Catch 22 - JJK (21+)

Chapter 26 - Heartbreak

JUNGKOOK

A quiet calm settled over the room as Aria and I cuddled on the couch in postcoital bliss. I couldn't help but wonder how she always managed to look even more breathtaking after we'd made love... or how that was even possible.

It could have been some kind of after sex glow. Or maybe this woman just had me completely whipped. Both were probably true, I decided, and I was totally okay with the latter. Being with Aria was like having my own little slice of heaven right here on earth. Shit, I wouldn't have been surprised if I was glowing myself.

"I didn't mean to... um... I mean... well, my intention was only to talk to you and clear the air when I got here. I just wanted to express to you how I felt, but after seeing you in my shirt and the whole 'I love you' exchange... I kinda lost it."

"We both did," she chuckled, lacing our fingers together, but she didn't bother lifting her head from my shoulder. "I appreciate that you shared your feelings with me. When I realized that I'd fallen for you, I felt stupid, like, I had no business falling for one of my students. Not to mention, I was so afraid that you wouldn't feel the same. I don't know if I would have ever found the courage to tell you how I feel."

"Aria, falling in love with someone makes you human, not stupid." I shifted slightly so I could sit up and look deep into her soulful eyes. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I never want to imagine my life without you in it.

I understand that you're still struggling with the idea of me being your student and that you're afraid of us getting caught. I know you have so much more on the line than I do. I feel like it's selfish of me to allow you to risk so much just to be with me, but I don't know how to let you go."

"If I'm being honest, losing my job is definitely something I'm concerned about, but it isn't my biggest fear. Getting my heartbroken again is what I think I fear most. The only pain I've experienced that's worse than that is the death of a loved one, and that, I feel, is really just a different form of heartbreak. "Have you ever been in love and had your heartbroken, Jungkook?"

It made me frown to hear her talk like that, but what she said wasn't surprising. I knew she'd been hurt before, possibly multiple times. I also knew it would take time, but I was making it my mission to make her forget all of her past pain.

"No, I haven't. You're the only woman I've ever said those three coveted words to besides my mother. I've never been in love or felt this way about a woman."

She nodded knowingly. "I can tell by the way you give love so freely, so... fearlessly."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No, not at all. Your love is pure. It hasn't been tainted. You have so much courage when it comes to matters of the heart. It's actually something I admire about you but also envy at the same time."

"My faith in us is what gives me courage, Aria, and as long as I have you by my side, I have all the courage in the world. I love you so much. I hope you know that I would never, ever do anything to break your heart or betray your trust."

"Well, I don't believe that you would do it intentionally, but feelings change, Jungkook. People change. It's easy to make promises like that when you're high on endorphins, but the truth is that people fall out of love all the time."