Saved || A Jungkook fanfic

23.

It had been the worst month of my life.

One of the hardest I'd endured in a long time. Every waking moment was spent wading through a swamp of self-hatred and guilt, trying to claw my way out of my own mind. My conscience was a relentless force, drowning me in remorse.

Jin took me in, letting me stay at his apartment for the time being. I couldn't bear the thought of being under the same roof as Jungkook, not after the way things ended, even though we didn't make it far in the first place. And if I was being honest, I was pretty sure he never wanted to see me again.

Especially after the fight that erupted the day we got back to his place.

--

Jungkook stormed inside, his limp barely slowing him down as he barked at his house staff to leave. His voice cracked like a whip, laced with fury, and the room fell into immediate chaos. Dishes were abandoned mid-wash, footsteps scrambled, doors slammed in rushed exits.

I trailed behind him, cautious, but unwilling to leave him alone in his state.

"Ailene..." Jin warned, voice low as he followed closely behind me.

Jungkook was unraveling, his pain morphing into anger, and I knew I was the catalyst. I let myself get manipulated—again. I let my emotions blind me. And now, the person who had become my safety, my comfort, my anchor, was standing before me, shattered.

He yanked open the fridge, hard enough that the force knocked over a bottle of ketchup, sending it rolling onto the floor. He ignored it, his hands shaking as he grabbed the pitcher of water. But instead of reaching for a glass, he drank straight from it, gulping messily, water spilling down his chin.

"Jungkook, we need to talk," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, thick with concern.

Before I could say more, he hurled the pitcher past my head. It shattered against the wall behind me, sending shards of glass cascading to the floor like falling stars. I gasped, instinctively stepping back as Jin darted forward, wrapping a protective arm around me.

"Jungkook!" Jin bellowed. "You need to calm the hell down!"

Jungkook let out a hollow, bitter laugh that sent chills down my spine.

"Calm down?" His voice was laced with venom. "I just found the woman I love in her ex's arms. Look at me, Jin!" He gestured wildly to his bruised face, blood still drying on his split lip. Jungkook ran a hand through his hair, his breaths heavy and uneven. 

My breath caught in my throat.

Love.

Now, of all times, was the moment he chose to say it.

"You think I need this right now? Huh, Ailene?" His voice cracked slightly, but his rage swallowed any hint of vulnerability. "I have a billion-dollar company to run! Investors breathing down my neck, a conference tomorrow where I'm supposed to stand in front of cameras and look polished, and on top of that, I have parents who expect me to be perfect—flawless—like I'm some goddamn machine built to never fuck up!"

He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "And here I am, bleeding all over my own kitchen because I was stupid enough to think I could actually have something real with you."

I felt like the worst kind of person.

"You heard what Taehyung said," Jin spoke calmly, trying to ease the tension.

"Yeah? And just because that idiot Namjoon told her to go, she had to listen?" Jungkook's furious gaze locked onto mine. "It was your choice, Ailene. You chose him."

"You think it felt like a choice to me?" My voice wavered, but I stood my ground. "Jungkook, I can't force you to understand my relationship with Taehyung. He's been through hell. Namjoon told me he was suffering. I just—I can't turn my back on that."

Tears spilled over, burning tracks down my cheeks, but I refused to let them silence me.

"So what?" Jungkook sneered. "You're going to keep running back to him and expect me to be waiting? What am I to you, Ailene? A backup? A safety net? A fucking ATM? A warm bed when he throws you back out?"

"That's not fair!" I choked out. "You know how I feel about you. I've told you—what more do you want from me? I don't love Taehyung, but I can't pretend I don't care about him."

Jungkook scoffed. "You have a funny way of showing it."

The final blow landed, not with fists but with words sharper than any knife. I sank to the floor, my hands covering my face as sobs wracked my body. Jin's comforting pats did little to soothe the ache as I listened to Jungkook's uneven footsteps stomp out of the kitchen.

--

Now, weeks later, I was a shell of myself.

My arms stayed wrapped around my torso, as if I could physically hold myself together. If I let go, I was convinced I'd shatter, just like that pitcher of water. I hadn't spoken to anyone beyond Jin. Not even my parents—until they finally called me.

They were in Egypt, about to board a flight to Bangkok, rattling off stories about their travels, completely oblivious to the state I was in.

Not that I blamed them. They didn't know me anymore. Didn't even pick up on my obvious lies about college. I hadn't been there in weeks, exams are right around the corner, but there was no way I'd be able to pass now.

"I can't stand to look at you anymore," Jin sighed one afternoon.

I barely flinched, my gaze still locked on the storm outside. The ocean raged against the shore, waves colliding violently, the palm trees bending under the wind's wrath.

"Earth to Ailene," Jin's voice held a tinge of amusement, but when I still didn't react, he leaned in, a smug grin tugging at his lips. "You love him."

My entire body stiffened.

I turned to glare at him, but he only smiled wider, clearly enjoying himself.

"Don't try to deny it," he continued, stretching his arms behind his head. "Honestly, I don't even think you realize it yet. So first of all, you're welcome. Second, think about how you felt when you broke up with Taehyung. You cried in my arms for a night, if that."

I cringed at the memory. It felt so insignificant now compared to this.

"I know it hurt, but you were over Taehyung long before that. Now this—" he gestured at me, from my unbrushed hair to the oversized shirt I'd been wearing for days. "This is a whole new level of tragic."

I scoffed, tugging my shirt back into place with what little dignity I had left.

But deep down, I knew he was right.

Jungkook had been the only person on my mind. The only person I truly worried about. The only one who mattered.

"It's too late, Jin," I muttered. "I already lost him."

Jin laughed, shaking his head. "Really, Ails? The man literally said he loves you."

Before I could argue, he stood abruptly, grabbing my hand and dragging me towards the guest room I'd been barely sleeping in.

"What are we doing?" I asked, struggling to keep up.

He smirked. "Just thank me later."