Different colors of flag || jikook

Chapter 18

The next morning felt heavy. My head was throbbing, and I didn’t sleep much, replaying every word of our fight. Jungkook's final words cold and unforgiving echoed in my mind.

I tried to shake it off, but the ache in my chest wouldn’t go away. I got dressed and decided to head to the UNI, hoping to drown my thoughts in anything but him. As I passed through the common area of UNI ,I froze.

There he was.

Jungkook was sitting on one of the couches, his arm draped lazily over Somi’s shoulders. She was laughing, leaning into him as if they were the happiest couple on earth. My stomach twisted.

And then it got worse.

Jungkook glanced up, and for the briefest second, his eyes locked on mine. There was something calculated in his gaze, as though he was daring me to react. Before I could even look away, he leaned in and whispered something into Somi’s ear, making her giggle.

I clenched my fists, swallowing the lump in my throat." Don’t give him the satisfaction", I told myself, forcing my legs to move.

But as I walked past them, I heard Somi’s voice, loud and deliberately pointed. “You’re so sweet, Jk. I’m so lucky to have you.”

I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

By the time I got to the library, my anger had morphed into something sharper determination. If Jungkook wanted to play games, fine. Two could play that game.

I pulled out my phone and texted Tae

JM: What are you up to tonight?

It didn’t take long for a reply.

TAE: Nothing much. Wanna hang out?

JM: Sure. Let’s grab dinner.

That evening,  and I met at a cozy restaurant just off campus. He greeted me with his usual bright smile, his carefree energy a welcome distraction from the chaos in my head.

“You okay?” he asked as we settled into our seats. “You’ve been a bit off lately.”

I hesitated, not wanting to unload everything on him. Instead, I smiled and shrugged. “Just stressed about classes.”

He nodded, clearly unconvinced, but didn’t press further. Instead, he started talking about his day, his stories pulling me out of my funk bit by bit.

Halfway through dinner, I felt a shift in the air. That familiar, electric tension that told me someone was watching.

I looked up, and there he was. Jungkook, standing at the entrance with Somi. His eyes zeroed in on me and Tae immediately, his jaw tightening as he took in the scene.

He didn’t move for a moment, just stood there, staring. Then, as if snapping out of it, he led Somi to a table across the room but not before shooting me a look that sent a shiver down my spine.

As the night went on, the tension in the room became unbearable. Every time I glanced up, Jungkook's eyes were on me, dark and brooding. And every time Tae laughed or leaned closer, his gaze hardened.

I decided to push it further.

Leaning closer to Tae, I whispered something in his ear, just loud enough for Jk to see but not hear. Tae’s face lit up, and he laughed, playfully nudging me. It was harmless, but I knew exactly how it would look to Jungkook.

And it worked.

Moments later, I saw Jungkook reach across the table, tucking a strand of Somi’s hair behind her ear. She blushed, looking at him with adoration, but his eyes weren’t on her they were on me.

The silent battle between us was relentless, and it was clear neither of us was willing to back down.

When dinner ended, Tae and I walked out together. We walk back to our dorm, and I am grateful for his company. But as we reached the courtyard, I heard footsteps behind us.

“Jimin,” Jungkook’s voice called out, sharp and commanding.

I turned to see him striding toward us, his expression stormy. Somi was nowhere in sight.

“What do you want, Jungkook?” I asked, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

He ignored the question, his eyes flicking to Taehyung. “Can we talk? Alone?”

Taehyung hesitated, glancing at me. “You okay?”

I nodded, forcing a small smile. “Yeah. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Reluctantly, Tae walked away, leaving me and Jk alone in the dimly lit courtyard.

Jk stepped closer, his anger barely contained. “What the hell was that?”

“What was what?” I replied, crossing my arms. “Dinner? Hanging out with a friend? Or are you upset because I wasn’t sitting around waiting for you to figure out your mess?”

His jaw clenched. “You’re doing this on purpose.”

“And you’re not?” I shot back. “Don’t think I didn’t see you at the café with Somi, putting on your little show.”

“This isn’t about her!” he snapped. “This is about us!”

“There is no us, Jeon jungkook!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “Not while you’re still with her.”

He froze, the weight of my words sinking in. For a moment, neither of us said anything, the silence filled with everything we weren’t saying.

Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t understand. She needs me.”

“And I don’t?” I asked, my voice breaking. “I needed you too, Jk. But you weren’t there.(I can't share my loneliness or my past with him right now, but that doesn't mean I'm not lonely. Why doesn't he understand me?)

You can’t be everything to everyone, and if you don’t figure out what you want, you’re going to lose both of us.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I turned to leave, but his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.

“Wait,” he said, his voice desperate. “Please… I”

But before he could finish, I pulled away.

“No, Jungkook. I’m done waiting,” I said, my voice trembling. “If you want me, you know where to find me. But until then, stay out of my life.”

I walked away, my heart shattering with every step.

And as I disappeared into the night, I didn’t look back.