Behind the Veil: A Captive's Tale

29

### Chapter Thirty: Seeking Comfort

After the terrifying encounter with her father’s men, Hana found herself struggling to calm down. The boys had done their best to soothe her, but the images of the violence she had witnessed refused to leave her mind. She felt safe with them, she knew that much, but the thought of being alone in her room—away from their protective presence—filled her with dread.

She lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her mind racing with fear and anxiety. Every creak of the house, every distant sound, made her flinch, and she knew there was no way she would be able to sleep. The thought of her father’s men coming back, of what could have happened if the boys hadn’t been there in time, kept playing over and over in her mind.

Finally, after what felt like hours of tossing and turning, Hana couldn’t take it anymore. She needed to be near someone, to feel the safety of their presence. Without thinking much, she got out of bed, wrapping a blanket around herself for comfort, and made her way down the hallway.

Her footsteps were light as she approached Jimin’s room. He had always been gentle with her, his warm smile and soft voice a source of comfort in the chaos of her life with the boys. Maybe if she could just be near him, she would feel safe enough to sleep.

But as she reached his door, she hesitated. What if he was asleep? What if he was angry at her for disturbing him? She bit her lip, the anxiety making her heart race even faster. But the fear of being alone was stronger, and she slowly pushed the door open.

What she saw made her freeze in place.

Jimin was sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to the door. But he wasn’t alone—Yoongi was there with him. Hana’s breath caught in her throat as she saw them, their faces inches apart, lips meeting in a tender kiss. It was soft, intimate, and completely took her by surprise.

She didn’t know what to do. A part of her wanted to retreat, to give them their privacy, but she was rooted to the spot, unable to look away. The way they kissed, so gentle yet passionate, made her heart skip a beat. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to be kissed like that, to have someone hold her with such care.

Hana’s face heated up as the thought crossed her mind. She quickly tried to shake it off, but the image lingered, her imagination running wild. The idea of being kissed by Jimin, of feeling Yoongi’s lips against hers, sent a flush of warmth through her.

But then, the reality of her situation came crashing back down. She was standing in the doorway, watching something so intimate, something she wasn’t sure she was meant to see. Panic set in, and she took a step back, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

But it was too late. Jimin pulled back slightly from the kiss, his gaze shifting towards the door, and his eyes widened when he saw her standing there. Yoongi followed his gaze, and his expression softened as he noticed the fear in Hana’s eyes.

“Hana?” Jimin’s voice was soft, concerned. He immediately stood up, moving towards her. “Are you okay?”

Hana froze, caught between embarrassment and the overwhelming fear that had driven her here in the first place. She felt her cheeks burning, but the terror that had been gnawing at her was stronger. Without thinking, she blurted out, “I—I’m scared.”

Jimin’s expression softened even more, and without hesitation, he reached out to her. “Come here,” he said gently, his voice full of understanding.

Hana hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering between Jimin and Yoongi. They didn’t seem angry or upset by her intrusion. In fact, they both looked concerned for her, their previous intimacy set aside as they focused entirely on her.

Yoongi gave her a small, reassuring smile. “It’s okay, Hana. You don’t have to be alone.”

That was all it took. Hana’s resolve crumbled, and she stepped into the room, letting Jimin pull her into a comforting embrace. The warmth of his body against hers was immediately calming, and she felt some of the tension start to leave her.

Jimin held her for a moment before leading her to the bed. “Come on, you can stay with us tonight,” he said softly, guiding her to sit down on the edge of the mattress.

Hana’s heart was still racing, but the fear that had been gripping her began to ebb away, replaced by a deep sense of relief. She glanced at Yoongi, who was still sitting on the bed, his expression gentle as he watched her. There was no judgment in his eyes, only concern.

“You don’t have to be scared, Hana,” Yoongi said, his voice low and soothing. “We’re here for you.”

Jimin gently eased her onto the bed, lying down beside her, while Yoongi shifted to her other side. They moved with such care, as if afraid to startle her. Hana lay there, sandwiched between them, feeling a strange mix of emotions—relief, comfort, and something new, something she hadn’t quite figured out yet.

Jimin pulled the blanket over them, tucking it around her, his touch light and reassuring. “Just relax, Hana. We’re not going anywhere,” he whispered.

Hana nodded slightly, her heart still pounding but not as frantically as before. She could feel the warmth of their bodies on either side of her, a cocoon of safety that made her feel like nothing bad could reach her here.

Yoongi’s hand brushed against hers, and she turned her head slightly to look at him. He gave her a small smile, his eyes soft in the dim light. “Try to get some sleep,” he murmured.

Hana found herself nodding again, though she wasn’t sure if she would be able to sleep. But as she lay there, feeling their presence so close, her eyelids grew heavy. The terror that had consumed her earlier seemed distant now, replaced by a comforting warmth that spread through her chest.

As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn’t help but think back to the kiss she had witnessed. The tenderness of it, the way Jimin and Yoongi had looked at each other—it had stirred something deep within her, something she didn’t fully understand yet. But for now, all she could focus on was the comfort of their presence, the safety she felt lying between them.

Her last conscious thought was how different this was from the life she had known. With the boys, she had found something she had never expected—care, protection, maybe even love. And as she finally slipped into sleep, she knew one thing for certain: she wasn’t alone anymore.