NADO SARANGHAE

Part 11 ♡

Author's POV:

After departing from Yn's house, the late afternoon sun cast a warm glow on Jungkook as he made his way home, but a heaviness lingered in his heart, reflecting the past few hours. He stepped into the familiar entrance of his house, the scent of home-cooked meals mingling with the air, but his mother's tense expression quickly pulled him back to reality.

"Jungkook ah, where were you last night?" she began, her voice a mix of concern and weariness.

"You have no idea how tense I was until your father informed me about your emergency meeting! Have you eaten anything? Look at your face—it's so pale! Why aren't you answering any of my questions—wae?"

Jungkook felt overwhelmed, a torrent of emotions swirling within him as he faced her barrage of questions. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, grounding himself while trying to steady the storm that raged inside him. 

"Mom... please take a break between the questions," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "You haven't given me a chance to answer... You're just throwing questions at me all at once. Yes, I'm fine, and I had my breakfast. I just need to rest for a bit, okay?"

His mother's worry seemed to soften for a moment as she held his gaze, her brow slightly furrowed with concern. "Okay, as you say... but don't overwork yourself, alright? You know how hard it is for me to see you like this," she said, her voice lowering to a soft, almost pleading tone.

She reached up and tapped his cheeks lightly, a gesture brimming with affection. 

"Hmm," Jungkook sighed, a sound filled with both appreciation and exhaustion. He nodded, hoping to reassure her, before making his way to his room, leaving behind his mother whose heart was laden with the weight of worry, silently praying for her son's happiness and well-being.

Once in the solitude of his room, Jungkook indulged in a long, hot shower, the water cascading over him, washing away not just the physical fatigue but also the worries that had accumulated in his mind. He stood there for a while, lost in thought, letting the warmth envelop him like a sanctuary, pondering over the responsibilities that lay ahead of him. His father's words from the hospital echoed in his mind, resolute yet gentle, reminding him of the burdens he had yet to face but also the strength he needed to muster.

After feeling renewed, Jungkook settled onto his bed, allowing his body to sink into the familiar embrace of cool sheets. He stared up at the ceiling, the painted clouds above blurring into a reminder of happier times. 

As his mind drifted, he found himself reminiscing about Yn—the way she had sparkled with innocence, her doe-like eyes filled with a curiosity that seemed to transcend her years, and how that purity spoke of a world where hope still thrived. Her laughter resonated in his heart, igniting a warmth within him that banished the shadows of his burdens, even if just for a moment.

A soft smile graced his lips, a reflection of the joy she brought into his life, a brief respite from the weight he carried. It was her essence—bright, untainted, and vivid—that allowed him to escape the harshness of reality, if only for a few peaceful moments.