Chapter 33 : secret exposed

As the day came to an end, everyone gathered around the dining table, the sound of clinking utensils and lively chatter filling the air. Jungkook sat at the head of the table, with Jin to his right and YN directly in front of him. RM and Suga sat to Jungkook's left, while Jimin, jhope , Alex, and Taehyung occupied the remaining seats.

As everyone busied themselves with eating, YN sat quietly, her eyes fixed on her plate. Jin, noticing her stillness, asked with concern, "Why are you not eating?"

YN's gaze shifted to Jin, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes. "I only eat with my right hand," she replied, her voice laced with innocence.

As she spoke, she subtly pulled her right hand under the table, revealing that it was already occupied by Jungkook's hand. "Now, how can I eat?" she asked, her eyes locking onto Jungkook's with an air of helpless innocence.

The table fell silent, with all eyes on YN and Jungkook. Jungkook's face turned a deep shade of red as he realized he had been caught. He tried to release YN's hand, but she held tight, a sly smile spreading across her face.

Jin chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "I think someone's got you wrapped around their finger, Jungkook," he teased, earning a laugh from the others.

RM, always the voice of reason, intervened, "Well, I suppose we can make an exception this one time. YN, why don't you use your left hand to eat?"

YN's smile grew wider as she replied, "But I'm not used to eating with my left hand. It's so... clumsy."

Suga, never one to miss an opportunity, chimed in, "I think we have a solution. Jungkook, why don't you feed her?"

The table erupted into laughter and teasing, with Jungkook's face growing hotter by the second. YN, still holding onto Jungkook's hand, gazed up at him with an expectant smile, as if daring him to take on the challenge.

Jungkook's eyes locked onto YN's, a mixture of amusement and exasperation written across his face. He knew he was trapped, and the whole table was waiting for his response.

With a sigh, he relented, "Fine, I'll feed you." He picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and brought it to YN's lips.

YN's eyes sparkled with delight as she took a bite, her lips brushing against Jungkook's fingers. The touch sent a shiver down his spine, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of possessiveness wash over him.

As Jungkook continued to feed YN, the table fell into a comfortable silence, with the only sound being the clinking of utensils and the occasional laughter. Jimin, who had been quiet until now, spoke up, "You know, I think this is the most romantic thing I've ever seen."

Alex, who was sitting next to Jimin, playfully rolled his eyes. "You're just saying that because you're a sucker for romance, Jimin."

Jimin shot back, "Hey, someone has to keep the romance alive in this group."

Taehyung, who had been quietly observing the scene deep doen he felt the warmth of family, but prefer to stay quite and continue eating.

RM, lifted his glass. "To moments like these," he said, his voice carrying a note of gratitude. "May we always find time to come together and remember what really matters."

The others followed suit, raising their glasses in a toast. "To us," they echoed, their voices blending in harmony.

As the meal came to a close, the group decided to move to the living room for dessert and coffee. As they settled in, Jungkook and YN sat together on the couch, their hands still intertwined.

As the meal drew to a close, Jin stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "Well, that was a feast. I'm stuffed."

"Me too," Alex agreed, leaning back in his chair. "I think I'm ready to hit the hay."

The group began to disperse, some heading towards their rooms while others lingered in the living room for a bit more conversation.

Jungkook and YN remained seated at the table, their fingers still intertwined under the table.Jungkook looked at YN, his eyes soft with affection.

"You know, you really got me there," he said, a smile playing on his lips.

YN grinned, squeezing his hand. "I had to keep you on your toes."

He chuckled, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "And you did. But seriously, I'm glad we had this time together. It means a lot."

YN's heart swelled with warmth. "Me too, Jungkook. Me too."

As they joined the others in the living room, Jungkook kept YN close, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders.

They settled in next to Taehyung, who smiled softly at YN and received a reassuring nod in return.

Meanwhile, Jungkook shot Taehyung a jealous glance. The group said their goodbyes and headed off to bed.

The next morning, YN woke up early, feeling determined to confront Jimin about his cryptic words.

She slipped out of bed and made her way to the kitchen, where she found Jimin sipping coffee. "Jimin, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked, her voice firm but gentle.

Jimin looked up, his eyes locking onto hers. "What's up, YN?" he asked, his tone cautious.

YN took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I want to know what you meant by your words yesterday." Jimin's eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape route.

But YN's gaze held him captive, refusing to let him off the hook.

Jimin sighed, setting his coffee cup down on the table. "YN, it's complicated," he began, his voice tinged with hesitation. "Sometimes, the people we trust the most can disappoint us. They have their own battles, and sometimes their actions don't align with what we expect from them."

YN furrowed her brows, trying to understand. "Are you talking about someone specific? Is there something I should know?"

Jimin hesitated again, clearly struggling with how much to reveal."It's not just one person, YN. It's a lesson I've learned the hard way. You have to look deeper, beyond the surface. Everyone has their own story, their own struggles. Sometimes, things aren't as black and white as they seem"

YN nodded slowly, absorbing his words. "So, you're saying I need to be careful about who I trust?"

"Yes," Jimin said softly.

he said finally. "You might know Yeji she's an agent, but she helped us rescue Jungkook from the CIA that day. YN, hungry dogs are never loyal. The CIA may look like they're working for justice, but they're hungry for power. I can only tell you this much. You should ask Alex and Yeji why they're loyal to Jungkook. He himself can tell you better than I can."

YN hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Jungkook's expression made her trust him, at least for now.

"He said...he said that the CIA isn't always working for the greater good, that they used me and Taehyung for their gain. He mentioned Yeji too."

Jungkook's expression hardened. "YN, the CIA has their own agenda, and it's not always in line with what we think is right. Yeji was sent by them to infiltrate the mafia, but her loyalties shifted when she saw the corruption within the agency. Director Park may seem nice, but he's just a pawn in a much bigger game."

YN's eyes widened. "So, you knew all along? About Yeji and the CIA?"

Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I knew enough to be cautious. Yeji's loyalty to me is genuine, but the CIA's intentions are murky at best. They used you and Taehyung to get closer to me, to control the situation. I'm sorry you had to find out this way."

Jungkook's arms enveloped YN, holding her close as he whispered words of reassurance in her ear. But YN's mind was racing, her thoughts tangled in a web of confusion and doubt.

"I trust you, but I can't believe something like this," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "I've been working with Director Park for eight years, and he's never treated me badly. If you knew about something like this, why didn't you tell me before?"

Jungkook's chin rested on her shoulder, his eyes soft with understanding. "Do you hate me now?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

YN's voice was barely a whisper. "I don't hate you."

Jungkook's arms tightened around her. "I know, sweetheart."

YN looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "But I should hate you," she confessed.

Jungkook's eyes burned with intensity. "You should," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "And it would make me the luckiest bastard in the world that you can't manage to."

YN's lips barely moved . "Why?"

Jungkook's gaze never wavered. "Because I need you, YN. I need you to trust me, to believe in me. I know I've made mistakes, but I promise to make it right. I promise to protect you, to keep you safe from the CIA and from anyone who tries to hurt you."

YN's heart was racing, her mind reeling with emotions. But as she looked into Jungkook's eyes, she saw something there that made her heart skip a beat.

"Okay," she whispered finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jungkook's eyes lit up, a smile spreading across his face. "Okay?" he repeated, his voice full of hope.

YN nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Okay," she said again, her voice firm.

But as Jungkook's lips moved to claim hers, YN's hand shot up, her fingers pressing against his lips. Jungkook's eyes narrowed, his gaze burning with intensity.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

YN's eyes searched his, her heart pounding in her chest. "I need to know more," she said finally, her voice firm. "I need to know what's going on, and what you're planning to do to make it right."

Jungkook's eyes never left hers, his gaze burning with intensity. "I'll tell you everything," he promised, his voice low. "But you have to promise me one thing. You have to promise me you'll trust me, no matter what."

YN hesitated, unsure of what to say. But as she looked into Jungkook's eyes, she saw something there that made her heart skip a beat.

"I promise," she said finally, her voice firm....

"I've been quietly building a network of allies and informants within the CIA," Jungkook said, his voice measured and calculated. "I've been gathering intelligence on their operations, identifying their weaknesses and exploiting them to my advantage. I've also been secretly funding and supporting whistleblower groups and investigative journalists who are working to expose the CIA's corruption and abuse of power."

YN's eyes narrowed as she considered the implications of Jungkook's words. "You're not just taking on the CIA," she said, her voice laced with a mix of admiration and concern. "You're taking on the entire system."

Jungkook's gaze never wavered. "I am. And I'll stop at nothing to make sure that those who have abused their power are held accountable. The CIA may think they're above the law, but I'll show them that no one is above the law."

YN's heart raced as she realized the scope of Jungkook's plan. He wasn't just fighting against the CIA; he was fighting against the entire corrupt system that had enabled their abuse of power. And he was doing it with a level of sophistication and strategic thinking that was both impressive and intimidating.

"I've also been working to build a parallel intelligence network," Jungkook continued, his voice dripping with confidence. "One that is independent of the CIA and answerable only to me. I'll use this network to gather intelligence, to identify threats, and to take action against those who would harm innocent people."

YN's eyes locked onto his, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that Jungkook was taking a huge risk, but she also knew that he was doing it for the right reasons. 

"That's why you had the human trafficker held in the compound cells, isn't it?" YN asked, her voice laced with curiosity. "Jungkook, please, can you talk to Taehyung about this? I know you're upset with him, but he doesn't know anything about the CIA's involvement. If you explain it calmly to him, I'm sure he'll understand."

Jungkook's expression turned cold, his jaw clenched in refusal. "He's not like you, YN. You're different. And I'm not going to waste my time talking to him."

YN's eyes flashed with a hint of defiance. "Fine, Jeon Jungkook. Are you going to talk to him, or do I need to go myself?" She asked, her voice firm and slightly teasing, trying to provoke a reaction from him.

Jungkook's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he stared at YN. For a moment, it seemed like he was considering her words, weighing his options. Then, his expression hardened, and he turned away.

"I said no, YN. And I mean it," he said, his voice firm.

YN's voice rose, her emotions spilling over. "You're always so stubborn, so unwilling to listen!"

Jungkook's expression softened, and he smiled slightly. "Okay, okay, I'll talk to him," he said, his voice gentle. He softly rubbed his finger on her nose, a playful gesture that belied the tension between them.

YN's face lit up with a triumphant smile. "Thank you, Jungkook. I know it's not easy, but it's important. Taehyung deserves to know the truth."

Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, I'll talk to him. But don't expect miracles. He's been stubborn and difficult to deal with lately."

YN nodded, her expression serious. "I understand. Just try to be patient with him. He needs to know what's really going on."

As Jungkook prepared to leave the room, YN reached out and gently touched his arm. "And about the human trafficker… is it true?"

Jungkook's eyes darkened, and he nodded slowly. "Yes, it's true. The trafficker was a pawn in the CIA's game. They were using him to gather information and control certain situations. When we found out, we had to act quickly to stop them."

YN's heart raced with the implications. "I can't believe the CIA would go to such lengths. It's horrifying."

Jungkook's expression softened as he looked at YN. "I know. That's why we need to be careful and stay united. We can't let them tear us apart."

YN nodded, her resolve strengthening. "We'll face this together, Jungkook. I trust you."

Jungkook leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Thank you, YN. Your trust means everything to me."

Later that day, Jungkook found Taehyung in the gym, working out his frustrations on a punching bag. He watched for a moment, taking in Taehyung's intense focus and powerful strikes.

"Taehyung," Jungkook called out, his voice calm but firm.

Taehyung stopped, turning to face Jungkook with a mix of surprise and defiance. "What do you want, Jungkook?"

Jungkook took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. "We need to talk."

Taehyung's eyes narrowed, his grip on the punching bag tightening. "What's there to talk about, Jungkook?