Night Owl

Night Owl Ch. 12

"Whoa, Lily, are you okay?" JK's voice was laced with concern as he closed the distance between us in a few swift steps.

My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the ambient sounds of the room. A chill ran down my spine as the realization sank in—JK was Jin's step-brother. How had I missed this connection? My mind swirled with fragmented memories and questions without answers.

"Lily, you're really freaking me out right now. What's going on?" His eyes searched mine, earnest and filled with worry.

I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze. Instead, I stared down at the floor, my fingers gripping the edge of the table to steady myself. Heat flushed my cheeks, contrasting sharply with the cold knot forming in my stomach. Images of Jin flashed in my mind—his smile, the way he fucked me, the heartache that followed. And now, standing before me was JK, unknowingly connected to that painful past.

"I'm... I'm fine," I murmured, forcing a weak smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Just a bit surprised, that's all."

JK wasn't convinced. He tilted his head, eyebrows knitting together as he observed me. Gently, he reached out and tipped my chin upward with his fingers, compelling me to look at him. His touch was warm, a stark contrast to the icy dread coursing through me.

"Lily, I can tell when you're lying," he said softly, his gaze unwavering. "Please, talk to me."

My throat tightened, words escaping me. The sincerity in his eyes made it harder to keep the truth concealed. I bit my lip, glancing away briefly to compose myself. The room seemed to close in, the weight of unspoken secrets pressing down on me.

For a moment, I considered telling him everything—about Jin, about the past that still haunted me. But fear held me back. I needed time to process this tangled web before bringing him into it.

"I just need a moment," I finally said, stepping back and pulling away from his touch. "Can we sit down?" He hesitated but then nodded, concern still etched on his face. "Of course. Whatever you need."

A knot tightened in my stomach as I met his wide, expressive eyes. My chest ached, and I could barely hold his gaze without feeling a pang of guilt. Words stuck in my throat—I wanted to tell him everything, but we had just begun, and diving into half-remembered memories felt overwhelming.

"Why did you make that face when Jin Hyung came up?" he asked, leaning against the table, his eyes searching mine.

I glanced away, my fingers fidgeting with a loose thread on my sleeve. "Oh, well, we were friends... I guess, a few years ago."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced but holding back. "Okay, so if you were friends, what happened? Why aren't you friends anymore?"

His earnest gaze bore into me, and I could feel the weight of his desire for answers. My heart raced, and I took a shallow breath to steady myself. "Look, I don't remember the entire story," I murmured, offering a half-truth in hopes it would suffice.

He studied me for a moment, his expression shifting from concern to something more intense. "The memories I do have aren't pleasant," I added softly. "So for now, can we just leave it at that?"

A flicker of anger flashed in his eyes, his jaw tightening. "What did he do to you?" His voice was low, the underlying intensity making me hesitate.

Before I could respond, he stood up and closed the distance between us. Gently but firmly, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoed in my ear as I leaned into his embrace, both comforted and conflicted by his closeness.

He gazed at me, eyes filled with a sorrow that seemed to deepen with each passing second. "Lily, I don't know what he did, but I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice strained and soft. "I'm sorry he hurt you. I'm sorry you feel this way. I'm so, so sorry."