The Lieutenant [Jeon Jungkook x Reader][21+][COMPLETE]

Chapter Forty-Two

We dropped our trays off in the dining room and waited at the foot of the stairs for Jackson as he spoke with the general, seeming to get along with each other quite well; which was no surprise because Jackson could make friends with anyone. I saw the general hand Jackson a pile of papers, as well as a pile of brown paper envelopes. Jackson shook the general's hand, bowed and walked back over to us once the general had left the dorm.

"I need to make an announcement to the other soldiers, you can wait here, I won't be long," Jackson smiled gently and squeezed my shoulder as he walked past towards where the other soldiers were in the dining room.

I heard his voice booming from down the corridor, his deep voice carrying through the halls as if he was standing next to us. His announcement of the arrival of the letters caused a steady stream of soldiers to file out of the dining hall and gather at the foot of the stairs with me and Jungkook. There were hushed murmurs making their way through the crowd. I heard a few say they were nervous; but I also heard a few say that they knew they would get a letter.

I reached out for Jungkook's hand and grabbed it, pulling him closer to me in the midst of the crowd, his warmth coming as a comfort. He squeezed my hand in response.

"Attention everyone, I need to do a headcount, so please stay still!" Jackson's voice projected from halfway up the staircase. The crowd hushed as we waited, no one daring to move an inch.

"Alright, everyone is here," Jackson stated simply as he fiddled with the envelopes in his hand, he cleared his throat nervously before he continued, "Before I start, I want you all to know that no matter what happens, it is not the end for you. If you don't make it this year, I will see you next year. For those of you who do make it, your journey here will be difficult, but unbelievably rewarding. When I call your name, please come forward and collect your letter. Right then, here we go."

Jackson's voice echoed through the quiet corridors of the dorm as he called name after name. The sequence of events tripped an intense feeling of Deja Vu in my mind. The order in which Jackson was calling the names, the way he was standing and the feeling of Jungkook beside me seemed far too familiar; and I didn't like it. I was ripped from my thoughts when Jungkook's name was called. He reluctantly tore himself from my side to collect his letter from Jackson. I watched him take every step as he walked towards the stairs, and back to where I was standing in the crowd. His fingers found mine again as he returned to my side. I squeezed his hand and didn't loosen my grip, my knuckles white where they held onto him for dear life. I could feel the blood starting to drain from my face as the pile of letters in Jackson's hand started to diminish.

I counted the letters one by one, until there was only one left. I watched Jackosn take a deep breath and his soft eyes met with mine, but the name that came out of his mouth wasn't mine. Jungkook immediately stiffened beside me, and my knees felt like they were going to buckle beneath my own weight. I couldn't believe what was happening, I had worked for most of my life for this, and it was ripped away from my grasp in a matter of seconds.

"You're dismissed, please pack your bags and gather your things. I will notify you when you are allowed to leave," Jackson finished off, causing the crowd around us to shuffle and walk off in various different directions, but I couldn't move my feet. I felt as though my shoes were made of lead and refused to let me move. I stood aimlessly, staring blankly at the floor beneath my black boots, willing them to move, to walk, to do anything.

"Liz," Jungkook whispered softly from where he now stood in front of me, his boots toe-to-toe with mine.

"Don't," I interjected, only just above a whisper. I wasn't ready to hear anything, or say anything for that matter. Jungkook put his arm around my shoulder and rubbed the side of my arm gently.