|| CHAPTER - 31 ||

•| CHAPTER ~ 31 |•

•| The Art of Manipulation |•

✿───❀  ♡  ❀───✿

It was way past midnight when the party finally began to slow down, but the energy inside the building still throbbed like it was alive.

Music blasted, drinks spilled, and every inch of the place reeked of perfume, sweat, and alcohol.

Everyone–even the so-called decent ones–had let loose like there were no rules. Girls grinding, guys smoking, bodies pressed against walls, kissing in corners, doing god knows what behind locked doors. It was the kind of night people would remember and regret in the same breath.

But amidst all that chaos, one room remained untouched.

Behind that locked door, Evie lay passed out–drugged, unconscious, and completely unaware of the war brewing around her. Jungkook had made sure of it. The irony was cruel—he was plotting to destroy her life, tear apart her soul piece by piece, and yet… he locked her door.

Protected her. Not out of care—no, no way—but out of some twisted principle.

He was planning revenge, not assault.

He wanted to ruin her reputation, her pride, not her body.

She deserved to suffer, yes–but not like that.

Jungkook wasn't a saint, not even close.

But he wasn't about to let some drunk idiot take what wasn't theirs, especially not in her most vulnerable state. No one would get in that room. Not until morning. And he made damn sure of it.

While the rest of the students lost control in the wild heat of farewell, Jungkook found something–or rather, someone–to help him burn the night down in his own way.

Raven.

Their chemistry? Volatile.

Their sex? Even worse–in the best way.

Once the music died down and people started crashing, Jungkook dragged her to the room beside Evie's, already shirtless and biting at Raven's neck before they even reached the bed. Clothes flew. The walls shook. Her moans could've woken the dead but not Evie. She was out cold.

What started as one round turned into something darker. Wilder. He didn't hold back...not even a little.

Raven wanted him unhinged, and Jungkook gave her that and more. He fucked her like he had something to prove—like he was punishing her for something she didn't even do.

She loved it. She begged for it.

And he gave it to her again. And again. Until her legs shook and her throat was raw from screaming his name.

The thought of Taehyung's reaction when the truth would hit him? That fueled Jungkook even more. The anger, the twisted satisfaction, the chaos. It all poured into every rough thrust, every slap, every deep kiss that ended with teeth.

By the time the sky began to shift from black to pale blue, Raven couldn't even move. Her body was limp across the bed, her legs tangled in the sheets, bite marks painting her skin like tattoos. Jungkook was half-asleep beside her, completely naked, one arm lazily thrown over her waist.

The room smelled like sex, sweat, and expensive cologne.

He groaned softly as the early light pierced through the curtain, dragging himself awake, but he was still heavy with sleep and half-drunk from the leftover alcohol swimming in his veins. His throat was dry, his muscles sore, and his mind foggy but the satisfaction lingering on his face was clear as day.

"Fuck," he mumbled under his breath, rubbing his face and sitting up slightly, the blanket falling from his hips, exposing the deep lines of his torso.

Beside him, Raven stirred, blinking slowly, her hair a mess, her voice hoarse. She was just as naked, just as ruined.

"Morning already?" she muttered, eyes still half-closed.

"Yeah…" Jungkook groaned, running a hand through his messy hair, still trying to fully wake up."I need water… and another round."

He smirked lazily and leaned down to kiss her shoulder, biting it just enough to make her flinch.

She shoved him playfully. "You're insatiable."

He just chuckled, dark and raspy, voice still thick from sleep. "You didn't seem to mind."

Clothes were thrown everywhere–Raven's heels were at one corner, Jungkook's shirt was dangling off the lamp, and the sheets looked like they'd been through war.

Jungkook finally dragged himself off the bed with a low grunt, stretching his arms and cracking his neck. He was still fully naked, not even trying to cover himself, the marks of the night -scratch lines, bite marks visible on his chest and back.

Raven was still sprawled across the bed, hair a tangled mess, mascara smudged under her eyes. When she tried to move, she winced immediately and threw a pillow at him.

"You fucking bastard," she groaned, her voice raspy, "I swear I can't even feeling my legs."

Jungkook just smirked, grabbing his pants and pulling them up slowly, watching her struggle. "You were the one screaming harder every damn time."

"Because I didn't expect you to break my fucking soul," she snapped, sitting up with another wince. She glanced down at her body, eyes rolling. "You left fucking marks everywhere, Jungkook. And I mean everywhere..."

He pulled his shirt over his head, still grinning like the cocky menace he was. "And you liked it."

"I liked it until I realized I can't fucking walk straight now," she muttered under her breath, limping her way to her scattered clothes. "I swear, I hate you."

"You said that after your third orgasm, too," he tossed back casually, pulling on his jacket like he didn't just wreck her hours ago.

Raven slipped into her black dress, no bra, just pulling her hair up in a lazy messy bun, not even pretending to look decent. She didn't care. She looked ruined, tired, sore and yet still confident. Shameless.

"God, if I walk funny in front of everyone, I'll punch you," she hissed, fixing her smeared lipstick with the back of her hand.

Jungkook just snorted. "They not even here. Most of those idiots left already."

As they stepped out of the room, the hallway was silent. Only a few leftover decorations were hanging on the walls. Empty bottles, used confetti, and trash scattered the floor. The whole place reeked of alcohol and regret.

Most of the students had either gone home or passed out somewhere else. It was morning but not peaceful. Just the exhausted aftermath of a wild storm.

Jungkook walked down the hallway casually, with Raven trailing behind, still muttering curses under her breath. He stopped right in front of the locked door—her door.

He pulled out the key and unlocked it slowly. The click of the door made Raven pause beside him.

"Do you think it will work?" she asked, crossing her arms, expression unreadable now.

He didn't answer. Just opened the door.

The room was still, untouched from last night.

And there she was.

Curled up on the bed, her red dress slightly wrinkled, lipstick smudged at the edges, hair loose on the pillow. She looked tired, worn out, but peaceful. Like nothing had changed. Like she didn't even know her world was about to collapse.

Jungkook stared for a second longer than he meant to.

His mind flashed–the kiss, the way she touched him before passing out, her soft voice whispering his name. That moment of weakness. That stupid flicker of hesitation. It made his jaw clench.

He stepped inside the room slowly, followed by Raven, who stood near the door, eyeing Evie with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

Jungkook leaned down near the bed and tapped Evie's shoulder lightly.

Nothing.

She didn't even flinch.

"She's knocked the fuck out," Raven said, walking in now and pulling the curtain open slightly. "You sure you didn't overdose her?"

"She'll wake up," Jungkook muttered, tapping her again–firmer this time.

Still nothing.

He clicked his tongue. "Hey," he called, voice low but sharp now. "Wake up."

Evie shifted slightly, her brows furrowing. Her lips moved but no sound came out. She looked dazed, still half-trapped in sleep.

After what felt like ages of tugging at her consciousness, Evie finally started to wake up. Her brows furrowed as the bright morning light hit her face through the open curtain, and a dull heaviness sat over her head like a thick cloud.

She blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting, and let out a soft groan as she slowly sat up in bed, the unfamiliar sheets and the stiffness in her body making her feel like something wasn't right.

Her hand went to her temple instinctively, and everything felt... off. Her mouth was dry, her limbs weak, her head heavy - like she had been knocked out cold. She looked around the room, confused.

It wasn't where the party was. It wasn't even a place she remembered walking into. Her heart started to beat faster as she tried to connect the dots.

She remembered arriving at the farewell party. She was wearing the red dress Rose had picked for her. She had been laughing, drinking juice, waiting for Taehyung to arrive.

Everything after that was a blur.

A total blackout.

And now she was waking up here, in this room.

Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Raven standing near the window, arms crossed, looking completely casual in her black dress. Jungkook was standing a few steps away, half-leaning against the dresser, his eyes fixed on some corner of the room like he didn't even care she had woken up.

Both of them looked totally relaxed, like this was just another boring morning after a party. But for Evie, it felt like waking up in a different world.

She looked between them, completely thrown off. "What...how ... I mean what.. am I doing here?" she asked slowly, her voice scratchy and uncertain, like she wasn't even sure she was asking the right question. "I was... with my friend last night. I don't remember... how did I...?"

She tried to stand but had to pause, her body still dizzy and her legs not fully stable. She managed to get up slowly, holding the side of the bed for balance, her heart racing with confusion and uneasiness.

Her eyes darted between them, nervous and hesitant, because of all people in the world, these two were the last she would expect to be around when she was in such a vulnerable state. She didn't trust either of them, especially Jungkook, and Raven was no better.

Jungkook scoffed under his breath and, without even looking in her direction, muttered with clear sarcasm in his tone, "People really shouldn't drink if they can't handle it."

Raven's eyes narrowed immediately, and she snapped her hand against his stomach with a loud thump, making him grunt slightly and look down at her. "Shut the hell up," she whispered to him through gritted teeth, then turned to Evie with a soft, almost concerned look on her face.

"Look," Raven began, her tone suddenly sweet, like she was just being helpful, "we saw you last night at the party. You were totally out of it... stumbling around, barely able to stand straight. We figured it was better to get you somewhere safe. There were way too many drunk idiots out there, and honestly, anything could've happened if you stayed around."

Evie frowned, her confusion growing. "What? Drink?  No no no ....I didn't even drink," she said slowly, shaking her head. "I just had juice. I swear."

Raven let out a soft laugh, brushing her hair back as she walked toward her. "Babe, I don't know what was in your cup, but you were gone. Maybe someone spiked it, or maybe it was one of those sweet cocktails that don't taste like alcohol but hit later. It happens. I'm just telling you what we saw and trust me, you were lucky we saw you first."

Evie's brows pulled together, her head spinning - not just from the drug but from everything being said. None of it made sense, and yet... she couldn't prove otherwise. She couldn't remember anything.

"I really don't remember drinking anything like that," she said again, quieter this time, mostly to herself.

Jungkook finally looked at her then, his eyes meeting hers with a smirk that didn't sit right - calm, unreadable, and cold. It made something twist in her stomach. Like he knew something she didn't.

Raven took a small step forward, her voice still in that fake kind tone. "You should be a little grateful. You have no idea what kind of assholes were lurking around last night. We just help you. That's all."

Evie lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening around the hem of her dress as she stood there silently, trying to put together a night that had vanished from her memory completely. She couldn't understand it. Couldn't tell if they were lying. Couldn't even trust her own mind right now. And that scared her more than anything.

Evie sat there, still trying to process what was happening, her mind sluggish and hazy. She pressed her palm lightly to her forehead, the weight of confusion slowly turning into frustration. Something wasn't right. None of it made sense. She looked at Raven with furrowed brows, hesitant but needing answers.

"I came with my friend," she said slowly, voice still raspy and tired. "I was with her the whole time. Rose. She was with me."

Raven gave her a casual shrug, as if it didn't matter. "I don't know anything about that," she said, her tone light, unconcerned. "We just found you alone, stumbling around. That's all. No one else was with you when we saw you."

Jungkook didn't say anything. He just stood there with his arms crossed, his jaw slightly clenched, eyes glancing away like he wasn't even interested in the conversation.

Evie blinked. Her stomach twisted. The idea of Rose leaving her–without saying anything, without helping her–didn't sit right. Rose would never do that. She wasn't that kind of friend. And yet... what proof did she have?

Nothing. Her memory was a blank wall.

And then another thought hit her harder.

Taehyung.

She had been waiting for him. He said he'd come to the party. He promised. She had been checking the entrance again and again, hoping to see him walk in. But now... where was he? Did he even come? Did he ditch her? No–no, he wouldn't. That wasn't like him. He wasn't that type of person.

She wanted to ask. Her eyes lifted toward Raven for a second, then Jungkook, then back down. But she hesitated. They weren't people she trusted. She didn't even like them. Yet, they were the only ones here. Her thoughts were all over the place.

And they noticed.

Raven tilted her head, stepping a little closer, eyes narrowing slightly with a knowing smirk. "You want to ask something?" she said casually, like she already knew the answer. "Looking for someone, maybe?"

Evie looked up, unsure how to respond.

Raven didn't wait for a reply. "Your boyfriend, Taehyung, right?"

Evie’s face froze, surprised. She didn't expect them to bring him up. The fact that Raven mentioned his name so directly made her feel exposed–like her thoughts were too easy to read. Her lips parted slightly, unsure what to say.

"I mean," Raven went on smoothly, pretending it was just a guess, "I saw him at the party yesterday. He showed up for a bit, then left. We don't know much beyond that. It was pretty quick."

Evie stared at her, the words not making sense. He came? And left? That didn't feel right. Taehyung wouldn't have just left without seeing her. Not without a message, a call or something.

As if sensing her disbelief, Raven raised her hands. "You don't have to believe me. Ask around if you want. We're just telling you what we saw."

Before Evie could respond, Raven looked at her phone resting on the side table. Evie picked it up with shaky fingers, the screen lighting up to show a dangerously low battery. Barely anything left. No messages, no missed calls visible before the screen dimmed again. She stared at it, frustrated.

Raven sighed and straightened up. "Anyway... we did what we came to do. We helped you. That's it. We've got places to be." She glanced at her nails and then at Jungkook. "If you need help, ask now. Don't call later, alright?"

Before Evie could even process what she meant, Jungkook took off his jacket and, without warning, tossed it in her direction. It landed lightly on her lap, catching her off guard.

"Put that on," he muttered, not even looking at her. "Your dress is practically useless right now."

Then he added with a dry tone, "Next time, try being responsible. You trust people too easily. And yeah, maybe you curse me all the time, but guess what? We were the ones who pulled you out of whatever mess you were in. You could at least say thank you."

With that, he turned his back and walked toward the door, not waiting for a reply.

Evie didn't say anything. Her fists clenched over the jacket as she bit her tongue. His tone, his arrogance–it boiled her blood, but she held it in. This wasn't the time to argue. Not when she couldn't even remember what had happened.

Raven lingered a little longer, looking at Evie with a half-smile. "Ignore him. He's an asshole, not gonna lie. But he's not a bad guy. Just a bit of a jerk sometimes." She glanced at the jacket. "Wear it. You don't look in the right state, and that dress isn't helping."

She paused, as if giving Evie a moment to speak. "Need anything before I go?"

Evie shook her head weakly. "No. I'm fine."

Raven gave a small nod, turned around, and walked out without another word.

And just like that, Evie was alone again–in silence, her mind full of gaps, and questions she had no way of answering yet.

Evie looked down at the jacket in her lap, her hands still clenched around the sleeves. She didn't want to wear it.

It was Jungkook's—the last person on earth she wanted help from.

But when she shifted slightly to stand up, she finally noticed the bottom of her dress. It was torn near the hem, not completely ripped, but enough to look careless and wrong. Her face twisted in confusion.

How did that even happen?

She didn't remember falling. She didn't remember anything.

Her head throbbed as she stood up, her vision momentarily swaying before she steadied herself against the edge of the couch. She took a deep breath, ignoring the sharp pain behind her eyes, and headed outside. She didn't care anymore. She just needed to leave.

The sunlight hit her eyes harshly the moment she stepped out, making her flinch. The street outside was quiet, not many people around. She pulled her phone out again, staring at the screen-the battery had dropped to just a few percent. She didn't have time.

She immediately scrolled to Taehyung's name and pressed call.

No answer.

She tried again.

Still nothing.

Her fingers began to shake slightly as she tapped out a quick message.

—TaehyungWhere are you?I've been looking for you.You ditch me.I was waiting for you.Are you even okay?Please call me don't ignore my call.

One after another, she sent at least six messages. But all of them stayed stuck on 'delivered'.

Not a single one was seen. Not even one checkmark turned blue.

And that was when the panic really started to set in.

He never ignores her.

She stared at the screen like it would somehow explain everything. But there was nothing–no missed calls, no voice messages, no replies.

This wasn't just any night. They had made plans for weeks. After their final college exam, this was supposed to be their little celebration–a romantic night, just the two of them.

He promised her. He said he'd be there.

She had even lied to her father just to make it happen, telling him she was spending the night at her friend's place so he wouldn't question her.

And now?

She didn't even know if Taehyung ever really showed up or not. Raven said he came and left, but she couldn't trust anything Raven said. Especially not after the way they acted - too calm, too casual for people who had supposedly helped her out of a dangerous situation.

Evie’s chest tightened as she stood there, looking up and down the street, hoping for a taxi, or maybe a miracle. Her head was pounding and her legs felt weak.

This is weird and suspecious.

She held her phone close and whispered under her breath.

"Please, Taehyung... where are you?"

But the only answer was silence.

✦───────────────✦

Jungkook pulled up to his mansion just as the early morning sun began to stretch across the quiet street. He tossed his car keys in the air, catching them lazily with one hand, exhaustion finally sinking into his bones after a night of chaos, manipulation... and some personal entertainment.

He had already dropped Raven off, chuckling to himself as he remembered her limping to her door, cursing him under her breath for going too rough. Not that he cared. She asked for it. Literally.

He cracked his neck as he stepped out of the car, rolling his shoulders, ready to crash on his bed and sleep off the night. But halfway to the door, he paused.

Someone was there.

Standing right at the edge of his driveway, waiting, motionless.

Taehyung.

But he didn't look like himself.

His hair was messy, shirt slightly wrinkled, eyes red. Like he'd cried all night or held back tears through gritted teeth. His jaw clenched tight, fists at his sides, rage practically vibrating off his body.

For the first time in a long time, Jungkook actually paused.

Then, of course, he smiled.

That smug, slow smirk of someone who knew exactly why the man in front of him looked like he wanted to rip him apart.

"Well, well… Taehyung," Jungkook drawled, tilting his head casually, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Didn't expect a morning visit, but you know what they say–early birds and all."

His eyes gleamed with mockery.

"What happened, man? You look like someone just tore your world apart."

And just like that, the air between them shifted.

One man smirking.

The other breathing like a storm was building in his chest.

Everything was about to explode.

What's your point of view on the character of Jungkook 👀?

And if someone really likes his character, then you seriously need therapy🤓☝️