bodyguard ; kth

28 ; i'm innocent

fifteen minutes before + jae's pov

i was seated in the front seat of the car that was parked outside the house. after everything that had happened today, i needed some time to myself. everyone's so scared after what happened. if taehyung wasn't there, kitae wouldn't be alive right now.

i just hoped everyone wasn't angry at me. i knew it was partly my fault. taehyung gave me specific instructions to check the said boat every morning. from this moment, i made a promise to myself that i wouldn't lose focus. this was my job and i needed to do well.

just then, my phone in my pocket started ringing loudly. i hesitated to press answer when i saw junsoo's name appear on the screen. as i answered the call, i was too distracted to notice a strange man passing the car, heading straight towards the entrance to the house.

BEEP BEEP

"hello?"

"hey, how's everything going over there?"

"hi, junsoo. well, everything was going great until what happened today."

"huh? what happened?"

"well..uh, to put it lightly...kitae nearly died."

"what?! holy shit, that's terrible! i knew this was a bad idea, taehyung has no idea what he's doing. you all better come back now!"

"don't worry, we're planning to. tomorrow actually."

"okay, that's good. oh and i almost forgot...if aera's okay, tell her i have some good news for her."

"wha-"

i was cut from my words when i heard a loud gunshot. it was coming from inside the house. before i could react, the door of the house opened quickly. a dark figure walked out. i saw something in his hands, when i took a closer look, my heart started beating faster.

it was a gun.

the man walked towards the other way. i mustered up the courage and opened the car door. he must have heard me because he turned to see me. our eyes met for a few seconds, that was enough to send him running in the other direction towards the woods.

"shit, junsoo. i have to go."

"wait, what's going o-"

BEEP BEEP

i hung up the phone and immediately started running after the man. i didn't know what he was doing in taehyung's house with a gun but whatever it was, it wouldn't have been good.

what if someone got hurt? taehyung? or aera?

i shook my head from my thoughts, my only worry right now had to be catching this guy. the gun i had lodged in my waist was quickly taken out, gripped tightly in my hand. i caught sight of him running through the snowy footpath. my fast legs kept up, making sure not to lose him.

but damn, he ran like a bitch. he quickly turned a corner and i followed suit. except when i turned, my feet came to a stop. there was no one there, it was like he vanished into thin air.

"shit! i almost had him!" i yelled in frustration, ruffling my hair.

"jae?"

scared out of my wits, i turned around with a terrified expression. i calmed down instantly when i came to see taehyung, standing there with a confused expression. i saw him look for a second at the gun in my hand.

"what are you doing here?" he asked in a more stern voice than i anticipated.

"uh..i saw someone running out from the house..i saw the gun so i ran after him. i just lost him thought, but he couldn't have gotten far."

taehyung didn't reply, continuing to look at me weirdly. i studied his face, he looked almost...angry? something was off for sure. did something happen inside the house? did something happen to aera?

i decided to ask, "are you okay, taehyung?"

he didn't reply for a few moments, making me anxious. he muttered a little while later, "jiae got shot, she didn't make it."

among hearing his words, my eyes widened in shock. that was the last thing i expected to happen.

oh, my god. jiae...I'm so sorry.

"wait, i thought i told you to stay in your room, jae," taehyung asked me, looking at me with furrowed eyebrows. i was about to about when he stepped towards me, looking me with a hard stare.

"after jiae got shot, i run outside trying to find the culprit...but i end up seeing you standing exactly where i saw the killer last...with a gun in your hand," he spoke, eyes not wavering in the slightest.

i blinked, not knowing what he was trying to say.

wait...does taehyung think i was the killer?

"you also didn't both checking the boat this morning as i asked. do you think that's a coincidence?" taehyung asked me.

my body stilled, frozen under his hard glare.

"trust me, this is the last thing i want to say. i don't want to suspect you but...you're the only one here, jae," the older male uttered in a low tone.

i continued staying quiet. it managed to trigger taehyung even more.

"talk now or i'm calling the cops."

i shook my head, bringing my hands up. my words struggled to come out like some force was pulling them back.

"t-taehyung, please. you know i would never hurt anyone, especially aera and her family. they're like my family too. aera's helped me so much over the past couple of years. i don't know how to prove it to you but please believe me, taehyung. i know these days i've made wrong moves but i promise that from this moment on, i'll be giving my one hundred per cent effort this."

taehyung looked at me for a few seconds, looking he was coming up with a decision.

"let's hope not. this is your last chance. there's no knowing what i'll do if you cross me again."

"yes, sir," i spoke, straightening my posture. taehyung nodded at me, his eyes showing exhaustion. he looked mentally and physically tired. he started walking away from me.

"let's go, we have a funeral to attend."