IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR ABSENCE

CHAPTER 29

As they sat together, sharing quiet smiles and glances, Jungwoon suddenly set the ice cream tub aside and looked at Y/N with an intensity that made her heart race. "Why don't we dance?" he suggested, his voice low and inviting, a soft smile playing on his lips.

Y/N felt a flutter of excitement in her chest at the suggestion, a part of her yearning for the intimacy of the moment. "Here? Now?" she asked, trying to play it cool, though the anticipation coursed through her veins.

"Why not? Just you and me," Jungwoon replied, extending his hand toward her with a playful glimmer in his eyes. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

With a mix of hesitation and thrill, she took his hand, allowing him to pull her up from the couch. He led her to the center of the room, and as he wrapped his arms around her waist, Y/N felt a warmth spreading through her. It felt so familiar, almost too familiar.

He pressed play on his phone, and a soft melody began to fill the space, wrapping around them like a warm blanket. As they swayed together, Y/N felt the rhythm of the music ignite memories she had long buried.

Then, as the song progressed, Jungwoon began to lead her through a series of steps that felt all too familiar. Y/N's heart raced as flashes of a different dance, a different moment, surfaced in her mind—one filled with laughter and love, with Jungkook's arms securely around her.

"Wait... this step! Jungkook and I—" she began, her voice trailing off as the realization hit her like a tidal wave.

Jungwoon's grip on her tightened slightly, and she searched his eyes, looking for answers. "Jungwoon, how do you know this dance?" she asked, her heart pounding. "Why are you dancing like him?"

He hesitated, a flicker of something darker passing over his features. "I—" Jungwoon started, but the words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths.

Jungwoon paused, his expression shifting, and for a moment, the warm light in the room felt cold. "Y/N, there's something I need to tell you."

Her heart raced as she felt the weight of his gaze on her. "What is it?"

With a deep breath, he stepped back slightly, the intensity of his gaze unwavering. "It's me. It's Jungkook."

The world around her spun as Y/N processed his words, disbelief washing over her. "No... it can't be. Jungkook? But you... you died!"

He shook his head, his expression a mix of desperation and sorrow. "I had to make them think I was dead. It was the only way to keep you safe."

Y/N felt her heart shatter as the truth sank in. "But why didn't you come back? Why didn't you tell me?"

Jungkook stepped closer, urgency flooding his voice. "I thought you'd be better off without me! I wanted to protect you from everything I've become. I thought if you believed I was gone, you could move on—find happiness without me."

"You left me to grieve!" Y/N shouted, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I thought I lost you forever! I was broken!"

"I know, and I'm sorry! I never wanted to hurt you!" Jungkook replied, his voice thick with anguish. "But it was too dangerous! I had to watch from afar. You were my light, and I couldn't let them extinguish that."

"So you thought disappearing was the answer?" Y/N retorted, her voice trembling with pain. "You have no idea what I went through! I lived in darkness, haunted by the thought of you—wondering if I could have saved you!"

He reached out, cupping her face in his hands, but she flinched away, feeling overwhelmed. "No, Y/N, listen!" he pleaded, desperation etched in every line of his face. "I did this for you! I couldn't bear the thought of you getting hurt because of me!"