CHAPTER 50

Jungkook wraps an arm around his shoulder, trying to have a glimpse of his face. "Tiger, are you okay?"The alter turns to him, the soft breeze messing his hair. "I just want to stay with you a little longer."Jungkook smiles, but Tiger can't ignore the sadness sparkling in his eyes. "Taehyung wants to take over?""Not yet, but I can sense him. Their laughs wake him up.""If he wants to come back, let him, okay?" he softly says, caressing Tiger's head. "We'll see each other again.""When?" Tiger almost pleads. "I don't take over as often anymore, not now that you left the mafia. I meant it when I said I missed you yesterday.""I missed you too, but the joy I feel every time you come back is stronger than that. I like it better when you come back when I least expect it. You keep surprising me, Tiger." Jungkook winks, ruffling his hair."Bunny!" Tiger chuckles, holding Jungkook's hand.He lowers them, but doesn't let go."Bunny . . ." Tiger bites his lower lip and takes a step closer. "If you had become Taehyung's friend, would you still like me?""Sure," he shrugs, "even if I liked Taehyung you would still be cooler than him.""How are you so sure?""Because you would still be you, Tiger. And I like you. A lot. Can't you see how special you're?" Jungkook holds his sweatshirt with his fingers and pulls him slightly closer."Because I'm just an alter? Because I'm not like you? That's why I'm special?"Jungkook lets out a breath, his heart aching at Tiger's words. "You're more than alter, you're . . . you're . . ."Tiger takes a step closer. "I'm what?"Jungkook takes a breath. "You're you. And I don't care if you've the same body because you've not the same eyes, you've not the same soul. You're not Taehyung, not to me. I refuse to believe that.""Because you think Tae's annoying?""Because I like you. I like your eyes, I like your humour, I understand your pain, your thoughts, your actions . . . You're just like any other human being and you should be treated as one, not just as a simple alter." Jungkook spits the last words with venom in his voice."Thank you for seeing me, Bunny. You accepted me when no else did and you can also see me behind Taehyung's body. That's why I like you—and your muscles."Jungkook's face relaxes and his lips curve upwards forming a soft smile. "So you ended up liking muscle Bunny, huh?"Tiger nods. "By the way, you promised me you would explain something today. This time I'm not leaving until you tell me, I don't need any special reason to come back, your presence is enough."Jungkook gazes down at his interlocked hands and walks to a corner where no one can see them. He gently pushes Tiger against the wall, his hands pressed on it."Don't worry," Jungkook whispers, "I'm going to tell you everything but I want to check something first.""What?""Can I kiss you?"Tiger's eyes widen at the unexpected question and the same warmth invades his cheeks. "H - here, now?"Jungkook leans forward, just a few centimetres away from his lips. Tiger's breath kisses his skin, and he closes his eyes for a moment. "Yeah. Can I?"Tiger's heart beats crazily, but as much as his surprise he confidently states, "Yeah, why not?"Jungkook smirks, but kisses him softly. He cups his cheek with one hand, while he sucks on Tiger's lower lip from time to time. The alter unconsciously rests his hands behind his neck, the butterflies in his belly retaking their dance as the kiss deepens.A few minutes later Jungkook pulls away, Tiger out of breath.He doesn't break eye contact with Jungkook, admiring closely for the first time his doe eyes. It doesn't match Jungkook style at all, how can a tough guy like him have the cutest eyes?"Could you check whatever you wanted to check?" he asks with an eyebrow raised as the other stays silent.Jungkook lowers his hand and holds his, not looking away from his eyes. He rests Tiger's hand on his chest and keeps his own on top."Does it answer your question?"Still lost in Jungkook's eyes and smiling like a fool, Tiger takes his free hand and places it on his chest, imitating the younger."Yeah, I think our doubts are cleared."They giggle like two teenagers, feeling the other's briskly heartbeats on the palm of their hands.Jungkook needed to know if today he would feel what he felt yesterday. He has been with a lot of girls, some boys here and there, since he turned sixteen, but he has forgotten about the genuine feeling of liking someone, not just desire their bodies.Tiger has become the second boy to constantly live in his head. But what differentiates Tiger from Jimin is that with the alter he can experience the real feeling, not just the illusion of it.* * *"Petal," Namjoon almost yells from the stairs, "need your laptop, your ass, and your brain here right now.""What for?" he almost growls, kissing Jimin's neck."We've got a mission to finish, genius."He sighs, pulling his face away from his boyfriend. "Can you come here instead? We can work in the living room, no need for me to go upstairs."Yoongi distinguishes Seokjin's voice, but can't figure out what he said. He takes Namjoon's silence as a yes.He takes advantage of his last minutes in heaven and keeps kissing his neck, while Hoseok and Jimin keep their slow make out session.The three boys pull away groaning when Seokjin and Namjoon sit on the other sofa."Here," Namjoon places the laptop on the table, "Yoongi, you need to track her. There must be a way, there's always been one.""Got it." he says, grabbing the laptop. "Only if we could find that lab, shit, where do you think it is?""For what Jungkook told us, somewhere near the factory and the woods.""Let me check that as well." he runs his fingertips through his black hair. "Cutie, do you have any news about Mimi?"Seokjin shakes his head. "That bitch acts like a fucking ghost."Yoongi takes a deep breath, his fingers pressing the keyboard fast. "They don't call me a ghost catcher for anything."Babe, no one calls you that."Yoongi sighs heavily. "I was having my moment, Hoba."The redhead laughs and intertwines his arm with Jimin's, staring at the screen.