𝐌𝐀𝐅𝐈𝐀'𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐕𝐄 ||𝐉𝐉𝐊 𝐅𝐅🔞||

C H A P T E R: 12

Y/N stirred in her sleep, her small frame curled beneath the thick comforter. The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across her room... She let out a tiny whimper, scrunching her nose as she instinctively reached out, expecting to feel the warmth of her brother's hand gently shaking her awake.

But there was nothing...

Her fingers grasped at the empty air before she blinked her eyes open, confusion knitting her brows. Taehyung always woke her up. Always...

She pushed herself up, rubbing at her eyes with tiny fists, her lips forming a small pout. Something felt... off. Swinging her legs over the bed, she slipped her feet into her fluffy bunny slippers and shuffled toward the door, dragging the oversized sleeves of her hoodie over her hands...

The moment she stepped out, she could feel it-the emptiness in the house... No familiar humming of Taehyung making coffee, no faint rustling of him flipping through a newspaper, no lazy footsteps approaching her room...

Her chest tightened...

She hurried downstairs, her tiny frame nearly tripping over the last step before steadying herself... The air smelled of breakfast, but there was no warmth in it, not for her...

And then she saw her...

Her stepmother stood by the dining table, elegant and poised, a stark contrast to Y/N's small, hoodie-clad form... The woman barely spared her a glance before turning back to her plate, sipping on her tea with quiet disinterest...

Y/N swallowed, shifting on her feet...

"W-Where's Oppa?" Her voice came out soft, uncertain, laced with the lingering remnants of sleep...

The woman's sharp gaze snapped to her, eyes narrowing in distaste...

"How many times have I told you to stop talking like that?"

Y/N stiffened.

"You're seventeen, not a child. Speak properly."

Her fingers curled around the hem of her hoodie, heart sinking into her stomach.

"I-I just-"

"Enough." The cold voice cut through her, making her flinch.

"Taehyung had to leave early. He and your father have an important meeting."

Gone. Without a word.

Y/N felt the weight of something heavy settle in her chest. It wasn't like him to leave without waking her up, without at least ruffling her hair and telling her he'd be back soon.

It wasn't like him at all...

Her lower lip trembled, but she bit down on it, forcing herself to stay quiet.

Her stepmother's eyes flickered over her before scoffing...

"And fix your appearance. You look like a mess."

Y/N nodded wordlessly, turning on her heel before her stepmother could see the moisture gathering in her eyes... She hurried back upstairs, shutting the door behind her with trembling hands....

She sat on the edge of her bed, pulling her knees to her chest....

Where are you, Oppa?

Why didn't you wake me up?

And why do I feel like... something's wrong?

Y/N curled up tighter on her bed, her fingers gripping the fabric of her hoodie as if it could shield her from the heavy feeling pressing down on her chest... The silence of the house was deafening. Taehyung never left without waking her up... Never...