𝓐𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓷'𝓼 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 //𝓹𝓳𝓶

[29] 𝓞𝓞𝓟𝓢𝓘𝓔!

—Cause you can be the beauty, and I could be the monster—

🥀

"Our parents would be over the moon, wouldn't they?" Jimin suddenly said, shifting the conversation in a way I wasn’t expecting.

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Don't you remember when your father told you that you'd have to marry someone he chose? You went ballistic and told him you'd never agree."

I nodded, remembering how I'd lashed out, refusing to let someone else decide my life for me. "I did say that. But how do you know? And what does this have to do with us?"

Jimin let out a humorless chuckle. "That 'someone' is me. Your brother told me about it. The same thing happened to me. When my father said he was arranging my marriage, I couldn’t say no—not unless I wanted to die. So I figured if I killed you, it'd be easier."

I inhaled sharply. "Tsk. You really think killing is the only way?"

"Yes." His voice was quiet but firm. "After all, I was raised in the mafia. My life has never been easy. But with you, it feels like heaven."

Something inside me twisted at his words, at the raw honesty in them.

"Y/N, what are we now?" he asked out of the blue.

I hesitated. "I don't know. Everything is so complicated."

"But I love you," he said.

I swallowed. "I... I think I can love you."

His eyes softened, lips curving into a small smile. "That’s all I wanted to hear. The rest is on me. I'll change that 'can' into 'should' soon."

I looked at him, searching for something—reassurance, maybe. "Jimin, how can you love me? I'm full of flaws."

He let out a soft laugh. "Who even cares about perfection? Even the moon isn’t perfect—it’s full of craters. The sea is incredibly beautiful, but it’s salty and dark in its depths. The sky is endless, but it’s often clouded. So, everything that is beautiful isn’t perfect. It’s special." He cupped my face gently, his thumb grazing my cheek. "And I love you just the way you are."

My heart clenched. He smiled, that same smile that made his eyes turn into little crescents.

I couldn’t help but smile back.

"I'll be right back, okay? Stay here," he said before heading inside a nearby store.

"Okay," I assured him, watching as he disappeared into the crowd.

I stood there alone near the ice cream parlor, enjoying the cool evening breeze, until a voice sent shivers down my spine.

"Miss."

The blood in my veins ran cold. That voice.

I turned around slowly, my heart pounding violently in my chest.

A smirk curled on the stranger’s lips—no, not a stranger. A nightmare.

Kang Dae-Seong.

"Mind having a talk?" he asked smoothly, like he hadn’t just shattered my peace.

"N-no, just go away," I stammered, stepping back.

His smirk widened. "Go away? Is that how you greet an old lover?"

I clenched my fists. "I hate you. I never want to see you again."

"Oh, kitten," he sighed, his voice dripping with amusement. "You’ve become prettier."

He reached out to touch my face, but I slapped his hand away.

"You've become arrogant. You really need to learn a lesson."

"Stop it!" I took another step back. "What do you want from me?"

He tilted his head, his dark eyes gleaming. "I want you."

I froze, the weight of his words suffocating me.

"I don't. I can't be with you anymore. You disgust me. I’ve moved on," I forced out, my voice trembling.

"Then I'll just take you back," he said easily, like my life was something he could steal.

My stomach churned. "Please, just leave me alone."

"So you remember everything," he mused, seemingly satisfied. "Today’s your lucky day, Y/N. I’ll let you go... for now."

And with that, he turned and walked away.

I stood frozen in place, my breath coming in shallow gasps.

How did he find me?
What if he comes back?
Should I tell someone?
But everything is finally on track. I can't let him ruin it. I'll wait.

Jimin’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

"Y/N!"

I snapped out of it and turned to see him walking toward me, a plushie in his hands. His eyes shone with excitement, waiting for my reaction.

But the usual thrill, the usual happiness I would’ve felt, was dulled. My mood was ruined. My entire day was ruined.

Still, I forced a smile. "Aww… how cute. Thank you so much."

Before I knew it, I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.

Jimin stiffened for a second before hugging me back.

I buried my face in his shoulder, inhaling his scent, feeling his warmth. But instead of comfort, guilt clawed at my chest.

A knot tightened in my stomach. I felt guilty.

Guilty for keeping this from him.
Guilty for letting Kang Dae-Seong's words get to me.
Guilty for ruining what should’ve been a perfect moment.

And most of all… guilty because, for the first time in a long time, I was scared again.