Chapter 8

"You need to explain yourself."

Jennie stood in his front door, fuming in anger and her cat eyes got more sharp when she furrowed her eyebrows. Yoongi knows what she talked about and he just left the door open to let Jennie in by herself, he just walked to his living room because he's mad at Jennie. He can't believe Jennie just defending that bastard.

"Yoongi, you have no right to punch him!" Jennie yells at Yoongi who's sitting on a couch staring blankly. She doesn't defend anyone but she cares for both of them.

"He told me all you did to him, didn't you think it's disgusting and he is just using you?" Yoongi disbelieved Jennie was still on Taehyung's side. "Yoongi, whatever my bad choices are none of your concern." Jennie replied.

"So you're going to treat many guys like that after your incident? Jennie, is this some kind of depression period when you become a rebel and act crazy?" Yoongi couldn't see the silver lining when she said that. He cares for Jennie, but he never admits either the punches were out of jealousy or truly care for a friend.

But he feels hurt that she can find another guy like that when she just brings him bad news. He thinks Jennie just wants to make him suffer and let him witness her happy because it's his fault why they're breaking up.

"Jen, are you trying to hurt me by giving me your miscarriage news and playing around like it's nothing?" Yoongi continued because Jennie just quit.

Jennie couldn't believe Yoongi could think something like that but she had enough fights with him and misunderstanding so she just tried to calm down and find the right words to end their conversation whether he gets it or not.

"Maybe becoming friends is a bad choice." Jennie said. Yoongi turned his head to her and let her continue. "You said I'm going through some depression when I act rebellious and crazy, right? Well, I think this is the part when I act crazy. I'm so crazy to think we can be friends after what happened but it turns out it doesn't work at all!" Now Jennie just a little bit yelling.

"So to help myself to not act crazier, I think we shouldn't be friends for a while. Just let ourselves take care of our own business." Jennie stands up from his couch and walks to the front door. Meanwhile, Yoongi just stays quiet.

She's right, it's not good for them to try to be friends after all she experienced and apparently he has to completely move on too. Her comeback to New York unconsciously brought his intention to say sorry and try to be close again but it failed with the news and her closeness with Taehyung.

...

Jennie furious when she walks back to her apartment, she notices Yoongi still wants to be close with her which can't be happening. She feels nothing for him or for anyone. But, forgiving Taehyung and accepting him to be close to her brings her another comfort zone to not hold a grudge against people like she always does. When she's walking back to her apartment, someone texts her.

Taehyung:

Where are you? Can we have lunch together?

She contemplates if it is the right time for them to go straight for hanging out with just the two of them. It's their first time to hangout because she always pushed him away, only met at work, and lastly a worst encounter ever in his bar.

Jennie:

I'm walking back to my apartment from Yoongi's. Let's eat, what do you have in mind?

She waited for him to reply back on the way to her apartment until she arrived but still no reply. Jennie is confused why he didn't reply when he's the one who initiates to spend lunch together. When she opens their text again she thinks of another reason why he's not replying yet.

She mentioned Yoongi after what happened so maybe Taehyung thinks there's still something between them. Okay, she gets tired of making people misunderstand her. It's like she can't say anything.

Taehyung is attractive, she must say, he's the most handsome guy she ever met but if this is what personality she's going to face everyday if they're dating, she feels like she is dating a four year old boy. He always insists on what he wants, he's sulking, and this is clearly based on jealousy on why he didn't reply to her text.

Maybe she's too judgy considering their normal conversation just started yesterday, but if he wants her at least fight it. Not after she accepted him, he can be all baby about everything, well for starters this is.

So, to make it less annoying, Jennie decides to just ignore him again until he approaches her. She still has pride so she just cooks dinner by herself again because she isn't in the mood to invite her friends.

But when she turns on her stove and puts her pot to cook pasta, someone rings her doorbell. It's rare because she didn't expect anyone right now, when she peeks through her peep hole she widens her eyes. It's Taehyung.

She opens her door immediately and looks at him with a rest face because if he wasn't replying to her because she went to Yoongi's, he's being ridiculous.

Taehyung rubs the back of his neck, he is nervous because clearly he's upset when he finds out Jennie was in Yoongi's. He thinks something happens. "Hi, I'm sorry I didn't reply to your text." Jennie just archived her eyebrows and she came up with an idea, so she wants to try it out.

"Why?"

"What?" Taehyung was surprised by her question.

"Why didn't you text me back?" Jennie challenges him.

Taehyung can only hum because he is literally embarrassed to tell her what's going on with him. "Just come in." Jennie chuckled and opened her door wider.

"Have you eaten yet? I'm about to make spaghetti alfredo, if you want I'll add it for you." Jennie walks to her stove and puts a whole box of spaghetti in the pot and she grabs the frying pan to start cooking the sauce.

"Actually, I'm about to ask you for dinner or call me a pizza or chinese but i love to try your cooking."

Taehyung follows her to the kitchen and sits on a barstool in the kitchen island. There's a long silence between them but only Jennie who doesn't feel like this is awkward since she's busy putting all the ingredients into her pan.

Taehyung on the other hand feels really awkward and only plays with his fingers because he's nervous about something. He wants to ask about today why she went to her ex-boyfriend apartment. He sighed really deeply and finally spoke.

"What did you do at Yoongi's this morning?" He tried to casually speak but it came out with a stutter. Jennie smiles widely and is in an urge to laugh so hard because right now he is clearly jealous. "I talked to him about you." Jennie put cooked spaghetti in the pan to mix it up with the sauce. Taehyung widened his eyes, 'why did they talk about him?'

"Uhm, Why?" Taehyung is still stuttering.

"Because of the fight." Now Taehyung is just confused. Jennie put the spaghetti alfredo she made to two plates beside her and she garnished it.

"What did you say to him?" Jennie is still smiling because right now Taehyung just interrogates her like her boyfriend and tries to act cool, it's kinda cute. Jennie holds both of the plates and serves it in front of him.

"To make him stay away from us for a moment until it calms down." Jennie finally said it. When he heard it, Taehyung widened his eyes and grinned. Jennie furrows her eyebrows because she can clearly see how Taehyung turns into happy.

"Don't be happy, it's still your fault to tell him." Taehyung came to his senses and cleared his throat. "No, I'm not. I'm sorry to tell those guys about us, I didn't mean to. I'm just frustrated because...I really like you." There, Taehyung tries to be honest so Jennie can at least think about it.

Meanwhile, Jennie is startled by his confession. She knows he likes her but she didn't expect to come out like that. Jennie could only clear her throat and eat her dish, this time she was nervous and Taehyung could only smile at her.

For the entire dinner Taehyung could only silent listening to Jennie's story about her upcoming trials. They both end their meal with a red wine. He kinda missed taking care of big cases such as murderer, celebrities, mafia, and drugs because back in Switzerland he always got a murderer or drug cases and it's fun to experience that thrill when you have to ask many questions, twist your words, humiliate the suspect, and many more.

"And so, this big boss of Clarence Diamonds Co. is involved with some mafia from Mexico to sell his diamonds for drugs but apparently he used half of his employees' names to make all the transfers. Me and Mr. Khadra has to represent a bunch of employees because their legal department won't help them." Jennie explained her job with so much excitement because it's her first time to represent thirty people in one go.

Taehyung feels odd and worries for Jennie because this is really a big case. It involves the mafia and drugs. He doesn't know if her partner could protect her or not. "So this Fai Khadra, is he really good to deal with this case? Did he usually represent this kind of stuff?" Jennie furrowed her eyebrows and pursed her lips. 'Is this another jealousy she smells on him?'

"Uhm, he took an internship at Ernst & Young law firm, his research about 'use and abuse of power in changes of corporate control' really incredible, and all his insight from a couple of meetings we held it's great, it's like we're in one mind." Jennie tries to exaggerate to see his reaction but his face shows worry. Jennie was confused why he suddenly turned like that.

"Taehyung, is that something wrong with my case?" Taehyung who looks down the entire time because he's thinking through her story of her new case finally looks up to her.

"I just-uhm- worried. I'm worried for you." Taehyung stuttered and he hates to always be like this when he tries to show what he feels.

"Why?" Jennie asks, she just shakes a little of her glass of wine because this time she's so shy if there's something wrong with her case when for half an hour she just bragged about it.

"Jennie, i worry for you because you just started your law firm and you already had a big case which is good but involving mafia? in Mexico? Have you seen a bunch of movies that involve a gang full of drugs in there? they were referencing what they heard and most of it is true. I'm just scared they'll do something to you." Taehyung sighed and drank his wine until it's empty. He's nervous Jennie will get mad for thinking she's that weak.

But she just amused how Taehyung thinks it through like that, she just thinks it's all jealousy but it's not. Never in her life had someone telling her they were worried, they always said Jennie can handle and protect herself, she's a badass. Even the biggest bitch in New York has limits and of course involving some kind of the biggest drug dealer in the US must be terrifying, people literally could get killed.

It's her turn to stutter again, really this conversation didn't get to be casual at all, it killed them slowly. "Uhm , Taehyung. I'm fine really. I have Mr. Khadra who is persistent and stern. Besides, I have you! I'll update you with my case because to get more perspective from another lawyer is great too for my insight." Jennie holds his hand on the countertop that holds the bottom of his glass. Taehyung just nodded and continued to drink his wine.

When he looked at his watch it's already past midnight.  They've been talking for four hours in Jennie's kitchen. So Taehyung just called the night off. "Jennie, I should go, it's already midnight." Taehyung and Jennie stand up but she stops him to walk to the front door and grab her phone.

"Yes, Jay? Are you already downstairs? Okay he'll be there." Taehyung confused what Jennie was saying and made him wait for her.

"Tae, I called my driver to drive you home. It's past midnight and it's not safe when you get tipsy for sharing a bottle of wine with me until it's empty."

Jennie chuckles while grabbing the wine bottle and shows it's empty to Taehyung. But he is a little embarrassed because Jennie who initiated this and it feels like he's weak but she's right he's a little dizzy because they emptied her red wine bottle.

"Oh, sorry to make you do this, next time I'll drive my car." But Jennie shakes her head and is still giggling. "No, it's fine! you already made an effort to come here because you are jealous and guilty of not replying to my text." Now Jennie is just teasing him.

Taehyung's eyes got bigger because of her statement. He can't say anything, partly it was true. "Uhm, no, I'm not." Taehyung can't look at her face, he just said it while looking through nowhere.

"That's fine, I know you like me, Tae." Jennie giggles and leads him to the front door but Taehyung is still in an embarrassing mode with cheeks getting reddened and his hands getting sweaty.

Taehyung is about to walk to the elevator and Jennie just stands in her door to accompany him until he gets in but Taehyung turns around while scratching the back of his neck, making Jennie a little bit confused.

Suddenly, Taehyung tried to speak but he just kept his throat clear. "Jennie, i want to ask you out." Jennie only put a smile on her face without feeling surprised, she can only think how cute Taehyung is right now to ask her like that. "I know you still scared but you said you didn't want to run away again so i took a shot--"

"Wednesday, 7pm? is that good?" Jennie cut him off and made Taehyung startled. He suddenly forgot what he should have said ; he only nodded and Jennie couldn't help but giggle. "Uhm, i'll pick you up then." Taehyun finally replied. "See you soon, Tae." Jennie smiled and closed her door leaving Taehyung with wide eyes and suddenly grinned.

...

Taehyung sitting across Lisa in her office, he should be looking through a bunch of contracts that keep coming to her but she seemed to casually accept all deals like this is nothing but Taehyung only focus on his phone searching for something. Lisa arches her eyebrows because this guy clearly does not focus on his job to supervise her, his mind is on another thing.

"You know what? if you won't analyze it, you might as well go to your own office and not be a guard dog statue in your seat." Lisa played her pen to the table and made a sound. She was clearly annoyed because he took an hour to stare at his phone and swipe up something. Eventually, Taehyung turned his head to her.

"Lisa, I want to ask you something." Lisa just hums to make him continue.

"What happened between Jennie and Yoongi?" Lisa widened her eyes but all of sudden she scoffed and smirked at him. "This is why you're not doing your job?"

"Answer the question." Taehyung sternly said to her. Lisa groaned and slump herself to the headrest, she can't believe her work got delayed for something like this. "You have to talk to Jennie, it's not my story to tell." Lisa whined at him.

"She didn't want to say anything."

"Then asked Yoongi, you guys are already hanging out together."

"He punched me", "WHAT?!" Lisa sat up straight again and widened her eyes. What's going on with these guys, suddenly she really wants tea. "What happened?"

"I know Jennie told you something about us at the bar. I accidentally told Yoongi because I was drunk and he punched me right in my face." Taehyung explained.

Lisa was taken aback, how can this human being be so stupid to tell someone about this but she's not surprised Yoongi reacted like that, he must be devastated to hear Jennie did that after all that happened months ago. Still, Yoongi punched Taehyung? There's still something inside Yoongi feels for Jennie, but she just thinks this is just guilt eating him up.

"I think if you are brave enough, you should ask Yoongi. you should know what's behind his act to you, it's not fair to get punched like that."

Taehyung just quietly contemplates Lisa's suggestion. "You're scared, aren't you?" Lisa grinned at him. Taehyung sighed and walked out from her office, he decided maybe if he wants to do it right with Jennie and to prevent his curiosity turning into jealousy if they interact with each other he should know what he faces.

He knocks Yoongi's door and Yoongi yells to come in. Yoongi turned his head and was shocked as to why Taehyung would want to be here after he punched him. Suddenly, Yoongi's face turns into a cold face and stops everything he does. He deliberately looks him in the eyes to intimidate him.

"What are you doing here?" Yoongi cold tone makes him a little bit nervous. Taehyung and Yoongi are known for their scary face and their stares, but when they have to interact with each other maybe Taehyung lose in this one, Yoongi's calm but sharp tone is more frightening than Taehyung's cocky voice with his intimidating yet seductive eyes.

"We need to talk.", "I think there's nothing going on between us," Taehyung, who still stands between the doors, puts his hands on his pockets and arches his eyebrows.

"Really? How about I'm dating Ms. Kim?" Yoongi's face suddenly turned red, he tightened his fist on the table. He's furious everytime her name comes from his mouth, he thinks Taehyung doesn't deserve her at all.

"I can make you suffer even more if you do something stupid again, Mr. Kim." Taehyung smirked. 'So we're back to formalities, huh' He thought to himself. But Yoongi still thinks about what Jenny said days ago.

Should he still protect her even if she said she doesn't want to have any connection with him anymore? He has to know his place but he still does not trust Taehyung.

"I want to lower my pride because I really like Jennie. I don't want to ruin your friendship with her and Lisa. I know you and those two girls are really close and I want my soon-to-be girlfriend to make peace with the past for us moving forward without any grudges." Yoongi is getting angrier when he hears the words 'soon-to-be girlfriend' he absolutely wants to attack him so much but Taehyung keeps continuing to speak.

"I'm sorry if me and Jennie did something stupid, I didn't know what was the connection to what you had done to me last week but I want to know why from you. Jennie absolutely doesn't want to talk about it and I protect her for that but in order to protect her I should know what I'm about to face. I don't want to be that guy who tells you to stay away from her, there's useless words because it only brings trouble and overthinking. so , I'm really sorry for using your ex like that but it's not my intention." Yoongi was surprised that this guy would apologize to him. He thought he's so cocky that having a handsome face made him think he got the power of all the girls but to think again guy to guy, if a guy is doing something like this, they're mean.

Maybe this time he has to let everything go including his care for Jennie, she deserves to experience any kind of relationship to finally find the one. But, Yoongi still contemplates 'is this the right guy for her?'

Yoongi sighed and stood up with his hands in his pocket. He walked to the front of his desk and leaned on it. "Why should I trust you?" Yoongi challenges him.

Taehyung just smirks and decides to walk to his sofa and sit comfortably, he has to act cocky in order to get what he wants. "Mr. Min, you're a nice guy, you want the best for Jennie. but there's always going to be a line between exes, I bet you don't want anyone to think you're a pity guy who is still stuck on some girl."

To think again, he's right. Why did he work up for Jennie? someday they're going to have a life on their own but it's his secret too, should he jeopardize his reputation for Taehyung? After a long silence he sighed again, maybe he has to let this go.

"Jennie and I dated for two years but we're not compatible day by day. She's eager to climb the ladder of her career and apparently mine too. She's so worked up for me being the best of the best without thinking about my limit. The relationship became so exhausting for me because both of us were hot-headed. And.. When we got into a fight I didn't know she's pregnant. She kept it to herself because she was scared I would hurt her in a condition like this everytime we got into a fight, which is really often. She decided to run away and take care of her pregnancy by herself but she got a miscarriage. She got depressed and scared easily, she was blaming herself but i think i should be the one who she blamed to. I'm a jerk to let her go and think we just needed a space. She took time to a therapy in Switzerland, Lisa was the one who took care of her. She said Jennie took some medicine for her to calm her down and to not get a nightmare. Sometimes, she said to me, she was scared to look at a baby, it became her trauma everyday. I was mad at you because I'm afraid it will affect her sexual life. I don't want to because of this, she will close her heart or at worst become wild. She deserves to be healed."

Taehyung's jaw dropped when he heard about this story. He wasn't expecting something like this would happen. Yoongi can see Taehyung's horror face, he must not be knowing something like this is happening. He feels guilty right now because Taehyung seems down, because of this he can be sure a little bit he is serious. Taehyung eventually connects the dots and realizes what he was doing is completely wrong. But Yoongi sat across from him and spoke.

"Taehyung, don't hurt her. I mean of course there'll be something that will make her or you hurt but if it involves her trauma, don't get into it so fast. Please, she has to heal." Yoongi said things but Taehyung kept quiet and sat in his seat.

"Taehyung?" Yoongi tries to be informal again, hoping this time they'll be just fine.

Suddenly after Taehyung turned blank for a second, he looked at Yoongi. "Huh? Yes, thank you. I should go." Taehyung stood up without looking at him. He walked so fast to the elevator to his office. He locks his office door and down the curtains of his window. He leaned on his chair and closed his eyes. He thought Jennie can be his remedy for his brother's trauma but turns out they are just the same and he is scared.

Taehyung is afraid they'll have an episode where they can't save each other. How can he live seeing Jennie in her trauma? He can't help because it remembers him too. Anyone can say but when you have the same path or experience it's an advantage to heal together, well.. that's bullshit. Two people were going through extreme pain and chaos. They both needed a remedy and he already tried.

He taking care Taehyun for a month before he go back to Korea was a pure disaster for him. Seeing Taehyun hurt and suddenly screaming for pain in his arm because of a gunshot made him go crazy. He witnessed how it happened and he had to heard a result after that.

Taehyun thinks about his brother's condition too, he knows Taehyung is really weak when it comes to brotherhood. Another reason why he has that nightmare is not only the aftermath of the trials. But Taehyung was the one who told him about a rumor that involved Taehyun's other case which led him to be involved in those fraud cases in order to solve the other.

Taehyung knew the danger of involvement in a mafia world, especially in Europe but he wanted his brother to be the best in his field . Though Taehyun is the bravest person he ever met, he didn't know he was the weakest man.

Someday he wants to tell Jennie why he likes her, hoping she'll understand it and help him but how come she can help him when she has to save herself too? It's the worst relationship ever. He is whining why it has to be like this.

Why the most beautiful person he ever met has a darkest past. Same as her, the most handsome person too has a darkest nightmare. Taehyung opened a drawer of his desk, he took a pill container and got it out of his hand. He takes his water bottle and looks at the pills on his hands. Well, hello old friend.

...

It's fall in New York and the air is getting colder. Jennie contemplates whether she should wear a dress or jeans. Will they go to a fancy dinner? An arcade? or walk down the street and eat on a food truck? Jennie doesn't want to overdress or doesn't try to look good at all. She wants to text Taehyung where they will go but she feels stupid because she's the one who told them when they should hang out.

She took a chance to wear a black turtleneck sweater with a Chanel short striped casual style faux fur party style jacket with black straight pants. She grabbed her Viviene Westwood black simian slip on and Chanel chain plain dumma bag. She was a little bit excited but calm. It's her first date after so long, so she just chose something cozy but appropriate.

She let her hair loosen down with a little bit of volume and put makeup on with a little bit thick eyeliner. She wants to be a little bold too.

Jennie relaxes on her couch watching tv while waiting for Taehyung. It's 7.15 but he's not here. She wants to call him but she doesn't want to look so eager, Jennie is working on her dignity as a woman. After waiting for another fifteen minutes, she became annoyed and picked up her phone.

No missed calls, messages, or anything. What's going on? Is she being stood up? Technically Taehyung did not say anything when she said when to hang out but she could see him grinned on his lips so she took it as a yes. After another fifteen minutes, she finally texted him.

Jennie:

Are we gonna hangout or not?

But for another minute and hour, he never came. Jennie was pissed and regretted what she had done. Truthfully, she is looking forward to this.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Comment and Vote!

Sincerely, Matcha