The events of the past week had left Jimin feeling like he was walking on a razor's edge. The tension with Jungkook was palpable, the growing distance between them was undeniable, and his business deal with Ms. Hae weighed heavily on his mind. Jimin couldn't shake the feeling that he was being drawn into something he didn't fully understand, a web of secrets that were slipping through his fingers, no matter how tightly he grasped.
But amidst the chaos, something strange began to happen. The pieces of the puzzle that had been scattered around him—Jungkook's warnings, Sooyoung's fears, the strange power dynamic between him and Ms. Hae—were starting to align, revealing something far more sinister than he had originally anticipated.
Jimin's phone buzzed with a new message from Jungkook. "Meet me tonight. 9 PM. It's time you knew everything."
Jimin felt his stomach twist. Everything. That single word carried so much weight. Was Jungkook finally ready to tell him what he had been keeping from him all along?
At 9 PM sharp, Jimin stood outside the door to Jungkook's apartment, his heart racing. He had no idea what to expect. He had been blind to so much for so long, and part of him feared that what Jungkook was about to reveal would change everything.
Jungkook opened the door before Jimin had a chance to knock. His face was serious, but there was an edge of something softer in his eyes—something that spoke of regret, of guilt, of years of things left unsaid.
"Come in," Jungkook said quietly, stepping aside to let Jimin in.
Jimin hesitated but then crossed the threshold, his nerves getting the best of him. The silence between them was suffocating as they both made their way to the couch.
"So," Jimin began, his voice unsteady, "what's all this about? What are you going to tell me?"
Jungkook sat down opposite him, his eyes searching Jimin's face, as if weighing whether or not he was ready to hear the truth. Finally, he spoke.
"It's about Ms. Hae," Jungkook said, his voice low. "I've been trying to protect you from her, from what she really is. You don't know the full story, Jimin."
Jimin felt his pulse quicken. "What do you mean? I'm in this deep now. What could you possibly know that I don't?"
Jungkook sighed, rubbing his forehead as if he were mentally preparing for something painful. "Everything you've heard about her—about the mysterious deals, her power behind the scenes—it's all true. But there's more to it. She's not just some investor looking to make a quick profit. She's part of something much bigger, and she's using you to get what she wants."
Jimin felt his breath catch in his throat. "What does that mean?"
Jungkook leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Jimin's. "Ms. Hae is part of a larger network of powerful figures. People who manipulate industries, control markets, and play games with lives for their own gain. She's using your project, J-Global's AI venture, as a stepping stone for a much bigger plan. She's not just an investor, Jimin. She's a puppet master, pulling strings you don't even see."
Jimin's mind raced. A puppet master? It felt like everything was crashing down around him. The excitement he'd once felt about the project, the drive to prove himself—it all seemed like a facade now. He had been so focused on success that he hadn't even realized the deeper dangers at play.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Jimin asked, his voice shaking with a mix of anger and fear. "Why didn't you warn me sooner?"
Jungkook's expression softened, a flicker of guilt crossing his features. "I tried to. But you wouldn't listen. You were too determined to make this work, to prove something. And I wasn't sure how far she was willing to go. I was afraid of what would happen if you found out."
Jimin shook his head, the weight of the truth crashing down on him. "So, all this time... I've been working for her. For them. All of us have."
Jungkook nodded grimly. "Yes. And that's why I had to keep my distance. I couldn't watch you fall deeper into this. You weren't just risking J-Global's future—you were risking your own."
Jimin leaned back, his mind spinning. The person he had trusted, the deal he thought was his ticket to something greater, had been a trap all along. It wasn't just about the money or the technology anymore. It was about something far more dangerous—something he had been blind to.
"There's more, isn't there?" Jimin asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Jungkook's gaze darkened, and he nodded slowly. "There's one more thing. The real reason Ms. Hae wanted you involved in this project. It's not about technology. It's about the control you have. You're a key figure in this whole operation because of your position in J-Global. She's been grooming you to be the face of this company so that when she makes her move, you'll be the one left holding the bag."
Jimin felt like the ground beneath him had vanished. Grooming him? All the sleepless nights, the stress, the sacrifices—it had all been for nothing. He had been a pawn in her game the entire time.
"Is there any way out of this?" Jimin asked, his voice hollow.
Jungkook shook his head slowly. "Not without consequences. Ms. Hae doesn't let people back out once they're in. But there's a way to take her down, Jimin. Together, we can do it. We have the leverage we need, and we can expose her for what she really is."
Jimin looked up at him, a mixture of disbelief and hope in his eyes. "Expose her? How?"
Jungkook stood, pacing the room. "We've been gathering information on her for months. There are people who want to bring her down, people in high places who've been watching her every move. We have to act quickly, before she can make her final play. The longer you stay in this deal, the harder it will be to get out."
Jimin's heart was racing, his mind working in overdrive. "But what about the contracts I signed? What about my personal guarantee? If I back out now, I'll lose everything."
Jimin heart was pounding for the realisation that jungkook had been looking out for him all along, even when he hadn't known it. He wasn't just my partner in business, Jimin thought. He was my ally in this fight.
After thinking for sometimes Jimin nodded, and told "Okay. Let's do it."He had Jungkook by his side. And this time, they were going to win.
Jungkook gaze lingering on Jimin for a moment longer than usual. "Are you sure about this?" he asked quietly, his voice softer than before.
Jimin looked at him, his heart beating faster. "I'm sure. Whatever happens, we do this together."
Jungkook nodded, a small, reassuring smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Together."
And for the first time in a long while, Jimin felt like they were on the same page again—not just in business, but in everything.