chapter 22

After what she said to Jungkook, he hadn't uttered a single word. They just sat there, side by side, under the vast, open sky, swallowed by the silent comfort of the night. The moonlight fell upon them, its glow casting soft shadows on their faces, while the cool breeze brushed past, whispering forgotten dreams and untold stories. Yet, no matter how serene the night seemed, nothing could mend the wounds of a broken heart.Because only the shattered pieces of another heart can truly fill the cracks of one.From an outsider's view, the scene might have appeared romantic-two people sitting close to each other, basking in the peaceful night, their silence speaking a language of its own. But their reality was far from the warmth of love.Jungkook and Y/N were two opposite poles, forced together by fate, bound by a marriage neither of them had wished for. One entered it with a heart already shattered beyond repair, while the other had her heart torn apart after being tied to him. They were different in many ways, yet the one thing that tethered them together was the ache of an unfulfilled love.They both yearned for love.But not from each other.Instead, their hearts craved affection from someone who never looked back at them. Someone who never cared. Someone who had left them behind.A heavy silence lingered between them, filled with unspoken words and restrained emotions. There was so much to say, so much to confess, yet neither had the courage to break the fragile quiet. One was drowning in guilt, the weight of realization pressing upon him, while the other was at war with herself, questioning whether she even had the right to voice her pain.How could she? What right did she have to tell him about the torment of unrequited love? Of the unbearable suffering that came from watching the person she loved look at her with nothing but indifference?No. She had no right.She never had.The thought clawed at her insides, but she forced herself to swallow the bitterness.The party had come to an end, and Jungkook and Y/N, along with his three cousins, had returned to the hotel. When Y/N reunited with Bora and Zaid at the exit, they quickly apologized for leaving her alone. She had only smiled at them, easily forgiving their absence. She had, after all, enjoyed the night-thanks to Jimin.Though a small disappointment lingered in her heart.She never got the chance to thank him.Jimin had been nothing but kind to her, patient even when he had no reason to be. If fate allowed it, she would express her gratitude one day.That night, exhaustion weighed heavy on all of them-some were physically tired, while others, like her, carried an exhaustion that ran far deeper than the body.When they reached their hotel room, Jungkook entered first, pushing the door open without sparing her a glance. Y/N followed behind him hesitantly, her gaze tracing his silhouette, searching for something she knew she wouldn't find. The moment they stepped inside, Jungkook disappeared into the bathroom without a word.Y/N exhaled softly, watching the door close behind him.He was slipping further away from her.But was he ever hers to begin with?She turned her gaze to the dimly lit room, her eyes clouding with the weight of her thoughts.The life she had once dreamed of-one filled with warmth, love, and companionship-had turned into a cruel reality where she had no hope left. She could leave him, walk away, and free herself from this loveless marriage. But where would she go?She had no one.The Jeon family was the only support she had in this world. If she left, she would be left with nothing.Sometimes, she entertained the thought of running away, escaping far from this suffocating life. But where would she run? Reality wasn't a fairytale where someone magically appeared to protect and love you unconditionally. The world was cruel, and everything came at a price.There was always a motive behind kindness.And for someone as fragile as her, taking such a step required more courage than she possessed.So, she stayed.Even if it meant living in this endless cycle of hopelessness.She knew she was being pathetic, holding onto a man who never cared, never even acknowledged her existence beyond a mere obligation. But it didn't matter anymore. She had long stopped hoping for his love.With a tired sigh, Y/N pulled out her nightwear from the cupboard and sat on the bed, waiting for him.Minutes later, Jungkook stepped out, his damp hair tousled, eyes slightly red from exhaustion. He didn't even glance at her as he made his way toward the bed. Without hesitation, he laid down and closed his eyes.Y/N took that as her cue and went into the bathroom to change.Jungkook lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling with vacant eyes, his thoughts an uncontrollable storm. He had work to do-emails to answer, deals to finalize, meetings to schedule-but none of it seemed to matter. His body ached with exhaustion, but sleep refused to claim him. No matter how many times he shifted or adjusted his position, there was no comfort to be found.His mind wouldn't let him rest.The words she had spoken earlier at the party echoed in his head, relentless and sharp like a dagger carving through his chest."I always pay attention to you, Jungkook. It's just you never cared to notice it."He had kept his face unreadable when she said it, his posture indifferent as if her words carried no weight. But now, with no one around to witness, no one to judge, he couldn't pretend anymore.Her words had shattered something inside him.A dull ache settled in his heart, something foreign, something uncomfortable. Jungkook was used to keeping his emotions locked away behind walls so high that no one could reach them. He had convinced himself that he didn't need to feel, didn't need to let anyone in. That was the only way to survive in a world where love was fleeting, where attachments only brought pain.But then... why did she get to him?Why did her voice, trembling yet firm, make him feel as if he had lost something he didn't even know he had?It frustrated him. The power she held over him, the way her presence lingered in his thoughts, the way she stirred emotions he had buried deep.He didn't want to admit it, but it was the truth.Jungkook clenched his jaw and exhaled sharply, trying to push the thoughts away. He rolled onto his side, forcing his eyes shut as if that would silence the storm in his head. But no matter how hard he tried, the feeling wouldn't leave him.Regret.It seeped into his veins, poisoning his resolve.He thought back to all the times she had looked at him with silent hope, the quiet affection in her gaze that he had refused to acknowledge. He had been blind, intentionally so, because he was afraid. Afraid of what it meant if he accepted it. Afraid of what she could do to him if he let her in.But tonight, for the first time, he couldn't ignore it.He was drowning in it.Lost in his turmoil, he didn't even realize his forehead was creased, his breathing uneven. That was, until a sudden, soft touch broke through the chaos in his mind.Jungkook's eyes flew open, startled.Standing before him was her.Y/n.Her delicate fingers rested gently on his forehead, her face painted with concern. The sight sent an unfamiliar pang through his chest.He stared at her, frozen, his mind struggling to process the moment.Why was she still looking at him like that?After everything-after the coldness he had shown her, after the way he had ignored her, after how many times he had made her feel unwanted-why was she still here, caring?Something in his chest tightened painfully.She shouldn't be like this.She should be angry. She should resent him. She should push him away like he had done to her countless times.But instead... she was standing there, looking at him as if he was someone worth worrying about.The intensity of her gaze made him uneasy, so he instinctively averted his eyes, but that only made him feel worse. His heart waged a war against his mind, screaming at him to say something, to do something.But he didn't know how.Y/n quickly withdrew her hand, her fingers lingering in the air for a brief second before she clasped them together, as if afraid she had crossed a line. A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes before she spoke, her voice soft yet uncertain."A-are you okay? You were looking... disturbed."Jungkook didn't answer immediately. His gaze flickered back to her, searching her face, trying to understand why she still cared.A part of him wanted to brush her off, to go back to the indifference that had shielded him for so long. But another part of him-one that he had spent years suppressing-wanted to keep listening to her voice.He let out a slow, tired sigh."Nothing... just a headache."Her brows knitted together in concern."Did you catch a cold? Do you want me to get you some painkillers?"Her voice was laced with sincerity, but it only made Jungkook feel worse.She shouldn't be like this.Not after everything.She should hate him.But she didn't.Jungkook immediately shook his head, rejecting her offer."No need," he muttered. "I'll be fine after some time. It's just a normal headache... nothing serious."Y/n still looked unconvinced, but she nodded, not wanting to push him. She turned around, ready to leave, ready to give him space-But before she could take a step away, his fingers instinctively wrapped around her wrist, stopping her in place.Her breath hitched.Jungkook felt it.And for a moment, there was nothing but silence.A tense, delicate silence, as if the entire world had paused.Y/n hesitated before slowly turning back to look at him, confusion flickering in her eyes. Her gaze met his, searching for an answer.Jungkook didn't know what to say.He could barely understand what he was doing himself.He had stopped her-why?To keep her close?To stop her from leaving him alone with his thoughts?To hold onto something before it slipped away completely?He cleared his throat, forcing himself to break the silence."Uhm..." he started, suddenly feeling awkward.He had never been good at this. At expressing what he wanted.His grip on her wrist loosened slightly, but he still held on."...Can you please... caress my head until I fall asleep?"The words sounded foreign even to his own ears.He immediately added, "I don't think I'll be able to sleep with this headache. It would help me if you... do that. But if you don't want to, then-"He stopped himself before he could make it sound like he was forcing her.His pride was already wounded enough."I guess... goodnight," he muttered, reluctantly releasing her hand.He turned to the other side, his chest feeling heavier than before.Why did he even ask?She wouldn't do it.She shouldn't.But just as he was about to let himself sink into regret, he felt it.A soft, delicate touch brushing through his hair.His breath caught in his throat.His body stiffened for a moment before relaxing under her gentle touch.She was doing it.She was actually doing it.Jungkook felt something unfamiliar bloom in his chest.Something warm.Something he had long forgotten.A small, barely-there smile tugged at the corners of his lips.But at the same time, guilt weighed on him.How could she still be so kind to him after everything?He didn't deserve it.And yet...He didn't want her to stop.Maybe before, he had ignored it.But now?Now, he knew.She was special.And he was a fool for never realizing it sooner.Meanwhile y/n sat by his side, a small, weak smile on her lips.She couldn't deny. Love makes you weak.Y/n couldn't stop looking at him.The way his long lashes rested softly against his cheeks, the faint crease between his brows even as he lay there-as if even in sleep, he couldn't completely let go. He looked so different from the Jungkook the world knew, the one who carried a storm in his eyes, who kept everyone at arm's length.But tonight... he wasn't that Jungkook.Tonight, he was just a boy, exhausted and vulnerable, seeking comfort in a way she never thought he would.And the fact that he was seeking it from her...Y/n felt warmth spread in her chest, an unfamiliar tightness that made her swallow hard.She had always known that love made people weak.She had spent her whole life believing that attachments only led to pain, that opening your heart to someone was nothing more than inviting disappointment. She had built walls around herself, convinced that no one would ever climb them-convinced that no one should.Yet here she was.Sitting on the edge of his bed, watching over him, feeling emotions she wasn't sure she was allowed to feel.Because as much as she tried to deny it, she knew-he had always been the exception.Jungkook was different.And she had been foolish enough to fall for him long before she realized she was falling.Her fingers twitched slightly, resisting the urge to reach for him again. She had always known that he didn't like to be touched. It wasn't something he ever had to say out loud; it was just him.He didn't let people get close. He didn't allow warmth to reach him.Not even her.But tonight, he had let her in.Tonight, he had grabbed her wrist, stopped her from leaving, and asked her to stay.Had she ever been this special to him before?The thought made her breath hitch slightly.She wanted to believe it.She wanted to believe that maybe-just maybe-he wasn't as indifferent to her as he pretended to be. That maybe his cold exterior was just a shield, a carefully built armor to protect himself from the world.That maybe, she mattered to him more than he was willing to admit.But she was scared.Because if she allowed herself to believe it, and if it turned out to be nothing but an illusion, the pain would be unbearable.So she did what she had always done-she buried the thought deep inside her heart.She let out a soft sigh, glancing at him once more. His breathing had evened out, his expression more peaceful than before. A small part of her wondered if he had already fallen asleep, if he even realized what he had done-what he had allowed.Y/n smiled faintly, sadly.Jungkook... what are we?Were they nothing more than a temporary solace for each other? A moment of warmth in the middle of an endless winter?Or was this the beginning of something neither of them was ready to name?She didn't know.She wasn't sure she would ever know.But for tonight, just for tonight, she allowed herself to stay by his side.Even if it meant breaking her own heart in the process.Because even the coldest hearts need warmth, sometimes.As the bright, golden rays of the rising sun spilled through the sheer curtains, the alarm clock on the bedside table blared loudly, breaking the tranquil silence of the early morning. The sound cut through the peaceful atmosphere, stirring the girl sleeping against the headboard.Y/n let out a soft, sleepy hum, her brows furrowing as she rubbed her half-open eyes, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness. Her body ached slightly from sleeping in such an awkward position, but the moment she turned to her left, all of that discomfort faded into the background.Her gaze landed on him.Jungkook lay beside her, his face relaxed in deep slumber, his usual hardened expressions nowhere in sight. The soft morning light painted golden hues on his skin, making him look almost unreal-too serene, too beautiful.This was the only time she could admire him without fear, without hesitation.She allowed herself to trace his delicate features with her eyes-the way his dark lashes fanned against his skin, the slight parting of his lips, the faint crease between his brows that always seemed to linger even in his sleep. He looked... peaceful. Innocent, even. A side of him the world never got to see.But she did.She always did.A sudden groan rumbled from his chest, snapping her out of her trance. Y/n's heart skipped a beat as she realized the alarm was still ringing. God, how long had she been staring?Panicked, she quickly reached out and ran her fingers through his soft, tousled locks, her touch featherlight as she gently combed them back in an attempt to soothe him."Shh... sleep," she whispered instinctively.With her other hand, she fumbled to turn off the alarm, finally silencing the intrusive noise. Jungkook's features relaxed almost instantly under her touch, his tense shoulders slumping as he sighed softly, drifting back into sleep.Y/n let out a quiet breath of relief, watching his face for a few more lingering seconds. Then, moving carefully so as not to disturb him, she slipped out of bed and tiptoed toward the bathroom.The door clicked shut behind her.For a moment, silence reigned again.And then-Jungkook's eyes fluttered open.A small, warm smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he gazed at the now-closed bathroom door. His mind was still hazy with sleep, but one thing was clear-he had felt it.Her touch.The gentle way her fingers had soothed through his hair, the quiet care laced in her actions... it lingered, leaving behind a warmth he wasn't ready to let go of just yet.So, with that warmth still wrapping around him like a comforting embrace, Jungkook shut his eyes once more, allowing himself to sink back into sleep-his dreams now laced with the ghost of her fingers threading through his hair.I know it was too short.No worries,I will definitely make the next chapter long 💜Hope you all had liked it 🌠💟 share your opinions.Your Coco