"Under the skin"//jjk

Chapter 13-

"Jungkook's POV"

After YN left, I stood in the middle of the living room, frozen, as if the world around me had come to a halt. The air felt thick with unspoken words and unresolved feelings, and my heart was heavy, weighed down by a confusion I couldn't articulate. It felt like I was letting go of something precious, something vital to my existence, but for the life of me, I couldn't grasp what that was.

The silence that enveloped the room was deafening, contrasting starkly with the vibrant, sunlit world just outside the window. I could still recall YN's face, twisted in hurt and anger, as she processed the reality of the situation. The image haunted me, replaying endlessly in my mind.

The relationship between YN and me was complicated. I knew I desired her, craved her, but hurting her felt like the deepest cut, one that I couldn't bear. The thought of my actions causing her pain twisted my insides, and I was left grappling with feelings I didn't know how to express.

Minutes passed, and I found myself lost in thought, grappling with the chaotic jumble of emotions swirling inside me. It was as if time had slowed, stretching every second into an eternity. Just then, Sohee's voice cut through the suffocating silence, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. "Kookie," she said, her tone bright yet oblivious to the storm raging within me. "Grandpa wants us to get married as soon as possible. When do you think it's the right time to get married?"

Her words struck me like a lightning bolt, igniting a firestorm of irritation that surged through my body. I turned to face her, my chest tightening with a sudden, visceral rage. "We aren't getting married, and you are not my fiancée!" I snapped, the words bursting forth before I could rein them in.

Sohee stood there, shock written all over her face, her features paling as she processed my outburst. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. It seemed incomprehensible to her that I would reject the idea of our marriage so outrightly.

"You heard what I said," I replied, my voice steady but laced with frustration. "I never said yes to the marriage. It was Grandpa's decision, not mine. And I'll never agree to it. I don't love you." The finality of my words hung heavy in the air, and I could see the hurt flash across her face, disbelief morphing into something I couldn't quite understand. Neither did I have time to dwell on it.

With that, I took a step closer, my expression hardening. "And for the record, Sohee," I warned, my voice low and fierce, "stay away from me. I know you are the one who pulled strings behind me to get grandpa agree to this, your obsession with me will lead to nothing. Just get out."

In that moment, Sohee reached out, her hand grasping for mine as if trying to bridge the gap between us. "Kookie, please—" she began, desperation creeping into her voice. But the instinct to push her away surged through me, and I jerked my hand back, feeling a rush of anger and frustration.

"Don't," I said sharply, my voice a firm barrier. "Just... stay away from me." The words felt heavy, a desperate plea for distance. I couldn't handle the pressure she was trying to place on me, nor could I bear the thought of being dragged into a future I didn't want.

Her eyes widened, a mixture of shock and hurt flooding her features. "Kookie, wait—" she started, but I turned away, not having the patience to listen to her pathetic explanation about how much she loved me. I needed to escape, to put distance between myself and the reality of the moment. I hurried upstairs to my room, the sunlight streaming in through the windows feeling almost mocking against my inner turmoil.

Once I reached my room, I began to pace back and forth, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn't quite pin down. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, and I struggled to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside. I was trapped in a storm of expectations, both from my family and myself. I needed to think, to find clarity amidst the chaos.