The Forbidden Love - between a fangirl and idol (Jungkookff)

Chapter 11: Drifting Apart

The days that followed were a blur for Y/N. She threw herself into work, trying to numb the ache inside her by immersing herself in her projects. The office was bustling as usual, with deadlines looming and meetings filling up her schedule. The city of Seoul was always buzzing around her, but inside, she felt hollow.

The memory of that evening with Jungkook replayed in her mind relentlessly—the way he had looked at her, the softness in his voice, and the raw honesty in his words. It had taken everything in her to walk away from him that night, and yet, the distance she thought would bring clarity only deepened her confusion.

She missed him.

No matter how much she tried to convince herself that it was for the best, she couldn't shake the growing emptiness that came with not seeing or speaking to him. Their connection, no matter how complicated, had sparked something inside her that she hadn't felt in years.

It was during one of these long, sleepless nights that Y/N's phone buzzed. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to hope that it was Jungkook, but it wasn't. It was a message from Adhi, her coworker back in India.

Adhi: "Hey, it's been a while. How's Seoul treating you?"

Y/N smiled at the message. Adhi had always been her closest confidant at work, someone she could rely on to make her laugh when things got tough. She quickly typed a reply.

Y/N: "Hey! It's been hectic, but good. I miss home sometimes, though."

Within seconds, a response came through.

Adhi: "I'm sure you're killing it out there. Everyone here is talking about how great your work has been."

She couldn't help but smile at his words. Adhi had always been encouraging, always believing in her potential, even when she doubted herself.

Adhi: "So... any news from your side? How's the Seoul life treating you outside of work? Met anyone interesting?"

Her heart skipped a beat at the question. Met anyone interesting? She hesitated, unsure of how much she wanted to reveal. Adhi didn't know about Jungkook, of course—no one did. And she wasn't sure how to explain something that she herself was still trying to understand.

Y/N: "Not much going on outside of work. Just trying to keep busy."

Adhi: "Sounds like you need a break. You've been working non-stop."

Y/N sighed. Adhi wasn't wrong. She had been drowning herself in work, but she knew it was more about avoiding her feelings than any real need to stay busy.

Adhi: "Also, speaking of breaks, your parents called me the other day."

Her heart dropped at those words. She could already guess what the conversation had been about.

Y/N: "Oh no... what did they say?"

Adhi: "They're asking about your plans. You know... marriage and all that. They seemed worried."

She closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the familiar pressure settle back on her chest. Her parents had been hinting at marriage for a while now, and she knew they were getting impatient.

Y/N: "Yeah... they've been asking me the same."

Adhi: "I told them you're busy with work, but maybe you should give them a call. They're concerned about you being so far away."

Y/N sighed, staring at her phone for a long moment. She knew Adhi was right, and she knew her parents' concern came from a place of love. But the thought of talking to them about marriage now—especially after everything with Jungkook—felt overwhelming.