She was so exhausted and felt so under the weather that dragging herself out of that soft bed felt like an impossible task. She tossed and turned for a moment, the faint clinking of cutlery and plates drifting in from the kitchen. Her eyes flickered to the wall clock.
"Oh, fuck... how long was I out?" she muttered.
Jungkook was already busy in the kitchen, prepping breakfast after his morning run to the store. Hyuna, still disheveled and without even washing her face, wandered toward the kitchen. She leaned against the doorframe, silently watching him move.
He was so deeply absorbed in what he was doing that he didn't even notice she was there. It wasn't until Hyuna let out a sudden sneeze that he snapped out of it.
"Oh! You're awake," he said, startled. "You were so quiet... you scared me."
She sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her sleeve. "Why didn't you wake me up? It's already eleven."
Jungkook couldn't help but smile at the sight of her, messy hair, sleepy face, and all. There was something so carefree and effortless about her. Distracted by his own thoughts, he reached out and grabbed the lid of a hot pot.
"Ow! Dammit..." he hissed, pulling back.
Hyuna rushed to his side, grabbing his hand. "You idiot! Who picks up a steel lid with their bare hands?"
Jungkook winced, a frown creasing his forehead as he tried to pull his hand away. "I wouldn't have done it if you weren't distracting me."
Hyuna looked at him, baffled by his audacity. "Yah! How is this my fault?"
She quickly grabbed the first-aid kit from the counter and stepped closer again. "Give me your hand."
Jungkook paused. He found himself staring at her face, so plain, so innocent, and yet so clearly worried about him. His hand moved toward her almost involuntarily. Hyuna tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gently applied the burn ointment to his fingers. "Just wait a second, it'll feel better."
She brought his hand close to her face, softly blowing on the burn to dull the sting.
Jungkook felt paralyzed. Every little thing she did made his heart race. For the first time, he felt a girl standing this close to him, and it did something to him.
Hyuna smiled and gently let go of his hand. "There, all better." She let out a wide yawn and headed for the table. "I'm starving. Let's eat."
He looked down at his fingers. He had already forgotten about the burn; his entire being was in a strange state of turmoil. It was a bizarre sensation, one that seemed to intensify every time Hyuna touched him.
They sat across from each other at the table. Jungkook was barely eating, awkwardly pushing his food around just to look busy.
Hyuna watched him out of the corner of her eye. (What's up with him all of a sudden? Is his hand hurting that much and he's just trying to act tough?)
"Jungkook..."
He snapped his head up instantly. "Yeah?"
There it was again, that same intense look in his eyes.
Hyuna offered a small smile. "Is your hand okay?"
"What? My hand?"
She frowned slightly; he was acting so strange. "Your fingers... do they still burn?"
Jungkook gave a quick, awkward smile. "Oh. Right. No... no, I'm fine." He went back to playing with his food, his mind clearly elsewhere.
Curious, Hyuna asked, "By the way, who made all this? I'm pretty sure you didn't cook it yourself."
"Jin's mom made it, I ran into his outside while I was out for a walk this morning. He handed me these containers, but no matter how much I insisted, hex wouldn't come inside."
The mention of Jin made Hyuna's heart sink. She remembered last night, the fear of being exposed by him, and the threatening tone he had used (Is he staying away because he's afraid I'll tell Jungkook something?).
She noticed Jungkook was being much warmer and friendlier than before. This was her chance. She needed to get closer to him before Jin could interfere with her plans.
"About... what I said last night," she started tentatively. "Have you thought about it?"
He had thought about nothing else. He had spent the entire night with those photos spread out on his desk, staring at them for hours.
Keeping his head down, he answered in a low voice, "Yeah. I have."
Hyuna reached out and cautiously squeezed his warm hand. "I promise I'll help you. I'll do whatever you need me to do."
He didn't pull away. He found himself leaning into the comfort and reassurance she offered.
Hyuna felt a wave of relief, silently praying he wouldn't change his mind.
Slowly, Jungkook lifted his gaze, fixing his eyes on her beautiful, worried face. He was searching for one last spark of hope, a reason to trust. His heart had already accepted her, but the scars of his past experiences kept fueling his hesitation.
He gently squeezed her hand back. "I... I just don't want to fail again."
Hyuna didn't quite catch the meaning behind his words, but they left a heavy ache in her chest. Her intentions were dark, her promises hollow, and she hated this feeling. But she had no choice. She had to keep going.
"You promised..." Jungkook said softly. "Never forget that."
A lump formed in her throat. For a split second, all her schemes and agendas vanished from her mind. He was pleading with her so sincerely, so vulnerably.
"Okay," she managed to say. "I promise."
A smile broke across Jungkook's face as he stood up from the table. "Come on, follow me to my room."
She hadn't expected such a warm welcome into his private space. She followed him quickly, but as they entered, her eyes fell on the desk. Photos and case files were spread everywhere. Each time she saw them, a fresh wave of fear washed over her.
Jungkook gathered the photos one by one and sat on the edge of the bed. "Come sit here, please."
She sat beside him, a violent tremor of fear shaking her from within.
Jungkook leaned in, noticing her pale, stunned expression. "Are you okay? If... if seeing these brings back memories of that night... we can do this another way."
That was the breaking point. A sob escaped her. She couldn't believe how much he cared about her well-being. Here she was, plotting against him, while he was handing her all the information she needed on a silver platter.
Jungkook panicked when he saw the tears streaming down her face. "Oh my god... I'm so sorry. I didn't think"
Hyuna quickly brushed the tears away. "I'm fine. Please, keep going."
Jungkook felt a wave of shame. He felt incredibly thoughtless. (How could I show you photos of the very people who put you through that nightmare?)
He stood up abruptly and shoved all the photos back into a folder. "Get up!"
She had been just one step away from getting her hands on those files, but her emotions had ruined everything. "Where are you going?" she asked, confused.
"We need to go out. This isn't working."
She was taken aback. Maybe he meant the bar? "But we need an entry card to get into that place..."
Jungkook laughed. "Who said I'm going there? I'm bored out of my mind. I've been stuck in this house for three days because of this damn case. We need a little fun, don't we?"
Hyuna smiled. She needed some peace of mind, too. Maybe a break would be good for her though, in the back of her head, she couldn't stop worrying about Jimin.
"Okay... I'll go get ready."
Before she could leave the room, he called out to her again. "Make sure you wear something warm. Trust me, it's freezing out there."
Hyuna understood his concern. "I will," she replied softly.
_____________
He drove aimlessly through the streets. He didn't have a clue where to take her or what kind of environment would actually make her happy.
Hyuna noticed his confusion. Anxiety and worry were written all over his face, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for him. He was so pure, so naive. (Has he really never been with a girl before?)
Jungkook pulled over to the curb. "Wait here a second, I'll be right back."
He hopped out of the car quickly. His behavior was getting stranger by the minute.
He stood at a corner, out of Hyuna's sight, to make a call. Finally, after what felt like forever, Taehyung picked up. "Well, well... Senior Officer Jeon."
"Tae... where are you right now?"
"Whoa, what's wrong? No 'hello'?"
"Just answer me!"
"At the coffee shop. Why?"
"Look, it's a long story, I'll tell you later. I need your help. Now."
"You're freaking me out, Kook," Taehyung said, his tone shifting. "Tell me what's going on."
"If you were going out with a girl... where would you take her?"
Taehyung burst into a loud laugh. "Oh my god... am I hearing this right? You're on a date?"
Jungkook groaned, losing his patience. "Shut up! Don't talk nonsense. It's not a date. Just tell me what to do, fast."
Taehyung laughed again. "How many girlfriends do you think I've had that you're asking me?"
"Yah! Taehyung!" Jungkook growled. "At least you've seen more of the world than I have from that place of yours."
"Fine, fine. Just get over here."
"If you think I'm coming there just so you can satisfy your curiosity, you're dead wrong."
"You idiot... usually for a first date, you take them to a cafe or something. Just get your ass over here."
"You better not be lying to me," Jungkook said and hung up.
Did he say 'first date'? Jungkook thought. Wait, are we on a date?
He decided to trust Taehyung and headed back to the car. Hyuna was surprised by how long he had been gone. "Is everything okay?"
He flashed a smile. "Sorry about that. I just had to take care of something."
She was curious; what could be so private that he wouldn't even give it a name?
An hour later, they arrived at Taehyung's coffee shop. "They have great desserts here. I think you should try them," Jungkook suggested.
Hyuna stepped out of the car with a smile. The cafe was chic and modern, filled with tables and chairs in bright, whimsical colors.
As they walked in, a handsome guy about Jungkook's height came to greet them. "Hey, Kook! Welcome." He gave Hyuna a polite little bow. "Welcome, glad to have you here."
"Thank you," she replied.
Jungkook put a hand on Taehyung's shoulder. "This is Taehyung, my cousin. He's like the brother I never had. And... this is..."
He looked at Hyuna and trailed off. He hesitated, not knowing how to introduce her.
Hyuna took the initiative and reached out her hand to Taehyung. "I'm Hyuna. I'm his roommate... temporarily, of course."
Taehyung shot Jungkook a suspicious look. A date AND a roommate? How far had things gone without him knowing?
Jungkook smiled awkwardly. "Right. Anyway, Tae... go bring us something cool."
Taehyung whispered leaning in, "Kook... you have to let her choose too."
Hyuna caught the exchange and had to struggle to hide her smile.
Realizing his blunder, Jungkook quickly added, "I mean... bring us the menu!"
With a small bow, Taehyung left them alone. They sat down at a grey table with bright blue chairs.
Jungkook was a nervous wreck. It was his first time in a place like this with a girl. The last time he had been here with Nayeon, it was only for Taehyung's surprise birthday party.
Flashback:
\\\ Nayeon sat at the table and turned to Jungkook. "Kook... I'm so nervous. What if he doesn't like it?"
Jungkook rolled his eyes. "Enough already. You've said that a thousand times since this morning. He'd be an idiot not to like it."
When Taehyung saw Nayeon and his old friend, he walked toward them with a huge smile. "Oh my god, look who's here!"
Jungkook pulled him into a hug. "How've you been, man? I missed you."
Nayeon stood up shyly. "It's good to see you."
Taehyung gave her a bashful smile. "You too. I didn't expect to see you so soon."
Jungkook took a seat. "She's finished with her classes. She came to Seoul for a break, basically to be a pain in my neck. Although,..." He shot a look at Taehyung. "I was just her excuse. The real reason is something else entirely."
Nayeon quickly elbowed her brother's arm, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Kook! What is that supposed to mean?"
Taehyung just smiled. He was happy, but to give Nayeon some space, he headed back toward the counter to take orders.///
It was so painful. They were sitting at the exact table next to where they had been three years ago.
A sharp, stabbing headache took over. Jungkook pressed his temples with his fingers. Hyuna noticed immediately and grew worried. "Are you okay? What happened?"
He was agitated. The burning sensation in his chest was intensifying. The flood of memories and the haunting image of his sister's innocent face were making everything worse. Taehyung placed the menu on the table and locked eyes with Jungkook. He knew exactly what was happening; Jungkook needed his medication. "Kook... hey, look at me. Are you alright?"
Jungkook snapped, pushing Taehyung away. "Just leave me alone! Why is everyone so worried about me? I just want to be ALONE!"
The entire cafe went silent, every head turning toward them after Jungkook's outburst. Taehyung, deeply concerned, sat down beside him and placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, Kook... breathe."
Taehyung quickly fumbled through Jungkook's coat pockets until he found the medication. He stood there with a glass of water. "Take this."
Jungkook was panting, his breath ragged. He pushed the glass away. "I don't want it..."
"Don't be stubborn," Taehyung urged, moving the glass closer.
Jungkook clutched his head. The agonizing pain was driving him to the brink of insanity.
Hyuna watched in stunned silence. She had never seen this side of him before. It felt surreal and unsettling.
Finally, after a bit of coaxing, Taehyung managed to get him to take the pills. Jungkook had always been difficult about his medicine; his hatred for it had landed him in the hospital more than once.
Hyuna let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. He seemed better, but her mind was racing with questions.
Jungkook leaned back against the chair and closed his eyes, a bitter smirk playing on his lips. "What's the point of my life? If a handful of pills is the only thing that makes me 'normal' like everyone else?"
Taehyung squeezed his shoulder. "Don't talk like that."
Before anyone could say more, Hyuna's phone rang. It was Jimin. Realizing she couldn't talk in front of them, she excused herself and stepped outside. "Yeah?"
"Hyuna, come to Seongdae tonight," Jimin's voice came through. "We need to teach someone a lesson. The guy finally showed his face."
She didn't have a good reason to go, and she was genuinely spooked by Jungkook's episode. He had just started to soften up toward her; one wrong move could ruin the entire plan. "Fine. I'll see if I can make it."
___________
She couldn't stop thinking about her meeting tonight. Taehyung and Jungkook were at a store picking up supplies for the cafe, and while Hyuna walked alongside them, a heavy sense of dread settled in her gut.
Jungkook glanced back. Hyuna was standing by the produce section, staring blankly at the vegetables.
"Hyuna."
The way he said her name, so softly, so beautifully, pulled her out of her dark thoughts. "Yes?"
He took a step closer. "What are you looking at? Do you want something? If you need anything, just tell me and I'll buy it."
Hyuna was momentarily lost in his kind eyes and gentle words. How could I ever hand him over to Seongdae? Her heart ached at the thought of the torture he would endure at their hands.
Jungkook grew flustered under her intense gaze. He looked around awkwardly. "Where did Taehyung go?"
He used finding Taehyung as an excuse to escape her eyes. He felt good, yet embarrassed; his heart hammered against his ribs every time she looked at him like that.
Jungkook went over to stand by Taehyung, who was waiting to pay for the supplies. Hyuna approached them, keeping her head down. "I... I'm going to my friend's house tonight," she said in a low voice. "Thanks for today. If you'll excuse me..."
She gave a brief bow, but before she could turn away, Jungkook caught her small, delicate hand. He lifted her wrist, a strange sensation washing over him. The smile vanished from his face.
Hyuna was terrified. She had no other excuse. She silently begged him to let go. Jungkook turned her toward him in disbelief, every word he had prepared to stop her from leaving dying in his throat.
For a few seconds, they just stared at each other. Taehyung approached them, looking confused.
Hyuna gently pulled her hand away. "She's alone tonight, I have to be with her. See ya." She hurried out of the store.
The image of that brief moment wouldn't leave Jungkook's mind. He was certain of one thing now. Taehyung put a hand on his back. "You okay? Shall we go?"
Jungkook was in shock. He couldn't process it. It was hard to believe... but it was the truth.
__________
Confused and disoriented, Hyuna realized she had grown far too used to that house and to Jungkook. She rushed to Seongdae. The sounds of torture were already echoing from the infamous basement.
Two guards bowed when they saw her. "Where is Mr. Kwang-soo?" she asked.
"He's upstairs, Miss."
She nodded and descended into the damp, dimly lit basement. Jimin was standing in a corner, watching a middle-aged, pot-bellied man being tortured with visible pleasure. Seeing his sister, he signaled the men. "Hold on..."
Hyuna approached the man with a scowl. The smell of blood and basement mold filled the air. She grabbed the man's jaw, remembering his arrogant face from that night. "Did you enjoy yourself that night?"
The man coughed violently, his body covered in blood and bruises. "I... I don't... know any..thing..."
Hyuna pressed harder, digging her nails into his bloody face. "My people saw you entering the building. Who gave you the code? Who did you hear it from?"
Jimin stepped forward, arms crossed, and kicked the man in the stomach. "Spit it out!"
Hyuna's patience had snapped. He needed more pain to talk. "Take off his shoes."
Two hulking men moved in to follow her orders. The man trembled with terror, his eyes wide with horror as one of them approached with a pair of pliers. "No...nooo.. noooo! Please!"
Jimin laughed, throwing an arm around Hyuna's neck. "There are worse things than this. You can try them if you want."
The man struggled to pull his feet away, but he was no match for the guards. At Hyuna's signal, they ripped a nail from his toe. A blood curdling scream tore through the entire building. Hyuna watched his contorted face with pure disgust. She hated all men, Kwang-soo knew this well, which was why he left their torture to her.
She had become heartless, finding a twisted satisfaction in their agony.
The poor man was barely conscious. As they moved toward the next toe, Kwang-soo's voice cut through the air. "Well, well... look who's here. My princess."
Jimin quickly pulled his arm away from his sister.
Hyuna remained focused on the limp man. Kwang-soo stood beside her, taking a deep breath near her neck. She shuddered; she loathed his proximity and his touch.
"My baby... you've become so violent. You're scaring me."
Hyuna pushed him away with her elbow. Kwang-soo laughed and looked at the guards. "Dump ice water on him to wake him up."
He turned back to Hyuna. "Go upstairs and check on the girls. I want two of the best ones for tonight."
Without a word, she headed for the stairs. Jimin hurried after her. "If there's a girl..."
Hyuna sighed, looking into her brother's eyes. "Don't look at me like that," Jimin said. "I have needs."
She took a deep breath and went up. She opened the door to a room where young, beautiful women stood side by side, completely naked. A middle-aged woman bowed as Hyuna entered. "Welcome, Miss. I've listed their details here for you to review."
Hyuna approached the first girl. She had an innocent, delicate beauty.
"Is your name Jiang?"
"Yes..."
Hyuna scanned her figure. "You're very thin, but you have a good face." She turned to the middle-aged woman, Suran. "She's a virgin. Given her features, put her in Group A."
The girl's eyes lit up with relief. "Thank you..."
The next girl lacked both a pretty face and a good physique. She failed to meet almost any of the criteria. "Group D," Hyuna said coldly. The poor girl turned pale, trembling at the thought of the nightmare that awaited her.
Before Hyuna could move to the third girl, the young woman dropped to her knees, gripping Hyuna's legs tightly. "Please... I beg you! You're a girl too, you must understand... I can't let them take me. I can't fall into the hands of those men!"
Suran rushed over, grabbing the girl's arm to yank her up. "Shut up! How dare you speak like that?"
Hyuna took a deep breath, the girl's plea triggering a memory she had buried deep...
Flashback:
\\\\ She wasn't even eight years old yet. She was shivering from the cold, standing completely naked alongside other girls. Some looked happy, others, like Hyuna, were paralyzed with fear. She had no idea why they were being made to stand in a room without a stitch of clothing.
She wanted her brother. Upon entering this house, they had been separated into different rooms.
The door creaked open, and a sophisticated, fragrant woman approached. She began sorting the girls into categories based on the papers in her hand. Hyuna understood nothing; she just stared, dazed. The woman paused when she saw the small, trembling girl. "This one is too young."
"The Boss said she's a perfect 'match' for certain clients..." the assistant replied.
Hyuna still didn't understand the words. The woman reached out and stroked her face. "I'll buy her. Take her to my room and get her dressed."
As Hyuna was being led toward the exit, she asked in a shaky voice, "Where is Jimin?"
The woman turned back. "What?"
"Take me to him... I'm scared alone. I sleep next to him every night." Hyuna began to sob, terrified of being separated from her brother. The woman looked at the servant. "Take her to her brother."
/////
"Send her to the next room," Hyuna said to Suran, her voice flat.
The girl looked on in horror, not knowing what "the next room" meant, but she continued to plead as she was dragged out. Hyuna felt drained. She desperately needed some peace.
____________
Jungkook and Taehyung returned home. Jungkook was lost in thought, his silence heavy. Taehyung noticed the change in his mood immediately.
"Kook... I'm crashing here tonight. The water's shut off at my place for repairs, so.."
"I'm fine, Tae," Jungkook interrupted as he hung up his jacket. "Stay wherever you're comfortable, don't worry about me."
Taehyung knew his excuse was thin; Jungkook was too sharp to buy it. "I'm not leaving you alone."
Jungkook headed toward the kitchen. "Fine. Make us something to eat then."
Taehyung laughed. "Copy that. Go take a shower, I'll have it ready by the time you're out."
Jungkook wasn't really in the mood for a shower, but it seemed like a good way to wash off the restlessness.
___________
Hyuna opened the door to a small room. A girl named Misu was sitting on the bed, wearing some of Hyuna's clothes and weeping quietly. She jumped up as soon as she saw Hyuna. "Where are you taking me?"
Hyuna closed the door and stepped closer. "How old are you?"
Misu wiped her tears. "Nineteen."
Hyuna gave a small, sad smile. "Five years younger than me."
Misu grabbed Hyuna's hands desperately. "Can you take me back to my family? I'm so scared... my mom is sick. If she finds out what's happened to me..."
"I'll get you back," Hyuna whispered. "Don't be afraid."
Misu threw her arms around Hyuna in a hug. "Thank you! You're so kind... I thought you were going to torture me."
Hyuna's smile remained hidden. "I couldn't say this in front of the others. If Kwang-soo found out..." She pulled back. "I'm taking you to my brother's room tonight under the pretext of serving him. Leave the rest to me."
She led Misu to Jimin's room and pushed the door open without knocking. Jimin jumped up from his desk. "Oh, Hyuna, it's you. Did you find one?"
Hyuna signaled toward the door. "Come in."
Misu entered with her head down. Jimin grinned, walking toward them. "Great choice, Hyuna. You can go now."
He reached for the girl's hand, but Hyuna blocked him. "Jimin... if you lay a finger on her, you'll never see me again."
She pulled his hand away and looked at Misu. "Sit down. I'll come for you at 11:00 PM."
Jimin growled in frustration. "What the hell? What are you doing?"
Hyuna glared at him, lowering her voice to a whisper. "She's going back to her family. Go to the bar and do whatever you want, but you are not to touch her. Do you hear me?"
She slammed the door as she left. Jimin looked at Misu, who was huddled on the corner of the bed, trembling. She was beautiful, but he had to listen to his sister. Even though she was two years younger, she had always been the boss.
He sat on the opposite end of the bed. "Relax, I'm not going to hurt you. Just sleep. I'll help you leave when Hyuna comes back at eleven."
Misu looked at him, surprised. "Thank you."
Jimin stood by the window, lighting a cigarette. He stared out at the quiet courtyard of Seongdae, feeling uneasy. He was worried about Hyuna. If Kwang-soo found out about this!...he turned back... The beautiful girl was still sitting... How hard it was... There was an hour left until Hyuna arrived... He hoped the time would pass soon so he could leave this room.