Shrouded | JJK

(2) A Bird in a Cage.

At twenty-two, Y/n would've never thought she'd be getting married.

Now, she sat quietly, hands folded in her lap, staring blankly at her reflection. There was nothing beautiful about this moment, nothing hopeful just a deep, sinking sadness.

 In a few minutes, she'd be forced to marry the most feared mob boss in the country—Kang Jihyun. The ruthless leader of the Fracture Syndicate, a man who never cared about anything or anyone. His only desire was to own everything he wanted. And now, she was just another piece in his collection.

A man twenty years older than her.

The door to her suite swung open, revealing the familiar figure Y/n had dreaded. As soon as he stepped inside, Y/n's gaze dropped, tears welling up at the mere sight of him.

Dressed in a dark suit, his bleached blonde hair styled flawlessly, he stood tall, his almond-shaped eyes betraying no emotion as they fell on the woman before him.

"Y/n, come let's—"

"Get the fuck out, Jimin."

Jimin bit his lower lip, guilt flooding his expression as he ran his fingers through his hair, releasing a deep, shaky sigh.

"Y/n, I know you're angry at me... and you have every right to be. I'm sorry—"

"Sorry for what? For possibly ruining my life?" she said, her voice cold as she looked straight at him, her eyes almost glassy with unshed tears.

"Oh my God, no, no, no..." Jimin muttered, panic flooding his voice as he rushed forward, pulling out a tissue to wipe the tear about to slip from her eye.

"Don't fucking touch me!" 

"Y/n, I swear, I wasn't part of all this—"

"You are my best friend, Jimin! And I never knew about any of this? How could you hide the fact that you were involved with the mafia? How could you do this to me?"

"Y/n, please... just don't cry." Jimin's voice trembled as he stepped closer, desperation in his eyes. "He's going to kill me and my family if he finds out you cried because of me."

Y/n was devastated when she found out Jimin worked for The Fracture Syndicate. Her sweet childhood best friend, the one who had always been soft, caring, and selfless, was entangled with a mafia gang. It was a picture she never wanted to imagine.

What terrified her even more was that he worked for the very man who had stalked her for months. The thought of her best friend serving the one who had caused her so much fear left Y/n feeling utterly betrayed.

Y/n knew Jimin had a sick mother to take care of, but out of all the things in the world, he had to become this? A criminal?

"You're a murderer... and you work for the man who's been stalking me, the one forcing me into this marriage. How could you even—"

"Y/n... I don't kill people and it is not like I wanted to do this... I didn't have a choice."

Y/n knew about that the fact that a her best friend her only solace in her shitty life never had an intention to hurt people and his life was miserable as well but it was this misplaced resentment in her head that made her feel this way. She'd rather hate everything and everybody now than seek anything from them.

She sat alone, her life feeling empty and hollow. The pain of believing someone loved her, only to be left without a word, was a bitter pill for Y/n to swallow. The silence, the lack of explanation—it gnawed at her every day.

"Y/n, I... I never knew he was your stalker," her friend confessed, the guilt evident in his voice. "When he talked about a girl, he never mentioned your name. I felt terrible, knowing that this poor girl he kept talking about would become his next victim, but..." He hesitated, the weight of the moment too heavy. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think it was you. I... I'm sorry. I failed you as a friend."

Jimin extended his hand toward her, but Y/n turned sharply, the door creaking as she pushed it open. She stepped into the dim hallway, her breath quickening with each heartbeat. Jimin followed, his footsteps hesitant as he trailed behind her.

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The crowd was silent, a stark contrast to the usual wedding ceremonies filled with laughter and whispers that echoed through the hall. But then again, it was hard to expect joy and smiles at the wedding of the most feared mafia boss.

Men with rifles lined the hallway, each one projecting an air of command while their eyes betrayed the fear lurking within. Y/n stood just outside the door, her floral wedding gown a vibrant splash against the grim atmosphere. The sheer veil shrouded her face, hiding the sadness that cloaked her heart.

The man at the altar—her so-called "husband-to-be"—donned a crisp white shirt and a tailored black blazer, his lips curling into a smile that barely masked the cruelty beneath. His slightly wrinkled face and perfectly styled hair, with just a hint of gray, made Y/n cluck her tongue in disgust at the sight of him.

Y/n felt Jimin's presence beside her as he grasped her arm, and his touch burned against her skin. She couldn't fathom the reality of him leading her toward this man—her perpetrator—binding her to him for eternity. It felt like her best friend was guiding her into a cage, like a bird being led to its imprisonment, fully aware of the consequences that awaited. Or perhaps Jimin wasn't trapped at all; he had chosen this path, leaving her to face the darkness alone.

"Jimin, don't touch me. I hate the mere presence of you."

Jimin's hands fell to his sides, his gaze dropping as he fought to contain the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes.

"Miss Jang," a voice interrupted them, cutting through the tension in the air.

Her "bodyguard," Jungkook, appeared beside them, leaving Jimin standing there, confusion etched on his face.

"What?" she asked, her voice sharp.

"Well... the boss asked me to escort you to him, so may I hold your arm?"

"Look, I'm her best friend. What—"

"Please direct your questions to Boss Kang, Mr. Park," Jungkook replied smoothly, his demeanor unwavering.

Y/n was already furious with Jimin, and she didn't want those misplaced resentments clouding her mind. It felt strangely peaceful to be guided to the cage by her prison guard rather than by someone who had been a constant presence in her life.

Being led by someone she didn't know felt preferable to being walked toward her fate by the person she had always considered her only comfort.

Y/n nodded at Jungkook, folding her arm for him to take. He gently grasped her elbow, his fingers warm against her skin.

Together, they stepped into the hall, walking toward the misery of being bound to a sinister man, while Jimin silently trailed behind, eventually taking a seat on one of the benches.

Y/n could see the priest sweating bullets, even though it was the monsoon season. She could feel his tension radiating around the room.

Her eyes wandered, taking in her surroundings, and then they widened. Gripping Jungkook's arm tighter, shock coursed through her.

A mix of betrayal and hatred twisted in her gut, like a knife stabbing deep into her heart. First, it was in her back, and now it was just a bonus to her heart. How delightful.

In the corner of the hall, a figure stood with a rifle, a dark shadow against the backdrop of the ceremony.

Her breath hitched, and her gaze sharpened.

 The same man who had shattered her heart just a day before Kang Jihyun's "proposal", now stood there, a weapon in his hands, watching her with an intensity that sent chills down her spine.

Her ex-boyfriend the one she truly loved, Her Min Yoongi.

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A/n: 😀