Taehyung narrowed his eyes. "That is such immature behavior." Jungkook raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter with arrogance. "Immature?" "Yes," Taehyung said firmly, arms still crossed as he stood by the kitchen island. "Honestly, this kind of behavior? It's childish.

Immature. So typically you. It suits your age." Jungkook raised a brow. "I'm 22, Taehyung. Not twelve—so don't try to age me." Taehyung scoffed, rolling his eyes. "And I'm 26, older than you."

Jungkook shot him a look. "So what? You think being older makes you more mature?" "Well, usually it does," Taehyung shot back coolly. "But I'm not surprised you didn't get the memo. You're still just a kid, Jungkook." That hit. Jungkook straightened, eyes narrowing.

"You're four years older, Taehyung. That's not decades. And honestly, I may be younger in age—but I'm older where it actually matters. So just stop seeing me as kid." Taehyung let out a soft, almost pitying laugh. "Right. Because someone who sulks when things don't go his way

is definitely emotionally mature. I should take notes." Jungkook sulked. Really sulked. His shoulders dropped just a bit, eyes flicking away like a scolded kid who got caught stealing cookies. He opened the fridge without replying and grabbed a bottle of water,

suddenly too busy to keep up the argument. And that sight—that—made something clench in Taehyung's chest. This was the same Jungkook who ruined his life, the same one who pointed a gun at Taehyung's father like it was no big deal, the same one who blackmailed him into marrying

him with that cold, empty stare. Taehyung blinked, shaking off the jarring thought. He had to stop feeling this way about him. The boy in front of him wasn't the same—was he? Taehyung wasn't sure anymore. Jungkook broke his silence. "You're still gonna eat, right?" His voice

sounded almost casual, but there was a trace of annoyance in it. Taehyung, lost in thought, barely replied. "Depends on what you make… kid." That did it. It happened so fast Taehyung didn't even register it at first. One second, he was standing in the kitchen, maybe two feet

from Jungkook. The next, his feet were off the floor, air whooshing past his ears. "What the heck, Jungkook! What are you—put me down! I said put me—" Taehyung's voice rose, limbs flailing in protest. "I told you not to call me that," Jungkook muttered through clenched teeth,

clearly fed up. "You made me do this." Before Taehyung could claw at him or even wriggle free, Jungkook was already walking out of the kitchen, past the living room, straight toward the balcony garden. "Jungkook, I have told you to not touch—!"

The words turned into a yelp as he was planted—not tossed, thankfully—onto the cushioned chair outside. The chair bounced slightly under his weight, but Taehyung barely had time to sit up before Jungkook spun around. "You stay here," Jungkook said sharply, walking backwards,

"Until lunch is done. Don't worry about the heat—I've got the shades out. You won't get burned." Taehyung barely had a second to react before Jungkook clicked the lock on the glass door, the sound sharp in the silence. "Are you seriously locking me out here?!" Taehyung slammed

his palm against the glass,banging on it with all his strength. "You psycho idiot! I am not your pet omega! Unlock this—!" Jungkook didn't even look back, just waved a dismissive hand in the air. And Taehyung cursed under his breath—not real curses, just dramatic, elegant fury.

— The kitchen was filled with the savory scent of freshly cooked jajangmyeon, but Jungkook barely noticed it. He stirred the noodles absently, lost in his own thoughts, jaw clenched tight. Taehyung's words echoed in his head like an annoying chorus he couldn't shut off.

He slammed the ladle down into the sink harder than necessary, water splashing up the sides. Was that really what Taehyung thought of him? That he wasn't a good enough alpha? That he was some kid who forced his way in and didn't deserve him? His stomach twisted as another

thought crept in, uninvited. What if Taehyung still wanted that alpha? That smug-ass lawyer his family had arranged the marriage with. He clenched his fists. That guy had nothing to offer Taehyung except boring suits and fake smiles.

But maybe, just maybe… Taehyung had wanted that normalcy. A calm, planned life. Not whatever this was. With a sigh that came from somewhere deep in his chest, Jungkook wiped his hands and walked toward the glass balcony door. He looked out. Taehyung was still there—sitting in

the chair, face buried in his hands, elbows resting on his knees. Jungkook's heart squeezed a little. He hadn't wanted to lock him out there. But damn, Taehyung just knew exactly how to push every button he had. Sometimes, it was too much. Still… this wasn't how he wanted

things to be. He slid the door open quietly and stood in the frame for a second. "Lunch is ready," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. "Let's eat." Taehyung slowly looked up at him. At first, his expression was unreadable—just blank and tired. But then, it shifted.

The second his mind registered what had happened earlier, his entire posture changed. He shot up from the chair like he'd been burned, eyes narrowed and furious. "You have audacity to ask me to eat something you made after locking me out here like a dog?" he snapped,

pointing straight at him. "Did you drag me here just to treat me like this?" Jungkook's brows furrowed instantly, the guilt evaporating like steam from hot noodles. "Are you serious right now?" he snapped back, stepping fully into the balcony. "Did you forget you were the one

insulting me the whole damn time?" Taehyung didn't back down. "That doesn't give you the right to lock me out like some—" "You talk like me being younger than you automatically makes me some weak, clueless alpha!" Jungkook's voice rose, cutting him off. "Like I'm not good

enough for you unless I fit your perfect mold of whatever that shit of a lawyer was supposed to be." "Don't talk about him like that," Taehyung said sharply. The shift in the air was instant. Jungkook's jaw clenched so hard it clicked. His fists curled at his sides as he

stared at Taehyung like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "You're really defending some other alpha when I’m right here in front of you?" Taehyung didn't hesitate, didn't soften. He looked him dead in the eyes and said, "Yes. I am." Then he stepped closer, each word

cold and cutting. "And why shouldn't I? I don't like you, Jungkook. You forced me into this. You ruined my life. I would've happily married him if it weren't for your blackmail." Jungkook flinched—not visibly, but something in his eyes flickered. Like Taehyung had aimed right

where it hurt and landed a perfect blow. He laughed bitterly, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe it. “Happily?” he repeated. "So you just want to be happy, right? Then be happy with me! What's the problem?" Taehyung's eyes narrowed, his voice cold. "The problem is,

I don't want to fight for happiness every single day. I want peace. I want respect—something he actually gave me!" "Respect Uh?" Jungkook's voice was low now, dark and edged. "So, you think this—" he gestured between them, "—is about disrespect? You think I don't respect you?"

"Yes! You don't!" Taehyung shot back. "You think throwing your weight around and locking me on balconies like a child is respect?" "You treat me like a damn kid!" Jungkook exploded. "It's been just two days, and Every time I try to talk, to show up for you,

to do something good, you throw my age in my face like it's a problem!" Taehyung didn't even blink. He ignored everything Jungkook had said—every effort, every frustration—and latched onto the first line like it was the only thing that mattered. "Because you are kid," he said,

voice sharp like cracked glass. "You act like a kid. You throw tantrums when things don't go your way, you blackmailed me into marrying you, and now you're keeping me locked on balconies like some kind of possession you own." Jungkook's face went blank—too blank.

But Taehyung wasn't done. "You think this is just me being dramatic? You stole something from me, Jungkook," he hissed, stepping closer now, the pain finally rising behind his eyes. "I was happy. Maybe it wasn't some crazy passionate love, but it was something that felt good.

We liked each other. We were building something real." Jungkook's shoulders tensed, his eyes flinching at Taehyung's words, like each one hit deeper than the last—but he didn't say anything. "You ruined that," Taehyung whispered. "You pointed a gun at my father.

You destroyed my marriage, humiliated my family, and for what? So you could own me?” "I didn't do this to own you," Jungkook said quietly, but his voice cracked at the end. Taehyung didn't let up. "Okay, maybe not to own me," he shot back, eyes blazing, "but you sure as hell

did it because you couldn't stand the idea of me being with someone else. Someone who actually treated me with respect. Someone I was starting to love." That was the one that landed. Jungkook took a full step back, like the words had slammed into his chest.

His head turned slightly to the side, jaw clenched tight, lips pressed into a hard, pale line. "How can you say something like that to your alpha?" he asked, voice low and raw, like every syllable scraped its way out of him. Taehyung let out a laugh—short, sharp, and

completely devoid of remorse. "You're not my alpha, Jungkook." The silence that followed stretched, heavy and cold. "You never will be," Taehyung added, steady and sure. "Because I won't let you mark me. Not now, not ever." He saw it—how those words made Jungkook's mouth part

slightly, like they'd knocked the breath out of him. "You're just my husband," Taehyung finished, bitterly. "In name only. You forced that title, but you'll never be anything more." Jungkook stood still, unmoving, like he'd just taken a punch straight to the ribs.

His jaw twitched, chest rising and falling once—sharp, controlled. His eyes, usually so sure of themselves, looked lost for a second. Clouded. Like a storm on the edge of breaking. Rage. Humiliation. Something that almost looked like heartbreak. But he didn't react the way

Taehyung expected. No anger. No shouting. Just a dry, lifeless chuckle—one that sounded nothing like him. "I made jajangmyeon," Jungkook said, quietly, like they hadn’t just torn into each other. Like he wasn't bleeding behind the eyes. "I don't know if you like it.

But if you do... eat." Taehyung blinked, stunned. Caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone, the weird detachment in Jungkook's voice. He just stared at him, confused, unsure if it was sarcasm or if Jungkook had lost it. But Jungkook didn't give him time to figure it out.