The Reincarnated Bond
Episode 1: The Shadow of the Crown
The air was thick with the copper stench of blood and ash...
Every breath burned in his lungs like swallowed glass...
Around him, the chaotic symphony of war raged on—the brutal clash of steel, the desperate roars of dying men, and the oppressive stone walls of a burning palace crumbling to pieces...
He was clad in heavy, dark iron armor, his fingers slick with sweat and crimson as he gripped the hilt of his blade...
He fought with terrifying, dominant ferocity, cutting down anyone who dared cross his path...
Yet, he wasn't fighting for a kingdom...
He wasn't fighting for a crown...
He was clawing his way through a sea of faceless royal guards, his eyes locked onto a single figure pinned at the center of the courtyard...
The voice tore through the chaos...
It was a melody he knew better than his own heartbeat—soft, gentle, and utterly terrified...
A desperate cry from a soul too pure for the cruelty surrounding them...
Jungkook lunged forward, throwing his entire weight into a desperate strike to clear the path, his hand stretching out through the smoke...
Their fingers almost brushed...
Suddenly, a cold flash of steel cut through the haze...
Jungkook snapped his eyes open...
He bolted upright, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for air that didn't taste like smoke...
His heart battered against his ribs like a trapped animal...
Strands of dark hair clung to his forehead, damp with cold sweat...
The suffocating heat of the burning palace vanished, replaced by the humming chill of central air conditioning...
There was no iron armor...
Slowly, Jungkook looked down at his hands...
His fingers were wrapped tightly around the edge of a silk sheet, trembling slightly...
He looked up, his gaze sweeping across the dark, vast expanse of his ultra-modern luxury penthouse...
Through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the sprawling city skyline stretched out beneath him, illuminated by a million distant electric lights...
He was in the modern world...
Jungkook pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes, trying to force the lingering remnants of the dream back into the shadows of his mind...
It was always the same...
The same desperate battle, the same overwhelming grief, and that same heartbreaking voice...
He let his hands drop, his expression hardening back into a mask of cold stone as he stared out at the city...
Jeon Jungkook
𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙙𝙤 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩?..
He muttered into the empty, silent room...
A few hours later, the vulnerable man from the nightmare was entirely gone...
The glass doors of the 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 headquarters slid open, and the atmosphere in the grand lobby instantly shifted from bustling corporate morning to suffocating tension...
Jeon Jungkook walked through the doors like a monarch stepping into his courtroom...
Dressed in a flawless, custom-tailored black suit, his posture was unyielding, his aura completely commanding...
Every step he took exuded absolute dominance...
The moment his sharp eyes swept the room, employees instinctively halted...
Heads bowed, eyes dropped to the floor, and a tense silence fell over the lobby...
No one dared to look him directly in the eye..
He is the CEO of Etheria Global, a billionaire who ruled the fashion and media landscape with an iron fist...
He didn't ask for respect; he commanded it...
Jung Hoseok
Good morning, Mr. Jeon..
A crisp, steady voice sounded beside him...
Jung Hoseok stepped into stride seamlessly, a thick tablet held firmly in his hand...
As Jungkook's executive assistant and trusted university friend, Hoseok was one of the very few people who could stand in his presence without shaking...
Jung Hoseok
The performance metrics from the seasonal editorial spread are on your desk...
Hoseok reported, his tone entirely professional...
Jung Hoseok
Also, The creative director for the upcoming Autumn Gala is waiting in the boardroom...
Jung Hoseok
He’s asking for an extension on the campaign’s budget; he claims the current prints don’t meet the aesthetic standard..
Jungkook didn't slow his pace as they entered the private executive elevator...
Jeon Jungkook
Tell the creative director he is fired...
Jeon Jungkook
If he can’t capture the soul of Etheria within the allocated budget, he’s a liability, not an asset...
Jeon Jungkook
Replace him with someone who understands that we don't just sell luxury.. we sell a dream...
He simply made a swift note on his tablet...
Jung Hoseok
I will have HR handle his severance by noon...
Jeon Jungkook
I don't pay for excuses, Hoseok....
Jeon Jungkook
I pay for perfection..
Jungkook said, his voice smooth, cold, and entirely final...
The elevator chimed, the doors sliding open to the top floor...
Jungkook walked out, leaving no room for argument...
He spent the rest of the day dismantling sub-par proposals, commanding boardrooms, and solidifying his absolute control over the empire...
His mind was sharp, his decisions brutal...
He was completely untouchable...
By the time evening arrived, the bustling energy of the tower had faded into a quiet lull...
A heavy thunderstorm had rolled over the city, streaks of lightning occasionally illuminating the dark sky...
Inside his massive corner office, the lights were turned off, save for the ambient glow of the cityscape outside...
Jungkook stood by the massive glass window, a glass of amber whiskey held loosely in his hand...
He was alone, staring out at the rain washing over the glass...
The corporate armor he wore during the day felt heavier now...
In the quiet of the night, the haunting echo of the morning's nightmare always crept back into his mind, clawing at his chest...
Suddenly, a sharp buzz broke the silence...
Jungkook glanced back at his desk...
His sleek personal smartphone was lit up, vibrating against the dark wood...
His personal number was highly guarded; only a select few possessed it...
He set his glass down, walked over, and picked up the device...
The screen displayed an unknown number...
It wasn't a corporate email or a formal message from an assistant...
It was a text message—clearly sent to the wrong number by an ordinary stranger..
Unknown
Hyung, I finally finished developing the prints from today’s shoot!..💭
Unknown
The lighting in the countryside was so beautiful, it almost made me forget how tired my legs are haha...💭
Unknown
Don't forget to eat dinner, okay? I'm heading home to Jin-hyung now!...💭
Jungkook stared at the screen...
His thumb hovered over the delete button...
It was a simple mistake...
A mundane, ordinary message from someone's everyday life...
He usually deleted these without a second thought...
But as he read the words, his thumb paused...
There was no logical reason for it, but the simple, sweet, and comforting tone of the text hit a strange chord deep within him...
For a split second, the heavy, suffocating weight of his nightmare seemed to quiet down...
The underlying warmth in those casual sentences felt oddly grounding, sending a faint, unfamiliar shiver straight down his spine...
Driven by a rare spike of curiosity, the cold, dominant CEO of 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 found his fingers typing a response...
Jeon Jungkook
You have the wrong number...💭
Then, the phone buzzed again...
Unknown
Oh my god, I am so sorry!..💭
Unknown
I must have typed the digits wrong...💭
Unknown
I'm really sorry for disturbing you so late!!..💭
Jungkook stared at the reply...
The polite, soft apology practically radiated through the screen...
His heart gave a heavy, unfamiliar thud against his ribs...
He didn't know who this person was, and he certainly didn't know their voice, but a terrifyingly intense fixation suddenly locked into place...
Instead of blocking the number, Jungkook simply stared at the glowing screen in the dark, empty office...
The mystery had just begun...
Author
Welcome to the beginning! I’m so happy to have you here for this new journey. Stay with me—there’s so much more to uncover. Enjoy the ride!...
Episode 2: The Afternoon Ritual & The Sweetest Risk
The text message that had briefly rattled the foundation of Jeon Jungkook’s carefully curated existence had faded into the background...
Buried under a mountain of acquisitions, editorial reports, and the relentless pressure of maintaining Etheria Global’s dominance, the strange, warm words from an unknown sender were pushed into the deepest, darkest corners of his mind...
He was, once again, the unreachable monolith of the corporate world...
On the other side of the city, however, life was moving at a much slower, more rhythmic pace...
Taehyung sighed, closing his laptop with a soft thud...
Another rejection email sat in his inbox—the fifth one this week...
His photography portfolio was stunning, filled with the raw, emotional beauty of the countryside and the quiet magic of daily life, but without a massive agency name on his resume, the corporate world of fashion and media remained a locked door...
He was exhausted, his dreams feeling just a little further out of reach with every passing day...
He pressed his palms into his eyes, taking a steadying breath...
He whispered to the empty room, his voice soft but firm...
Kim Taehyung
Every ‘no’ is just one step closer to the right ‘yes’..
Kim Taehyung
Your work has a voice, Taehyung...
Kim Taehyung
You just have to find the right ears to listen...
He forced a small, determined smile, grabbed his camera bag, and stood up...
He wasn't going to let a few rejection letters steal his passion...
If the big companies wouldn't look at his work yet, he would just keep shooting, keep creating, and keep improving until they couldn't help but notice..
Elsewhere, in a quiet,the small, sun-drenched cafe owned by Kim Seokjin...
The cafe was quiet, the air smelling of roasted beans and vanilla...
Jin was behind the counter, humming to himself as he polished a ceramic mug...
He checked the clock, his heart doing a small, predictable flutter against his ribs...
At exactly 4:00 PM, the bell above the door chimed...
Namjoon walked in, his presence immediately shifting the energy of the room...
He was tall, dressed in a sharp, casual coat, and he carried an aura of quiet intelligence...
He walked straight to the counter, his eyes locking onto Jin’s...
Kim Namjoon
One Americano, please..
Namjoon said, his voice deep and warm..
When he smiled, those two distinct, adorable dimples appeared—the very sight that had turned Jin’s world upside down six months ago...
The story of those dimples began half a year ago, on a rainy Tuesday...
Namjoon had walked in, drenched and looking for shelter...
Jin, who had been struggling to keep the cafe afloat, had been the only one working that day...
When Jin had handed him the coffee, his hands had trembled slightly under Namjoon’s steady gaze...
The next day, Namjoon had returned, but Jin had been busy in the back, leaving his new part-time helper to brew the drink...
Namjoon had taken one sip, frowned, and walked back to the counter..
He hadn’t been angry, but he had looked disappointed..
Namjoon had said, leaning over the counter..
Kim Namjoon
The gentleman who made my coffee yesterday... is he here?...
Kim Namjoon
The one with the kind eyes?..
When he found out Jin was the owner, he had smiled that dimpled smile—a smile so sincere it made Jin’s breath hitch...
Kim Namjoon
In that case, would you mind making it yourself today?..
Kim Namjoon
It just tastes better when you’re the one behind the machine...
That had been the start...
Now, six months later, it was their secret, unspoken ritual...
Jin made sure he was the one behind the counter at 4:00 PM, and Namjoon made sure he was the one walking through that door...
Jin turned to the machine, his ears slightly pink...
He didn't need to ask for the order; he knew it by heart...
As the espresso dripped into the cup, he felt Namjoon’s gaze on his back—a heavy, comforting presence that made the cafe feel less like a business and more like a home...
It was a strange, disorienting feeling...
Jin had never been the type to blush...
Having lived his life openly as a bisexual man, he had navigated many relationships, and usually, he was the one who held the room’s attention, the one who made others stammer and flush with a well-placed word or a confident smile...
He had always occupied the more dominant space in his romantic entanglements...
But Namjoon was different...
The aura Namjoon carried—this quiet, steady, gentlemanly strength—somehow forced Jin to yield...
It wasn't an aggressive takeover; it was a subtle, magnetic pull that made Jin want to be soft, to be quiet, to be the one taken care of...
He enjoyed the unfamiliar thrill of being the submissive one, of letting Namjoon’s steady, unwavering attention wash over him...
Namjoon rarely spoke more than his order, his voice always deep and polite, but his eyes never wavered...
He watched Jin with a focused intensity that made Jin’s pulse race...
In those silent moments, while the coffee brewed, the air between them thickened with an unspoken attraction that Jin couldn't help but crave...
They were strangers; Jin knew nothing about Namjoon beyond his name, and Namjoon knew nothing of Jin’s past...
Yet, they were bound by an invisible, inexplicable pull...
They didn't understand the force—only that it defied logic and drew them together every day at 4:00 PM...
Namjoon rarely spoke more than his order, but his gaze never wavered...
As he watched Jin with focused intensity, the world outside faded...
In this small Corner of the city, Jin was more than happy to surrender to the pull...
He glanced around; the cafe was empty, save for the two of them...
For the first time in his life, the man who had weathered so many hardships and navigated countless relationships felt truly nervous...
His heart, usually so steady, vibrated against his ribs...
Gathering every ounce of his courage, he stepped out from behind the counter and walked toward Namjoon’s table...
As Jin approached, Namjoon looked away, visibly flustered...
Jin stopped, heart racing, and placed a small plate on the table...
Kim Seokjin
This is a new pastry we’re thinking of adding to our menu..
Jin said, forcing himself to hold Namjoon’s gaze...
Kim Seokjin
As our most loyal customer, we would love for you to taste it and give us your rating...
Namjoon nodded, his eyes warm, and picked up the spoon...
He wasn't usually fond of sweets, but as the flavor hit his tongue, it felt different—sweeter, somehow, because it came from Jin...
He looked up, his dimples deepening as he smiled, but his nerves betrayed him..
Namjoon froze, his eyes widening in shock at his own slip of the tongue...
Jin was equally stunned, the air thick and heavy with the weight of the confession...
They were completely lost in each other's eyes, neither able to move or speak...
The spell was finally broken by the sharp chime of the door bell...
Namjoon jolted, coughing into the back of his hand to mask his sudden, bright red embarrassment...
He looked at Jin, his voice slightly strained and stuttering..
Kim Namjoon
I—I mean… I like *it*...
Kim Namjoon
It’s really good...
Kim Namjoon
You should definitely add it to the menu....
Jin felt his own face heat up, a shy, knowing smile spreading across his lips...
The cat was out of the bag, and everything was about to change...
Episode 3: The Inseparable Pair
Taehyung was a wandering soul...
The city was his playground, and his camera was his lifeline...
He didn't chase fame; he chased the truth—the way an elderly couple held hands on a park bench, the unfiltered joy of a child, the quiet dignity of a stray dog...
His photography was his secret diary, the one place he could store his dreams when the world kept telling him "no."
He was framing a shot of a stray cat near the park pond when he felt the sudden, crushing impact of two pairs of arms locking around his waist from behind...
Taehyung startled, heart hammering against his ribs, but the moment he heard the familiar, melodic voice whisper..
Taehyung entire posture collapsed into warmth...
He spun around, his face cracking into that legendary, wide, boxy smile—a smile so luminous that the people nearby actually stopped walking, their eyes drawn to him like moths to a flame....
Kim Taehyung
Chim! You’re back!...
They didn't give a damn about the crowd...
They collapsed into each other, limbs tangling in that familiar, ungraceful mess—Jimin’s leg hooked over Taehyung’s, their shoulders pressed tight...
They were the pair that made everyone look twice: two undeniably handsome men who clearly didn't exist on this earth to appease anyone’s social standards...
They broke the hug and plopped down on the grass at the edge of the Park’s small lake...
Kim Taehyung
When did you even get back?..
Taehyung asked, still beaming..
Park Jimin
Just this morning...
Jimin said, tossing his bag aside...
He looked refreshed, a glow of excitement about him...
Park Jimin
I was in Busan for the kickoff of a project with my company...
Park Jimin
It was intense, Tae...
Park Jimin
If I had to take one more headshot in a stiff suit, I think I would’ve melted into the floor...
He dove into the details of his time in Busan—the humidity, the grueling hours, and the rigid, suffocating corporate expectations of his new company...
Taehyung laughed, nudging Jimin’s shoulder with his...
Kim Taehyung
And you, the aspiring model, complaining about clothes? That’s a new low, even for you...
Jimin shrieked, swatting at him, though his eyes were crinkling with laughter...
Park Jimin
It’s not the clothes, it’s the boring poses!..
Park Jimin
I told them, 'Look, I’m a star, not a mannequin,' and they didn't even blink...
Kim Taehyung
Because you're tiny, Chim-Chim...😂
Kim Taehyung
They probably thought you were the prop..
Taehyung teased, dodging Jimin’s playful kick...
The depth of Taehyung and Jimin’s connection was not merely a product of proximity; it was a bond forged in the fires of shared history and mutual protection...
Taehyung’s origins lay in Daegu, but his early childhood was defined by a transition...
When he was two years old—and his brother, Seokjin, was five—their parents relocated to New Village, driven by the demands and hopes of a farming life...
However, when the boys reached the age of six, their parents made the ultimate sacrifice...
Understanding that their children’s future necessitated more than the rural life could provide, they sent both brothers to live with relatives in Seoul to pursue a superior education...
While their relatives provided a stable home, the boys’ upbringing was marked by the ache of separation, eased only by their mother’s faithful visits every Sunday...
Through that shared loneliness, Taehyung and Seokjin became each other’s entire world...
The dynamic shifted when Taehyung entered kindergarten...
It was there he encountered Jimin, a fluffy-cheeked boy who was quietly eating a mochi...
The sight of Jimin’s squishy, irresistible cheeks captivated the young Taehyung...
Driven by a pure, childish impulse, he approached the boy—who was only two months his junior—and poked his cheek...
Jimin’s giggles erupted instantly, marking the genesis of a friendship that would become legendary...
From that first poke in kindergarten through primary school, high school, and into their young adulthood, the two were inseparable, acting as each other’s permanent partners in crime...
Despite their shared closeness, they were distinct individuals...
Taehyung grew into a man of calm, magnetic charm; he carried himself with a lighthearted, playboy persona, enjoying the thrill of flirting and remaining, firmly, a straight-as-a-line man...
In contrast, Jimin possessed a deceptive duality: he was cute and youthful in appearance, yet he hid a sharp, sassy resilience that ensured no one ever took advantage of him...
Their bond became a sanctuary for self-discovery...
When Jimin grappled with his identity and the realization of his bisexuality, it was Taehyung who stood as his anchor, offering the steady, non-judgmental encouragement that allowed Jimin to finally accept that part of himself...
Jimin said, shifting his posture so he was facing Taehyung fully, his eyes narrowing with a familiar, wicked spark...
Park Jimin
You have no idea what my life has been like the last few weeks. Etheria Global?..
Park Jimin
It’s a snake pit, Tae....
Park Jimin
A literal, high-fashion snake pit...
Taehyung leaned back on his elbows, a lazy grin spreading across his face...
He didn't need to say anything; he knew the look...
Jimin was about to spill the tea, and Taehyung was more than happy to sit back and watch the show...
Park Jimin
There’s this model, Jiwoon...
Jimin continued, his voice dripping with annoyance...
Park Jimin
She’s one of the top names at the company right now, and honestly?..
Park Jimin
She’s an absolute bitch...
Park Jimin
She’s completely shameless...
Park Jimin
The other day, right in front of everyone, she was practically throwing herself at the project director...
Park Jimin
Like, I’m talking full-on, aggressive flirting during the mid-day briefing...
Park Jimin
It was so embarrassing to watch, I actually had to stare at the floor to keep from laughing... Hahaa 🤣🤣
Taehyung let out a low whistle, shaking his head..
Kim Taehyung
And here I thought the fashion world was all glamour and champagne...
Park Jimin
Glamour? Please..
Jimin rolled his eyes, picking at a loose thread on his jeans...
Park Jimin
It’s 10% posing and 90% surviving people like her...
Park Jimin
It’s exhausting, Tae...
Park Jimin
I’m just trying to make my mark, and she’s running around acting like she owns the building...
Taehyung just listened, letting Jimin vent...
He loved this about them; Jimin only ever took his guard down like this with him...
To the rest of the world, Jimin was a rising star with a sharp tongue, but to Taehyung, he was just his "Chim," the boy who still got annoyed by petty office politics...
Jimin paused, his expression softening as he looked at his best friend...
Park Jimin
Actually... I was thinking...
Park Jimin
I have a decent rapport with the director, despite the weird atmosphere...
Park Jimin
I could talk to him about you...
Park Jimin
I mean, they’re always looking for new talent behind the lens, and I know how good your eye is...
Park Jimin
I could put in a word, get you an interview at Etheria...
Taehyung’s playful expression vanished, replaced by a firm, quiet intensity...
He sat up, shaking his head almost immediately...
Kim Taehyung
No, Chim... Don't...
Jimin blinked, surprised....
Park Jimin
Why not? It’s a foot in the door, Tae...
Park Jimin
It’s what you’ve been waiting for...
Kim Taehyung
I know it is..
Taehyung replied, his voice steady...
Kim Taehyung
But I don't want it that way...
Kim Taehyung
If I get in, I want it to be because they looked at my portfolio and saw something they actually needed...
Kim Taehyung
I don't want to be the guy who only got a shot because he had a 'backer' or a friend on the inside...
Kim Taehyung
I want to build this on my own talent, not on favors...
Jimin looked at him for a long moment, seeing the stubborn, prideful glint in Taehyung's eyes—a trait that had been there since they were kids...
He sighed, but a small, proud smile tugged at his lips...
Park Jimin
You’re an idiot..
Jimin said, though there was no malice in it..
Park Jimin
A very talented, very stubborn idiot...
Taehyung laughed, bumping his shoulder against Jimin's...
Kim Taehyung
But I’m an idiot who’s going to earn it....
Jimin’s phone suddenly buzzed against the grass, a rhythmic vibration that interrupted their conversation..
He glanced down at the screen, and the effect was instantaneous: he let out a sharp, audible gasp, and a bright, unmistakable shade of pink flooded his cheeks, climbing all the way to the tips of his ears...
Taehyung immediately perked up, his eyes widening with delight...
He leaned in, peering unsubtly at the screen...
Kim Taehyung
Oh my dear angel baby... Is that him?
Jimin scrambled to hide the phone against his chest, his blush deepening until he looked like a ripe strawberry...
Shut up, Tae! It’s nothing...
Kim Taehyung
Baby chim.. It’s definitely not 'nothing' if you’re blushing like a schoolgirl...
Taehyung teased, his voice climbing an octave...
He started poking Jimin’s side mercilessly...
Kim Taehyung
Look at you! Mr. 'I’m-Too-Sassy-For-Love' is literally melting over a phone call...
Kim Taehyung
The one you’ve been pretending to be so hard to get with for the last two months?..
Kim Taehyung
The one you claimed you were 'way too busy' to text back?..
Jimin insisted, though his voice cracked...
He looked at the phone, then back at Taehyung, his bravado completely shattered...
Park Jimin
He just… he’s annoying, okay?...
Park Jimin
He keeps calling at the most inconvenient times...
Kim Taehyung
Right, 'inconvenient'...
Taehyung mimicked, rolling his eyes as he leaned back, crossing his arms with a knowing smirk...
Kim Taehyung
You haven’t stopped talking about how 'arrogant' and 'demanding' he is, yet here you are, looking like you’re about to faint the second his name pops up on your screen...
Kim Taehyung
You’re pathetic, Chim....
Kim Taehyung
It’s actually kind of cute...
Jimin glared at him, but he couldn't hide the small, nervous smile tugging at the corner of his lips...
He fumbled with the phone, his thumbs hovering over the accept button for a second too long as he tried to compose himself...
Park Jimin
I’m not pathetic..
Jimin muttered, though he was already smoothing out his hair and straightening his shirt as if the person on the other end could actually see him...
Park Jimin
I’m just... maintaining my standards...
Kim Taehyung
Go on then, 'maintain your standards'🤣🤣
Taehyung laughed, shooing him away with a wave of his hand...
Kim Taehyung
Go talk to your mystery man...
Kim Taehyung
I’ll just be here, continuing to be the single, unbothered, and definitely-not-blushing best friend...
Jimin rolled his eyes one last time, stood up, and brushed a stray blade of grass off his jeans...
He shot Taehyung a look that was equal parts lethal and amused, his sassy side surging to the surface...
Park Jimin
Yeah, yeah, keep talking, Mr. Flirt..
Jimin retorted, his voice dripping with playful venom...
Park Jimin
At least I’m actually doing something about my love life instead of just talking big—unlike someone who gets to fck a random girl whose name you didn't even know by Monday morning...
With that parting shot, he walked a few paces away, his posture instantly shifting into that perfect, confident model stance he usually reserved for the studio—though Taehyung could see right through it...
He was already smiling before he even tapped the screen to answer....
Taehyung chuckled on his cute bestie...
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