♡ Part ~ 19 ♡

The passage of a month brought about many changes. Taehyung and Jungkook’s relationship flourished, their bond strengthening with every moment spent together. Love settled between them effortlessly, their growing connection bringing a sense of warmth to those around them.

Meanwhile, Jimin and Jungkook’s friendship had also deepened. What started as polite conversations had turned into genuine camaraderie. They laughed together, shared meals, and supported each other, making their dynamic one of comfort and trust.

Jungkook had become a frequent visitor to Taehyung’s house, and in that time, Taehyung’s family had embraced him with open arms. Jin, Namjoon, and even their parents adored Jungkook’s presence, treating him as one of their own. Happiness filled their home, creating an atmosphere of love and togetherness.

But amidst all this warmth, one person remained shrouded in darkness.

Min Yoongi.

His world had become a bleak, merciless place, consumed entirely by one thought—finding Jimin.

Days turned into nights, and nights into days, but his search bore no results. Jimin remained out of reach, a ghost that had slipped through his fingers.

In Yoongi’s desperation, he sought solace in alcohol and smoke. His once carefully maintained composure crumbled, replaced by unchecked frustration. The lack of progress in his search only fueled his descent into self-destruction.

A month ago, he had been ruthless. Now, he was worse—dangerous.

His temper was a beast, snapping at anyone who dared approach him. His patience had vanished, and his kindness—what little he once had—was long gone.

His home remained untouched, abandoned in favour of his office, the only place where he could drown himself in work, alcohol, and the illusion of control. He hadn’t visited his family in weeks, his mother’s worried calls ignored, Jungkook’s texts left unanswered.

He told himself he was busy. That work kept him away. But deep down, he knew the truth.

Jimin had become his obsession.

He would not stop. He would not give up.

If Jimin thought he could escape him, he was wrong.

Yoongi would find him.

At any cost.

♡♤♡

The dim glow of the bar lights flickered against the polished counter as Yoongi sat hunched over, a glass of whiskey gripped tightly in his hand. The sharp burn of alcohol had long since lost its sting, numbing him to everything but the relentless thoughts of Jimin that plagued his mind.

Another drink. Another attempt to drown the ache in his chest.

A heavy sigh escaped him as he reached for the bottle to pour himself another, but before he could, a familiar voice interrupted his downward spiral.

"Don't you think that's enough, Yoongi?"

Yoongi barely turned his head as Hoseok slid onto the stool beside him, concern written all over his face.

"What is 'enough,' Hobi?" Yoongi's voice was raspy, hoarse from alcohol and exhaustion. He set the glass down but made no move to push it away.

"Yoongi, this drinking needs to stop. It's not good for you," Hoseok urged, his voice laced with worry. "Please, understand, it's not healthy. Look at yourself."

Yoongi scoffed, a hollow laugh leaving his lips. His bloodshot eyes met Hoseok’s, dark with a dangerous glint.

"Fine," he said, voice eerily calm. "Bring him to me, and I'll stop drinking."

Hoseok clenched his fists at Yoongi’s words, frustration surging through him. "Yoongi, listen to yourself. Do you even hear what you're saying?"

Yoongi didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed his glass and downed the remaining whiskey in one swift gulp before slamming it onto the counter. The sound echoed through the quiet bar.

Hoseok exhaled sharply, trying to keep his temper in check. "Why don't we consider letting him go?" he asked, his tone softer now, as if trying to reason with a man too lost to see reality. "Even if you find him, he won't accept you. What you did—kidnapping him, forcing him—Yoongi, that’s not love."

A flicker of something crossed Yoongi's face. Guilt? Anger? Desperation? It disappeared as quickly as it came.

"I want him," Yoongi stated, his voice unwavering, cold. "And I'll make him fall in love with me."

Hoseok's heart sank. He had never seen Yoongi like this before—this obsessive, this unhinged. He had lost himself in Jimin, in his own twisted sense of possession.

"Yoongi…" Hoseok whispered, watching his friend drown in his own madness.

But Yoongi wasn't listening anymore. His mind was already elsewhere, lost in thoughts of Jimin.

And he wasn’t going to stop.

Not until Jimin was his.

Hoseok sighed, rubbing a hand over his face in frustration. He was at his limit.

"Yoongi, you can’t force someone to love you," he said, his voice laced with both exhaustion and concern. "You say you want Jimin, but what about what he wants? Have you even thought about that?"

Yoongi's grip on the empty glass tightened, his jaw clenching. "He doesn’t know what he wants," he bit out. "He’s confused. He ran away because he’s scared, but once he’s back with me, he’ll realize I’m the only one for him."

Hoseok stared at his friend in disbelief. "Listen to yourself! You sound delusional, Yoongi. You’re not in love—you’re obsessed. And it’s killing you."

Yoongi let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head. "You don’t understand, Hobi." He poured himself another drink, swirling the amber liquid before taking a slow sip. "You’ve never felt this way before. You’ve never wanted something—someone—so badly that you'd do anything to have them."

"You’re right," Hoseok admitted, leaning forward, his gaze sharp. "I haven’t. But you have, and look at what it’s doing to you. You’re ruining yourself, pushing away your family, losing yourself in alcohol and anger. Is that really love, Yoongi? Or is it just your pride refusing to let go?"

Yoongi slammed the glass down so hard that some of the liquid sloshed over the rim. His eyes flashed with fury. "I won't let go!" His voice was sharp, filled with an almost desperate edge. "Jimin is mine! He belongs with me, and I will find him. No matter what it takes."

Hoseok flinched at the sheer possessiveness in his tone.

"You can’t own a person, Yoongi," he said quietly, trying to reach the part of his friend that still had reason left. "Love isn't about control."

Yoongi exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. His fingers trembled slightly—whether from anger, alcohol, or something deeper, even he didn’t know.

"I don't expect you to understand," he muttered, shaking his head. "But I will have him back. I don't care how long it takes. Jimin was meant to be mine."

Hoseok stood up, his expression unreadable. His heart ached seeing his best friend like this—so lost, so consumed by something so dangerous.

"If you keep going down this path," he said solemnly, "you're going to lose him forever."

Yoongi’s eyes darkened, but he said nothing.

Hoseok let out one last sigh before turning away. "I hope, for your sake, that you realize it before it’s too late."

The cold night air did little to soothe the burning rage within Yoongi as he stormed out of the bar, his mind a chaotic whirlwind of emotions. Hoseok followed closely behind, wary of his friend’s unpredictable state.

But just as Yoongi stepped toward his car, he collided with someone, the sudden impact causing the glass in his hand to tilt. The remnants of his whiskey spilled onto his already wrinkled dress shirt, the liquid soaking into the fabric.

"Hey! Can't you watch where you're going? Are you blind or what?" The man snapped, brushing off the front of his own expensive-looking coat.

Yoongi froze mid-step. His head turned slowly, his eyes dark and piercing as they locked onto the man before him. The insult echoed in his mind, fueling the simmering anger that had been festering all night. His fingers curled into tight fists at his sides.

He didn't reply, didn't even acknowledge the man with a word. Instead, he walked past him without so much as a glance, his tense jaw the only sign of his barely contained fury.

Hoseok, sensing the shift in his energy, immediately picked up his pace. "Yoongi, don’t—"

But it was already too late.

Just as the man reached his car and went to open the door, Yoongi’s hand shot out, seizing his wrist in an iron grip. The sudden force made the man jerk back, his entire body freezing as he spun around in shock.

"What the hell? Let go of me!" he barked, trying to yank his arm free. But Yoongi’s grip only tightened.

The air between them grew thick, tension crackling like electricity.

"Did you just imply that I'm blind?" Yoongi's voice was low, calm, but it held an underlying menace that sent a chill down the man’s spine. "Let me show you just how well I can see."

And before the man could react, Yoongi twisted his arm roughly and shoved him back. He stumbled, his balance faltering as he crashed to the ground with a grunt.

The man’s shock quickly turned to anger. Scrambling to his feet, he dusted off his expensive coat, his eyes flashing with fury. "Are you insane? What’s wrong with you?!"

Yoongi took a slow step forward, his expression unreadable. "I'm furious," he admitted, his voice deceptively soft. "And you just made it worse."

Then, without warning, his fist connected with the man’s jaw, sending him staggering backward.

"You son of a—!" The man barely had time to curse before Yoongi was on him again, delivering a ruthless punch to his stomach. The man gasped, doubling over in pain.

"Yoongi!" Hoseok shouted, running forward to intervene. "Stop it! You're going too far!"

But Yoongi wasn’t listening. The world around him had faded, and all he could see was red. Every punch, every kick, every hit—he poured his rage, his helplessness, and his frustration into it. He had lost control, and in that moment, he didn’t care.

The man groaned, his body trembling as he struggled to lift himself from the pavement. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips, his breathing ragged. Yet Yoongi showed no sign of stopping.

Hoseok reached him just in time, grabbing his arm before he could land another brutal strike. "Yoongi, stop it! You might kill him!"

For a moment, Yoongi didn’t move. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his knuckles bruised and bloodied. Then, with one final harsh kick to the man's abdomen, he relented.

The man coughed, groaning in pain as he clutched his ribs. He glared up at Yoongi, hatred burning in his eyes. But before he could say anything, Yoongi crouched down, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him close.

"Listen carefully," Yoongi murmured, his voice eerily composed. "You should know better than to cross me."

The man shuddered, finally recognizing who he was dealing with. "Who... who the hell are you?" he rasped, his voice weak.

Yoongi smirked, his lips curling cruelly. "The ruler of the Mafia underworld," he whispered darkly.

The man's face is drained of color. His breathing hitched, realization dawning upon him. He nodded rapidly, his entire body trembling.

Yoongi released his grip, standing tall as he gazed down at the man like he was nothing more than an insect beneath his shoe. "Now, get the hell out of here," he commanded, his voice dripping with venom. "And don’t ever let me see your pathetic face again."

Without hesitation, the man scrambled to his feet, stumbling as he rushed to his car and sped away into the night.

Hoseok exhaled heavily, rubbing his temples. "Damn it, Yoongi," he muttered, exhausted from trying to control him. "Do you even hear yourself anymore?"

Yoongi let out a humorless chuckle, wiping the blood off his knuckles with the back of his hand. "I hear myself just fine," he said, voice devoid of emotion.

And with that, he turned on his heel, leaving Hoseok to stare after him with a heavy heart.

Because this?

This wasn’t the Yoongi he once knew.

As Yoongi staggered toward the exit of the bar, the night air hit him like a slap to the face, momentarily clearing the fog in his mind. But before he could take another step, a firm grip latched onto his arm, pulling him back.

"Where do you think you're going, huh?" Hoseok's voice cut through the stillness, his tone laced with disbelief.

Yoongi turned, his expression blank as if the question was ridiculous. "My house." His words were slurred but laced with his usual unwavering resolve.

Hoseok's eyebrows shot up, arms folding across his chest. "In this state? Completely intoxicated?"

Yoongi sighed, rolling his eyes as he shook Hoseok’s hand off. "I can drive home," he muttered, attempting to brush past him.

However, Hoseok stepped in front of him, placing a firm hand against his chest, stopping him. "Like hell, you can. You're barely standing straight, and you want to get behind the wheel? Not happening."

"I'm fine," Yoongi gritted out, glaring at his friend.

"No, you're not," Hoseok shot back, his tone unwavering. "You're not going anywhere alone, let alone in this condition. Come on, I'll drop you off at your place." Without waiting for an argument, Hoseok turned and headed toward his car.

Yoongi clenched his jaw but followed, too drained to put up a fight.

As they reached the car, Hoseok opened the passenger door and gestured for Yoongi to get in. "Sit."

Yoongi let out a short chuckle, shaking his head as he slid into the seat. "Alright, sir," he said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Hoseok chuckled softly, shaking his head as he got into the driver’s seat. "Yeah, yeah. Just shut up and let me drive."

The engine hummed to life as Hoseok pulled onto the road. The drive was quiet, save for the occasional deep sigh from Yoongi. The weight of exhaustion pressed against his shoulders, but his mind refused to let go of the thoughts that consumed him.

Jimin.

Would he ever see him again?

---

When they arrived at Yoongi’s house, Hoseok parked the car and turned to him. "Come on, let’s get you inside."

Yoongi didn't protest as Hoseok unlocked the door, leading him into the dimly lit living room. The moment they stepped inside, Yoongi sank onto the couch, exhaling heavily.

Hoseok disappeared into the kitchen for a moment before returning with a glass of water, sitting beside Yoongi. "Drink."

Yoongi took the glass without a word, sipping it slowly.

"Look at you, Yoongi," Hoseok muttered, shaking his head. "You’ve changed so much. You’ve always been distant, but not like this. Not with your family. You need to regain control. This level of anger… it’s dangerous."

Yoongi remained silent, staring at the water in his hands.

"You’ve eliminated so many people out of frustration. I get it, some of them deserved it. But do you realize the commissioner of Seoul wants to meet you about this? I’ve kept things under control for now, but you’ll have to face him next month." Hoseok’s voice was serious, his concern evident.

Yoongi finally spoke, his voice rough. "I don’t care. I love him, Hobi. I just want him."

Hoseok let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples. "I care, though. Your family cares. This boy—Jimin—he’s led you to drink like this. Your absence from the office for a whole month has affected your business, your company, and your work. Your family needs you to get back on track."

Yoongi closed his eyes briefly before leaning back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. "One month has gone by, and he's still missing. No information whatsoever. How long should I wait?" His voice cracked slightly, but he masked it with a deep breath. "But regardless, I’ll wait. He means everything to me, after my family. I won’t let him slip away."

Hoseok’s heart clenched at the rare vulnerability in his friend’s voice.

"But what if something happened to him?" Yoongi’s voice was barely above a whisper now, the fear creeping in.

"He’ll be alright," Hoseok reassured, even though he wasn’t entirely convinced. "But you? You’re not alright."

"I am," Yoongi insisted, gripping the glass tightly. "And once I find him, I won’t leave his side again."

Hoseok sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "You're not grasping my point, are you? Or maybe you're avoiding it." He shook his head. "No matter. You rarely understand things quickly. Just… take care, alright? I’ll check on you later."

Yoongi gave a slight nod, his gaze distant.

As Hoseok stood, heading toward the door, Yoongi finally looked up. "Goodnight, Hobi," he murmured. "Please let me know if you find anything about Jimin."

Hoseok paused at the doorway, glancing back at him. "I will," he promised before stepping out into the night.

Yoongi remained on the couch for a while, the house eerily quiet around him. Finally, exhaustion overtook him, and without changing his clothes, he let himself drift into a restless sleep.

And in his dreams, Jimin was waiting for him—just out of reach.

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