"Entangled in the Embrace of an Enemy'

When eyes meet again

Janni woke to the soft morning light creeping through her curtains, but her body felt unbearably heavy. The bruises and marks from the incident ached with every slight movement as if even her bed rejected comfort.

She tried to rise, but the weight of everything she'd been through pulled her back down-both physically and mentally.

Her phone buzzed with notifications-missed calls from Sinhari and messages asking why she hadn't shown up to class. She stared at the screen before turning it face-down, unable to face anyone right now.

Sinhari kept sending concerned messages, but Janni only gave vague replies, sticking to her excuse of being sick. She hadn't gone to college in a week, using the same excuse to avoid facing anyone.

She knew that if they saw each other, Sinhari would immediately see through her lies-especially with those marks on her body. But Janni wasn't ready to confront the truth-not yet.

After a week, Janni finally returned to college. As soon as she saw Sinhari, her friend rushed over, concern etched all over her face.

"How are you? Are you okay now?" Sinhari asked, her voice filled with worry.

Janni nodded with a weak smile, forcing herself to say, "Yeah, I'm okay."

"I wanted to come see you, but I didn't know your new address," Sinhari added, her eyebrows furrowing. "You never told me."

Janni gave a small shrug, trying to downplay everything. "It's okay. I'm fine now."

Sinhari glanced at her watch and then back at Janni. "It's time for class, but let's go to the canteen first and grab some morning tea," she suggested with a gentle smile.

Janni nodded, feeling a sense of relief at the idea. "Yeah, that sounds good," she said softly. "A cup of tea is the perfect way to start fresh."

Together, they headed toward the canteen, the quiet comfort of Sinhari presence making it feel like the day might just be manageable after all.

As they walked into the canteen, Sinhari leaned closer to Janni, her voice low but curious. "Did you know there's a guy who started here last week? You've missed so much while you were away."

Janni shrugged, trying to hide her disinterest. "I guess I didn't really miss anything important," she replied, though deep down, she knew that the struggles she faced were far more significant than new students or campus gossip.

After finishing their tea, Sinhari glanced at her watch. "It's almost time for class. We should head over before we're late."

Janni nodded, standing up and gathering her things. They walked out of the canteen together, weaving through the bustling campus. As they approached the lecture hall, Janni felt a small sense of normalcy return.

As the lecture ended, Sinhari quickly packed up her things and turned to Janni. "I have to submit a practical. The professor called me, so I need to go meet him."

Janni nodded, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Alright, I'll wait for you in the library. Meet me there."

Sinhari smiled. "Okay, see you soon."

Janni watched her friend leave before heading toward the library, hoping to find some peace in the quiet space while she waited.

As she made her way through the campus, lost in her thoughts, she suddenly collided with something solid. Startled, she took a step back and looked up, her breath catching in her throat. Standing before her was a tall, broad-shouldered guy, his intense gaze locking onto hers.

Her heart dropped.

Her eyes widened in fear as she realized who it was. He was none other than her nightmare-Jeon Jungkook. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she froze in place, paralyzed by the sight of him.

His face remained neutral, showing no hint of emotion as he stared down at her. For a moment, there was nothing but silence, the world around them fading into the background.

Then, in a calm, almost casual tone, he spoke. "Hey, girl, be careful. Are you okay?"

The sound of his voice snapped Janni back to reality, but her heart still raced, her body tense. It was as if the air had thickened around her, making it hard to breathe.

My mind raced with questions. Did he not recognize me?
What is he doing here?
And why is he wearing the college uniform?

None of it made sense. Why is he here? Why now?

A flood of confusion swirled in my head, but I couldn't voice any of it. My body remained frozen, trapped between fear and the overwhelming urge to run.

Maybe he didn't expect me to be here, I thought, trying to calm my racing heart. If he hasn't recognized me yet, then I should act normal too-as if I don't know him either.

The idea of pretending like nothing happened seemed like my only way out. I needed to keep my composure, no matter how much my mind was screaming to run.

I bowed quickly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," I mumbled, clutching my bag tightly as if it could somehow shield me from the weight of the moment.

Without waiting for his response, I hurried away, my heart pounding in my chest, trying to escape the storm of memories swirling in my head.

But then, his voice called out from behind, "Wait...."

I froze, every nerve on edge. I could feel his footsteps growing closer, each step heavy and deliberate. The sound echoed in my ears, blending with the rapid thudding of my heartbeat, which seemed to grow louder with every passing second.

He stopped right behind me, his tall frame casting a shadow that felt impossible to ignore. My breath caught in my throat as he leaned down, his warm breath grazing my ear.

"Have I seen you somewhere before?" he whispered, his voice low and smooth, sending a chill down my spine. The warmth of his breath mixed with the chilling intensity of his presence, making it impossible for me to think straight.

I quickly said, "No," and walked away, my heart racing as I headed toward the library. My phone buzzed, and I saw Sinhari name flash on the screen.

"Hey, it'll take me a bit longer," she said. "I'll catch you in the next class."

I hung up, feeling slightly relieved. Thank God, he didn't recognize me, I thought. Has he really forgotten? What is he even doing here? A flood of questions raced through my mind. If he hadn't recognized me, that was a good thing..

But just as I felt the faintest sense of calm, a hand suddenly grabbed me from behind. Before I could react, I was pulled into a dark, empty classroom. The door slammed shut, and I was pushed against the cold wall.

The air knocked from my lungs as his body pressed close, trapping me. His strong grip pinned both my wrists against the wall, and I could feel his breath, hot and unsettling, against my skin.

I tried to speak, to scream, but before I could utter a word, his voice cut through the darkness, a cruel whisper laced with mockery.

"What do you think, Bella?" His lips brushed close to my ear. Sent a shiver ran down my spine.

"You think I forgot you?

"You think I forgot your pretty face?...