chapter 14

The Next MorningThe previous night's storm had settled, but the remnants of it still clung heavily in the air. The tension, thick and suffocating, lingered like an unshaken shadow, refusing to be forgotten.Jungkook had informed everyone the night before that they would leave for Busan early in the morning. And so, as planned, one by one, they emerged from their rooms, their faces glowing with excitement. The atmosphere was lighthearted, filled with cheerful chatter and anticipation. After all, after years of being caught up in their own lives, they finally had time to spend together, just like before.But amidst the laughter and lively conversations, there was one person whose heart wasn't aligned with the excitement that surrounded her.Y/N.As always, she was in charge of preparing breakfast. But unlike other days, today she stood in the kitchen, motionless, staring at nothing. Her hands gripped the kitchen counter as if that was the only thing keeping her from falling apart. Her lips were slightly parted, but no words came out-only silence.She felt hollow.The previous night's incident played in her mind like a broken record, tormenting her relentlessly."You are the biggest problem here. It's you who ruined my life!"She clenched her fists. His voice still rang in her ears, sharp and venomous. His words had been like a poisoned dagger, piercing through her chest, leaving behind wounds that refused to heal.She regretted it. She regretted ever bringing up the topic of Jungkook's past. If only she had kept her mouth shut, just like she had been doing for the past few months. Maybe then, things wouldn't have worsened. Maybe then, their already broken relationship wouldn't have shattered even more.But who was she kidding?Feelings weren't meant to be buried forever. They always found a way to resurface, no matter how desperately one tried to suppress them.Ever since their argument, neither of them had spoken a single word to each other. Nor had they even attempted to. They avoided each other as if the other didn't exist, ignoring the suffocating silence that screamed louder than words ever could.Maybe neither of them wanted to initiate.Maybe they were too weak to face the pain in each other's eyes.Maybe they were both too afraid of getting hurt again.But one thing was clear-Jungkook no longer looked at her the same way.The resentment in his gaze last night had been proof of that.Perhaps, he never even looked at her in any other way to begin with.She let out a bitter breath, blinking back the moisture gathering in her eyes.They weren't lovers.They weren't even friends.They were merely two pawns of destiny, forced together in a mismatched game with no rhyme or reason. Just existing. Living under the same roof like strangers, bound by a meaningless marriage.No love.No emotions.No happiness.Nothing."Ah!"A small yelp escaped her lips when the knife she was holding accidentally sliced through her finger instead of the apple. A deep cut instantly formed, and blood began to trickle down her skin. Gasping, she hurriedly placed her wounded finger under running water, watching as the crimson liquid swirled down the drain.Her breath hitched.Unknowingly, tears began to fall from her eyes, streaming down her cheeks like silent rain.But she wasn't sure whether they were for the stinging pain in her finger-Or the unbearable ache in her heart.Because if she had to compare-The wounds Jungkook inflicted on her heart were far deeper, far more painful than any cut she could ever endure.The physical pain was temporary.But the pain of being unwanted, unloved-That would haunt her forever."Noona! Come fast! What are you doing?"Her thoughts were abruptly shattered at the sound of Zaid's voice calling from the living room.Quickly wiping her tears away, she inhaled sharply, putting on the fake mask of happiness she had mastered over the years.Because no one could know.No one could know just how broken she truly was. No one could see the storm raging inside her.Outside, the others were already gathered with their luggage, ready to leave. Zaid, the youngest of them, was practically bouncing with excitement, his bright eyes filled with eagerness. Bora and Leena stood beside him, chatting animatedly about their plans for the trip."Just five minutes!" Y/N mouthed before heading upstairs.Because before leaving-She had to face him.The person who hurt her the most.Jungkook.---Inside their shared bedroom, Jungkook stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his hair. But his mind wasn't on his reflection. It was elsewhere-stuck in the past, replaying last night's cruel exchange of words."You are the biggest problem here. It's you who ruined my life!"His jaw tightened.Did he cross the line?Of course, he did.He knew he did.Yet, in the heat of frustration, he had lashed out at her-his wife-when, in reality, none of this was her fault.He was at war with himself. Torn between two choices.His past-filled with the memories of the only woman he ever loved.Or his present-where he was punishing the person who had nothing to do with his pain.Did Y/N deserve this?No.Yet, here he was, blaming her for everything.And what was worse-He didn't even know why.The bathroom door clicked open, pulling him out of his thoughts.Y/N walked out, freshly changed, but her expression was unreadable. She moved around the room without sparing him a single glance.Jungkook swallowed.What was he expecting?That she would look at him like before?That she would act as if nothing had happened?He exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck."I already loaded your luggage in the car with mine," he muttered.The words slipped out naturally.But she didn't react.She simply nodded, acknowledging his words without emotion, before walking away to grab her things.And for some reason, that stung more than it should have.---Outside, the car was ready. Since it was only the five of them, they decided to take one vehicle. It would be more fun that way-or so they thought.As Jungkook climbed into the driver's seat, Zaid immediately rushed to open the passenger door for Y/N."Noona, sit here!" he beamed, gesturing for her to take the seat beside Jungkook.But before Y/N could respond-Leena slipped into the seat, smiling sweetly."Can I sit here, Y/N? I have something to talk about with Jungkook," she said, feigning innocence. "I hope you don't mind."Y/N hesitated.But before she could answer-Jungkook didn't say anything.Not even a single word.The realization hit her like a slap.It didn't matter to him.It never did.She swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing a smile."It's okay, Zaid," she said softly. "It doesn't matter where I sit.""Because I never had a place beside him to begin with."Jungkook's fingers tightened around the steering wheel. Though it was a whisper but he heard her. And for the first time-he wondered if the pain in his chest was regret.But it was too late now.The distance between them had already grown too deep.And he wasn't sure if they could ever close the gap.---The drive was long, but the car was filled with chatter and laughter. Zaid, ever the energetic one, kept the mood light, talking about everything and anything that crossed his mind. Bora and Leena joined in, their voices mingling as they discussed places they wanted to visit, food they wanted to try, and memories they wanted to relive.But in the midst of all the joy, Y/N sat quietly in the backseat, her gaze fixed on the window, watching the world blur past her. The trees, the endless roads, the sky-it all felt like a painting she wasn't truly a part of.She felt distant. Detached.The laughter in the car seemed foreign, like background noise in someone else's story.And the man behind the wheel-the one who once made her heart race, who once felt like the center of her world-felt like the most distant of all.Jungkook kept his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly. He could hear her silence. Feel it in the air. And somehow, it unsettled him more than her words ever did.He stole a glance at the rearview mirror.She sat there, staring out of the window, lost in a world he couldn't reach.Something about the sight made his chest tighten.It shouldn't bother him. He had no reason to care. He had made his choice-to keep his distance, to not let her in.Then why did it feel like she was the one slipping away from him?Why did it feel like he was losing something?Leena, seated beside him, leaned in closer, her voice snapping him out of his thoughts."Jungkook," she said softly, touching his arm. "You're being quiet. Something on your mind?"He forced a smile. "Just focused on the road."She pouted slightly. "You're always so serious."From the backseat, Y/N saw the way Leena leaned into him, how comfortable she was, how she laughed as if they had their own world.She turned away.It didn't matter.She had already come to terms with the truth-she would always be the outsider in his life.Even if she was his wife on paper.Even if she had once thought, foolishly, that she could mean something to him.---Hours into the drive, they decided to stop at a small roadside café to stretch their legs and grab some food. It was a quaint little place, nestled in the middle of nowhere, with a stunning view of the ocean just beyond the cliffside.As the others excitedly rushed inside, Y/N lingered behind, her gaze drifting toward the water.The waves crashed against the shore, the scent of salt lingering in the air. It was peaceful.For a moment, she closed her eyes, letting the breeze kiss her skin."Are you coming inside?"The deep voice made her freeze.She opened her eyes to see Jungkook standing a few steps away, his hands buried in his pockets. His expression was unreadable, but his gaze was fixed on her.For a second, neither of them spoke.Then Y/N exhaled softly. "I'm not that hungry."Jungkook shifted slightly. "At least have something. It's a long drive."She let out a small, humorless laugh. "Why do you care?"He tensed.She hadn't meant to say it. The words had slipped out before she could stop them. But now that they were out, she didn't take them back.Because wasn't that the truth?Jungkook was silent for a long moment.Then, finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair."Just... don't skip meals," he muttered before turning away.And just like that, he walked inside, leaving her standing there, heart aching in ways she couldn't explain.Don't skip meals.That was all he had to say?No apology. No acknowledgment of the way he had hurt her.Just a half-hearted concern, thrown at her as if that was enough to mend the damage he had caused.But it wasn't.It never would be.Because words meant nothing when actions spoke otherwise.With a heavy heart, she turned back to the ocean, watching as the waves continued to crash-endless, unrelenting.Just like the storm inside her.Back inside the café, Jungkook sat at the table with the others, but his mind was elsewhere.He couldn't stop thinking about the look in Y/N's eyes.The way she had laughed-so empty, so tired.He had seen her sad before. Had seen her quiet, withdrawn.But this was different.This time, she wasn't just hurt.She was done.And for reasons he didn't fully understand-That scared him.Jungkook barely touched his food.The conversation around him buzzed-Leena playfully nudging his arm, Zaid and Bora arguing over the best seafood dish in Busan-but his mind was stuck somewhere else.Or rather, on someone else.His eyes flickered toward the entrance of the café. She was still outside, standing near the edge of the cliffside, her back to them, staring at the ocean as if it held answers only she could hear.The sight unsettled him."Jungkook."Leena's voice pulled him back. He blinked, realizing she had been speaking to him. "Huh?"She chuckled. "Where's your head at? You haven't eaten anything.""I'm fine," he muttered, reaching for his drink.Zaid leaned forward, smirking. "Are you sure? You've been zoning out since we left Seoul. Not getting cold feet about the trip, are you?"Jungkook rolled his eyes. "I'm driving, idiot. Excuse me for actually paying attention to the road."Bora giggled. "Yeah, but you're extra quiet. Leena's right. It's weird."Leena leaned in, lowering her voice playfully. "Or maybe," she teased, "you're too distracted by your wife out there."Jungkook's grip on his drink tightened.The table fell silent for a moment.Then Zaid let out a laugh, breaking the tension. "Come on, Leena, don't start. We all know Jungkook doesn't do distractions."Jungkook forced a smirk. "Exactly."Leena pouted. "I was just saying..."She trailed off when Jungkook suddenly pushed back his chair."I'll be back," he said, standing up.He didn't wait for their responses before heading toward the door.---The wind was stronger outside. It swept through the air, carrying the salty scent of the sea.Jungkook approached quietly, stopping a few feet behind her. She didn't turn around."Y/N."She stiffened at the sound of his voice. For a moment, she didn't say anything.Then-"You should go back inside." Her voice was soft, but distant. "They're waiting for you."Jungkook exhaled through his nose. "And you?"She finally turned.Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes... They weren't the same ones he remembered.They weren't the eyes of the girl who used to look at him like he was her whole world.No.They were empty. Guarded.Like she had stopped expecting anything from him.Jungkook had been prepared for anger, for bitterness-for something.But this?This was worse.She wasn't fighting anymore.She had given up.And for some reason, that realization sent a sharp, unfamiliar ache through his chest."I'm fine out here," she said finally, looking away. "I like the quiet."Jungkook hesitated.Then, against his better judgment, he stepped closer."Eat something," he said, his voice lower now. "We still have a long way to go."Y/N let out a soft laugh.Not the kind that was full of warmth.The kind that was hollow. Tired."You already told me that," she murmured. "You don't have to keep pretending you care, Jungkook."His jaw tensed.Her words cut deeper than they should have.But before he could say anything, she turned back to the ocean.Just like that, the conversation was over.And Jungkook was left standing there, staring at the woman he had once promised to protect-Realizing too late that he might have already lost her.---The Drive ContinuesThe rest of the trip was quieter.Even Zaid and Bora, who were usually full of energy, sensed the shift in the atmosphere.Leena tried to lighten the mood, but even she eventually fell into silence when Jungkook gave nothing more than one-word answers.And Y/N?She didn't say a word.She just sat there, gazing out of the window, lost in a world none of them could reach.Jungkook hated it.Hated the silence.Hated the weight in his chest that he didn't know how to get rid of.But more than anything-He hated the fact that, for the first time, he wasn't sure if he could fix it.Here 🤩I hope you had liked it 😍Tell me ok 🥺Your Coconut 🥥