Veil of Vengeance | JUNGKOOK FF

Chapter 54

Jeongguk sat on the couch, shoulders slumped, his gaze fixed on the untouched bowl of soup before him. The house felt emptier than it ever had. It had been nearly a week since Y/N left, and he hadn't heard a single word from her. Every passing day seemed heavier than the last, each one a reminder of the silence he had forced between them.

Across from him, Namjoon sat with a quiet determination in his eyes, his arms crossed as he watched his younger brother. "Jeongguk, you have to eat something," he urged, his tone gentle but firm. "You can't go on like this. She'll be back soon, and she'd be heartbroken to see you like this."

Jeongguk's jaw clenched as he looked away, guilt flickering across his face. He hadn't eaten properly in days, barely managing to swallow a few bites before the heaviness in his chest overtook him. Every time he tried, he would picture Y/N's face, her sadness and her pain, and he'd lose his appetite. He hadn't realized how deeply his actions had cut her until she was gone, leaving behind nothing but silence.

"She... she won't want to see me," Jeongguk muttered, his voice cracking. "Not after everything I did... everything I believed. How can she even look at me again?"

Namjoon reached across the table, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "She left because she needed space, Jeongguk, not because she doesn't care. Yoona said she's in Jeju, trying to heal. When she comes back, you have to be ready to face her and give her the truth."

Jeongguk swallowed hard, a tear slipping down his cheek. "I know... I know, hyung. But how can I even begin to tell her everything? I hurt her because I believed a rumor. I let my anger and pride get in the way. She'll hate me... and I can't blame her."

Namjoon sighed, sympathy in his gaze. "Jeongguk, you'll never know how she truly feels until you're honest with her. She deserves that. But for now, you need to take care of yourself. You haven't eaten properly in days, and if you keep this up, you're going to get sick."

Just then, the doorbell rang, and both brothers looked up. Namjoon rose to answer it, revealing Yoongi, Jimin, and Taehyung standing outside, each holding takeout bags filled with Jeongguk's favorite foods.

"Namjoonie Hyung," Jimin said, a warm smile on his face despite the concern in his eyes. "We thought we'd stop by and bring Gguk some real food."

They stepped inside, setting the bags on the table. Yoongi took one look at Jeongguk, his usually sharp gaze softening. "You look like a ghost," he said bluntly, yet there was no malice in his tone, only worry. "When's the last time you ate a proper meal?"

Jeongguk looked down, unable to answer. It was too painful to admit he hadn't had an appetite since Y/N left. All he could feel was an emptiness he couldn't fill.

Yoongi sighed, taking the bowl of soup from Namjoon and crouching down in front of Jeongguk. "Look, I know you're hurting. We all do. But starving yourself isn't going to make things better. When Y/N comes back, you'll want to be strong for her, right?"

Jeongguk's lips trembled, and he nodded weakly. "I... I don't want her to come back to a mess. I just—" His voice faltered as he looked at his friends. "I don't know how to face her."

Yoongi placed a hand on Jeongguk's knee, his expression uncharacteristically soft. "Then take it one day at a time. Start by taking care of yourself, so when she's ready to listen, you'll be able to tell her everything. Don't let her come back and find you like this, Jeongguk. She'll only blame herself."

At the mention of Y/N blaming herself, Jeongguk's gaze dropped, the weight of Yoongi's words hitting him like a punch to the gut. He knew Y/N well enough to know that she'd carry the burden of his suffering as if it were her own fault. He closed his eyes, feeling fresh tears slip down his cheeks.