CRISS X CROSS | TAENNIE VS LISKOOK ✓

CXC-16: I heard them.

I haven't had the chance to go back and revise the chapter to make necessary revisions, so I apologize if it appears somewhat confusing.

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One week later

       "Jennie? What are you doing here alone?" Taehyung asked as he approached Jennie, who sat beneath the sprawling branches of the large oak tree in their schoolyard.

          The sun filtered through the leaves above, casting playful shadows on the ground, but his expression was anything but playful.

         Jennie looked frustrated, sad, and confused, her brows furrowing in concern as she took in the scene before him.

          Jennie was crouched down, tracing patterns in the soft earth with a small, thick stick. The delicate lines whispered of thoughts she had no intention of sharing.

          She muttered something under her breath, her voice barely audible as she averted her gaze, clearly lost in her own world.

            Taehyung felt a pang in his chest; he could sense that something was troubling her deeply.

        "What happened?" he pressed gently.

          But Jennie's response was as distant as the clouds above. "I want to be alone," she replied tersely, her focus remaining on the intricate designs emerging from her stick.

         Taehyung felt his heart sink. He didn't want to push her, but the concern bubbling inside him urged him to try one more time. "Jennie, what happened-"

         Suddenly, she stood up abruptly, causing him to jump slightly. "Taehyung, I just wanna be alone! We'll talk later," she exclaimed, her voice strong but filled with an underlying hurt.

          She began to walk away, the distance between them growing, and Taehyung felt an instinctive urge to stop her.

        Before he could think it through, he reached out and grabbed her arm gently but firmly, urging her to halt.

         "Wait!" he called, desperation creeping into his voice. As she turned to retort, ready to express her frustration, he swiftly, albeit cautiously, pulled her toward the tree, pinning her against the rough bark.

         At that moment, a flicker of alarm shot through her eyes; she looked ready to scream, so he quickly covered her mouth with his hand.

         Taehyung's heart raced as he held her there, caught between wanting to protect her from whatever pain she was feeling and fearing that he might have crossed a line.

          The air around them felt thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions, the world around them fading as they stood together under the ancient tree.

         Jennie's eyes widened as Taehyung looked into her eyes, piercing through her very soul with an intensity that left her breathless.
 
       "Jennie, what happened? Tell me, please," he implored, his voice full of concern. It was a familiar tone.

       Jennie remained silent, her gaze fixed on the ground, struggling to find the words that would explain the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.

         He gently removed his hands from covering her mouth, caressing the sides of her head instead, as if trying to convey comfort and understanding.

         She looked down, taking in the moment of silence, and then lifted her eyes to meet his, gathering the strength within her for what was to come.