𝐀𝐌 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𖹭ྀི

❤︎𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 58❤︎

"Jungkook, where were you?" Jungkook's father whispered-yelled, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and concern as soon as he spotted him slipping in through the ornate double doors.

Jungkook sighed, his gaze drifting to the stage where Ji-Hyeon stood, radiant and poised under the soft glow of the lights. The guests around her were all smiles, oblivious to the tension simmering beneath the surface. He couldn't help but notice the annoyed expressions on the faces of his bandmates, their discomfort palpable as they tried to blend into the background. He suppressed a laugh, finding humor in their exaggerated grimaces.

Turning back to his father, he felt the weight of his scrutiny. His father's expression was a mixture of disappointment and disbelief, and Jungkook could sense the storm brewing behind those sharp eyes. "Nowhere," he replied, shoving his hands deep into his pants pockets, trying to appear nonchalant.

"Nowhere," his father echoed, his tone flat and dripping with incredulity. "You vanished in the middle of your own engagement party, and you say you were 'nowhere'?" The words hung in the air, heavy with the unspoken implications of Jungkook's actions.

Jungkook held his ground, his expression carefully neutral, a mask he had perfected over the years. He knew his father well enough to recognize the signs of skepticism, the way he studied his face for cracks in the façade. But Jungkook had no intention of revealing the turmoil churning inside him, not now, not here.

His father's gaze bore into him, searching for a hint of the truth, and after what felt like an eternity, he finally relented. "Fine," he said, his voice cold and clipped. "We'll talk about this later. But for now, get back out there and act like a goddamn engaged man, understood?" The command was clear, and Jungkook felt a flicker of rebellion spark within him.

Rolling his eyes, he muttered under his breath, "Am freaking tired of this shit." The words were laced with frustration, but before his father could respond, Yoongi appeared like a knight in shining armor, swiftly dragging Jungkook away from the tense confrontation. The relief washed over him as they moved away from the prying eyes and expectations, even if just for a moment.

Yoongi pulled Jungkook towards the other members, his expression serious and concerned. He could see the storm clouds brewing on Jungkook's face and knew something had happened. "What happened?" he asked quietly, his voice low to avoid being overheard by the other guests.

But before Jungkook could respond, Taehyung jumped into the conversation, his voice a low whisper-yell. "No, you listen, you dumb human! Are you really going to engage her?" Taehyung's eyes blazed with indignation, his face twisted in disgust.

Jungkook looked at Taehyung, his irritation mounting. "I don't have a choice, Tae," he said through gritted teeth, his jaw clenched in frustration.

Taehyung snorted, his voice rising slightly. "Bullshit," he retorted. "You always have a choice, Jungkook. This isn't some kind of medieval arranged marriage. You can say no."

Jungkook's eyes flashed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. "You think I don't know that?" he snapped, his voice low but firm, the words tumbling out of his mouth like a challenge. "You think I want to marry her, to be saddled with this life of pretending and pretending?" He looked at Taehyung, his expression dark and complex, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes.

Jin rubbed his hand to calm him down, "Ok, bunny, calm down and tell us what's the real matter." Jungkook took a deep breath, the familiar nickname and Jin's calm tone helping to settle him slightly. He looked at them, his expression conflicted, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes.