♡ Part ~ 7 ♡

Taehyung's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at Jimin. "Yes, Tae, what's shocking?" Jimin asked, confusion etched on his face.

Taehyung's mind racing, he tried to process the unexpected encounter. "No, I mean... I came here once before, but I didn't see you at that time," he said, his voice filled with excitement.

Jimin chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, God, Tae, you're so silly," he said, shaking his head. "You came here only once, that's why."

Taehyung grinned, feeling happy to see his best friend again. "Umm, yeah... maybe," he said, his voice filled with laughter.

As they stood there, Taehyung felt grateful for their friendship. "Chim, when will you come meet Mom and Dad?" Taehyung asked, his voice filled with warmth.

Jimin's expression softened, and he looked at Taehyung with affection. "I'll come soon, Tae," he replied, his voice filled with promise.

"I've missed you so much, Chim," Taehyung said, his voice sincere.

"I've missed you too, Tae," Jimin replied, smiling.

Just then, a voice called out from behind, "Hey, Taehyung, what are you doing here?" Taehyung turned around to see his friend Woo Bin approaching him.

Taehyung smiled, happy to introduce his best friend to Woo Bin. "Oh, nothing, Woo bin," he said. "Look, I met my old friend after a long time."

Woo Bin's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, what's his name?" he asked.

Taehyung grinned. "His name is Park Jimin, my best friend," he said, his voice filled with pride.

Woo Bin smiled. "Nice to meet you, Jimin," he said.

Jimin smiled back, his eyes sparkling with friendliness. "Nice to meet you too, Woo Bin," he replied.

Woobin's eyes sparkled with amusement as he gazed at Jimin. "Your friend is really beautiful, Tae," he said, his voice laced with teasing.

Jimin's face flushed a deep shade of pink as he looked down, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you."

Taehyung rolled his eyes good-naturedly, used to Woobin's antics. "Anyway, Woo bin, what's up?" he asked.

Woo bin grinned. "We're heading out. Want to come with us, Tae?"

Taehyung shook his head, his eyes never leaving Jimin's face. "No, you guys go ahead. I'll catch up with you later."

Woo bin nodded, winking at Jimin before turning to leave. "Later, Tae. Nice meeting you, Jimin."

As Woo bin walked away, Taehyung felt a sense of relief washed over him. He was glad to have some time alone with Jimin.

Just then, his phone rang, shrill in the silence. Taehyung hesitated for a moment before picking it up, his eyes still locked on Jimin's face.

On call.

Tae

Yes, appa?

Jin

Where are you bby?

Tae

I'm at bar appa.

Jin

Come home early son, it's already late.

Tae

Okay appa I'm coming.

Call ended

Taehyung ended the call, his eyes locking onto Jimin's as he listened intently to their conversation. Jimin's expression turned serious, his eyes pleading.

"Taehyung, please don't tell Appa and eomma that you met me," Jimin said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want to surprise them."

Taehyung's face softened, his heart melting at Jimin's request. "Okay, Chim, don't worry," he promised, his voice filled with reassurance. "And yeah, I'm going to make sure you take care of yourself and head home early."

"Why are you worrying so much, Tae?" Jimin asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Because I'm always worried about you, Chim," Taehyung replied, his voice sincere. "You're my best friend, and I care about you."

Jimin's expression turned warm, his eyes shining with affection. "I care about you too, Tae."

Without another word, Taehyung wrapped Jimin in a warm hug, holding him close. Jimin's arms hesitated for a moment before wrapping around Taehyung's waist, returning the hug.

"Okay, you too, take care," Jimin replied, his voice muffled against Taehyung's shoulder.

♡♤♡♤♡

A Shadow in the Night

Suga stepped out of the building, his mission complete. His movements were swift, precise, as if every second wasted was a step closer to danger. He pulled out his phone and dialed Hoseok’s number, waiting only a moment before his friend picked it up.

"Hoseok, meet me at the Black Orchid Bar in fifteen minutes," Suga said, his voice calm yet firm. He didn’t offer any explanation before ending the call, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

The streets were quiet, save for the occasional honking of distant cars and the soft murmur of the city at night. Suga moved through the shadows effortlessly, his mind already piecing together the puzzle of his next move.

The neon sign of Black Orchid flickered as he stepped inside. The bar was still alive at this hour, the low hum of conversations mixing with the sultry tunes playing in the background. His sharp eyes scanned the room before settling on a secluded booth near the back. He made his way over, sinking into the worn leather seat, his expression unreadable.

Fifteen minutes later, Hoseok arrived, his usual carefree energy slightly dimmed by the late hour. His sharp eyes swept the room before he spotted Suga, a figure of quiet intensity sitting alone in the dim light. He slid into the seat across from him, instantly sensing the tension.

"Yoongi," Hoseok greeted, his voice tinged with curiosity and concern. "What’s going on? Calling me this late—is something wrong?"

Before Suga could respond, a waiter appeared beside them, setting down two glasses.

"Black whiskey for you, sir, and a rum and coke for your friend," the waiter announced before walking away.

Hoseok smirked, lifting his glass. "So you do remember my drink order, huh?" he teased, taking a sip. His amusement quickly faded when he saw Suga’s unwavering stare.

"I called you here because someone’s been following me," Suga finally said, his voice low but firm.

Hoseok raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Then kill him," he replied nonchalantly, swirling his drink in his hand. "You usually don’t hesitate, so what’s the big deal?"

Suga exhaled sharply, his patience wearing thin. "Oh wow, what a genius plan, Hoseok. Why didn’t I think of that?" he deadpanned, sarcasm dripping from his words.

Hoseok chuckled, but the amusement didn’t quite reach his eyes. "So why haven’t you? If it were that simple, you wouldn’t have called me."

Suga leaned forward slightly, his eyes flickering toward the entrance. "Because whoever this is… they’re persistent. They’ve been lurking around, watching me, and now, they’re here."

Hoseok followed his gaze toward the bar’s entrance. Sure enough, a man stood just outside, dressed in a black jacket, his head slightly bowed as he pretended to check his phone.

Hoseok’s grip on his drink tightened. "Shit…" he muttered.

Before either of them could move, a loud commotion erupted outside.

Suga and Hoseok exchanged glances before immediately pushing back from the table and making their way toward the exit.

As they stepped onto the sidewalk, they saw the same man sprinting towards his car, desperation evident in his hurried movements.

"Not happening," Suga muttered before taking off after him.

Hoseok was right behind him as they ran toward their own vehicle, jumping in just as the engine roared to life. Suga slammed on the accelerator, tires screeching as they sped down the dimly lit street in pursuit.

The city lights blurred past them as the high-speed chase began. Suga’s hands gripped the wheel with deadly precision, his eyes locked on the fleeing car ahead.

"Can you catch up?" Hoseok asked, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Suga scoffed. "You’re insulting me right now."

Hoseok smirked but remained focused as Suga skillfully closed the distance.

As they weaved through traffic, Suga made a sharp turn, cutting off the other car’s path. Tires screeched as the vehicle skidded to a halt, stopping just inches away from their own.

Without hesitation, Suga and Hoseok stepped out of the car.

The man inside the vehicle trembled, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as he stared at them with wide, fearful eyes.

Suga stepped forward, his movements slow, deliberate. "Get out," he ordered, his voice dangerously low.

The man hesitated, his eyes darting around as if looking for an escape.

Suga’s fingers twitched at his side, itching to grab his gun. "I won’t say it again. Get. Out."

The man quickly unbuckled his seatbelt, stumbling out with his hands raised in surrender. His face was pale, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Why were you following me?" Suga demanded, his sharp gaze locked onto the man’s trembling form.

The man swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "M-my boss ordered me to…"

Hoseok’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Who’s your boss?"

"I-I can't tell you," the man stammered. "If I do… he’ll kill me. It’s against the rules to—"

A sharp crack cut him off as Suga’s fist connected with his jaw, sending him staggering backward.

"You should’ve thought about that before tailing me," Suga hissed, grabbing the man by the collar and yanking him forward.

The man whimpered, blood dripping from his split lip. "P-please… I don’t want to die—"

Suga’s grip tightened. "Too late for that."

The man trembled in Suga’s grip, his breath coming in short gasps. His wide, fearful eyes darted between Suga and Hoseok, searching for mercy he was never going to find.

Hoseok clicked his tongue in disappointment. "You’re really bad at this, huh?" he mused, stepping forward and crouching slightly to meet the man’s terrified gaze. "If you’re gonna spy on someone like him, at least have an escape plan."

The man whimpered, his lips quivering as he tried to form words. "P-please… I was just following orders—"

Suga tightened his grip on the man’s collar and yanked him up to his feet. "And now you’re going to tell us whose orders," he growled, his voice dangerously calm.

The man clenched his jaw, his gaze darting toward the empty street as if he was still considering an escape. "I can’t… If I talk, I’m dead."

Hoseok sighed dramatically, stretching his arms before cracking his knuckles. "Oh, you poor thing. So you do understand that you’re dead either way, huh?"

The man flinched.

Suga leaned in, his face mere inches away, his breath ghosting over the man’s skin. "Here’s the deal," he murmured. "You tell me what I want to know, and I might make it quick. Otherwise…"

He let the words hang, his fingers digging into the man’s already bruised skin.

The man’s breathing grew erratic, panic clouding his eyes. His body shook violently as he finally gave in. "I—It’s Lee Hyun-jun," he gasped. "He’s the one who sent me. He wanted me to track you, see who you meet, where you go—"

Suga’s eyes darkened at the name. Hyun-jun. That bastard.

Hoseok let out a low whistle. "Damn. Haven’t heard that name in a while."

Suga’s jaw clenched. He had unfinished business with that man, and if Hyun-jun was sniffing around again, it could only mean trouble.

"Why now?" Suga asked coldly. "Why is he suddenly so interested in me again?"

The man swallowed thickly, his head shaking rapidly. "I—I don’t know the details. I swear! I was just given orders to follow you, take notes, and report back!"

Suga studied him carefully, his mind already calculating the next step. The man could be lying—or maybe he really was just a disposable pawn. Either way, letting him walk away was not an option.

Hoseok took a step closer, placing a firm hand on the man's shoulder. "You know what the problem is?" he asked, tilting his head. "You’ve already seen too much. And we hate loose ends."

The man let out a strangled sob. "N-no, please—"

Before he could finish, Suga pulled his gun from his waistband and pressed the barrel against the man’s forehead.

"Say hi to your boss for me," Suga murmured before pulling the trigger.

A loud gunshot echoed through the alley, and the man crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Hoseok exhaled, watching as a pool of blood slowly spread beneath the body. "Well… That was messy," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "You could’ve at least dragged him somewhere less obvious before doing that."

Suga didn’t respond immediately. He simply stared at the corpse, his mind already elsewhere.

Hyun-jun.

That name hadn’t crossed his path in a long time. And now, he was back, sending spies, gathering intel.

It wasn’t a coincidence.

Suga turned on his heel and walked back to the car. "We need to move," he said, his tone sharp.

Hoseok followed, shaking his head. "You really think Hyun-jun is making a move?"

Suga slid into the driver’s seat, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel. "He wouldn’t have sent a spy unless he had a reason. He’s planning something."

Hoseok clicked his tongue. "And let me guess… We’re gonna find out what it is the hard way?"

Suga smirked, his eyes glinting with something dark. "Of course."

With that, he started the engine, and the car disappeared into the night.

♡♤♡♤♡

"Finally… now I can go home," Jimin sighed, stretching his aching muscles as he stepped out of the bar.

The night air was cool against his skin, a welcome contrast to the suffocating heat of the club. The streets were eerily quiet, the only sounds being the distant hum of passing cars and the occasional rustle of trash in the wind. It was 3 a.m.—far too late, but finally, he was heading home.

His thoughts drifted as he walked, a small smile curling on his lips. His mind replayed the events of the night—not the exhaustion, not the endless serving of drinks, but him. His soulmate.

It had been years, but tonight, fate had finally brought them back together. Taehyung.

Jimin's heart fluttered at the memory of their brief reunion, the warmth in Taehyung’s eyes, the familiarity of his voice. He still couldn’t believe it. After all these years.

But just as his heart swelled with joy, a sudden noise shattered the peaceful silence.

A scuffle. Heavy footsteps. A sharp gasp, muffled as if someone’s mouth had been covered.

Jimin's body went rigid, his senses instantly on high alert.

He hesitated, glancing around the dimly lit alley. His gut twisted with unease, but curiosity and concern urged him forward. Carefully, he took a few steps, his ears straining to catch any more sounds.

Then—he heard it.

A voice, low and threatening. The unmistakable click of a gun being cocked.

Jimin’s breath hitched. His stomach churned as he turned the corner, his feet moving before his brain could stop him.

The alley stretched before him, bathed in the weak glow of a flickering street lamp. The shadows revealed three figures.

One man stood tall, dressed in black, his face partially obscured by the darkness. In his hand, a gun gleamed under the dim light, pointed at a kneeling figure on the ground.

Jimin's blood ran cold.

The person on the ground trembled, their hands raised in a silent plea. The scene sent ice down Jimin’s spine.

His gaze flickered to the third person—another man, standing off to the side, his posture relaxed yet eerily detached. His arms were crossed, watching the scene unfold with unsettling indifference.

Jimin’s heart pounded in his chest, fear gripping him like a vice. He willed himself to move, to run, to do anything—

But he was frozen in place.

The weight of the situation crashed over him like a tidal wave. This wasn’t just some drunken fight. This was something far worse.

And he had just walked straight into it.

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