Empty Space | Jeon Jungkook

Part 17

**

It feels like deja vu, like a joke the universe is playing but you're not laughing. Because here you are, in a car with him, on the way to the police station to give an account of what happened.

"I'm okay, Jungkook," you tell him without turning to him. From your periphery, you could see him constantly glancing at you, his eyebrows scrunched in worry. "He didn't hurt me badly."

"He still could've," he responds, turning his eyes back on the road.

"But he didn't. Because you were there." You turn to him now, alarmed, your eyebrows furrowed. "Why were you there?"

"I was, uh. I was just driving around..."

You look at him more sternly and his ticks - from the lip nibbling to the finger tapping - that used to let you know he's nervous, are the same.

"I hate it when you lie."

This feels like a worse punch in the gut and his head snaps back to you.

"I've been driving around when you're closing," he confesses. "It's dangerous out here and I..." He swallows hard. "I just want to make sure nothing bad happens to you, that you don't get hurt."

"So you've been following me?"

His silence reveals his answer. And his guilt.

"That isn't right, Jungkook," you sigh. "You could've at least told me."

"I know. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. And it doesn't make much of a difference but it's just until the bus stop," he clarifies, but still sounding defeated. "And I message you to know if you got home safe."

You nod. You're a little upset but you still soften at the thought, at the affection. It's not lost on you how differently things would be right now if he wasn't there.

The rest of the ride is quiet until you reach the station. His colleagues greet him, with one teasing that he's "four hours early for his shift" and you glare at him because he should be resting but he's saving your ass instead.

He leads you to an officer to take your statement and you narrate what you remember. Jungkook is standing by your side, his arms crossed, taking everything in.

"And then I turned and saw Officer Jeon tackling the man on the ground but he got punched and—" you turn to him and that's when you see his busted left cheek and notice him trying to soothe his torso.

"Are you okay?" You suddenly ask him, causing him to jerk in surprise.

"You're asking me? You're the one who got attacked."

The attending officer gets your attention and asks you to continue your statement, which you do. You're dizzy though, an effect of the impact from the hit on the glass door but you try to pay no mind and focus on the questions.

"We're done," the attending officer eventually states. "The on-duty officers didn't catch him but we got him on camera. We'll try to match it with the surveillance tapes from the other break-ins."

You nod, barely processing anything. You're tired and you just want to go to bed. Another officer approaches you and you turn to Jungkook with exhaustion in your eyes.

"I want to go home."

"I'll take you home. She'll just treat your wound and ask you to sign some papers, okay? I'll meet you after. I'll be done giving my statement by then."

You nod and follow the woman.

Half an hour later, Jungkook is leading you back to his car, with you still dazed and a little wobbly. You shift in your seat and attempt to warm yourself with your hands.

Jungkook notices and takes the jacket hanging on his headrest, leans over to you, and covers you with it. Since that night at your apartment when he comforted you, you've never been this close to him in such a confined space. Even with your lightheaded state, you're suddenly aware of everything - his hot breath, his sleepy eyes, the bags underneath them, his nervous breathing.

"Thank you," you tell him.

"Are you feeling alright? I know Officer Kwon said you don't have a concussion but you should just rest, maybe ask Jin to give you a day-off tomorrow. I'm sure he'll understand."

"Yeah, I know what to do."

He nods and pulls up in front of your apartment building and runs over to your side to help you out. Much as you want to say that you don't need him to help you, you're pretty sure you won't make it up three flights of stairs on your own, so you let him. You let him help you out of the car, up the stairs, and safely in your home, too.

It's when you're pulling off his jacket and your body bag that he notices a stain of blood on your yellow blouse and worriedly asks you about it.

It comes back to you this time.

"He— he had a knife. I felt something sharp on my side, that's what I was trying to tell you," you say, weakly.

"Officer Kwon missed this. I need to treat it. Let me," he demands.

And you're too tired to oppose.

He finds the only shelf in your living room and assumes it's where you keep your first-aid kit like before - and he's right. You hold onto the edge of your dining table while he gingerly lifts your shirt, his eyes constantly darting to you, as if to seek your permission. You're holding your breath as your shirt goes higher, and you feel Jungkook do the same.

"Hold this up for me," he says, and you follow.

He cleans the shallow cut and you're glad he seems to ensure there wouldn't be skin-to-skin contact because you don't know what you'd do then. You freeze, though, at the feel of his breath on your skin when he blows on the wound after he puts the antiseptic, but you carry on. He puts on the gauze pad and the grazing of his fingers as he pulls down your shirt sends shockwaves through you.

"Thank you," you say, looking up at him.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that."

You shake your head. He saved your life and he shouldn't be apologizing.

"I don't want to overstep but if you can switch your shifts to earlier in the day, that would be best."

"I'll work it out with Jin. The others have families so I can't easily switch with them," you explain.

"Can you at least let me stay with you when you're closing shop and take you home?"

"That's too much to ask," you say.

But what you really mean is it's too much time of yours he's asking to be spent with him. And you're not sure if your heart can take it without wanting to give in.

"It isn't. Just let me, please?"

You sigh, knowing his conscience wouldn't take it if there would be a repeat of tonight.

"Fine."

He smiles, gives final reminders about staying home, then makes final checks of your secured windows. You soften at the gesture but then again, he's always been thoughtful and protective.

He says goodnight and you ensure there's no moment again; you've had too many tonight already.

You drift off to sleep and dream of the hooded figure coming after you. You don't see him but you hear his voice, feel his breath on your neck, feel the blood dripping down your forehead. It's not drawn out but it's still vivid. And for the first time in years, you wish it was Jungkook you're seeing instead.

**