Even If It Hurts

Let Me Introduce Myself

At Jinah's apartment:

Mark kisses his sister before grabbing his coat to go to work.

"Thank you, Mark, for staying the night with me. I really appreciated it."

He grabs his car keys, badge, and wallet. "Hey, it's what us older brothers do, little sis. Besides, staying here is closer to work while I'm pulling the second shift." He smiles as he ruffles your hair and kisses the top of your head.

"Would you like for me to stay another night? I can grab some things from home after work and come back over."

Your eyes mist over, 'Ughh, not again, damn hormones!'

He embraces you, "Hey, puppy, please don't cry. I know you'd rather have Yoongs be the one coming home to you. He will soon, I bet. He has something he has to work through, I guess." He shrugs his shoulder, letting you go.

"I will see you after work today." He closes the door behind him and frowns. 'He better just be working through something, or I'll be working my fists through him.'

You go into the kitchen to make coffee, and when the hot water runs through the filter, the coffee's aroma reminds you of Yoongi, and you sigh. Then, you suddenly run for the bathroom to throw up.

Your stomach has settled down, and you are watching a K-drama when J Hope's sister calls. After the initial pleasantries, she asks, "Um, do you know someone named Dae?"

You almost gasp but take a slow breath to remain calm, "I have heard of her, but I've never met her. Why do you ask?"

"Oh. I was just wondering. J Hope called my lawyer today, who handles my apartment, and they wanted to rent it out to someone named Dae... something or the other. I can't remember the last name."

This time, you can't hold it back.  You gasp out loud.

"Jinah, are you okay? Is everything alright?" she asks with concern laced in her voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I almost spilled my hot tea." You lie—well, not a complete lie. After pouring out the coffee, you did almost spill your hot tea.

"Okay. I was wondering if she is J Hope's new girlfriend or Namjoon's because he was in on the conversation, according to my lawyer."

"Um, I, I'm not aware of either of them having a new girlfriend." you frown, wondering what is happening.

"Hm, I hope not because she comes with a five-year-old little boy. I don't want them caught up in something they can't get out of."

You give a fake laugh, "I'm sure they're just helping a friend." You start thinking, 'Five  . . . five years old, then that could . . . NO! I won't think about it!'

"We haven't had much time together lately, but I will be in town two weeks from now. Let's go on a double date: me, my husband, you, and Yoongi. It'll be fun. Maybe we can talk about a wedding date for you and Yoongi."

Distracted by thoughts running together to form a picture you did not want to see of Yoongi, Dae, and their child, you numbly say, "Sure, that would be great."

You lay your phone down in shock, never ending the call. You don't hear her calling your name as you numbly walk away.

'Is that why Yoongi has been acting so differently? Is he back with Dae? Have they set up an apartment for her and his son?! Suddenly, you feel very ill on your stomach and run to the bathroom in tears.

On your phone, she is still calling for you. She hasn't hung up; this isn't like you, so she waits and listens for you to return to the phone.

Suddenly, she hears pounding like someone is at your door. She hears what sounds like your steps running by the phone.

"Who's there?" she hears you call out.

Hearing a loud crash and you screaming, she grabs her husband's phone.

"Wha. . .?" he says in astonishment.

"Just listen." She hands him her phone, and in puzzlement, he does as she says and puts the phone to his ear.

She used his phone to call the police and let them know she think her friend's house is being broken into and that she heard her screaming.

Her husband is in shock. "Baby, what the hell is going on? It's Jinah. I recognize her voice. There is a ma . . ."

She snatches her phone back from him, hears a man's voice she doesn't recognize, and puts it on speaker so her husband can listen to it.

In a sickeningly coy voice, she hears, "Hello there, sweet one. Damn, you're beautiful." He laughs, and she can hear the cruelty in his laugh, "Yoongs won't give me what I want, so I've come to take payment out of you."

She hears shuffling sounds and starts screaming for Jinah over her phone. The thug with Seok hears a weird noise and sees the phone lit on the table. He picks it up, holding it out towards Seok, "Hey, boss, whatcha want me to do with this?" She realizes that there are two or more men there with you, and she starts freaking out.

"Give me your phone!" she snatches it from her husband and steps into the next room and calls Hobi.

Her husband is still listening on speaker.

"Let me go! What are you talking about?" he hears scuffling then the man called 'boss' speaks.

"Oh, he hasn't told you about me—such poor manners. Let me introduce myself. I'm Wang Seok. I took his last girlfriend from him and am about to take you, too."

J Hopes sister comes back to the living room after calling Hobi. They hear screaming from Jinah and rough male grunts and groans.  They gasp in shock when Jinah is begging, "Please don't do this, please. I'm pregnant."  

Seok laughs, "Good! Then you won't get pregnant by me, one less brat I have to support.  Now stop fighting me, you little bitch!" Struggling can be heard, then a resounding slap and nothing more is heard from Jinah.

J Hope's sister collapses beside her husband, "My god she's pregnant." Her husband shushes her as the other man is now speaking.

"Boss, what do you want me to do with the phone?" 

"I don't give a fuck, can't you see I'm busy. Keep it if you want."

"But boss it was . . . " he is interrupted. "I said I don't give a fuck. Now shut up!" 

The thug ends the call.

The call ended, leaving J Hope's sister and her husband feeling helpless. They are angry that they can't do anything to help. They're in another country for a fashion bazaar. He takes his phone back from her and puts both on the table as his wife breaks down in tears. He pulls her into his arms. He had the good sense to record everything they heard.