WARNING: FOUL LANGUAGE AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.
Taehyung was staring at the wall clock in the meeting room that's he's in. He was supposed to leave for the airport thirty minutes ago, but got stuck in an important meeting with the publishing company's legal team.
A foreign author copied one of Taehyung's books, translated it into his local language and published it, claiming the story his. The version became a bestseller in the author's country that's why they took notice of it.
While it was a pressing matter for everyone, Taehyung couldn't care less though as all he wanted to do at that moment is to jump in his car and drive to the airport. He misses Jungkook a lot and he's getting antsy just listening to the same arguments that his ex boyfriend has been saying for the past hour and a half.
Taehyung knew that Eunwoo was just trying to prolong the meeting as he mentioned at the onset that he had to leave at exactly 4' o clock as he had to meet someone at the airport by 5 pm — the ETA of Jungkook's flight.
When Eunwoo was about to read another article from the cooyright law, Taehyung stopped him.
"Look, it's your job to put together the case and pinpoint the possible provisions in the law that will make us win this so we leave it up to you and your team. It's all jargon to me anyway, so just keep me posted on next steps. I have to go." Taehyung said as he stood up and grabbed his bag.
"The least you can do is be grateful that we're doing this for you!" Eunwoo yelled.
"And the least you can do is be professional and respect people's time instead of coming to this meeting pretending that you have no clue as to how to address the problem!" Taehyung yelled back.
"Ok, calm down you two. Taeh, you can go we can continue without you." Jimin said.
"Thank YOU." Taehyung said but before he could leave the room, Eunwoo grabbed his arm and dragged him to a connecting room, then locked the door behind him.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Taehyung said as Jimin and some of their officemates were banging at the door yelling at Eunwoo to open it.
"So, you're already seeing someone else huh?" Eunwoo angrily said.
"That's none of your business!" Taehyung spat as he tried to get out of Eunwoo's grip. His ex-boyfriend was holding both his arms as his back was pinned on the wall.
"You accuse me of being disloyal to you when it hasn't been long since you broke up with me, now you're whoring around?!" Eunwoo shouted at him. "We were together for five fucking years Taeh! Was it all nothing to you?!"
"I wasn't the one who threw it all away asshole! Now, let me go!" Taehyung kicked Eunwoo on the stomach which just made the latter angrier.
He slapped Taehyung hard, causing Taehyung to fall down hard on the floor, but not hard enough to render him unconscious.
Eunwoo grabbed him again and slammed Taehyung's small frame on the wall and cupped his face hard with one hand.
"We are not broken up, you hear me?!" Eunwoo said darkly.
Taehyung glared at him. "Fuck you! We're done!"
Eunwoo hit Taehyung harder this time, busting the latter's lip before faliing on the floor again. He was about to kick Taehyung but the door flew open just in time.
Jimin, Hoseok, Namjoon and two office security guards came in.
"Taehyung!" Jimin screamed seeing Taehyung on the ground.
Namjoon was beyond livid that he went straight to Eunwoo. He gave him one swipe and that was all it took to knock him cold. He then crouched down to help Taehyung get up and made him sit down on the couch in the room to inspect his wounds.
"Bear, look at me. Tell me where does it hurt?" Namjoon worriedly asked.
"I'm fine hyung. Is he dead? Because if he's not I'm going to fucking kill him." Taehyung said as he touched the nasty cut on his lip.
"I'll beat you to it." Namjoon said. He felt relieved that Taehyung wasn't seriously hurt.
"Jimin, can you take care of Taehyung's wound first? I'll bring Eunwoo to do the police station. That bastard needs to pay for this." Namjoon said.
"Why don't you just push his body out the window, hyung? Fuck! My lips hurt like hell." Taehyung hissed after.
"Come on, let me place some ice on that. I can't believe he could do that to you." Jimin said.
"Good thing I didn't end up marrying him right? That would've been worse for me." Taehyung laughed and hissed again as blood trickled down his chin from his lip.
"Should I be worried that you're laughing right now?" Jimin asked as he led Taehyung to his office where he has a fridge with a built in ice maker.
"I'm not wasting another tear on that asshole. Hey, do you plan to keep him here?" Taehyung asked.
"After what he did to you?! No way. His ass is fired." Jimin said.
Suddenly, Taehyung remembered Jungkook and looked at the clock on Jimin's table. 5:01 pm. He sighed and cursed Eunwoo mentally. He was about to stand up to get his phone but Jimin pushed him down on the chair.
"Stay still. Jungkook is a grown assed man and he will understand if you can't be there. You can see him later. For now, I have to put ice on that lip of yours or say goodbye to your kissable lips." Jimin said in a commanding tone, making Taehyung pout and hiss.
Jimin couldn't help but shake his head. He instantly realized how whipped his bestfriend was for this Jungkook guy and he's getting more curious...and worried...about the background of the handsome pilot. He just wants to make sure that Taehyung would be in good hands.
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Jungkook couldn't wait to disembark the plane and see Taehyung again. He patiently waited for all the passengers to leave, giving each one a genuine smile at the plane's exit.
Meanwhile, Jin was getting annoyed at his phone as it kept on vibrating. He couldn't pick it up as he was still assisting some passengers with their carry on luggage from the overhead compartments. As soon as the last passenger disembarked, he took the phone and answered the call immediately, seeing that it was his husband calling.
J: Joonie, we just landed okay? I know you missed me a lot and I missed you too. I'll be out in ten to fifteen minutes.
N: I called to say that I'm sorry but I can't pick you up. I'm at the police station.
J: What?! Why?! Are you hurt? Did something happen to Taehyung?!
Jin's voice was quite loud so Jungkook heard him. The latter quickly went to Jin's side to wait for him to finish the call.
N: Eunwoo assaulted Taehyung.
J: He fucking did what?! Which police station are you in? Where's my bear? Was he hurt badly? And where were you? Why didn't you stop that scumbag? Why is he still breathing? You should've just killed him. Aish! I'm going to kill him myself!
N: Calm down, honey. Taehyung's fine he's with Jimin right now at the office. Best if you go straight there instead.
J: Kim Namjoon you'd better not leave that police station until you see that asshole behind bars. i'll go straight to Taehyung. I'll see you later.
Jin ended the call and looked at Jungkook.
"Hyung, what happened to Taeh?" Jungkook asked.
"Eunwoo assaulted him. I don't know to what extent though. I'm going straight to his office. Are you going with me?" Jin asked.
"You don't even have to ask. I'll drive us there." Jungkook said as he rushed out with Jin.
"I knew it. I knew I can't trust that guy. My Taebear's too good for him. God, he'd better not show his face in front of me or else I'm going to make him regret he ever lived. How dare he lay his hands on Taehyung!" Jin rambled as they walked to Jungkook's car.
Meanwhile, Jungkook remained silent as he's trying to control his anger. He wants to go to the precinct and beat the life out of Taehyung's ex, but at the same time he wants to engulf Taehyung in a tight hug and make him feel that nothing can ever hurt him while he's around.
Jin kept on rambling and cursing all throughout the drive as he was on the phone with Namjoon. The latter told him that Eunwoo can post bail until Taehyung makes a statement and file a complaint against him.
Jungkook and Jin reached the publishing company and went straight to Jimin's office.
"Taebear!" Jin yelled as he saw Taehyung lying down on Jimin's office couch. Taehyung turned to him and that's when Jin lost it. He started crying when he saw Taehyung's busted lips and bruised cheek with a very visible hand mark.
"Oh my baby. Joonie said you're okay, well this is not okay! Do you want us to bring you to the hospital?" Jin said as he sat on a small space beside Taehyung and held the latter's hand.
"I'm okay, hyung. A bit rattled, but the bruises and cuts will eventually heal so I'm good. Really." Taehyung said before his attention went to Jungkook who was standing at the entrance of Jimin's ofice.
"Hey, Kook. Come in." Taehyung said.
Jimin looked at Jungkook and instantly noticed his considerate side, didn't even barge in his office without permission. So, Jimin stood up and extended his hand.
"Hi, you must be Captain Jungkook? I'm Park Jimin. Taehyung's best friend." Jimin said.
"Hi, it's a pleasure meeting you, Jimin-ssi. I think I've heard my best friend mention your name before, but I'm not sure." Jungkook said.
"Oh, really? Who's your best friend?" Jimin said.
"Min Yoongi. He's also my stock broker." Jungkook said.
As soon as Jimin heard the name, he smiled at Jungkook.
"You're probably a good person then. Yoongi's a good judge of character and very careful in choosing friends to trust. The mere fact that you're his best friend says a lot." Jimin said, feeling so relieved.
"Well, he's the only one I trust too." Jungkook smiled back at Jimin. "By the way, how's Taehyung?" He asked.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Jimin asked as Taehyung was just behind them.
"Because he will just tell me that he's okay. You're his best friend so he will tell you the truth." Jungkook said.
"Hey, I never hid anything from you. I was going to tell you exactly what I told Chim and that is I'm fine. My lips and arms hurt, but other than that, I'm good." Tarhyung said.
Jungkook looked at Taehyung closely and felt his heart stop.
Howcansomeonehurtyouthisway?
"You sure?" Jungkook asked.
"Positive." Taehyung side, trying to smile despite the pain on his lip.
"Okay, then, you mind staying here with Jimin first? Jin hyung, you want to go to the precinct?" Jungkook said.
"Oh you read my mind!" Jin said.
"No. Both of you are not going there. You'd just be wasting your time and energy on him. Namjoon hyung can take care of that jerk. What I need right now is to go home and rest. So, can any of you please bring me home?" Taehyung said.
"Okay, I'll bring you home. On one condition." Jungkook said.
"What is it?" Taehyung said.
"Let me stay with you for the next three days so I can take care of you and make sure that your ex boyfriend won't get near you again." Jungkook said with a serious expression.
"I agree." Jin said.
"Me too." Jimin seconded.
"As if I would say no to that? That's not even a condition, Kookie." Taehyung said as he tried so hard not to smile, but failed and hissed for the nth time.
"Though you have to find a way to not make him smile, will you? That cut won't heal if it keeps on opening up." Jin chuckled.
"Then should he just leave? That would do the job. Taeh's been moping around for three days, you know." Jimin said.
"Chim!" Taehyung said, glaring at Jimin.
"What?! I'm just stating facts here." Jimin said.
"So, shall we?" Jungkook asked and Taehyung nodded. Jin helped Taehyung stand up.
"You need me to bring you anywhere, Jin hyung?" Jungkook asked.
"No, I'm good. I'll just wait for Namjoon here. Thank you, Cap." Jin said.
Jungkook pecked Taehyung's forehead before putting one of Taehyung's arm around him, hands on his waste. He did the same as they left the office building.
"Put your weight on me in case you feel pain. Did he hurt you anywhere else aside your face?" Jungkook asked.
"Just my arms. I can walk normally, you know?" Taehyung said.
"Nah, it's better this way. I want you to feel that you can always lean on me and I'd just be here to catch you, okay?" Jungkook said.
Taehyung looked at Jungkook and saw how sincere he was. He felt all the walls he's built around him crash down. He didn't want to show how affected he was in front of Jimin and Jin as he didn't want them them to worry about him. He felt that he's burdened them enough with his past that it hurt him when they see them as broken as he is.
At this point, he didn't need someone to cry with him. He needed someone strong enough to be his own strength when he can't endure it anymore. And Jungkook's eyes and gestures said it all. That's when Taehyung felt all the emotions he kept inside him burst out.
He broke down and sobbed. Jungkook was taken aback, but was alert enough to hug Taehyung tightly and rubbed his back.
"Let it all out, love. It's alright. I'm here and I'm not going to let anyone hurt you again…not even myself. You're safe with me." Jungkook said as Taehyung gripped his coat.
"I almost married a monster, Kook. I almost had the life my eomma had. I can't live that way. I just can't, Jungkook. I'm so scared." Taehyung said while holding onto Jungkook as if his life depended on it.
"You won't, Taeh. I promise you. You won't. This may not be the right time to tell you this, but I won't ever hurt you. I love you, Taehyung. And I'll do everything I can to remind you every single day that I do." Jungkook said as he hugged Taehyung tighter.
Taehyung couldn't say it back and just kept on crying. He wants to say it back, but at that moment, he just wanted to let all the pain and fears out. He had to let go of it all first, and then maybe later, he can openly offer his whole heart and trust and tell Jungkook that he loves him back.