"It's going to be so much more fun at Yoongi-ssi's house," you hear Hyeyeon announce as she approaches with the others. You and Jungkook quickly separate.
You wipe away your tears while he ruffles your hair and walks toward the parking lot. You didn't want to be seen together in such an emotional state; it would only spark questions. It was just a moment, amplified by the alcohol. Things would be different once you both sobered up.
"Y/N-ah, what are you doing up here?" Hyeyeon asks as she wraps you in a hug. She was clearly intoxicated.
"Just needed a breather," you reply. "Are we going home?"
"No, we are going to Yoongi-ssi's house. He is having a open house party for his pre-birthday!" Hyeyeon exclaims joyfully.
"I am so excited," Sarang chimes in.
"Let's go!" Miyeon yells enthusiastically.
"I think we should just go home," Jimin says sarcastically, glancing at Taehyung, who nods in agreement.
"Where's Jungkook?" Taehyung asks, looking around.
"Yeah, where is he?" Sarang echoes, her tone indicating she's eager to find him.
"You guys go ahead, I need to talk to Jin oppa," you say, gently removing Hyeyeon's hand from your neck.
"Alright, be quick," she responds, already moving toward the parking lot with the others.
As they all head off to get ice cream, you turn and make your way to find Jin, knowing there are still things left unsaid that needed to be addressed away from the crowd.
"Can you drop me home if you're going out?" you ask as you approach Jin and Namjoon.
"You don't want to tag along?" Jin inquires.
"Not really," you reply, your exhaustion apparent.
"Are you okay, hun?" Jin asks, rubbing your back as the three of you walk further.
"I'm fine, just tired," you say, leaning on him for support.
"Do you want me to stay with you?" he asks, concern coloring his tone.
"No, you should go. I'll be going to sleep anyway," you assure him.
"Are you sure?" he presses, looking for confirmation.
You nod, meeting his gaze to reassure him.
"Okay, is it alright if one of the guys drops you home? Me and Namjoon are heading to grab some food for Yoongi's party," he explains.
"Yes, that's fine," you agree.
"Yah! Where's Jungkook?" Jin calls out to Jimin and Taehyung.
"We don't know. He just texted that he'll meet us at Yoongi hyung's house," Taehyung responds.
"Not Jungkook, please," you quickly add, turning to Jin, who initially looks puzzled but then nods in understanding.
"Okay, can the girls tag along with Jimin? Taehyung, can you drop Y/N home?" Jin directs.
"Oh yeah, sure," Taehyung says, stopping to wait for you.
"Take care and call me if you need anything," Jin tells you.
"I will," you respond with a smile, exchanging goodbyes with Jin and Namjoon. "Bye bye."
---
"You're definitely missing out on an epic party," Taehyung comments as he drives you home.
"I think I'm getting too old for late-night parties," you reply with a laugh.
"Hyeyeon's going to notice you're missing and will probably call," he points out.
"Could you look out for her tonight? I mean, Jimin's there, but when she's drunk, she really needs someone attentive," you request.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on the girls. Miyeon and Sarang should be manageable," he assures you.
A pause fills the air before Taehyung broaches a delicate subject.
"Is Sarang getting to you?" he asks gently.
"Why do you think she's bothering me?" you respond, a bit defensively.
"Well, she's the only woman so close to Jungkook, they're childhood friends... and they've recently started a 'friends with benefits' thing," he reveals cautiously.
"Friends with benefits?" you echo, seeking confirmation.
He nods. "But keep that between us," he quickly adds.
You recall Jungkook's words, "I love her but not like that. We're just childhood friends," and realize he had deliberately left out their current casual relationship.
This unsettles you deeply.
As you reach your home, you thank Taehyung and start to get out of the car.
"Just don't overthink it, and please, don't tell Jungkook I told you about Sarang. I value my life," he half-jokes.
"I won't mention it. Thanks for the ride home, Taehyung. Goodnight," you say, managing a smile as he pulls away.
--
As you process Taehyung's revelation, the unexpected news unsettles you deeply. Contemplating the implications, you ride the elevator up to your apartment on the 21st floor. As you type in the password and enter, you find the apartment engulfed in darkness. None of the light switches seem to work. There isn't a blackout; it's just your apartment. Suddenly, a lamp in the living room flicks on, and you instinctively turn towards the light.
Seated in the dim glow is a figure, masked, with a gun in their hand.
Your stomach churns and your heart sinks; the handbag slips from your shoulder and thuds onto the ground as you realize the gravity of the situation.
"Ahn Y/N, is that you? Kim Seokjin's cousin?" the figure asks in a slow, raspy voice, the menace in his tone sending shivers down your spine.
You can only nod, paralyzed by fear.
The figure sighs and stands, prompting you to instinctively step back. You continue to retreat until your back hits the wall with a thud, but the figure keeps advancing. As he reaches you, he raises the gun, pressing it against your lips and then forcefully into your mouth, ensuring you cannot scream. Tears roll down your cheeks, and your body trembles with fear as the cold metal of the gun presses against your tongue.
The masked figure leaned in close, his breath cold against your ear as he pulled down his mask slightly.
"Tell your brother to stop looking for Ahn Bohyun, or it will cost him his sister," he whispered, his voice a menacing hiss that sent chills spiraling down your spine. "And that sister is you," he added, emphasizing the threat with a chilling clarity. He locked eyes with you, his gaze piercing as he backed away just slightly.
Removing the gun from your mouth, he traced the gun along your hairline, pushing strands of hair back with the cold metal. He then tilted the gun under your chin, forcing you to meet his gaze. "You understand?" he demanded, his eyes deadly serious.
You nodded, too frightened to speak.
His eyes scanned your face and lingered on your features. "He does have good taste in women," he remarked, a twisted smile flickering across his face as he referenced Bohyun.
"Did he send you?" you managed to stutter, your voice trembling with fear.
He scoffed at your question, his disdain evident.
"If you see him, could you tell him that his ex-girlfriend is looking for him?" you ventured, your voice steadier now, though still laced with fear.
At that, his expression twisted into one of sudden fury. Abruptly, he raised his gun and struck you with the butt of it across your forehead.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?" he growled, gripping you in a chokehold. "Stay away from him," he hissed, slamming your head against the wall before releasing you abruptly and storming out of the apartment.
The door slammed shut behind him, and you collapsed to the floor, the room spinning around you as darkness edged your vision.
As you regained your composure, you noticed droplets of blood on the floor. Touching your forehead, you found it was bleeding from the impact of the gun.
"You didn't love me enough, I guess," you muttered to yourself with a scoff. Sitting down, you stared at the blood on your hands.
He turned out to be just like his brother, the one who killed your uncle. For a moment, you had harbored some affection for him, but now, that was gone. A bitter smile twisted your lips. "Looks like I'll be seeing you soon, Bohyun," you murmured.
Just then, your phone rang. It was Yeonhan calling at an unusually late hour. You quickly answered.
"Yeonhan?"
"Noona! Some men forced their way into my apartment and trashed everything," Yeonhan's voice was laced with panic.
"Yeonhan, what?" you stood up abruptly. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" the worry clear in your voice.
"No, but before they left, they said you would know why this happened. They warned that if you don't comply, next time it will be me they 'destroy.'" His voice cracked with fear.
"I'm okay, Yeonhan, I'm so sorry you're caught up in this. Listen, we're going to move you to the college dorms for now. It's safer," you tried to keep your voice steady, offering him a plan that might protect him.
You spent a long time talking to him, providing comfort without divulging too much, yet reassuring him that he would be safe. After ensuring he was somewhat calmed, you hung up, but the conversation left you deeply shaken. Your younger brother meant the world to you, and now, the situation wasn't just about you and Bohyun; it had become far more personal.
After ending the call with Yeonhan, you immediately dialed Jin's number. Three attempts later, with no answer, you tried calling Hyeyeon, then Taehyung, and Jimin. Your finger hovered over Jungkook's contact next, but you hesitated. Deep down, you knew he would answer immediately, but given what you had learned about him and Sarang, your emotions were too conflicted. Despite desperately needing his help, you were too upset to deal with him at the moment.
No one was picking up their phones. You didn't even know where Yoongi lived to consider driving there. Feeling increasingly isolated, you went into the bathroom to tend to your wound, carefully cleaning and bandaging the cut on your forehead.Exhausted and frustrated, you sat on your bed, phone beside you, hoping for a callback. After an hour or two of waiting in vain, your eyelids grew heavy, and eventually, you drifted into a troubled sleep, the events of the night swirling chaotically in your dreams.
--
You were jolted awake by the sound of lively chatter outside your door. It sounded like everyone had ended up at your place. Slipping into your flip-flops, you walked over and cracked open the door to see everyone in high spirits.
"Y/N! Good morning!" Sarang called out cheerfully upon spotting you. As you glanced her way, you noticed several faint hickeys trailing from her neck down to her chest, almost as if she were showcasing them. Knowing all too well who had left those marks made your blood boil.
Irritated by their joy after feeling abandoned the night before, you couldn't muster even a semblance of a smile. Instead, your mouth twisted into a bitter smirk.
"Looks like you had a fun night, Sarang," you commented, your voice dripping with sarcasm. The room tensed slightly, picking up on the edge in your tone.
Sarang followed your gaze to her neck and stammered a bit. "I, uh, kind of didâ"
"Who was the lucky guy, if you don't mind sharing?" you asked, stepping further into the living room and positioning yourself assertively in front of her.
"Um, it was..." she hesitated, her eyes darting around as everyone's curiosity peaked. Taehyung, in particular, seemed nervous, aware of the potential confrontation brewing. "Just someone I met last night," she finally muttered, obviously lying.
"Ooooooh, was he any good?" Hyeyeon chimed in, oblivious to the tension.
"Yeah, was he good?" you echoed, stepping closer to Sarang, your presence now clearly intimidating her.
"Leave her alone, Y/N," Jungkook interjects, his voice low and steady as he leans forward with a coffee mug in hand. You lock eyes with him, your gaze sharp and angry as you notice similar faint hickeys marking the side of his neck.
"Of course, you'd want me to leave her alone," you retort with a forced smile, your tone dripping with sarcasm. The atmosphere shifts palpably as everyone picks up on the hostility emanating from you.
"Jeez, Y/N, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?" Jimin chimes in, trying to lighten the mood with a scoff.
"Isn't it funny how you suddenly couldn't care less?" you shoot back, wiping the smirk off his face.
"Okay, what's going on here?" Jin intervenes, standing to address the growing tension.
"Where's your phone?" you ask him directly, cutting through the small talk.
"My phone?" Jin looks momentarily puzzled, patting his pockets in search of it.
"It's on the charger with everyone else's," Hyeyeon chimes in, trying to help.
"Oh, right," Jin recalls, then turns back to you, curiosity mixed with concern. "Why? What happened?"
Tears welled up in your eyes, a mix of anger and frustration making them glisten as you stared at Jin with a piercing gaze. "I called you, a million times last night," you state flatly.
"What? I didn't get any calls from you," Jin responds, his expression turning serious as he quickly retrieves his phone to check his notifications.
"Y/N, what happened? Are you okay?" Hyeyeon starts to ask, sensing the urgency in your voice."You didn't pick up either," you interrupt her sharply.
"I tried calling everyone last night, but no one picked up," you continue, your voice tight with emotion, "All the people I trusted..." At your words, a sense of urgency spreads through the room; everyone hurriedly checks their phones. Jungkook stands, his attention fully on you now, puzzled to find no missed calls on his device.
"Over 50 missed calls from you," Jin announces, looking up from his phone with a furrowed brow. "And several security breach alerts... Y/N, what happened last night?" He glances around, now alert to any signs of disturbance or danger.
"You failed to protect me... and Yeonhan," you say, each word weighted with betrayal and disappointment. The room falls deathly silent, the gravity of your words settling heavily upon everyone present.
Jin's expression shifts from concern to fear. "You're scaring me, Y/N," he admits, his voice laced with worry. His gaze flicks to the surveillance camera in the corner, a spark of realization igniting in his eyes. He hurries to his laptop, pulling up the security footage from last night. Everyone crowds behind him, their faces tense with anticipation.
As the footage unfolds, tears escape your eyes, tracing silent paths down your cheeks. The group watches in stunned silence, the grim reality of the night's events laid bare before them. Jin's eyes meet yours in the reflection of the screen, filled with remorse and pain.
"Y/N-ah. I've failed you... as a brother," he stammers, his voice breaking as he walks up to you and pulls you into a hug. Your body remains rigid, the comfort he offers feeling distant and hollow.
Hyeyeon collapses onto the couch, her voice a mere whisper, "I can't believe this happened... you reached out for help and we......"
As the video playback freezes on the frame just before the gun strikes your forehead, Jungkook's posture stiffens, a visible shudder running through him. He presses the replay button one more time, his fingers trembling slightly. The room holds its breath each time the scene unfolds, but no one feels the repeated blows quite like Jungkook.
He stands detached from the group, his body taut with barely controlled rage. His eyes, usually stoic, now burn with a cold fury. "You called everyone... but me," he repeats, his voice low and strained, each word dripping with regret and a rising storm of anger.
As the group watches in uneasy silence, Jungkook's hands clench and unclench at his sides. The muscle in his jaw twitches as he battles the urge to unleash the wrath boiling inside him. His gaze is locked on the screen, on the moment replaying over and over when the man struck your head with his gun.
"Let's hold off on pursuing Ahn Bohyun for now," Jin declares firmly, his voice tinged with resolve as he dials a number on his phone. "I'm not willing to risk your safety or Yeonhan's over a necessary revenge."
"Deokseong, listen carefully," Jin says into the phone, his tone commanding. "I'm sending you a name and an address. I want your best team in the States on this. Guard it relentlessly. If anything happens to my brother because of your men's shortcomings, you should start worrying about life right then and there." His voice is stern, leaving no room for error, and he ends the call with a decisive click.
Turning to you, Jin's expression softens. "Yeonhan is going to be safe. You don't need to worry about him anymore," he assures you, gently caressing your cheek with a comforting hand.
Hearing the tremor in your voice as you recount last night's fear, he pulls you into a tight embrace. "I heard the terror in Yeonhan's voice last night. It shattered me inside," you confess, your voice barely above a whisper.
"I understand, Y/N. Believe me, I'm feeling that pain right now," Jin responds, his voice thick with emotion as he holds you closer, trying to offer solace in the midst of chaos.
On the other hand, Jungkook's gaze is unyielding, fixed intently on the screen replaying the night's horrors before he abruptly turns his attention to you. His voice is sharp, cutting through the tension in the room. "Y/N, where's your gun?"
Jin leans forward slightly, eyeing Jungkook with concern as the atmosphere thickens with anticipation.
"I asked you something," Jungkook presses, his eyes finally meeting yours.
"It was lost the night Hyeyeon was kidnapped," you answer, your voice low, barely carrying across the quiet room.
Jungkook's reaction is visceral, his stare piercing as if trying to gaslighting himself into thinking you didn't just say that.
"Jungkook, let's keep our calm and-," Jin interjects with a firm tone, attempting to temper the rising anger.
"Keep calm? You are asking me to calm down after your sister almost died a painful death last night, was harrassed and assaulted by that cunt?" Jungkook's voice rises, incredulous and sharp.
"I understand but making this more complicated is not how I'd want to go about it!" Jin yells.
"Well I guess, you and I clearly have different ways of protecting Y/N" Jungkook replies very quietly through his teeth.
The room shifts uncomfortably; the intensity of Jungkook's demeanor is startling as he turns to you and approaches you.
"You are a grown fucking woman who is stubborn in the most demanding situations and would rather put her fucking ego above her safety!" His words are a heated rush as he steps closer, his frustration boiling over.
"Do you not realize how fucked up that is, Ahn Y/N?" he continues, his voice escalating.
Your heart races under his intense scrutiny, the old, fiery Jungkook resurfacing in a way you hadn't seen in a long time.
"FUCKING SPEAK UP!" he explodes, the volume of his voice making you flinch.
His outburst reverberates in the silent room, leaving a trail of uneasy tension. Everyone remains silent, caught in the crossfire of Jungkook's wrath and your obvious distress.
Jin started forwarding, intent on intervening, but Taehyung held him back with a firm grip, shaking his head subtly. The room was thick with tension, the stakes of relationships hanging really low.
"Don't talk to me like that," you finally muster the courage to say, your voice trembling slightly from fear.
Jungkook's glare doesn't soften. "You clearly haven't learned your lesson" He scoffs, the most frightening sound to your ears at this moment.
"I guess I am going to have to teach you one today." His tone is icy, his eyes piercing. "Get changed. You have ten minutes." He starts a silent countdown in his head, his gaze unwavering.
Frozen for a moment, you snap back to reality when he sharply yells, "GO!" The force of his command sends you scrambling toward your bedroom.
In exactly ten minutes, you've freshened up and changed, descending to find Jungkook by his car. His preparations are methodical; he's checking a gun when he notices your approach. The look he gives you is chillingâthere's undeniable anger and something darker in his gaze.
"Take this. Put it in the small of your back," he commands, handing you the gun with a stern expression. You comply, feeling the cold metal against your skin. He then firmly grabs your arm, guidingâor more accurately, pushingâyou into the passenger seat before sliding into the driver's seat himself.
The car peels out of the driveway with alarming speed. Every roar of the engine underlines the urgency and anger driving him. His jaw is set, his eyes focused on the road ahead, and it's clear he's on a mission. You sit beside him, grappling with a mix of fear and trust, unsure of the destination but acutely aware of the tension radiating off him.
**
A/N: look out for a double update.