I don't care

Mr. Kim: "What do you think of yourself, huh? Tell me! Who gave you the right to go on that ridiculous trip with your bike? What if something serious had happened to you?"
His hand slammed a newspaper onto the table, the pages crinkling under the force. His face was twisted in rage, but beneath it, there was something else—control, power, dominance.
"Look at this!" he spat, shoving the paper toward Taehyung.
The bold headline screamed Murderous Cult Exposed—Couple Found Running A Dark Network.
Mr. Kim’s eyes burned into his son’s.
"They were killers, Taehyung! Running a disgusting, dangerous cult! What if they had hurt you? What if they had used you?!"
But Taehyung stood still, unaffected. His shoulders were squared, his jaw clenched.
"Don’t act like you care about me," Taehyung said, his voice calm but sharp like broken glass.
Mr. Kim’s nostrils flared. "How dare you—"
"And that girl—" Mr. Kim interrupted himself, his voice dripping with disdain. "The one who was with you—has she filed a case against you? Ahh, I should take care of that too."
A bitter chuckle left Taehyung’s lips. He finally turned to his father, eyes filled with nothing but cold detachment.
"Stop pretending you care. We both know you don’t."
Mr. Kim took a step forward, his expression shifting into something darker.
"I’m your father," he growled. "I do care—"
"No, you don’t." Taehyung’s voice was venomous now. "You only care about your damn reputation!" His voice cracked, years of suppressed anger spilling out.
"I hate that your blood runs through my veins. I hate that I was born into this house."
Silence. Thick and suffocating.
Mr. Kim’s face contorted with rage. "How dare you talk to me like this? Don't you have any shame?!"
But Taehyung wasn’t done. He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering.
"Where was your shame when you were cheating on my mother with this—disgusting woman?" His voice was dripping with disgust as he flicked his gaze toward his stepmother.
A sharp slap cut through the tension.
Your breath hitched. Your hand flew to your mouth.
Taehyung’s head snapped to the side, his cheek burning red where his father’s hand had struck him.
But he didn’t flinch.
He simply exhaled, rolling his jaw as if the pain didn’t matter. Then, slowly, he lifted his gaze, eyes void of emotion.
"And that’s exactly why I never wanted to say the word 'Dad' again in my life." His voice was eerily quiet, yet it held more weight than a thousand screams. "Because you’re not worthy of it."
Mr. Kim’s patience snapped. He grabbed the newspaper, rolling it tightly in his hands before whipping it against Taehyung’s wounded arm.
You winced. He winced.
"You ungrateful brat!" Mr. Kim roared, hitting him again. "How dare you?! How could you say such hurtful words?!"
Taehyung gritted his teeth, his lips pressed into a thin line as he bore the pain.
But he didn’t look up.
He wouldn’t give his father the satisfaction of seeing the hurt in his eyes.
"Honey, stop!" Mrs. Kim’s voice finally broke through, her hands gripping Mr. Kim’s arm. "Leave him. He’s our son—"
"I’m NOT your son!" Taehyung’s voice was sharp, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.
His stepmother flinched.
"Don’t pretend you care, because you never did. And you never will."
"Apologize to her!" Mr. Kim demanded, his voice raw with fury.
Taehyung scoffed. "In your dreams."
Mr. Kim raised his hand again, but Mrs. Kim grabbed his wrist. "Honey, please—don’t ruin your health over this. Let’s go home."
You ducked behind the shelf near the entrance as they walked past. Their footsteps echoed through the grand hallway.
Then, finally—silence.
You peeked out cautiously.
And then you saw him.
Taehyung was kneeling on the floor near the sofa, his head hung low, one hand clutching his arm where the wound throbbed painfully.
His eyes were glazed, filled with unshed tears, but he refused to let them fall. He was sobbing, silently, painfully.
Your chest tightened.
He was always so cold, so distant, so untouchable in front of everyone. But now…
Now, he looked broken.
And yet—something was stopping you from moving closer.
Because for the first time, you saw the real him. The Taehyung who carried pain no one ever saw.
The Taehyung who had been fighting alone for far too long.
A part of you screamed to go to him, to hold him, to tell him he wasn’t as alone as he thought. But something stopped you—fear, hesitation, the uncertainty of what your presence would mean in this moment.
So instead, you stood there, watching the boy who had always seemed so untouchable, crumble before your eyes.
The sudden creak of the entrance door startled you. You turned around and saw the maid standing near the doorway, her eyes widening slightly when she noticed you.
Maid: “Y/N...?”
Your breath hitched. You quickly raised a finger to your lips, silently pleading for her not to make a sound. The last thing you wanted was for Taehyung to know you were here. Taking a cautious step toward her, you whispered,
Y/N: “Ajumma, can you give this to Taehyung?”
You held out a small bag with the book inside.
Maid: “Why don’t you give it to him yourself?”
Her question caught you off guard. You had no real answer.
Y/N: “I… I have to leave for work. I can’t be late.”
It was a weak excuse, and you knew it, but the maid only nodded.
Maid: “Alright, I’ll give it to him.”
You let out a small breath of relief and managed a faint smile. Just as you were about to leave, you hesitated.
Y/N: “Ajumma, wait.”
She paused as you rummaged through your bag. Pulling out a pen and a small piece of paper, you scribbled something quickly before slipping the note into the book.
Y/N: “Tell him to read it.”
The maid nodded, and with that, you turned and walked out, your heart feeling heavier than before.
Time Skip – At Your Workplace
By the time you reached your workplace, it was already afternoon.
Determined to make up for the four days you’d missed while on the trip, you decided to work a double shift. With exams coming up, you knew you’d have to take time off soon. You needed to save up as much as possible—especially since you had to repair Taehyung’s guitar.
Just as you were heading toward the changing room, your manager, Mr. Shin, called out.
Mr. Shin: “Y/N, wait.”
You turned, offering him a polite smile.
Y/N: “Good evening, Mr. Shin.”
Mr. Shin: “Good evening. I transferred your salary to your account. Also…”
He paused, making your stomach twist in unease.
Mr. Shin: “You won’t need to come in for work anymore.”
Your heart dropped.
Y/N: “Sir…? Did I do something wrong? Are you firing me?”
Your mind raced—had you made a mistake? Had someone complained?
Mr. Shin chuckled.
Mr. Shin: “Who said anything about firing you? Jimin requested leave for you so you could focus on your exams. He personally spoke to me about it.”
You blinked in surprise.
Y/N: “Jimin… did that?”
Before you could process it further, Mr. Shin glanced behind you.
Mr. Shin: “Ah, here he is.”
You turned to see Jimin approaching, smiling nervously.
Y/N: “Jimin…?”
Jimin: “Hey…”
You crossed your arms.
Y/N: “Why did you ask for leave on my behalf? I was planning to quit temporarily anyway.”
Jimin grinned.
Jimin: “You told me you needed money, right?”
Y/N: “Yeah, but I could have managed—”
Jimin scoffed, crossing his arms dramatically.
Jimin: “Wow, Y/N. So thankless.”
You rolled your eyes, suppressing a smile.
Y/N: “Fine. Look at me.”
You gently lowered his arms and met his eyes.
Y/N: “Thank you, Park Jimin, for saving my job. I am so grateful. Even though I never asked for help, you went ahead and helped me anyway. How wonderful of you.”
Your voice dripped with playful sarcasm.
Jimin huffed, sulking.
Jimin: “You’re impossible.”
You both burst into laughter. It had been a while since you had laughed like this—truly laughed. For the past few days, things had been heavy. But right now, it felt… lighter.
Y/N: “Let me treat you to something. What do you want to eat?”
Jimin: “Hmm… whatever you’d order for yourself.”
You pouted.
Y/N: “I can’t eat during work hours, but I’ll sit with you while you eat.”
You led him to a table and returned shortly with his food.
Jimin: “Wow, this looks amazing.”
He picked up his chopsticks, ready to dig in.
Y/N: “Go ahead.”
As he ate, he suddenly asked,
Jimin: “By the way, why do you need the money? If it’s urgent, you can borrow from me.”
You hesitated. Taehyung’s guitar flashed in your mind.
Y/N: “ No. It is no need to borrow from you . It doesn’t matter. Just eat.”
You quickly shifted the subject.
Y/N: “By the way, why did you leave the trip early? You seemed worried.”
Jimin froze. His brows tensed slightly. You realized too late—it wasn’t the right time to ask.
Y/N: “Sorry. You don’t have to answer. I’ll get you some water.”
You got up, pouring him a glass. When you returned, he spoke.
Jimin: “I’ll tell you when the time is right.”
You nodded in understanding.
He finished his food, patting his stomach.
Jimin: “That was delicious. Thanks for the meal, Y/N.”
Y/N: “You can thank me later when you buy me a meal.”
Jimin: “Deal.”
He smiled, his eyes crinkling with warmth.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He picked it up immediately.
Jimin: “Yeah… okay. I’ll handle it. I’m coming now.”
He hung up and looked at you.
Jimin: “I have to go. Need a ride somewhere?”
Y/N: “No, I’ll stay and work for today.”
Jimin: “You sure?”
Y/N: “Yeah, go ahead.”
With a small nod, he waved and left.
You exhaled, sinking into a chair. The restaurant was quiet, only a few customers here and there. But your mind was loud.
Your thoughts drifted back to Taehyung—to the scene at his house.
His father’s harsh words. The way he lashed out. The way he was hit.
The way he broke down.
You had never seen him that way before. Taehyung always acted tough, arrogant, untouchable. But today, you saw the truth.
His family wasn’t a real family.
Y/N (whispering): “Taehyung grew up in that environment… It must have been so difficult for him. How did he survive this?”
You sighed heavily, tears pricking your eyes.
Y/N: “I need to focus on work.”
Shaking your head, you pushed the thoughts away. But no matter how much you tried to shrug them off, Taehyung’s broken expression refused to leave your mind.
_TIME SKIP( NIGHT)_
You stretched your arms in the air, exhaling deeply as you finally finished your shift. The restaurant was eerily quiet now, the once-bustling space now empty except for the faint hum of the kitchen's closing routine. You glanced at your phone screen while stifling a yawn— 11:18 PM.
Y/N: "I should go home… It’s already so late," you muttered, sighing before heading to the back to change.
After slipping into your casual clothes, you grabbed your bag, ready to leave. But just as you were about to step out, Ji-hwa and Yeri hurried over, their faces a mix of excitement and urgency.
Ji-hwa: "Y/N! We saw someone on the upper floor, near the club’s bar counter!"
You blinked at them, confused. "Okay… and why are you telling me this?"
Yeri: "Because you know him!" She smirked, mischief dancing in her eyes. "By the way, he’s ridiculously handsome."
Ji-hwa: "Not just handsome! He’s drop-dead gorgeous… Ugh, I swear I can only dream about someone like him!"
Their words left you even more puzzled. What guy were they talking about?
Y/N: "Guys, what are you even—"
Then it hit you.
Ji-hwa: "Aish! That pretty boy who came here the other day. Your friend!"
Your breath hitched. Taehyung.
Y/N: (murmuring) "Taehyung…?"
Yeri: "Hey, what’s with that face? You okay?"
You quickly shook off the unease creeping up your spine. "I… I need to go see him."
Yeri: "Yeah, you should. He looked kinda drunk."
That was all you needed to hear. Without wasting another second, you turned on your heels and rushed upstairs.
The club was dimly lit, neon lights flickering through the haze of cigarette smoke and spilled liquor. Your eyes scanned the bar counter—and then you saw him.
Taehyung.
But he wasn’t alone.
A woman clung to him, her hands roaming freely over his thigh, her lips inches from his. She leaned in closer, whispering something into his ear as he swayed slightly, clearly too intoxicated to react.
Your heart clenched. A sharp sting spread through your chest as you stood frozen, watching the scene unfold before you. You shouldn’t care. You shouldn’t care. But the way her fingers trailed over his skin, the way she invaded his space like she had a right to him—made your blood boil.
Your hands curled into fists. What the hell is she doing?
Before you could stop yourself, your legs moved on their own. You stormed over, grabbing her wrist just as she reached for his face.
She gasped, eyes narrowing in irritation. "What the f—"
Y/N: "What do you think you’re doing?" Your voice was firm, steady, despite the chaos brewing inside you.
Taehyung stirred at the sound of your voice, his dazed eyes lifting to meet yours.
Taehyung: "Y/N…?"
The girl scoffed, crossing her arms. "What’s your problem? We were just having fun."
Y/N: (glaring at her) "Fun? He’s drunk, and you’re taking advantage of that."
She rolled her eyes. "Ugh, who even are you? His mom?"
The words left your lips before you could think.
Y/N: "I’m his girlfriend. Do you need to know more?"
Silence.
The girl’s mouth parted slightly, clearly taken aback. Even Taehyung blinked at you in surprise.
Your own heart skipped a beat. Did you really just—
She scoffed, grabbing a drink from the counter before walking away with a sulky expression.
Y/N: (muttering to yourself) "Disgusting people." You flicked a stray strand of hair back, trying to calm your racing heart.
Taehyung: "S-So now you’re my girlfriend?" His voice was laced with amusement and something else—something deeper.
You froze, reality sinking in.
Y/N: "D-Don’t think too much about it! I just saved you from her, that’s all."
Taehyung: (tilting his head) "Why? Do you care about me, Y/N?"
Your breath hitched as his intense gaze locked onto yours. His dark eyes held something raw, something unspoken, and for a moment, you felt like you were drowning in them.
Y/N: (looking away, voice barely above a whisper) "I don’t c-care."
His gaze darkened.
Taehyung: "Then why did you send me that note with the book? The one that said, ‘Redress your wound.’"
Your lips parted, but no words came out.
Y/N: (sighing, trying to steady yourself) "This isn’t the time for this. You’re drunk. You should go home."
Taehyung: "I don’t want to go home. I want to drink more." He grabbed another glass, but before he could take a sip, you snatched it from his hands.
Y/N: "That’s enough, Taehyung!"
His expression twisted with frustration.
Taehyung: "Why should I listen to you? You never listen to me! Who even are you to me? Huh? No one. You’re no one to me, right? So don’t act like you have the right to stop me!"
His words cut deeper than you expected. Your throat tightened, but you refused to let the pain show. Instead, you forced a smirk.
Y/N: "You’re right. I’m no one to you. So maybe I should drink too."
His eyes widened in shock as you slid onto the barstool beside him.
Y/N: (to the bartender) "One drink for me. Make sure it’s strong enough to knock me out in one go."
The bartender hesitated, glancing between you and Taehyung.
Taehyung: (panicking now, voice suddenly soft) "Y-Y/N… don’t."
You turned to him with a raised brow. "Did you listen to me? No? Then why should I listen to you?"
His jaw clenched. He let out a shaky breath before slumping slightly.
Taehyung: (muttering) "Fine… I’ll go home."
You barely had time to react before he attempted to stand—only to stumble forward. Instinctively, you caught him, his arms wrapping around you for support.
Your heart pounded as his warm breath fanned against your neck.
Y/N: "Taehyung, are you okay?"
Taehyung: (murmuring, head resting against your shoulder) "Hmm…"
You sighed, adjusting his weight against you before gently guiding him towards the exit.
The night air was cool against your flushed skin, but nothing could calm the storm in your heart.
You weren’t sure what you just got yourself into, but one thing was clear—Taehyung wasn’t just ‘no one’ to you.
And maybe, just maybe, you weren’t ‘no one’ to him either.
__At his mansion__
You reached his home by cab, knowing neither of you was in a state to drive. The streets were eerily quiet at this hour, the city lights flickering in the distance. It was already 12:37 AM, and the night felt heavier than usual. You couldn’t bring yourself to send him alone in a cab, not when he was this drunk.
As you helped him out of the cab, his weight leaned heavily against you. His body was warm, but his steps were sluggish, unsteady. You sighed, adjusting your grip around his waist as you dragged him inside the house. The moment you stepped in, you noticed the emptiness—no maids, no lights except for the dim glow from a corner lamp. It was just you and him.
Taking slow, careful steps, you guided him to his room and gently laid him down on the bed. Your arms ached from supporting him the whole way.
Y/N: Haahhh… He’s so heavy… (you muttered, sitting beside him, exhausted). I’m so tired now… Why is it so hot in here?
You fanned yourself lightly, feeling the warmth of the night settling on your skin. Your gaze fell on him—his messy hair, his flushed cheeks, the slow, rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. He looked… peaceful. Like a child lost in a dream. A small smile tugged at your lips.
Carefully, you reached down and removed his shoes, then hesitated before unbuttoning the first two buttons of his shirt, ensuring he could sleep comfortably. The moment felt oddly intimate, but you shook the thought away, sighing as you sat back and glanced at your phone.
Y/N: Oh God, it’s already so late… (you mumbled, preparing to leave).
Just as you were about to stand, a sudden grip on your wrist stopped you in your tracks. Before you could react, Taehyung pulled you down with unexpected strength, causing you to land beside him on the bed. His arms instinctively wrapped around your waist, holding you close.
Your breath hitched.
Y/N: Tae—
Taehyung: Let me sleep like this… (he murmured, his voice low, husky, and laced with exhaustion).
His deep, raspy voice sent a shiver down your spine. His body was warm, his hold firm yet gentle. Your heartbeat quickened as you realized just how close you were—your bodies almost pressed together, his arm perfectly curved around your waist, as if he had done this a hundred times before.
The feeling was both intoxicating and heartbreaking. You knew you should pull away, that getting lost in this moment would only hurt you in the end. But his warmth… his touch… made it so hard to move.
Swallowing the lump in your throat, you tried again.
Y/N: I have to go, Taehyung… Let me go… (you whispered softly, your fingers lightly touching his hand in an attempt to loosen his grip).
Instead of letting you go, he pulled you even closer. Your eyes widened as he buried his face in the crook of your neck, his warm breath fanning over your skin. The scent of alcohol mixed with his natural musky cologne sent a strange tingling sensation through your body.
His lips—soft and barely there—brushed against the sensitive skin of your neck, making your breath hitch. Every nerve in your body awakened, every thought dissolved into a whirlwind of emotions. Your eyes fluttered shut as an unfamiliar warmth spread through your chest.
Then, a sudden crash of thunder split the silence, making him flinch. You felt his grip tighten around your waist as if he were holding onto you for comfort.
Your heart clenched.
You turned your head slightly, whispering softly, "Taehyung, are you okay?"
But instead of responding, he mumbled something—his voice fragile, lost in sleep.

Taehyung: Don’t leave me… Please don’t leave me…

To Be Continued...
Exciting episode, wasn't it? I’m sure you loved it!
Show your support by voting this episode & following me for more episodes, and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments. Your love and feedback mean the world to me!
See you soon in the next episode!