His Cold Heart J.JK

Chapter 11: Fractured Connections

Tuesday morning dawned gray and overcast, mirroring the heaviness in Yoonji's heart. The air felt charged with unresolved emotions as she walked into the office, determined to confront the rift between her and Jungkook. She had spent the night replaying their last conversation, trying to understand his anger and her own hurt.

As she settled at her desk, Yoonji glanced toward Jungkook's office. He was already at work, focused on his laptop, his expression cold and unyielding. She took a deep breath and approached, hoping to break through the tension.

"Jungkook, can we talk?" she said, her voice steady despite the anxiety swirling inside her.

He didn't look up, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "Not now, Yoonji."

"Please, it's important," she pressed, refusing to back down.

Finally, he turned to face her, irritation flashing in his eyes. "What's important? You want to talk about Soojin again? Because I'm done discussing her."

"No, I want to talk about us," Yoonji replied, desperation creeping into her tone. "I don't want this anger between us. It's tearing me apart."

"Maybe you should have thought about that before you pushed me," he shot back, his voice sharp. "You don't know what you're getting into."

Yoonji felt her heart race at his words. "I want to be in this with you, but you're making it impossible! I'm not afraid of your past, but you have to let me in."

"You think it's that simple?" Jungkook's voice was laced with frustration. "I have a lot at stake here. I can't afford to let someone like Soojin ruin everything I've worked for."

"Like I said before, you can't keep shutting me out," she insisted, anger flaring within her. "You're treating me like I'm a distraction instead of a partner."

He stood up, clearly agitated. "You don't understand the pressure I'm under! I can't afford to let anyone close while I'm dealing with this."

Yoonji's throat tightened. "So you're just going to push me away? You think that's the answer?"

Jungkook ran a hand through his hair, his expression a mix of anger and turmoil. "Maybe it is. Maybe it's better for you if I keep my distance."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. "Better for me? You're the one who's making this hard! I care about you, and I want to help you through this!"

"I don't need your help!" he snapped, his voice echoing in the office. "I can handle my problems on my own."

Yoonji's eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to back down. "Is that what you think? That you have to handle everything alone? That you can't let anyone in?"

Jungkook's gaze darkened, and for a moment, she thought he might break. But instead, he turned away, his back to her. "I'm not in the mood for this, Yoonji. Just drop it."

"Fine," she said, her voice trembling. "But know that I won't give up on us. You can't push me away without a fight."

Without waiting for a response, Yoonji left his office, her heart heavy with disappointment and frustration. She returned to her desk, fighting back tears as she tried to focus on her work. But every glance at Jungkook only intensified her resolve.

As the hours dragged on, Yoonji felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She needed to find a way to break through Jungkook's walls, but she didn't know how. The anger between them felt insurmountable, yet she was determined to show him that she was in this for the long haul.

During lunch, Yoonji decided to talk to a colleague she trusted, seeking advice. "I don't know how to reach him," she confided, frustration spilling out. "He's so angry, and I just want to help."

"Sometimes people push others away because they're afraid of getting hurt," her colleague replied thoughtfully. "You might need to give him space but also let him know you're still there."

That was the advice Yoonji needed. She couldn't force Jungkook to open up, but she could remain steadfast in her support. As she finished lunch, a plan began to form in her mind.

Later that afternoon, Yoonji decided to send Jungkook a text: *I'm giving you space, but I'm still here if you need me. You don't have to go through this alone.*

She stared at her phone, heart racing, waiting for a response. After a few agonizing moments, it buzzed with his reply: *I'm busy. Don't wait around for me.*

Her heart sank, but she forced herself to remain hopeful. Tomorrow would be a new day, and she would find a way to break through to him, even if it meant navigating the storm together.

As she packed her things at the end of the day, she glanced back at Jungkook's office. He sat there, immersed in his work, anger still evident in his posture. Yoonji knew this battle wasn't over, and she was ready to face it head-on.

Tomorrow, she would confront the challenges of Jungkook's past with determination and resilience, refusing to let the shadows of Soojin define their future.

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