AMOUR

Chapter Twenty

Hana sat at the dining table, sharing a quiet meal with Mrs. Wang. The older woman's eyes were filled with concern, but she refrained from asking too many questions, sensing Hana's confusion and exhaustion. Taehyung's abrupt departure had only added to the mystery and unease that hung in the air.

After dinner, Hana retreated to her room, her mind swirling with thoughts. The past 48 hours had been a whirlwind of revelations and emotions. She had stumbled upon a secret world, one where vampires and possibly other mythical beings existed. It was both terrifying and fascinating, an unknown realm that beckoned with danger and curiosity. Everything felt overwhelming, and Hana struggled to make sense of it all.

Sitting on her bed, Hana tried to piece together the fragments of her experiences. The night Jungkook had revealed himself, the fear she felt when she first encountered Yoongi's powers and the realization that her life was entwined with theirs in ways she couldn't fully understand. Her heart pounded with a mix of fear and excitement. What did this mean for her? Could she trust them? And what did they need from her?

As she pondered these questions, a sudden gust of wind swept through the room, sending a shiver down her spine. The cold air cut through her thoughts, and she instinctively got up to close the window. But as she approached, she saw a figure standing outside, silhouetted against the moonlight.

Hana's breath caught in her throat. "Jungkook?" she whispered, recognizing his form.

Jungkook looked up, his expression unreadable. "Can I come in?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the wind.

Without waiting for a response, he leapt gracefully through the window, landing softly on the floor. Hana stepped back, a mix of surprise and relief washing over her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Jungkook held out her belongings, his eyes filled with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "You left these," he said simply, placing them on the bed.

Hana glanced at her things, then back at Jungkook. "Thank you," she murmured, unsure of what else to say.

Their eyes locked, an intense gaze that seemed to stretch on forever. Hana noticed something strange in his eyes—specks of bright red flickering just like that night. Fear rose in her chest, her pulse quickening as the memories of that terrifying encounter resurfaced. But just as quickly as they had appeared, the red specks vanished, leaving only the familiar deep brown of Jungkook's eyes.

He saw the fear in her eyes and softened his expression. "I'm sorry if I scared you," he said gently. "I would never hurt you, Hana."

Hana nodded, trying to steady her breathing. "I know," she whispered, though the lingering unease still gnawed at her. "I know you won't hurt me, but this entire situation is so confusing." She moved to sit on her bed, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her.

Jungkook stood there, his head hanging low, guilt evident in his eyes. "I wish there was some way to keep you away from all of this, to protect you," he said softly. "I'm so sorry you're involved in all this because of me."

Hana's eyes softened as she patted the space beside her on the bed, signalling him to sit down. Jungkook looked at her, almost asking for permission with his eyes. Hana smiled and said, "I'm okay, come sit."

Jungkook quietly sat down beside her. As soon as he did, a warm, comforting feeling settled in her stomach. Despite everything, she always felt at ease whenever he was around.

Hana's breath hitched as she imagined the scene, the fear and helplessness Jungkook must have felt.

J

ungkook continued, his voice strained. "I begged my father not to harm you. I promised him anything he wanted if he'd just let you go. He agreed, but to keep me in check, he used dark magic to place a curse on both of us."

Hana's eyes widened with shock. "So, you were bound by this curse to protect me and not let me go? That's why you were always so distant?"

Jungkook nodded, his gaze dropping. "Yes. The curse made me blind and power-hungry. The more I killed, the more I craved power. It turned me into a monster. But even through all of that, I couldn't stop my feelings for you from growing. I didn't even realize at first that you were cursed too."

Hana's expression softened with empathy. "I can't believe you went through all that, and still... you were so torn."

Jungkook looked up, his eyes reflecting deep sorrow. "Jin told me about the curse when I asked him about you. He said you were growing weaker each day. The more powerful I became, the weaker you grew. It was as if I was drawing energy from you."

Hana's heart ached at his words. "So, the curse was affecting me even when I didn't know it?"

Jungkook nodded. "Yes. It's a cruel twist of fate. I thought I could protect you, but instead, I was causing you harm. It's a burden I've carried with every step I've taken."

Hana's heart ached as she listened, but Jungkook's next words broke her even more. "After finding out about you, I couldn't help myself. I went to see you to check if you were okay, but I was too late." Tears fell from his eyes, and Hana's own eyes welled up with tears.

Jungkook's voice trembled. "I had you in my arms while you were taking your last breath. Before you passed, you told me to never forget who I am inside." His tears flowed freely, and Hana's heart shattered at the pain in his eyes.

"I held you while you were slipping away, and I couldn't do anything to stop it. I never even got the chance to tell you..."

Hana, her voice choked with emotion, asked, "Tell me what, Jungkook?"

Jungkook looked at her, his eyes filled with sorrow and love. "That I loved you."