

​"Eyy, would you eat slowly? Stop talking with your mouth full," Tae scolded playfully, wiping a stray bit of sauce from his friend's cheek. "You look like a squirrel that hasn't eaten in a week."
​Jimin just pouted, continuing to chew.

​"Come on, let's keep moving. It's almost dark," Tae said, pointing toward the crowded transit area. "There's the bus station over there. You can keep eating while we walk."

​They guided their way through the evening crowd toward the bus station. Jimin, still completely focused on his food, began walking backward so he could face Tae, entirely blind to the path ahead of him.

​At that exact moment, a beautiful woman stepped out of a high-end restaurant near the sidewalk, deeply engrossed in a phone conversation. Just as she stepped into the walkway, Jimin tripped over his own feet, losing his balance.

​He stumbled backward, and the stick of cheese balls flew right out of his hand—landing squarely against the woman's pristine, expensive white designer suit. The thick, orange-red savory sauce splattered across the fabric, ruining it instantly.

​The woman froze, looking down at her stained clothes in absolute horror. Her face contorted with pure rage as she glared at Jimin.

​"Hey! You bastard!" she screamed, her voice cutting through the noise of the street. "Do you even have eyes? Look at what you've done to my clothes!"

​"Oh, no! I-I am so, so sorry!" Jimin stammered, his face turning pale. Panicking, he reached out with his hands, instinctively trying to wipe the sauce off her jacket.

​"Get your fucking dirty hands off me, you motherfucker!" she shrieked, slapping his hand away.

​Hearing the harsh profanity hurled at his best friend, Tae's protective instincts immediately kicked in. He stepped between Jimin and the woman, his eyes flashing.

​"Hey! Who do you think you are to talk to my friend like that?" Tae demanded, his voice steady but fierce. "It was an accident. If it's such a big deal, we can buy you a replacement or pay for the dry cleaning. How much does your outfit cost for you to humiliate someone in public like this?"

​The woman let out a cruel, mocking laugh. "Huh? Pay for it? Buy a new one? Can you poor little pieces of shit even afford it? Based on how you look, I bet you couldn't afford a single sleeve of this suit even if you worked hard for the rest of your lives."

​Tae flinched, the words striking a painful chord deep within his insecure, hardworking heart.

​"Watch your mouth," Tae warned, his fists clenching at his sides. "Who are you to look down on us?"

​"Well, I am La Lisa, the sole heiress of the La Casa Group of Companies," she sneered, crossing her arms proudly. "I have enough money to buy the both of you, you pathetic little shits."

​"You...!" Tae gasped.

​Tae’s eyes brimmed with hot tears, the weight of her cruel words tearing at his dignity. Jimin held onto Tae's sleeve, trembling.

​Before the confrontation could escalate any further, a deep, commanding voice interrupted them.

​"Hey, Lisa, what's going on here? What's taking so long?"

​A tall, handsome man in a tailored suit walked up to them, his brow furrowed as his eyes fell on the massive stain on her jacket. "What happened to your clothes?"

​The moment she saw her boyfriend, Lisa's aggressive demeanor instantly dissolved into fake, trembling tears. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing dramatically.

"Babe! These two disgusting guys humiliated me in front of everyone! They threw this stinky, cheap sauce all over my expensive suit on purpose!"

​The surrounding crowd began to murmur in disapproval. Suddenly, a man standing nearby shouted out from the crowd, "Hey! Miss, don't try to twist the story! You're the one who was screaming and humiliating those two boys when it was just an accident! Weak!"

​Kook’s eyes darkened as he realized the truth. Looking at Lisa’s dramatic crying and the bruised, tearful expression of the boy standing opposite her, a wave of secondhand embarrassment washed over him. Without another word, Kook grabbed Lisa by the arm and dragged her firmly toward his sleek luxury sports car.

​"Hey! Just stay in the car," Kook ordered coldly, shutting her door. "I'm going to go back and clean up the mess you just made."

​Kook exhaled a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. He turned on his heel and walked back toward the sidewalk, fully intending to offer a sincere apology and financial compensation to the two boys his girlfriend had insulted.

​But as Kook approached the scene, he stopped dead in his tracks.

​A sleek, heavily armored black limousine had pulled up to the curb. A sophisticated man in a sharp black suit was already holding the door open, gently guiding a crying Tae and a stunned Jimin into the luxurious interior of the vehicle.

​Before Kook could even call out, the limousine door clicked shut, and the vehicle melted seamlessly into the evening traffic, leaving Kook standing alone on the sidewalk.

​To be continued...