Work Text:
"i'm not doing this for free. it's an investment."
—taehyung to jungkook
❦
jungkook hated his room. the ceiling would leak when it rained, the thin walls didn't stop the cold air from getting in, and the floorboards creaked when the slightest amount of pressure was put on them. his room was furnished with nothing but a bed on one side and a dresser on the other. it was all that was needed he supposed.
the male's room was separate from the rest of the bedrooms. the other rooms in the house were on the newly renovated side while his still had its original, shoddy foundation. it was a shitty place to live, to be frank, but he couldn't complain. after all, he was staying there for free.
after moving by himself from america to korea, jungkook struggled to adapt. he never got the chance to finish high school and couldn't find a job anywhere in the city. he was desperate for lodging until one day, he found a posting at the bus stop for a single room in a large boarding house.
jungkook went to the boarding house, hoping to learn more about the room. however, when he arrived, he discovered that the room had been taken and that there were no more spaces available. so he went searching in other places but had no luck. no one was interested in leasing out a room to a teenager with no job or education. with no hope left, the black-haired boy went back to the boarding house and begged the owner on his knees for a space to stay. they refused, but jungkook was persistent. the male noticed the old wing of the boarding house and brought up how it seemed empty. the owner said that it was that because it was dangerous as the building's state had deteriorated with age. regardless, jungkook still begged to live there and the owner agreed as long as he took care of it and did some additional lawn work. the boy eagerly agreed, after all, he thought he wouldn't be there for long.
but then months passed and jungkook remained in the same rickety room. he had managed to find a job at a fast-food place, but the money he made there was nowhere near enough to afford a nicer place to stay. jungkook considered moving, but with no car, there were few options for him. so he kept working at his almost minimum wage job and continued to live his dreary life.
jungkook had moved to this new place hoping for more opportunities, but it seemed like lady luck just wasn't on his side. or at least, it wasn't for a while.
the boy's fortune began to change when he was working his regular shift and a man wearing a nice, navy suit and shiny watch walked in. his dark hair was meticulously styled and his collar was open, exposing just the slightest bit of tan skin. jungkook had seen plenty of businessmen walk into the restaurant before, but not one nearly as handsome as him. something about this man was different. he made the boy uneasy.
he took the man's order and tried not to eavesdrop as he had a particularly loud conversation over the phone. after the order was placed, he angrily hung up and cursed. jungkook asked for him to swipe his card since the chip machine wasn't working. the man was annoyed and was about to tell him off to release some of his anger, but when he looked at the worker's face, an idea came to mind.
"how old are you..." his brown eyes went to the younger's nametag. "jungkook?" he questioned, and jungkook had been asked this by other customers before and he knew better than to give out his personal information to strangers
"you can wait at the side of the counter for your order, sir," he said. the man didn't like being ignored and asked him the same question again. jungkook pretended he didn't hear him.
"look i'm not some creep trying to hit on you, alright? i'm a scout for a modeling agency. my name is kim taehyung," he introduced himself before handing the boy his ivory business card. jungkook's eyes widened at the information.
"it must be a scam," he thought. the boy held it back out, trying to return it to him, but the older male shook his head. "i'm not some kind of conman. if i was i wouldn't be eating here. just do some research, ask a friend, or do whatever and call me when you realize what a great opportunity you've just been handed, okay?"
"um," jungkook stuttered, unable to process everything that was happening. one of his coworkers came from behind him and handed the man a paper bag.
"i got my food and i've gotta run, but contact me soon. this offer isn't going to last forever," the man that jungkook now knew as kim taehyung said, and with that, he left. jungkook was still stunned, his fingers running over the letters on the business card as if it wasn't real.
"oh my god!" his coworker and best friend, hoseok, squealed from beside him. "you just got fucking scouted!"
"it's probably fake," jungkook said, biting his bottom lip. he didn't believe that he could ever be this fortunate.
"let me see." the brunette took the card from jungkook's hands and gasped as he read the name. "holy shit, kookie. this is a legit agency! like all of those popular instagram influencers are represented by them!" hoseok exclaimed.
"no way," jungkook denied. "don't lie to me, hobi." he knew his friend would never trick him like this, but he didn't want to get his hopes up.
"i wouldn't! not about this. this is fucking amazing!" hoseok said, bouncing from excitement for his coworker. "you need to call that guy."
"i-i don't know," the taller said. he read the words on the card over and over again in his head. "i mean, why me?"
"ugh," hoseok groaned at his friend's self-doubt. "because you're hot as shit, jungkook! you're young, gorgeous, and you've got that sad-and-mysterious-but-in-a-hot-way thing going for you," he explained. jungkook wasn't sure what hoseok meant by that, but decided it was better not to ask.
"so should i call him?" the boy asked. his coworker eagerly nodded. "o-okay. i think i will." the older squealed again, thrilled to see jungkook receive such an amazing opportunity. the two got scolded by their boss and focused back on their jobs.
when his shift ended, jungkook went to the library to do more research about the company on one of the computers. hoseok was right. the agency listed on the card was the same one that represented several popular models and social media influencers.
he also looked up the man and found his business profile. everything about the offer was starting to seem legitimate and it filled jungkook with a sense of excitement. he was finally getting the chance he had always been looking for and he knew that pursuing this opportunity would be a drastic shift from his current dull life.
the next morning jungkook called the man who picked up after the fourth ring.
"hello?" taehyung's voice was gruff and intimidated the younger.
"h-hi, it's the guy from the fast-food place, jungkook," jungkook said.
"you called later than i thought," the man scoffed. "regardless, it's a good thing that you did. that means you know i'm not some kind of creep, right?"
"yes," he responded.
"good. now can i finally find out how old you are so i know if i'm dealing with a child or not?" the agent questioned.
"of course, i'm 19-years-old, mr. kim," jungkook told him, adding the last part because he felt uncomfortable otherwise.
"nineteen? that's perfect. and don't call me that. i'm only 31. just call me taehyung," he told the boy. "are you free this afternoon?"
"uh, yes?" jungkook hesitantly answered.
"fantastic. where a plain t-shirt and some skinny jeans and meet me at the place you work at in a few hours," taehyung requested.
"huh? w-" but before jungkook could finish, the man hung up. he sighed and called hoseok to let him know what was happening and so that someone would know where he was last if he suddenly went missing.
the boy did as he was told and showed up at the fast-food restaurant in a white shirt and blue jeans. when he arrived, taehyung was already there, loudly drinking a soda through a straw. "you made it," he said before getting up. "let's go."
"where?" jungkook questioned. he had been given a direction before he could even take a seat.
"to the audition," taehyung stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. before the younger male could protest or ask for more information the agent walked out and jungkook flusteredly followed. as expected, taehyung drove a luxurious car that jungkook knew he would never be able to afford. the confused boy tried to ask him more questions on the road, but he just kept telling the boy to be patient which annoyed him greatly.
"we're here." taehyung stopped in front of a large white building that jungkook could only look at in awe. they were in the nicer part of the city that he very rarely visited. the agent told him to get out first while he parked.
as jungkook stood there facing the sleek building, he felt his heart race. he didn't know if it was fear, anxiety, excitement, or a mixture of all of them, but he did know that if he did well today, things would start to change.
after taehyung parked his car, he ushered the boy in and they went up to the seventh floor. when jungkook stepped inside, he saw other males wearing a similar outfit to his. most of them had people with them and few were alone. jungkook took a seat between two males he found almost intimidatingly handsome and taehyung told him he had something to do and walked into the room where the auditions appeared to be happening.
jungkook felt like hours had passed as he watched different young men go in and out of the audition room and the suspense was killing him. "why am i here?" he asked himself. jungkook didn't feel like he was even half as appealing as all of the other males he was surrounded by. there were guys that were taller and fitter with more smoldering eyes and defined jawlines. he didn't understand how he could ever stand a chance.
eventually, it was his turn. jungkook took a deep breath before he stepped into the audition room. it was almost empty except for a table where two men and one woman were seated and taehyung was standing at the back of the room. the boy gulped not knowing what they were going to ask from him. did he need to walk? was he supposed to bring a resumé? he had come there completely unprepared he realized.
"hm," the man at the right side of the table hummed. "you're right taehyung, he could fill in for him." the two others at the table nodded in agreement. jungkook had never been more lost. who were they talking about?
"i told you. he's got the same energy. he can take yoongi's place no problem. plus he's younger, 19-years-old," taehyung confidently remarked.
"he's interesting," the woman said, her eyes scanning jungkook up and down. the black-haired boy suddenly felt very small as all of them looked at him. he tried to fix his posture and seem as tall and broad as possible. "he's handsome and he has the right image, but we've seen a lot of other guys today with equal potential. what is it about him that has earned your recommendation, kim?"
the said man smirked. "because," he began. jungkook was curious about his answer. why would he bring in a boy that he had only met the day before to a place like this? "he's desperate." jungkook's heart dropped at the words. he wasn't noticed because he was stunning or special like the other guys. no, he was chosen because taehyung could tell how pathetic his life was at first glance.
"and that's a good thing?" the man at the left side of the table queried, brows furrowed.
"of course," taehyung answered, looking jungkook in the eye. "when you're desperate you take hold of every chance you take. desperation makes you work harder than anyone else. i can't think of a better trait in an employee." the three people seated seemed intrigued by taehyung's answer. they exchanged looks before turning back at jungkook.
"what's your name?" the woman asked.
"my name is jeon jungkook, ma'am," he replied.
"okay, jungkook. let me ask you one thing: do you agree with what mr. kim has said? do you believe you are desperate?"
jungkook gulped and looked at the agent. he had an aloof expression that irritated him. what was he supposed to do? he had never been in this position before. was he supposed to tell the truth? admit how dreary and painfully boring he found his current life? jungkook took another deep breath and answered the woman's question.
"yes, ma'am. i am desperate. i need a chance to do something more. i don't want to work at a fast-food place and sleep in a small room with no heat anymore. i want more." everyone in the room seemed pleased with jungkook's response.
"wonderful," the woman remarked. she turned to taehyung and smiled. "he's got the job. nice work finding him, kim." the three older adults began to put their papers away and pack their suitcases.
"of course," he thanked. he looked at jungkook with a proud look. the younger was already exceeding his expectations. they all shook hands and taehyung led the newly employed model out of the room and they exited the building.
"what just happened?" jungkook asked. he wanted an explanation before he got into his car again. his feet were planted firmly in the ground and taehyung could already tell that he was going to be a handful but his instincts told him it was worth it.
"you just got a job. you're going to be participating in a photoshoot in a week for a very nice clothing brand," the older stated. jungkook's eyes widened and he couldn't hide his happiness as he beamed.
"wait, really? oh my god, how?" he questioned, on the verge of squealing from joy. he had literally done nothing but stand in a room and talk about how depressing he was.
"get in the car and i'll explain," taehyung sighed. jungkook was being a little too energetic for his liking. the boy nodded and uneasily sat down in the passenger seat of the expensive vehicle. he couldn't get used to the leather seating and advanced computer system. it all felt so new to the boy. he quickly buckled himself in and taehyung began to drive.
"can you please tell me now?" the younger asked. taehyung hummed, considering leaving him in the dark because he wasn't in the mood to talk, but he decided otherwise as the boy would probably just pester him with questions later.
"the model i was originally going to bring to this audition was guaranteed to get the gig," he began to explain. his tongue poking at the inside of his cheek to contain his agitation. "but last-minute, some other agency poached him from right under me and he decided to jump ship." jungkook could hear the obvious bitterness in his voice, whoever yoongi was must have been important to the agent. "but i already promised a certain type of model with a certain type of image. i tried searching for another guy, but no one fit what i needed. no one was as perfect as him. and i was going to give up, but then i ran into you." taehyung looked at jungkook who was trying to process all of this. "you're not the same—obviously—but luckily, you have a similar style and you've got that same weird depressing-but-mysterious thing going on as he did. the only big difference is that you're a little taller which, honestly, works in your favor."
"thank you?" jungkook said. this was the second time he was hearing this type of compliment and he still wasn't sure if it was a good thing. "but what about that thing you said about me being desperate? did you mean it?"
taehyung scoffed. "of course. it's what got you the job," he said in a cocky tone. jungkook pouted. "what? was i not right?"
"w-well, i wouldn't s-" jungkook tried to object.
"oh, c'mon," the man interrupted, amused that jungkook was trying to argue with him. "a teenage boy working at a fast-food restaurant full-time? your shoes are worn out, your hair is dead, and it's obvious you're not happy with your life right now. you want more don't you?"
jungkook gasped at the insults, self-consciously touching the ends of his hair. he thought his hair looked fine—maybe a little damaged from the previous times when he dyed it—but still. and taehyung was correct, his sneakers were worn out and he was incredibly unsatisfied with where he was right now. the boy wasn't lying when he said he didn't want to work as a cashier and live in a cramped room anymore.
"you're right," the younger mumbled to taehyung's satisfaction. a few more moments of silents passed and they were still on the road. "where are we going? what's next?" he asked.
"shopping," taehyung told him. "you don't need the nicest things, but you still need to maintain a clean and proper image. people shouldn't be able to have a chance to look down on you." jungkook pursed his lips. he hardly shopped in the city due to the high prices and long distance from the boarding house, but he didn't know how to tell taehyung that. fortunately, he didn't have to as the man already predicted this. "i'll pay. don't worry about it and just get what you need."
"i can't ask that from you," the boy said. the last thing he wanted was to be pitied by the man.
"i'm not doing this for free. it's an investment. after you sign a contract with me and start working gigs, everything will be paid back in time," he stated, eyes starting to scan the narrow streets for the right stores.
jungkook was bewildered. an investment? contracts? gigs? he hadn't grasped exactly what he was getting into and taehyung knew this. he helped the clueless male buy some necessities as well as makeup, hair products, and skincare. when jungkook asked why he needed all of these things, taehyung told him he "didn't look bad, but could use some touching up." the man showed him how to use all the newly purchased items and instructed jungkook to start a balanced diet and exercise more. the boy understood this and obediently followed the agent's words. he trusted taehyung knew what he was doing.
he was a professional, after all.
the next week, taehyung picked jungkook up from the boarding house. the other residents were in awe as they watched jungkook, who slept in the worst part of the building, climb into a stranger's expensive car. the agent drove the model to a larger building than the one he had visited last time. when jungkook stepped inside, he was shocked by the sheer number of people there. everyone had a job and was hustling to finish to do it. they all seemed to know exactly what they were doing and that made jungkook nervous. after all, he was only here because he was lucky. he hadn't been going through the same stress the other models have been for years. he didn't understand how difficult it was to get a chance like the one he had now. so the other males who were there looked down on jungkook and he knew it.
"relax, kid," taehyung said, noticing how tense the boy was. he nodded and took a deep breath. taehyung went to talk to some people and jungkook followed behind him like a helpless puppy. he was doing his best to avoid others' eyes. after a short discussion, taehyung turned his attention back to jungkook and led the boy to where a few other models were getting their makeup done. he quickly replaced one of them in their seats and was stiff as the makeup artists did their jobs. then he went to get changed.
when jungkook was finally ready, he was shocked. he looked at himself in the mirror and hardly recognized himself. he couldn't believe that this was him, that he was the model wearing an expensive suit with his usually messy hair slicked back. the photographer began to call on all of the models. jungkook was about to go join the others when taehyung pulled him aside.
"stop looking so scared," he hissed, looking at jungkook's hands that had been trembling the entire time without the younger knowing. the boy quickly clasped them together to make them stop. "better. now listen. this is a big shot you have right now. if you fuck this up it's going to be really tough to get you another job. so focus on looking pretty and be confident. you want this don't you?" jungkook nodded. he wanted this more than anything. "good. watch the other models for a bit and remember the pointers i gave you. i'll be in the back waiting for you." and with those words he patted him on the arm and walked away, not thinking twice about the immense amount of pressure he had placed on the boy.
jungkook gulped. this might be his only shot.
the boy watched a few other guys take their photos before him. they all seemed so classy and handsome. he wondered if he could ever be like them. they appeared so intimidating to the boy, but in reality, they were incredibly cautious of him.
they wondered what kind of connections he must have to be able to be here and how he managed to get taehyung as his agent. taehyung was well-known for bringing up successful models and he usually only had one client at a time. many had been turned down and now he was suddenly there with a boy no one knew the name of. they knew that there must be something about jungkook that made him stand out. they just didn't know what it was. what did he have that they didn't?
but soon enough, they saw what taehyung suspected that the boy had all along: a natural presence.
jungkook was uncomfortable for the first few shots, but as he spent more time in front of the camera, he began to smoothly adapt. he was charismatic, did everything the director asked, and he did it all with ease. jungkook was used to following directions and always did his best to please others. there was a charm in that and soon enough he was drawing the attention of everyone in the room. his facials and movements were perfect and he felt comfortable with all of the eyes and lights on him. this was where he wanted to be.
after the shoot, they went to taehyung's office to complete the paperwork. normally, models would have a lawyer or someone with them to review the documents, but jungkook didn't have anyone like that. taehyung had showered him with compliments and he still had his adrenaline pumping from being in front of a camera. so he just blindly placed his trust in him. jungkook signed his name and that was it.
he was officially a model.
since the successful photoshoot, taehyung had managed to land jungkook job after job. everyone was curious about the model the famous agent was bringing up. eventually, taehyung talked the boy into finding a place closer to the middle of the city. he could finally afford it with the money he had been making and jumped at the idea. he was finally somewhere in life where he could get out of the room he hated so much and was able to move into a nice space. he loved the view of the tall buildings from his window and the bustling of the people below. jungkook felt like this was where he belonged.
hoseok was thrilled for his best friend and jungkook brought him to all of the shoots taehyung allowed him to. hoseok helped him build his confidence, and soon enough jungkook was feeling like a real model. he didn't feel inferior to all of the other males anymore. he had taehyung who taught him everything he needed to know, and he had never felt luckier knowing he met the agent that day.
taehyung helped him and even though he put up an aloof front, jungkook knew that he cared about him, even if it was only as an investment. he made sure the younger ate right, listened to all of his worries, and reminded him that he deserved to be where he was now. taehyung made jungkook feel special and the boy loved being around him. he always looked forward to meeting the dark-haired man at photoshoots, talking to him, getting rides from him, and even shopping with him. jungkook liked everything that did with him and the model had never been in love before, but he suspected that what he felt for taehyung was it. he believed he loved the man who saved him from his boring life.
so after months of working together, the new year finally came around and as the countdown ended on the tv, jungkook made the bold move to kiss his agent. for a second taehyung kissed him back, but he quickly pulled away. jungkook asked him what was wrong, but the older said nothing but a short apology and left.
after that incident, the boy thought that he would be mad at him, but taehyung acted as if nothing had happened. and jungkook didn't know if that made things better or worse. he was happy that things hadn't changed, but at the same time, he wished they did.
he was starting to get greedy. jungkook wanted more in life again.
taehyung knew this. he could see the ambition in the black-haired male's eyes and knew that he was capable of making it very far in the modeling industry. he worked hard, made the agent tons of money, and took every opportunity to get better at what he did. jungkook was the best investment taehyung had ever made and that was why he had to ignore his feelings.
at first, taehyung thought that jungkook was just a naïve kid with a crush or that maybe he felt indebted to him, but he soon began to notice how the younger would always be by his side and pout whenever he was interacting with different people. and his suspicions were proven the night jungkook kissed him.
for a moment, taehyung thought that maybe this was okay. he didn't love jungkook, but he found him attractive and sweet enough, but he still stopped the kiss from going any further. jungkook was just an innocent young man and furthermost, his client. taehyung couldn't find it in him to take advantage of jungkook like that so he ignored his feelings and kept their interactions strictly professional. he stopped watching tv and spending extra time with the younger male and started not attending some of his shoots.
he knew the model didn't need him there anymore. jungkook was capable of doing a good job on his own, but that didn't mean the boy didn't want him by his side.
jungkook confronted taehyung about it and he explained that there was no reason for him to go since he was responsible enough to do these things by himself. so the older was shocked when he received a call from a director saying that jungkook had skipped a photoshoot.
taehyung told him that he was being childish, but what did he expect? jungkook was only 20-years-old with no adult to lead them. he was in a new place and was still adjusting to a world that contrasted deeply from his previous life. he had been relying on taehyung the entire time and felt abandoned when he ignored him. taehyung had told him he would be there and he expected him to keep that promise.
so the agent started going to all of his photoshoots again and as long as he was there, jungkook continued to do a spectacular job. people loved him and his name spread quickly. some people were jealous of the boy and others wanted to be him and he knew it. jungkook didn't care who adored or despised him. all that mattered was that he was good at his job. because as long as he continued to do great work, taehyung would stay by his side.
other agencies had tried to poach jungkook. they offered him large sums of money, amazing places to live, fruit baskets, and even a car, but he turned them all down.
none of it was enough if he didn't have taehyung.
"i love him, hobi," the boy told his best friend over their weekly breakfast.
"i don't know, kookie. are you sure you don't just feel like you owe him something?" hoseok countered. he had noticed how frequently the model talked about his agent and wasn't sure it was a good thing or not. hoseok knew that jungkook was much more innocent than he appeared and was very aware of how he could easily get hurt by a man like kim taehyung. "he's your agent. i don't know if you should do anything that affects that relationship."
"i know," the younger sighed. "but it's so hard. he's all i think about. i think he's my first love." hoseok pursed his lips to stop himself from saying anything too discouraging. it was sweet that jungkook felt like he was in love and hoseok would support his best friend no matter what, but someone like taehyung was dangerous to a naïve boy like jungkook.
"he's, like, twelve years older than you," he reminded the black-haired male. "he's had a lot more experience, and don't you think he's kind of shady? he's good at his job for a reason."
"so? everyone's a little shady. he's just a great agent," jungkook immediately defended. he was hurt by hoseok's thoughts on the man. "and i trust him. he wouldn't do anything to hurt me." his best friend didn't like this. jungkook had become so used to the man telling him every step he should take, that he would trust him with his life, even though he didn't feel the same way.
this was one of the dangers of working in the modeling world at such a young age. it was easy to be manipulated.
"okay, kook, if that's what you really think," hoseok said. he knew he couldn't change jungkook's mind. he only hoped that jungkook was right and that taehyung really was a good person with no ill intentions. he didn't want to see his best friend get tricked or hurt. "good luck at your shoot today."
jungkook smiled his regular charming smile. "thank you, hobi! same time next week?" the older nodded. they paid for their meals and went their separate ways. hoseok had a shift at the fast-food place and jungkook had another photoshoot to attend.
the model arrived early since the restaurant he was at was within walking distance from the location. he looked around for taehyung, but couldn't find him. the boy was disappointed but decided he might as well get his hair and makeup done before the other models would get there. would his agent be proud of him for getting ready ahead of schedule?
the model walked into the dressing room, excited for the shoot. but that excitement became something else as he witnessed the scene in front of him. jungkook dropped his coffee on the ground in shock, not caring that its contents were getting all over his shoes. the other people in the room heard it and spun around, pausing what they were doing.
"oh, jungkook!" the familiar makeup artist chirped, face flushed and buttoning up his shirt. jungkook had worked with the man, jimin, many times before on different shoots. they had become friends. so jungkook never expected his "friend" to be making out with his agent, both half-naked on the makeup counter.
"shit," taehyung cursed. he put his belt back on and sighed as he saw the upset expression on jungkook's face. he didn't expect his client to be there that early. jungkook opened his mouth as if to scream something at the pair, but instead, he just sat down in a chair and waited for the now fully clothed man to assist him. jimin was shocked by this, but he quickly went to help the youngest.
"look, jungkookie, i'm so sorry ab-"
"don't worry it," jungkook interjected, his eyes on the mirror. "let's just get this over with." the makeup artist quickly nodded and began to prepare his materials. he knew how much trouble he could get in if anyone found out that he was hooking up with taehyung. he hoped that jungkook wouldn't tell anyone since they were friends. taehyung left the room after putting his shirt back on. he was pleasantly surprised by jungkook's behavior. was he really this mature? he hoped so.
the photoshoot went smoothly and taehyung drove jungkook back home. he looked at him from the corner of his eye, trying to get a read on the younger. taehyung was usually really good at this. he was usually able to read everything jungkook was feeling just by looking at his face, but this time he couldn't. the boy maintained a stoic expression and didn't say a word to the agent as he dropped him off at his apartment.
"i'll see you tomorrow at the office to discuss the paperwork," he said as jungkook opened the car door. "i'll be picking you up at 9 am."
"there's no need. hoseok can give me a ride," the boy told him. this was the immature behavior taehyung was waiting for.
"look jungkook, you can't be upset for what you saw back there," the man sighed. "jimin and i are just fucking around. it won't get in the way of my job. you're still my main priority," he stated, looking jungkook in the eye, trying to get a read on the younger.
"did you know that i would see you?" jungkook questioned. taehyung paused. he had never seen the dark expression the black-haired male had on now. "you were in the dressing room where you know the models go. did you really think no one would catch you?" taehyung was about to argue back saying he didn't, but he couldn't get the words out. because he was correct. a part of him did want the boy to see and his silence was enough to answer jungkook's question. "that's what i fucking thought."
"it's not your concern, kid. we're both adults and it has nothing to do with you," taehyung said dismissively. jungkook felt himself getting more irritated by the name. taehyung was right. he was just a kid. so why did he have to be the mature one? the model slammed the car door shut and didn't move from the passenger seat.
"you know how i feel don't you?" he asked, already knowing the answer. "you know i love you."
the man released a deep breath. "you don't love me," he claimed. "you're too young to be in love."
"that's your response?" jungkook scoffed. "you know what, taehyung? i may be young and i may be naïve, but i'm not stupid. you think you can read me perfectly, but guess what? i can read you too," he stated, his usually docile appearance faded as his eyes were full of anger and determination. the younger male refused to be shut down by the man again. "and everyone was right. you are a cruel man. i bet you don't even give a shit about jimin. you just wanted me to see you with someone so you could hurt me."
taehyung swallowed. was he getting nervous around the black-haired boy?
"so what?" he retorted. taehyung was older and a professional with much more experience. he wasn't going to let an amateur model like jungkook talk to him like this. "did you really think i would love you back? you're a child."
jungkook's face turned red with rage. "fuck you, kim taehyung." with that he got out of the car, making sure to violently shut the door behind him.
"fuck!" taehyung yelled as the boy stomped away. he slammed his fists on the steering wheel and gritted his teeth. he wanted to scream. jungkook wouldn't do anything stupid, right? no, he owed taehyung everything. he was the one who discovered his potential. he was the one who turned him into the success he was now. he was the one who saved him from his pathetic, routine life. jungkook would never betray him.
or at least that's what taehyung foolishly thought.
jungkook didn't show up at his office the next day.
they were supposed to talk and sign paperwork. he was supposed to renew their contract, but it was obvious the boy wasn't going to do that as he walked into a different building at the same time he was supposed to be at taehyung's. jungkook strutted in and went into a man's office. the sharply dressed male warmly greeted the younger male and sat him down for a business discussion. jungkook smiled.
he was ready to make a deal with taehyung's biggest competitor.
as jungkook left the building, he received a call from c. the boy wasn't surprised. he had texted him right before, stepping into the man's office.
"jeon jungkook, are you fucking kidding me?" the man questioned, fuming with rage. "you skipped our meeting to sign a new contract with kim fucking namjoon?
"yes," jungkook calmly responded. "he's been trying to poach me for months, besides, our contract is expiring anyway. it's perfect timing."
"do you realize how dumb you're being?" the dark-haired man spat, tightly clenching the phone. "i gave you everything. no one is going to be a better agent for you than me."
"you're probably right," the boy acknowledged. "you were probably the best agent a kid like me could ask for, but i don't need you holding me back anymore, taehyung. i'm sick of being under your thumb." this wasn't true. jungkook loved being in the palm of taehyung's hand, at his every beck and call. it gave him purpose.
"you're making a mistake," taehyung stated. "this is a childish move. you're going to regret this damn it."
"maybe," jungkook shrugged. "we'll see, won't we?" taehyung continued to berate him and tell him how much he was messing up his future by leaving him, but the younger didn't care. "bye, taehyung. i can't wait to see you again one day at another shoot with a new model. i hope they're as obedient as i was." jungkook hung up and taehyung threw his phone against a wall in a fit of rage, causing it to shatter.
jungkook's new agent was taehyung's rival for a reason. namjoon got jungkook just as many jobs and gave him all of the support and advice he needed. jungkook was doing fine without taehyung and the boy only continued to advance in the field.
years later, and the young man was now walking runways for the biggest names in fashion. he was no longer the sad boy who had to sleep in a room with creaky floors. no, he was a famous model that was making money and living the dream he always wanted as a child. in interviews, he would be asked to tell the story about how he was scouted at a fast-food place, but jungkook never says taehyung's name. he just calls him "some agent he used to work with" and no one asks for more details. people no longer care about the suave businessman who once won the hearts of many.
because taehyung had lost his best investment and jungkook's success would always remind him of that.
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