Detecting Falsehood

(A/n: I hate cutting into the flow of a story almost as much as you hate reading these so I'll make this short -----
This chapter....it's the most painful thing I've ever had to write, and i advise you wait until you feel like you're not gonna stab me for how it ends and how things go down.

I'm kinda scared to update with this because I don't wanna hurt or upset you. But for the sake of updating and for the sake of the plot of this book, I have to. I always knew this would have to be a chapter to write. Putting it off kinda made it worse. You'll see what I mean. I'll put a summary of what happens here in the next chapter if needed if anyone wants to skip it.

I'm sorry, in advance))

I bite my lip, not sure what to say to him. I don't want Taewa to get hurt. I don't think I could bear to see something like that.

The leader smiles smugly, clearly certain that he's backed me into a corner. And then the phone beeps again, and he frowns in confusion, lifting it to look at the message displayed on it. His face furrows into a frown.

"What?" he mumbles to himself, clearly baffled. "I knew they were friends, but this is more than I was realising. This is something affectionate. Caring."
"Sir?"
"Take your phone. Look at the messages from this 'Taewa'. And be careful what you say. I will know if you lie."

I reach for the phone immediately, taking the device in my hand and unlocking it without even breaking a sweat. The notification for the new message isn't important. I need to know what my sister has sent to me over the time I've been here. I need to know how my family is. I need to know.

I can't ignore this opportunity.

I flick through the endless one sided conversation, my free hand coming to my mouth in shock at the sheer pain I see in her words. She's always seemed like the strongest out of all of us. And even now, she refuses to give in. But the conflict within her is breaking her apart. Pulling her in two separate directions.

"She seems to care about you," the leader interrupts, and I nod, ignoring him completely. "Who is she to you?"
"Someone I care about," I mumble, not caring about the consequence of hiding information anymore. I finally get to know how my sister is. And I refuse to give her identity to him.

Even if the refusal to do so kills me.

"I am going to need more than that, Taehyung. Do not make this difficult for yourself," he warns, his mood darkening.
"It already is," I point out quietly, still reading through the messages from sister, my heart shattering as I realise just how awful an impact my disappearance has had on her and the rest of our family.

For a few moments, we sit there in silence, and then I decide to see what the other message is. From whoever it may be.

My eyes widen when I realise that it's from Jungkook, a message that was sent only a few minutes ago. He's probably paying attention to this situation. That would make sense.

Junghoon - You can do this, hyung! I know it's difficult but you're gonna be okay! I know that!

"I wouldn't call his message 'affectionate'," I comment simply, raising an eyebrow. "It's more just supportive."
"But he never speaks like that, not to anyone!"

I tilt my head at him. "Do you listen in to all of his conversations, sir?"
"Of course not! But I know my son!"
"I do not doubt that," I say carefully, knowing better than to break Jungkook's cover, "but everyone speaks differently around different people. We were friends before all of this, so it makes sense that he would talk to me like this."