The Decoy Fiancé
Convenience excuse
The air in the room was cold and thick with the smell of mildew and stagnant water.
An Omega, sat tied to a hard-backed chair in the pitch-black darkness, his head bowed.
The rough ropes bit into his wrists.
From the shadows, the voices of his captors echoed, a low, grating murmur.
Kidnapper
"...thinks he's so important because he's linked to the Kim family. Just a pretty doll for the Alpha to show off."
Kidnapper 2
"Wait until he realizes he's disposable."
Suddenly, a bucket of icy water was thrown at him, soaking through his clothes and shocking his system.
He gasped involuntarily, his body shivering, but he forced his head to remain steady.
The lead kidnapper, a hulking Alpha, grabbed his chin, forcing his head up.
Kidnapper
"Listen carefully, little Omega. Your precious fiancé isn't coming for you. You think a big-shot Alpha like Kai would risk a multi-million won deal for the likes of you? You're just a convenient excuse for their power plays."
A wave of cruel laughter filled the room.
Yet, Taehyung's face remained an impassive mask.
His eyes, which had briefly widened from the cold water, now held a steady, almost bored resolve.
The mockery was cut short by a deafening crash.
The door splintered inward, and the darkness erupted with the staccato rhythm of gunfire and shouts.
Silhouettes moved with lethal precision.
Within moments, the chaos subsided, and a familiar figure emerged from the smoke.
Kai rushed to him, his Alpha scent a mix of gunpowder and frantic concern.
His hands were gentle yet swift as he worked on the knots.
Kai
"Taehyung! Gods, are you hurt? Look at me. I'm so sorry it took us so long to find you."
Once the ropes fell away, Taehyung rubbed his raw wrists, his voice calm as he stood.
Kim Taehyung
"Thank you for coming here."
They moved quickly, Kai's men forming a protective circle as they exited the grim basement and stepped into the waiting black car.
The silence inside the vehicle was heavy.
Kai let out a tense breath, running a hand through his hair.
Kai
"The deal... it was critical. We had to close the signing first. The intel on your location only came through halfway through the meeting."
Taehyung stared out the window at the passing city lights, his reflection a pale ghost against the glass.
Kim Taehyung
"You came. That's enough." (He turned to Kai, his expression unreadable) "Just drop me at my dormitory."
Kai nodded, his business-like demeanor returning.
Kai
"Be ready tomorrow evening. We are expected at a party. The dress will be sent to you in the morning."
As the car pulled away, Taehyung hurried inside his dorm, the clock showing just minutes before curfew.
It's good that they rescued me before the dormitory closes, he thought with a wry, internal sigh.
Vacation Plans
He showered, the hot water washing away the grime and the lingering chill of the basement, but not the memory.
Settling at his desk, he opened his textbooks.
Taehyung was a straight-A student, and his studies were his sanctuary
A world of logic and order where his own feelings were not required.
He immersed himself in equations and theories, pushing everything else out of his mind.
The next day on campus, the sunlight felt jarringly normal.
His friends, Jimin and Yoongi, found him at their usual spot under a large oak tree.
Jeon Yoongi
"So," (a knowing glint in his eye) "How was the big date with your fiancé?"
Kim Taehyung
"It was good," (he said, offering a small, practiced smile)
Jimin leaned in, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Park Jimin
"Come on, you have to give us more than that! Kai even dropped you off at the dorm last night. That's so cute! What did you do?"
Kim Taehyung
"We just watched an action movie at his place," (the lie smooth and effortless on his tongue)
Park Jimin
"How cute!" (completely convinced)
Taehyung managed a genuine laugh at his friend's enthusiasm.
Park Jimin
"The New Year's vacation is almost here! Where is everyone going?"
Jeon Yoongi
"The usual family pilgrimage to the ancestral home. It'll be crowded and boring, but my mother would have my head if I missed it."
Kim Taehyung
(He didn't miss a beat) "I'll be with Kai."
Park Jimin
(He grinned, nudging him) "Yours is obvious! Must be nice, all those fancy parties."
Taehyung laughed again, a light, airy sound that belied the tension in his shoulders.
Park Jimin
"I'm going back to my hometown," (his grin widening) "I already booked the tickets!"
Kim Taehyung
"It's going to be so hectic with all the travel"
Park Jimin
"Tell me about it! Only two days left until freedom!" (He sighed dramatically)
Jeon Yoongi
"Let's go get coffee. My brain is already on vacation."
Kim Taehyung
"I can't," (gathering his books) "I have to go somewhere with Kai."
Park Jimin
(He immediately pouted) "Aish, see? You have no time for us anymore!"
Yoongi placed a comforting hand on Taehyung's shoulder.
Jeon Yoongi
"Hey, it's okay. We get it. Duty calls. Go on, we'll catch up later."
True Power Couple
Taehyung offered an apologetic smile before heading back to his dorm.
The promised attire was waiting for him—a stunning, impeccably tailored suit in a deep emerald green that made his skin glow and his eyes seem deeper.
He looked at his reflection, a perfectly polished accessory, ready for display.
The car arrived, and he slid into the plush interior.
It stopped not at a club, but before the grand, illuminated entrance of a five-star hotel.
A red carpet was rolled out, and a throng of media photographers flashed their cameras.
It was the birthday banquet of a renowned industry tycoon.
Taehyung took his place beside Kai, his arm linked through the Alpha's.
They were a picture-perfect couple.
He felt the sharp, envious glances from other socialites and the openly mean glares from some of Kai's own family members.
He was an outsider, a disruption to their plans, and they never let him forget it.
Suddenly, a new wave of excitement rippled through the crowd.
All cameras swiveled away from them.
Through the main entrance walked Jeon Jungkook, the sole heir to the Jeon empire, his presence commanding and absolute.
On his arm was Lee Ji-Eun, the nation's sweetheart, an actress beloved for her talent and grace.
The murmurs were unanimous.
？？？
"They look perfect together."
？？？
"An heir and a queen."
Jungkook's protective posture, the way he leaned down to hear something Ji-Eun whispered, the genuine smile that touched his eyes—it was a picture of effortless, deep affection.
A small, almost painful knot tightened in Taehyung's chest.
She is so lucky, he thought, not with jealousy, but with a profound sense of longing.
To be loved for who you are, not just for the role you play.
Back in the silence of his dorm room, the emerald suit carefully hung up, Taehyung sat on his bed.
The image of Jungkook and Ji-Eun played behind his eyes.
He shook his head, as if to dislodge the thought.
Kim Taehyung
"It's not like I'm ever going to see them again," (he whispered to the empty room)
But who truly knows how fate plays its games?
The future is an unwritten book, its pages blank and waiting, filled with infinite, unknown possibilities.
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