Chapter Text
Kim Taehyung was the youngest heir of the Kim line. Born with a golden spoon, he grew up surrounded by nothing but love from his parents and older brother. At twenty years old, he was majoring in arts—the one thing he was truly passionate about. Unlike what people expected from a chaebol heir, Taehyung had no interest in business meetings and endless reports. He loved painting, visiting galleries, and creating things with his own hands. People often called him spoiled because he never takes no for an answer, but honestly, no one in his life had ever given him a reason to hear that word.
Behind the expensive clothes and black cards, Taehyung was someone with the softest heart..He was used to being loved, wanted, and welcomed everywhere he went. Which was probably why meeting Jeon Jeongguk messed him up this bad.
“HYUNGIE WAIT FOR ME!” taehyung yelled at the hallway of JJEON corporations, everyone walking didn’t even bothered to look at him cause they were used to seeing this scene—every damn time.
jeongguk sighs for the 10th time today, the youngest kim was following him around even during important business deals, but at the same time, he couldn’t even tell the younger to go away
“tae, i told you i already ate, you should go, you have classes right?” jeongguk said dismissing the younger who bought him a massive amount of homemade breakfast and lunch
“but hyunggg, its for you! i even woke up early and made it with love” taehyung said with a visible hearts on his eyes, he just couldn’t get enough looking at jeongguk.
those sharp jawlines
shoulders that could probably take him
arms that are popping out—
“Okay fine, i’ll eat it later, now you go and study well, okay?” jeongguk said sighing as he ruffles those slightly curled blonde hairs. Taehyung smiled and kissed jeongguk on kiss and ran away—things that he always does and could always get away with it.
Jeongguk doesn’t say anything about it and let’s it happen anyways—so why would he stop? he must probably like it, taehyung thinks to himself
once taehyung was out of sight, jeongguk grabbed the bag filled with foods and shoved it to his assistants hand “take this, share it with others, finish it and keep the containers” and walked away fixing his sleeves
oh boy……
Inside the campus, taehyung was obliviously daydreaming about jeongguk
“and minnie oh my god! i swear he will devour those foods! i asked our chef to help me and we woke up 3:00 am just to make it perfect! i know he likes those eggs boiled like that” taehyung said with bright eyes while he looks at his lock screen lovingly (it is a candid picture of jeongguk)
“oh tae for sure, you put lots of effort, i bet he’ll fall inlove to you even more” his equally oblivious and naive bestfriend, jimin told him. (the said bestfriend is also foolishly inlove with their music professor, min yoongi) birds of the same feather flock together, they said
“i can’t wait to see him later at out date” taehyung says while opening his messages to remind jeongguk again for 5th time today
you:
HYUNGIE HI😊🥰
don’t be late to our dinner date later oki??
you:
8pm sharp!
you:
wear something blue so we’ll match hyungie
IM SO EXCITED!!!!
ITS A CAFE WITH CUTE DOGS🤩
SEE U LATER BABY
mwuah💋😘
all his messages ended up just being delivered, but of course, he knows jeongguk doesn’t open his phone during meetings so he tried to console himself and continued his day by yapping about it to almost everyone, he is the epitome of campus sunshine where everyones just likes him and no one could say no to him (except, jeongguk)
after his classes at 5pm, he was quickly fetched by his driver and go home to prepare himself for the dinner date, yes the dinner date that he prepared and scheduled (he says that it is required for them to have dinner every end of the week)
he took his time choosing his blue soft sweaters and a comfortable trousers, he curled his blonde hair and put a lil make up on—he liked himself getting dolled up! it highlights the beauty of his face.
7:30 PM
its time to go! taehyung said to himself as he took a look at himself one last time at the mirror infront of him before rushing out of his big room, running down
“tae baby? slow down” his mother said after he reached down “where are you going anyways? its late baby, your father and brother will be worried”
“mom im going on a date with jeongguk! you guys don’t need to worry, im always safe with him” he said as a shy smile creeping up to his lips
“okay baby, take care hmm? i’ll tell your father and your brother once they got home” his mother kissed him on his cheek before he went out and ran to his car. Their driver will send him off to the cafe
on the other hand, jeongguk was getting ready to leave the office when his assistant walked in
“Mr. Jeon, Ms. Seolhyun is asking for your presence, she reminded that you guys has a dinner tonight”
jeongguk replied with no hesitation found on his voice “Oh, okay. Tell her i’ll be there in a few” he said while picking up his briefcase and heading outside to meet his driver downstairs
at the same time he heard his phone ringing, he looked at it and saw taehyungs name—he sighed as he turned off his phone, without looking at the 20+ notifications on the screen.
taehyung was seated at the restaurant he specifically reserved, the waiters were already asking him on what he wants, and even gives him a lot of complimentary snacks while he waits. he smiled at them while checking his phone from time to time and looking out at the window, still feeling giddy and waiting for jeongguks car to arrive.
8:10 PM
you:
hyungie im hereeeeee
don’t keep me waiting for too long
im really really gonna be mad at you!
8:40 PM
HYUNG WHAT THE HELLLL where are u??!!
the staffs are looking at me weirdly already :// pls come fast i’ll still be waitin cus im ur patient baby😘💋
at 9:30 PM, it started raining, and taehyung was really REALLY fuming with disappointment mixed with anger, he ate the lasts of his pasta while stabbing the lobster like a total killer, he called and called and called but it only sends him to voicemail
“ Im really really gonna be angry at you hyung, i won’t talk to you for days” taehyung huffs to himself but a part of him still hopes and waits, cause what if his busy hyung just caught up, right? hyung never ditches him without prior notice even if he’s clearly busy annoyed sometimes.
10:00PM
you:
hyung :(( why’d u ditched me
its so cold here!! its raining
hyungggggg
gonna go home now
im still mad at u tho
at 10:30PM, taehyungs shoulder gave up, the disappointment to his heart was crawling—his face could no longer pretend. he waited for hours! and even took his precious time to doll up, and his hyung wouldn’t even show up? thats just straight up disappointing.
he called his driver to pick him up, and thankfully, he only waited for a few minutes. while at the car, taehyung was eerily quiet, he could feel something is wrong but he cant figure out what it is yet. he picked up his phone worriedly, and even if he is so had at jeongguk right now, he still bothered to message him
you:
hyung are you okay?
did something happened?
why aren’t you replying to me
im not mad anymore pls answer
and as much to his disappointment, jeongguk didn’t answer, nor even bothered to read his messages.
he sighed heavily again, unfamiliar feeling creeping up to his chest, and decided to scroll down on his social media to distract himself for awhile…which was clearly a wrong idea
“JEON JEONGGUK SEEN AT THE 5 STAR RESTAURANT WITH ACTRESS CHOI SEOLHYUN: IS THIS A DATE OR A BUSINESS STUNT?”
Suddenly, the lines blurred. He could feel the heat creeping behind his neck, rage slowly blinding him.
How fucking dare did Jeongguk think he could ditch him to go on a date with some filthy woman? Is this what he likes? A woman his age?
Kim Taehyung wasn’t letting this slide.
He turned to his driver.
“Drive me to Jeongguk’s apartment. Now.”
His knuckles turned white as he tried to calm himself. He was about to unleash his inner demon. No one says no to Kim Taehyung.
And how dare Jeongguk act like this?
A loud banging echoed through Jeongguk’s multi-billion-won penthouse. Luckily, he owned the entire floor, or else the neighbors would think an actual crime was happening.
“What the fuck are you—” Jeongguk angrily huffed as he opened the door. He didn’t even bother checking the camera because he knew no one would act this bravely.
No one came to his penthouse except Kim Taehyung.
“YOU!” Taehyung yelled. “How dare you ditch me at the restaurant while I waited for you for hours—” The words died in his throat. Because his eyes wandered.
And he saw exactly what he needed to see.
Choi Seolhyun.
Sitting comfortably on Jeongguk’s million-won couch—the same couch Taehyung wasn’t allowed to eat or drink on because he might stain it.
She sat there with a wine glass in her hand, looking at him in confusion.
For a moment, Taehyung couldn’t breathe.
Because suddenly, every little thing Jeongguk had ever told him felt like a lie.
I don’t let people into my penthouse, Taehyung. Just you. And my assistant if it’s work-related.
He remembered those words so clearly because he thought they meant something.
“What? My phone’s turned off, please stop—”
Jeongguk couldn’t even finish before Taehyung exploded.
“YOU ARE SO DISGUSTING—AND A WHOLE ASS CHEATER! You ditched me to date someone who disgustingly wears red lipstick? And she’s probably as old as the king of England himself? What the fuck, hyung? I didn’t expect you to stoop this low!”
Jeongguk’s expression darkened instantly.
“Cheater?” he repeated in disbelief.
“Yes, a fucking cheater!” Taehyung snapped. “You made me wait for hours while you were here with her? In your penthouse? On your couch? The one you don’t even let me eat on?”
Seolhyun awkwardly stood up.
“Maybe I should—“
“No, stay,” Jeongguk said firmly, eyes never leaving Taehyung.
That hurt more than anything.
Because Jeongguk was choosing someone else over him.
Again.
“For fuck’s sake, Taehyung, my phone is turned off.”
“Oh, so that makes it okay?” Taehyung laughed bitterly, his voice already shaking.
“You couldn’t send one message? One fucking text? Do you know how long I waited for you?” he continuef
“I didn’t ask you to wait.”
The words hit him harder than a slap.
Taehyung blinked.
“What?”
Jeongguk sighed, rubbing his temples.
“I didn’t ask you to wait. I didn’t ask you to bring me breakfast every morning. I didn’t ask you to show up at my office every chance you get.”
Each sentence landed like a punch to his chest.
“I didn’t ask for any of this, Taehyung.”
The world suddenly felt too quiet.
Too small.
Too hard to breathe in.
“You didn’t mean that,” Taehyung whispered.
Jeongguk laughed humorlessly.
“Didn’t I?”
Taehyung stared at him, eyes already burning.
“What about all those nights you stayed up talking to me? The way you always saved me a seat beside you? The way you remembered every little thing about me?”
His voice cracked.
“You let me into your home, Jeongguk.”
For the first time since arriving, the anger in his voice disappeared.
Only hurt remained.
“You told me no one comes here except me.”
Jeongguk’s jaw clenched.
“And you assumed that meant what? That we were together?”
Taehyung’s lips parted, but no words came out. Because yes. Of course he did.
Wasn’t that obvious?
Wasn’t it?
“And fuck we’re not even together.”
Taehyung physically flinched.
As if the words had struck him.
“Hyung—”
“No.” Jeongguk cut him off. “You don’t get to walk in here and call me a cheater when I never once said I was yours.”
The tears that had been threatening to fall finally gathered in Taehyung’s eyes.
“But you acted like it.”
His voice came out so small.
So unlike him.
“You treated me like i meant something to you...”
For a second, something flickered across
Jeongguk’s face.
Guilt.
Regret.
But it disappeared too quickly.
“I treated you like someone important to me,” he said quietly. “That doesn’t mean I belong to you.”
Taehyung felt his heart crack.
Because he had never wanted to own Jeongguk. He just wanted to be loved back.
“And really?” Jeongguk continued, his own frustration spilling over. “Was I the one who stooped so low, or you, who insults another person just because it’s not you?”
Taehyung lowered his eyes.
For the first time, he had nothing to say.
“Stop embarrassing yourself.”
And then Jeongguk slammed the door in his face.
The ringing in Taehyung’s ears continued.
No one had ever spoken to him like that.
No one had ever shut him out.
No one had ever made him feel like this.
Like he had mistaken kindness for love.
Like he had spent an entire year loving someone who never saw him the same way.
His throat tightened painfully.
He ran toward the elevator, hands trembling so badly he could barely press the button. When the doors closed, he finally let the tears fall.
Silent
Humiliating.
Unstoppable.
Ever since Taehyung laid eyes on Jeongguk a year ago, all he knew was that Jeongguk took his heart. The way he moved gently and spoke kindly to everyone. The way he looked out for everyone in the room. His striking features only made him more perfect.
Since then, Taehyung decided he would make Jeongguk his and his only.
He started by slowly appearing at Jeongguk’s meetings and conferences with the Kims. Frequent visits to Jeon Corp. Even trips to the Jeon estate, where he met Jeongguk’s family. He made breakfast and lunch for Jeongguk religiously. Sent daily good morning and good night messages, Random rants, Updates, Pictures of Yeontan in cute clothes,Cafés.
Everything that felt normal to him.
Everything people did when they liked someone.
When they wanted someone
When they loved someone
He didn’t mind the age gap.
He was twenty, Jeongguk was twenty eight. They were both still in their twenties, so what was the problem?
Taehyung grew up adored and loved by his family. They could never say no to him.
Others called him spoiled. A brat.
But behind those words, he was just the sweetest person anyone could meet.
Without hesitation, he picked up stray animals and brought them to his animal center. He gave food and money to people on the streets. Offered them opportunities.
Second chances. People overlooked him because they thought he was too young.
But Taehyung was well aware of his privilege and used it for good.
Maybe that was why this hurt so much.
Because he thought it all meant something to Jeongguk too.
The breakfasts.
The lunches.
The endless messages.
The late-night calls.
The way Jeongguk smiled at Yeontan’s pictures.
The way he remembered how Taehyung liked his coffee.
The way he always saved a seat for him.
The way he let Taehyung into spaces no one else could enter.
The way he welcomed him into his family.
Taehyung thought those were silent confessions.
Small ways of saying I feel it too.
But maybe Jeongguk was just being kind.
And Taehyung had mistaken kindness for love. Because while Taehyung spent an entire year falling deeper and deeper, building a future in his head, imagining what they could become—
Jeongguk had spent that same year thinking they were nothing.
Not lovers.
Not almost lovers.
Not even a possibility.
Just Taehyung.
Just someone important.
And somehow, that hurt even more.
Because Taehyung could survive rejection.
But he didn’t know how to survive finding out that the love he treasured so carefully had only ever existed on his side.