Loving The Wrong Man (SD) ➸ Taekook ✓

- Fortieth -

Jungkook walked through the school gates with a smile on his face. The rest of the weekend had gone divinely well. Well, Taehyung had realised that the poor teenager certainly couldn't handle another session of sex, so they'd spent Sunday in bed, cuddling up in front of a TV series. Jungkook had loved being in the thirty-year-old's arms all day, not having to worry about anything, just enjoying the man's warmth and tenderness. They had locked themselves up in a little cocoon, laughing, chatting and kissing languorously. He wished all his weekends were like that.

He went straight to Jimin, who was waiting for him outside their classroom. And what struck him immediately was the little purplish hickey on his neck. And given the shirt he was wearing, Jungkook suspected that his best friend clearly wanted to show it off.

"Looks like business is going well!" Jungkook remarked with a smirk.

Jimin took his eyes off his phone to look at his friend, to whom he replied with a similar smile.

"Hm, that's true." he admitted.

He arched an eyebrow at the sight of Jungkook's turtleneck, and quickly slipped his fingers into it, uncovering part of the boy's neck. Jungkook pulled back quickly, his cheeks flushing severely, knowing full well that his friend had noticed the purplish mark decorating his skin.

"It looks like they're working too for you." Jimin scoffed.

"It was just the two of us this weekend, so we enjoyed it..."

"I can see that!"

Jimin received a tap on the shoulder in reply.

"Come on, that's not all we did! It was super romantic, he even took me to a restaurant!"

Jimin could see how his friend's eyes lit up as he thought back over the last two days. And that made him sad. Because he knew that none of this was going to end well for Jungkook. In any case, the teenager would end up on the losing side. He was playing with fire and it wouldn't be long before he got burnt.

"Aren't you getting too attached, Kook?" asked the blond, even though he already knew the answer.

This question surprised the tall dark-haired man, who first widened his eyes before biting his lip.

"N-No, I'm careful, don't worry... I know where the limits are..."

"You don't really give me that impression, Kook. The way you're always talking about him, it really sounds like you're in love with him..."

"No!" Jungkook cut him off immediately. "I don't love him... It's purely platonic..."

Jimin was openly sceptical.

"Kook, it's not my place to lecture you, but I'd rather warn you anyway. Yes, it's true, you seem really happy these days. And that makes me happy too, I promise you. I can see that your relationship with him is good for you. But for how long? You know it's not meant to last. Whatever happens, you'll end up hurt in the end. In the best-case scenario, Taehyung chooses you, but then you'll lose any chance of reconciling with your family. And I know deep down, it's what you've always dreamed of.

Jungkook swallowed, suddenly feeling his throat tighten.

"And in the worst case," Jimin continued, "Taehyung will choose your mother and-"

"OK, I get it." Jungkook stopped him. "There's no need to go any further, I know all that very well."

Jimin sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

"All that to say that you'd better put an end to it now, while you still hold all the cards, Kook. I'm saying this for your own good..."

Jungkook bit his cheek and reluctantly nodded.

"I know that..."

Their discussion ended there, a heavy silence falling between the two teenagers. It wasn't an argument, but Jimin knew that Jungkook would take some time to digest this conversation. But it was probably for the best.

***

Jungkook left his last class alone, Jimin having finished early, and he went straight to his dance class, waving to his friend one last time and telling him to take his advice.

He shaved the walls, as he didn't really have any friends other than Jimin in his class, because people weren't very accepting of his sexuality, even if Jungkook didn't really see how it concerned them. So he preferred to keep to himself, avoiding any problems because he was starting work in just over an hour.

However, nothing in Jungkook's life ever went the way he wanted. Never.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and the next thing he knew he was being dragged into a deserted corridor, out of sight. He was slammed against the wall and let out a small cry of pain before looking into his attacker's eyes. And he wasn't too surprised to discover Minhyu and his clique. The boy had him firmly by the collar, pinning him against the wall without giving him the slightest chance of freeing himself. It couldn't be said that Jungkook was physically weak, but he was clearly no match for them.

"Minhyu... what do you want from me?" Jungkook asked, irritation clearly evident in his voice.

Minhyu laughed bitterly.

"You know, Jeon, I already found you repulsive, but now we've reached new heights!"

Jungkook frowned. That he disgusted him, he knew that very well. But what more had he done to make people hate him even more?

"What are you talking about?"

Minhyu took his mobile out of his pocket and showed it to him. Jungkook's face fell as he saw the photo on the screen.

He and Taehyung, kissing outside the restaurant.

"I didn't know you fucked old billionaires!" Minhyu laughed. Ahah, you'll be the laughing stock of the school when I post that photo on the networks! 'Jungkook and his sugar daddy'!"

Jungkook froze, panic gradually taking shape on his face. No, anything but that. If the photo went viral, it would ruin Taehyung's reputation. The man would hate him. Anything but that. The disgust he saw on the faces of the five teenagers, he didn't want it on his face. He didn't want Taehyung to hate him.

Jungkook began to struggle, weakly at first, then more and more strongly, hysterically.

"Let go of me! Let go of me!" he shouted.

He was moving all over the place, so much so that the other boys had to join their friend to hold him down. He let go of Minhyu's arm and reached for his mobile.

"Delete that photo!" he ordered, his eyes bloodshot. "You've got to delete it!"

"Ahah, no way! It's the photo of the year, Jeon!"

Jungkook gritted his teeth, his movements redoubling in intensity.

"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU BASTARD!" he shouted, to the astonished looks of his attackers.

"Don't talk to me like that, faggot!"

And it fell. The first punch. The first of many. Right in his face. He didn't have time to see it coming or scream for help before Minhyu did it again, hitting him with even more force. The boys let go of him, leaving him crumpled to the ground with a muffled cry.

He was in pain. It hurt so much. But he thought they would be satisfied. What a mistake.

He barely had time to realise what was happening when another blow landed, then another, and soon the five teenagers were pelting him with blows, laughing as they heard Jungkook's cries of pain and cries for help.

He was screaming to death, begging for someone to come and save him with every blow. But no one came. All he could hear was the laughter of his attackers and the sound of their shoes against his skin.