jungkook had woke up jittery and a good amount disoriented.

the lack of sleep was no joke and the reminder of the early morning 2 am escapades only prompted him to bury deeper into the bed in sheer mortification.

well jungkook had forgot to jungkook; he is sure he looked as put together as a circus clown yesterday- flailing, running and thoroughly embarrassed.

whatever the damage it cant be undone, and considering he's on a mission to be 'normal', jungkook had blew up his mentor namjoons phone with messages of needing immediate assistance.

unluckily he had got no response at 3 in the morning. however at presently the clock read 7.35 am and there indeed was a response from namjoon.

"apologize and be nice to him."

the replying message read.

pfft thats it?

easy enough.

well, atleast it looked easy until the task was to be executed.

jungkook stood outside the nursery scratching his bed hair thinking on how he would do this without messing up.

the alpha then took a deep breath like when he's about to nail down a meeting and took long strides to the nursery.

taehyung did look up at the intrusion, but those eyes averted down quickly to the baby blanket he's been folding at the sight of the alpha.

one hand in pocket, jungkook lingered around the crib where the pups were quiet, still in a morning sleepy haze.

"-- sorry about yesterday" jungkook broke the silence, although it came out rather sheepish than he intended.

taehyung briefly looked up and shrugged.

jungkook frowned.

he expected a more warmer response, but well atleast the 'apology' part is over.

now about 'being nice'...

even jungkook himself knows that its not exactly his forte. but that has never stopped him from a challenge.

so the alpha bravely cleared his throat,

"you fold the blankets really well" jungkook said or more like made a bizzare statement.

"-erm thanks?" taehyung blinked up.

well, that doesn't look like it worked.

so jungkook whacked his brain again.

maybe he should try to be more natural?

"look i'm sorry about yesterday-- really didn't mean to tackle or hurt you--" jungkook hurriedly said and this time taehyung genuinely looked at him, kind of intrigued.

"-was just trying to check on the pups" jungkooks resting bitch face covered up his internal panic,

"-- really didn't mean to see all that"

"jungkook-" taehyung tried to interfere which the alpha failed to acknowledge in his panic of it being his first experience with 'being nice'.

"-- if it make you feel better-- you have nice uhm... pectorals?"

"for the love of god, please stop talking!" taehyung stood up, pink creeping up his face in shame and promptly ran past jungkook, out of the room.

jungkooks posture slumped.

"i messed up again, didn't i?" jungkook frowned looking down at the babies, who just blinked back and gave a tired yawn.

if not for jungkook acting weird, the morning went by peaceful.

jimin even made breakfast as an apology for being a tease yesterday and the soulmates were back to being inseparable.

while devoring down the french toast, taehyung suggested on taking the pups outside since taehyung too terribly missed getting some fresh breeze.

there was no objections and even jungkook enthusiastically offered to drive them to a local zoo next day.

but luck wasn't really on jungkooks side that weekend for just into noon, his phone started blaring up with emails from company staffs regarding a mishap that happened on one of the construction site of their new project.

the alpha did try to clear things up through phone calls and zoom meetings, but by evening he was packing up while grunting in annoyance that his weekend was being cut short.

with one last kiss to the pups forehead, jungkook fought the urge to pout or maybe break a chair, as he said a goodbye to taehyung.

"have fun tomorrow" jungkook mumbled, still sour that he isn't the one to take them to the zoo the next day,

"do send pics?" he didn't forget to add. afterall it was the first outing of the babies.

"of course" taehyung said, a tight lipped smile on his face as he leaned by the door and watched jungkook drive away.

the omega then closed the door, leaning on it and heaving a big sigh.

"you think he's been a bit weird lately?" he then asks jimins way, who was picking off the toys from the baby play mat.

"jungkook?" jimin cocks his head, "a bit maybe? but he's been less of an asshole though".

"i know right?!" taehyung exasperates, "he's still a douchebag but more tolerable since he isn't stinking up the place with his alpha pheromones!" he groans and jimin grunts, sympathizing for his friend.

□□□

jungkook landed on seoul early sunday morning and drove all the way to incheon to inperson review the progress of the works.

the work was however stopped due to a complaint to the authorities that the construction of a luxury resort will cause too many environmental damage.

jungkooks company was however a second party in this and the more time the owners of the resort spend fighting the authorities, the more difficult it will be for them to complete the project in the specified deadline.

at the end jungkook had to begrudgingly use his influence to get a green flag and by the time the work was going smoothly, it was well into evening and jungkook was tired to the bones.

while driving back to seoul, muscles sore and suit wrinkled, had his phone went on with an incoming video call from taehyung.

the alpha didn't hesitate to pull up by the rather empty road and attend it.

immediately noises of a busy place filled the car; on the screen jungkook saw taehyungs wind swept blonde hair, his peach sweater and the alpha pup in his arm wearing the cutest bear onesie with the most adorable smile on his little face.

"--they really love the elephants!" taehyung excited voice came through as the omega angled the phone so that jimin carrying the omega pup was also visible to jungkook.

the baby omega had his little hands up as he watched the herd of elephants in the enclosure.

but then one of the elephants did a loud trumpet, making the pup in taehyungs arms to freeze wide eyed before dissolving into a fit of giggles.

eventhough tired, lonely and positively miserable- jungkooks heart filled with an undeniable warmth at it as he too smiled.

jungkook leaned on the seat and watched the grainy screen, it most times showing an awkward angle as taehyung fumbled with the pup and phone; nevertheless it was the bestest view of jungkooks day.

with a fond smile still on his face, but his trained senses always alert had jungkook then noticed a car through the rear view mirror- a black suv stopped a bit far away from his own car.

jungkook put the phone on the mobile holder, the babies excited blabbering still heard through the call as he started the car and slowly drove forward through the lane.

the suv too moved, now following after jungkooks car.

the alpha cursed under his breath.

"taehyung. i will call back later" jungkook spoke fast, his eyes still on the road and the acceleration picking up.

"everything okay?" taehyung enquired noticing the change of tone.

"yeah. just busy" the alpha lied.

"--kay!" the omegas voice responded.

"get back home safe" jungkook sternly said before cutting the call and the speed of the car picked up, so does of the car following behind him.

the road was mostly deserted if not for a few vehicles passing by, the mud on the sides orange, dry and desiccated with no sign of life.

his grip on the steering wheel tightens as another black car tails after him from a deserted intersection and for a brief moment he thought of dialing hoseok but deciding against it. it was no use anyway since he is still miles away from the city.

as the cars following him try to overtake, jungkook rams the acceleration as his mercedes jumps forward, but he cant help but feel the pooling dread.

whatever this is, it is heavily planned. and jungkook, he is unprepared.

loosening the tie around his neck, jungkook hopes he makes it to the nearest populated area, but curses loud when the suv bumps against the rear of his mercedes, as if taunting him- it surely leaving white scratches moreover successfully makes jungkooks concentration ditter.

seems like that was all they needed, or maybe the success of a thoroughly planned mission,

it was another of those lone intersection, and jungkooks one second window of unfocus combined, a massive volvo truck successfully and deliberately rammed into jungkooks car from the left.

the car swerved, igniting sparks as it slid harshly on the asphalt before tumbling, the metal crushing with a sickening sound as it crashed heavy.

jungkooks body had moved back when the airbags inflated and then deflated, he felt the pricks of glass cutting his skin and felt a blow against the left side of this head and the feel of something warm trickling down his neck.

as the car stopped upside down on the side of the road, leaving a myriad of scratches and broken glasses its way, jungkook doesn't really know but he things he made a grunt of pain as his vision started getting hazy.

upside down, the pain only felt worse, so does the strain of the seat belt against his chest and he had shuddered when the long silver chain around his neck slipped off from the confines of his shirt and hanged lopsided infront of his face.

the metal felt cool against his face, like a mocking comfort, so was the wedding ring at the end of it that had brushed the bow of jungkooks lips.

at that moment, jungkook may have hopelessly wished for the ring to still have taehyungs warmth,

or atleast, the barest of a lingering sweet smell.

instead, the pungent smell of petroleum filled his nose and the controls on the dashboard smoked.

the left side of jungkooks head ringed constantly, while the right ear still heard the memories of taehyungs and his pups giggles.

□□□

as the coolness of the night settled in and the babies were tucked in the crib, taehyung lazied around the living room as usual with a korean channel running on the tv to drain out the silence.

as the weekend had came to an end, jimin had to go back to his busy student life and taehyung was by himself again.

it was a bit depressing, so taehyung sat by the couch and ate rice with kimchi as a late dinner.

lips in a pout, taehyung was emptying the baby bag they took to the zoo when the news channel on the tv suddenly stopped the discussion regarding some politicians corruption case and a breaking news went on.

"ceo of one of the leading company of south korea found dead in a burning car crash--" the lady reporter in navy blue spoke away in fluent korean.

"--- Jeon Jungkook, ceo of starlight had an untimely death---"

the bottle in taehyungs hand went crashing to the floor as taehyung stood frozen hearing the reporter on the tv.

his wide eyes faced the tv, it showing one of jungkooks recent photo and a pic of a burned down mercedes as the headline went on.

taehyung couldn't breath.

his knees gave out under him as he fell on the floor.

a scream clogged his throat, but taehyung couldn't move, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't cry.

taehyung sat paralyzed on the floor, on the room that still had lingering scents of the alpha, one lone tear rolling down his face as the news went blue and red, announcing jungkooks death again and again for hours into the night.

inside the nursery, the month old pups slept peaceful cocooned in the warmth of the blanket, unaware of the silent cries or the wilted hopes.

□□□