Love Candidate - The Bad Guy - Chapter 14

Disclaimer: This chapter contains a mature scene.

The living room was dark, but there was enough light beaming through the glass panel to illuminate the dim villa interior. I carefully walked up to Seokjin and lowered my hand to tap his shoulder but stopped myself right before I touched him when I noticed how peaceful he looked in his sleep. I withdrew my hand away from him and slowly sat down on the floor to stare at his captivating visual with my eager pupils. Appa... if you were alive... would you let me see Seokjin? My life has been a mess ever since you left my side, and I thought my condition would only spiral downhill until I met a man I really have good feelings for. But why am I so afraid? Why am I so terrified of him? Appa... I'm at risk. I really like him, but everything feels like an illusion because he's so... flawless? I've never felt so... safe... around anyone since you left my side... but here I am... admiring him in the darkness with this unexplainable emotion in my chest. Why don't you ask him? Appa's voice suddenly spoke up in my head. Jiyoung... Why don't you ask him instead of making pointless speculations? I stared at Seokjin without blinking as I leaned against the couch to observe his delicate skin in silence.

"Are you asleep?" I whispered without thinking. I didn't expect Seokjin to respond to my question until he opened his eyes to stare at me with a calm gaze. I didn't look away and held eye contact with him even if I was shaken by his awareness.

"What are you doing?" Seokjin questioned, turning on his side to stare at me on the couch when I refused to look away.

"I couldn't sleep because I felt guilty for leaving you here. Your wound is still healing," I muttered, weakly smiling at Seokjin in the dark.

"I don't mind as long as you feel comfortable," Seokjin slightly shook his head with his sleepy eyes fixed on mine.

"Can I ask you a question?" I blinked, tilting my head to the side to smile at him.

"What is it?" Seokjin whispered with his weary yet fond gaze fixed on mine.

"I regret doubting you. But answer me... be honest with me. Is this real? Whatever you're making me feel... Whatever this is between us. Is it real?" I whispered, nervously staring at him. Seokjin didn't answer me and weakly smiled with his head rested against the cushion.

"It is real. Whatever you're feeling... I feel it too. It might be a little too early to say this... but I think I'm falling, and I'd go through hell to be with you," Seokjin replied, making my chest churn in discomfort. Why am I not convinced?

"Why? What do you see in me?" I asked. I really don't understand why... he'd want me by his side.

"Even if I told you... you won't believe me because you can't see it. But I can, but if you want an answer... maybe it's the little things you do for people around you. The lunch box... the umbrella... the food. Your honesty and your effort to make me feel at ease. It's everything about you, and I know you can't see it, and it might seem trivial... but I am like you. We're both selfless, Jiyoung. You and I... we give more than we take. We put others before us even if we're mistreated by them. It's the things we do for love, right? Always placing other people's happiness before our own. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of tearing myself apart to satisfy people who don't even care about me. It's pointless, you know? It's tiring to be a pillar... to endlessly endure the burdensome pressure. They keep leaning on me until I feel like I'm suffocating from the weight," Seokjin muttered.

"But when I'm around you... I feel at ease. I was always the selfless person around my family and friends... but when I'm around you... I realized you're the selfless person. Not me. You put me before yourself, and I can see it. The way you try to put a smile on my face. The way you let me hold you without making me feel like a fool. The way you apologized, even if it wasn't your fault. It's my first time meeting a person like you. Why do I like you so much? It's because I don't have to pretend around you. I don't have to force myself to please you. So I wonder... if you're the right person for me? Someone who constantly makes me feel calm and at peace with myself. I don't get butterflies when I see you... instead... I feel very comfortable and content around you. You mute my noisy mind... soothe my stuffy chest, and help me breathe better. You're just like oxygen. All my life... I felt like I couldn't breathe until we met. I didn't have to worry about a thing because you were always pleased with everything I did for you, even if it was the bare minimum. I promise I can tell you all the reasons until sunrise, but you might fall asleep listening to me. But yeah... I really like you- Are you asleep?" Seokjin questioned, lifting his head to look at me in confusion when I grew hushed. He didn't pause to take a break and kept on speaking to me but finally halted when he realized I was resting my head against the couch with my eyes closed.

"No. I'm listening to you," I smiled, opening my eyes to meet Seokjin's gaze. He chuckled softly and shook his head in embarrassment.

"I sound hopeless, don't I? I keep rambling because I like you so much I don't even know how to express-" Seokjin rubbed his rosy face but didn't finish his sentence when I leaned forward to kiss him with my hands cupped around his cheeks. Seokjin was speechless by my sudden approach and remained on the pillow with his eyes closed as I kissed him. Breathing heavily, I pulled away to smile at him when I felt my chest overflowing with intense warmness.

"Am I allowed to decide the status of our relationship?" I whispered, curiously breathing against his face as I hovered my face over his.

"Of course. It was always you. I'm waiting for your approval," Seokjin muttered as he remained under me on the couch. I pursed my lips to examine his firm expression and glanced down at his plump lips again.

"Let's make it official between us then," I finally replied and leaned down to kiss him deeply. Seokjin gripped my back to draw me onto the couch with him.

"I'm officially your man then?" Seokjin questioned, pulling away to catch his breath. I smiled and nodded at him when he suddenly flipped over to pin my body under him, making me gasp in surprise. I drew Seokjin's torso against mine while kissing him as he held onto my body. SNAP. I jerked in panic when the disturbing memories crossed my mind without warning, making Seokjin halt in confusion as I nervously gripped his shirt.

"Is it the trauma?" Seokjin pulled away to examine my pale expression.

"Yeah. I'm sorry," I whispered as I resisted the thoughts to keep my mind under control. Seokjin frowned at me with his unblinking eyes as if to process the situation and finally sat up on the couch.

"Maybe we can try this instead," Seokjin gently pulled me off the couch to make me sit facing him on his thighs.

"Try this?" I chuckled with my arms wrapped around his neck.

"You're uncomfortable when you lay on your back... so why don't you take charge? I'll follow your lead," Seokjin shrugged as he held onto my hips while I sat on the couch with him. I chuckled at his words, gently leaning forward to close the gap between us, and made out with him in a sitting position as he suggested. It worked. The trauma didn't bother me.

"Why are you so tense?" I laughed, pulling my lips away from Seokjin when I noticed he was perching against the couch stiffly.

"I'm just embarrassed- I feel a bit- hot..." Seokjin chuckled, tugging his collar with a flustered face. Huh?

"What do you mean- oh," I giggled but halted when I felt the hard hump between his legs under me. Seokjin pursed his lips at me in embarrassment as I stared at him with a startled expression. Did he get a boner from making out?

"I'm sorry. It's okay, I'll take care of it-" Seokjin stuttered while rubbing his warm face as I sat on him.

"You want to take care of it? Yourself?" I bit my lips with a teasing smile.

"Yeah. I don't want you to get your episodes again-"

"Well... even if we can't do it yet. You can still touch my body... if it helps," I smiled, slowly unbuttoning my shirt before Seokjin until his face flushed red. He kept his tempted eyes on my body as I undid my shirt while I sat on his thighs but didn't take off the shirt and left the gap loose to reveal a glimpse of my bra. Seokjin gulped at me intensely as I leaned forward to kiss him again. He panted softly against me while clutching my thighs, so I guided his hand up to my breast and pulled away to smile at him.

"Are you sure you're okay with it?" He questioned as he sensually grazed my cleavage with his thumb, keeping his lustful eyes fixed on my bra.

"I'll be here with you if you need me to relieve your body. I'm the reason you're aroused," I chuckled as I got off Seokjin's thighs to slip off my pants, then sat back onto his lap in my lingerie.

"You're going to watch... me do it?" Seokjin questioned, blinking at me with a dumbfounded expression.

"Do you feel uncomfortable? I'll leave then-'' I blinked at him and tried to get up when he grabbed my waist and pinned me on his lap with his hands clenched tightly on either side of my hips.

"No. Sit. You can watch," Seokjin whispered, leaning back against the couch, making me smile while I sat on his lap with an encouraging smile. Seokjin swallowed nervously as he reached into his trouser to feel his aroused hump as I watched him. I pursed my lips when he started stroking himself under his trouser in an up-and-down motion as he watched my almost naked body with his thirsty eyes. His body tensed oddly, so I couldn't help but watch his stiff muscles, blushing hard when I met his gaze to find him frowning at me in difficulty. I unconsciously chewed my lips with a troubled expression as I watched him masturbate, weirdly stimulating my nerves with his lewd behavior. Seokjin let out a breathy moan and tilted his back against the couch as he sped up the pace under his trouser. I watched his inappropriate self-pleasuring activities until I felt my body steaming intensely.

"Can I- touch you while I do it?" Seokjin whispered, lifting his head to look at me with his eyebrows furrowed. I nodded in response to grant him permission, so he reached out to fondle my body with one hand while jerking himself with his other hand. I leaned forward to kiss Seokjin, lustfully reaching under his shirt to grope his hard-built body with my bare hands when I felt the urge to touch his body. Seokjin groaned against my lips in distress as he touched himself, so I pulled away to let him breathe when he suddenly shoved his fingers into my mouth to play with my wet tongue. I gasped at the unexpected presence of his fingers in my mouth and gripped his hand to suck his fingers until my body shivered with temptation.

"I'll do it for you-"

"Huh? Jiyoung- Uh- Shit," Seokjin halted in confusion when I suddenly pulled his fingers out of my mouth and crawled off the couch to sit between his spread open legs on the cold floor. I quickly tugged the waistband of his pants down to his knees and leaned forward to hover my face over his crotch. Seokjin jerked in shock when I took him into my mouth and started pleasing him orally, gripping firmly onto his boner with both my hands. Seokjin grabbed my head in distress as I bounced my head at a quick pace until he leaned back against the couch with his mouth ajar. He let out a shaky grunt when he felt my naughty tongue activities over his private part. I kept pleasuring him until he tensed his leg muscles, and a sudden burst of warm semen filled my mouth.

"Spit it out," Seokjin quickly bent over to grab a few tissues from the coffee table, so I spat out the thick discharge onto the tissue as he gasped on the couch to catch his breath. He panted heavily after throwing the dirty tissues away and leaned down to kiss me as I remained on the floor with my legs tucked under me.

"Do you feel better now?" I asked as he slowly drew me back onto his lap.

"Oh... but your body... it's so feverish. Are you alright? You're very tense," Seokjin muttered as he pushed my hair behind my ears to keep it out of my troubled eyes as I sat stiffly over his lap in my panties and bra.

"I'm in heat because of you," I gulped in embarrassment when I felt the throbbing sensation between my legs. Seokjin gripped my hips anxiously as he eyed my body.

"What should we do then? I really want to return the favor, but you might get the attack again," Seokjin stared at me with his concerned eyes. I swallowed with an uptight expression when I felt my cheeks burning so much... I was numbed by the fiery heat. Fuck. I shouldn't have watched him masturbate... now I'm fucking horny, and I really want him.

"I don't know-"

"Use me," Seokjin suddenly gripped my waist and drew my face forward to kiss me. I clutched his broad shoulders in distress when he aggressively forced his tongue into my mouth to blend our spit and sensually traced his fingers down my spine until my muscles stiffened at his teasing touch.

"Use you?-"

"Move your hips over me... try it. The friction should please you," Seokjin muttered, glancing down at my panties to encourage me. I pursed my lips nervously as I stared at my drenched panties and started grinding my crotch over his bulge until I felt the tingling warmth spreading between my inner thighs. I shuddered when I felt the flaming pleasure expanding across my body. Seokjin inhaled deeply and leaned back against the couch to let me dry hump him without penetration. I moaned against his ear when I felt like I was reaching my climax... but I wasn't satisfied with the pleasure, so I quickly got up to slip off my panties in a hurry. Seokjin watched me in confusion as I sat back on him to feel his raw flesh against my bare sensitive part and resumed the sexual movements until I felt the sticky moisture rubbing against our crotches. Seokjin stared at my desperate expression with a troubled expression and moaned in distress, so I gripped his hair and buried my face into the crook of his neck.

"Seokjin, you're-" I stuttered and glanced down when I felt him getting hard under me again.

"Fuck! I'm going crazy! I just finished- but you're making me- Jiyoung!- Uh-" Seokjin tried to speak when I suddenly lost my patience. I quickly adjusted my position on his lap until he slipped inside me, making me shudder in pleasure. Seokjin abruptly froze at the sudden penetration and stared at me in shock. He was startled by my impulsive decision and gulped in difficulty as I perched motionlessly on him to exhale in satisfaction. Slowly, I opened my eyes to stare at him with a nervous frown while rubbing my thumb over his lips to calm my racing heart.

"Let's do it," I whispered, sensually leaning forward to kiss him without moving my hips.

"Are you sure? What about the trau-m-ma~?" Seokjin whispered, clenching his jaw shakily when I lifted my hips and sat back down on him. I gripped his shirt with my face buried against his neck and slowly rode him at a taunting pace.

"I'm fine. Don't be afraid to touch me... I'm really alright," I whispered, turning my head to press my lips against his. Seokjin finally gave in to the pleasure after my reassurance and hugged my steaming body tightly against his torso. He started thrusting from underneath me, making me moan in distress. I tugged his shirt and yanked it off his head to reveal his muscular body as he unclasped my bra and slipped it off my shoulders. I whimpered and bit my lower lips when he leaned forward to bury his face against my breasts, so I hugged his head in pleasure as we successfully made love in the living room.

My hair was a mess by the time we reached our finish line, and Seokjin was sweating so much his red skin gleamed with sweat beads. We panted on the couch in a sitting position when I felt the warm drips between our crotches and leaned forward to rest my head against his chest as he hugged me. I chuckled when he got onto his feet with his arms secured around my naked body and carried me to his bedroom. I exhaled in relief after he laid me on the mattress with my legs spread open. Seokjin grabbed a few tissues from his drawers and hovered over my sweaty body to wipe me clean until I sat up on the mattress to face him as he gently cleaned me with a weak smile.

Seokjin tilted his face to kiss me, eventually pulling away, so I could use the bathroom. I carefully rinsed my private part clean of his semen before returning to the bed to find Seokjin wiping himself dry with a wet napkin. I crawled onto his bed to lay down and turned over on the mattress to watch him take care of himself until Seokjin left to use the bathroom. I heard him shower, so I exhaled and fell asleep on the bed before he returned because I was depleted by the erotic time we spent together.

End of Flashback

Present

Jiyoung's POV

I sat on the couch with my emotionless eyes trained on the TV screen as I struggled to digest my scattered thoughts. So it was Jimin? Wae? I slowly got onto my feet and walked up the stairs with a pale expression to find Jimin strolling out of my bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. I threw... a trophy at him that night... and he used his forearm to shield his face.

"Jimin, come here," I whispered in an anxious tone as I stood in the doorway with my arms clasped together.

"Why?" Jimin raised his eyebrow and walked toward me with a questioning look, so I gently reached out for his forearms and flipped both arms over. I froze in my place when I noticed... the faint healing wound on his skin with my startled expression. Jimin abruptly tugged his arm away from my grip when he realized I was inspecting his injury, turning toward the wardrobe dismissively to pull on his clothes.

"It is you. That night..." I mumbled as I tried to make sense of the situation. Jimin turned to look at me with a sullen look and slumped down on the bed with his head hung low.

"It was an order," Jimin confessed. I slowly averted my uneasy eyes to his.

"An order?-"

"Oh. I received an order right after I returned to Seoul from Daegu. They ask me to retrieve a confidential file. I didn't know it was Seokjin's place until he caught me in his office. We fought, and you unexpectedly appeared... so I had to flee his place," Jimin sighed.

"Whose order? Kim Taehyung?" I questioned, tilting my head to the side in disbelief. But Taehyung was with me... He even came to the hospital to visit Seokjin.

"Yeah. It's an order from the mafia. They told me to bring back a file with a golden seal, so I did as they instructed," Jimin nodded. It was Taehyung. He kept me busy at my house so he could send Jimin to Seokjin.

"That- file. Where is it?" I whispered, anxiously walking up to him.

"I gave it to them yesterday before I came home," Jimin blinked at me in guilt. I combed my fingers in my hair and turned away to take a deep breath, extremely bewildered by his statement.

"The document is my stepfather's ledger!" I snapped, turning to frown at Jimin in distress as anger built inside me. Why did Taehyung take it? What is he doing with the ledger!?

"Jiyoung, I didn't know-"

"Seokjin will get in so much trouble with my father if he knows the ledger is missing," I shook my head. Fuck! How can I tell Seokjin about the stolen ledger without exposing Jimin? Did Taehyung use Jimin on purpose, so I couldn't tell Seokjin the truth?!

"I told you the Kim's brothers are against each other. Just don't interfere, and they'll end up wrecking their father's-"

"Seokjin is my boyfriend! He gave up his position to be with me!" I snapped at Jimin in frustration. Jimin stared at me sulkily and averted his eyes away with a hurt expression after I lashed out at him.

"Why do you want to be with him when he doesn't even know how to handle you? You came home crying when-"

"We're fine now. We made it work! But Seokjin is having a rough time because my stepfather's ledger was stolen! If Jaehyun finds out about it- He will drag me back to his villa!" I argued in irritation. Jimin sighed and lowered his head with his hands pressed against his face.

"There's nothing I can do. I already gave it to the mafia. I'm sorry," Jimin looked at me apologetically. I stared at Jimin in tears, hastily stomping down the stairs to slump on the couch in anger. I can't even blame Jimin! He did it without knowing the mission was related to my stepfather. It's Taehyung I should be angry with. Why did he do it...? Why is he meddling with his older brother's affair? I can't tell Seokjin about this without getting Jimin in trouble with Taehyung. At least the ledger is still with the Kim family... and not the anti-corruption committee.

I was upset with Jimin after learning the truth behind my stepfather's missing ledger. But I didn't confront him anymore because I knew he was only following Taehyung's order. Maybe I should talk with Taehyung? No. I can't be reckless... I'll keep quiet until I figure out his intention.

"Oh? Jiyoung? What are you doing here?" Seokjin halted in surprise when he found me waiting in his private lobby.

"Oh. I came here to wait for you. We have a date after your work hours anyways, so I figured I should come here to save you fuel from picking me up at my place," I shrugged. Seokjin smiled and leaned forward to kiss my lips, making Secretary Yoo blush awkwardly. The assistants nudged each other in excitement, so I smiled shyly and pulled away from him.

"I just concluded a brief meeting with your father's representative. Jungkook represented his family today," Seokjin grinned, turning to the side to nod at someone. I froze in my position when I spotted Jungkook standing behind Seokjin in his formal suit, anxiously frowning at me. I quickly turned my face away when he suddenly approached me.

"Oh, Jiyoung-"

"I need to use the bathroom! Be right back!" I smiled awkwardly and hurried out of the room before Jungkook could finish his sentence. I don't want to see him! I rushed down the hallway while muttering to myself in distress when I accidentally bumped into someone, scattering a stack of files over the floor after the person dropped it.

"I'm sorry!" I gasped, quickly bending down to pick up his file, then straightened my body to find Namjoon staring at me with his dull eyes.

"Oh. Jiyoung-shi. What brought you here today?" Namjoon questioned as I rearranged his file in my arms.

"I came to wait for Seokjin," I smiled and handed the document back to Namjoon.

"He's leaving work this early? Hah. It's expected of my brother. He sure loves women," Namjoon chuckled, paralyzing my bright smile with his statement.

"Women...?" I raised my eyebrows unsurely.

"Oh. My older and younger brothers are always occupied with women instead of work. I hope they don't fight over you like they fought over Yeona... it was a nuisance. They never grow up," Namjoon nodded and walked away before I could respond to him. I scratched my head and turned to look at Namjoon unsurely. Yeona? Who's Yeona...?

"Jiyoung? Are you alright?" Seokjin questioned, appearing before me with a confused expression when he noticed I was blanking out in the corridor.

"I- I'm fine," I muttered, blinking at him repeatedly to shake off the thoughts, so he took my hand, and we left the building together for our date. Seokjin took me shopping, and even if I refused the gifts... he kept buying me things. It was a pretty ordinary date. Well... I sort of enjoy it, even if it's not as exciting. I've never been on a proper date before... until I met Seokjin. I dated Jimin, but we never really went on dates because we were too busy surviving on the streets.

"You still live with your roommate?" Seokjin questioned when he noticed Jimin entering the gate after he returned from work while we sat in his car.

"Oh. Jimin is still staying with me," I nodded.

"I know this is weird, but I'm very curious about your relationship with him. You two seem close," Seokjin questioned while staring at me with a weak smile.

"Oh? We're only friends," I lied without hesitation. How can I tell him Jimin is my ex-boyfriend when he's living with me? Seokjin blinked doubtfully but nodded at my response and leaned back against his car seat to let out a deep exhale.

"I want us to be honest with one another. I'm not saying this to intimidate you, but it really upsets me when my partner is unfaithful. I trust you, Jiyoung. But it bothers me to know you're living with another man," Seokjin sighed as he anxiously frowned at me.

"Ah... Jimin and I... We're strictly friends and roommates. We're sort of like a family," I shifted uneasily in my seat as Seokjin stared at me with an unsettled expression.

"Do you want to move in with me?" Seokjin suddenly asked, making me freeze in my place.

"N-neh?-"

"Hah. Nevermind... I'm a bit... paranoid, that's all. It's better if we live separately for now... or I can't keep my hands off you," Seokjin shyly shook his head in embarrassment.

"It's alright. I understand," I chuckled awkwardly.

"You must've felt uncomfortable... that night," Seokjin suddenly whispered in a nervous tone.

"Uncomfortable? About what...?" I questioned, curiously watching his uptight expression. What is he talking about?

"You asked me if it's real... my feelings for you. It is real, but I felt really ashamed of my actions after I made you watch me... masturbate while you sat with your clothes off. You might think I'm only interested in your body and-"

"What are you talking about? I liked it. I wanted to be there with you, and it was an exciting experience," I interrupted, lightly smacking his arm in disbelief when he refused to look at me.

"You liked it? Didn't you think I was a horny jerk or something-"

"No? How can I think of you that way? You made me horny as well that night by just watching you," I snorted out loud while shaking my head, making Seokjin ease his body at my unbothered reaction.

"You're used to it? Watching me? Have you ever tried it before? With your- "

"Nope. You're the first person I watched, and it was oddly stimulating. I usually just get down to business with other men... so believe me when I say I enjoyed our time," I firmly nodded. Seokjin didn't respond to me and sat with his eyes fixed on mine.

"You're so expressive. You keep surprising me with your blunt honesty," Seokjin scoffed with his flushed cheeks, so I leaned forward to kiss him from my seat.

"You don't have to be shy with me," I whispered, pulling away to stare at his clear eyes with a teasing smile. I eventually stepped out of Seokjin's car after bidding him goodbye and entered my house after the tiring day to find Jimin snoring on the couch. I quietly tiptoed up to my room and went to bed after showering.

Fast Forward

I gripped the food package nervously while I stood in front of the towering building with a concentrated frown. Should I do this? What if I get in trouble again? I tried to walk forward with my eyes trained on the top apartment floor but took a step back with my eyebrows furrowed, intensely contemplating my action. Maybe I should tell Seokjin everything? But-

"What's the matter with my building? What are you looking at...? Is there something wrong with it?" A deep voice questioned right beside my ear, making me jump in panic at the unexpected presence. I wildly turned to find Taehyung tilting his head awkwardly at the building before us with a curious gaze.

"What? Were you following me!?" I snapped at him.

"Me? Following you? You're the one staring at my building as if you plan to set it on fire," Taehyung scoffed at me in disbelief as he straightened his body to fold his arms.

"Who says I was staring at your building?! I was just passing by!" I argued in irritation. Taehyung suddenly snorted at my response and turned to shake his head with an amused smile.

"Yah. I was screwing a woman against my apartment window about thirty minutes ago until I noticed you standing on the opposite street with that bag of yours. I'm certain your piercing eyes were fixed on my apartment. I figured you wanted to see me, so I came down to check on you as soon as I was done with the woman," Taehyung chuckled. I nervously eyed his casual shorts...  plain T-shirt... and slippers, awkwardly averting my eyes back to his annoying smirk.

"Why would I want to see you!?" I glared at him in annoyance.

"Maybe you considered my proposal. Why? Do you want to be my girlfriend now? I thought you chose my brother- oh? Maybe he's not good in bed?" Taehyung leaned his mocking face towards mine, making me back away from him in fright.

"He's good in bed!" I snapped. Taehyung darted me a funny expression. I pursed my lips in embarrassment when I realized I accidentally blurted the thoughtless claim.

"Kaja. Come with me, and I'll change your mind," Taehyung nodded at his building with a naughty expression.

"You stupid pervert! Yah-! Stop! What are you doing-?!" I screamed in shock and tried to hit him when he caught my arm. He suddenly wrapped his around my thighs, just below my butt and effortlessly lifted me up like a little kid, making me scream in terror.

"If it hurts your pride to walk into my place at your own will then I'll carry you inside," Taehyung chuckled as he crossed the street with me in his arms. I angrily smacked his head repeatedly until he grabbed both my wrists to restrain me with his oversized hand. I screamed in frustration until the passerby turned to look at us. But before I could yell for help, Taehyung entered his building and took me to his apartment by the elevator. I huffed in annoyance after he placed me down in his living room, so I fixed my shirt and turned to glare at him with my glowering eyes.

"I brought you food because I heard you paid my friend a generous amount for his assistance. He asked me to bring his mother's side dish," I muttered, placing the bag on the table.

"Oh. That's thoughtful of him. At least he's grateful... unlike a rude person like you," Taehyung nodded and walked towards me, suddenly yanking off his shirt before me. I froze on the couch as I stared at his bulky body when he suddenly tried to pull down his pants.

"What are you doing?!" I gasped, throwing a cushion at him in shock.

"What? I thought you were here to confirm your claim? You can't say my brother is better than me without-"

"AISH! I said I'm here to bring you food! Hurry up and transfer the side dish! I need to return the kimchi box!" I screamed at him in annoyance. Taehyung chuckled at my flushed cheeks as he lifted the bag and strode into the kitchen with it, so I quickly followed him to sit at the counter.

"Do you want to join me?" Taehyung questioned as he prepared a rice bowl and placed it on the counter. He sat across from me without a shirt on, so I rested my cheek against my hand with my eyes fixed on the freshly made side dish.

"I'm not eating anything at your place," I muttered in exhaustion. Should I ask Taehyung about the ledger? What if he uses it to blackmail me? He'll never discuss work-related topics with me...

"You can eat me. I'll keep you full for the next nine months," Taehyung nodded without looking at me. I narrowed my frustrated eyes at him as he ate the side dish with plain rice before glancing out the window.

"Do you want to be a drug lord forever?" I questioned, briefly glancing at him.

"It's not a career my family is proud of, but I'm rich, so yeah. It's a decent job," Taehyung nodded as he ate.

"Decent? How is it decent when you're killing people?" I muttered, turning to look at him with a disapproving stare.

"I'm only following orders. The bad guys are the people giving the orders, Jiyoung-shi," Taehyung rolled his eyes at me.

"Who's giving the order?" I curiously turned to look at him.

"Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to. Not everyone is innocent... even my older brother," Taehyung smirked. I blinked at Taehyung with a composed expression. If I can't get him to talk about himself... then maybe I can ask about Seokjin. I'm sure he'll spill everything.

"Who's Yeona?" I muttered. Taehyung abruptly halted with the chopstick in his mouth. He slowly averted his sharp eyes to me with a wary expression.

"Did Seokjin-"

"No. Namjoon mentioned her," I shrugged dismissively. Taehyung nodded and suddenly smirked while he ate his food.

"Yeona is Soekjin's first love," Taehyung answered. I straightened my back uncomfortably at his words.

"Huh," I nodded, not knowing what to say. So Yeona is Seokjin's first love.

"He loved her a lot. He still does... probably. He never told you?" Taehyung questioned, smugly raising his eyebrow at me.

"No. I was just curious-"

"Of course. First love has a lasting grip on one's heart," Taehyung scoffed.

"I'm leaving," I sighed and got onto my feet.

"Wae? Are you jealous? Think about your relationship carefully, Jiyoung shi. The only reason Seokjin chose you is because he couldn't have Yeona," Taehyung teased, making my chest churn in discomfort. Don't listen to him!

"Bring me the kimchi box after you finish the side dish," I exhaled as I adjusted my jacket.

"I will return it, so think about my proposal until then," Taehyungs smiled as he followed me to the door.

"Why would I consider your proposal," I rolled my eyes at him.

"I want you on my side, so I'm offering you a chance to switch sides before everything goes crazy. Did you really think I'm the bad guy because I'm doing dirty work? Kim Seokjin is no different from me... a murderer dressed as a good man. We're the same, Jiyoung-shi. I'm a pervert? Are you sure you've seen the other side of Seokjin? He loves to play innocent with his hopeless victims. Believe it or not... he sleeps with as many women as I do. But women prefer him because he has the perfect man image while I'm seen as a cold-blooded jerk," Taehyung smirked at me as he leaned against the doorway with his hand in his pocket.

"What are you talking about...?" I furrowed my eyebrows at him unsurely. He wants me on his side? So it's true...? Taehyung's going to strike Seokjin with the ledger?

"My older brother... He loves to play mind games. Let me guess. He told you... I'll never pressure you? I'll wait for you? We don't have to do it if you're uncomfortable. Yeah? He makes you feel sorry for not doing things his way? So you end up submitting to him... unconsciously. Yeah? That's how he got in between your legs... right? Oh, he loves to play the perfect man because it's the easiest way to devour his prey. Like I said... He only cares about his first love. And you might think I'm making up stories to make him a bad person but see for yourself. Go back to him and ask about Yeona. You'll uncover his true colors," Taehyung smiled as I examined his deranged behavior with a restless feeling. I wanted to argue with Taehyung, but he left me speechless after I heard his words. A part of what he said... It's true. The way Seokjin brings up certain problems... to apologize and make it seem like it's his fault. Always making me feel like I'm the one at fault. I just got with him, but I'm questioning my decision to accept him now. As far as I know... ever since I met Taehyung... he never lied to me. Everything Taehyung told me... was always true. I never really paid attention to him because I thought he was a sick psycho.

"If you're right about this. What will I gain from joining your side?" I questioned, narrowing my stern eyes at his smug expression.

"Seokjin is willing to protect your stepfather, but I'll ruin the corrupt man for you. I'll pluck him out of your life, and you'll never have to face him again," Taehyung exhaled, crossing his arms with his eyes fixed on mine.

"How are you going to end my stepfather?" I asked shortly.

"I have his ledger. Didn't Jimin tell you by now? Isn't that why you're here to see me today? What are you going to do? Ask me for the ledger so Seokjin can help the abusive man? Or will you join my side and I can make him disappear from this world? It's your call, Jiyoung. Do you really want to be my brother's first love's replacement...? Or will you side with me... and I'll keep you safe. After all, you and I... We don't belong on the good side of the world," Taehyung smirked as I stared at him with contradicting thoughts.

What's going on? I don't know who to trust. I want to help Seokjin, but that means my stepfather's existence will forever terrorize me... but if I stay quiet and let Taehyung handle my stepfather... Seokjin will still be the heir.

How did I not realize this sooner? Whether Seokjin chooses to protect my family or not... He won't lose anything.

So why is he on my side...?

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Hi!!! I'm very late today! T_T I went out with my friends so I didn't have time to edit this chapter until I got home. I'll try to update as many times as possible before my break ends so stay with me! <3 I hope you're enjoying the chapter. What are your thoughts about the Kim Brothers? Who's the imposter? ;) Hehehhehe! Thank you so much for supporting Love Candidate! I love you guys! Please stay safe and have a nice day~! <3