Survival Instinct // Namkook

chapter 2 - get to know me

The relentless pounding of rain against the shattered windows filled the room with a dismal rhythm. Jungkook shifted uneasily on the floor, pulling his knees up to his chest once more. The discomfort wasn’t just physical; it was the atmosphere in the room that gnawed at him, an uncomfortable silence punctuated only by the storm’s fury outside. Despite their new, tentative partnership, the tension between him and Namjoon was palpable. It was as if the air itself was charged with an unspoken distance.

Jungkook glanced at Namjoon, who stood by the window, his back straight and his eyes locked on the tempest outside. The man was a stark figure against the storm's chaotic backdrop, and Jungkook found it increasingly difficult to endure the silence that hung between them. He wasn’t accustomed to this kind of stillness, especially not with someone as inscrutable as Namjoon. The lack of conversation, the absence of any attempt at connection, was maddening.

“So…” Jungkook began, his voice breaking slightly from the strain of disuse. He cleared his throat and tried again, desperation creeping into his tone. “What’s your story? How did you end up here?” He offered the question hesitantly, not fully convinced that it was the right approach but feeling the need to break the silence.

Namjoon didn’t turn around, his focus unwavering on the storm. The minutes ticked by, and Jungkook began to fear that his question might be ignored. However, after a lengthy pause, Namjoon’s voice emerged, low and edged with irritation. “Does it matter?”

Jungkook sighed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Well… yeah, I thought maybe a bit of conversation could help us get to know each other better. You know, since we’re kind of stuck together now.” He trailed off, the words feeling hollow and ineffective in the face of Namjoon’s evident disinterest.

Namjoon remained steadfastly turned away, his jaw clenched as though he were bracing against something. “There’s nothing you need to know about me,” he said, his tone unyielding, as if cutting off any further inquiry.

The atmosphere thickened, and Jungkook felt a knot of frustration forming in his chest. The silence was becoming unbearable, and his mind raced for something—anything—to keep the conversation alive. The storm outside was deafening, but it was the quiet between him and Namjoon that felt even more oppressive.

“You know, you don’t have to be so mysterious,” Jungkook said, attempting to lighten the mood. “I mean, we’re both surviving here. It’s not like I’m going to judge you.”

Namjoon’s head turned slightly, and Jungkook could feel the weight of his gaze even without seeing it. “Judge me?” Namjoon repeated, his voice laced with cold amusement. He took a step closer, his imposing figure casting a shadow over Jungkook. “You don’t know half of what I’ve done. You wouldn’t last a day if you did.”

Jungkook swallowed hard, feeling the gravity of Namjoon’s words. Despite the fear that twisted in his stomach, he held Namjoon’s gaze. There was a mix of fear and curiosity driving him. “Well, I’m still here, aren’t I?” Jungkook said quietly. “You had your chance last night. You could’ve hurt me. Could’ve killed me. But you didn’t. We made a deal, remember?”

Namjoon’s eyes flickered with what could have been surprise or irritation. He studied Jungkook for a long moment, as if assessing his resolve. Finally, he let out a short, bitter laugh. “You think that means something?”

Jungkook shrugged, trying to stay calm under the intensity of Namjoon’s scrutiny. “I think it means you’re not as cold-hearted as you want me to believe.”

Namjoon scoffed, shaking his head as he turned away again. “You’re wrong,” he muttered. “You have no idea what kind of person I am.”

The silence returned, even thicker now, and Jungkook fidgeted where he sat, the discomfort of his bruises adding to his agitation. He needed to break the silence, to find something to bridge the gap between them.