† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟲 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟲†❝𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

༺ ☠︎ †  𝖁 𝖎 𝖘 𝖎 𝖔 𝖓  𝖎 𝖓  𝕯 𝖆 𝖗 𝖐  † ☠︎ ༻

Taehyung's entire body burned with anger as he glared at Jungkook. His fury had no limits. The moment Jungkook had crossed the line–calling Evie such a disgusting name–something inside him had snapped beyond repair.

It wasn't just about Evie anymore. It was about basic human decency. Respect. The kind of respect Jungkook had never learned to give.

Meanwhile, Jungkook stood in disbelief, his jaw tight, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. His mind was racing, unable to process the fact that Taehyung, his closest friend, had just lashed out at him.

Taehyung, the one who always stayed quiet, who never challenged him this way. Now, he was standing against him? Over her?

"You seriously did this to me?" Jungkook finally spoke, his voice sharp with resentment. "To me, Taehyung? Your own friend? How can you be like this? How can you let some girl manipulate you into turning against me? You think this is normal? You're getting manipulated!"

Taehyung let out a scoff, shaking his head in disbelief. His anger was beyond words, but he forced himself to speak, his voice low and steady, though every syllable carried the weight of his rage.

"No one is manipulating me, Jungkook," he spat. "I'm saying this because I can't keep quiet anymore. You always act like this–like you're above everyone else. Like no one is good enough, like you have the right to treat people however you want. And for what? Just because of your damn ego?"

Jungkook scoffed, shaking his head. "You're acting like this over a damn match, Taehyung! A stupid game! You ditched us! You threw away everything we built just for some girl— "

"This isn't about the match!" Taehyung shouted, cutting him off. His eyes burned with fury as he stepped closer. "This is about you! About the way you talk, the way you think you can say whatever the hell you want and everyone will just nod and take it. You called a woman that word, Jungkook. Do you even hear yourself? Do you even understand how disgusting that is? And you expect me to just agree with you?"

Jungkook's face hardened, his pride refusing to let him back down. "I was just saying the truth—"

"The truth?!" Taehyung repeated, his voice dripping with anger. "No, This is your fucking truth. Your twisted, arrogant way of seeing the world. You think your status, your money, your stupid pride gives you the right to judge people? To insult women like that? To treat people like they're beneath you?!"

Jungkook clenched his jaw, his hands shaking from frustration, but before he could say another word, Taehyung let out a deep breath and looked around at the rest of their so-called friends–the ones who stood in silence, watching but not stopping Jungkook, not standing up for what was right.

"You know what?" Taehyung exhaled sharply, his voice quieter now but filled with finality. "All of you… you can go to hell for all I care. I don't need this. I don't need to be around people who don't have a shred of respect for women, for basic human decency. I stayed quiet for too long, hoping–hoping–that maybe one day you'd learn, that you'd realize how toxic you are. But you won't. You're too arrogant. Too full of yourself to ever see beyond your own damn pride."

He turned his gaze back to Jungkook, looking at him as if he were a stranger.

"You think you're untouchable because of your status? Because of your name?" Taehyung scoffed. "You're not. And one day, you're going to regret this. You're going to regret the way you treat people. You're going to look back and realize you pushed away the people who actually cared about you. But by then, it'll be too late."

Jungkook's face remained unreadable, but Taehyung didn't care anymore. He was done.

"Change, Jungkook," he said one last time. "If you don't, then don't ever expect me to stand by your side again."

With that, Taehyung turned and walked away, leaving behind the friendship that had once meant everything to him.

Jungkook stood there, his fists still clenched, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His mind was a storm of emotions–anger, disbelief, irritation. Taehyung had never spoken to him like that before. Never. And over her? Over some girl he barely knew?

One of his friends, clapped a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head with a sigh. "Forget it, man. Taehyung just got too carried away. It's a new thing for him, you know? He's never been with a girl before, never really been that close to someone like that. He doesn't know what he's doing."

Another friend, said. "Yeah, he's all caught up in the moment. First time falling for a chick, and suddenly he thinks he's some hero, defending her like she's some saint. But we know how girls like her are. Just give it time."

His friend nodded, glancing toward the direction Taehyung had stormed off. "He'll come crawling back when he sees her real face. When he realizes she's just like every other gold-digging, manipulative chick out there. He's blinded right now, but once she screws him over, he'll be back."

Jungkook exhaled sharply, his jaw still locked. A part of him wanted to believe that. That Taehyung was just acting out, that he'd come back once reality hit him.

That he'd see what Jungkook had been trying to tell him. But another part of him–one he wasn't ready to acknowledge–felt something else.

It wasn't just anger. It wasn't just irritation. It was something deeper, something unfamiliar.

For the first time, someone had stood up to him.

For the first time, Taehyung had looked at him like he was wrong.

And Jungkook hated that feeling.

He scoffed, shaking his head. "Let's go," he muttered, his voice sharp. "I don't have time for this shit."

And just like that, he walked away, but deep down, the anger still burned.

†

Evie sat on the bench in the school ground, her bag resting beside her as she waited for the last few minutes of college hours to pass. The ground was already filling with students, some standing in small groups chatting, others heading toward the gate, eager to leave. It was the usual scene at this hour, the kind of routine she was used to.

Her foot still hurt a little, though the pain wasn't as sharp as before. Taehyung had applied the ointment earlier, and it had helped a lot. She was feeling much better now, but the exhaustion was catching up with her. She was drained–mentally and physically.

A part of her wanted to stay back and watch Taehyung's match, but another part just wanted to go home, lie down, and sleep.

She sighed, staring at the students walking by, lost in thought, until she suddenly heard her name being called.

"Evie."

She turned her head and was surprised to see Taehyung standing in front of her–not in his sports attire, but in his regular clothes. She blinked in confusion. He was supposed to be on the field, playing in his match. What was he doing here?

Taehyung stepped closer, his expression calm. "Are you okay now?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Evie nodded slowly but narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm fine, but… what are you doing here? Don't you have your match?"

Taehyung shrugged, his tone casual. "I got late, so I wasn't able to play."

Evie frowned, instantly feeling guilty. She knew exactly why he had gotten late–it was because of her. He had been with her, taking care of her when she was in pain. And because of that, he had missed something important to him.

"I'm so sorry," she said softly. "It's because of me, isn't it?"

Taehyung immediately shook his head. "Don't say that. It's not your fault." His voice held no trace of regret, as if missing the match didn't matter to him at all.

Before she could respond, the college bell rang, signaling the end of classes, and the large gates swung open. Students rushed toward the exit, eager to leave. Taehyung had his bag slung over his back, and before Evie could even react, he reached down and picked up her bag as well.

Evie's eyes widened. "Hey! I can carry that —"

But Taehyung didn't listen. He simply adjusted the strap on his shoulder and looked at her. "Can you walk properly?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Evie hesitated before carefully getting up from the bench. The pain wasn't as bad as before, but she still felt a slight discomfort with each step. A small twitch of pain shot through her ankle, making her wince.

Taehyung noticed immediately. Without another word, he stepped beside her and extended his arm slightly. "Hold onto me," he said. "For support. We'll walk slowly."

Evie looked at him, feeling warmth spread through her chest at his kindness. She hesitated for a moment before lightly resting her hand on his arm. His presence was steady, reassuring.

As they began walking towards, he matched her pace perfectly, never rushing her, never letting her feel like she was struggling alone.

The bus stop was crowded, with students and office workers waiting for their rides home. Evie adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, only to realize she didn't need to because Taehyung was still holding it.

She turned to him with a small frown. "You can give me my bag now, you know. I can carry it."

Taehyung barely glanced at her before shaking his head. "Nope. I got it."

She sighed but didn't argue. Instead, she focused on waiting for the bus, watching as a few people boarded the ones that stopped briefly.

After a moment, Taehyung casually said, "I'll drop you home."

Evie blinked, caught off guard by his words. "What?"

"I'll come with you and drop you home," he repeated, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Evie hesitated. She wasn't expecting that. It wasn't like she needed someone to take her home–her foot was much better now, and she could manage on her own. She didn't want to be a burden to him.

"You don't have to do that," she said quickly. "I'm fine, really. I don't want to trouble you."

Taehyung gave her a look, as if she had said something ridiculous. "It's not trouble. I actually want to visit your house and meet your father." His lips curled slightly, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Or do you not want me to come over?"

Evie stiffened. "It's not that," she muttered.

"Oh?" He leaned slightly toward her. "Then what is it?"

She pursed her lips. "I just didn't think you'd want to."

Taehyung chuckled. "Why wouldn't I? I get to make sure you reach home safely, and I might get to meet your dad too. Maybe I should introduce myself properly."

Evie felt her face heat up. "You're making it sound like—"

"Like what?" he asked, his grin widening.

Before she could answer, the bus pulled up, and the doors opened. The crowd shuffled forward, and as they climbed inside, Taehyung scanned the seats. The bus was packed, with only a few empty spaces scattered here and there.

Evie was about to move toward a spot where she could stand, but before she could, Taehyung gently guided her toward an empty seat near the window. "Sit here," he said.

She sighed. "Taehyung, I can stand—"

He gave her a look, one that left no room for argument. "Sit," he repeated, his voice softer this time.

She sighed but complied, lowering herself onto the seat. Taehyung stood next to her, holding onto the metal pole as the bus started moving.

Evie tilted her head up at him, raising an eyebrow. "You're acting like I broke my leg or something."

Taehyung smirked. "Maybe I like acting like this."

She rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips.

The ride was short, filled with the gentle hum of the moving bus and the occasional quiet conversations of other passengers. Taehyung remained standing beside her the whole time, even though there were other seats that became available as the bus emptied.

When their stop came, he extended his hand slightly as she got up, just in case she needed balance. She gave him a playful glare but still took a careful step off the bus.

Once they were on the street, Taehyung adjusted his bag over one shoulder and carried hers in his free hand. Evie glanced at him, amused. "You're still carrying my bag?"

"Obviously." He flashed her a grin. "It's part of the service."

She shook her head, but she didn't argue. As they walked through the streets leading to her home, Taehyung kept a slow pace, matching hers.

Evie didn't need much support now, but she still held onto his arm, her fingers curling gently around his sleeve.

She could walk fine, but… why deny a golden opportunity?

She tightened her grip just slightly, enjoying the warmth of his arm under her touch.

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable for a moment, before he smirked. "You seem to be holding on tighter than before."

Evie lifted her chin. "So? It's comfortable."

Taehyung chuckled, shaking his head, but he didn't say anything else.

The streets were quieter now, bathed in the glow of the setting sun. The atmosphere was calm, peaceful, yet there was something undeniably special about this moment.

And as Evie walked beside him, holding onto him, she realized she liked this–more than she was willing to admit.

As they finally reached her house, Evie instinctively let go of Taehyung's arm the moment they stepped onto her front porch. She didn't even look at him as she quickly took her bag from his grasp, her fingers brushing against his for a fleeting second before she pulled it away completely.

Taehyung, of course, noticed. He raised an eyebrow before a small chuckle escaped his lips. He didn't need to ask why–he already knew. Her father.

Evie stood in front of the door, exhaling as if she was preparing herself for battle. Then, with a deep breath, she knocked twice before stepping back.

Within seconds, the door opened, revealing her father, Mr. Parker, dressed in his usual work attire–his white button-up slightly wrinkled, his tie loosened as if he had just come home from a long day at the office. His tired expression softened the moment he saw his daughter.

"Evie, you're home," he said, his voice warm as he took a step forward. His gaze briefly dropped to her feet as if checking if she was okay. "You're late today. Everything alright?"

"Yes, Dad, everything's fine," she assured him, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. But before she could step inside, her father's eyes finally flickered past her–to the young man standing quietly beside her.

Immediately, Mr. Parker's expression changed. His brows furrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line as his entire demeanor shifted from welcoming to cautious. His sharp eyes scanned Taehyung from head to toe, assessing him as only a protective father would.

Evie nearly groaned out loud.

"Who's this?" her father asked, his tone unreadable.

Evie shifted uncomfortably before clearing her throat. "Dad, this is Kim Taehyung."

That name alone did nothing to change Mr. Parker's guarded stance. He continued staring at Taehyung, waiting for more explanation.

Sighing, Evie crossed her arms. "You know, Kim Taehyung. Son of Kim Jesung," she emphasized, watching as her father's expression barely shifted. "The same Kim Jesung you always talk about? Your boss?"

That did it.

The moment those words left her mouth, her father entire demeanor flipped like a switch. His once–serious expression melted into pure surprise, his eyes widening as he looked at Taehyung again–this time, with an entirely new perspective.

"Kim Jesung's son?" he repeated, as if to confirm he had heard her correctly.

Taehyung, who had remained respectfully quiet this whole time, finally offered a polite smile and nodded. "Yes, sir. It's nice to meet you."

And just like that, Mr. Parker's hesitation vanished. His face lit up with a mixture of shock and enthusiasm, and before Evie could even prepare herself, her father was already stepping forward.

"Well, why didn't you say so earlier?" Her father beamed, suddenly welcoming. "Come in, come in! It’s such an honor to have you here."

Evie sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. Of course. Typical. First, act like a protective father, but the second he hears that the guy is from a good family–more specifically, his boss's family–he turns into a complete simp.

Taehyung, clearly amused by the entire situation, tried his best to suppress his laughter. He briefly glanced at Evie, his eyes twinkling with mischief, but she refused to acknowledge him.

Instead, she brushed past her father into the house, muttering under her breath, "Unbelievable."

As Evie stepped inside, she could still hear her father enthusiastically welcoming Taehyung, his entire demeanor now completely changed from the protective, scrutinizing father to a man eager to impress.

She didn't even have to look back to know that her father was probably already offering him a seat, maybe even something to drink, as if he were a long–lost relative rather than a college boy who had simply walked her home.

She sighed, setting her bag down near the entryway before turning to glance at them. And just as expected, her father had switched into full hospitality mode.

"Please, sit down, son," Mr. Parker said, gesturing towards the couch with a grin. "It's an honor to have you here. I've seen your father. He's an exceptional man, one of the most respected figures in the industry."

Taehyung, always polite, gave a modest nod as he sat down. "Thank you, sir. My father speaks highly of you as well. He values the hard work and loyalty of everyone in the company."

Evie watched as her father nearly puffed up with pride at those words, the slight exhaustion from his long day at work disappearing entirely. It was clear that hearing even the slightest praise from Kim Jesung's son was like receiving an award of honor.

She couldn't help but shake her head in amusement before walking towards the kitchen, already knowing how this was going to play out. Her father would probably insist on keeping Taehyung here for at least another hour, engaging in polite conversation about work, success, and how 'young men like him were the future.'

And while she knew her father's protectiveness was genuine, there was also a part of him that respected wealth and status more than he probably realized. If Taehyung had been just a normal guy, she doubted he would have been so quick to invite him inside, let alone offer him tea.

As she grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, she listened to their conversation from a distance, hearing the easy way Taehyung responded to her father's words. He was effortlessly charming, never overstepping, but always making sure to say just the right thing.

She returned to the living room, leaning slightly against the wall as she watched them. Taehyung looked perfectly comfortable, sitting with a relaxed posture, his expression warm yet respectful. He was good at this–good at making people like him without even trying too hard.

When he glanced in her direction, his lips curled into a small, knowing smile.

Evie narrowed her eyes slightly before looking away. She wasn't sure if she was more amused or annoyed by how easily he had won her father over.

Her father finally turned his attention back to her. "Evie, why didn't you tell me you were friends with Taehyung?"

She shrugged, taking a sip of her water. "I didn't think it was important."

Mr. Parker scoffed as if that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "Not important? You're friends with the son of Kim Jesung, and you didn't think it was important?"

Taehyung chuckled, shaking his head. "Evie doesn't see people for their names or status, sir. She treats everyone the same."

Something about the way he said it made her pause. It wasn't just a statement–it was almost like a quiet compliment.

Her father, still caught up in his enthusiasm, simply nodded in agreement. "That's just like her," he said, smiling before turning back to Taehyung. "So, how long have you two known each other?"

Evie sighed, already preparing herself for what she knew would be a long conversation. Taehyung was here now, and with how her father was reacting, there was no way he was leaving anytime soon.

But strangely enough… she didn't mind as much as she thought she would.

As the evening stretched on and dinner came to an end, Taehyung finally stood up, ready to leave. Though he had enjoyed his time, he could tell that Mr. Parker would have been more than happy to keep him around for a few more hours, talking about work, life, and everything in between.

"I should get going now," Taehyung said politely, picking up his bag.

Mr. Parker let out a dramatic sigh. "Already? You should stay a little longer. It's not every day we get such a fine young man as a guest."

Evie rolled her eyes at her father’s blatant favoritism. "Dad, let him go before you scare him off completely," she muttered, pushing herself up from her chair.

Taehyung chuckled, shaking his head. "It's fine, sir. I'll come by again sometime." He turned to Evie, tilting his head slightly. "You're walking me to the door, right?"

She sighed, but there was a hint of amusement in her expression. "Yeah, yeah, come on."

As they stepped outside, the night air was cool and quiet. The street was dimly lit by the streetlights, casting long shadows along the sidewalk.

Taehyung turned to her, his expression soft. "Take care of your foot, okay? Don't walk around too much if it still hurts."

Evie nodded. "It's already better. Thanks for helping me today."

A mischievous glint appeared in Taehyung's eyes as he smirked. "Well, I came to your house today… so that means, someday, you'll have to come to mine."

Evie raised an eyebrow. "Says who?"

"Says me," he teased. "My family will want to meet the girl whose dad already likes me so much."

She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Yeah, right."

Taehyung laughed at her reaction, his voice warm and full of amusement. "We'll see about that." He gave her one last playful glance before turning to leave. "Goodnight, Evie."

She watched as he walked away, shaking her head before stepping back inside.

As soon as she entered, her father was sitting on the couch, arms crossed, looking at her with a knowing smile.

"So," he said, dragging out the word. "Is there something going on that I don't know about?"

Evie groaned, throwing her head back. "Dad, please."

Mr. Parker chuckled, clearly enjoying this far too much. "What? I'm not blind, Evie. I already passed this stage in life–I know how these things work."

She huffed, flopping onto the couch beside him. "You're supposed to be a protective father. But instead, just because he's your boss's son, you're acting like he's some golden boy."

Her father shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. "What can I say? You have good taste."

Evie groaned again, covering her face with a cushion. "This is the worst."

Her father only laughed, patting her head affectionately. "Just don't pretend I don't see what's happening."

Evie refused to respond, but deep down, she knew there was no point in arguing. Her father had already made up his mind and worse, he wasn't wrong.

★ ★ ★

—𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗏𝗈𝗍𝖾         𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍···୨ৎ