FILTHY INFATUATION [KTH]

FILTHY INFATUATION 55

present 

55| “Emptying my head.” 

Nina rushed out of the office after a distressing call from Seon. Jungkook saw the desperation in her trembling voice and offered her a ride without asking questions, and Nina was internally grateful, she wasn't inclined to bombard with unanswered questions. Nina looked like she was about to collapse, clutching her pendant and ring tightly in her achy fist as she stared out the car window with hollowness fashioning within her. Despite being seated, she felt unbalanced and anxious, her worries mounting with each breath.

Last night, in the depths of her slumber, Nina felt the gentle whisper of Taehyung's lips on her forehead, his soft apology and the string of ‘i love yous’. But like a phantom, Taehyung vanished by morning, leaving behind only the traces of his touch. Nina finally understood that with Taehyung, he shared things when he was ready, not when he was asked. She could only hope he would be a little more ready to open up to her.

Nina exhaled, trying to quell the rising tide of anxiety that threatened to guzzle her in its hysteria. Yet, like a persistent leaky faucet, Seon's melancholic voice continued to seep into her consciousness, a steady drip of sorrow that she couldn't shake off.

“Nina, I need to ask you a favour, but please, don't panic, okay? It's about Taehyung... He's in a really bad place right now.” The pause that followed felt like an eternity, and Nina felt someone was strangling her throat in its vice grip. “Taehyung came home this morning in a bad state, he was lost. He's... he's falling apart, and I don't know how to calm him down. He's pushing me away, and it's scaring me. I texted you an address; please, you have to come here. Taehyung needs you.”

Throughout the ride, Nina's fingers flew across her phone's keypad, dialling Taehyung's number with a growing sense of desperation. Each unanswered call felt like a punch was slamming the insides of her flesh and bones as her hands went clammy around her phone. Was he okay? The question echoed in her mind like a mantra. She needed Taehyung to be okay, needed to see him whole and unbroken. The memory of that fateful night flashed before her eyes— Taehyung standing at her doorstep, his body battered and bruised, blood seeping from his wounds. No, God, please no. Nina's mind recoiled at the thought of him hurt again. 

As the car finally came to a halt, the engine's silence was a welcome reprieve, because Nina's patience was thoroughly hanging by a thread. Jungkook's silence was equally unsettling as his stress was palpable, a tangible force had filled the constricted space within her. It was good that he didn't try to comfort her because at the moment, no short-lived words would work. She craved the soothing alleviation that only Taehyung's presence could provide — the smile and the crinkles around his eyes, the serene presence, the reassuring embrace. 

“You aren't coming inside?” Nina turned to Jungkook, her fingers still wrapped around the pendant and the ring like a lifeline. The stone of the ring dug her palm, creating a fake ache, somehow the ring out her mind at ease.

“I think my friend needs you more than me, Nina.” Jungkook said, his voice was low and had a rare warmness.

As Jungkook climbed out of the car, he instinctively opened the door for Nina, stuttering Nina in her place. Nina blinked at him. Despite being her boss, Jungkook never wavered in showing respect and kindness towards her. To Jungkook, Nina was more than just his assistant —  she was the best friend of the love of his life. And the future wife of his best friend. In Jungkook's eyes, Nina was already a family.