(BTS FF) Ending Green

thirty-three♡ ⃗ *ೃ༄revealing ourselves

Jungkook's POV

Riya holds onto me as our friends play video games.

Since we've danced together, she's been loathe to let me go, and I've enjoyed every moment of her warmth invading mine.

She grasps my shirt as if I'll disappear, and I smooth my fingers along the curve of her waist, gently urging her closer. She hums in response, and I smile, relaxing deeper into the couch and easing her along with me.

Jin and Yoongi have dozed off, and the others have opted for a quieter game. It's peaceful, and I exhale deeply. It's been this level of peace since Chansoo left. The house is quieter, even with the occasional bickering, and all of the tension his presence caused is slowly bleeding out.

The peace that followed his departure has been kind, especially to Riya. She's at a different level of ease—one that I haven't seen before. She looks more at home in her own skin, and she's smiling again; it's been a while since it hasn't been strained.

I hold her a bit tighter in remembrance of her tears and sigh deeply, feeling the familiar anger toward the situation fester within me.

Testifying for her in court alongside my friends was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I hated seeing how afraid she was; I hated seeing how her eyes filled before they glazed over.

I wanted to leave my seat, take my friends with me, and make Chansoo regret his own existence, but I didn't. I kept my eyes on her instead. She didn't want me to watch the footage, she didn't want any of us to watch, and if she looked my way, I wanted her to know I was watching her and not what was done to her.

I could still hear it, and that was enough for my rage to almost blind me. I sat there, my hands clenched into fists, and I couldn't breathe until Jin reminded me to. It was difficult to drag the air back into my lungs and to focus on staying calm. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to sweep her up and take her someplace safe, somewhere away from the prying eyes.

After I testified, I held her hand and periodically squeezed to remind her that I was there with her. That I always would be.

I'll never let anyone hurt her like that again.

She makes a small sound now, and it's close to a whimper. I immediately direct my gaze down to her.

She's lifted her face slightly, and in a quiet voice, she tells me, "Can't breathe."

My brows furrow together in worried confusion until she taps my arm, and I realize how tightly I'm holding her. I loosen my hold, my forehead creased as I watch her take a big breath.

I curse softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

She shakes her head quickly before nudging her cheek against me.

"Are you okay?" she questions, keeping her voice down.

I thread her hair through my fingers. "I'm okay."

She peeks up into my face and searches it for a moment. "Are you sure?"

"Just thinking."

"What are you thinking about?"

"You," I tell her simply.

"Me?"

"Mhm."

"Oh." She blinks up at me. "Okay."

The side of my knuckles caress her cheek. "Is that okay?"

Her eyes flutter at the feeling.

She nods as she breathes out a quiet, "Yes."