𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗟𝗔𝗚 || ᴛᴀᴇᴋᴏᴏᴋ

• C H A P T E R 30 •

Next Morning

Sunlight streamed faintly through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room. Jungkook stirred beneath the covers, his head pounding and mouth dry. His brows furrowed as he tried to sit up, but a sharp wave of dizziness had him groaning and collapsing back down.

He blinked, confused. This… wasn’t his room.

Taehyung’s scent clung to the pillows.

His eyes widened and then, panic.

Just as he tried to throw the blanket off, the door burst open.

Taehyung stepped in, his expression thunderous.

He was still in his pajamas a loose white tee and grey sweats but the storm in his eyes made him look ten feet tall. His arms were crossed over his chest, jaw tight.

“You’re awake,” he said, voice low and laced with restrained fury.

Jungkook froze, blinking like a deer caught in headlights.

“I—w-what—how did I get here—?”

“Sit,” Taehyung snapped, walking closer. “We’re talking.”

Jungkook gulped. “Hyung—”

“No.” Taehyung’s voice was sharp now, dangerously controlled. “What the hell were you thinking coming to a club without telling anyone? In that dress? Drunk out of your mind? Lying to Jin-hyung? Are you insane?”

Jungkook flinched at the tone, his eyes wide and glassy. “I—Jimin said—”

“I don’t care what Jimin said!” Taehyung interrupted. “You could’ve gotten hurt, Jungkook. Do you have any idea what it felt like seeing that creep touch you? You could barely stand! You weren’t even aware enough to push him away!”

Jungkook looked down, ashamed. His fists clenched into the blanket. His eyes got teary

“I just… wanted to forget,” he whispered. “Forget the way you were ignoring me.”

Taehyung’s eyes widened just for a second. His jaw loosened slightly. “So you risked yourself for that?”

“I didn’t mean to,” Jungkook murmured, voice cracking. “I just… I didn’t know it would go so far.”

Taehyung let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his messy hair. He turned away for a moment, struggling to contain the mix of fear, anger, and guilt roiling inside him.

“I was trying to protect you,” he said more quietly now. “By staying away. I didn’t know it would hurt you more.”

Jungkook looked up at him, lips parted, eyes softening.

“But you didn’t have to protect me like that,” he whispered. “You didn’t have to make me feel invisible…”

Taehyung turned back slowly, and for the first time that morning, his expression cracked just a little.

“I’m sorry.”

Jungkook blinked.

Taehyung’s voice dropped to a near whisper. “But if you ever lie to Jin hyung and go somewhere dangerous again, I will drag your cute little ass back home myself.”

Jungkook flushed in embarrassment or something else, he couldn’t tell. But for once… he didn’t feel so scared of Taehyung’s yelling.

Because beneath it was something real.

Care. Fear. Love.

And Jungkook felt all of it.

Taehyung crossed his arms, glaring down at Jungkook who sat on the bed in Taehyung’s oversized clothes, looking like the very definition of guilty and pitiful.