𝑬𝑵𝑺𝑵𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑫 | JUNGKOOK

76. Hope

Alba's POV

You woke up with a start, the remnants of the nightmare still clinging to your thoughts. It was the same one, the one where you're trapped, unable to escape. It's dark and suffocating, and you're all alone. There's no way out, and no matter how hard you try, you can't seem to break free.

You took a deep breath, trying to ground yourself in reality. The sun was streaming through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. You were safe, and it was just a dream.

You glanced at the clock, seeing that it was 8:30 A.M. Jimin had an early morning meeting today, which meant you were alone. After you got back from the trip, Jimin insisted that you should stay with him, instead going back to your apartment. At first, you were reluctant, not wanting to intrude on his privacy. But after he almost got sad, you had no choice but to agree.

As you sat up, you glanced around, remembering this was the very room where Jimin first mentioned the bet and confessed that he cared about you, you swung your legs over the bed, heading to the kitchen for coffee. As the machine gurgled and hissed, your thoughts drifted back to the weekend. Most of the time had been spent settling into your new surroundings, but your mind kept returning to everything that happened during the trip. Aina had been wary of Jungkook at first since she never liked him after the way he treated you. Her concern was almost protective, and it made sense. But something shifted. You weren't sure how or when it happened, but the two of them had grown unexpectedly close. It caught you off guard, leaving you unsure what to make of it.

Your thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ring of your phone. Aina's name flashed on the screen.

"Hello," you answered, the phone pressed between your shoulder and your ear as you poured yourself a cup of coffee.

"Hey," Aina replied, her voice sounding tired and groggy. "What are you doing?"

You paused, considering your answer. "Nothing much. Just drinking coffee."

She chuckled, making you smile. "It's too early to be up. But, anyway, I wanted to ask if you're gonna come back today?"

"Actually," you hesitated, feeling a slight pang of guilt, "I think I'm gonna stay here a bit longer. Is that okay?"

"Of course," she said, though you could hear the disappointment in her voice. "Aawe, but Saddie is missing her mommy."

"Tell Saddie I miss her too," you replied, smiling softly. "But I'll be back soon."

"Okay, okay," Aina relented, letting out a dramatic sigh. "I'll tell her. But you better come home soon."

"I will," you promised, taking a sip of your coffee. "How are you feeling, by the way?"

She was silent for a moment, and you could imagine her shrugging. "I'm okay. A little tired, but I'll survive."

"Are you sure?" You asked, concern lacing your voice. "You know you can tell me if something's wrong."

"I know," she assured, her tone gentle. "And I'm fine, really. Just need some more sleep."

"If you say so," you said, not entirely convinced. "But let me know if you need anything."

"I will," she promised, her voice growing quieter. "Take care, and tell Jimin I said hi."

"I will," you said, a faint smile crossing your lips. "Take care, Aina."

"Bye," she said, hanging up.

As you put your phone down, the conversation played back in your head. She'd seemed off, not quite herself, and it had worried you. You let out a sigh, shaking your head slightly.