Chapter 5 : A Line Crossed

Jungkook felt his body tense as their manager's gaze shifted between him and Taehyung. The air in the corridor thickened with unsaid accusations, and Jungkook instinctively tightened his grip on Taehyung's hand.

"What are you two doing here?" their manager repeated, his tone unreadable but laced with warning.

Taehyung was the first to react, smoothly pulling his hand away as if nothing had happened. "Just talking," he said, his voice casual but his expression guarded.

Jungkook hated how easily Taehyung could slip into that mask. But he wasn't ready to lie—not about this.

Their manager's gaze lingered on Jungkook before he sighed. "You need to be careful. The last thing we need right now is unnecessary rumors."

Jungkook clenched his jaw. He knew what their manager really meant.

"Understood," Taehyung said quickly, bowing slightly.

But Jungkook didn't move. He held his ground, forcing himself to meet their manager's gaze. "And if they're not rumors?" he asked, voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him.

Taehyung stiffened beside him.

Their manager's expression darkened. "Then you'd better hope they never become public."

The warning hung between them, like a final decision. With one last look, their manager turned and walked away, leaving them alone.

Jungkook let out a sharp breath, his fists clenching at his sides. "This isn't fair."

Taehyung let out a humorless chuckle. "Since when has anything been fair for us?"

Jungkook turned to face him, hoping for some reassurance, but Taehyung merely appeared fatigued. Worn out from years of concealing and faking.

"We can't keep living like this," Jungkook muttered.

Taehyung smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Then what do we do?"

Jungkook didn't have an answer yet.

But one thing was clear—this was more than just secrecy now.

This was war.