Unspoken Ties

Chapter-13 Complicated

The Next Morning

The previous night's storm had settled, but the remnants of it still clung heavily in the air. The tension, thick and suffocating, lingered like an unshaken shadow, refusing to be forgotten.

Jungkook had informed everyone the night before that they would leave for Busan early in the morning. And so, as planned, one by one, they emerged from their rooms, their faces glowing with excitement. The atmosphere was lighthearted, filled with cheerful chatter and anticipation. After all, after years of being caught up in their own lives, they finally had time to spend together, just like before.

But amidst the laughter and lively conversations, there was one person whose heart wasn't aligned with the excitement that surrounded her.

Y/N.

As always, she was in charge of preparing breakfast. But unlike other days, today she stood in the kitchen, motionless, staring at nothing. Her hands gripped the kitchen counter as if that was the only thing keeping her from falling apart. Her lips were slightly parted, but no words came out-only silence.

She felt hollow.

The previous night's incident played in her mind like a broken record, tormenting her relentlessly.

"You are the biggest problem here. It's you who ruined my life!"

She clenched her fists. His voice still rang in her ears, sharp and venomous. His words had been like a poisoned dagger, piercing through her chest, leaving behind wounds that refused to heal.

She regretted it. She regretted ever bringing up the topic of Jungkook's past. If only she had kept her mouth shut, just like she had been doing for the past few months. Maybe then, things wouldn't have worsened. Maybe then, their already broken relationship wouldn't have shattered even more.

But who was she kidding?

Feelings weren't meant to be buried forever. They always found a way to resurface, no matter how desperately one tried to suppress them.

Ever since their argument, neither of them had spoken a single word to each other. Nor had they even attempted to. They avoided each other as if the other didn't exist, ignoring the suffocating silence that screamed louder than words ever could.

Maybe neither of them wanted to initiate.

Maybe they were too weak to face the pain in each other's eyes.

Maybe they were both too afraid of getting hurt again.

But one thing was clear-Jungkook no longer looked at her the same way.

The resentment in his gaze last night had been proof of that.

Perhaps, he never even looked at her in any other way to begin with.

She let out a bitter breath, blinking back the moisture gathering in her eyes.

They weren't lovers.

They weren't even friends.

They were merely two pawns of destiny, forced together in a mismatched game with no rhyme or reason. Just existing. Living under the same roof like strangers, bound by a meaningless marriage.

No love.
No emotions.
No happiness.

Nothing.

"Ah!"

A small yelp escaped her lips when the knife she was holding accidentally sliced through her finger instead of the apple. A deep cut instantly formed, and blood began to trickle down her skin. Gasping, she hurriedly placed her wounded finger under running water, watching as the crimson liquid swirled down the drain.