Mafia Fanboy || Jeon Jungkook ✓

18: Distant

I sipped in the third cup of coffee while still sitting in the cafe after Bitna left. I joined my hand and looked at the road outside through the huge glass window.

Unrequited love is nothing more than a selfish thought.

I recalled. Am I burdening Ari with my feelings? Am I burdening myself with my feelings?

Suddenly a notification popped up on my phone and I unlocked it to read the message.

***

My Miss Pomme: Are you alright?

***

I sighed and took a sip of the coffee to think for a while. After a few minutes, I decided to reply to her text.

----------------------

I slurped the cup of noodles while sitting on the table in front of the convenience store. I heard Ari slurping hers too. 

She was in a loose-fitted cardigan and shorts. The unbothered queen sitting here with the best messy bun and glasses on her nose. Oh, her unicorn slippers.

"This is the closest 5-star restaurant to my home. It has all kinds of dishes and whenever I want to eat something good, I just come here." Ari said while poking her chopsticks in the air.

I continued eating my noodles when I heard her speak to me again. "Have you been talking till now without having dinner?" She asked and I looked up at her with a smile. "We didn't talk that long." 

"That lady," she began and I gestured for her to continue, "was she the woman you had mentioned about to me before?"

I nodded my head at her slowly, not hiding anything from her. I took my chopsticks when I heard her question me again. "Is she asking you to get back together?"

"You read my mind," I said and grabbed the bottle before drinking the water from it. "It is obvious. She came all the way to your office since you ignored her texts." She said and I smiled at her slightly.

I put the bottle down and saw her keeping her chopsticks in the cup noodles bowl before looking at me.

"These people always do that. They tear you into pieces and leave you for someone else. Then they come back to you shamelessly and act as if nothing happened. It's more appealing that they think they can undo what has happened." She said while knitting her brows and fuming in anger which seemed adorable to me. 

Her cute angry face made me smile slightly. "Are you upset?" She asked in a concerned voice and I shook my head. "Not that much," I replied.

"Don't lie. Your face says otherwise." She said and my smile faltered. I looked into her eyes with a blank face. "It's alright. I was such a mess in front of you too. Did something else happened?" She asked and I scoffed at her.

"Are you worried?" I asked her while looking into her eyes intensely and she replied instantly. "Of course, you are my good friend after all." 

My heart swelled up at her answer. Friends. That is what we are right now. She didn't even hesitate. She smiled before digging into her noodles once again. 

"Jin Ari," I called out seriously and she looked at me while I continued, "The more I think about it, the more I realize I am being too greedy. I still like you a lot. I don't want to keep being within the limit that I promised. 

I was lying when I said that I want to stay by your side even if it is like this. I was going to hide my feelings, but it is going to come out eventually. Then you will be shocked and feel sorry for me. I will become a burden to you. I don't want to see you like that once again.

So I'll try to give you up. I'll become distant from you. So don't be surprised if I seem different and don't be hurt. I can't be the same as before." I completed with an aching heart and looked at her.

Ari bit her lips and hung her head low. She nodded silently and I nodded as well.

-----------------------------

"Why did I say that?" I screamed while pulling my hair. "She hasn't contacted you for 10 days?" Jimin asked me and I just punched the air.

"This guy is either stupid or an idiot. Or both!" Yoongi said and Hobi looked at him. "Aren't both the same?" 

"Exactly his point!" Namjoon said. 

"I fucking hate myself! I am a complete idiot!" I cursed. "I just can't take it anymore! I feel like I will burn down the city!" 

"This guy needs a slap. Who's doing it-" Taehyung asked and Jin instantly raised his hand.

"Come here, lover boy!" Jin said, approaching me while I stood there like a rock. Suddenly a notification popped on my phone and before Jin could slap me I crouched down. As a result, Jin slapped the air and fell on my side.

"Hey! Why did you do-" 
"Webtoon update! Ari updated her webtoon! I need to read this!" I cut him off and clicked on the notification but my heart skipped a beat at the thing I saw on the screen.

*****

NOTICE

Due to personal health issues of Pomme, there won't be an update for Gangster High any time soon. Today's episode was canceled because of Pomme's bad health as well. We wish to seek good wishes for her recovery. The next update will be soon.

*****

"WHAT? What happened to Ari?" I screamed and instantly received a phone call which I answered. "Editor Kwon? What happened to-"

"Jungkook, where is Ari?" He asked and I frowned. "What do you mean? She is-"

"MISSING! For God's sake Jungkook! Find her! I didn't get the update file for today so I went to her apartment but she wasn't there! She never missed her deadlines.

She missed it last week too but since we always have episodes ready a week before the original one, I didn't bother. I texted her but she didn't reply all these days. I went to her apartment today and didn't find her!" He cried and I slammed my hands on the desk next to me.

"What did you say to her?" I yelled. "What did YOU say to her? Haven't you met her all these days? What happened suddenly? Oh no, the media is calling. I'll talk to you later." He said before hanging up.

"Why are you yelling? What happened to little shit?" Namjoon asked and Jimin came to me as well. "Where are you going?" Hobi asked when I was wearing my suit jacket. 

"Going to find Ari. She is missing!" I screamed and ran out of the room with my phone in my hand. I quickly rushed over to the parking space and opened the door before getting in, buckling my seatbelt, and starting the engine.

I tried calling Ari on the number she used only to talk to me but she wasn't picking it up. "Pick it up! Ari! I swear-"
"Hello?" I heard a weak voice.

"Ari? Ari, where are you?" I screamed through the line, driving to her apartment when I heard her slurry voice. 

"Why are you disturbing me?"