chapter 25

"Hello!"The beautiful girl greeted with a sweet smile. However, her nervous gaze didn't go unnoticed by Y/N. Nonetheless, she didn't think much of it and greeted the unknown girl back, though curiosity lingered in her mind.Who is she?Her confusion didn't last long as an excited voice called out from behind her."Mia!"Y/N's heart dropped. A painful squeeze clenched her chest at the sound of that all-too-familiar name. She turned to look at the girl again, her gaze unsteady, while her fingers tightened into a fist. She tried her best to control her emotions.Because standing right in front of her was her husband's lover.Leena, who looked the most excited among them, practically jumped on Mia, pulling her into a tight hug. Meanwhile, the others stood frozen.Y/N had never seen Leena smile so widely-so genuinely. In fact, out of all three cousins, Leena had always been the bitter one toward her, throwing rude remarks whenever she had the chance."Oh my goodness, Mia, I'm so happy to see you here!" Leena gushed, wrapping her arms around her best friend once more."I know, Leena. You're happy to see me, but I seriously can't breathe," Mia mumbled in a muffled tone before sighing in relief when Leena finally let go."I'm sorry, but I'm just-ugh-so, so happy! After all, we haven't seen each other in months. I can't believe you left all of us and didn't even bother to contact us. Seriously?"At Leena's words, Mia's head turned toward him. His eyes were on her-but only for a moment. Just as quickly, he looked away, making the girl lower her head."Anyways, you're here, and that's enough! Come on, don't you want to meet everyone? We're all here, let's go!"Leena dragged Mia along, and Y/N followed with a thumping heart.She was afraid."Guys, look who's here! Mia!"The moment Mia's name left Leena's lips, the once-lively atmosphere turned thick with tension."What? Why do all of you look like you've seen a ghost? It's Mia-our best friend!" Leena scoffed, noticing their stiff figures.Bora was the first to step forward, offering Mia a small smile before pulling her into a hug. Zaid followed suit. However, Jungkook remained frozen. His eyes were everywhere-except on her.He couldn't bring himself to look at the same person who once meant so much to him.Yet still, he couldn't. His heart was racing wildly, anxiety creeping through his veins. After so long, he was seeing her again-his lover.Inside, chaos stirred within him, but his face remained blank, betraying no emotions.Above all, only one face flashed through his mind.His wife."Uhmm, hi, Jungkook. How are you?" Mia asked hesitantly, noticing his stillness. He looked different-colder than the Jungkook she once knew.What changed?"Hi. I'm good," he replied curtly, not bothering to say anything more."Kookie, that's not how you talk to someone who used to be so special to you... and maybe still is," Leena teased.Jungkook's jaw clenched. His patience had been thinning, and that was the last straw.With a piercing glare at Leena-a silent warning-he turned and walked away without another word.Y/N's mind went blank at Leena's comment. Her throat went dry as an unsettling feeling took root in her chest.What if she's here for Jungkook?Sensing the heavy tension, Bora stepped forward, facing Mia.Mia's eyes drifted away from Jungkook and onto her. A small smile graced her lips."Where were you all these months? You disappeared suddenly and didn't even consider it important to inform your friends. Was our friendship really that weak, Mia?" Bora's voice softened at the end, tinged with sadness.No matter how complicated things had become, at the end of the day, they had once been the closest of friends. Nothing could change that.A few months apart couldn't erase years of beautiful memories."You already know the reason behind my disappearance, Bora," Mia replied, her smile laced with sadness.They all knew what had happened six months ago-what had shattered their friendship.Even Y/N could guess.She took a shaky breath, lowering her gaze.Once again she is the reason. "It's okay, Mia. It wasn't anyone's fault," Zaid reassured her.Mia smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Zaid. But I admit it was my fault too. I'm sorry. I never wanted to disappear like that, but due to some personal matters, my family had to move to London... and everything changed."She sighed heavily. "Anyways, how is everyone? I returned to Korea a few days ago and thought, 'Why not visit my friends?' But I never expected all of you to be here."Jungkook frowned at her words."Oh, actually, we're all here to spend some time with Hyung and Noona," Zaid answered."Noona? Sorry, who?" Mia asked, confused."Of course, you wouldn't know her. You don't even know who she is," Bora remarked before turning toward Y/N."Y/N, come here."Y/N hesitated. Her steps were slow, but Bora pulled her by the wrist, positioning her in front of Mia.Now, she was face to face with the girl who was her husband's first love. The only woman he had ever had in his heart.The woman for whom he had ignored her existence all this time.How amazing."She's Y/N, a sweet girl-""Excuse me! You're not the right person for this job," Zaid interrupted, scoffing as he shamelessly ignored Bora's glare.With a bright smile, he placed his hands on Y/N's shoulders and declared, "Mia, meet Y/N-aka Jeon Y/N-wife of the one and only Iceberg Jeon Jungkook. And our sweet Noona."Mia's lips curled slightly. "Oh, so she's the one?"She turned to Y/N. "Hi, Y/N. I'm Mia, Jungkook's old friend. Pleased to meet you."Y/N forced a polite smile. "Nice to meet you too."Leena, however, looked offended by Mia's words. She was about to butt in when Bora grabbed her arm and yanked her back."What the hell?!" Leena hissed."For God's sake, Leena, stop meddling in everything. Not every conversation needs you," Bora whispered harshly. "Stop acting like the evil mother-in-law from dramas, trying to break up her son and his wife. Shut your mouth and let things go as they are."Leena rolled her eyes. "Whatever."The lack of response from Y/N made Mia glance at Zaid, who seemed to sense her confusion."Don't mind Noona's behavior, Mia. She's introverted and shy. It's her first time meeting you, and honestly, this was a sudden meeting. She'll get comfortable soon, right, Noona?"Y/N nodded awkwardly before glancing at Mia. She wasn't sure what possessed her to say the next words."Join us for dinner." "That's a tempting offer, but I'm sorry-I have to be somewhere. Someone is waiting for me," Mia replied. "I promise to join you all another day."Y/N blinked.Mia isn't staying?Maybe she had been wrong.Maybe... Mia didn't come back for Jungkook after all.Should she be happy?"WHAT?!"The sudden loud shriek made everyone flinch.Mia turned just in time to see Leena staring at her in pure disbelief, her mouth slightly open as if she couldn't process the words she'd just heard."What are you saying, Mia?" Leena demanded, her brows furrowing.Mia sighed, already expecting this reaction."This loud witch," Zaid muttered under his breath, shaking his head.Leena, completely ignoring him, stepped forward, placing her hands on her hips. Her tone softened just a bit, but there was no missing the disappointment in her eyes."How can you leave so soon? What about Jungkook-" she started but caught herself just in time. She cleared her throat, forcing an awkward laugh. "I mean, we're meeting after so long. At least spend some time with us."Bora let out a small sigh, shaking her head. She knew Leena's persistence all too well.Mia, however, smiled gently. "Not today, Leena. I'm really sorry. It's urgent."Leena's shoulders slumped instantly.Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a second, it looked like she wanted to argue more. But then she sighed in defeat. "Fine," she muttered, nodding halfheartedly. It was obvious she didn't want Mia to leave just yet.The atmosphere shifted, a mixture of nostalgia and longing filling the air. They had all been apart for so long-life had pulled them in different directions, but here they were again, together.And yet, time was never enough.Mia, sensing the heavy silence, took a small step forward. "It felt so good meeting you all after so long. I really missed this. I hope we see each other more in the future."Zaid, ever the lighthearted one, grinned and nodded. "Of course! You better not disappear again. I'll hunt you down myself if you do."Mia chuckled softly. "I promise."And she meant it.There was nothing more to it-no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive. She had come back simply to see her friends, to relive even just a moment of what they once had.Nothing more, nothing less.Leena, still pouting slightly, sighed. "You better keep that promise."Mia nodded. "I will."Before turning away she looked at Y/N with a soft but knowing gaze."I hope you don't let someone else's wishes decide your happiness."With that, she walked away, leaving Y/N with an unshakable feeling that there was more to her words than she let on.Jungkook clenched his jaw as he walked away, his hands curling into fists by his sides. The air in the room had felt too heavy, too stifling, and he knew that if he had stayed a second longer, he would have said something reckless-something he wouldn't be able to take back.The moment he stepped into his study, he exhaled sharply, pressing his palms against the cool wooden desk. His reflection in the glass window stared back at him, his own eyes holding an emotion he couldn't quite decipher.Why now? Why after all these years?Mia's voice still rang in his ears, light and casual, as if time hadn't changed a thing between them. But it had. It changed everything. He changed.Back then, Mia was his world. He had loved her, or at least, he thought he did. But now, standing in the wreckage of what once was, he couldn't ignore the truth clawing at him-he felt nothing.No warmth. No longing. Not even anger.Just discomfort.Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was the way his heart had betrayed him, skipping a beat not at the sight of Mia, but at the thought of Y/N.Y/N.His wife. The person who had nothing to do with his past, yet somehow, she was the only thing occupying his mind right now.Jungkook ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. Not when his past had just walked back into his life. But it didn't matter.Because the past no longer held power over him.Shaking his head, he pulled out his laptop, forcing himself to focus. Work. That's what he needed.If drowning in work was the only way to silence the storm inside his head, then so be it.As everyone once again settled down to eat-except for her, whose absence went unnoticed-Y/n instinctively glanced around the table. It was only then she realized Jungkook wasn't there.Her brows knitted together. It's already so late. Where could he be?Maybe in room.With that thought, Y/n made her way to their bedroom, but to her surprise, it was empty. The lights were off, the space undisturbed-he wasn't here.Did he go somewhere? But that didn't make sense. Jungkook never left without informing her.A hint of worry crept into her chest. Then where is he?In this entire house, aside from their bedroom, there was only one other place he could be.His study.Confused? I know it was such a weird chapter 😅Is mia playing or she genuinely doesn't care about y/n being jungkook wife? Will she do something evil or it is something else? I know this chapter was weird. I'll try to improve more. Show your love. 🤩After so long here I am. Exams are over. FINALLYYYYYYY!!!!  Now will give more updates. You all missed me? 😣Share your opinions. 😍