IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR ABSENCE

CHAPTER 25

The next morning, Y/N slowly woke up, blinking against the soft light filtering through the heavy curtains of the guest room. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. The room was unfamiliar—the sheets too crisp, the pillows too plush. Then it all came flooding back.

Jungwoon.

The mansion.

The rain.

She sat up in bed, rubbing her temples as the events of the previous night replayed in her mind. After fleeing Taehyung's place, she had ended up here, in the company of a man who felt like a stranger yet gave off a sense of familiarity she couldn't shake. Her phone still lay untouched on the nightstand, switched off, as she hadn't been ready to face the world outside just yet.

The air in the room felt heavy, like it was holding onto her confusion and emotions from the day before. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood, feeling the cool floor beneath her bare feet. The mansion was silent, only the distant sound of rain against the windows providing any noise.

She walked over to the window, pulling back the curtain slightly. The world outside was still soaked from last night's storm, the garden glistening in the early morning light. The peacefulness of the scene felt like a stark contrast to the chaos in her mind.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the room, trying to shake off the fog of sleep. She had to figure out what to do next. She couldn't stay here forever, but going back to Taehyung... back to that life, felt impossible now.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door, breaking through her thoughts.

"Y/N?" Jungwoon's voice came from the other side, calm and measured. "Are you awake?"

She hesitated for a moment, then walked to the door and opened it slightly. Jungwoon stood there, looking composed as ever, though there was a hint of concern in his eyes.

"I brought you some coffee," he said, holding up a mug. "Thought you might need it after everything."

Y/N managed a small smile and opened the door wider, stepping aside to let him in. "Thank you," she murmured, taking the warm cup from him. The aroma was comforting, and she took a sip, letting the warmth spread through her.

Jungwoon watched her for a moment, his expression soft but unreadable. "How are you feeling?"

Y/N sat on the edge of the bed, cradling the mug in her hands. "Honestly... I don't know. I feel like my whole world is upside down."

He nodded, taking a seat in the armchair by the window. "That's understandable. You've been through a lot in the past day."

Y/N looked down into her coffee, the swirling steam mirroring her muddled thoughts. She knew she needed answers, but how could she even begin to untangle the mess that her life had become?

"Last night... it felt like everything I thought I knew was wrong," she whispered, more to herself than to him.

Jungwoon leaned forward slightly, his gaze intense but kind. "You're safe here. Take your time to figure things out. No pressure."

Y/N looked up at him, something about his calm demeanor making her feel just a little more at ease. "Thank you," she said softly. "For letting me stay here."

Jungwoon gave a slight smile and nodded. "You don't need to thank me." He stood up slowly, making his way to the door. "I'll let you have some space. When you're ready, we can talk more."