The Clandestine Us

Forty

───── ❝ Jennie's POV ❞ ─────

I had just gotten back from a weekend camping trip overseas with close friends. I hadn't even unpacked when my phone lit up with a message from Hyunji.

"I saw Jungkook at the club just now. He didn't look okay."

Hyunji was one of the very few people who knew about me and Jungkook. About us. And I trusted her with that.

I was still in my oversized black hoodie, baggy pants, white sneakers, and a beanie I threw on before the flight. No makeup. No energy. But I didn't hesitate.

"Let's go," I told my manager.

I didn't even need to explain. They understood.

"I'm on the way. I just want to see him." I texted Hyunji, because I needed to know.

Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe not. But something in my gut told me... something was off. Something was breaking.

Lately, Jungkook had been... different.

Distant.

Not cold, not cruel... but absent. Like he was pulling back. And no matter how much I tried to understand him, it felt like he was slipping away without explanation.

When I arrived, Hyunji met me at the side entrance. She handed me a drink to help me blend in.

"You okay?" she asked quietly.

I nodded.

"I just want to see for myself. That's all."

I scanned the crowd, and there he was.

Jungkook.

Laughing with Jaehyun. Talking like nothing was wrong.

And for a moment, I just... froze.

He looked fine. More than fine. He looked at ease. Unbothered. As if I hadn't been the one losing sleep for weeks, wondering if we were still even on the same page. Still even us.

He was fine without me.

And that... hurt more than I expected.

I turned away and headed outside. I needed air. Something cold to cut through the heat in my chest. I leaned against the wall and pulled out my vape. My hand was shaking slightly as I called him.

He picked up.

And lied.

I stood there, blinking at the ground.

He didn't know I had seen him already. He didn't know I had been there. And somehow, hearing him lie so easily... so calmly... hurt more than the silence between us ever had.

"Okay, take care," I said flatly.

My voice barely above a whisper, but clear and calm. Then I ended the call. No confrontation. No questions. No accusations. Just silence.

I texted Hyunji one last time.

"I'm heading out. Thank you."

And then I walked. Alone. My hood pulled up, my mask on, blending in with the night.

It was late, but the streets still had life. A few restaurants were still open and some were closing, workers cleaning up behind glass doors, neon signs buzzing in the distance.

I just needed to keep walking. To shake it off. To let the sadness burn off before it turned into something uglier.

My phone started buzzing again.