chapter -9 Tides of Truth

Jimin was still reeling from the conversation he'd had with Jungkook just hours ago. The weight of everything he'd learned about Ms. Hae, the power dynamics, and how deep the rabbit hole went was still settling in his mind. His whole world had turned upside down. He'd always believed in the purity of his project with J-Global, but now, it felt more like a trap—his name, his reputation, his very future manipulated by hands he could never see.

But there was no turning back now.

He needed to act, and fast.

"Tonight," Jungkook had said earlier, the intensity in his voice unwavering. "We have one more ally to call in."

Jimin hadn't asked who. He trusted Jungkook, but the mystery of it gnawed at him. All he knew was that whoever they were bringing in, they'd have to be powerful enough to take down Ms. Hae and everything she represented.

The clock struck 8:45 PM, and Jimin found himself standing in front of an unfamiliar, sleek glass building—its towering form casting long shadows as the streetlights flickered below. Jungkook had sent him the address, and the instructions were simple: Meet me here.

Jimin's pulse quickened, and as he pushed open the glass door, he was greeted by the quiet hum of the elevator music and the polished floors. His shoes echoed through the empty hallways as he followed Jungkook's instructions toward a waiting room. As he stepped inside, a figure stood up from the couch—tall, commanding, his posture rigid but not unfriendly.

Jimin froze, his breath catching in his throat.

"Jimin," Jungkook said, his voice strained but somehow relieved to see him. "This is Taehyung."

The man who stood before him was undeniably striking, his dark hair falling in perfect disarray over his forehead. But it wasn't just his looks that caught Jimin off guard. There was an aura around him—a quiet power, the kind that made you feel both intimidated and drawn in at once.

Jimin didn't extend his hand immediately. Instead, he stared at Taehyung, his gaze narrowing with suspicion.

"Taehyung," Jimin muttered, trying to mask the uncertainty in his voice. "Nice to meet you."

Taehyung, on the other hand, gave a small smile. It wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either. Just enough to let Jimin know he was assessing him just as much as Jimin was assessing him.

"Likewise," Taehyung replied, his deep voice almost too smooth. He then nodded to Jungkook, as if confirming something. "So, you're sure about this? About everything?"

Jungkook nodded, his eyes meeting Taehyung's with a silent intensity Jimin couldn't quite decipher.

Jimin had been about to speak when a sudden pang of jealousy hit him. He noticed the way Jungkook and Taehyung seemed to have their own silent understanding, an unspoken bond between them that Jimin couldn't quite place. They had history, he realized. A history that went beyond mere partnership. And more than that, it seemed like Taehyung held a position of authority that Jimin hadn't anticipated.

"You two are close, huh?" Jimin asked, his tone more biting than he meant it to be. His stomach twisted, suddenly feeling very out of place.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, giving a short, low laugh. "We go back a long way." His gaze shifted to Jungkook for a brief moment. There was something unspoken there, something Jimin didn't understand.

Jungkook's expression darkened, but he quickly recovered, stepping toward Jimin. "Don't worry," he said, voice softer than before. "Taehyung's the best at what he does. He's not just a friend. He's a cop—a top-ranked officer in the department."

Jimin blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He'd known Jungkook was involved in some serious business, but this was next level. Taehyung was in law enforcement?

"Wait, what?" Jimin shook his head. "So... he's going to help us? With Ms. Hae?"

Jungkook gave a short nod. "Exactly."

Taehyung, who had been standing by, leaned in slightly. "But we need to be careful," he said, his eyes sharp as a hawk's. "Ms. Hae's network is vast, and she has friends everywhere—even in the police force. If we move too quickly, the whole operation could backfire. We can't afford to make any missteps."

Jimin nodded, trying to absorb the gravity of Taehyung's words. It felt like the walls were closing in on him, the pressure of this entire situation sinking deeper with every passing second.

The plan was set. Taehyung would use his connections within the police department to gather more intel on Ms. Hae's network. He would be their inside man—quiet, efficient, and untouchable. Jungkook had made sure to fill him in on the project, the web of corruption that had entangled Jimin, and the dangerous game they were all caught in.

As they prepared to leave the building, Jimin couldn't shake the feeling that something else was brewing beneath the surface.

He turned to Jungkook, who was walking a few steps ahead. The tension was thick, a subtle undercurrent between them. Jimin could tell Jungkook was distracted—Taehyung's presence was like a shadow, lingering in the air.

"Are you sure about this?" Jimin asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Jungkook paused but didn't turn around. His back was straight, his jaw clenched. "We don't have a choice, Jimin. If we're going to take down Ms. Hae, we need all the help we can get. And Taehyung... he's the one person I trust most. He's not just doing this for me; he's doing it for us."

Jimin swallowed the knot in his throat. "Okay," he said, his voice betraying a hint of doubt. "But what if this doesn't work? What if we're too late?"

Jungkook finally faced him, his gaze steady and reassuring. "Then we'll make it work. Together."

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Jimin believed him.

Later that evening, Jimin found himself alone in his apartment, staring out the window at the city lights. His mind was whirling. There were still so many unknowns, so many risks, and yet, for the first time, he felt a glimmer of hope.

But that hope was fragile. He couldn't help but wonder—if they managed to expose Ms. Hae, would it truly be the end of this nightmare, or just the beginning of a much darker one?

As Jimin let his thoughts spiral, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a new message from Jungkook.

"We've made our move. It's up to us now. No turning back."

Jimin smiled faintly. No turning back, indeed.

And with that, the storm that had been brewing was about to hit its peak.