HEARTBEAT | VKOOK - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

If there was anything that could kill someone internally almost absolutely, it was the hatred from the person they adored the most.
Perhaps, they've made a grave mistake, something that could never be forgiven. Something that was against everyone else's will. However, they don't seek for an explanation, an answer to their numerous questions of why. They don't care to know of the reason, the real motive behind a person's actions. Rather they judge according to what they witness without actually knowing the whole truth and judge the person by it. They show they immense hatred for the person, blame them for everything. Make them feel like utter shit.
And at this point, Taehyung didn't know what grave mistake he had made. That made his son hate him. He'd admit, he must've been too reckless when it came to his son, never giving him the attention and care that he actually needed. Always prioritised his work first. But there's a reason for everything.
Perhaps, he was just trying to save him from something terrible. However, he was also losing him by pushing him away.
And Taehyung was stuck. Utterly and absolutely stuck. Not knowing what to do or what to think of to make things better again. He could only wish his wife was here, with him. And things would've been perfect. It was a thought too far-fetched. Too far from the cruel reality of him. However, he was slipping away from reality. Into his own little world of darkness.
Taehyung was trapped. Trapped in someone's hold. Unable to escape and only agree to every single command given to him, without an option to say no. For he had to save a life, and in order to do, he had to sacrifice his, into the hands of someone he once called his own. Only for them to turn into his worst enemies.
At this point, Taehyung felt like an absolute failure. He was unable to provide Minjun the family he had always dreamt of. He was unable to create the family he craved to have. Perhaps, fate was against him, for something he doesn't know if he has ever done. When he lost his wife, he knew he had lost every ounce of his hope for living.
However, looking at his son for one last time, he figured that he couldn't abandon his lovely son alone in this cruel world. For he was their son, their only piece love that's left, along with the memories they made.
And his wife certainly wouldn't want him to abandon their son alone at such a young age.
But even so, Taehyung was still failing as a father and the mere thought of losing his son was eating him alive. And what did he actually do wrong to deserve the hate? He didn't know.
"Taehyung." The sudden call of his name startled him beyond belief as he immidiately snapped out of his trance and whipped his head back to glance at the owner of the soft feathery voice, who stood at the entrance of the balcony. Jimin.
A sigh of relief then emerged from his manly lips as he turned back to gazing ahead of him, watching the mere drops of rain hitting the ground, signifying that it was drizzling slightly. His eyes were devoid of any sort of sentiment- absolutely blank, matching his facial expressions which were almost the same.
Of course, Taehyung had forgiven him despite saying that he'd never. Although being a man of his words, and someone who deliberately never changed his mind no matter what the situation was, he simply couldn't bring himself apply that on his own best friend with whom he had grown all his life.
Not when the male was practically begging for his forgiveness, saying how he regretted doing want he did without actually considering Taehyung's feelings or thoughts about his shitty plan. Instead, straight up threatening him to hire his second best friend just for the mere cause of him being in depression due to being rejected for numerous of times.
But despite everything, Taehyung ended up forgiving him. Considering the fact that he knew Jimin meant no harm to him. He simply craved to help his best friend with something at least, and perhaps, it was for the better. For Taehyung wasn't as pressurized as before with managing the company alone.
Yet he repented what he actually did. And that's all what really mattered for Taehyung.
"Why're you here? I've been searching for you." Jimin frowned, watching the male huff out white clouds of smoke from his slightly parted lips, a cigarette perched between his fingers as his eyes trailed over the mere amount of people walking through the streets.
"Came out for a smoke." Was all he replied monotonously, without sparing the shorter male a glance, eyes entirely fixated on the sight ahead of him, the sight of the rain. It was all serene and perfect until Jimin had decided to approach the male, disrupting the peace lingering in the air which slightly annoyed Taehyung.
Jimin heaved a deep breath, eyes now moving to the sight ahead of him. Watching the mere amount rain drops that once hit the ground softly now turning heavier and bigger in size, hitting the ground repeatedly in a haste.
"Penny for your thoughts?" His soft feathery voice rang in Taehyung's ears, causing him to part his lips, slowly exhaling the white fumes that entered and slowly damaged his lungs. The ever-so thick clouds of it billowing along the atmosphere between them. The cancer stick, in between his slender fingers.
"Nothing really. Just watching the rain and relishing the silence." Face devoid of any sort of emotion, absolutely unreadable. Although Jimin couldn't see his face due to his back turned to him, the monotonous voice was enough for him to picture his facial reactions at the moment. And he knew that whenever he did something like what he was currently doing, it meant something was actually in his mind, which he refused to admit.
"You could tell me if something's bothering you, y'know. I'm all ears for you." He softly spoke, carefully observing the male's head with concern swirling in his earthy brown orbs.
This had Taehyung's lips twitching slightly as his delinquent eyes analysed the people in the streets. The rain now heavier than ever as a gush of cool air swept past him, sending shivers down his spine. But that didn't stop him from standing still in his position, not seeming to rush inside the warm luxurious house anytime sooner.
"Nothing much, really." He mumbled under his breath, taking another deep drag of his cigarette perched between his slender fingers, before releasing the clouds of smoke in the air, and turning back to glance at the male as he retrieved the cancer stick from his plush lips.
It was then when Jimin noticed the exhaustion embedded on his usual monotonous features. Although he tried to conceal the exhaustion and pretended like everything was fine in his life, Jimin knew for a fact that it wasn't. He wasn't okay. While anyone else would be absolutely bemused by the male's monotonous look and believe what he chose to show, Jimin was an exception. Of course, being his childhood best friend had it's benefits.
And although Taehyung may lie in his face and pretend he was fine, Jimin could read him like no one else. For he has lived and grown up with him all his life.
"Its Minjun, isn't it?" Jimin queried, eyes fixated on the younger's mundane features— the concern in his eyes never seeming to fade as he scrunitized the male carefully.
A sigh then emerged from Taehyung's manly lips as he huffed out the smoke that captured his lungs and killed him slowly. "I've nothing to say, Chim. I'm a failure."
"Don't say that." The blonde's features softened, eyes saddening as he gazed at the young CEO. "I know you're trying. And I know Minjun knows it too. Just 'cause he spends more time with Jeongguk now doesn't mean he loves you any less. As a matter of fact, he loves you a lot more than you could ever comprehend."
Taking Taehyung's silence as his cue to change the subject, he then sighed. Eyes flickering up to Taehyung as he watched him take a deep drag of smoke and release it into the thin air between them, leaning his back against the railings with his left hand buried into his pocket. "Anyway, I'm here  to escort you to the living room. Jin hyung's waiting for you."
"And they promise to never bring the past again or pressurize you with anything. It's your life. Do whatever you want." Jimin gave him a quick shrug, hands flinging in the air as his earthy brown orbs found Taehyung's delinquent eyes again.
Straightening his back, he then offered the male a small nod before taking a deep drag of smoke from the cancer stick and tossing it out of the railings. As he slowly released the smoke damaging his lungs, pivoting on his heels to face Jimin again. "Let's go."
"Hadn't he gone to the bathroom? Why isn't he here yet?" Namjoon queried, furrowing his brows in confusion as he watched Seokjin purse his lips for a brief moment, eyes scanning the room for the said male's presence.
"I don't know, Joonie. He's still a bit distant. Y'know why." He then sighed, shoulders dropping along with his gaze as he interlaced his fingers on his lap. "It's been years, he's still the same. I wouldn't blame him for it 'cause, if I were him, I wouldn't be able to accept someone else in my life either. Even if it meant for my son."
"I know it's difficult, but how long would he hold onto the past? Forever?" Namjoon queried in a whisper as he leaned towards the older male, quirking up a brow elegantly. This had Seokjin shooting him a glare, a disappointed look evident on his face.
"From what I know, he's not holding onto the past, he moved on. And he loved her truly, Joon. He can't just move on from her. And of course he wouldn't allow anyone else to take her position in his heart. We were just too stupid to get it."
"Well, I understand where you're coming from. But that doesn't mean he'll leave Minjun alone or to the care of maidens every single day and drown himself in the pressure of work. He's practically killing himself slowly by doing so."
"Well, we tried to make him understand, didn't we? Just 'cause we wanted the best for him. But look how it ended. He's pushing us away, like his parents. He's being pressurized by everyone and the last thing he wants is to be forced by his friends too." Seokjin laced the sarcasm in his tone like venom as he glared at the brunette next to him.
"Let me make one thing clear." He stated, eyes never leaving the other's onyx eyes, forehead creasing as he not-so-subtly glared at the male. "You will not bring that up again. ever again, okay? You'll not speak with him about this, it's his own choice. We don't know when he's hurt. That arguement was certainly unnecessary and he was clearly hurt. It's his own life, we're not the one to decide what he should do, Namjoon. He's a grown up man for fuck's sake. You'll not do that again, am I clear?"
"It's his own life, yes. But he can't stay this way forever, you don't know—" Namjoon was then silenced by the older's stern look, a menacing glare burning deep within his sombre irises.
"Kim Namjoon, I certainly do not expect you to talk like a fool while being a renowned lawyer of South Korea. We don't know why she got into an arguement with him, why she left the house in fury. But I must say it was quite foolish of her to head to the bar right away and drive back home in a drunken state." Seokjin then pursed his lips, the frown still evident on his face.
"He's trying to give us a chance, Joon. 'Cause even after four years of no interaction, he came back for Jimin. He gave us a chance. Please don't ruin it."
As Namjoon parted his lips to speak, Seokjin then spoke up again, silencing the younger male who wore a small frown at the older's actions. "I'm telling you again, do not bring up the past, the present and the future is what matters. And it's Taehyung's life. He knows better of what to do anyway. Am I clear to you?"
"Inescapably clear." Namjoon muttered, sitting upright in his seat as he leaned back comfortably, hand now picking up a glass of wine as he took a sip of it, eyes distant and fixated on almost nothing in particular, as though he was pondering over his thoughts.
It was obvious he wouldn't get his point, for Seokjin didn't know what he knew, the real truth behind a perfect beautiful lie, that had ruined all of their lives. And although he wished to disclose it to him, things just weren't in his favour.
Right at the moment, Taehyung entered the room, silencing everyone as they all shifted their gazes to Taehyung and Jimin who followed after him. A pleased smile then grew onto Seokjin's lips, the frown now absolutely wiped away from his charming features. "Taehyung, what took you so long?"
"Well, it hadn't been that long, right? I guess I spaced out." He mumbled sheepishly, a small awkward smile crept up to his lips as he trudged towards the couch where everyone was seated and claimed his own seat. It was then when he noticed Minjun and Jeongguk sitting together along side Yoongi who mindlessly sipped on his drink without a care in the world.
"So Taehyung," Namjoon began, leaning forward as he shifted his gaze to Taehyung who immidiately snapped his eyes at the older at the mention of his name. "You've told us you got a new assistant. Who's it?"
Taehyung then slowly moved his gaze ahead of him, where Jeongguk sat right in front of him, eyes locking with each other's as they stayed silent for a brief moment, allowing the tension to engulf the atmosphere. His lips then twitched slightly, a subtle smirk appearing on his lips as he spoke, gaze never leaving Jeongguk's own wide doe eyes. "It'd be surprising to say that he's a friend of ours. Perhaps, a close one."
"A friend?" Hoseok queried, brows scrunching together in thought. Whereas Yoongi frowned, blinking a couple of times due to the fact that he was slightly drunk and dizzy. "A boy?"
Jimin sat still in his seat, eyes flickering between everyone one of them and settling on Jeongguk for a brief moment. Scrutinizing the male's nervous demeanour before shifting to Taehyung— who seemed all composed and confident, posture practically screaming royalty. However, his intense gaze was fixated on Jeongguk, the smirk playing on his lips now clearly evident.
"Right. Someone we know, someone who's a boy. Someone who's close to us, or perhaps, you guys." His intense gaze that stayed fixated on him made him feel awfully small and vulnerable. Jeongguk could practically feel the  dominance radiating off the male along with his deep voice and sharp eyes that were glued to him. And Jeongguk couldn't seem to meet his gaze, finding himself in a situation of tongue-tie as he felt no words coming out of his mouth.
And the moment he dared to meet the older's gaze, his breath had caught up in his throat, almost ceasing entirely. Heart pounding heavily against his chest as he gazed at the male who had a mischievous smirk plastered on his lips, leaning back in his seat and eyes darkening, a seductive glint residing in them.
"Who is it that you're talking about, Taehyung?" It was Seokjin who questioned out of sheer curiosity. His smirk then widened as he shifted his eyes toward the eldest of the group before glancing back at Jeongguk.
"The youngest of our group, Jeon Jeongguk. Aren't I right, Jeon?" He quirked up a brow elegantly, intense obsidian orbs flickering toward him, which erupted numerous butterflies in Jeongguk's stomach, heart beating erratically as his eyes found Taehyung's.
And Jeongguk couldn't seem to respond. As though his mind refused to create sentences anymore, going completely blank as all he could hear amidst the noises from the others was his rapidly beating heart.
And at this point, Jeongguk didn't know what had happened to him. Or why the older's gaze seemed to affect him so much.
"Wait, Jeongguk?" Namjoon displayed his utter surprise and bewilderment as he shifted his eyes toward the aforementioned male before moving to Taehyung. "He's your assistant?"
A single nod of agreement had the others exchanging gazes of bewilderment as their eyes flickered between Jeongguk and Taehyung. Well, with an exception of Yoongi since he had passed out already, no more caring to listen in on the conversation.
"Bet you'll fire him too, you've done that to a lot of them anyway." Hoseok pursed his lips, face softening as a look of pity and utter disappointment flashed in his eyes. However, Taehyung's response had him frozen in his spot, utterly baffled and speechless.
"Unfortunately, no. We're tied to a contract that says he'll work for me for three years. And after that, we'll go on our own ways."
"Well, that's great. And it's a win-win situation for both of you. Taehyung got an assistant for himself and Jeongguk got a job." Seokjin's mouth curled up into an amused smile as his gaze flickered between the two.
"That's amazing! I'm happy for you!" A bright grin embedded Hoseok's features, making him appear brighter than usual when he was at work. Perhaps, it was a side he chose not to show anyone but his friends and family.
However, Jeongguk's wide doe orbs were glued to Taehyung's delinquent somber eyes, and he was unable to figure out what exactly was in the male's head. For he was almost absolutely unreadable.
And Jeongguk was unable to figure out why his heart was drumming against his chest like no tomorrow. Why he was feeling what he felt when Taehyung's sharp gaze landed on him. And as he pondered over his thoughts, he didn't seem to realise that he had stared at him for too long.