On That Day We | sakook

chapter 41.

Author's POV
　
　
Jungkook stepped out onto the busy street, his thoughts already on the day ahead when he suddenly remembered the coffee he'd meant to order. He paused, torn between returning and continuing on. But the sea of people in Seomyeon street pulled him forward.

As he navigated the crowd, a familiar voice rose above the noise.

"Jungkook, wait!"

He turned to see Sana weaving her way toward him, her eyes bright as she held up a cup filled with what seemed like an iced americano.

"Sana," Jungkook replied, waiting for her to catch up.

When she reached him, slightly out of breath, she extended the drink with a smile.

"Luckily, the barista was quick. When she saw you go in, she made it right away, but you left... I told her you're in a hurry," she said, panting, her cheeks tinged with a hint of color. "Consider it my treat this time."

Jungkook blinked in surprise before his face softened into a grateful smile. "Thank you, Sana. You didn't have to do that."

Sana shrugged playfully, her shyness still evident. "For once, I'm the one remembering something and you're the one who forgot. Let me have this win."

Jungkook laughed, a sound that made Sana's eyes lit up and smile grow even wider.

Sana hesitated, her voice softer as she began, "There's another reason I chased after you."

Jungkook's eyebrows arched in curiosity as he waited for her to continue.

"You mentioned we went to Taejongdae... but did we go anywhere else?" she finally asked.

"Are you planning to take your friends on a tour?"

"Yes, but I also want to revisit the places I've seen before... in case something comes back to me," she admitted with hopeful eyes.

Jungkook nodded, impressed by her determination to regain her lost memories. He admired her for trying so hard, even though it must have been really painful and frustrating to not remember a thing about the past.

Jungkook paused briefly as he tried to remember the places they went to back then.

"After Taejongdae, you and Momo were starving, even though we had just eaten at Jimin's place, so we went to Jagalchi Market," Jungkook began, a small smile forming on his face as he recalled the day. "Then, in the afternoon, we headed to Gwangalli Beach, and you..."

He trailed off, the smile fading as an unwanted memory resurfaced-Sana's argument with her ex-boyfriend Mark, and how he had to step in to separate them.

Sana noticed his pause, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And what happened?"

Jungkook blinked, forcing the memory aside. "We watched the sunset together. That was it," he lied smoothly, deciding that some memories were better left forgotten.

Sana nodded, unaware of the concealed details of their shared memory, and smiled gratefully. "Thank you, this is really helpful."

She hesitated as she opened her mouth and then closed it again, but decided to let out her words in a stutter. "I-I'll head back inside now... Drive safe!"

Jungkook returned her nod, watching as she turned and walked back across the street.

As she faded into the crowd, he couldn't help but feel relieved that she was moving forward, even if it meant leaving some things behind.
　
　
　
　
　
　

Sana wasn't expecting that she would enjoy this much. Nayeon's infectious energy kept the group lively, while Seokjin's playful arguments with her never failed to make everyone laugh.

Tzuyu's gentle kindness made Sana feel welcome, and Dahyun's attentiveness touched her in a way she couldn't quite put into words. There was something comforting about how Dahyun always noticed her, even when her voice was soft and often drowned out by Nayeon's chatter. Dahyun's quiet presence made Sana feel seen, really seen, in a way that was both reassuring and a little unnerving.

But amid the laughter and warmth, something lingered in the back of Sana's mind-a feeling of discomfort she couldn't shake.

Being called Janna again felt so strange; it was almost foreign to her. That name was tied to the mystery surrounding her memories with her husband that she always felt like she wasn't ready to confront.

She had a nagging feeling that these forgotten memories were the source of the nightmares that haunted her sleep. But she would always try to shake the feeling away, scared of what the truth behind it would be.

Sitting on the beach, with the waves crashing in the background, she finally told them her story.

She asked them to call her Sana. Then she opened up about why she left Seoul, why she settled in Busan, the amnesia that left gaps in her memory, and the life she was trying to rebuild.

Her friends listened in silence, their attention on her as she shared her story. Nayeon, ever the supportive friend, gently wrapped her arm around Sana's shoulder, resting her head against her, offering silent comfort.

"Do you plan on staying here for good?" Seokjin asked softly.

Sana nodded. "There's nowhere else for me to go. Besides, I like it here. It's so different from my life in Seoul. I miss Seoul sometimes, but... I think I love it more here."

Nayeon pouted playfully, "Just make sure to visit us too!"

"I will, when I get the chance," Sana smiled faintly.

For a moment, the only sound was the rhythm of the waves until Dahyun spoke up. "I've got a curious question, though."

Everyone turned to her as she asked, "Do you think you'll have feelings for your ex-boyfriend now that you've seen him again? I mean, with your amnesia, it's like meeting him for the first time. Could you see yourself falling for him again?"

Sana blinked, caught off guard. "I... I don't know," she mumbled, unsure how to respond.

Nayeon jumped in, "I saw the way you looked at him earlier at the coffee shop. Do you hang out with him a lot?"

Sana's cheeks flushed at their questions. She stayed quiet, not sure how to explain the tangle of feelings inside her.

"He's a nice guy, but we're just friends. He's helping me out, that's all," she finally said, hugging her knees and gazing out at the setting sun.

"You're blushing, though," Tzuyu teased, laughing along with the others. Nayeon poked Sana playfully, drawing a smile from her despite herself.

Seokjin, watching from the side, felt a quiet relief. He had never seen Janna-or Sana-smile like this before, not even during their time as neighbors back in Seoul.

There had always been a certain heaviness in her demeanor, as though a shadow lingered over her, obscuring the light that a smile could bring. But now, here she was, her lips curving upward in a way that felt genuine, unburdened.

She could finally smile again. This was the mark of her new beginning.

The moment was interrupted by a deep voice coming from behind them. "Am I already late?" it asked, cutting through the quiet atmosphere.

Seokjin turned to see Taehyung, who had just arrived from work.

"Finally, you're here," Seokjin said, rising from the sand to greet him, and pulled Taehyung into a warm embrace.

With his thick brows furrowed in playful annoyance, Seokjin added, "Now that Tae's here, can we all go eat and have a drink now? I'm starving. I've been craving samgyeopsal all day." He patted his stomach to emphasize the point.

"Alright! Let's go!" Nayeon chimed in, her voice brimming with excitement.

　
　
　
　
　
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a/n: AGAIN, happy birthday, JK! I miss him so much, and I know y'all do too. So, what's your favorite thing about Jungkook in this novel so far?

Also, Neva Play by MegJoon AND Tzuyu's new album are both out now! Go stream their music, guys! It's worth it I swear.