Saved || A Jungkook fanfic

14.

I found myself on the beach again.

But this time, the moon reigned where the sun once did, and Jungkook was nowhere to be found.

Instead, Jin sat beside me.

I had practically sprinted back to his condo, collapsing into his arms, tears staining the front of his shirt. He had been confused at first, then angry, assuming Jungkook had hurt me. But even as he demanded answers, he never left my side. I knew he had work, clients waiting, a business to run, yet here he was—because I needed him.

Jin had used my phone to call Jungkook. I had saved his number after all. He told him to come back, order dinner, and wait. I could hear the concern in Jungkook's voice through the speaker, and guilt coiled in my stomach at the thought of him making the long walk back alone.

Now, we sat outside, blankets cushioning us from the sand, a small fire flickering between us, crackling softly against the quiet lull of the waves. The vast ocean stretched before us, its darkness endless, mirroring the weight in my chest.

"He tried to kiss me... and I ran," I finished, my fingers sifting through the cool sand, watching it slip between them like time itself.

Jin exhaled, long and measured. "You do realize you probably just confused the hell out of him, right?"

I nodded, guilt gnawing at the edges of my resolve. The look on Jungkook's face before I left him at the Ferris wheel haunted me—bewilderment, disappointment, something else I couldn't quite name.

"You can't keep playing with his emotions, Ailene. He's not invincible. He feels things just like the rest of us."

"I'm scared," I admitted, my voice breaking. "You know what I went through with Taehyung. Everything that happened. Everything I let happen. It's strange, being without him. But I'm tired of feeling like his pet—something he picked up when he was lonely, then discarded when he wasn't. I was sick of being his replacement for a love he never got from his father. I know it sounds cruel, but it's the truth."

Jin listened, pulling the blanket more securely around my shoulders. "And Jungkook? How does he make you feel?"

I hesitated, searching for the right words. "Confused... but safe."

A small smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it. Jungkook had already done so much in such a short time. He made me laugh when I wanted to disappear. He pulled me out of my head when the memories threatened to drown me. He made me feel seen.

Appreciated.

"That sounds a lot better than the way you described Taehyung," Jin pointed out.

He was right. I knew he was right. But that didn't make letting go of the past any easier.

I tilted my head back, gazing at the stars. "Remember when we used to do this every weekend when we were kids?"

Jin chuckled, looking up as well. "Yeah. Back when real-life problems didn't exist."

I laughed at the memory, the nostalgia warming me. "People suck now. Life sucks."

"Amen, sister."

A cough interrupted us, and we turned.

Jungkook stood a few feet away, one hand shoved into his pocket, the other rubbing the back of his neck. He shifted from foot to foot, hesitant. "Do you guys mind if I join you?"

Jin stood abruptly, brushing sand off his jeans. "Actually, Kook, you can take my spot. I was just about to head in anyway."

My eyes widened. "But—"

"Excuse you! I have work to do, but I've been too busy babysitting your emotional crisis." He smirked. "Apologize to your boy over there, not me."

And just like that, he left us alone.

Jungkook moved cautiously, settling beside me as if any sudden movement might send me running again. I sighed, pulling the blanket over my lap. "Relax. I'm not going to bolt."

"Good," he huffed. "Because you're faster than I thought. Running like you just robbed a bank," He shook his head with a slight chuckle that lit up his features alongside the moon, his tiny scar more prominent upon his cheek. But he sobered quickly, his voice dipping lower. "Look, I'm sorry if I scared you. Trying to kiss you on a Ferris wheel was... yeah, kind of a cliché move."

I snorted. "I wouldn't expect anything less from a very cliche, perverted—"

Jungkook raised a brow, daring me to finish.

"—handsome bunny man," I amended, smirking, then I shook my head as my smile slowly vanished. "It's not that. It's barely been a day since I ended things. What you saw... that was just the aftermath. But I remember the before, too. Before he changed. Before he stopped caring about himself. About me. I just—I shouldn't be dumping all of this on you."

"No," Jungkook interrupted gently. "I want to know. I need to know."

His hand rested lightly on my knee, grounding me.

"My trust has been shattered," I admitted, my gaze locked on the blackened waves, the tide pulling in and out like the turmoil inside me.

Jungkook was quiet for a moment, then said, "I get it. And I don't expect you to magically trust me overnight. But I'm not going anywhere, Ailene. I'll wait. As long as it takes."

I turned to him, searching his face for any sign of insincerity. There was none.

He meant it.

Despite everything, I felt drawn to him. He was different—genuine, patient, with just enough mischief to make things interesting. He was a breath of fresh air after so much suffocation.

I laid back on the blanket, stretching out. Jungkook followed suit, hands resting on his stomach.

"Maybe I'll believe you. Maybe."

"I can work with 'maybe.'"

"And if I don't end up trusting you?" I turned my head, watching the moonlight carve shadows across his face, catching the glint of his lip ring, the depth in his eyes.

Jungkook smirked. "Then you can kick me in the balls. Twice."

I burst out laughing. "You're that confident?"

"Psh. Confident is my middle name."

I rolled my eyes. "You're lucky you're cute. And funny."

Jungkook's body shook with laughter. "Please, go on. I'm enjoying this."

"Don't get used to it. It feeds your ego too much."

When I glanced at him again, he was already looking at me, head propped up on his palm, studying me like I was something worth figuring out. My heart squeezed.

"I'm sorry, Jungkook," I whispered, and I knew he heard me by the way his body tensed.

"But you didn't—"

"No, really. I'm not trying to push you away. I just... need time."

Silence stretched between us, heavy and fragile.

Then, he sighed. "God, you make me want to kiss you so damn bad."

I laughed, and Jungkook scowled.

"I'm serious!"

I leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before standing, brushing sand from my shorts. "You're so cliché. Cliché but cute."

I walked away slowly, knowing it would take him a few seconds to follow.

And when he did, I wasn't sure if I would run again.