One-Way Ticket | Jeon Jungkook

thirty-one

Hi guys! I am back with a new chapter already (thanks to my summer vacation). I'm kinda proud ngl, even though it's on the shorter side. It reminds me of when I used to publish one every week 😭

TW: mild descriptions of the damage on Y/n's body

Jungkook's restless knee bobbed anxiously as he stared at her sleeping form from the chair that he was seated in. It was just about midday; she had been out for quite a while as the doctors had spent the night stitching her back up in various ways. Jungkook hadn't found a single moment of peace since she'd collapsed right in front of his eyes. He had been standing outside her building's door for almost half an hour, desperately pressing the button with her name written on it, hope slowly dispersing for every minute that she didn't respond. Only for her to show up on the dark road, looking like she'd been dragged through the alleys of hell itself. Jungkook had held his breath the whole way to the hospital, finding that driving her himself was much quicker than calling for an ambulance, swearing that he wouldn't let his eyes nor his body stray from her ever again.

Jungkook had showed up at her door after his talk with Jimin. He was ready to listen, as he realized he was nowhere near ready to let her go. Besides Jimin had told him of things he wasn't priorly aware of. His judgement was clearer after his talk, but all of that was trivial now. What did their argument matter in a situation like this.
The doctor said her condition was stable, a few bruises and scratches that had needed stitches, most likely a minor concussion. So far, no signs of sexual assault. Jungkook couldn't help but wonder how his sunshine had ended up in a situation that called for this. Perhaps a sasaeng? The possibilities were of various amounts, but the common denominator was his all-consuming guilt. Maybe if he'd let her speak at the concert, she wouldn't have ended up like this. If he had been a better boyfriend, well he wasn't even that anymore, he might've been able to protect her. She wouldn't have had to go to these lengths.

Jungkook leaned forward, studying her sleeping face. Finally, her face was relaxed, the last times he had seen her it had been tearful and distraught. There was no scrunch between her eyebrows and no frown on her lips, just the soft parting as she inhaled and exhaled. Jungkook found himself getting hypnotized by the sight. He wanted so deeply to caress her skin. The skin that had grown dull, completely different from the glow she always had. It made his heart ache. Yes. She had hurt him. But this hurt a hundred times worse.

He curled his fist tightly to refrain from ghosting his hands over her lips, tears forming in his eyes. He couldn't. He wasn't deserving. Besides, it was probably the last thing she'd want from him. His heart felt simultaneously too large and shrunken inside his chest, tightening in a way that made him choke. Then finally, as if the gods had heard him, her eyelids flickered. Jungkook's tired body was awake in an instant, peering over the hospital bed to find her slowly blinking, the clinically white roof of the hospital greeting her.
"Y/n," he said in a breath of surprised awe, and her eyes slowly turned to find his.
"You're awake." He sighed, the weight falling like feathers on the wind from his shoulders. "You're- you're okay." Repeating this in a mantra, his hands tentatively reached for her. He was scared she might flinch away or fall apart, but she only stared at him with big eyes. So, he let his hands grasp her head between his hands, tears forming in her eyes, much like his own.
"Have you been well?" She croaked, finally speaking and he almost felt himself dying at the sound of her voice. So weak and fragile, scared for what he might answer. The tears fell warm and wet from his eyes, and Jungkook huffed, a smile cracking onto his face. "Without you?" The sheer surprise and shock were evident on her face and soon enough Y/n couldn't contain her tears as well, so Jungkook pulled her into his chest. Smiling like an idiot to hold her like this again.

"Who did this to you, sunshine?" Jungkook asked as he gently grasped her head, tangling his tattooed fingers in her soft hair. He didn't miss the soft gasp that fell from her lips from hearing the petname again after so long and the guilt returned. He'd been away for so long and she'd been so alone. He only realized now. He had been so stupid.
Before she could reply the nurse walked through the door and a surprised sound fell from her throat. Either from Y/n being awake or from the closer proximity between the two, neither way she quickly masked her face.
"Oh you're awake Miss Y/n! I'll alert the doctor!" She said, quickly leaving again to find the doctor. Jungkook peered into Y/n's eyes, but the nurse returned with the doctor for a further examination before more words were spoken.