Fight for You | JJK

37

The return to Seoul - and two days later, the return of your father - once more marks the return to what is now normal between you and Jungkook.

You suppose you should be used to it by now - missing him, wanting to hold his hand, wishing he's your date to events instead of him either watching you from afar or not being there at all, wishing it's easy to tell everyone that you love him.

That it's easy to tell him that you do.

Well, that was your plan - it's why you wanted to take that trip to Gangwon so you both could go for a quick drive to the mountains and be away for a weekend. But as you look at your text messages, you don't see that happening anytime soon.

[From: Namjoon] Is your trip pushing through? Jungkook hasn't filed a leave and I need to know. Gotta make arrangements.

You brought it up again when you got back to Seoul from Jeju and all Jungkook said was "sure" but didn't ask for the details.

[To: Namjoon] Maybe not now.

You sigh and keep your phone, tempted to message Jungkook even if he'll probably respond late in the night.

"Everything okay?" Ina asks as she sips from her cup during your meet up over afternoon tea.

"Hmm?" You look at her and force a smile.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"What do you—"

"Oh, come on, ____. Don't tell me you'll still deny it," she chuckles. "It's pretty obvious what's going on with you and Jungkook. Even the kids know it. But you seem pretty down. Anything wrong?"

"What? How could they know such a thing?" You squeal, focusing on her first questions.

She shrugs. "Well, they feel love with you. Maybe they see it on you, too."

Your cheeks warm at the thought.

"Jungkook and I aren't... there, actually," you admit. "Well, we haven't said it. I haven't. I don't know about him. If he feels it, I mean," you stammer.

"I don't see why he wouldn't. I mean, he looks at you like he does," Ina smiles.

Much as that's nice to imagine, it only causes your uneasiness to shoot up.

"Don't make me hope like that, Ina."

She takes your hand in an effort to soothe you. "You know I wouldn't, but there's just something about the way he looks at you, like he's in wonder... and it's often when you're at the newborn wing and you do that thing where you caress the baby's cheeks and make them laugh."

"He had a rough childhood, he told you. It's probably longing because he didn't feel that with his parents," you reason.

"Looks more like longing for a certain kind of future than his past, though. I mean, dreamy eyes, ones that can't move away from you, a smile that's just so pure and hopeful. Must mean something, right?"

You let her words settle and smile at the image of Jungkook, something you haven't seen. But Ina's right - it means something. In fact, it means everything.

**

You can't contain yourself as you enter your parents' residence later that night, excitement bubbling within you at the thought of encountering Jungkook again.

It's odd, given that for months, you spent more time with him than anyone, something you truly looked forward to. But now - by your own doing, you remind yourself - you have to wait for the moment that you're even presented with the opportunity to be with him.