The Empath And The Narcissist | JJK

28.

The morning light spills softly through the sheer curtains of the penthouse, painting the room in a gentle, golden hue. It's a quiet, peaceful start to the day, in contrast to the events that brought you here. As consciousness seeps back into your mind, the reality of your new situation — the hiding, the danger, the involuntary uprooting from your life — washes over you with a fresh wave of anxiety and resolve.

Last night, you arrived at your new residence, uniquely situated at the top of an exceedingly tall building in Itaewon. This structure features two penthouses: the lower one is well-known to the public, but above it lies a highly secretive and closely guarded level, essentially a hidden floor at the very apex of the building.

With your eyes barely opening out of the tiredness, you glance at the clock. It's 7 am. Today marks your return to work after what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, now a distant memory. With a deep breath, you push away the blankets, steeling yourself for the day ahead. The routine of preparing for work, a ritual so familiar, now feels like a lifeline to normalcy, a semblance of the life you're clinging to amidst the chaos.

Stepping out into the living room, you search for the only person allowed in that house. As you look around your gaze is immediately drawn to the balcony where he stands. He's silhouetted against the morning light, his figure enveloped in the quiet of the dawn. Wrapped in a black hoodie that seems to swallow his frame, he exudes an air of vulnerability that you hadn't noticed before. The cigarette between his fingers, a wisp of smoke curling up into the air, adds to the dark picture he paints.

For a moment, you pause, taking in the sight of him. This Jungkook on the balcony seems a world away from the assertive, sometimes harsh, person you've come to know. In this quiet moment, he appears contemplative, lost in his thoughts, unaware of your presence. It's a rare glimpse into the private world behind his often impenetrable exterior.

You consider approaching him, but the memory of his smoking habit, which you dislike, holds you back. Instead, you focus on slipping on your heels, the click of each heel a sharp contrast to the soft ambiance of the morning.

As the sound reaches Jungkook, he turns, noticing you for the first time. His expression shifts from introspection to alertness, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes as he spots you and takes in your work attire. "Where do you think you're going?" he asks, his tone betraying a mix of surprise and irritation.

"I'm late for work," you respond, attempting to keep your voice steady despite the rising tension. Jungkook's confusion is palpable. "Are you joking? After everything, you're just going to walk out into the open?" His voice rises, a clear sign of his growing frustration as he aggressively nears you.

Your own patience starts to fray. "I don't care," you talk balk, the strain of the past days fueling your words. "I left my whole life behind me without batting a single tantrum after you made me realize how I could get shot in broad daylight and then moved into this strange place with you, all in the name of safety. But I won't give up my work. It's the one thing left that's mine."

Jungkook's response is immediate, his anger boiling over. "I don't give a fuck about your job!" he exclaims, his concern for your safety overshadowing everything else.

The argument escalates quickly, each of you entrenched in your perspective. For Jungkook, the thought of you stepping out into potential danger is unbearable, a risk he's not willing to take. For you, maintaining some aspect of your normal life is essential, a crucial part of retaining your identity during this unwanted chaos.

"You can't keep me locked up here. I need to go to work. It's not just a job, it's a part of who I am."

"And what? You think it's safe out there? After all the threats, you still want to risk your life for a job?"

"I can't just pause my life indefinitely, Jungkook. I need some normalcy, something that's mine."

"Normalcy? There's nothing normal about this situation. I'm trying to protect you, don't you get that?"

"Protecting me or controlling me? I appreciate your concern, but I can't live in fear, hiding away from the world."

"It's not about control! It's about keeping you safe. Why can't you see that?"

"I see a life slipping away, stuck in this place, losing a part of myself every day. My work is important to me."

"What's the point of your work if you end up hurt, or worse? You're being irrational!"

"And you're being suffocating! Maybe if you spent less time worrying about me and more time sorting out your own issues, like that smoking habit I can't stand, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

"I. Am. Not. Letting you go out in the open. That's it!" He suddenly screams ending the argument, startling you. "If you speak one more word-"

"You know what, if we spend 5 more minutes together, before anyone else maybe you might end up killing me!"

That statement of yours had escalated the argument, shifting something in Jungkook. The tension and frustration boiling over, the heat of the moment, some harsher than intended. In a sudden, impulsive reaction, Jungkook's hand rose, and this time, the anger didn't subside quickly enough. His hand came down, striking you.

The moment it happened, a profound silence enveloped the room.

As quickly as the anger surged, realization dawned in his eyes. The fear and defense in your posture are clear, and it strikes a chord in Jungkook. The sight of you, scared and defensive, jolts him back to his senses.

Jungkook's eyes widened in horror at his own actions. The realization that he had actually hurt you, that he had crossed a line he never thought he would, was written all over his face. He stepped back, his eyes still looking at you in disbelief.

You, reeling from the shock and the sting of the hit, instinctively touched your face. The fear, the gloss, and the hurt in your eyes were palpable. The physical pain was one thing, but the emotional betrayal cut deeper. Jungkook had always been a source of safety, and this breach of trust was shattering.

The look you give Jungkook is loaded with an unspoken message of pain and disappointment. It's a look that conveys how deeply he's hurt you, not physically, but emotionally. The trust you had in him, the belief that he was your protector in this chaos, feels shattered. The air between you two is thick with unspoken words and unexpressed emotions.

After taking a few steps backward, not breaking your eye contact with him, you then turn away sharply, your movements brusque, driven by a need to escape the situation, to put some physical distance between yourself and the source of your hurt. Your steps are quick, echoing in the tense silence of the room. Jungkook's voice, when he utters your name, is strained, barely audible. It's filled with a mix of regret and disbelief at his own actions. He reaches out, but his gesture is too late, the divide too wide.

The sound of the door shutting behind you is definitive, a barrier not just of wood and metal, but of wounded emotions and broken trust. On the other side, Jungkook is left standing, his hand slowly unclenching from a fist. The thud of his fist against the door is a sharp, jarring sound, a physical manifestation of his inner disturbance. He stands there, a mix of anger at himself and a deep, gnawing fear of having irreparably damaged something precious.

The quiet that follows is broken only by the sound of your sobs. Each sob is a ripple of the pain and confusion you feel, a blend of fear, disappointment, and a sense of loss. The safety and comfort you had felt with Jungkook seem to have crumbled in an instant, leaving you feeling vulnerable and alone, even though he's just on the other side of the door.

For Jungkook, the sound of your crying is agonizing. It's a stark reminder of how close he had crossed a line of the fragile nature of trust, and how quickly it can be broken. He stands motionless, his heart heavy with remorse, his mind racing with thoughts of how to mend the rift that has formed.

Inside the room, you're grappling with a whirlwind of emotions. The walls of the room feel constrictive, a physical echo of the emotional turmoil within. The incident has left a deep impact, not just on your relationship with Jungkook but on your sense of safety and stability in this already chaotic situation.

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Part 29 posted right after this ;) Don't forget to leave comments. Thank you!!