𝙐𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 ❤ (𝙹𝚒𝚔𝚘𝚘𝚔 💜)

20) Silence, Loud Like Thunder

Jimin's pov

The sky was still smeared in ink when I stepped out of the bathroom, towel drying my hair. The apartment was silent. Peaceful, almost. Like the world had paused itself just for me to catch a breath.

But it wasn’t peace. It was the silence before something cracked.

I moved quietly around the kitchen, made myself a quick coffee, and scribbled a few thesis notes while sipping it. I had class early, but more than that—I needed to leave before he woke up.

Facing Jungkook in this tiny box of a flat felt claustrophobic, like the walls would swallow me if he even looked at me the wrong way. And somehow, he always did.

It wasn’t fear. I wasn’t scared of him.

But something about being under the same roof… it stung. Constantly.

By 6:30 AM, I was out of the apartment, my bag slung on my shoulder. I didn't even look back.

I needed air. Space.

And so I went where I could breathe — Tae’s place. Again.

.

.

.

The moment the class ended, I stuffed my notes into my bag like my life depended on it. If I was fast enough, maybe I could escape before he—

“Park Jimin.”

His voice. Calm, but heavy.

I froze.

The students filed out slowly, murmuring and throwing backward glances. I didn’t even lift my head. I could feel him walking closer. Each step made the air harder to breathe.

I turned slightly, enough to see him standing just behind the desk, arms crossed over his chest. That same unreadable expression plastered over his face.

“What now?” I asked, barely hiding the exhaustion in my tone.

He narrowed his eyes. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

I scoffed, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “Maybe I’m just trying to stay out of your way. You should appreciate that.”

“I didn’t ask you to live like a ghost in that flat.”

“Well, I didn’t ask to be there either.”

Silence fell.

His jaw clenched slightly, and for a second, something flickered in his eyes. Regret? Frustration? I couldn’t tell.

“Why do you look like you haven’t slept in a week?” he asked suddenly. “Or eaten.”

I blinked. “Didn’t know it was part of the syllabus for you to question my personal life.”

“You’re my student.”

“And yet, that didn’t stop you from humiliating me in front of the whole class two days ago. ” I snapped.

He flinched. Just barely. But I caught it.

“I didn’t mean to—” he stopped himself. “You weren’t paying attention. You looked like you were about to pass out.”

“Then maybe ask before throwing assumptions around.”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You’re clearly hiding something.”

“Why do you care?”

That hit him.

He opened his mouth, then closed it. As if even he didn’t know the answer.