Chapter 29

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by _jaywish

by _jaywish

(A/N: Emotional chapter uwu (ew))

The days pass, and here I am again, sitting in the same café, fingers drumming on the table. The music video just dropped thirty minutes ago, and I'm buzzing with excitement, but I can't shake this feeling in my gut. She's coming. I know it.

The door swings open, and there she is. Minseo. But something's different. Her usual cool, calm vibe feels dimmed, and the brightness in her eyes has been replaced by a hint of vulnerability. She looks... miserable. My heart sinks.

She locks eyes with me, and for a moment, it feels like everything else fades away. But then she takes a breath, her expression serious. "Not here. We need to talk alone, in private. Take me to your place."

Oh boy, this doesn't sound good. I nod, and we leave the café. The silence between us is heavy, and I can feel her turmoil. As we walk, I try to think of something to say, but nothing feels right. What if she's about to break my heart?

I unlock the door to my apartment and let her in. As soon as the door closes, it's like a dam bursts. She breaks down, tears spilling over as she sinks onto the couch. "I- I haven't been coping well," she chokes out, her voice shaking. "I feel so lost, Jungkook. It's like I'm drowning in my own life."

What do I even say? I sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close, wanting to comfort her but unsure how. "What's going on, Minseo?" I ask gently, my heart racing with concern. "You can tell me anything."

She wipes her tears, looking up at me with those big eyes that usually hold so much light. "It's just... everything has been overwhelming. My writing isn't going well, and I feel like I'm stuck in this endless loop. I thought being with you would help, but it's only made me realize how messed up I really am."

Damn, this hurts to hear. I lean in closer, brushing a thumb gently across her cheek, wiping away a tear. "It's okay. You don't have to rush anything. Just tell me what's going on. We're in this together, right?"

Her eyes search mine, filled with fear and uncertainty. "I'm not ready for commitment. There are things from my past that I haven't recovered from. I thought I could handle this, but..."

Shit. This feels heavy. I wrap both arms around her now, holding her tighter. "Minseo, you don't have to feel like you're in this alone. I'm here for you. You can talk to me about anything."

She takes a deep breath, looking more vulnerable than I've ever seen her. "I've been hurt before, Jungkook. I let someone in, and he just... left me shattered. I don't want to put you through that. I don't want to hold you back from what you want."

This isn't fair. I want to shout that all I want is her, but I know I have to keep it together for her. "You're not a burden, Minseo. You're someone I care about, and I want to be there for you, no matter what. We can take it slow."

She nods, tears glistening in her eyes. "But what if I can't give you what you need? What if I just end up hurting you too?"

That's the fear, isn't it? "Look, I'm not asking for anything crazy. Just your time, your honesty. I'm willing to be patient. We can go at your pace. I just... I want to explore this connection we have without the pressure of labels, you know?"

Her gaze softens, and for a brief moment, I see a flicker of hope in her eyes. "So... what do we do now?"

Let's keep this simple. I think for a moment, my mind racing. "What if we keep it casual for now? A situationship? No pressure, just us figuring things out together. We can hang out, enjoy each other's company without the weight of a serious relationship hanging over our heads."

She bites her lip, and I can tell she's contemplating it all. "It's just... you've been so great, Jungkook. I don't want to mess this up."

Please don't say that. I gently lift her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. "You're not going to mess anything up. I want you to be honest with me. If you need time, I get it. Just don't disappear on me again, okay?"

"Okay," she whispers, looking down. "I just... I don't want to lose you."

You won't. I lean in, feeling the weight of the moment settle between us. My heart races as I brush my lips against hers gently, hesitant but longing. Her lips are soft, and for that brief moment, everything else fades away.

When we pull back, her cheeks are flushed, and a shy smile creeps onto her face. "Wow, that was... unexpected."

I didn't mean to spring it on you, but damn, I needed that. "Yeah, well, it felt right. But seriously, if you ever feel overwhelmed or need space, just tell me. I promise I won't freak out."

She chuckles softly, the sound warming my heart. "You make it sound so easy."

"Because it should be," I reply, my smile growing wider. "Life's too short to complicate things. Let's just enjoy this."

We sit in comfortable silence, the weight of our unspoken connection hanging in the air. I feel like I finally understand her. I know it won't be easy, but we're in this together. And that's enough for now.