𝙱𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙳 𝙸𝙽 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴

𓆩♡𓆪; 13

"What is he busy with?" she asked again, her eyes searching mine for answers. I took a deep breath, realizing I couldn't hide the truth any longer. "After you left without a trace," I began, my voice heavy with the weight of what I had to say, "Jimin searched all around Seoul for you. Every time things got worse for him because there was no news about you. We even went to Taehyung's place, but the entire place was guarded with security. They told us that Taehyung had nothing to do with you and that he'd left for business." 

Her eyes widened in shock, but I continued. "We even asked your dad. He told us Taehyung resigned a week after you disappeared. Day and night, Jimin started drinking until he fell unconscious. He always came back here to hug your things—your clothes, your pillow—because they still had your scent. That's how miserable he was." 

Her eyes filled with tears, and I could see the guilt and pain in her expression. "I never knew..." she whispered, her voice breaking. "I never wanted to hurt him like this." I looked away, my heart heavy . "But you did," I said softly. "And he's still hurting."

"Did he... did he have any nights out?" she asked, her voice trembling, barely able to get the words out."No," I replied, shaking my head. "Ever since the issues with Shirin and Lola, he hasn't been with anyone else. In fact, that night at the club was his first time going there." I watched as a wave of relief washed over her face, and I couldn't help but wonder if she still had feelings for him. Maybe she does, maybe she doesn't, I thought to myself.

"Where is he now?" she asked, sniffling, her voice fragile. "Why are you asking for him? You left him, didn't you?" The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. I hadn't meant to sound so harsh, but the frustration I'd been holding back finally found its way out. She looked stunned, hurt even, and I immediately regretted my tone. "I-I never meant to," she whispered, her voice barely audible. I sighed, trying to find the right words, the right way to approach this without hurting her more. "Why do you want to know?" I asked, softer this time, my voice gentler.

As Airene sat there, the words she was searching for seemed just out of reach. She felt a knot in her chest, an emotion so strong yet so elusive that it almost suffocated her. "Kook, I... I don't know how to explain this feeling, but I'm really worried about him," she confessed, her voice trembling as her eyes filled with tears she couldn't hold back. 

Jungkook noticed her distress and quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "It's okay," he whispered, trying to soothe her. But even as she rested in his arms, her thoughts were consumed by Jimin, and the tears continued to fall, betraying the depth of her concern for him. "We'll find him, I will", he said confidently.

Jungkook watched as Airene's eyes lit up with happiness upon hearing  that. A mix of emotions stirred within him—her joy brought him pain, confirming the feelings he'd begun to develop for her. But he knew he couldn't deny that, even if it meant going against his own heart. 

THE NEXT MORNING...

Jungkook received a call while he was in the shower as he asked his assistants to look up for him and they wasn't resting searching for him day and nights. As soon as he heard the good news, he quickly jumped out of the shower and got dressed. He saw Airene was sitting on the sofa having a peaceful cup of coffee with a graceful smile when she looked at him. "He's in LA," Jungkook finally said, "at the apartment where he used to stay before he got married." Airene's reaction was immediate. She grabbed his arm, her voice filled with urgency. "Take me there now, please!" 

Jungkook's heart sank. He wanted to say yes, to do anything that would make her happy, but he also knew it was late and she was still hurt. "I can't take you now, Airene you need to rest. You're still hurt and traveling like this could make it worse."Airene wasn't convinced, her eyes pleading with him. "Please, Jungkook, I need to see him." Jungkook sighed heavily, feeling torn. Finally, he relented. "Okay, I'll take you but not today. I will prepare the tickets and make some arrangements for my works. "Alright, she nodded.