Summer Serenade x Reader

24

After getting off the bed and changing the sheets, embarrassed by the stains left behind, I headed to the bathroom for a shower. The warm water cascaded down, washing away the remnants of the rough night, but it did little to soothe the ache in my heart. I stood there longer than necessary, trying to clear my mind, but thoughts of Jungkook kept creeping back.

Once I finally emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel and with damp hair clinging to my shoulders, I was surprised to find Yuri sitting on my bed, her expression concerned.

"Hey, when did you come in, Yuri?" I asked, walking over to her and wrapping her in a tight hug, hoping to draw some comfort from her presence.

She pulled away gently, giving me a sympathetic look. "When you went for a shower," she replied softly.

We both sat down on the bed, the silence between us heavy with unspoken thoughts. Yuri’s eyes searched mine, as if trying to gauge just how broken I felt. "I can see the pain on your face," she began, her voice laced with concern. "I know what Jungkook did in Italy was totally wrong, and it’s something that has hurt you deeply. But... he feels guilty, Y/N. He even texted me a whole long paragraph apologizing for everything. He’s genuinely sorry."

I sighed, looking away from her. The memories of Italy flashed in my mind, the way Jungkook had defended Bangchan, the way he had made me feel so small and insignificant. It was hard to reconcile that with the Jungkook I had loved so deeply.

"Please, forgive Jungkook," Yuri continued, her voice pleading. "I know it's not easy, and I’m not asking you to forget what happened. But you really love him, Y/N. I can see that, and I know deep down, you can feel it too. Maybe... maybe it’s time to start healing, together."

I felt my eyes welling up, the emotions I had been trying so hard to suppress threatening to spill over. I wanted to forgive him, to go back to the way things were before Italy, but the pain was still so fresh, so raw.

"Yuri, I..." My voice broke as I struggled to find the right words. "I don’t know if I can just move on like that. It’s not just about what he did; it’s about how he made me feel. Like I didn’t matter."

Yuri reached out and took my hand, squeezing it gently. "You do matter, Y/N. You matter to him, and you matter to all of us. Maybe... maybe it’s time to let him prove that to you."

I looked at her, my heart torn between the hurt and the love I still felt for Jungkook. Could I really let him back into my life after everything? Could I give him another chance to prove that he truly regretted his actions?

I knew Yuri was right in a way. I still loved him, despite everything. But I wasn’t sure if love was enough to heal the wounds he had left behind.

We sat there in silence, Yuri’s comforting presence a small balm to my aching heart, but the decision of whether to forgive Jungkook or not was still a heavy burden on my shoulders.

"Yuri, I found Bangchan's account. He followed me on Twitter," I said, breaking the silence. The moment the words left my mouth, I could see the change in Yuri’s expression. Her eyes widened, and I could almost see the flashbacks playing out in her mind—the love, the memories, the heartbreak.

"Nice," she replied, but her voice was dry, almost hollow. It was clear that even just hearing his name brought back a flood of emotions that she wasn’t ready to deal with.

I didn’t push it further. I knew how much she had been through, and it wasn’t fair to reopen old wounds. Besides, I had my own thoughts and feelings swirling around in my head. My mom had already left for work at the restaurant, and Jay had gone to school, leaving me and Yuri alone in the house. It was my day off from the university, so I had hoped for a quiet day, but the morning was already proving to be anything but.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a text from Sana. "Y/N, I have something urgent to tell you. Can I come to your place?" she had written.

I glanced at Yuri, considering if it was okay to have someone else over right now. But then I remembered—Yuri was my best friend. She knew everything I was going through, and I knew I could talk freely in front of her.

"Sure, Sana," I texted back. "You can come over."

After sending the message, I looked over at Yuri, who was still lost in thought, staring at the floor. "Sana’s coming over. She said it’s urgent. You don’t mind, right?"

Yuri shook her head, snapping out of her reverie. "No, I don’t mind. It’s fine." But her voice was still distant, her mind clearly elsewhere.

I could tell Yuri was still shaken by the mention of Bangchan, and I wondered if bringing it up was a mistake. But before I could say anything else, the doorbell rang, signaling Sana’s arrival.

Yuri and I exchanged a quick glance before I got up to answer the door. Whatever Sana had to say, I just hoped it wouldn’t add more to the emotional whirlwind that already filled the room.

As soon as Sana stepped inside, she wasted no time getting straight to the point. "Y/N, Lisa is going to play a big game against you."

Yuri's face twisted in anger at the mention of Lisa. "Isn't she Jungkook's ex?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Sana nodded. "Yeah, and she's determined to cause trouble. I’ve heard she’s been spreading rumors and trying to get back with Jungkook."

I felt a familiar knot tighten in my stomach. Lisa had always been a shadow in my relationship with Jungkook, and I knew she hated me. She had made it clear from the start that she would do anything to get him back. But hearing that she was actively plotting against me now? It stung.

"I don't care," I replied, forcing a nonchalant tone. "Let her do whatever she wants."

Yuri and Sana exchanged confused looks, clearly not expecting my reaction. Yuri was the first to speak up, her voice full of frustration. "Y/N, that girl is trying to steal your love, and you just don’t care? For God's sake, please don’t act so indifferent that you end up regretting it one day!"

I knew Yuri was right. Any other time, I would’ve been furious, ready to confront Lisa and defend my relationship. But now, after everything that had happened, I just felt tired—exhausted by the constant drama, by the insecurities that plagued me. The truth was, I wasn’t sure if I even had a right to fight for Jungkook anymore. Not after Italy, not after the way things had been between us.

"Yuri, I get what you're saying, but..." I hesitated, trying to find the right words. "At this point, I don't even know if I have a right to fight for Jungkook. He’s his own person, and if he chooses her, then maybe it’s just meant to be."

Sana looked at me, concern etched across her face. "Y/N, are you seriously saying that? After everything you and Jungkook have been through, you’re just going to let her walk all over you?"

I bit my lip, feeling the weight of their words. "It’s not about letting her win," I tried to explain. "It’s about realizing that I can’t control what Jungkook does. If he really wants to be with her, I can’t stop him. And I can’t keep torturing myself by trying to hold onto something that might already be slipping away."

Yuri’s expression softened slightly, but there was still a flicker of determination in her eyes. "But Y/N, you have every right to fight for your happiness. Don’t let her or anyone else make you feel like you don’t deserve it."

Sana nodded in agreement. "Yuri’s right. You deserve to be happy, and if that means standing up to Lisa or even talking things through with Jungkook, then you need to do that. Don’t give up on yourself just because things got hard."

I sighed, feeling torn between my own doubts and their encouragement. I wanted to believe that I could still have a chance with Jungkook, but the pain and uncertainty were holding me back.

"I’ll think about it," I finally said, offering them a small, tired smile. "I just need some time to figure things out."

They both nodded, understanding that I needed to process everything in my own way. But as we sat there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were far from over. Whether I liked it or not, I was going to have to face Lisa—and my own fears—sooner than I had expected.