From Reluctance to Desire: A Mafia Story

✨THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED✨

The days passed slowly in the small cabin, the thick tension between Jungkook and me making every moment feel unbearable. Jungkook had started to recover from his wounds, his strength returning day by day. But even though his body was healing, the distance between us remained. Every time I tried to talk to him, every time I approached, he would pull away—physically and emotionally.

He wouldn't look at me for more than a second. He wouldn't respond when I spoke. He was cold, distant, like a stranger in the body of the man I loved. My heart broke a little more each time I reached out, only to be met with silence.

One afternoon, Taehyung came back from scouting, his face serious. He pulled Jungkook aside, and even though they were speaking quietly, I could sense the weight of their conversation. I stood by the window, watching them from afar, feeling the walls of my guilt and regret closing in on me.

I couldn't hear everything, but I caught enough to piece it together. Taehyung was telling him about Zalgo and my father—Hyung Jo. They had taken over the empire, solidifying their control while we had been hiding away. The news hit Jungkook hard. I could see it in the way his fists clenched, in the darkness that clouded his expression.

Revenge. It was always revenge with him. But now, I didn't even know if his revenge was for his empire—or for me.

That night, I couldn't hold back anymore. I found Jungkook alone, sitting by the window, staring out into the moonlit forest. His expression was unreadable, as always. I stood in the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest, unsure if he would even listen.

"Jungkook," I said softly, my voice trembling. He didn't turn to look at me.

I stepped closer, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Please, talk to me. I... I know I hurt you. I know I betrayed your trust, but I didn't know. I was so angry, and confused, and—"

"Stop," Jungkook cut me off, his voice cold and hard. He still didn't look at me.

But I couldn't stop. I couldn't let this silence, this distance, eat away at us any longer. I dropped to my knees in front of him, my hands trembling as I reached out and grabbed his hand. His skin was warm, but he didn't move. He didn't squeeze back. He just let his hand sit there, motionless, as if I were nothing to him.

"Jungkook, please," I begged, tears streaming down my face. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I made a mistake. I didn't mean to betray you. I love you, and I don't want to lose you. Please, forgive me."

For a brief moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes—something like the Jungkook I used to know. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He pulled his hand away, standing up abruptly.

"You think saying sorry will fix everything?" he asked, his voice low and bitter. "You think your apology will undo what you did? I trusted you, Y/N. I loved you, and you—"

His voice cracked, just for a second, but he quickly masked it with anger. "You made your choice. And now I'm making mine."

Before I could say anything, Jungkook turned and walked away, leaving me on the floor, sobbing. The sound of the door slamming echoed through the cabin, but the silence that followed was even louder.

Taehyung and Jimin rushed in, both of them looking concerned. Taehyung knelt beside me, his voice soft. "Y/N, come on. You can't keep beating yourself up like this."

I shook my head, wiping my tears with shaky hands. "I can't—he won't even look at me. He hates me, Taehyung. He thinks I betrayed him."

Jimin sat down next to me, his eyes full of sympathy. "He's hurt, Y/N. And you're hurt too. It's going to take time, but... he'll come around."