𝓑𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓮 (𝓙𝓲𝓴𝓸𝓸𝓴)

chapter 17

Jimin's POV

I stare at my husband, Jungkook, as he stands next to a girl who is holding his arm. They both look at me in shock, as if I wasn't supposed to be here. The weight of disappointment crushes me in ways words can't describe. All the effort I put into tonight's surprise, every detail I meticulously planned for him, suddenly feels like a joke. And the worst part? No one was even to blame. Just fate, twisting the knife in deeper.

The disappointment fades, replaced by a confusing swirl of anger and hurt. She's still holding onto him, her grip secure around his arm, even as her eyes meet mine. She can see that I've noticed, yet she doesn't let go. Something in me churns, a mix of hurt and an unfamiliar sense of jealousy. I don't want to judge her unfairly, but her presence here has ruined everything I wanted to share with him tonight. Whether it's because of the ruined plans or something else entirely, I can't shake the feeling that I already dislike her.

Clearing his throat, Jungkook steps forward. "Jimin, this is Ava, my colleague from the company. Ava, this is my husband, Jimin."

I extend my hand and say with an English accent, "Hi! I'm Jimin, Jungkook's husband." My tone comes out sharper than I intended, but I can't help it. My gaze darts down to her hand, which still clings to Jungkook's arm.

"Hi, Jimin! I've heard so much about you." Ava smiles warmly, but there's something unsettling about her expression. While her lips form a gentle smile, her eyes hold a cold glint that doesn't match. Maybe I'm imagining it, but something feels off.

Sensing the tension, Jungkook clears his throat again. "Ava's heel broke, that's why she's holding onto me," he says, lifting their linked arms slightly, as if to excuse the contact.

I nod, trying to push the jealousy and hurt back down. It's silly to be mad over something as small as this, isn't it? Still, it stings. Without a word, I open the door wider to let them in, though my mood dampens every effort to appear friendly. Ava may think I'm rude, but at this moment, I can't bring myself to care.

---

Jungkook's POV

The tension in the air is almost stifling. I'm surprised by how coldly Jimin's behaving; this isn't like him at all. He's always so cheerful and considerate. But tonight, he seems... distant, as if he's upset over something I can't quite grasp. I try to rationalize his reaction, wondering if maybe he misunderstood why Ava was holding my arm.

When he introduced himself as my husband, there was a possessiveness in his voice I hadn't heard before. This isn't how I had pictured Jimin meeting Ava. The awkward silence stretches on, so I clear my throat and explain her broken heel, hoping it will help dissolve the tension. It works a little-Jimin opens the door wider, and we step inside.

The moment I take in the sight of the living room, my breath catches. Rose petals are scattered around the room, candles flicker warmly, and a beautifully laid-out dinner table waits for us. It's romantic, heartfelt, and perfect... and now ruined. I glance at Jimin, his head lowered, a sad pout pulling at his lips. Guilt twists in my chest.

Now I understand why he seemed so upset. He must have gone to all this trouble to surprise me, and I unknowingly ruined it by bringing Ava along. What can I possibly say?

Ava breaks the silence, looking around. "Wow, Jimin, did you do all this? It's stunning!" Her tone sounds genuinely impressed, but when I look over at Jimin, he avoids my gaze, staring instead at the floor.

"You two wait here. I'll clear this up," he mumbles, his voice almost a whisper. But his eyes, glistening with barely contained hurt, say so much more. I feel a pang in my chest, realizing just how deeply I've hurt him.