Episode 3: Chains I Thought Were Love

The day ended quietly.

Too quietly.

Nothing big happened.

No fights.

No drama.

And somehow...

That felt strange.

After college, Taehyung walked out with Jimin and Jin.

Jimin was clinging to him like always.

Literally.

"Tae, you're ignoring me again," Jimin complained dramatically, holding his arm tighter.

"I'm walking with you," Taehyung said.

"That's not enough."

Jin chuckled softly.

"He wants full attention. 24/7."

"Exactly," Jimin nodded proudly.

Taehyung laughed a little.

A real one this time.

And then-

"Jinu!"

They turned.

Jhope came walking toward them with his usual bright smile.

Behind him-

Namjoon

Suga

And...

Jungkook

Jin sighed softly.

"Of course."

Jhope stopped in front of them, still smiling.

"Hey, Jinu. What are you doing after college? Any plans?" Jhope and Jin mother are best friends from high schools so they both know each other from childhood and that's why he is know Jin very well.

Jin raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you want to know?"

Before Jhope could answer-

Namjoon stepped forward slightly.

A little hesitant.

A little shy.

"There's... a party tonight," he said.

"Our classmates are hosting it."

A small pause.

"Will you... I mean... will you all come?"

Jin looked at him.

Thinking.

Actually thinking.

But-

"We're not free."

Jimin spoke suddenly.

Confident.

Fast.

"We have errands later."

Taehyung blinked.

We do?

A small silence followed.

Then-

A scoff.

"Why do you always interfere?"

Jungkook's voice.

Annoyed.

Sharp.

Jimin turned instantly.

"Excuse me?"

"We weren't asking you," Jungkook added, tilting his head slightly.

That was it.

"How dare you talk to me like that?" Jimin snapped.

"I swear, I'm going to kill you."

Jungkook smirked.

"Try."

"Oh, I will-"

Jimin stepped forward-

But Taehyung grabbed his arm quickly.

"Jimin..."

Jin stepped in too.

"Not here."

But Jungkook didn't stop.

Of course he didn't.

"Big words," he said lazily.

"No action."

Jimin almost lost it.

He moved again-

But suddenly-

An arm wrapped around his waist.

Jimin froze.

Suga.

"Relax," Suga said calmly.

And just like that-

Jimin's anger... disappeared.

Completely.

His body went still.

His face turned slightly red.

"I... I am relaxed," he muttered.

(He was not.)

Taehyung noticed.

Jin noticed.

Even Jungkook noticed.

Jungkook smirked slightly.

"Wow. That was fast."

Jimin glared at him-

But didn't move.

Because Suga was still holding him.

And somehow-

That felt... nice.

"Anyway," Jhope clapped his hands suddenly, breaking the tension.

"Party tonight. You guys are coming. End of discussion."

Jin sighed.

Jimin looked conflicted.

Jungkook looked at Taehyung

Again.

"You're coming," he said simply.

Not a question.

Taehyung frowned slightly.

"Why?"

Jungkook stepped a little closer.

"Because I said so."

That tone again.

Taehyung didn't like it.

But he didn't argue either.

And somehow-

That bothered him more.

somehow they agreed to come to the party.

- At Night -

Night came faster than expected.

Or maybe...

Taehyung just wasn't ready for it.

Jimin made him wear something nice.

Something that made him stand out.

Too much.

Taehyung felt uncomfortable.

His boyfriend never liked this.

He didn't like Taehyung dressing up.

He didn't like attention on him.

"I don't think I should wear this..." Taehyung muttered.

Jimin rolled his eyes.

"You look amazing. Stop overthinking."

"But-"

"He's not even here," Jimin cut him off.

"He's out of town. So relax and enjoy for once."

Taehyung stayed quiet.

Trying to believe that.

At the Party

The party was already loud when they arrived.

Lights flashing.

Music echoing.

People laughing like nothing mattered.

Taehyung stepped in beside Jimin and Jin.

Too many people.

Too much noise.

Too much... everything.

"I already regret coming," Jimin muttered.

"You were the most excited one," Jin replied calmly.

Jimin shrugged.

"I just bought new clothes. I had to show them off."

Taehyung didn't say anything.

His eyes moved slowly across the room.

Searching.

Without meaning to.

And then-

He saw them.

Jhope dancing like the party belonged to him.

Namjoon nearby, talking-but still glancing at Jin sometimes.

Suga sitting quietly with a drink.

And beside him-

Jungkook

Jungkook looked up.

Like he felt it.

Their eyes met.

Again.

Too fast.

Too familiar.

Taehyung looked away first.

"Don't start," Jimin whispered.

"I didn't do anything."

"You don't have to. He's already doing it."

"YOU CAME!"

Jhope appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Jin dramatically.

"I knew you wouldn't betray me!" he said, making a pout.

"I wasn't planning to," Jin replied calmly.

"You were thinking about it."

"I always think."

Meanwhile-

Jimin slowly moved closer to Suga.

"You came," Jimin said casually.

"I was invited."

"That's not what I meant."

Suga looked at him.

Jimin looked away first.

"You calm down fast," Suga said quietly.

"...that was different," Jimin muttered, ears slightly red.

Namjoon walked up to Jin.

"You look nice tonight."

Jin gave a small polite smile.

"Thank you."

Nothing more.

Across the room-

Taehyung stood still without saying anything just observing.

"Still quiet is being quiet is your job or something ?"

Jungkook stepped beside him.

Close.

"I don't like parties," Taehyung said softly.

"Then why did you come?"

"...I don't know."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"You are."

The music got louder.

People moved.

Jhope dragged others to dance.

Jimin went with him.

Suga followed slowly.

Jin stayed back-with Namjoon.

And somehow-

It was just Taehyung...

And Jungkook.

"Stay near me," Jungkook said quietly.

Taehyung blinked.

"What?"

"Just... don't get lost."

That didn't sound like a joke.

And then-

A hand grabbed Taehyung's wrist.

Hard.

Taehyung froze.

"I leave for one day..."

A cold voice.

"...and this is what you do?"

Taehyung's heart dropped.

Slowly-he turned.

'"Park Bo-gum. His boyfriend."

Standing right there.

Eyes dark.

Sharp.

Angry.

"I thought you were out of town," Taehyung whispered.

"I was," Bo-gum said coldly.

"Then I heard something interesting."

His grip tightened.

"My boyfriend... having fun without me."

His eyes scanned Taehyung.

Up.

Down.

Judging.

"Who told you to dress like this?"

"I just-"

"You just what?"

The grip tightened again.

Possessive.

"Let go."

Jungkook's voice.

Calm.

Sharp.

Bo-gum looked at him.

"And who are you?"

Jungkook didn't answer.

His eyes were on the hand holding Taehyung.

"I said," he stepped closer,

"let go."

Silence.

Heavy.

"You think you can tell me what to do?"

"I don't think," Jungkook replied.

Pause.

"I know."

The grip loosened.

Then dropped.

Taehyung stepped back immediately.

"You've been acting different," Bo-gum said.

"Now I see why."

"No, it's not like that-"

"Then what is it like?!"

Taehyung flinched.

Couldn't answer.

"He doesn't owe you an answer." Jungkook said.

Everything stopped.

"He's mine," Bo-gum said.

The word felt... wrong.

Jungkook's eyes darkened.

"No."

"He's not something you own."

That hit.

Deep.

"Come here," Bo-gum ordered.

Taehyung didn't move.

Two choices.

Two sides.

Behind him-

Jungkook didn't touch him.

Didn't force him.

He just... waited.

"Tae," Bo-gum said softly now,

"come here... like a good boy."

That voice.

Familiar.

Controlling.

Taehyung's fingers trembled.

Taehyung didn't have courage to move. And stay still.

"Tae!!!!".Bo-gum shouted.

The shout made him flinch-

He walked to Bo-gum.

A satisfied smile appeared.

Bo-gum pulled him closer by the waist.

Too tight.

Too clear.

Taehyung looked down.

He couldn't look at Jungkook.

And Jungkook-

Just watched.

Disappointment clear

He chose control over freedom...

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