Bab 3: Part : 03 Egoistic actor
Taehyung froze when the officer informed him about JK.
JK---Jeon Jungkook, the famous actor whose face was plastered on countless billboards and magazine covers, a singer whose songs had saturated the airwaves and captured the hearts of millions. He was a greatly famous name, his charisma and talent drawing fans from every corner of the globe.
Beneath all the glitter and glory of his public image lay a darker reality. The celebrity whom the media painted as a flawless idol was actually someone whom Taehyung did not like one bit because of the rude behavior he mostly showed in reality shows and interviews
Those moments of his self-egoistic behaviors overshadowed his achievements, often leaving a sour taste in the mouth of the person who had viewed it. He was notorious for treating the staff poorly, always barking orders with little regard for their feelings or efforts. It felt as though the fame put him in some sort of bubble in which he was practically disconnected from the very people who were working behind his back in support of his career.
It was a revelation that made Taehyung's heart run cold. That such a careless and selfish person had to do with the injury of Lucus---the very thought stirred something inside of him. His fist was clenched as he tried to wrestle with the tide of emotions about to drown him.
"Where is he?" Taehyung asked, his voice shaking with anger.
"He's at the studio, filming a new music video," the senior officer replied, serious. "He's in the area, but we need to approach carefully."
"Carefully?" Taehyung mocked, distrustful. "Lucus is lying in the hospital bed because of him! It's not an accident; it's a crime! We have to bring him to account for that!"
The senior officer looked calmly at Taehyung, knowing he was surging with emotions. "We will, but we have to follow due process. We'll send a unit to the studio and bring him in for questioning. In the meantime."
Analysing the angered expressions of Taehyung, the junior officer gently spoke. "You should go back. We will call you once he will be here. For now, you should focus on Lucus and see that he gets all the best care possible."
Taehyung inhaled deeply and let it out, hoping this gesture would send the storm of anger and helplessness swirling inside him away.
Taehyung went back to the hospital, sat in waiting room, feeling the known weight of his concern settle squarely in his chest. He looked at the clock once more; the ticking was a reminder of how each second counted. He wanted to see Lucus pull through; he needed to see his smile again and hear the way he laughed.
He sat hunched amidst tension, anxiety, and anticipation, the only sounds being those of movement of staff around him, their voices at a steady hum in the background. Periodically, a passing nurse would catch his furtive looks to feel how the sympathy would wrap around him like a heavy cloak.
Finally, what felt like forever later, the door opened and in walked a doctor, her expression unreadable as she scanned the room. Taehyung's heart skipped a beat as he jumped to his feet, anxious for any news regarding Lucus. "How is he?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The doctor came up to him, her brow furrowed in concern. "He's stable now; the surgery was a success. We still need to monitor him closely. I'll update you as soon."
Taehyung felt a wave of relief wash over him at the news, though it was tinged with anxiety about the surgery. He nodded, trying to process the information. "Can I see him?
"Not right now; he is in recovery, but once he's settled, we'll allow visitors." the doctor assured him with a soft voice. I understand this is a hard time, but be strong. "And I suggest you inform other family members if you have to."
As she turned to leave, Taehyung immediately pulled out his phone, he saw hundreds of missed calls from his family. He sent a message to them---explaining the situation briefly Then he also left a message to inform Lucus parents about his conditions.
The hours dragged on and finally, it was evening time. He waited for a sound around him, but all he could hear was the periodic beeping of the machines that surrounded him and the occasional chatter of the hospital staff from afar. Taehyung's mind was a whirl of thoughts of Lucus, the accident, and the looming confrontation with JK.
Just then, Taehyung's phone rang shrill, piercing the tense silence of the room. He looked at the screen to find some unknown number flashing back at him. He answered the call. A calm yet authoritative voice was on the other side---the police station. The police officer on the other side asked him to come to the station.
He made a detour and, feeling concerned about his condition, asked the nurse about it before he went to the station. She looked sympathetic as she told him that Lucas was still unconscious, and it would not be possible to let him see him at that moment. And so he left for the police station.
As he came, there was tension in the air at the station. Police officers were rushing around with long faces. One of the constables looked into the eyes of Taehyung and beckoned him to head towards the office of a senior officer. Taehyung nodded and walked in, trying to pace his breathing.
"You are here. Please take a seat Mr. Kim." the officer said gesturing with his hands.
Taehyung sat down, full of questions. "Have you arrested him?" he asked.
The officer shook his head. "We have not yet, sir. Actually, we have a better suggestion for you," he said, adding to the confusion of Taehyung.
"What do you mean?" Taehyung asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Be at ease, Mr. Kim," the officer said smoothly as he extended his hand to a file that lay neatly on his desk. He handed it over to Taehyung, who took it with a quizzical expression.
He opened the file and began to read it. "Legal settlement papers... Out-of-court settlemen-" he abruptly paused. His eyes widened, with disbelief written all over his face.
Taehyung slammed the file shut with a swell of anger, his glare now fixed intently on the officer. "Care to explain this, officer?" he exclaimed as he slammed the file back onto the desk with a thud.
The officer looked so amused. "Mr. Kim, JK has offered an out-of-court settlement. He is willing to pay 100 million won for the damages and hospital expenses." he explained, as if this was the most reasonable thing in the world.
Taehyung stared at him in shock, snatched the file from the desk, and burst out of the office, his anger welling.
"Where is Jeon Jungkook?" Taehyung demanded, stopping abruptly in front of the desk of a junior officer he recognized from earlier.
The sudden outburst sends the young officer rising with a befuddled expression. "Is he here?" Taehyung pressed again, clamping his teeth against the wave of anger bubbling to the surface. Still looking very disturbed by Taehyung's apparent fury, the officer hesitated for a second, casting a glance over his shoulder before his finger jerked towards the waiting room.
Taehyung's heart quickened as he strode toward the waiting room, his steps driven by both anger and desperation. The fluorescent lights above them fluttered, coldly lighting everything and mirroring his mood with dead-on precision. He could feel the weight of the file in his hand, the legal terms churning in his head like a tempest. How could JK think buying his way out of this was the way? Was he truly in a position to think that money would wash away the pain and suffering that Lucus had endured?
As he turned toward the waiting room, Taehyung stopped for a second to get his bearings. He breathed in deeply, putting great effort into dissipating the storm that roared inside. The atmosphere in that waiting room was fraught with tension, and he could see a number of people seated, their faces mired in everything from curiosity to concern. He disregarded them, just sweeping past them toward the place he might find JK.
Upon entering the waiting room, he spotted Jungkook sitting casually on a bench, scrolling through his phone as if he didn't have a care in the world. Taehyung's vision blurred with rage. How could he sit there, so relaxed, while Lucus lay unconscious in a hospital bed?
"JK!" Taehyung exclaimed, his voice breaking the uneasy silence of the room. Jungkook looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before it was quickly replaced by a smug grin.
"I see you got my offer..." he said, his tone mixture of amusement and mock, eyeing the file in Taehyung's hand. He didn't even stand up, just gestured for Taehyung to come closer as if they were merely having a casual conversation.
Taehyung clenched his fists at his sides. "You think this is a joke? You think you can just throw money at the problem and it'll make everything okay?" he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Lucus is fighting for his life, and you want to settle this with a check? How dare you!"
The actor looked up, his expression again shifting from surprise to a smirk, as if he found amusement in Taehyung's rage.
Jungkook leaned back in his chair, "Look pretty guy, I get it. You're upset, but at least I'm offering a way to resolve this without dragging it through the courts. Now think of it that way---100 million for a quick resolution. You could use that money for your friend's medical bills."
The words felt like a slap to Taehyung's face. "You really think I would sell my friend's dignity for a pile of cash? You are delusional!" he yelled, his voice progressively rising with each word uttered from his lips. "This isn't about money! This is justice, accountability, and for you to realize your actions have consequences!"
Jungkook chuckled, his demeanor irritatingly calm. "Justice...uhuh? This is how the world works, pretty guy. It's all about making deals. You can either accept my offer and move on, or you can waste your time with lawyers and courts---good luck with that."
Taehyung felt his blood boil. He took a step closer, lowering his voice to a dangerous whisper, "You really think you could buy me off? You really think that with just a check you could buy off Lucus' life? You're wrong. I will not let you walk away from this without the repercussions of what you have done."
"And you actually said to just move on?" Taehyung scoffed, his voice rising to a pitch that echoed off the walls of the room. "Move on from what exactly? From the fact that you put him in this horrific position in the first place? From the reality that your reckless actions, fueled by your careless disregard for others, have real and lasting consequences? You honestly think any amount of money can compensate for the devastation you've caused? You can't simply throw money at this situation and pretend everything will magically fix itself!"
"You don't get to play the victim here, not when you're the one who created this mess. You may seriously think you can fix all this with money, but let me tell you something---money can't erase the pain that's been caused, and it sure as hell can't mend the trauma that your actions have caused. This isn't something you can just wipe away or ignore. You have to pay for all of this---" Taehyung's breath caught in his throat as cold water splashed across his face, startling him into silence.
Jungkook was quick to move when he seized the glass of water from the nearby desk and splashed it on Taehyung's face without any hesitation. A devilish smirk appeared on his face as he observed the shock on Taehyung's face.
"You are burning with anger, pretty guy..." Jungkook remarked casually, his tone teasing as his eyes gazed down Taehyung from head to toe with an with satisfaction. "This should help you cool down."
Droplets glanced through Taehyung's skin, he wiped his face, trying to regain his composure, but the unexpected interruption only heightened the tension between them.
"How dare you!" He muttered added to Jungkook's amusement which did not last that long when he felt a sharp slap across his face.
Jungkook's smirk faltered for a brief moment, shock flashing across his features. The room fell to an eerie silence as the impact of Taehyung's slap reverberated between them. Taehyung's heart was racing with adrenaline churning within him. He had never been the kind of person who acts so violently
"How dare you think you can treat people like they're nothing?" Taehyung's voice shook with emotion, as he took a step back, his own breathing heavy. "You are a coward hiding behind your fame. You think your status makes you untouchable, but you're just a bully!"
The humor draining from his face as his eyes narrowed, Jungkook wiped the water from his face. "You're going to regret this." he warned in a low, dangerous voice. It was actually scary how much his demeanor changed in that instant.
"Regret what? Standing up for someone who deserves it?" Taehyung shot back, refusing to back down. "You think you can intimidate me? I'm not afraid of you nor of your money! Your fame does not allow you to act superior to all."
He could feel the eyes of others watching their confrontation. He did not care. All that mattered was Lucus. He had to make Jungkook see the severity of his actions---even if it meant standing alone.
"You don't know what you're talking about." Jungkook's jaw tightened. "You're just a nobody, I can ruin you in minutes if I want to." he stated, his tone low and dangerous, each words dripping with menace
Taehyung scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief at the sheer arrogance radiating from the actor. "I won't be intimidated by threats. You think you can ruin me? I'd rather be a nobody with integrity than a somebody with a rotten soul." His heart pounded in his chest as he stared down Jungkook, refusing to look away.
"Uhuh..." the actor muttered, stepping closer to him---the intensity of his gaze unbending. He leaned in, and Taehyung felt a shiver run down his spine, the air filled with tension that made him aware of each heartbeat now that he was so close. "You have no idea, pretty guy, what you get yourself into." Jungkook said, his voice dangerously calm. With one last smirk curling his lips, he stepped back.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone