Unloved | tk

ch47

Jungkook sat alone, lost in thought, as the weight of recent events pressed heavily on his mind. The truths he had clung to for so long, the beliefs he had held dear, now seemed like mere fragments of a vivid imagination. Each revelation had shattered the illusions he had built over the years. The real truth, stark and unyielding, stood in sharp contrast to his fantasies.

The conversation with Jongwon, the man he now knew was his father, played over and over in his mind. Every word Jongwon had spoken felt like a blow, each revelation a painful reminder of how different reality was from what he had always believed. He had longed for his parent's love for as long as he could remember. The idea of meeting his father had been a dream he cherished, a fantasy of warmth and acceptance.

But the reality of their meeting was nothing like he had imagined. Seeing Jongwon, hearing the truth from his lips, felt like a harsh awakening. The man who stood before him was not the loving figure he had conjured in his mind, but a stranger whose presence brought a flood of confusion and pain. The feeling was almost surreal as if he were caught in a dream from which he could not wake. He didn't know how to process the emotions swirling within him or how to respond to the truths that had been laid bare. The encounter left him feeling disoriented and lost, unsure of how to move forward in a world that now felt unfamiliar and strange.

Lost in his turbulent thoughts, Jungkook's attention was suddenly drawn to Bam, his playful puppy, who was energetically bouncing around the room with his favorite fluff ball. In a moment of exuberance, the toy rolled under the sofa, causing the little pup to paw and whine in frustration as he struggled to retrieve it. Jungkook watched for a moment, the scene providing a brief, welcome distraction from his inner turmoil.

Seeing Bam's distress, Jungkook snapped out of his reverie and quickly went over to the sofa. He crouched down, reaching under the piece of furniture to retrieve the trapped toy. Bam, sensing his owner's intention, wagged his tail vigorously, his eyes filled with hopeful anticipation. Jungkook smiled softly, his heart warming at the sight of his eager puppy. He fished out the fluff ball and handed it back to Bam, who immediately seized it with joy, his earlier frustration forgotten. The simple act of comforting his pet provided Jungkook a moment of solace amidst the chaos of his thoughts.

As the tension in his body eased, Jungkook's attention shifted to the kitchen. He made his way towards it, but came to a sudden halt as a familiar and tantalizing aroma wafted through the air. His father's cooking still lingered from earlier, and the scent of samgyeopsal, Jungkook's favorite dish from his childhood, filled his nostrils. He lifted the lid of the pot, and the rich, savory smell enveloped him.

Though Jungkook had honed his culinary skills over the years, becoming a proficient cook in his own right, he had never managed to replicate this exact aroma. Despite following countless recipes and watching numerous cooking shows, the elusive scent had always evaded him. The dish before him now was perfect, just as he remembered from his youth. It dawned on him why he had always felt a sense of disappointment with his own attempts—this was the essence he had been chasing.

As the wave of nostalgia washed over him, Jungkook felt a lump form in his throat. The familiar scent brought back a flood of memories, and with it, a surge of emotion. Tears welled up in his eyes, glistening and then spilling over as he stood there, absorbing the bittersweet moment. The aroma, the memories, and the realization of what he had been missing all these years overwhelmed him. With a deep breath, he allowed himself to feel the pain and the joy intertwined in this sensory trip down memory lane.

Jungkook sniffled, trying to suppress his tears, as he carried a bowl to the stove to scoop a generous portion of the samgyeopsal his father had cooked. The delicious aroma filled the room, but it did little to lift his spirits. He didn't bother wiping away the tears that continued to stream down his face; the sadness was overwhelming, almost suffocating.