𝐌𝐘 𝐔𝐍𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃 ✔

t w e l v e

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over our apartment. I was still half-asleep when I heard a commotion outside. My curiosity piqued, I got out of bed and peered through the window. To my surprise, I saw a monkey perched on the balcony railing of the next apartment. It seemed to be causing quite a stir among the neighbors.

I shrugged it off, thinking it was just another oddity of city living, and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. Jungkook had already left for his morning run, a routine he rarely missed. As I went about preparing the meal, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Moments later, I heard the front door open and close. I turned to see Jungkook entering the apartment, holding his arm awkwardly. His face was pale, and there was a deep scratch running down his forearm, blood trickling from the wound.

"Jungkook! What happened?" I rushed to his side, my heart racing with concern.

He grimaced, his voice strained. "I was on my way back when that monkey from the next apartment jumped at me. I tried to shoo it away, but it scratched me pretty badly."

I guided him to the bathroom, my mind racing with thoughts of infection and the need to clean the wound quickly. "Sit down. Let me get the first aid kit."

He nodded, clearly in pain but trying to stay composed. I hurried to grab the kit and returned to find him seated on the edge of the bathtub, his arm resting on his knee.

"This might sting a bit," I warned as I cleaned the scratch with antiseptic. Jungkook winced but didn't pull away, his eyes fixed on mine. I could see the discomfort etched on his face, and it pained me to see him hurt.

"You're good at this," he said softly, trying to lighten the mood despite the situation.

I managed a small smile. "I've had some practice. My sister, Rami, was always getting into scrapes when we were kids."

As I carefully bandaged his arm, the silence between us grew more comfortable, a rare moment of connection amidst the turmoil of our lives. When I finished, I looked up at him, our faces closer than they had been in a long time.

"Thank you, Jisoo," he said sincerely. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

I felt a pang of guilt for all the times I had pushed him away, but I quickly pushed it aside. "It's nothing. Just make sure to keep it clean and don't mess with the bandage."

He nodded, and we both stood there for a moment, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. I could feel the tension between us, a mix of unresolved emotions and a strange sense of unity born out of necessity.

The rest of the day passed quietly. Jungkook took it easy, resting his injured arm while I busied myself with household chores. Despite the lingering awkwardness, there was a sense of camaraderie that hadn't been there before. It was as if the incident had forced us to confront the reality of our situation, reminding us that we were in this together, whether we liked it or not.

Later that evening, as we sat in the living room, Jungkook broke the silence. "Jisoo, about last night... I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

I glanced at him, surprised by his sudden openness. "It's okay, Jungkook. I just... need more time."

He nodded, his expression understanding. "I get that. I'm willing to wait, remember?"

I smiled faintly, appreciating his patience. "I know. And I appreciate it."

As the night wore on, we found ourselves talking more freely, sharing bits and pieces of our day, our thoughts, and our feelings. It was a small but significant step toward bridging the gap between us.

The next morning, I woke up to find Jungkook already up, his bandaged arm resting on the kitchen table as he sipped his coffee. I joined him, and we fell into an easy conversation, the tension from the previous day was gradually dissipating.

"How's your arm?" I asked, glancing at the bandage.

"Better, thanks to you," he replied with a smile. "I might need to get a tetanus shot, though, just to be safe."

I nodded, relieved that he was taking it seriously. "That's a good idea. We can go to the clinic later."

As we finished our breakfast, I couldn't help but feel a sense of cautious optimism. For the first time in a long while, it seemed like we were making progress, however small. The road ahead was still uncertain, but at least we were facing it together.

After breakfast, we headed to the clinic. Jungkook received his shot, and the doctor reassured us that there was no immediate danger from the scratch. As we walked back to our apartment, I felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety. The incident with the monkey had brought us closer in an unexpected way, but it also served as a reminder of how fragile our situation was.

Back at the apartment, we settled into our routine. Jungkook worked from home, his arm still bandaged, while I took care of household tasks. The atmosphere was more relaxed than it had been in months, a tentative peace settling over us.

As evening approached, we found ourselves on the balcony, watching the sunset. The city skyline was bathed in hues of orange and pink, a beautiful end to a tumultuous day. Jungkook leaned against the railing, his injured arm resting on the edge, and looked at me with a contemplative expression.

"Jisoo," he began, his voice soft. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like if things were different?"

I met his gaze, feeling a pang of sadness. "Sometimes. But we can't change the past. We can only move forward."

He nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You're right. I guess I'm just trying to make sense of everything."

"Me too," I admitted. "It's not easy, but we're doing our best."

He reached out, gently taking my hand in his. "I'm glad we have each other, even if things are complicated."

I squeezed his hand, feeling a flicker of hope. "Me too, Jungkook. Me too."

As the night deepened, we stayed on the balcony.