Survival Instinct // Namkook

chapter 23 - lifting the mood

Despite some subtle instructions from Namjoon, Jungkook mostly knew where he had to drive to. They had agreed to go to the nearest city in the west a few days ago already. However until now they didn't really know how to. Getting this jeep really was a game changer, probably why Namjoon agreed to J-Hope's proposition so easily.

Jungkook’s fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly as he navigated the rough, uneven road. The silence in the jeep was almost palpable, pressing down on him with a weight he couldn’t ignore. He had never been good with silence, especially not when it was filled with unspoken tensions and uncertainties. With J-Hope sitting bound in the back, the air was thick with unease, and Jungkook felt his anxiety growing with each passing moment.

The silence seemed to stretch endlessly, broken only by the occasional rumble of the engine and the soft thud of tires over debris. Jungkook wanted to fill it with something—anything—to make the journey feel less oppressive. He glanced at Namjoon, who was seated in the passenger seat, his expression unreadable. The elder’s calm demeanor did nothing to ease Jungkook’s nerves, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.

Without any particular reason or warning, Jungkook began to sing softly. He chose a familiar tune, one he had used to sing to himself in better times, when the world wasn’t so grim. His voice was quiet at first, hesitant, but as he continued, it grew a little stronger. The melody was soothing, a small comfort in the midst of uncertainty.

The song was a soothing, melancholic ballad, the kind that spoke of hope and loss, of memories and dreams. Jungkook’s voice, though strained by the stress of the situation, carried a soft, tender quality. He hoped it would help to bridge the gap between them, if only for a moment.

In the back seat, J-Hope’s eyes flickered with surprise. He hadn’t expected Jungkook to start singing, and for a moment, the unexpected gesture cut through the tension. J-Hope’s fear and anxiety momentarily shifted as he listened to the unfamiliar, yet strangely comforting, sound. He was still bound and scared, but the song seemed to offer a sliver of solace in the harsh reality of their predicament.

Namjoon, too, was taken aback by Jungkook’s decision to sing. He watched Jungkook with a mix of curiosity and mild irritation. The silence was broken, but now it was filled with something he had not anticipated. While he didn’t fully understand the need for it, he couldn’t deny that the song created a momentary calm in the tension of their journey.

Jungkook sang with a quiet intensity, pouring some of his emotions into the melody. It was beautiful. Namjoon knew Jungkook was a singer before, as he had mentioned that a few times already however strangely enough he never heard him sing before.

Jungkook hoped it would somehow make things better, even if just a little. As the song continued, he glanced at Namjoon, hoping to gauge his reaction. Despite his efforts to maintain a bit of normalcy, Jungkook was aware of the balance they were maintaining. The journey ahead was still uncertain, and the presence of J-Hope in the back was a constant reminder of their vulnerability.

As he finished the song, Jungkook felt a sense of relief, though it was fleeting. The silence returned, but it was slightly less oppressive. He wasn’t sure if his singing had made any difference, but it had helped him, even if just a little, to cope with the anxiety and fear that had been gnawing at him.

J-Hope’s thoughts were a whirlwind of fear and confusion, but the song had provided a momentary distraction from the grim reality of his situation. It was a small comfort, and in the midst of his desperation, it was something he clung to, even if he was too afraid to show it.

The journey continued, the jeep rumbling over the uneven terrain, but for a brief moment, the silence was filled with something that reminded them all of better times, of a world that wasn’t so bleak.