Crossed Paths (Jungkook ff)

20. (●'◡'●)

Y/N's POV-

Jungkook looked at me with an intensity that made my heart race. He stepped closer, and I felt my breath hitch. Gently, he reached out, brushing my hair away from my neck, exposing the marks that had been hidden. His touch, unlike the masked man's, was soft, comforting, and instead of fear, I felt safe. He stared at the marks, his expression unreadable, but there was a deep emotion in his eyes that I couldn't quite place. Then, without a word, he leaned in and began kissing the bruises gently, as if trying to erase the pain they represented.

I felt breathless, but not from fear. For the first time since the incident, I felt the weight of those awful memories slowly begin to fade away. His touch was healing in a way I hadn't expected, and for a fleeting moment, I almost forgot what had happened. When he finally pulled away, I couldn't meet his gaze, feeling a deep sense of shyness overtaking me.

"I'm sorry," Jungkook whispered.

Surprised, I looked up at him. "It wasn't your fault," I said softly. "You weren't there when I got kidnapped. You couldn't have stopped it."

But he looked at me with guilt, as if he was blaming himself for not being able to protect me sooner. I could see the regret in his eyes, and I reached out, gently touching his arm. "Really," I reassured him again, "It wasn't your fault."

Without warning, Jungkook pulled me into a hug. At first, I was shocked, unsure of how to react, but slowly, I wrapped my arms around him. In that moment, everything felt peaceful, as if nothing bad could ever happen again. His embrace was warm, strong, and protective. It felt like a shield, guarding me from the horrors I had just experienced. For the first time, there were no snarky comments between us, no teasing or glares—just a quiet understanding.

After what felt like minutes, Jungkook pulled away slightly, his gaze softening. "Let's go. The others are waiting."

I nodded, but as he turned to leave, I stopped him. "Wait." He turned back, looking at me with curiosity. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "If you hadn't come when you did... I don't know what would've happened."

A tear slipped down my cheek as the weight of what could've happened dawned upon me. Before I could wipe it away, Jungkook did, his thumb brushing my skin softly. "I'll always protect you," he said with quiet determination.

I swallowed hard, grateful for his words. Together, we walked downstairs, returning to the dining area where the others were waiting. Their gazes immediately fell on us as we entered, but their smiles were warm and welcoming. I felt a small sense of comfort in their presence and returned their smiles, grateful to not feel so alone.

But my mind was swirling with questions. I had to know more. "What were you doing there?" I finally asked Jungkook as I sat back down beside him.

Everyone seemed to tense up at my question, exchanging glances that made me feel uneasy. I watched them closely, confused by their nervousness.

After a moment, Jungkook spoke. "It was our rival company," he explained. "We have our men inside their company to keep an eye on them, and we found out about this disgusting plan they had... to sell girls to make money. We couldn't just stay silent."

My eyes widened in shock. "Selling girls... for money?" The words felt vile on my tongue. How shameless they are. I was so angry and disgusted hearing this. "That's horrible. We need to report this to the police—"

Before I could finish, Jimin quickly cut in, "We already did. Don't worry about it."

Namjoon nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's taken care of."

But something about their hurried responses didn't sit right with me. There was an odd tension in the air, but I decided to let it go for now.

Taehyung spoke calmly, his voice soothing. "You don't need to worry about any of that right now. You should rest."