Who? (Jungkook FF)

Chapter 5 - Who?

I drive back home, my hands tight on the steering wheel. As I pull into the street, I see Jungkook's car already parked in front of my house.

My head turns toward the front door.

He's standing there.

Watching me.

I go around to park in the garage, every movement stiff. My breath is uneven.

Before getting out, I pull down the interior mirror and stare into my reflection. My eyes are red, swollen. I press lightly beneath them with my fingers, trying to smooth out the exhaustion, the grief.

I see him approaching the car.

I snap the mirror back up, grab my handbag, and step out.

"Hi." I force a smile.

"Hi." His voice is neutral, his eyes fixed on the bumper of my car.

Shit. I forgot about that.

I feel dread rise, heavy and cold. I don't want to explain. I mean to lie.

"What happened?" he asks, still staring.

"Oh... I-I hit a pole," I say quickly.

"A pole?"

"Yeah. Don't worry, I'm fine." I add a smile, but he doesn't return it. That makes mine falter.

He drags his eyes from the bumper up to me, slow and unsettling, until they lock onto mine.

"Where did you go?" he asks.

He has a tracker. He knows. Why is he pretending?

I can't tell him the truth. Not about the jewelry store. He'll know. He'll know what I was thinking.

But the store was inside the mall. He can't have precise location data. Right?

"The mall," I say, trying to sound casual. "I went to get some coffee. I needed a break... to distract myself. But—it didn't really work." I look into his eyes, trying to sell the lie with sincerity.

"You shouldn't drink coffee on an empty stomach," he says. Then he lifts the plastic bags in his hand. "I brought you some food."

I sit at the table, slowly sipping the hot soup. The warmth slides down my throat and spreads through my chest. For a second, I feel alive again.

I glance at him.

He's watching me.

I don't understand this man. He seems kind. Gentle, even. But something feels off—too much. Maybe he just loves me too much?

But that doesn't explain everything. There are still questions I'm too afraid to ask.

"Oh? Y/N... you're not wearing it."

His eyes drop to my neck.

I freeze.

I reach up, touching bare skin. My heart sinks when I realize what he means.

The diamond necklace.

Stupid. I left it in my bag.

I scramble, grabbing my handbag and placing it on my lap, pretending calm. My fingers fumble inside until they find the necklace. I pull it out and flash it in front of him.

"Here!" I say, laughing too quickly. Too forced.

He doesn't laugh. His face remains unreadable.

I swallow hard.

Think. Lie.

"I took it off before I showered last night. I must've just... thrown it into my bag. I told myself I'd put it back on in the car, but I forgot." Another weak laugh.