Forbidden Lecture

chapter 28

Slowly, she approached the living room, the sound of his cries growing louder with every step she took. Jungkook was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, knees drawn up to his chest. He was sobbing like a broken child, his shoulders heaving with the force of his grief. His hand was over his mouth, muffling the sounds, but it was clear he was trying to be quiet, to not let her hear.

Y/N's steps faltered, unsure of what to do. She had never seen this side of him before. The monster who had taken her so forcefully just moments ago was now reduced to a trembling wreck before her eyes. She felt a twinge of pity, of confusion. Was this another game? Another way to manipulate her?

Her hand hovered in the air, unsure of whether to touch him or not. But something in his shattered expression made her reach out, tentatively placing her hand on his shoulder. "Jungkook?" she called softly. But he didn't react, his eyes glazed over with pain and fear, his words a jumbled mess of pleas and incoherent ramblings.

"Please don't," he sobbed, his eyes squeezed shut. "It's really cold. Let me inside. It's scary." His voice was barely a whisper, the words a desperate mantra that seemed to echo through the empty hotel suite. Y/N felt a chill run down her spine, her heart aching at the sight of him like this. Was this a glimpse into the man behind the monster?

Tentatively, she placed her hand on his shoulder, the warmth of the towel a stark contrast to the coolness of his skin. "Jungkook," she repeated, her voice softer this time. He flinched at her touch, his eyes flying open, but the terror didn't leave them. "What's happening?" she whispered, kneeling beside him.

He didn't respond, just kept repeating the same words, his body trembling with the force of his sobs. "It's okay," she murmured, her hand rubbing circles on his back, trying to soothe him. "You're safe here." But he didn't seem to hear her, his eyes staring through her, lost in some nightmare she couldn't begin to understand.

Finally, unable to stand his pain any longer, Y/N took a deep breath and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. "It's okay," she whispered into his ear, her voice a gentle croon. "I'm here for you." Jungkook's body went rigid for a moment, his muscles tensing before he collapsed into her, his arms wrapping around her waist as he clung to her like a lifeline.

His sobs grew louder, the tremors in his body shaking them both. Y/N held him tighter, her heart breaking for the man who had hurt her so much. She didn't understand what was happening, but she knew that in that moment, he needed her more than ever. She stroked his hair, her touch gentle and soothing, whispering words of comfort into the quiet of the room.

The whole night passed in a blur of tears and trembling, with Jungkook clinging to her like a lost soul. Y/N had never felt so torn - part of her was still afraid of him, but the other part couldn't bear to see him like this. As dawn approached, she felt the beginnings of a new emotion - pity. This was not the cold, calculating professor she knew, but a man in pain, lost in a world of his own making.

The next morning, Jungkook woke up with a start, his eyes snapping open to find Y/N asleep beside him, her head nestled against his chest. For a moment, he was confused, the horrors of the night forgotten. He looked down at her, her peaceful expression in stark contrast to the chaos that swirled in his mind. Then, as the memories flooded back, his face contorted into a grimace, and he carefully extricated himself from her embrace.

He sat up, running a hand through his hair, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for a way out. "What the hell," he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with self-loathing. He had never let anyone see him like this, especially not her. But the fear and the vulnerability he had felt had been too much, and he had crumbled before her, revealing the cracks in the armor he had so carefully constructed.