Rivals

° Chapter Twenty Six ° Taehyung POV

I know where he's going. It's not rehab and I know it.

"Let him go." I say as we all watch him walk away and disappear into the crowd.

"This is so fucked." Jungkook says and I sigh.

"The whole thing is. We really have to get our shit together if we want to win that record deal." Namjoon chimes in. "You do understand that we've worked years for this?"

"That's why he had to go. He'd ruin everything. He already has."

Jungkook looks at me with firey eyes. "Why did you drag me into this? I didn't sign up for all of this."

"I'm making it up to you, Kook. You deserve that deal too."

"And Y/N? She doesn't?"

"We can't both win."

He rolls his eyes at me with an irritated scoff. "I am so fucking done with you guys robbing her of opportunities because of your own egos!! She is talented and deserves that deal as much as you do and you know it."

"I never said she didn't." I deadpan.

"You stole so much from her already. You think Jimin deserves it? Mr. Face of the band and frequent drug user?"

My heart sinks inside my chest. Hearing it said out loud makes it that much harder to accept. "Don't."

"Why?" He laughs ironically. "Because you can't handle it? He shoots heroin, Taehyung. It's not a secret."

I bite down hard fighting back the urge to cry. My own demons threaten to come to the surface. Jimin would have never done something so crazy if I hadn't linked him up with an old friend. It started out small. Some ecstasy here and there, maybe a line of coke after a good show...just recreational fun.

Rock and roll.

I never thought he'd lose control.

The first time she found him he was on the verge of an overdose. He might have died if she hadn't acted so quickly that night. He sobered up for a few weeks after that and swore he'd never do anything to lose her.

Clearly we know how that ended.

"Nothing to say?" He asks and I get back on track.

"Yeah..." I clear my throat. "Game plan."

Namjoon looks at me with sympathetic eyes. He sees exactly what I'm thinking about. "Without Jimin we have to fix the setlist."

"I was thinking we let Kook write a song." I glance over at him to see what he thinks. His shoulders soften.

"Me? Write?"

"I'll sing it. I just need you to write a song with a solo for you and in range to make me sound good."

"I don't know..."

Where did that cocky guy go? When did he become so....emotional? Scared? Whatever this is.

"What's the matter? Scared?"

"I'm not scared of writing, I'm scared of writing a song that doesn't fit. I mean, what even is our sound without Jimin?"

"That's a good question. Better get to brianstorming." I slap his shoulder playfully.

"Where are you going?" Namjoon shouts while I head off to a more private area.

"Phonecall." I respond.

The line rings three times before a voice picks up. "hello?"

"Is he there?"

"He just got here."

"We still have a deal?" I ask plainly. The voice on the other end doesn't hesitate.

"Everything is in place. Just give us the word."

"I want it done. Be quick about it. Text me when it's time."

I hang up, looking over my shoulder.

Cheaters never win my ass. I can't risk it.

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SEOUL NEWS
Shadow Moon's Yoongi injured after muggers crushed bass players left hand. No arrests have been made related to the random attack.

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