chapter 15

Sometimes, no matter how much you want to stay away from someone, fate keeps pushing you back into their orbit. It’s frustrating. Suffocating. Maddening. You don’t even know what to feel anymore—whether to hate the situation or secretly wish for more.Y/N was experiencing this firsthand.She kept her distance from Jungkook, not out of anger, but out of respect. He had made it clear that he didn’t want her in his life. That her presence was nothing but an inconvenience to him. And the last thing she wanted was for him to think she was trying to invade his space.Their journey to Busan had been long, nearly four hours, with only one stop at a roadside restaurant to refresh themselves. The trio—Zaid, Bora, and Leena—chattered excitedly, enjoying the trip, while Jungkook and Y/N remained eerily silent.Jungkook barely looked at her.And Y/N? She stole glances at him, only to be met with a cold void.Zaid tried to engage both of them in conversation, making jokes and teasing, but when your heart is weighed down by unresolved emotions, laughter feels foreign. Y/N’s mind was clouded with Jungkook’s words from that night—the sharp edges of his voice still echoing inside her, cutting her open in places she thought had already scarred over.She had promised herself she wouldn't cry.But God, it hurt.They finally arrived at the hotel Jungkook had booked. The lobby was luxurious, with golden chandeliers casting a warm glow, polished floors reflecting the light. The air smelled of expensive cologne and fresh lilies.At the reception, their names were registered, and room keys were handed out. With a brief nod, everyone parted ways.Y/N silently followed Jungkook to their shared room.This was her first time seeing the world outside the walls she had been confined to. She had never stayed in a hotel before, never traveled far. Everything was new to her—the vastness of the outside world, the independence of strangers walking freely, the casual laughter of people who had no idea what it was like to be trapped in a marriage like hers.Jungkook opened the door, stepping inside without looking at her. Y/N hesitated before entering, dragging her luggage behind her.The room was elegant. Spacious. The bed was large, draped in crisp white sheets, with matching pillows neatly arranged. Black and brown silky curtains covered the windows, swaying slightly from the cool air conditioning. A plush leather sofa rested against the wall, and a small study table stood nearby.It felt cozy, yet unbearably empty.Jungkook placed his luggage on the sofa and turned toward her. His voice broke the silence."You must be tired. Freshen up. I’ll order food."Y/N nodded but didn’t respond verbally. She wanted to tell him to go first. To take care of himself. But she had long since learned that her opinions didn’t matter to him.She quietly picked out a dress and went into the bathroom.Jungkook watched her retreating figure, his heart clenching at her lack of response. She used to try—try to talk to him, to close the distance he had built between them. But now? Now she barely looked at him.And the worst part?It was his fault.When had it started? When had he become this cruel to her? She never deserved his coldness, but he had given it to her anyway. He thought pushing her away would protect his already broken heart, but instead, he had shattered hers in the process.Guilt gnawed at him, but he swallowed it down.After Y/N was done, Jungkook also changed into casuals, rolling up his sleeves as he focused on arranging his documents for tomorrow’s meeting. Y/N, meanwhile, was unpacking his luggage, carefully placing his belongings into the cupboard.She still took care of him.Even after everything, she still looked after him like a wife should.Jungkook pretended not to notice, but his grip on the file tightened.After everything was arranged, Y/N decided to put the empty suitcase above the cupboard. She zipped it up and, on tiptoes, tried to place it on the high shelf. But she was struggling. Her petite frame wasn’t enough, her arms stretching as far as they could.A sudden crash."WATCH OUT!"Before the suitcase could fall on her, Jungkook’s reflexes kicked in. He grabbed it with one hand and, with the other, pulled Y/N to him—her small body colliding into his firm chest.For a moment, everything stilled.Y/N found herself enveloped in his warmth, his scent wrapping around her—intoxicating and familiar. Her fingers instinctively gripped his shirt, holding onto him as if she had no control over her actions.Jungkook let out a deep sigh, his heartbeat steady against her ear. He had placed the suitcase on the cupboard, but his hands hadn’t left her yet.He glanced down at her, a soft expression flickering across his usually cold face. She looked small in his arms, fragile, like a delicate kitten afraid to be touched.His fingers instinctively tightened around her waist.But then, anger flared within him."You’re so careless! What if you got hurt?" His voice was sharp, but his grip remained gentle. "Do you even think before doing something reckless like that?"Y/N stiffened.It took her a moment to realize how close they were. How tightly she was holding onto him. As if burned, she quickly pulled away, distancing herself from him.Her head dropped, her hands clasped in front of her. She was waiting. Waiting for him to yell at her again.Jungkook noticed it.The way she flinched. The way she looked… scared.His chest tightened painfully.She’s scared of me.The realization was like a dagger to his heart. His wife—his own wife—was afraid of him.He stepped forward instinctively, wanting to reach out, to reassure her.But she stepped back."I… I’m sorry. It was not intentional. S-sorry."Her voice was small, broken.Jungkook’s hand, which had been reaching toward her, froze in midair. Slowly, it curled into a fist.What had he done to her?When did she start apologizing for merely existing in his presence?Guilt churned in his stomach, but he didn’t know how to fix it.A knock at the door pulled them both from the tense silence. Jungkook turned away, rubbing a hand over his face."I’m going to take a shower," he muttered before disappearing into the bathroom.Y/N opened the door to find room service delivering their food. She thanked them quietly before setting the table.Evening came.Another knock.This time, it was Zaid, Bora, and Leena."Noona! You didn’t get ready? Where’s Hyung?" Zaid peeked inside."Jungkook isn't here," she replied softly."Tsk. He’s always busy," Bora huffed. "He never spends time with us!"Zaid smiled at Y/N. "Noona, come with us! We’re going to the pool!"Y/N shook her head. "I’m not feeling well. You all go ahead."Zaid pouted. "Please? You’ll feel better!""I promise I’ll come tomorrow."Zaid groaned but gave in. "Fine. But tomorrow, no excuses!"Y/N nodded with a small smile. As they left, she closed the door and leaned against it.The smile faded."No one wants to be with me."Her throat tightened."It hurts so bad."---Jungkook gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white as the city lights blurred past him. His foot pressed harder against the accelerator, the car slicing through the empty roads like a shadow in the night.He didn’t have a destination.He just needed to drive.The silence inside the car was deafening. The only sound was the faint hum of the engine and the rhythmic beating of his own heart—loud, relentless, suffocating.His mind was a mess.A storm of thoughts, regrets, and emotions he had spent years burying deep inside were now rising to the surface, threatening to consume him whole.And at the center of it all—her.Y/N.The look in her eyes tonight. The way she had withdrawn from him, the way her voice had lost its fire.It haunted him.He wasn’t sure what hurt more—the fact that he had caused it or the fact that he didn’t know how to fix it.Jungkook exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus on the road, but it was useless. His mind refused to let go of the image of her standing in front of him, hesitant, distant.She was slipping away.And for the first time in his life, he realized—he didn’t want that.But what was he supposed to do? Apologize? Pretend like he hadn’t spent the past few months pushing her away? Pretend like he hadn’t spent every waking moment convincing himself that she didn’t matter—when every fiber of his being knew that was a lie?He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling in his chest.This wasn’t supposed to happen.She wasn’t supposed to affect him.But she did.She did in ways he didn’t understand.And it terrified him.He slammed his foot on the brakes suddenly, the car jerking to a stop on the side of the road. His breathing was uneven, his heart pounding so hard it echoed in his ears.For a long moment, he just sat there, gripping the wheel like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.And then, without thinking, he let his head fall forward against it, his eyes squeezing shut.Why was this so hard?Why did she make him feel this way?Jungkook wasn’t someone who hesitated. He wasn’t someone who let emotions control him.But right now, as he sat in the middle of an empty street, drowning in feelings he didn’t want to admit—He realized something.He could keep running. Keep pretending.Or he could finally face what he had been avoiding all along.Her.Them.Everything.Jungkook stayed there, forehead resting against the steering wheel, the weight of his emotions pressing down on his chest like a vice. His breaths came out ragged, uneven, as if his body was rejecting the very feelings he had spent so long suppressing.His pulse thundered in his ears, drowning out the silence of the night.How the hell did it come to this?He had spent years building himself into someone untouchable. Someone who didn’t feel—not like this. Not in a way that could unravel him.And yet, here he was.Completely, utterly fucking unraveled.He had told himself it was for the best, that keeping his distance would protect them both. That if he didn’t get too close, he wouldn’t have to face the possibility of losing her.But he was losing her anyway.And it felt worse than anything he had ever prepared himself for.Jungkook let out a slow, shuddering breath, his hands trembling slightly as he finally leaned back against the seat. His jaw clenched, his throat tightening with something unfamiliar—something dangerously close to regret.Jungkook’s fingers trembled as he hovered over her name on his screen. His throat felt tight, his pulse erratic, like his body was bracing for an impact that had already come crashing down on him.He needed to hear her voice.Just once.Just to remind himself that she was still there, that he hadn’t completely lost her yet.The air in his car felt suffocating, the silence unbearable. It was deafening in a way that made him feel like he was standing on the edge of something irreversible. Like if he didn’t do something—say something—right now, he would never get the chance again.And that thought scared the hell out of him.Would she even pick up?Would she even want to hear his voice?A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. He hated this. Hated himself for letting it get to this point.But he had to try.Jungkook exhaled shakily, pressing the call button before he could stop himself.It rang once.Twice.He held his breath.Then—"The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable."The robotic voice felt like a punch to the gut.Jungkook’s grip on the phone tightened as his chest caved in with something dangerously close to panic.She had turned off her phone.She was shutting him out.His vision blurred for a moment, but he blinked rapidly, jaw clenching as frustration burned through his veins. He raked a hand through his hair, a sharp exhale escaping his lips as he stared at the empty road ahead.Why now?Why, after everything, did it feel like he was standing at the edge of losing something he wasn’t even sure he was allowed to have?💚💚Tell your opinions and Munchkins please don't lower the ratings ok it's a humble request. I will try my best to entertain you Your Coconut 🥥