𝓑𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓮 (𝓙𝓲𝓴𝓸𝓸𝓴)

chapter 26

Jimin’s POV

Suddenly, Jungkook-hyung sat up in bed, abruptly leaving my side.

"Jungkook! Help!" Ava’s panicked voice echoed through the room. Hyung immediately put the call on speaker.

“Hello? Jungkook! Help! Someone is trying to break into my house!” Ava cried, her voice trembling. In the background, I could hear loud banging, making me sit up as well, clutching the blanket around my body.

Hyung looked at me, his expression filled with worry, but I kept my face neutral. I could tell he wanted my approval before acting. After a moment of hesitation, I gave him a small nod.

“Okay, Ava. Stay calm and call the police. I’m on my way!” Hyung assured her before cutting the call.

"Jimin-ah," he said softly, turning to me, "baby, you rest here. I’ll go check on her quickly, yeah?" His voice was gentle, almost pleading.

I nodded again, though my emotions were conflicted. As much as I disliked Ava, I couldn’t ignore the desperation in her voice. She sounded genuinely terrified.

Hyung hurried out of the room, leaving me with a whirlwind of thoughts.

A part of me wondered if this was another one of her tricks, but another part whispered that this could be serious. Regardless of my feelings toward her, I couldn’t bring myself to wish harm upon anyone. I just hoped everything would turn out okay.

Sighing, I climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom, trying to wash away the remnants of our earlier intimacy—and the unease settling in my chest.

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Jungkook’s POV

I raced to my car, my heart pounding as I sped through the empty streets toward Ava’s house. Fear clawed at my chest with every passing second, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight that greeted me when I arrived.

Fire.

Ava’s house was engulfed in roaring flames, the orange and red inferno lighting up the dark sky. Firefighters battled the blaze, hoses spraying water in vain attempts to tame it. The air reeked of smoke and charred wood, and a growing crowd of neighbors gathered, murmuring in panic. Amid it all, I spotted Ava sitting on the curb with a female officer, her arms wrapped in loose bandages and her face streaked with ash and tears.

As soon as her eyes landed on me, she let out a heart-wrenching wail. “Jungkook!” Her voice cracked with desperation as she struggled to stand but collapsed back onto the curb.

I rushed to her side, kneeling down in front of her. “Ava, what happened?” My voice trembled as I took in her condition—her arms were covered in angry burns, her clothes were singed, and her usually composed demeanor was completely shattered. But she didn’t answer. She just broke down, crying uncontrollably as she clung to my jacket like a lifeline.

A female officer stepped forward. “Are you her boyfriend, sir?” she asked, her tone professional but curious.

“No,” I replied quickly, shaking my head. “I'm Jeon Jungkook. I’m just a friend.” I turned to her, desperate for answers. “What happened here?”

The officer sighed, glancing at the burning house. “When we arrived, the house was already on fire. She was outside, screaming for help. It appears there was an intruder, but they likely fled the scene when the fire started. We’re still investigating.”

My jaw tightened as I processed her words. I nodded curtly, and the officer excused herself to assist her colleagues.

I turned back to Ava, who was still trembling violently, her fingers clutching my jacket like it was the only thing grounding her. “Ava,” I said softly, trying to steady my voice. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.” I placed a hand on her back, rubbing gentle circles.