𝐌𝐘 𝐔𝐍𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃 ✔

e i g h t

The sun was high in the sky as Jungkook and I walked toward the most famous beach in Mauritius. The sand was soft under our feet, and the water was a clear, inviting blue. The beach was beautiful, with gentle waves lapping against the shore and a few scattered palm trees providing shade.

We found a spot to lay our towels and put down our things. Without saying much, we went into the water. The coolness was refreshing against the heat of the day. We swam around, enjoying the feel of the water, but not talking much. Jungkook stayed close by, and I could feel his eyes on me as I swam. It made me feel self-conscious, knowing he was watching me.

Jungkook was a good swimmer, moving gracefully through the water. I could tell he was trying to keep things light, but the silence between us was heavy. Still, the beauty of the beach and the peace of the water made me feel a little more at ease, even if only for a while.

After some time, we got out of the water and sat on our towels, letting the sun dry us off. We still didn't talk much. I glanced at Jungkook and saw that he was still looking at me. There was something in his eyes I couldn't quite read. It wasn't the usual frustration or confusion. It was something softer, something like admiration.

Just as I was beginning to feel comfortable, a voice called out from behind us. "Jungkook! Is that you?"

We both turned to see a woman approaching. She had a bright smile and an energetic wave. Jungkook's face lit up with recognition.

"Nayeon!" he said, getting up to greet her. They hugged, and I felt a strange, unfamiliar pang in my chest. Was it jealousy? I wasn't sure, but I didn't like the feeling.

Jungkook introduced us. "Jisoo, this is Nayeon. We were really close in high school."

Nayeon turned to me with a friendly smile. "It's so nice to meet you, Jisoo. Jungkook has told me so much about you."

I forced a smile and nodded. "Nice to meet you too."

Nayeon was warm and chatty, asking about our trip and how we were enjoying Mauritius. She talked about her life since high school and how she ended up here. Jungkook was clearly happy to see her, and their easy conversation made me feel even more out of place.

I listened to them talk, feeling more and more like an outsider. The jealousy gnawed at me, but I kept it hidden. I didn't want to show Jungkook or Nayeon how I felt. I wasn't even sure why I felt this way. Maybe it was because Nayeon seemed so close to Jungkook, and I felt like I was losing something that wasn't even mine to begin with.

After a while, I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up and mumbled something about needing to go back to the resort. Neither of them seemed to notice how upset I was. Jungkook nodded, still engrossed in conversation with Nayeon. I walked away quickly, not looking back.

The walk back to the resort felt longer than usual. My thoughts were jumbled, and my emotions were all over the place. I couldn't understand why seeing Jungkook with Nayeon had affected me so much. I had never seen Jungkook look so happy, so at ease. It made me feel something I couldn't quite describe, but I didn't like it.

When I got back to our room, I sat on the bed, trying to calm down. My mind kept replaying the scene at the beach. I knew it wasn't fair to feel this way, but I couldn't help it. The jealousy and confusion were too strong to ignore.

Time passed slowly, and I started to worry about what Jungkook would think when he realized I had left without saying anything. Part of me hoped he would come back soon, but another part of me didn't want to face him. I was afraid of what he might say, or what I might say.

Finally, I heard the door open. Jungkook rushed in, looking panicked. When he saw me sitting on the bed, relief washed over his face.

"Jisoo, I was so worried!" he said, coming over to me. "Why did you leave without saying anything?"

I looked down, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry. I just... I needed some time alone."

Jungkook sat down beside me, his expression softening. "I understand if you needed space, but please don't leave like that again. I didn't know where you went, and I was really scared."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The truth was, I didn't even fully understand why I had left. But seeing Jungkook's worry and relief made me realize that he genuinely cared about me, even if I couldn't return those feelings.

Jungkook didn't push for more explanation. He just sat with me, the silence between us now filled with a new kind of understanding. We both had a lot to learn about each other, and this journey was far from over. But in that moment, sitting quietly together, I felt a tiny bit of hope that maybe, just maybe, we could find a way to navigate this complicated path together.