FORELSKET ( ✔)

43- The Burden of Mercy

With the help of the nurse, Jungkook carefully dragged Joonseo's battered body onto the back of his jeep. The nurse had done what she could to stabilize Joonseo enough for the short trip. The man's mouth was securely taped, a grim reminder of the brutality that had transpired. As Jungkook drove through the city streets, his mind was a turbulent sea of conflicting emotions and unresolved questions.

When Jungkook finally arrived at Joonseo's apartment building, he pulled the jeep to a halt and stared blankly at the imposing structure. The building stood tall and unyielding, a stark contrast to the chaos and anguish that had unfolded within its walls. Jungkook's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white with tension. He felt paralyzed, unsure of his next move, and the weight of his decisions pressed heavily upon him.

The silence of the moment was abruptly interrupted by a gentle knock on the window. Jungkook's head snapped up, and he looked outside to see Joonseo's young son standing there, dressed in his school uniform. The boy's innocent face was framed by a small, hesitant smile that reminded Jungkook painfully of Taehyung's own warm, radiant grin. The boy waved briefly before turning and walking away, his small figure slowly disappearing from view.

The sight of Joonseo's son, so full of life and untainted by the cruelty that had beset his family, struck Jungkook with a jarring realization. He looked back at Joonseo, whose restrained form was still writhing weakly in the back of the jeep. The sight of the man's struggles, combined with the image of the child's hopeful smile, began to erode Jungkook's resolve.

As Jungkook wrestled with the surge of guilt that was rising within him, he was confronted with the stark truth of his situation. He had been driven by a fierce desire for vengeance, but now he grappled with the sobering realization of what his actions would mean. If he killed Joonseo, what difference would there be between him and the person who had caused so much pain to his own life? Was he not becoming the very thing he had sought to fight against—a person who inflicted suffering upon others, leaving children orphaned and vulnerable?

The weight of this moral quandary bore down on Jungkook, and he felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility and remorse. The thought of taking Joonseo's life and leaving his child without a parent was unbearable. The anger and rage that had fueled him were suddenly overshadowed by the harsh reality of his actions and their consequences.

With a heavy heart and a profound sense of regret, Jungkook made a decision. He opened the jeep's door and, with a final, agonized look at Joonseo's struggling form, he dragged the man out of the vehicle. The cold night air greeted them as Joonseo's body hit the ground with a thud. Jungkook stood over him, his emotions a maelstrom of sorrow and disillusionment.

The sense of purpose that had driven him now felt hollow and inadequate. Jungkook stared at Joonseo, who lay motionless on the ground, the tape still covering his mouth. He knew that while he had chosen not to end Joonseo's life, he could not escape the reality of his actions or the pain they had caused.