Empty Space | Jeon Jungkook

Part 13

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It felt like an out-of-body experience - hearing the truth, taking the three-hour train ride back to Seoul, then taking a cab home. You don't even know if you've blinked in the past five hours or so.

But you're back at your apartment, your arms hugging your folded legs as you bury yourself under the covers on your couch. You're not even crying; there's nothing left of you.

Yi-soo knew.

She'd suspected what her brother was doing after some time and made sure to keep you and Yeonjun out of it. The police think she found out about the new ventures - working with bigger suppliers and engaging in arms dealing - and probably panicked.

She didn't know about Jungkook being undercover, obviously, and had called the police that day as the men were preparing the drugs for the next day's meeting. She made a false claim and had the police come to their house. What she didn't expect was for the men to have weapons, including her brother, and in the midst of all the chaos, Han had mistakenly shot her. Young-il, in his shock and rage, killed his best friend and right hand man.

Even that bit you didn't know, and for the first time in four years, you let yourself feel bad for him.

Your mind goes back to that day. You were supposed to meet with Yi-soo so you could rant about Jungkook's rejection of you and his audacity to ghost you. Now you know why she canceled, why she let Yeonjun go on that out-of-town trip when she normally wouldn't, why she wasn't picking up when you decided to meet her at their house instead. If you arrived a few minutes earlier, you could've saved her. Or maybe, you could've died with her. The latter wouldn't have been bad.

Officer Jeon was supposed to tell you. I'm so sorry, I thought you knew.

But you didn't. It sucks to realize that four years after the fact, you don't actually know anything.

It's the banging on the door that temporarily shakes you out of the mind-numbing couple of hours of staring at the wall. Yeonjun opens the door and even he is surprised at the man standing before him. He saves the sentiments for another day and lets Jungkook in, and even with the appearance of the man who's been haunting your dreams, you don't budge.

Jungkook looks at you and his heart breaks at your sullen state - eyes empty, body curled into a ball as if you're wishing to just fold in on yourself and disappear.

"I need Hana right now," Yeonjun speaks up. "Can you let him stay?" He gestures towards Jungkook.

You don't move. All you hear are the two men mumbling words to each other and the close of the door.

Jungkook walks gingerly towards you and he's never seen you so lifeless, so weak.

Your vision gets blurry and your mouth opens to try to get some air. Then you're engulfed by strong arms and you hear a rapid heartbeat that isn't yours. And for the first time since you learned the truth, you cry.

**