AMOUR

Chapter Eight

"You broke it?" Hana asked incredulously, a hint of amusement coloring her voice. "Is it some kind of toy that you just broke?"

Jungkook remained silent, unsure how to respond. He wasn't skilled at lying and preferred to avoid making the situation worse.

"Well? How did you break it?" Hana probed further, leaning in with her elbows on the table, a curious expression on her face.

"I... got into a fight," Jungkook mumbled reluctantly.

Mr. Choi and Taehyung exchanged amused glances, struggling to suppress their laughter. They hadn't anticipated this effect on Jungkook—a tough guy brought down by a girl.

"It's going to be fun teasing him later," Taehyung whispered to Mr. Choi, who chuckled quietly in agreement.

"Why does it sound like you're not entirely sure yourself?" Hana pressed on, stepping closer to Jungkook, who suddenly felt uneasy under her scrutiny.

"I... I don't know," Jungkook stammered, closing his eyes briefly as Hana approached, his heart racing inexplicably.

Without warning, Hana backed away, her tone softening. "I'm sorry for prying into your personal life. I shouldn't have crossed that line."

Jungkook exhaled slowly, relieved that the intense moment had passed. He watched as Hana walked out of the library, a mix of emotions swirling inside him.

Meanwhile, Taehyung and Mr. Choi burst into laughter as soon as Hana was out of earshot.

"Guys, this isn't funny," Jungkook muttered through clenched teeth, shooting them a disapproving glare.

"Pretty funny for us," Mr. Choi chuckled, his amusement evident.

"Exactly. I've never seen you so flustered," Taehyung added, giving Mr. Choi a high-five.

"You guys are acting like children," Jungkook grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Grow up!" With that, he stormed out of the library, frustration bubbling under his surface.

Once Jungkook had left, the jovial atmosphere between Taehyung and Mr. Choi shifted. They exchanged concerned looks.

"We need to handle this carefully," Taehyung said, his brow furrowing. "I don't want Hana to get hurt again."

"Don't worry," Mr. Choi reassured him, staring out the window contemplatively. "I believe he won't make the same mistake twice. I'm happy for him; he's finally able to be himself."

"I know, but I can't shake this feeling," Taehyung admitted, rubbing his temples wearily. "She's like my little sister."

"Relax, Tae. Trust them to figure it out," Mr. Choi said gently. "They'll look out for each other."

Taehyung nodded reluctantly, though unease still lingered in his expression. He hated feeling powerless in situations involving his sister's well-being, despite his protective instincts.

Sighing heavily, Taehyung shook his head. He had a sinking feeling that history might repeat itself, but he could only hope for a different outcome this time.

---

Hana stumbled out of the library, still reeling from the intense encounter with Jungkook. It had been a rough night for both of them—emotions running high, tensions simmering beneath the surface.

She reached for her phone and saw a message from her high school friends inviting her to join them at a bar for a reunion. Normally, she would have declined, but after the events of the evening, she felt the need for some distraction, some release.