Jul 31, 2018
Why you do me like this?
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Why you do me like this?
Heartwrecker
CHAPTER 14 | atonement
Love had always been a literal game to Jeon Jungkook. His targets would be the playing pieces, and their emotions the mere obstacles he had to seduce, manipulate and alter through his acts. Win their hearts? Win the game. But when Taehyung asks Jungkook to deal with the relationship of his childhood best friend Park Jimin, Jungkook quickly discovers that "love" isn't at all as simple as he thought would be...
read on ao3
Hazy lights, and loud music played vividly in background as the world spun around him in a dreamlike state. Unfamiliar hands grazed his covered skin, taking advantage of his drowsy state, touching what didn’t belong to them. How much alcohol had he consumed up until now? It’d be a miracle if he could even remember how he’d gotten here in the first place. It’d been like this for awhile now, night after night after night. Repetitive and mundane, yet the only way he could afford to keep his state of mind—by forgetting. He remained seated, lounging almost, on the torn up red leather couch, his body limp and his eyes faded.
One of the bolder ones suddenly got on top of him, straddling him with her uncovered legs. He remained compliant, not even bothering to shuffle in discomfort. He merely turned his head away, but allowed her to do whatever she wanted.
Why should it matter? Nothing mattered anymore.
She called the name that he had told her awhile ago and he finally obliged to look at her. She immediately took advantage of this, grabbing his face and slamming her lips onto him. He could vaguely hear the shrieks all around them, cries of jealousy followed by aggressive tugging to give them a chance as well. He ought to have felt disgusted. At the very least, he should’ve pushed her away.
But of course, he felt absolutely nothing.
Not even as she was trying to pry his lips open. There was no sensation, not even a tingle. Nothing. It was as if his body had gone numb a long time ago. He let her push him deeper into the couch, trace his cheeks and doing whatever she thought was pleasuring him. But it was all on the contrary.
At last, she pulled away, having satiated her greed. Before anyone else could clamber onto him, he tugged himself away from their grasps, hearing whines of anguish and grief as he straightened his jacket and stumbled his way over to the bar.
“Bartender! What should I drink next?!” he drawled to the best of his ability. When he was given no immediate answer, he pointed to the drink of the customer sat next to him and said, “Give me that one.” Despite the subtle concern, the bartender obliged, grabbing the liquors and proceeding to make the drink.
“Don’t you think you’re causing too much of a scene in a classy place like this?” entered a new voice.
He looked up to see a woman sitting right beside him, hand pressed again her chin as she watched him intently. She was wearing red lipstick that matched the shade of her drink. The slight smirk on her ruby lips indicated that she found him more amusing than irritating.
The man nodded at her. “Why does it matter to you anyway?”
“It does actually,” she responded casually. “I came here to have a quiet drink before meeting up with someone, yet here you are, drinking up the entire bar and flirting with every girl in the palce.”
He tilted his head, finally absorbing what she looked like. Suddenly, he leaned forward, smiling deviously as he barely trespassed into her personal space.
“You seem different from the other girls,” he spoke smoothly. “How about you ditch your date and come with me for a while? Let’s go have some fun. Just the two of us.”
“No thanks,” she replied at once. “I’d prefer not to be a scapegoat for all the self-pity you’re dealing with right now.”
He was taken aback. He hadn’t been refused for a while, not like this. Not since he’d fully adapted this alter-ego of his, venting his distress by displaying himself as an amorous man in search of fulfilling his desires.
“Self-pity?” he asked.
She smiled again, the redness of her lips haunting him momentarily. “Isn’t it obvious?” she asked. “You’re repenting right now, acting like such a sorry person. Going out every night, drinking even though you don't even like to drink, dousing the pain to ease the emptiness within you, and tonguing everyone you meet to declare to the world that you’ve truly given up on love. It’s quite obvious really, and you should give up, cause no one’s really watching you. You’re just ruining yourself.”
He stared at her, not entirely sure how to respond to her harsh accusations.
“What makes you say that?” he glared, wanting an explanation for her sharp words.
She tilted her head to look at him, smiling once again.
“Jeon Jungkook,” she said.
Despite his drunken state, he froze up at the sound of his true name. “How do you know my—”
“You’re heartbroken, aren’t you? Completely and utterly shattered.”
He stared at her with wide eyes, sobriety momentarily returning at once. He suddenly felt extreme resentment towards her, for fully conjuring the image of the one he’d tried so hard to forget. But he knew, he always secretly knew that that person had never left his mind at all, always laden in the depths of his subconscious, haunting him and constantly punishing him for his betrayal. It brought a chill to his body, and before he knew it, he was on his feet, staring at her in horror.
She wasn’t even looking at him at anymore, as she typed away on her phone and smiled elatedly to herself, satisfied by the reaction she’d evoked in him.
“Ah, well, he’s waiting for me outside,” she said nonchalantly. She tucked her phone away before looking him in the eye and saying, “I’d get this whole situation fixed if I were you, before you go completely crazy.”
He said nothing, as she swung her purse onto her shoulder and prepared to leave the bar.
“Oh! One more thing,” she said abruptly.
He wondered what more she could say when she suddenly pointed at the counter top behind him.
“You should put your ID away, by the way,” she said courteously. “Wouldn’t want to lose that, Jungkook.”
One last smile, and then she was finally gone, out the door to pursue a future that was most definitely more hopeful than his own.
Her words echoed in his mind.
“You’re heartbroken, aren’t you? Completely and utterly shattered.”
No. She’s wrong, he thought to himself with reassurance. That wasn’t love. That was…something else. Entirely.
At that very moment, the bartender placed down a glass of deep red liquid, reminiscent of the colour of the lady’s lips, the mouth that had spoken all those accusatory words.
“I’d get that fixed if I were you, before you go completely crazy.”
He stared at the glass for a few minutes, contemplating a complex mess of thoughts inside his head.
But then within the next second, he had already grabbed the glass, mixing the contents inside.
Eyes lidded and lips parted, he downed it all it in one gulp.
Jeon Jungkook left the bar in a miserable state: hair tousled, clothes dishevelled and no rhythm to his walk. He seemed hopeless, and so different from the person he’d been only a month ago. He walked alone, beneath the somber night, with only the dim street lights to shine his way. And for some reason, despite his numbed state, his chest felt unbearably painful, as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart tightly from the inside.
Ever since that self-righteous lady spoke to him he couldn’t stop thinking about that person. Even when those girls were crooning in his ears he pushed them all away, despite their persistence. All he could think about was that smile, that smile that once had the power to light up his entire world, but was a smile he would never see again.
And it was all his fault. Right from the beginning, he should’ve never gotten involved. He should never have waited until the very end to realize that a sleazy, cheating con man like himself could never be with such a charming and kind-hearted person. He should’ve realized it from the moment he laid eyes on that person. He should’ve known his place—he was worthless, and he had nothing.
I could never make someone like him happy.
As if still trapped in his deepest nightmares, the sound of that person’s laughter resonated through his ear, the melody akin to a siren’s call—the only sound that could heal his abandoned heart. Jungkook daringly raised his head for the first time upon exiting the bar, wanting to properly take in his surroundings.
And that’s when he saw him.
Jungkook’s eyes widened as he saw a familiar silhouette in the distance. It couldn’t be. Instinctively, he stepped in the direction of the person standing in the distance. It was clearly a well-dressed man, with black hair and short but proportionate stature. His face was turned away from Jungkook, so he couldn’t be sure, but every thing else was so reminiscent that he even felt his heart skip a beat or two.
No way…
He was about to retreat in the opposite direction and walk away before the person could see him, but it was too late. The person turned around and looked Jungkook squarely in the eye, his face fully revealed underneath the street lamp perched above him.
Jungkook breathed a sigh of relief.
It isn’t him.
But for some reason, this stranger kept staring at Jungkook, with slanted eyes that reminded him way too much of the person who he'd once left. Before he even realized it, he was rooted to the spot by the person’s gaze, controlled by a stimulating combination of supressed desires and nostalgia. And even when he was approached by the man, he remained still, not moving an inch.
“You look like a deer in the headlights,” the stranger said. “You alright, boy? Not lost or anything?”
He really does look like... Jungkook couldn’t help but think to himself upon seeing the man up close.
Stiffly, Jungkook shook his head. “No, I—I’m fine. Just a little…out of it.”
The man brushed a strand of hair out of his eyes, not too differently from how that person used to do it. Jungkook felt drawn to him, even in the slightest. And when the man gazed him up and down with his sharp eyes, he seemed to notice this.
“You should go home, boy,” the man said, his voice deeper than how Jungkook remembered Jimin’s. “It could be dangerous. You know what this place is, don’t you?”
When he noticed that Jungkook looked confused, he continued by himself, nodding to a bar across the street.
“That right there is a hotspot for guys like me,” he spoke slowly. “We come out to find other men to hook up with to ease a lonely night. You should leave before they mistake you for their prey…”
And then he noticed Jungkook gazing in the direction of the bar, almost as if he was contemplating to go inside.
His eyes sparked eagerly as he stepped closer to Jungkook, who was immediately startled.
“…unless you’re one of us, you cute little bunny,” he murmured. He was close enough that Jungkook could smell the cigarettes on his breath. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t get quite so lucky in there tonight, so how about you come with me tonight and restore my luck, hmm? I’ve been looking for a cutie like you for quite some time now.”
Jungkook hesitated, staring at him with wide eyes. “Well, I—uh—”
“I’m your type, aren’t I?” he edged on. “I could feel you staring from all the way over there. Come on, bunny, I’ll make you feel so good. You definitely won’t regret it.”
He positioned himself so that Jungkook was forced to look him in the eye again. Jungkook felt his breath hitch in his throat when his brain connected the resemblance once again.
Those eyes…
What difference did it make at this point? He didn’t know if it was the post-haze of the alcohol or his actual brain thinking at this point but perhaps this stranger was the exact thing that Jungkook had been looking for this whole time.
The only person that could restore at least a tiny bit of his empty heart, with no commitment whatsoever.
Hesitantly, Jungkook nodded. The man smiled kindly, opening his arms and allowing Jungkook to slowly walk himself into them. His embrace was warm, much warmer than Jungkook expected him to be.
“There we go,” the man sighed happily, running his fingers through Jungkook’s hair (which, surprisingly, didn’t feel too bad). “I’ll definitely make you satisfied, little one.”
“Jungkook? Is that you?”
Jungkook reopened his eyes, pushing himself away to see a familiar young man staring at him disbelief.
“Yoongi hyung?!” Jungkook gasped. “What are you doing here?”
“I could say the same thing about you, you disappearing bastard,” Yoongi snarled. “And who the hell’s this guy?”
“I—I don’t know,” Jungkook stuttered. “I—I just met him so—”
Yoongi glared furiously at the stranger standing between them. “Get the fuck out of here, you perverted creeper,” he shouted angrily.
The man was extremely startled. “What the hell, man? I was just—”
Yoongi was pointing accusing fingers at this point. “I know your shitty type, you come out at night to lure out unknowing young boys, don’t you? You sick pervert.”
“I didn’t do anything! Just ask your friend, I was just—”
“I said, get the fuck out of here. Before I spit on you.”
Horrified, the stranger stared, petrified, at Yoongi for a second before immediately bolting away into the darkness, never to be seen again.
“That was a little harsh, don’t you think?” Jungkook mumbled, as stably as he could.
“What? You think trash like that deserves anything better?” Yoongi was still grumbling.
“To be fair, I did come onto him a little…” Jungkook said, scratching the back of his neck.
Yoongi nearly snapped his neck turning around to look at Jungkook. “Are you serious? Why?” He paused for a moment, recollecting himself, recalling there were more urgent situations at hand.
“Anyways, I’m so glad I bumped into you here—where have you been for the past month, anyway?” Yoongi asked firmly, grabbing onto Jungkook's shoulders. “Taehyung’s been worried sick about you. Says you haven’t been going to class and every time he tries to visit your apartment, you’re not there. Despite the fact that it’s you guys, I feel like this is more than just an elaborate game of hide and seek. So what’s up, kid? Tell me what’s wrong.”
The young boy twirled about on his feet, not wanting to answer. As glad as he was that Yoongi just saved him from what could’ve been a horrible predicament, he was quickly beginning to sense the burden which came with consoling in others—it was hard to tell who really cared, and who were merely feigning concern in order to expose weaknesses.
“I’ve just been out and about. Enjoying youth,” Jungkook shrugged. “Having fun.”
Yoongi scoffed, glaring at Jungkook in frustration. “You crazy bastard, you call this fun?” he scowled. “Look at yourself!” Yoongi’s fingers gestured towards Jungkook’s subpar and messy appearance. “You were never like this before…”
Yoongi’s voice trailed off, as he caught sight of something on Jungkook’s clothes. Stepping closer, he grabbed onto the collar of Jungkook’s black jacket and pulled it back to reveal a bright pink stain on the white collar of the dress shirt beneath.
“What’s this about?” Yoongi murmured. “Don’t tell me some girl’s got you on a leash?”
“It’s not like that!” Jungkook snapped, tugging his jacket back and pulling himself away from Yoongi.
“Really then? Whose lipstick is that?”
“I—I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? How many girls could you have…” Yoongi’s voice trailed off as he began to consider what Jungkook could’ve been up to these past nights.
“Jungkook…” Yoongi spoke slowly, approaching him with careful steps. “What’s wrong? Tell me what’s wrong. I know you’re not usually this kind of person.”
The words flipped a switch within Jungkook, as he suddenly surged with the courage to fight back.
“How do you know I’m not this kind of person?” Jungkook asked, his tone reaching a precarious edge. “Since when did any of you guys care anyway? You all knew what I did for a living, yet not one of you dared to tell me it was wrong.”
“What are you talking about?” Yoongi asked, flabbergasted. “You said you only broke up couples who deserved to be that way! Don't make it sound like you were some sort of...prostitute or something.”
Jungkook clenched and unclenched his fists, speechless for a moment. It was true. He had managed to convince everyone—including himself—that what he was doing was for the greater good somehow. That breaking up all those couples would make the world a better place in some way.
He snorted to himself—he should’ve known better than to play hero at his age.
“Hyung…can we stop talking about this, now?” Jungkook grimaced. “I have a headache. Please.”
But Yoongi wasn’t about to back down so easily. “No. Not until you clearly explain to me why you haven’t been going to school for nearly a month and no one knows where the hell you’ve been. I swear to god I had to trade away all my luck for the rest of the year in order to find you here tonight. So tell me everything, before you run off again.”
“What if I don’t wanna talk right now?” Jungkook mumbled, stumbling over his shoes again as he tried to walk away. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Since when did you become such a disrespectful asshole?” Yoongi grumbled. “You’ve had too much to drink, you idiot. Now stop acting like a problem child and tell me now, or I’ll punch it out of you.”
“Good night, hyung,” Jungkook mumbled as he turned away. “I’ll see you later…”
“Jeon Jungkook, I’m asking you one last time.”
“…or never,” Jungkook mumbled under his breath. His steps quickened, to allow himself to disappear into the darkness for good. They were foolish. All of them. They were all talk—not one of them had ever done a thing to pull him away from this hell.
“JUNGKOOK!”
The bellow caused Jungkook’s entire body to shiver, and he no longer felt at ease like before. His entire body tensed up, preparing for the punch that Yoongi had promised.
But instead, he felt a pair of warm arms wrap around, fastening tightly and not letting go.
“Let me go!” Jungkook yelped. He found that he had no strength to resist despite that Yoongi was supposed to be much smaller and lighter than him. It was two men, struggling in the middle of the streets at an hour way past midnight, with no one else to witness the ridiculous scene.
“Nope,” Yoongi replied. Hanging on with one hand, he fumbled into his pocket and pulled out his phone, calling someone that was quite obviously near the top of his speed dial.
“Hey, where are you right now?” Yoongi asked. “Can you come help me for a second? I got a package I need to deliver. Thanks. Bye.”
Jungkook tried to break out of Yoongi’s hold, but his older friend was a lot stronger than he'd thought. Plus, his intoxicated state was doing nothing to help his focus.
“Calm down,” Yoongi said softly, patting Jungkook on the back, doing his best to sooth him. “Now let’s get you some real help.”
That feeling when your body no longer belongs to you, when the same air that once was solace seemed to toss and turn your body, squeezing at your organs and tearing your breath away.
He was falling.
It was a terrifying sensation. But Jungkook couldn’t even struggle—his limbs no longer belonged to himself. It was a freedom that he never asked for, a freedom that was most certainly hell-destined.
But suddenly, it was over as abruptly as when he’d started. The impact was much lighter than he’d expected it to be. He groaned as he struggled to his feet, blinking rapidly as he took in his surroundings.
A black fountain. Stone benches. Walls of forest green looming over high above. An overarching sky as dark as ink itself.
It was a place that was much too familiar for comfort.
“Jungkook,” a voice called him name, echoing along the walls of flora.
He looked up and there he was. The apparition that he feared the most. This Jimin had a much crueller look in his eyes, yet somehow he was so many times more beautiful. He was wearing all black, almost as if to mourn for their past, with his eyes dark, alluring and tempting. Jungkook desperately wanted to hold this Jimin but also feared for his well-being in his presence, wanting to scream and run away all at the same time. It was a terrifying feeling.
“You’re all alone again, aren’t you? Poor, poor Jungkook,” Jimin's voice was supposed to be a whisper, but t he venomous words seeped through his ears, creeping through his blood like poison. It rendered his body paralyzed and his eyes frozen.
“It’s what you deserve isn’t it?” the Dark Jimin sneered. “That’s what you get for messing with people for so long, trying to convince yourself it was all a good deed. It’s a shame you fell in love with me, otherwise you might've gotten away with it again. But of course, you couldn’t resist. Many people couldn’t. You were never the only one.”
He paused for a moment, before his lips curved into the most devilish, evil smirk.
“It’s not like you were special or anything, after all,” Jimin asserted, on the equivalence of shoving a knife straight through Jungkook’s heart. "You're so stupid, Jungkookie~"
Click. Click.
That sound…
Click. Click. Click. Click.
A pair of heels.
And then she appeared, almost out of nowhere. She was wearing a tiny black dress as she wrapped her pale, thin arms around Jimin, nuzzling her face into his shoulders lovingly. Even she appeared stunning in this world, enchantingly matched as she stood next to Jimin.
“Ah, honey, so this is where you were?” she drawled out, her tone drivelling, mocking, as Jungkook could only watch them powerlessly. Park Jimin reciprocated her touches, smoothly running a hand over her waist and pulling her closer as he brushed his nose in her dark hair.
“What on Earth was I thinking?” Jimin spoke harshly, not caring that Jungkook could hear his every word. “Picking him over someone like you.”
Her laughter echoed through the place, resonating like an eagle’s cry.
“More like what was he thinking when he thought you would pick him over me,” she crooned loud and clear. "God what an idiot he must be. You've got absolutely no future with him. And who knows? When would be the next time he'd do his 'job' again behind your back?"
Before Jungkook could retort or relinquish in the pain, his surroundings suddenly changed again. In this distorted world where anything went, his surroundings of darkness suddenly evaporated into white, flashing by like a rapid snapshot.
Within the next second, there were white flower petals cascading down upon him, akin to a scene from a fairy tale. Everything was white and glowing, and raucous laughter and cheers around him indicate that this truly was a joyous event. Even his own tormented heart was lifted for a moment, seeing the countless smiles and happy faces all together in in an uplifting crowd…
And then he saw it.
Undeniably, it was a couple on the altar. They were enchantingly beautiful, their smiles pure and rejuvenating to the crowd beneath, almost as if they were the kind, treasured royals of a worthy nation. She wore a simple, yet billowing white dress, and her genuinely elated expression made her seem the most gorgeous Jungkook had ever seen her, while he…
He was…
A knot formed tightly in his chest. He suddenly felt weak in the knees, wondering if he could even move. The world was still basked in flowers and joy yet he only felt a crushing sadness welling up within. Again, he could only watch, as the happy groom pulled his lovely new wife in for a kiss on the cheek.
Tears formed in his eyes. He was on his knees before he knew it. People were starting to stare at him, point at him now, wondering what a depressing person was doing at such a happy occasion. It hurt, it hurt so bad. It tore at him and gnawed at his chest, begging for an unrequited love that he could not control. It was as if everyone could see him at this point—everyone but the bride and groom, so absorbed in their own world of love and happiness that they couldn't care less for anything else.
In desperation, he tried calling out the name of the person he wanted most, but all that came out was emptiness. They couldn’t hear him, no matter how much he screamed, no matter how much he begged for a second chance.
It didn’t matter anymore. It was much too late to change anything now. Despite that, he kept silently crying out, until the point where his throat felt hoarse and his lungs threatened to burst.
And then, everything was fading, fading once again. All to black.
The couple was disappearing into nothingness. He could finally hear his own cries, sounding so mangled and distressed, yet they still heard nothing.
He called the name one last time in desperation. The only name that could bring him comfort.
The person froze, as if finally hearing him for the first time. Jungkook’s heart welled up in hope as he glanced in his direction, lips parted almost as if in recognition—
“Goodbye, Jungkook.”
And then he turned his back. And was gone. Faded away into nothingness.
The deafening silence was more than enough, and without even the strength left to cry out, Jungkook felt the stream of empty, worthless tears sliding down his cheeks…
"It's for the best," he whispered to himself like a mantra. "It's for the best it's for the best it's for the best it's for the best it's for the best it's for the best it's..."
Jungkook jolted awake in a cold sweat. He was breathing heavily, as if he had just gone through several ordeals and back. He pressed a hand against his forehead, trying to separate his delusions and reality.
He wasn’t entirely sure what happened after Yoongi had grabbed him.
He might’ve blacked out, or was merely too out of it remember. He vaguely recalled trying to break free from a firm grasp, but it had all been to no avail. Now that he’d finally regained his senses, he found himself leaning against a pile of comfortable pillows with a blanket covering him. His jacket and tie had been removed and hung up on a chair in a room that he did not recognize.
“Sobered up yet?” a voice called out.
Jungkook looked up and saw the person he least expected to see. Taehyung’s friend, Jung Hoseok, was leaning on the doorway, arms crossed as he watched over him. Hoseok was fully decked out in his pajamas and his hair was an absolute puffy mess, a direct sign that he’d been rudely awoken at ungodly hours.
“Hoseok hyung?!” Jungkook gaped in shock. “Why are you here?”
“This is my room,” Hoseok replied calmly. “You’re the one who shouldn’t be here right now, especially at this hour.”
Jungkook held a hand to his head, a sudden throbbing pain coursing through his brain. “How did I get here again?” he groaned. “Where’s Yoongi hyung?”
“He went out for a bit after we got back,” Hoseok replied calmly, making his way towards Jungkook. “He doesn’t really cope well with people crying in front of him so he decided to make a run for it in the meantime.” A mug of something warm was placed gently on the bedside table next to Jungkook.
“You know, none of us are very happy with you right now,” Hoseok continued, donning the tone of a stern mother.
Jungkook breathed out a sigh. “I know…” he muttered honestly. “And I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“Are you really though?” Hoseok grumbled unsympathetically. “Not to sound harsh but wasn’t that just your way of calling for help?”
Jungkook was completely taken aback. “What? I—”
“Next time,” Hoseok insinuated. “Just ask for help. No matter how ashamed you feel. Anything is still better than wasting yourself away like that.”
Jungkook had nothing to say in response. Hoseok’s sentiments were highly reminiscent of the words of the lady in the red dress at the bar, and they were certainly damning to the ego.
But right now, he sensed that it was what he needed most right now, and his moments of drifting in the clouds were finally about to come to an end. It would be for the best.
“You know you can always talk to us.”
Jungkook’s ears perked at the sound of the new, yet familiar voice. His breath caught his throat when he looked up and saw who it was standing in the doorway.
Jungkook couldn’t believe his eyes.
Namjoon. Seokjin. Taehyung. Yoongi. They were all there. Waiting expectantly, and gazing at him with mixed looks of disappointment and concern.
“You guys…” he managed to croak out in his surprise.
Namjoon was the first one to move.
“He’s right, you know,” Namjoon spoke through a yawn. “We really aren’t that happy with you.”
“What on Earth have you been thinking, Jeon Jungkook?” If Jungkook had thought Hoseok sounded like an angry mother, Seokjin was magnitudes worse.
“You know what this means, brat?” Yoongi was grumbling. “You can’t run away anymore.”
All eyes were on him. If he were anyone else, he would’ve thrown a tantrum, called for the injustice of the situation and stormed out of the room. But the fact that they were all there, staring down at him at such a late hour at night spoke more than enough on its own. He rapidly reflected in his head, desperately trying to go through what he had become in the past few weeks, and why it had all led up to that.
“Time to start talking, Jungkook,” Taehyung huffed. “If you don’t, I will.”
Naturally, he hesitated. They were intimidating unlike Jungkook had ever seen them in the past.
But right now, this was what he needed. He knew he wouldn’t change if they went easy on him. His head was still throbbing, and he needed anything to distract himself from the pain his body was enduring internally.
He took another quick glance around the room, before giving them a quick nod.
“Fine,” he spoke. “I’ll tell you guys everything.”
Currently working on the next chapter (slowly). Sorry for forgetting to update on tumblr oops ;-;
Hi Ami!!!! I'm a 96 liner too ^.^ No pressure, but i'd love for you to update Heartwrecker!!! It was one of the first fics I read when i became an ARMY and it left me jungshook O.O I'm lowkey dying to know what happens next, do you have plans to update it?? Have a good dayyy :D
askldjfkasdjfsl I have been working on it. Slowly but steadily.
I obviously have the idea of what’s going to happen next and how I’m going to end it but I’m not sure if I want to drag it out more and as a result of stressing out over how to finish it I just ended up putting it off while dealing with my school work.
So yes, truth be told I’ve confided in others that I have been feeling pressured to update it lately, and many others are urging me to continue. Which is great! And I appreciate all of it, thus I’ve been trying to get bits of it done every night.
Hopefully, I will get it out by this week (fingers crossed!), so long as life and other sources of procrastination don’t get in the way.
Regardless, I really thank you, and many others, for avidly following despite that I left it for so long. It really shows that many of you are genuinely invested in the story, and that’s all I can ask ^^ So I thank you so much, and hopefully I’ll be able to make it up to you all with a decent update :)
Heartwrecker
CHAPTER 13 | finale
Love had always been a literal game to Jeon Jungkook. His targets would be the playing pieces, and their emotions the mere obstacles he had to seduce, manipulate and alter through his acts. Win their hearts? Win the game. But when Taehyung asks Jungkook to deal with the relationship of his childhood best friend Park Jimin, Jungkook quickly discovers that "love" isn't at all as simple as he thought would be...
read on ao3
“I said I’m sor—”
“Don’t talk to me.”
Jungkook stumbled after a livid Taehyung, who was blazing down the hallway like someone had just lit his shoes on fire. He was mad, for obvious reasons, though some were more selfish than others.
“Traitor,” Taehyung was grumbling to himself. “Spewing all that crap about trust and bullshit…”
Jungkook tried rambling. “Look, it was in the heat of the moment and he caught me so I had no choice but to—”
“For the last time,” Taehyung said through gritted teeth. He’d burst through the back doors of the building, while Jungkook almost got hit the face. “You didn’t have to throw it in the water—“
“It had a frikken three metre radius, I had no choice!.”
“—now thanks to you, videos of me twerking to country music are going viral.”
Taehyung glared at him, and for a moment, Jungkook thought he was really going to receive a heavy book bag in the face. Luckily, Taehyung turned around and kept walking towards the familiar trees and benches that was their usual spot.
“Well, I didn’t tell you to do that, did I?” Taehyung huffed, collapsing onto a bench, closing his eyes just so he didn’t have to look at Jungkook.
Jungkook sat down on the bench across from his friend. “I get it. I’m a lost cause,” he admitted guiltily. “I didn’t fully realize up it until…then.”
Taehyung sat up, boring his eyes into Jungkook. Jungkook made a mental note about how much more frequently he was receiving those glares recently.
But to his surprise, the resolve was no longer as strong as it had been last week. Taehyung turned away, no longer able to maintain the rigid eye contact.
“I get it…” he suddenly murmured. “Things happen. I just wish it didn’t have to be at the price of my dignity this time.”
Jungkook was taken aback. He’d expected his best friend to yield eventually, but not quite as easily as this.
“I knew this was going to happen eventually,” Taehyung was still rambling. “Just not like this.”
Jungkook blinked. “What? Me falling for Jimin?”
“No, you falling for a client in general,” Taehyung clarified. “Well…I guess he isn’t a client but still…”
A shudder traveled through Jungkook’s body as he suddenly remembered the words of none other than Kim Namjoon so long ago, vivid in his mind as if it had only been spoken yesterday:
“What if you accidentally fall in love?”
“Relax, hyung. That’ll never happen.”
A sigh exhaled from his lips, the same lips that were still tingling from last night’s sensations.
Of course he’s always the one who’s right.
“So what are you gonna do now?” Taehyung asked. He had a book cracked open and placed over his face. His arms were comfortably tucked behind his head, clearly ready for a nap that would render him forgetful of the present shame he had to deal with.
“About what?” Jungkook asked.
“About Jimin,” Taehyung replied. “Clearly my plan’s not going to work anymore since you have no resistance whatsoever, so what are you going to do about him and his fiancée at this point?”
Jungkook shrugged. “Come clean, I guess.”
Taehyung bolted upwards again, eyes wide awake as he looked at Jungkook. “You’re gonna tell him that you’ve been dating his fiancée and tried to break them up? Sounds like a great plan.”
“Well, maybe not right away but…eventually,” said Jungkook. “In fact, I’ll start with her.”
“Ha. Good luck with that,” Taehyung snorted, retreating back to his sleeping position.
“It’ll be fine!” Jungkook insisted. “I’ll just tell her I’m not really the one for her. I’m not who she thinks I am. And that we should end it.”
“I said: Good. Luck.”
“Maybe I’ll just pick my nose in front of her while talking or something.”
“…actually, that might work,” came Taehyung’s nonchalant murmur after a lapse of silence.
They sat like that for a while, passive and quiet, Taehyung evidently on the verge of sleeping while Jungkook was smiling, feeling relieved that it was all going to end soon.
“Come to think of it,” Jungkook spoke suddenly, after a minute’s worth of thoughts. “Why’d you even try so hard to break them up in the first place?”
“You don’t need to know,” came the mumble.
“And the sudden generosity?”
“Only idiots try the same thing over and over again and expect different results,” came the mumble.
Jungkook leered into a smile, and made it evident in his tone because he knew Taehyung couldn’t see it.
“It’s one of those two, isn’t it?” Jungkook asked. “Suddenly feeling relatable, huh, Kim Taehyung? You got butterflies in your stomach too?”
No response. Taehyung was doing a great job of feigning sleep.
Jungkook kicked the bench Taehyung was lying on.
“Tell me which one it is!” Jungkook demanded. “I know it’s one of them but I don’t know which one!”
Long silence. Again.
Jungkook frowned, insistent on a response. “That’s a shame,” he spoke. “I thought they were already taken—by each other.”
“That’s just a rumour,” was the immediate response.
Jungkook smiled, satisfied with the equivalence of a confession, as he heard the barely audible curse word uttered immediately afterwards from beneath the thick pages of the textbook.
Jungkook hadn’t planned on admitting it to himself, or anyone else so soon.
But it was still so vivid in his mind. The way Jimin’s lips had burned against his, and the pleasure growling deep within his stomach. Though it may have been nothing more than carnal desire, it was a sign that Jungkook could no longer control himself, and that he should get out before he got caught in too deep.
The boy brushed his bangs out of his eyes, a habit he’d picked up from god knows who before checking the watch on his left hand. In his right hand, he clutched a bouquet of pink and violet flowers with small petals. He stood underneath the large tree near the centre of the park, waiting eagerly yet nervously for the person he would eventually give them to.
“I’m going to end it, tonight,” Jungkook had stated firmly to Taehyung. The words felt surreal slipping out of his mouth. Such simple words. So easily uttered.
“Do whatever you want,” Taehyung’s response had been passive-aggressive. “You’re beyond saving anyway. The fact that you haven’t even considered the fact that could Jimin run back to his fiancée any second concerns me a lot.”
“Why would he?”
Taehyung looked him squarely in the eyes.
“He hasn’t said otherwise, has he?”
Jungkook sighed to himself, leaning back against the solid bark of the tree as he clenched the bouquet flowers tighter in his hand. He knew that Jimin hadn’t promised him a thing. Taehyung was right: there was actually quite a large chance of Jimin returning back to his fiancée after this. After all, his connection with Jungkook thus far was nothing more than a short fling—any rational man would see the consequences of fortifying a relationship out of something along the lines of a one (well, two) night stand.
He caught sight of a young family passing by him through the park. There was a mother holding onto her daughter’s hand, and a father dragging his son along while carrying a smaller child on his shoulders. Jungkook watched intently, his heart aching at how happy they looked, practically glowing within one another’s presence.
Jimin’s fiancée offered him riches, stability, comfort and a future family—Jungkook had nothing, besides a lingering infatuation for Jimin, which could also eventually fade over time.
Another long sigh, as Jungkook checked his watch yet again. But in his heart, he knew what this was actually about: he wanted Jimin to be happy. And to go around behind his back dating Jimin’s fiancée after carelessly making out with him at a garden party just didn’t seem like the proper, moralistic thing to do, no matter how one looked at it.
This was about him, and all the regretful decisions he had made.
And he had to fix it.
A sudden, repetitive noise resonated on the pavement. He looked up expectantly and, just as he expected, his date had finally arrived.
The heels clicked faster and faster, and got louder and louder as she got closer to him.
At last, she was in front of him, and he smiled at her with pressed lips as he politely handed her the bouquet of flowers with both hands.
“Here,” he said. “For you.”
“Why’d you even try so hard in the first place?”
It was already later in the afternoon, and Taehyung trampled onto the fallen leaves, venting out his aggression. Jungkook was probably already on his way to expose himself to the fiancée, and ruin any hopes of salvation.
He’d messed up, big time. It was embarrassing in a way, how he always went about, acting like he was everyone’s best friend when in the end, he was a helpful friend to no one.
Jungkook probably hated him now. And eventually, so would Jimin.
He’d lost everything now, though it was entirely the fault of his own greed—he just wanted everyone’s love. And as a result of getting the wrong people involved, it almost seemed as if he no longer had anyone left.
But it was true. Why had he tried so hard in the first place?
Sometimes, there just isn’t a finite and discrete nor rational reason as to why people to the things they do.
Perhaps, in Taehyung’s case, it was a culmination of many things. His aggressive spirit and the way he liked to see things though to end, his immaturity and inability to foresee the possible consequences, his guilt of introducing Jimin to someone who he thought would be a good person but turned out to be the worst kind of huntress, and perhaps, his possessiveness when it came to Jimin himself definitely came into play.
Taehyung sighed to himself, collapsing onto a wooden bench by the road side to take a break from his walking. There, he suddenly recollected a conversation he’d had with Jungkook that seemed so long ago—it was after Jungkook saw Jimin for the first time, but much before things had gotten so unnecessarily complicated…
“Why can’t I just date him?” Jungkook had whined.
“Because I said no,” Taehyung asserted.
“That’s what you said at the café,” Jungkook pouted. “And I really don’t get why.”
“Fine,” Taehyung took a deep breath. “Look, I’m not sure you’d get it but…it’s because Jimin’s my best friend, okay? I’ve known him since I was a kid, and he means a lot to me.”
Jungkook blinked. “So?”
“So, I just don’t wanna…give him away you know? Like, how would you feel if I started dating some random dude?”
“I mean, if the random dude’s not a dick I don’t see why I would be against it. Besides, you know I’m not a dick. I wouldn’t hurt him.”
Taehyung sighed. “See. You don’t get it. It’s kind of like…he’s mine, you know?”
“Dude, don’t tell me you like him too?”
“What?! NO! That’s not it!” Taehyung yelped. He sighed again, this time resting his palm on his forehead. “I knew you wouldn’t get it…”
“So explain it so I do get it,” Jungkook insisted. “That way I know I don’t have to fight you.”
“Why would you want to fight m—anyways. I definitely don’t want to fuck him. I mean I’ve definitely considered it, of course. The question: “Would I fuck Park Jimin?” and… I don’t know. It just sounded really wrong, ya know?”
“So?”
“But he’s still more precious to me than a brother. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain—”
For the life of him, Taehyung couldn’t remember what he said next, but it didn’t matter because it was all the same rambling anyhow. But it had all been the truth, and might’ve played a factor as to why he was so resistant towards the idea of his precious best friend Jimin getting together with his equally important best friend Jungkook.
Taehyung exhaled. He had to acknowledge though, that somewhere along the way, they ended up being perfect for each other in some twisted way. From the conversations that he’d overheard, and the little quips and suggestions in their speech, there was one thing he knew for certain—they clearly understood each other. Without even having to speak aloud. Anyone would say they hadn’t known each other for long, at all—yet Jimin could tell Jungkook was lying from the moment he spoke his first sentence, while Jungkook always seemed able to sense exactly what it was that Jimin desired, whether or not he was aware of it himself.
And the way they both looked each other, as if neither of them could really, truly control themselves.
It was still too early to claim that it’s love, and also questionable whether the both of them deserved it. But what existed between them was something that was definitely rare to find, and could easily blossom into something fortified and powerful given the proper circumstances.
Taehyung twiddled his thumbs, looking down at his feet as his eyes flickered with guilt over the chaos that, in a way, he had single-handedly created. Because the real problem now was, he wasn’t so sure the circumstances swung entirely in their favour…if at all.
An abrupt buzz of his phone momentarily interrupted his period of self-pity. He checked the phone screen and despite himself, he broke into a smile upon recognizing the name of the only person who could possibly cheer him up right then.
“What’s up?” he answered into the phone.
“Are you busy?” came the deep voice from the other end. “You want to get something to drink with me?”
Taehyung’s smile widened. That was definitely one way to bring up a downy mood.
“It’s one of those two, isn’t it?” Jungkook had asked.
Taehyung smiled.
“I’d love to see you right about now,” Taehyung replied at once, his tone quite a lot softer than normal.
The sky had been clear only minutes ago, yet, as if they reflected Jungkook's inner turmoil, the clouds started to loom ominously above the tree they were standing under. They were thick, grey and drifted slowly, threatening to pour down on them all at any second. Evening was quick approaching, and the park was already starting to empty out.
“Hydrangeas,” she observed as she took the bouquet from him, giving the flowers a courteous sniff. “A bit inappropriate, don’t you think?”
Jungkook smiled at her consistent keenness, though he no longer had any reason to pretend he was any lesser anymore.
“You never know,” said Jungkook, looking her in the eye.
She seemed surprised by his sudden snarky reply that seemed awfully out of character for him. The two of them stared at each other in silence, quietly attempting to read one another.
“So what’d you call me out for so abruptly today?” she asked. “And why were you so insistent about it, anyway?”
Jungkook took a deep breath. This was it. This was going to be end. He checked his watch for what was to be the last time that night. Reassuring himself that he did indeed have a lot of time left, he opened his mouth to speak.
“I’ll be honest with you,” he said. “I wasn’t a big fan of how you just ditched me the other night.”
She was completely taken aback, clearly not expecting to be called out and evidently not quite used to it either. Jungkook could tell, she was usually type to get away with these things, and it showed when she recovered much too quickly, her startled expression quickly replaced with a smirk.
“A bit petty of you to point that out, isn’t it?” she taunted, stepping closer and slowly getting into his personal space. “But that’s okay, I’ll forgive you if you go out and play with me.”
She reached up to toy with his jacket, but he quickly grabbed onto her wrist and stopped her before she could. Her eyes widened, clearly not expecting this reaction.
“I’m not joking around,” Jungkook said. “We’re done. I can’t go out with someone I can’t even trust.”
She blinked several times in disbelief, but then face suddenly broke into an unexpected leer.
“You, Jungkook? You’re the one doubting me because of trust?” she smiled. “You, who insisted on playing around with a woman who you knew was engaged to another man? Give me a break.”
Jungkook’s own steadfastness was a surprise even to himself. “I misjudged some people during this entire…situation.”
“Who? Me?”
“No, me.”
She burst out in laughter, causing Jungkook’s resolve to waver at last. He knew she was good at reading characters…but just how deeply had she read him?
He flinched when she suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand.
“Come on now, Jungkook,” she smiled, as innocently as ever. “Stop joking around. Let’s go have some fun again. Just the two of us.”
He snatched his hands back aggressively. “Why are you acting like this? Why do you even want to be with me still? Didn’t you ditch me first?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Cause you’re one of the best. And it'd be too wasteful to see some other unworthy girl on your arm.”
“What? So I’m just a trophy boyfriend for your arm?” It was just as Taehyung had said. Surely Jungkook was pushing her buttons now.
“Perhaps. Though several times in our exchanges I did feel several chills down my spine when you spoke,” she contemplated. “I was simply hoping that it could’ve developed into something more over time.”
“You’re engaged. To a great guy. What more could you possibly find in me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe something as simple as…a spark?”
Jungkook paused at her unexpected answer. A spark? What’s that supposed to mean? A guy like Jimin could probably initiate “sparks” with everyone…
Jungkook shook the thought out of his head. “Well, you should find it in someone else,” he said firmly. “Because I’m done playing around like this. It’s not good for me, or you.”
The look in her eyes could’ve probably burnt a tree down. “Wow, Jungkook, you’ve suddenly become super boring. It’s like your character did a 180.”
He held back a gulp. “Maybe sometimes people just grow up, and it’s about time you do it too.”
“What? You mean settle down quietly and get married?”
He hesitated and she caught onto it immediately.
“I saw that,” she smiled, stepping closer to him again, tugging on his jacket. “So you don’t want me to get married, do you?”
“I never said that,” Jungkook tried, his eyes avoiding her accusatory expression.
“But your eyes betray you, Jungkook,” she said. “You still want to have a little fun, don’t you?”
“I told you—”
She dropped the bouquet out of her hand and used both to grab onto his jacket and tug him closer again. Their faces were now inches apart, as she sneered at him viciously.
“Fine, I’ll let you go,” she said. “You’ll never see me again.”
Jungkook sighed aloud. “Good. Then—”
“But on one condition.”
He held back the urge to roll his eyes. “What could it possibly be?”
“Kiss me one last time.”
The disgust crawled up his throat and his pushed her away at once, anger boiling in his veins.
“I already told you this is over,” he snarled. “Why do you have to act like this? Grow up a little. You aren’t in some high school drama.” He just wanted this to be over with already, and she was making it more and more complicated, hence irritating.
“Harsh, but it’s not what you think it is,” she countered. “I just want to know for sure if there really is nothing between you and me, at least on my part. I know that our last kiss was rather stale—”
“That feeling was mutual.”
“—but I’d rather know for sure that you really aren’t the one before I let you go and regret it forever.”
A silence passed by, as Jungkook genuinely considered her words. He contemplated if it was another one of her twisted schemes, but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out what she could possibly gain from this any further.
“Come on, Jungkook,” she insisted, tugging his arm. “Feel a little bad for me. I’m the one getting dumped here. Take it as a last request from your ex-lover.”
Jungkook sighed again. She was awfully adamant, and stubborn about everything, and it seemed more troublesome to go against her rather than just give in.
“Fine. But this is it,” Jungkook stated.
“You know I always keep my word,” she winked.
And then she was in his arms again, and his mind was spinning but in a completely different way than when he’d been with Jimin. Whereas his mind had been in the luxury of a sort of drunken pleasure when he’d been with Jimin, now it was spinning like a headache, threatening to crash and burn. She moved closer, making sure to press her body against his for the last time. Jungkook’s own body stiffened in anguish, but he pushed through: this was his last obstacle. After this, he would be free.
He placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her in, pressing his lips firmly, but stiffly against her. He was about to pull away, but she suddenly wrapped her arms around her neck and held him in his place.
“Come on, boy. It’s the last kiss,” she taunted, her eyes sparkling with desire. “You gotta do better than that.”
Rage boiled within Jungkook, and he vented that by pulling her in by the waist and attacking her with all that he had. He didn’t care anymore—if she wanted a kiss, then he would give her a kiss. He bit and ravaged at her frail lips, not caring that she was whimpering and panting beneath him. It was what she wanted, so he would give it to her. He wanted to prove that she would still feel nothing, no matter how intense he got. He even forced her mouth open and plunged deeper. He felt her body go pliant in her arms, causing her heels to step back and crush the hydrangea bouquet that had been abandoned behind them.
At last, he tore apart, breathing heavily as he wiped his lips. He glared at her, and she stared weakly back at him, knowing that the kiss inflicted no more feelings than it had last time. In fact, if anything, he felt slightly more disgusted with himself that last time, as if there was now an unspeakable filth in his throat and dirtying his lungs.
“Well, that was…” Her sentence floated off into space, and the lingering awkwardness indicated that he was indeed not “the one” for her at all.
Jungkook smiled to himself. Well, this is it. With this, I am now free—
“What the hell is going on here?”
That voice.
The both of them froze in terror. The polished shoes took a step closer, just as a bouquet of vibrant, red roses was tossed mercilessly to the ground. Jungkook felt his blood run cold.
But it’s not supposed to be time yet…
He stared in horror as to who it was that was standing before them.
It was the fiancée that recovered first.
“J—Jimin,” she called his name, her voice quivering. “What are you doing here?”
The man raised his head, but he wasn’t looking at her at all. His normally kind brown eyes shrouded in a subdued anger, boring into Jungkook.
“Someone told meet to them here a bit later,” Park Jimin spoke, his voice rigid like ice. “I thought I’d show up a bit earlier to surprise them…but turns out they had their own surprise in mind.”
Jungkook breathed heavily, though he gulped and tried to hold it all back. He wanted to speak. He opened his mouth to speak, to explain, to say anything at all, but much to his horror no sound would come out. He could only stare, in delusion, in disbelief. This can’t be happening, there was no way this was really happening—it was all just a nightmare, it had to be.
I got caught.
Her voice was drowned out as the only thing Jungkook could hear was the pummeling within his own brain. His world was quickly becoming blurry and his hands clenched and unclenched, sweat glistening on the palms and sliding down his forehead. His breath was rapid, quickened, but it still felt like he didn’t have enough air. They were arguing about something—or was it just her screeching off on her own? He couldn’t tell anymore, and his body was shutting down, betraying both himself and the reality before him.
“Jungkook.”
The voice calling his name cut through like a shard, piercing his consciousness and bringing him back. They were both looking at him now, their eyes expectant as they awaited his explanation, the only explanation that could clarify all.
“Jimin,” she said. “You have to trust me. Look at him. He doesn’t even know what to say right now. Listen to what I’ve been saying.”
What had she been saying? Jungkook’s brain felt as if it was about to burst out of his head, and he resisted every urge to clutch his hands to his skull like a madman. He couldn’t look either of them in the eye, not anymore. And he didn’t know what to say.
What is there left to say?
Vaguely within the senses he still retained, he heard Jimin call her name, for the first time in a while.
“Could you leave us for a moment?” Jimin’s tone was rigid and firm, but Jungkook noticed that it had regained a hint of the softness it usually did. His lips parted in surprise, as he watched Jimin dismiss fiancée.
“Are you taking his side?!” she screeched, loud enough so that others around them glanced concernedly in their direction.
“I just wanna hear what he has to say,” Jimin explained, surprisingly calm.
“So why are you shooing me away? Why can’t I hear too?”
Jimin grimaced a little, glancing at Jungkook, and then back at her.
“You should go,” Jimin spoke. “You’re obviously scaring him.”
Her expression was beyond livid. For a crazy moment, Jungkook thought she was going to slap her own fiancé in the face. Fortunately, she merely clenched her fists, let out a wheezy and exhausted cry, and stormed away, her heels clicking at a furious and enraged pace. Jungkook thought he saw a few violet petals scurry in the air, seemingly scattered when her shoes kicked them in anger.
But even after she was gone, Jungkook didn’t dare look up.
What do I do? What am I going to say?
Jimin was the first one to speak.
“So, Jungkook? What was it really?” Jimin asked, keeping his voice as calm as possible.
But here was only one question Jungkook wanted to know in that very moment.
“Why did you send her away?” Jungkook muttered aloud. “Why would you do that to your own fiancée?”
Jimin seemed taken aback. “Why do you ask? Weren’t you terrified of her?” Jimin asked, stepping forwards, arms open. “She seemed to be pressuring you.”
Jungkook hesitated.
“You trust me that much?” he spoke. “Even more than your own fiancée?”
Jimin also hesitated, before saying: “Why not? Have you ever lied to me before?”
The question lingered, choking the atmosphere around them. Internally, Jungkook was frantic, despite the barely stoic display he was putting on. In fact, he wasn’t even sure if it was there anymore, given how easily Jimin had read him last time.
Abruptly, Jimin was moving towards him, stepping closer and closer to Jungkook. His lips were parted, and for one insane second Jungkook thought he was going to be embraced again.
But no, not this time.
He suddenly felt Jimin’s palms clasped over his own sweaty hands, surprisingly warm to the touch. For the first time, he looked up, and much to his astonishment, he was greeted with Jimin’s melancholic but kind and encouraging smile.
He could barely believe his eyes.
“Jungkook,” Jimin called. “I’m not really one to jump into things too quickly, and I’m usually careful with everything I do…”
Jungkook’s heart started throbbing in his chest. Painfully so. His eyes widened in terror as he watched the way Jimin’s eyes were completely softening, gaining that tenderness and loveliness that Jungkook had admired and adored so greatly in the past.
Oh no. Don’t tell me he’s going to…
“But I thought, maybe this time…” Jimin continued. “…it was different.”
He made sure he had Jungkook’s eye contact before uttering his next sentence:
“Maybe there actually is a reason why I couldn’t resist a thing when it came to you.”
The words sank deeply within Jungkook’s chest, much like the sinking feeling that foreshadowed the impending doom that would soon approach. This wasn’t right, and it certainly didn’t feel right. This build up, this moment that he had desired for in his deepest, most desirable dreams…
…it was all wrong.
“And so, I thought it would be okay if I listened to myself just this one time,” Jimin was still speaking. He sounded so sympathetic, so encouraging. “Because I’ve never really done that before, and if I feel so strongly wavered then it must mean something special, right?”
Is just thinking out loud? He should stop. He should just stop. Jungkook’s heart was doing all sorts of flips and turns, of the uncontrollable kind, the kind that would falter his judgment and ruin his resolutions should it continue.
“Jungkook-ah.”
A wave of horror washed through him, as Jungkook heard the way Jimin uttered his name. So soft. So gentle.
This could only lead to one thing.
Jimin stepped forward, closer, and looked at Jungkook with eyes that were expectant, yet so sad. How bittersweet.
“I really think I truly am in love with you.”
The world froze, as Jimin uttered the confession loud and clear for him to hear, with no room for discrepancy. His heart seemed to stopped along with everything around him, sending an unbearable and sharp pain through his chest. But why? Wasn’t this what he’d always wanted? The person he’d been craving for for so long had finally uttered his feelings, and they were indeed more than mutual. What was he hesitating? With two simple words “me too”, he could finally have what he wanted, and everyone else would be proven wrong. He would be happy...
...right?
Jungkook gazed back into Jimin’s eager, brown eyes, mirroring his melancholy. It didn’t have to be like this. All he had to do was accept. He could sense his heart slowly coming back to life, as he fully absorbed the beauty of the person in front of him, both externally and internally. Perhaps Jimin truly was more alluring like this somehow, so vulnerable yet somehow still managing to retain shreds of his pride, with the glimmer in his eyes from the verge of tears so surreal somehow, almost enchanting.
The tightness in his chest was a clear indicator: Jungkook was in love. He’d been in love from the beginning, from the moment he had caught sight of this man and heard his voice for the first time. It may not have been the most rational nor ideal encounter, but the feelings were there, and neither he nor anyone else could deny that.
And now, now that every obstacle was gone and Jimin had fully left all his weak spots open for Jungkook to monopolize, this was his chance.
All I have to do…is reciprocate
Finally, Jungkook took a deep breath, and parted his lips to speak. He noticed Jimin jolt a little, as if too eager to await his answer.
“Jimin-ah…” he called softly, stepping forwards. His heart was slamming in his chest again, fully revived, and he even wracked up the courage to spontaneously grab Jimin’s precious hands.
“Jungkook,” Jimin said, probably barely aware of it as he moved closer, wanting to hear Jungkook continue more than ever before.
“I…” Jungkook gulped, his eyes wavering.
“Yes?”
“I…uh…I…”
“Jungkook…are you okay?”
In one quick, surprising moment, Jungkook tugged Jimin towards and kissed him firmly on the lips. Unlike any of their any other kisses before, it was a ravenous, hungry kiss, lacking any tenderness and feeling whatsoever. He was kissing not for pleasure, nor warmth—just to devour. Neglecting everything around them, Jungkook bit and tugged and just wanted to feel Jimin thoroughly right then and there. It was truly a kiss for no remorse. He could tell Jimin remained surprised as his mouth remained stiffened, and before he could even take pleasure in that familiar softness, Jungkook had pulled them apart, breathing heavily from the intense exchange.
Even Jimin was panting in his breath. “Jungkook, what did you—”
He was interrupted as Jungkook suddenly reached up and placed a hand under his jaw, tracing the lines smoothly and forcing his eye contact.
“Jimin-ah,” he spoke, his voice soft yet bewitching. “I’m going to tell you everything…”
Jimin’s eyes flickered with an emotion that had been unknown to Jungkook before this.“Jungkook, what’s wrong. Just tell me—”
“...that I’ve been messing around with your fiancée behind your back this entire time.”
Jungkook knew exactly what he looked like as he uttered those words. He voided all the tenderness out his eyes and was glaring at Jimin coldly, as hurtfully as he could. It was the least he could do. And he knew Jimin couldn't see through it this time. It wasn't like last time: this time, he was determined, his motivation clear and written. Plus, Jimin had carelessly left himself exposed and vulnerable. And he knew what Jimin saw—a monster. The man who had just confessed to Jungkook was suddenly staring at him with a fearful expression, eyes dilated and lips twitching at a loss for words.
“You…you’re lying,” Jimin tried. Jungkook said nothing, despite the pitiful sight he was seeing. It hurt even more when he saw Jimin attempting to smile, like he always did. “Jungkook, she put you up to this right? You can tell me truth. I don’t care if she’s been paying you to test the relationship between me and her or anything, I really do love you, Jungkook. It’s not about that. Please, just tell me—”
“Why are you trying to convince yourself?” Jungkook replied coldly. “Do you really like me that much?”
He didn’t blame Jimin for not knowing what to say. It was unlike anyone Jimin had ever seen before—this person may have looked like Jeon Jungkook, but had been replaced by a complete stranger.
“But all those conversations we h-had?” Jimin was still talking. “And…and what we did that night in the hotel room. And at the party?”
Jungkook snorted out a laughter. “I can’t believe you just let me get away with that, by the way. Why'd you think I was there in the first place?” He reached into his pocket to pull out his phone.
“Get away with…what?” Jimin asked perilously, evidently still convinced that Jungkook was just acting.
He shoved his phone into Jimin’s hands, showing all the texts between him and Jimin’s fiancée that night, the timestamp blatantly corresponding to hours right before his encounter with Jimin in the hotel room.
“If you still wanna insist that I’m lying, I don’t know what else to say,” said Jungkook.
He watched, as Jimin scrolled through the texts with wide eyes, his expression slowly becoming unreadable. Was he devastated? Livid? Completely at a loss for words? It didn’t matter, this would definitely end it all.
Jimin finally decided that he'd had enough, and pushed the phone back into Jungkook’s hands. His head was bent downwards, his bangs shielding his eyes and rendering his emotions unreadable.
“Jungkook,” he uttered. “Why?”
The one question he hadn’t prepared an answer to. But it didn’t matter, it didn’t even have to be convincing at this point. His target had already fallen for the bait, and whatever tiny thing he could say to completely tilt the scale would be sufficient.
“Because,” Jungkook replied. “You were just so naïve that I couldn't resist.”
At this point, Jungkook was done. His façade broke and he prayed Jimin wouldn’t look up to see the state he was in. All these likes, all these words...they had been words he had feared hearing the most himself. His worst nightmares they were, repeated aloud in a monotonous chant...
...in order to send away the one person he loved most.
He waited for Jimin’s response. Surely, this was it. Perhaps, Jungkook would just leave it at this. He didn’t want to see Jimin like this any longer. It had torn him apart, but it was for the best. Vaguely in his mind, he recalled his promise to Taehyung that he would never hurt Jimin…yet here he was.
I may be hurting him now, but it’ll be better for him in the long run, Jungkook reassured himself.
He stepped away, pushing past Jimin, brushing their shoulders together one last time. The man’s head was still hung down, as he’d remained in that position for a while now.
“Have a good night, Jimin,” Jungkook uttered, trying not to betray his emotions in his voice. “And please try to forget about me.”
He was about to walk away, without stepping back, when he suddenly felt something clutch at his wrist. Jungkook turned around, and before he’d registered what was going on, he felt an immense wave of pain course into his cheek. Only when he’d collapsed on the ground, clutching his face in pain did he realize Jimin was still standing there with a clenched fist, his once loving eyes boring into Jungkook with hatred and resentment.
Jimin grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him upwards. Jungkook turned away, not wanting to make eye contact, though he was surprised—with the glimpse he’d caught of Jimin’s eyes, the foreshadowed tears were non-existent. There only remained a ferocious anger.
“You know what,” Jimin growled, his voice threatening to break. “I don’t even care that you did this to me, but don’t you dare try to do this to anyone else, ever again.”
“What does it matter to you?!” Jungkook spat back, forgetting about his act as he pulled away from Jimin and got back to his feet. “I had my rules! I did my best! I didn’t want to ruin anyone’s life! It’s not like intended anything to turn out this way!”
“You’re an idiot,” Jimin spoke, his tone coated in mockery and slander. “You’re a barely snot-wiped kid—stop trying to play with something you don’t even fully understand.”
“Don't understand?" Jungkook scoffed. "Well, it worked on you, didn’t it?”
Jungkook regretted saying that for a second, when he saw that hint of remorse return to Jimin’s eyes. But only for a second, before it was overwhelmed by the fury once again.
“Well then,” Jimin smirked. “Maybe I’ll try to hold back next time I fall for a cute face like yours.” It hurt, in a way, to hear that all Jimin had to redeem out of their momentary relationship was Jungkook’s face. The same face that he'd mercilessly punched less than seconds ago, leaving behind a bruise that would linger.
“You know what, forget about it. Forget about me. Just go running back to your fiancée anyway,” Jungkook said. “Go and enjoy your bright future with a happy family. She thinks more highly of you than you think anyway.” A lie, but it didn’t matter—Jimin had to believe the latter in order to achieve the former anyhow.
“You know what,” Jimin imitated Jungkook’s tone in mockery, spite spilling out between his lips and his once pretty, slanted eyes so sharp, so demeaning. “I think I will. Have a nice life, Jungkook. And I hope I never see your deceitful face ever again.”
Jungkook kept his head down as he heard the angry footsteps clamour away, leaving him in the park that was now empty and abandoned to await the forthcoming night. As soon as he was certain the person was gone, he slowly and silently made his way to the main street.
When he was there, he hailed a cab, too tired to walk any further or deal with transit at this point. He monotonously uttered the address of his house to the cab driver, who merely assumed he was exhausted from evening work, and went the rest of the way in silence.
Once he’d arrived, Jungkook paid his fees and made his way up to his tiny abode. He fumbled with the keys for a bit, but the moment he was inside, he kicked his shoes off and tossed them aside, not even bothering to arrange them neatly like he usually did. He stumbled like a drunk person, directly to his bedroom, his body barely sustaining him and his cheek still throbbing in pain.
After throwing down his bag and taking off his jacket, Jungkook threw himself into the covers of his bed without even bothering to change his clothes. It was dark now, and past his usual curfew, as he snuggled into his blankets, curling up his legs and covering himself completely. The clouds drifted silently past his window, highlighted by the half-moon that seemed ever so incomplete.
Abruptly, tiny sniffles sounded from beneath the sheets, eventually developing into quiet sobs as Jungkook’s body quivered beneath the heavy blankets. He pressed his mouth against his blankets, trying to muffle the noise as the tears flowed from beneath his closed eyelids, stinging his bruised cheek before soaking into the sheets beneath.
And despite it all, there was only one thought floating through Jungkook’s mind as he laid there, damaged and alone:
I never deserved him.
*sings "Don't Cry" by Park Bom passionately in the corner* even though it's not okay. at all. :'(
so...uhhhhhh...yeah. sorry for the late update i've been busy with work and just found time to complete this today.
unfortunately, i will be even busier probably until the school year begins again (a month from now) so i have to leave you with this until then. also don't worry about the chapter title--rest assured, it isn't actually the end. XD
in fact i got lowkey inspired enough to write the next part already soooo...maybe we’ll all see an update sooner than we expect?? (absolutely no promises though -> life + work first :/)
thanks for staying with me and plz still do after this (eep.) i will hopefully seen you all soon~ :'D
Heartwrecker
CHAPTER 12 | last mission
JEON JUNGKOOK: Full-time Student, Part-Time Heartwrecker
When Jungkook is hired to break up the relationship of Taehyung’s childhood best friend, he finds the presence of overwhelmingly attractive Park Jimin a bit more distracting than he could ever expect it to be…
read on ao3
“Seriously, how many parties can one couple host within the span of a few weeks?” Jungkook grumbled. He tugged aggressively on the clean lapels of his vest, lifting his chin to make sure everything was symmetric.
“They—well, I guess mostly her idea—have money to blow and reasons to celebrate,” Taehyung replied. He shrugged, fastening the glimmering buttons on the cuff of his dress shirt.
“Still though,” Jungkook said, while adjusting his tie. “If they already had an official engagement party, what the hell are they gonna call this?”
The two stopped talking for a moment when they caught sight of themselves in the mirror, fully polished and dressed to the nines in their suits. Jungkook had luckily managed to salvage Namjoon’s from the rain, and Taehyung, for whatever reason, just happened to have a nice tailored suit lying around.
“Honestly, I’m surprised you even agreed to come,” Jungkook said pointedly. “What with all that…stuff.”
Taehyung glared at him. “If I were you, I’d pretend none of it happened, but you’re secretly proud of yourself, aren’t you? Asshole.”
Jungkook huffed, directly returning Taehyung’s glare for the first time in a while. “You know what? Can you stop being so passive aggressive? I only did what you told me to do.”
“I’m pretty sure I explicitly told you not to do you-know-what with you-know-who. Several times.”
Jungkook dodged the accusation. “Besides, what you said before. Reflecting. Thoroughly. I did that. And came to one conclusion.”
“And what’s that?”
“Even if I had tried to, I probably…no, definitely couldn’t have helped it.”
Taehyung threw his hands up in defeat. “Great job, Captain Obvious. Now you see our biggest problem.”
“Hey, you’re partly to blame too!” Jungkook raised his hand accusingly. “You practically shoved his ass in my face. Over and over again.”
“When did I?!” Taehyung snapped back. He let out a sigh before continuing. “Goddamn, if I had known it would come to this I would’ve given you personal lessons.”
“…what?”
But Taehyung wasn’t listening. “Step one. Stop staring at his ass…actually, try not to stare at him in general while you look like an actual puppy—”
“I do not!”
Taehyung widened his eyes and tilted his head in Jungkook’s direction, nodding aggressively. “YA. YOU DO,” Taehyung asserted. “Even I noticed and I’ve only seen you two together once. You stare at him like he’s some kind of sun god and then you have this goddamn stupid, dumbass smile on your face.”
Jungkook stuttered for a protest, but in spite of himself, came up with nothing.
“I’d be surprised if he didn’t notice,” Taehyung murmured, grimly. “He usually notices stuff like that…and he’s also a sucker for it.”
Jungkook perked up. “Really?” He promptly received a whack on the back of the head.
“Stay focused, idiot,” said Taehyung. “We’re going to go this party and so why don't you worry about whether or not you're gonna be exposed by the both of them first.”
Jungkook brushed the sleeve of his jacket one last time. “See, I still don’t understand why you think this is a good idea—both of them are going to be there.”
“Should’ve thought of that before you messed around with—huh, who would have ever thought that Jeon Jungkook would ever be two-timing with a fiancé and his fiancée. Look at you.”
“Tae…” Jungkook growled. He waved his hands around frantically, trying to dismiss the topic. “Anyways, can you tell me why you want me to go to this party so badly again? I really don’t get what you’re planning.”
Taehyung shrugged. “I already told you.”
“What?”
Taehyung avoided looking directly at Jungkook before he answered:
“So you can break it off with Jimin as soon as possible.”
The plan was cut and dry, and required their two man tag team, along with the little “bug-spy-gear-thingy-ma-jing” (Taehyung’s words). Taehyung was to keep eyes and/or ears on Jungkook at all time, making sure he didn’t get side-tracked. As simple as the task was, the actual actions were to be extravagant—while Taehyung was off distracting Jimin’s fiancée, Jungkook would isolate Jimin and do and say whatever abhorrent things it would take for Jimin to end things with him.
Of course, Jungkook had protested vehemently when Taehyung had first suggested the idea, but soon, he was convinced that he had no better alternative.
“But what if he ends up protecting his fiancée against me instead when the time comes?” Jungkook had attempted to find loopholes at the time. “I’ll just be a serial dater at that point. He’d be more likely to defend her, is he not?”
“Then you just have to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Taehyung had replied at once. “Tell her some twisted truth. Make sure she takes your side against her will. Leave him no choice.”
“This sounds awfully complicated…”
Unexpectedly, Taehyung had only smirked.
“Not for you, it’s not,” he’d said. “This is child’s play for you. You’ve already practically written the script in your head. He’ll be off to find a new partner who is better suited for him and she’ll learn to fix her ways and hopefully do the same one day. Everyone will be happy in the long run.”
“Except for me.”
“You’ll get over it. Trust me.”
Jungkook sighed to himself.
This would mean he could never be with Jimin ever again.
Even after this was all over.
His heart throbbed in pain, and he tilted his head back, as a way to ease himself and the ache that was radiating from within.
“Oi, Jungkook. Are you alright?”
Jungkook felt a tug on sleeve and looked up to meet the eyes of Kim Taehyung, laden with concern and worry. They were standing in front of the entrance where the party was to take place, and the moment he stepped foot through that door, he would not be able to return. It brought him back to his reality, the reality where he was someone who never truly deserved love in the first place—the reality where he was nothing more than a con man who played with others’ hearts.
Jungkook swallowed, pressing his eyes together a split second.
It’ll all be over soon.
The tugging ensued again.
“Jungkook,” Taehyung called again. “You know…if you’re really gonna get really messed up over this…”
“It’s fine,” Jungkook cut him off. Every dream has to end at some point.
He stepped up to the gates, his eyes glinting with a certain ferocity and resolve that seemed to convince Taehyung. Even if it was more for himself.
“I’ll end it all. Tonight,” Jungkook asserted.
He pushed the gates open and stepped inside.
The party was outdoors this time, amidst a gorgeous garden with an array of plants of flowers. Tables set with white table cloths with marvelous flower arrangements scattered throughout the clearing. The cool, evening breeze complimented the essence of naturals. The atmosphere was relaxing and rejuvenating in contrast to last time’s party, the dwindled numbers and respect for the outdoors contributing to that. Nonetheless, the guests were as pompous as ever, decked out in their suits and evening gowns, daintily tilting their wine glasses as they discussed the most superficial of matters.
Jungkook and Taehyung manage to integrate themselves rather well, merely by keeping a low profile. They kept their eyes out for the host and hostess, who were yet to appear.
Jungkook was busy pouring himself a drink at the side when he suddenly heard Taehyung’s voice clear in his left ear.
“We have an emergency,” said Taehyung.
“How could it possibly get worse?” was Jungkook’s response. He closed his eyes, slowly sipping his drink as he braced for impact.
“Their parents are here.”
It was an understatement to say Jeon Jungkook almost spat out his drink—because he actually spat out his drink.
“What? WHY?” Jungkook screeched, not aware that people were staring at him apparently screaming at his drink (as the device did not come with any visible wires).
“I guess this is the engagement party for family and such,” Taehyung contemplated.
“So why are we invited?” Jungkook asked.
“Obviously because I’m like the brother he never had.”
“Doesn’t he have brothers?”
“You get the point.”
“Anyways, what about me? What the hell is he thinking? Inviting some guy he just—what is he thinking?!”
He heard a long sigh.
“Maybe he just simply doesn’t expect you to do anything stupid while you here,” Taehyung explained. “Or maybe he just really needed an excuse to see you again, even if it’s here.”
Though Taehyung had said it in the most casual tone, Jungkook interpreted it as anything but. Park Jimin would go through such lengths to see me? In what world… Though if that were actually true, it would probably complicate things a lot more.
“So what are we going to do?” Jungkook was tactful enough to keep his voice at a whisper now.
“You? Nothing,” Taehyung replied at once. “You should just focus on Jimin and do what you’re supposed to. And don’t worry, because I know their parents.”
“You're gonna distract five people at once though?”
“You’re not the only smooth talker around here.”
“Tae…”
“If I can trust you, you should trust me. We’ll be find. Now I’m gonna stop talking, and we’re gonna go find ‘em, okay?”
Taehyung’s words seemed to strengthen whatever resolve it was that remained within Jungkook’s heart.
“Right,” Jungkook replied firmly.
A silent agreement ensued between them, until they were to encounter their targets. Jungkook retrieved himself, straightening out his tie and brushing up his clothes as he preceded to make his way through the garden party. It was all different now. The confident, beguiling glint within his eyes had returned, for a long time in a while, and it was as effective as ever. Already the heads were turning as they always had, and he could literally feel his steps becoming lighter and steadier, as his alter persona shone from the attention it was receiving.
Not watching where he was going, Jungkook almost carelessly walked directly into the person he least wanted to see.
There stood the fiancée of Park Jimin, appearing as extraneous as ever in her long white gown. She seemed to be going for the look of an ideal, kind-hearted daughter that evening, for obvious reasons. Her dress was conservative, and her heels half the height they normally were. At first glance, one would've believed that she was quite the refined, prestigious person, but Jungkook of all people knew never to judge a book by its cover.
Fortunately, he heard Taehyung’s voice in his earpiece at that very moment, vividly calling her name and stealing her attention.
“There’s an emergency!” his friend was saying. Jungkook felt all sorts of bad vibes creep all over his body. What sort of situation could he possibly be dreaming up now…?
“Kim Taehyung?! What are you doing here?” It was all sorts of uneasy to hear a strange mix of her voice both through the tiny speaker and in reality.
“It doesn’t matter! Come quick! Your parents are already there!” He was practically yelling at this point.
“My…parents?” Jungkook could both hear and see the dread coursing through her. She immediately lifted her dress and scurried after Taehyung, out of sight and out of mind--for the most part. Jungkook was starting to feel his own sense of dread. It'd finally hit him that he truly had no idea what his friend was planning. Though he supposed—as he heard a loud crash along with incoherent screaming from different people coming from his earpiece—he would find out eventually.
There was no time to linger, as he started to make his way through the sparse crowd again, his eyes subtly scanning to find the one person he was looking for. He kept walking and walking, the garden suddenly feeling so much larger than it'd initially seemed.
But then, out of nowhere, something felt different.
It wasn’t that Jungkook was a vain person. He never was, nor would he ever be. But there were certain things that he had taken for granted over time, when he was under his guise. He just expected people to be distracted by him, to catch their attention simply upon passing by, to fall for him immediately upon his initiation.
Which was why he immediately noticed when this was no longer the case.
They weren’t looking at him anymore. Well, some of them were, but it was no longer exclusive. The attention usually fixed upon him was dwindling, as they seemed to be looking…elsewhere…
Of course…
He walked faster, knowing he was getting closer to his target. And at last, when he politely patted the shoulder of another man and pushed past, he finally found the person he’d been looking for.
His breath hitched his throat.
She was a ravishing beauty by regular standards, her dark hair piled in a bun, revealing her smooth, pale, bare back that was framed by her dark red dress. Her makeup was dark and seductive, her red lips painted in a way that made her smile seem all the more mysterious. Even the way she tilted her wine glass at her acquaintance was dainty and poised, as if she had always been refined and prestigious above all other, ever since the moment she was born.
Jungkook tilted his head and smiled a little to himself.
Because though she was the one that caught his eye first due to her extraordinary mannerisms, she barely managed to hold his attention for more than a second. His heart slammed against his chest. Much to his demise, he could not take a step closer.
Since when…could he look like that?
His aura of maturity was unfamiliar in every which way, despite the innocent charms of the smile that was once familiar, shining brighter than everything else beneath that evening sky. His body lines were beautifully displayed in that dark suit, all the while effortlessly maintaining his masculinity. The top button of his white dress shirt was undone to reveal a black choker beneath, seemingly etched onto the skin of his smooth neck. The silky black hair that normally made him appear boyish and friendly had been pushed up, revealing his forehead and emphasizing the eyes that twinkled ever so prominently as he indulged in their small talk. His posture was reserved, yet provocative: he was clearly leaning towards her, a hand pressed onto the table, lingering just close enough to her waist.
Jungkook tongue prodded in his cheek as he watched this surreal appearance of Park Jimin with his female acquaintance. He felt a strange chill run through his body when they both burst out into genuine laughter, seemingly over some (probably—no, definitely stupid) thing Jimin had just said.
Refusing to let his emotions overwhelm his rational judgment, Jungkook let himself fully register the image before him. There was Park Jimin, standing next to a beautiful, seemingly good-natured woman beneath the moonlight, conversing and minimally flirting with one another. And she was more than likely one of many lovely women by his side, who would gladly offer the rest of their lives to him. Perhaps, it might just be better this way: Jimin could find love in someone who he could actually have a future with, someone who could please both his family and undoubtedly, himself. It was something that Jungkook could never give to him, not in a million years.
Suddenly, Jungkook felt singled out, as if everyone around him had just left, and it was only him and the other two who remained in that area of the garden.
He felt an unknown source of heat course through his body.
Oh boy…
He wished his life could be that simple.
It was too late to tear his gaze away, as Park Jimin had already noticed him standing there. He convinced himself that it was not a lingering stare that Jimin was giving him in stead of his female friend. He told himself that there was no way Jimin could possibly be expecting him, and there was no way that he would abandon his lovely acquaintance for his lowly self…
“Actually, do you want to go look around a bit?” Jungkook heard Jimin say a bit too loudly. And the worst part of all was that he wasn’t even giving her proper eye contact anymore--he was too busy glancing at Jungkook out of the corner of his eye. He'd already withdrawn his posture, his body language indicating that he was eager for her to leave.
“I guess so,” was her response. “With you, right?”
“Um…no.” Was it just Jungkook’s imagination or was Jimin actually sounding a bit nervous? Though it was gone the second he cleared his throat.
“I have someone I have to…talk to, for a bit,” Jimin stated resolutely.
“Oh, ok,” she said understandingly. She gave him a smile as she walked away from him, saying: “I’ll talk to you in a bit.”
From the stiff way Jimin nodded, Jungkook had a feeling he wasn’t planning to any time soon. And when she finally seemed out of sight, Jungkook took that opportunity and casually sauntered up next to Jimin. Jungkook threw him a slight smile before placing himself right next to Jimin, subtly brushing against his shoulder. He didn’t look at Jimin—mostly because he didn’t have the courage to yet at this close proximity—but he swore he could feel the both of them smirking simultaneously upon the slight contact.
“Wasn’t that a bit heartless of you? Sending such a beautiful woman away just like that?” Jungkook initiated playfully, leaning back as he watched the tranquil scene of the party unfold before them.
He felt Jimin shrug next to him. “She was just an old friend,” came the easeful response. "I can't believe you actually came, by the way."
“Seemed awfully friendly for just a friend,” Jungkook quipped.
“You know, you look really manly today...”
“Are you changing the topic on me?”
“Hey. If it makes you feel any better, I consider you my friend too.”
Jungkook couldn’t help but smile at that. But he couldn’t let Jimin win. Not yet.
“You certainly treat your friends very well then,” Jungkook continued.
“I try my best.”
“Careful. If you have too many friends, you won’t know which ones are truly loyal to you anymore.”
“I choose them very carefully.”
“Really? What made you choose me then?”
The back and forth abruptly stopped. Startled, Jungkook turned and wondered if he’d actually hindered Jimin with such a simple question.
“Jimi—?”
Jungkook nearly gasped aloud when his partner took a step that left him barely pressing against his chest. He suddenly felt Jimin’s lips right next to his ear, when a husky, low whisper breathed:
“Cause you’re a really good kisser…”
Fuck.
If Jungkook didn’t feel that tingle before, he certainly did now.
Something clicked his brain, that, while they were standing there in that secluded clearing, there was absolutely nothing that could possibly stop him from pulling back and staring directly into Jimin’s eyes, which in turn would, with one hundred percent certainty, cause his instincts to take over and then—
“WHAT THE FUCK. ARE YOU DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.”
The impact was equivalent to someone planting a mini grenade in his ear. He almost tilted backwards from the auditory blast, stumbling on the balls of his feet.
“Jungkook, are you okay?” Jimin asked as he reached out towards him.
The boy placed a finger to his right ear and nodded weakly, barely grimacing from the pain that he tried not to make too obvious.
Fucking Kim Taehyung.
It was the only thought that was written clearly across his brain. Of course, Kim Taehyung had “conveniently” remained quiet up until now, just so Jungkook could get barely distracted enough to get sidetracked. Of course, Jimin had to whisper into the ear where his gadget was located. And of course, he couldn’t even freely swear at the asshole, even in a string of whispers, because Jimin was watching him ever so intently, confused as to why such a lovely, perfect moment was shattered.
Fucking Kim Taehyung. Jungkook thought again. Without remorse.
Jungkook looked up at Jimin again. And when he saw that pretty, worrisome and ever so concerned expression, he suddenly remembered what he had to do.
Immediately
I’m gonna have to get used to that expression.
“Jimin, do you wanna come with me for a bit?” Jungkook asked, as naturally as he possibly he could. He nodded towards the large garden labyrinth just ahead of them.
“Ooh. Taking me to a private place, huh?” Jimin noted. “What exactly do you want to do with me?”
“Nothing you won’t learn to appreciate,” Jungkook spoke his twist of a truth.
"Lead the way.”
Jimin followed Jungkook unwaveringly through the twists and turns of the hedges, with nothing to guide them but a few dimly lit lanterns and the moonlight above. It was dark and damp, the smell of moss and wetness wafting through their nostrils and overpowering any other pleasant smell that the garden had to offer. Jungkook had to acknowledge Jimin’s defenselessness—he could probably do anything to him in here and no one would be the wiser. The thought of it made his mouth dry, and he started to wonder if Jimin would be the same with anyone else. Though in a way, Jungkook knew he was no better than any of these malicious people he was dreaming up-- he himself had brought Jimin in here with the intention to severely hurt him, even if not physically.
“Jungkook? Aren’t we going a bit too far?” came Jimin’s concern at long last.
“It’ll be fine,” Jungkook replied.
They finally reached a clearing, which seemed to resemble the centre for the maze. In contrast to the rest, this part of the maze was actually well-kept and bright, with extra lighting and several stone benches scattered around the clearing. In the center of it all was a formidable black water fountain, the sound of a steady flowing stream providing a soothing atmosphere amidst the somber sky.
What a perfect place to break someone’s heart, Jungkook thought morbidly to himself.
“Jungkook? What is it you wanted to say?” came Jimin’s voice.
Jungkook turned to see him already comfortably sat at one of the stone benches. He was leaning back as if this was truly the only place he could relax and let himself go. Jungkook gulped as his eyes traced over Jimin’s neckline and up to his pretty face, etched out with the loveliest smile. Never in his life had he ever seen anyone so beautiful…and never in his life would he ever thought he’d have to end it so abruptly with someone so beautiful.
Yet here he was.
He took a deep breath, and put on his darkest persona, one that he rarely used and wasn’t particularly fond of.
This was not for him, but for everyone else.
Including Jimin.
And he knew Taehyung was listening.
“Jimin,” Jungkook called his name carefully.
He watched with guilt as Jimin perked up a bit too eagerly. “Yeah?”
“You’ve become too much for me. We’re going to have to end this now,” Jungkook uttered. It was probably the only honest thing he’d said thus far.
And boy, did the truth hurt.
He could feel his façade cracking. It took all his resolve to maintain his steadfast, cruel expression, where he was staring Jimin down without mercy. He was sure Jimin couldn’t see his lips quivering from there, and he really hoped he wasn’t about to cry. Never before had an act been so difficult in his life, but it didn't matter. He knew that this would be the last one.
And Jimin certainly looked distraught. He was staring at Jungkook, with eyes that were unfamiliar to him, laden with sadness and confusion. His lips were parted, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know what exactly to say.
But suddenly, within a split second, that all changed.
Jungkook could barely believe it when he heard it.
It was the sound of Jimin’s snicker.
Dread coursed through Jungkook’s body. He hadn’t foreseen this possibility—the possibility that Jimin actually had no feelings for him at all, and that he was the one who was actually being played all along. It was the only possible situation that could make this more painful for him than it already was, and it appeared to be playing out right before his eyes.
“Jungkook…” Jimin spoke vividly.
“Yes…?” Jungkook braced for the worst. It’s okay. It’ll all be over after this. If anything this just makes it easier.
“You suck at lying.”
The surprising words took a moment for Jungkook’s befuddled brain to register. And by the time they did, Jimin was already standing right in front him, smiling brightly as if nothing had ever changed. As if he’d never even said anything with the intention to hurt him.
“Poor Jungkookie,” Jimin whispered, with a slight chuckle. He reached out and swiped underneath Jungkook’s right eye with his thumb.
“You’ve never been good at hiding your expressions, have you?” Jimin spoke, as he held up his thumb to the light. There, as clear as ever, was the gloss of what had been a single tear leaking from his eyes. Jungkook had been wrong after all—he had failed to hold them back.
His mind was in turmoil. Jungkook was great at hiding his true intent. He always had been. And he knew that better than anyone.
“Maybe it was just the way you looked at me. No one’s ever looked at me like that before.”
“Even I noticed and I’ve only seen you two together once. You stare at him like he’s some kind of sun god and then you have this goddamn stupid, dumbass smile on your face.”
Just…evidently not in front of Jimin.
“I would ask who put you up to this…” Jimin pondered. “…but I feel like even if I did find out, it would end up bothering me more than it would bother them.”
Jungkook froze, becoming vividly aware that Taehyung was indeed listening in. He immediately recalled Taehyung's fear of being suspected by Jimin.
“W—what makes you think someone put me up to this?” Jungkook tried, though he knew it a futile question as soon as the words left his lips.
Jimin paused, choosing his phrasing carefully before answering:
“You should really see your face right now.”
Jimin leaned closer, and impulsively, Jungkook stared into his eyes. Except this time, he saw his own image within the brown irises, faintly reflected by the lights around them. And it was true--if Jungkook had thought Jimin looked distraught earlier, he himself looked as if he was about to completely fall apart any second.
Jungkook clenched his fist.
“Psst. Don’t get distracted. You can do this. I know you’re a better liar than this. Just go through with it.”
His body stiffened as he heard Taehyung’s voice in his ear once again.
“Remember, his parents and his fiancée are both here. Don’t do this, Jungkook. If you mess this up, or even worse, if you get caught, it’s all over.”
The claim was assertive and insistent, Jungkook’s mind was about to be torn apart. In front of him was Jimin gazing at him with the most angelic, expectant look, while Taehyung was whispering to him like a devil.
“Jungkook-ah, just go with it…” Jimin called.
“Don’t you dare, Jungkook,” Taehyung was almost growling. He could hear everything Jimin was saying as well.
Jimin was stepping closer again, and Jungkook felt like was going to explode. He knew his heart was telling him to go full-speed ahead, while his brain was screaming for retreat. He glanced to his right in order to avoid looking Jimin directly in the eye.
A thought suddenly occurred to Jungkook.
“Jungkook…” The tone was warning now, as if Taehyung could suspect what Jungkook was up to.
As expected of my best friend.
“Sorry,” Jungkook said aloud, to one person in particular.
“Jungkook?” Jimin called.
“Not you.”
Jungkook smiled suddenly, reaching out to pull Jimin towards him.
He didn’t even hear the rest of what Taehyung was apparently screaming at him, as he was too busy pressing his mouth against the plump, luscious lips of Park Jimin’s, having held himself back this entire time. While Jimin’s mouth was initally stiffened from the shock but then slowly softened, melding into his own, Jungkook had ripped out his earpiece and, in one fluid motion, swiftly tossed it into the water fountain next to them without Jimin noticing, rendering the device—and the powerful microphone that had been built into it—useless.
But that was no reason to stop.
He brought his hand and pressed it into to Jimin’s back, provoking him to arch his back and bring his body closer. He felt Jimin’s precious hands grapple at the lapels of his neck, clasping and unclasping as the both of them lost themselves within each other. It thrilled Jungkook to know that there was no around to catch them, despite that this place was probably easily accessible Jimin’s fiancée and parents. And it wasn’t enough. It could never be enough. Jungkook didn’t know that he could be so aggressive like this, but it was partly Jimin’s fault too—eagerly abandoning all company to be with him, teasing him and flirting with him all night, and following him defenselessly with full anticipation of his actions.
Jungkook grunted when they somehow ended up by one of the hedge walls, Jimin’s back pressed up against it with nowhere to go. As if some sort of ravenous monster had awoken inside him, Jungkook kept going at it with all that he had. He kept Jimin pinned as he kept devouring his lips, his tongue accessing every nook and cranny of his mouth. It was a sinful pleasure, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He knew he had been long gone for a while now--it had only been a matter of time before he was fully corrupted, after all.
Every second they were pulled apart seemed like a waste. They breathed heavily, resting their foreheads against each other. Jimin was whispering naughty things into his ear while Jungkook was in daze, wondering what the hell had overcame the both of them. Before he had even noticed it, Jimin's jacket was unbuttoned shirt was untucked and he'd undoubtedly slipped his fingers underneath and all around this entire time. Jungkook's own tie and shirt buttons were undone, with Jimin’s fingers brushing and lingering upon the garment around his neck, and he hadn’t even been the wiser. The heat was overwhelming, even more than it had been last time, and it seemed to have driven them both crazy.
“Now that’s more like you,” Jimin groaned, pressing himself up into Jungkook, who pressing his lips tenderly into the bare skin around Jimin's choker.
Jungkook sighed happily, feeling that bead of sweat slide down his forehead. He had never broken so many rules before, not like this. But considering the rush he was getting, he would probably be tempted to do it again despite himself.
“Don’t lie,” Jungkook grinned, distracted as he was while Jimin bit and tugged on his lips. “You don’t know me that well.”
“Well, you know me just as well,” Jimin replied, as pointedly as he could while breathing heavily.
“Yet here are we.”
Jimin smiled provocatively. With a swift flick of his wrist that had been clutching onto Jungkook’s messy tie, Jimin angled his head and leaned forwards, parting his lips eagerly as he pulled Jungkook for another round.
Jungkook whole-heartedly accepted the wordless response.
Fuck…it feels so good.
A/N: *giggles* k lbr. i feel super weird rn. I wrote it and then I kept myself awake at night thinking about it...
jungkook is a fuqing idiot, just fyi. both of them are. (and they're gonna get what they deserve.) Hope it was worth the worth and thanks to @wafaoo This chapter wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for her encouragement (which is something I need once in awhile OTL).
Let the story...approach...an end in the near future.........(?)
Thank you to everyone who's been genuinely enjoying this lately. It means a lot ♥♥♥
Heartwrecker
CHAPTER 11 | love syndrome
“What if you accidentally fall in love?”
JEON JUNGKOOK: Full-time Student, Part-Time Heartwrecker
When Jungkook is hired to break up the relationship of Taehyung’s childhood best friend, he finds the presence of overwhelmingly attractive Park Jimin a bit more distracting than he could ever expect it to be…
read on ao3
It was undeniable that Jungkook had kissed many others before, and perhaps even gone just a tiny bit further.
But it had never felt like this.
He couldn’t quite explain what this feeling was. It was quite the euphoric feeling, despite that Jungkook’s mind was still befuddled, still unable to comprehend all that was happening.
There was Park Jimin’s body on top of him, his weight pressing into him as his own body writhed against the freshly made sheets of the hotel bed beneath him. Jungkook’s wrist was gently clamped down by Jimin’s gentle hands, and his eyes squeezed shut from pleasure. The taste of Jimin’s soft lips were intoxicating, causing him to lose his mind if he hadn’t already.
Mingled breaths, heavy panting. Their heartbeats seemed to resonate loudly, rhythmically blending in with one another. Jungkook reached his free hand up to Jimin’s neck, sliding his fingers into the firm skin and pulling him closer, urging him in. Jimin just as eager, as he swiped his tongue over Jungkook’s bottom lip, begging for access. Jungkook obliged at once, letting out a moan as Jimin intruded even further into him, overwhelming him both physically and mentally.
In that moment, it was as if they had all the time in the world, their bodies pressed up one another and their warm fingers touching and exploring one another like they’d been craving this entire time. It was an engulfing, controlling sensation, neither of them truly in charge.
They had finally connected at last, and that was all that mattered.
Jungkook let out another groan as Jimin touched a sensitive spot that he didn’t know existed on him. The spark shot through his spine and rendered his body pliant, completely pliant to Jimin’s touch. But when Jimin’s curious fingers brushed against the collar of Jungkook’s robe, his brain momentarily snapped back to reality. Jungkook pulled away for a second, gasping for breath, though his arms were still wrapped around Jimin’s neck.
They gazed at each other wordlessly, with nothing but the sound of the heavy breathing between them. They took in each other’s disheveled appearances, and Jungkook could barely believe the sight before him. The person whom had desired for so long was truly in his arms, completely falling into those gorgeous, mesmerizing eyes glinting with sinful promises that Jungkook had never ever dreamed of being fulfilled.
“J-Jimin…” Jungkook finally called the name that he’d wanted to call so many times in the past, but never had the courage to until now. Truthfully, it was still hard to look Jimin in the eye, especially when he was like this. The provocative, lidded irises paired with the slightly swollen, rouged lips and tousled dark hair did nothing to calm Jungkook down.
“Are you alright?” Jimin asked carefully, his voice soft. “Sorry, if I…I got carried away…a little. I promise I won’t go all the way.” The spark had disappeared from his eyes, to be replaced with a slight gaze of regret. He was suddenly reserved, cautious, as if he saw Jungkook as a fragile being that would shatter under his touch.
“I—I’m fine!” Jungkook quickly reassured, grabbing Jimin’s hand. “I just…can’t believe this is all happening.”
“Me neither,” Jimin managed to utter what sounded like a gentle laugh.
“Jimin…”
“Hmm?”
“…are you sure this is what you want right now?”
Jimin seemed taken aback, and for a moment, Jungkook thought he had ruined the mood. But it seemed that Jimin was just as, if not more, crazed as Jungkook.
The dim lights flickered around them, as in a sudden movement, Jimin moved and cornered Jungkook so that he was pressed up against the headboard, the pillow cushioning his head.
“Jungkook…” Jimin whispered, leaning closer, hands placed on either side of Jungkook’s head so that their lips were barely centimetres apart.
“Jimin, wait, we should—” Jungkook’s voice was cut off, as Jimin nudged his forehead against his. He could feel the brush of his nose, and more significantly, the breath on his lips as he spoke. It was beyond stimulating, and it felt like there were goosebumps all over his body.
“Is this not what you wanted?” Jimin asked. “Look at me, Jungkook. Just look at me the way you did before.”
It was as if some sort of switch had been flipped within Jimin, and Jungkook felt his entire being shudder in anticipation.
Without thinking properly, Jungkook gazed at Jimin again, this time accidentally lidding his eyes as he felt Jimin’s hands caress his jawline carefully, the pads of fingers dancing qlmost teasingly on the skin.
“I think that’s more than enough of an answer,” Jimin spoke again. This time Jungkook could feel his lips moving against his. “For the both of us.”
And it happened again, just as before. It wasn’t clear who initiated it first, but before they knew it, their tongues were delving into each other’s mouths, desperately moving to search for each other’s most sensitive spots. Jungkook felt his hands roam freer this time, his mind barely vigilant enough as he pushed Jimin’s jacket off his shoulders and started undoing the buttons of his shirt. His shaky hands against Jimin’s moving body was making it no easy task.
“Here, let me.”
Jungkook felt a strange heat form in the depths of belly as Jimin spoke those words. Promptly, Jimin pulled back and sat in front of Jungkook, his knees on either side of his body as he started peeling off his shirt. Jungkook didn’t know where to look. He’d expected Jimin to have a nice body, but the chiselled chest and toned abdomen, ladened with pale, glistening skin were way beyond his expectations. As Jimin stared down at Jungkook, his messy, wet black hair shrouding his darkened eyes, part of Jungkook wished he’d turned off all the lights completely so he wouldn’t have had to deal with this dilemma. But the other part couldn’t but be transfixed by the sight of Park Jimin revealing everything that had been hidden underneath all those stuffy layers for so long.
Before long, the shirt was tossed over the side of the bed, discarded next to the jacket from earlier, and Jimin was back on top of Jungkook again, this time with his completely bare chest pressed up against Jungkook’s still barely clothed one. And he couldn’t help himself. As he continued kissing Jimin, his hands stroked every inch of the defined muscles up and down, again and again, wanting to carve the feeling of every touch into his fingers. It wasn’t long before Jimin’s fingers reached down towards Jungkook’s waist, where his robe had been hastily fastened this entire time. Nimbly, Jimin’s finger undid the tie, pushing it apart and removing the white fabric from his body, leaving Jungkook in nothing but his black boxers. His lean, muscular body was fully exposed, and for a moment, Jimin stared at him, captivated by the sight before him.
“Ah…Jimin!” Jungkook gasped when he felt the contact of bare skin on skin for the first time. It was as if his senses were heightened: he could hear every sound, every breath, and more tantalizingly feel every inch of Jimin on him, piquing and controlling every single one of his nerves.
“Let me hear more of your voice, Jungkook-ah,” Jimin drawled slowly, sending shivers down Jungkook’s spine. The sudden awareness to the way he sounded suddenly made him want to muffle his voice, though Jimin was urging him in other ways.
Jungkook was barely breathing, as Jimin placed kisses on his collarbone, starting to trail his lips down his chest and towards abdomen. His fingers followed after, brushing over place that his lips failed to conquer.
“J-Jimin…!” Jungkook accidentally called out the name in a gasp. The name seemed to echo throughout the empty, hotel room, resonating in both their ears.
For the rest of the night—or rather morning—they stayed that way. They remained locked up in each other’s arms, calling out each other’s name in unrestrained passion and wishing that time would stop, even for just a second. They didn’t dare to cross any lines they knew shouldn’t, committing only the bare minimum so that their thirst would be quenched, even if just for the meantime.
And for the first time in a long while, Jungkook fell asleep due to exhaustion, the fatigue carrying him through a peaceful, dreamless state of sleep.
All within Jimin’s arms.
When Jungkook opened his eyes the next day, he took a few moments to recollect who he was, and all that had happened. It didn’t take too long to realize that he hadn’t in fact dreamt it all up on his own, as he was still lying in a hotel bed in nothing but his underwear.
Groggily, Jungkook dared to glance next to him. A slight surge of disappointment came when he saw the abandoned covers and an empty space beside him, its former occupant nowhere to be seen.
Well, I guess this ain’t the time and place for morning cuddles anyways.
Jungkook played with the covers for a bit, wondering what the hell he was going to do with himself now. He run his fingers through his hair (that was messy as anything, due to the previous night’s development), still unable to fully accept his reality.
Before his mind could get into the more convoluted aspects, he heard the sound of the door opening from across the room. Jumping, he instinctively gathered the blankets to cover his body, before realizing who it was.
“Jimin,” Jungkook sighed the name aloud, and couldn’t help but smile at the sight. His heart started beating rapidly again, almost as if conditioned to. “You’re still here.”
Jimin returned the smile with a slight laugh. “What, you didn’t actually think I’d be the type to just leave you like that?”
Jungkook blushed, suddenly reminded of what they actually did. And when he glanced back at Jimin, he could totally understand why his brain had trouble with the entire situation. Jimin was fully dressed in his former outfit again, looking as refined and undeniably handsome as he always did. His jet black hair was once neatly brushed and there wasn’t a wrinkle in his clothes. It was almost impossible to believe that the same man had been holding Jungkook without restraint just hours ago…
“Hey, Jungkook,” Jimin mentioned.
“Hmm?” Jungkook responded, breaking out of his recollections.
“You’re staring again.”
Jungkook blinked, turning away in embarrassment. “Oh. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize like it’s a bad thing,” Jimin grinned as he made his way over to Jungkook.
“W-wait, don’t come over!” Jungkook yelped suddenly, pulling the covers up desperately.
“Huh? Why not?”
“I’m not dressed yet!”
Jungkook tried not to flinch when Jimin wordlessly sat down next to him. In one smooth motion, Jimin suddenly grabbed onto the blanket that was wrapped around Jungkook and tugged him closer.
“I think I already had an eyeful last night, to be honest,” Jimin grinned, before instantaneously leaning in.
Jungkook’s eyes widened for split second as he felt that softness against lips, a pressure that had somehow become familiar to him. Slowly, his eyes fluttered shut as he melted into the gentle kiss, his hand subconsciously reaching up to clutch at Jimin’s shirt. The pleasant sensation fused with the lingering guilt made Jimin’s lips taste just that much more bitter. Even more so when he felt Jimin’s sly fingers trace against his bare skin. But it didn’t matter—last night, Jungkook had already made the decision to live in the moment, and that was what he would do to the fullest.
“Hmm, I should probably stop before this becomes too addictive,” Jimin sighed, pulling away slowly as he brushed his fingers against Jungkook’s lips.
The surreal feeling faded away at last when Jimin got up and turned his back towards Jungkook. He tried to hold back a sigh, as he knew the kiss was meant to be closure for now, until everything was settled.
…settled?
“Jimin!” Jungkook called suddenly, still sitting on the bed.
Jimin looked back at once. “Hmm? Are you hurt or something?”
“Are you going to go back to her now?” Jungkook asked without hesitation, a pleading look in his eyes.
The question hung tantalizingly in the air, threatening to bring the mood down completely. But Jungkook only asked because he knew that they were both much braver than that—after all, they’d gone this far already.
And it was evident when Jimin barely wavered in his answer. “For now, yes,” he replied. “It only makes sense that I can’t abandon her right away. And my parents are still…anyways, I’ll work something out.”
Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat. The response seemed to restore all hope within himself. That meant, when all this was over, Jimin could actually consider being in an actual relationship with him. Perhaps, there was the slightest chance that this wasn’t just a one night stand to him.
A profound warmth spread throughout Jungkook’s body, something that he hadn’t felt in a long time. A sense that, perhaps, he could be happy with someone he may truly have feelings for.
“I’m…glad,” Jungkook smiled, as he spoke softly to himself. He dragged himself off the bed, blanket still wrapped around his body as he finally started gathering his discarded clothes.
“You should hurry up by the way,” Jimin said suddenly, waving his phone as if that should mean something to Jungkook.
“Hmm, why? Are you going somewhere?” Jungkook asked, slightly disappointed. He had been hoping that they would be able to go for some coffee or breakfat before they part ways for good. Already, he could feel the passion from last night slowlyevaporating, and soon they would revert back to the stiff, cold acquaintances they had been, all over again.
“My friend offered to give me a ride back,” Jimin said. “And I’m sure he won’t mind if you tag along.”
“R-really?” Jungkook’s felt his palms start to get sweaty. He wasn’t exactly entirely sure how to approach a stranger that was Jimin’s friend, nor which guise to put on in the given situation.
“Yeah, it’ll be fine,” Jimin said nonchalantly, as he typed away on his phone. “Besides, he owes me for making me go all the way up here last night and giving me the wrong room number.”
“Wait—”
Jungkook froze as he dropped his blanket and clothes, giving Jimin a full view of his tight underwear-clad behind.
“Nice,” Jimin mumbled. Jungkook wasn’t entirely sure if Jimin was ridiculing his clumsiness or…something else.
“Who’s this friend of yours?” Jungkook couldn’t help but ask as he desperately tried to retrieve everything as fast as he could. “And does he know that you’re with me right now?”
“No…” Jimin answered suspiciously. “I didn’t bother telling him that. Only that I just ended up staying here tonight but…why should that matter?”
Jungkook was still struggling to rationalize with himself, and didn’t notice that Jimin’s lips had suddenly formed into a slight smirk.
“Oh, I see Jungkook. You’re feeling shy,” Jimin theorized.
Jungkook’s heart bounced all over the place in his chest. But evidently, Jimin had already convinced himself of his own logic.
“Don’t worry, Jungkook,” he said. “I won’t say anything if you won’t.”
Jungkook tried to let himself be convinced by the sudden, hypnotizing wink, but a lurch in his chest told him the meeting with the “stranger” would be anything but pleasant…
“Hi, my name is Taehyung.” The voice was monotonic, almost robotic. And it didn’t help that it was being accompanied by the most murderous death glare of all time. “And you are?”
“Jungkook,” came the response through gritted teeth. His palms were also clenched. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yes, Jongkook, nice to meet you indeed.”
“It’s Jungkook.”
“Whatever. So Jimin, he’s your…friend?”
Oh my god, just run me over with a bulldozer. Jungkook thought to himself, as he avoided looking either of them in the eye. Please.
Jimin nodded, smiling vibrantly as if he had not yet noticed the straining tension between the two "strangers". They were still standing in the lobby of the hotel, though two of the three seemed to want to get out as fast as possible.
“I met him by chance in the hotel when they said the room wasn’t available,” he explained without a hitch. “And he was kind enough let me stay the night.”
“So let me get this straight,” Taehyung cleared his throat, eyes averted from Jungkook. “You two shared a hotel room last night.”
“Yes.”
“…same bed?”
“There was a couch in the hotel room.”
Taehyung turned to Jungkook and glared, as if he already knew that that was a blatant lie.
“Well, whatever, I guess I can take him home,” Taehyung sighed, twirling his car keys on his finger. “I’ll drop you off first though.” He nodded at Jimin. “You’re closer.”
“Seriously? But I live on like the opposite side of town—”
“I said. I’ll drop you off first.”
And with that, he turned his back, almost angrily, as he sauntered out the door, leading the way to his parking spot.
“Sorry, he doesn’t seem too happy for some reason,” Jimin apologized genuinely to Jungkook.
“No worries,” Jungkook responded, trying not to betray his emotions. “I can totally understand why.”
And with that, they wordlessly followed him out to the car…though several times Jungkook felt pressured to maintain a safe distance apart from Jimin, as if his friend truly had eyes in the back of his head.
Jungkook had never experienced a more painful car ride in his life.
Every time Jimin tried to initiate a conversation a lighten the mood from his shotgun seat, Taehyung would shoot him down or give short, awkward responses, not wanting to partake in any of it. All while pretending to not know his name and calling him “Jongkook” or “Jungcock” over and over again. And when Jimin tried to invite the both of them to an event that would be happening soon, Taehyung barked out a displeased "We'll think about it" that made Jungkook cringe all over.
At long last, it was over, and Jungkook managed to stumbledisorientedly back into his own apartment.
But not without an unwelcome guest.
“JEON JUNGKOOK! YOU FUCKING SLUT!” came the loud and degrading accusation from the front door.
“Oh sure, now you know my name,” Jungkook rolled his eyes, turning around to face his best friend, who was crouched over with a menacing glare on his face. “What the hell was that anyways?”
“Shut the hell up, this isn’t about me right now,” Taehyung snapped. “I was acting like I didn’t know you so I could save your loose ass, so you better be grateful about it.”
“You call that acting?” Jungkook grumbled, pulling off shoes and kicking them aside. “I swear to god if Jimin noticed...” He made a beeline straight for his bedroom.
“Oh, so you’re on a first name basis with him now huh? No more, ‘Jimin hyung’ or anything,” Taehyung spat as he scrambled after Jungkook. “I see you guys got closer.”
“Can you relax? Nothing happened. I just made the best of a bad situation.”
“Best. For you.”
“I blame you anyways. Why’d you have to go and call him so quickly? You couldn’t wait, could you?”
“YOU TOLD ME IT WAS OKAY.”
“YEAH WELL I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT SHE WOULD LEAVE AT THE TIME.”
Jungkook and Taehyung stared angrily at each other, breathing heavily from the chain of arguments. Finally, Jungkook sighed, collapsing on the bed as if accepting defeat.
“Forget it, it’s over,” Jungkook muttered, an arm placed over his forehead. “At least he still doesn’t know anything.”
But Taehyung wasn’t done. Not yet. He sat down at the foot of Jungkook’s bed. “Hey, what did you do with him anyways?”
“Nothing.”
Taehyung’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Really? Then why did Jimin lie to me and say he slept on the couch?”
“How do you know that was a lie?”
“Please, I’ve been that asshole’s friend for how many years now,” Taehyung scoffed. “His voice and tone changes when he lies. So spill it princess, what’d you do?”
“Honest to god, Tae. It was nothing.”
“Sure. As if I’d believe that. You’ve been harping over his ass since you saw him! As if you have restraint when it comes to these kinds of things.”
“I said it was nothing! We just…fumbled around a l—little.”
Taehyung stared at Jungkook as if he’d just grown two horns on his head or something.
“Fumbled. Seriously?”
“Y—yeah.”
“Details please.”
“Well…wait, what the hell does that have to do with anything?”
“So I know how deep you’ve gotten yourself into this mess. To see if there’s still a chance you can get out unscathed.”
Jungkook twiddled his thumbs as he suddenly recollected the fiery events of the night that had just passed. And unfortunately for him, Taehyung’s observation skills were more than on point just then.
His friend’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh my god, you’re turning red. That means—”
“Relax, Tae! I already said we didn’t do anything!” Jungkook interrupted. “We just…uh…like made out a bit—“
Taehyung’s blatant cringe was more than just visible.
“—and things got a bit…heated…so…”
And when Jungkook’s voice trailed off, Taehyung just assumed the worst.
“Oh my god, my best friend just got deflowered by my other best friend,” Taehyung cried dramatically, eyes towards the ceiling. “What is my life?”
“What? NO!” Jungkook yelped, throwing a pillow straight at Taehyung’s chin. “I already said nothing happened. That’s it! That’s literally it! There was no deflowering or anything!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
“You sure about that?”
Jungkook looked at Taehyung squarely in the eyes. “Yes.
Silence.
"Well...how far did you go?"
Jungkook wanted to bury his face into a pillow and drown everything out. "I already told you everything."
"...did you suck h--"
"Tae, can you shut up and help me figure out what to do next?”
Taehyung sighed, deciding to leave it at that. “Why should I even help you anymore? You already broke rule number one.”
“What was that again?”
“Don’t mess around with Jimin. Too late now. I know you could’ve sent him away last night, Jungkook. But you chose not to. For obvious, selfish reasons.”
Jungkook bolted upright in defiance. “Okay, why was that such a big deal in the first place? We’re still okay aren’t we? He still has no idea about me and his fiancée.”
“Are you seriously asking me that? Don’t you see how messy it’s gotten?” Taehyung groaned. “Before you were just trying to get the girl, get her caught cheating and then dump her. Now, you still have to get the girl, and it all seems good—but oh wait. Her fiancé’s been canoodling with you. What are you going to do now? How are you going to get him to catch the two of you when you’re the one who's going to get caught with him first at this rate? And also, how the hell are you going to explain this to him when it’s all over?”
Jungkook shuffled uncomfortably against his sheets, feeling pinned by the pressure of the questions that Taehyung had just enlightened him with. Of course he hadn’t thought this far, but usually acting on the spur of a moment doesn’t incorporate thinking very far.
“I’ll…figure it out, okay?” Jungkook spoke lamely.
“You better hurry, because we need to figure out what to do next as soon as possible,” Taehyung said pointedly.
“It should be fine…besides, I think he’s going to do something on his own end too.”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Tae…I think…after last night…he’s actually considering breaking it off with her because of…because of…”
Before Jungkook could finish his sentence, Taehyung let out a long sigh.
“See this. This is why I didn’t want you to go after him in the first place.”
Jungkook appeared shocked. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve known you two for awhile, and if it’s one thing about the both of you, it’s that you both can get so damn hopeful when it comes to things like this. You guys get obsessive and end up losing sight of what’s in front of you.”
“Tae…what are you trying to say right now?”
Taehyung paused before continuing. “I know you haven’t actually truly been in love before. But he…he has. And he’s gotten hurt because of it. Again and again. Which is why I don’t want him to become all expectant again”
“You think I would hurt him?”
“Maybe. But you definitely could. Face it, Jungkook, how well do you even know him right now?”
“Well, I’ve…met up with him a couple times…and we talk. And he—”
“But what do you actually know about him, Jungkook? Other than the fact that he has a charming personality and he’s easy on the eyes?”
To his dismay, Jungkook couldn’t answer. And it wasn’t that he didn’t know the answer—it was the sudden accusation that had his heart sinking like mad.
“You see,” Taehyung was speaking slowly. “Right now…you’re not much different from the others who have approached him before. And as your friend, and as his friend, I really think you should stay low until something worthy of sparks and romance actually happens.”
Jungkook’s silence was more than enough of an answer.
Taehyung suddenly clasped a hand onto Jungkook’s. “Hey,” his tone was gentler this time. “Sorry if I was too harsh. It’s just…it had to be said.”
“Tae?”
“Hmm?”
“Can you leave me alone for a bit? I need to do some thinking.”
Taehyung’s eyes widened momentarily, as if he were truly worried that he might’ve gone too far. But they relaxed at once, upon the realization that, however upset he may be, perhaps Jungkook really needed some time on his own to reflect on his actions for now.
“Yeah sure,” Taehyung smiled softly. “Message me if you need anything.”
“Thanks,” Jungkook replied.
And with that, Taehyung was gone and out the door, leaving Jungkook alone to ponder about all that had just happened.
uwah. and the plot thickens ^//o//^ i took a break from exams oops ;) tis was a..."preview" of their upcoming intimacy ohoho so i hope you enjoyed :PPPP
again, couldn't write this chapter without the song (highy rec 12/10 best smexy time song ever), so thank god for music DX
Anyway here is Ken covering Chungha’s Gotta Go