The Last Page Of Us [JJK × Y/N]

6. HEALING GROUNDS

The night stretched on in a tense, unsettling silence. Y/N sat on the edge of the bed, her nerves taut, waiting for any sign of a shift in JK's demeanor. She couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't yet dissociated back into Jungkook. Usually, the transitions between his personalities were sudden, unpredictable, and often brief. But tonight, JK remained in control, his intense gaze fixed on her without wavering.

He hadn’t said a word since their earlier exchange, but his eyes told a different story—a mix of curiosity, frustration, and something darker that Y/N couldn’t quite place. She felt a shiver run down her spine under the weight of his stare, but she tried her best to remain calm, to not let her anxiety show.

Minutes ticked by, feeling like hours. The silence between them grew heavier, filled with unspoken words and unasked questions. Y/N’s thoughts raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. Why was JK holding on so tightly tonight? Why hadn’t Jungkook resurfaced? She knew that asking him directly might provoke a reaction she wasn’t ready to handle, but she needed to understand what was going on inside his mind.

"JK," she finally said softly, breaking the silence, her voice gentle but steady, "it's getting late. Usually, you… switch back by now. What’s keeping you here tonight?"

JK didn’t answer right away. He just kept staring at her, his dark eyes searching hers as if trying to read her thoughts. The room felt suffocatingly quiet, and Y/N's heart beat faster with each passing second.

After what felt like an eternity, JK spoke, his voice low and contemplative, almost as if he was thinking out loud. "Maybe I’m just curious, Doc," he murmured, his gaze never leaving her face. "Or maybe I’m just tired of disappearing whenever things get interesting. You ever think about that?"

Y/N blinked, surprised by his answer. It was the closest thing to a confession of vulnerability she had ever heard from him. “What do you mean?” she asked gently, wanting him to elaborate.

JK shrugged, his eyes still locked on hers. “Maybe I want to see what you’ll do. How far you’re willing to go. Maybe I’m tired of being the bad guy, always shoved aside when he’s too scared to face the world.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Y/N realized that beneath his harsh exterior, there was a struggle, a desire for something more than just being the protector or the aggressor. He wanted to be seen, to be understood in his own right, not just as a part of Jungkook’s fractured psyche.

She nodded slowly, understanding a little more of the complexity that was JK. “I see,” she whispered. “You want to be more than just a part of him. You want to be acknowledged for who you are.”

JK's expression softened, if only a little. “Maybe,” he said quietly, almost too softly to hear. “Or maybe I’m just tired of playing this game. I don’t know anymore.”

The vulnerability in his voice tugged at Y/N’s heart. She could see now that JK was more than just a hostile alter; he was a part of Jungkook who had been forced into a role he never wanted. As she watched him, she felt a renewed determination to help, not just Jungkook, but every part of him.

"Maybe it's time for a new game then," she suggested, her voice barely a whisper. "One where we all find a way to understand each other."

JK didn’t respond, but the intensity in his gaze seemed to soften ever so slightly. The room remained silent, but it was a different kind of silence now—one filled with a fragile, tentative understanding.

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The next morning, sunlight streamed through the hospital room window, casting soft, warm rays across the bed. Jungkook sat on the edge, his posture relaxed, a small, genuine smile playing at his lips. Y/N was beside him, perched on a chair, her demeanor lighter than it had been in days. They were engaged in an easy conversation, a rare moment of peace and normalcy that felt almost foreign after everything that had happened.