At the Crossroads

023

Jungkook massaged his temples for the nth time already, but it did not help ease his mind nor help him think of what to do. He stared at the girl who peacefully slept on the hospital bed. It was the second day that Dahyun was unconscious. The doctor said that she needed rest because she had lost too much blood. The doctor added that it was already fortunate that she did not have a miscarriage.

He felt helpless. He thought if the heavy feeling in his heart was the same feeling that Dahyun had when she knew that Jimin was gone. Perhaps, her agony was even more.

He sighed. He knew that he had to come up with a solution – to save Dahyun.

His phone vibrated and he quickly answered the call, "Dad."

"Jungkook-a," Mr. Jeon asked, "Have you finished your requirements for Juilliard?"

There was a minute of silence before Jungkook spoke once again, "Dad, I would not pursue Juilliard anymore."

"Why?" Mr. Jeon was perplexed.

"Let's talk personally," Jungkook replied, "I can't go to your office so please come to the hospital."

"Who is hospitalized?" Mr. Jeon questioned.

Jungkook answered, "Dahyun."

"Okay, I'm coming."

----------

Jungkook brought the basket of fruits that his dad bought towards Dahyun's room. However, even before he could arrive, Dahyun's doctor approached him with panic and said, "Mr. Jeon, the patient is gone."

Flabbergasted, Jungkook dropped the fruits he was holding and hurriedly looked Dahyun. He searched for her in every corner of the hospital and even after numerous tries of paging, there was no success. Then, he thought that maybe, just maybe, Dahyun will be at his place. He travelled back to the apartment but even before he could arrive at his place, he already found Dahyun on the bridge.

He stopped the cab and proceeded to walk towards her. He heard her say to herself, "Everything will be okay in the end... if it is not okay, then, it is not yet the end."

He watched as the girl closed her eyes and spread her arms like before as she convinced herself, "Think positive. Think positive. Think positive."

But then, he clearly saw a tear fell down on her cheek and it was the first time that Jungkook saw Dahyun cried, not because of the pain of others, but because of her own suffering.

He remembered the time when he first met Dahyun, he thought that she was suicidal. Now, he knew, that he was right. Upon the realization, he quickly walked towards her and hurled her down.

"Jungkook," Dahyun whispered.

"Don't jump," Jungkook exclaimed.

Dahyun smiled but her eyes were filled with tears as she said, "It won't work anymore Jungkook. Flying can no longer ease my sadness. Are my problems so big that the wind cannot carry them?"

"Dahyun-a," Jungkook held her shoulder but Dahyun continued crying.

"I thought, that I never did any bad to others. I always tried to be good, but why? Why is life still cruel for me?" Dahyun sobbed, "So why let this child be born? Why let her experience sufferings in this world?"

"This is not you," Jungkook said, full of concern.

Dahyun smiled sadly, "I know. This is not me. I am not bad. I am not supposed to be this bad... how could I do that Jungkook? I have no right to take anyone's life. My parents would curse me."

She then, looked down as she touched her belly as she added, "Life might be cruel for me, but I should also let my child know life and judge it for herself. She should be the one to weigh whether life is worth living, and not me."

Her tear-filled eyes gazed at Jungkook once more as she cried harder, "But I don't know what to do anymore Jungkook. I'm so lost. What will I do Jungkook?"

Jungkook looked at the girl sadly before cupping her face. He gently brushed her tears with his thumbs and whispered, "Marry me."

----------

"Dad, I will not pursue Juilliard anymore."

"You already told me that son, but why?" Mr. Jeon asked. When only silence greeted him, Mr. Jeon questioned, "Is this because of Dahyun?"

Jungkook took a deep breath before replying, "She's pregnant, Dad."

His father widened his eyes upon Jungkook's revelation, and with a stern voice, he exclaimed, "Jeon Jungkook!"

He kneeled in front of his father as he begged, "Help us, Dad. Please, help us."

His father took a deep breath, as he stared as his son who pleaded in front of him with tears forming in his eyes.

Mr. Jeon asked, "What do you plan to do?"

"Let me marry her," Jungkook pleaded.

"But you know that it would create a great ruckus if people found out that you marry at such a young age!" Mr. Jeon bellowed.

"I'm not a minor anymore, Dad," Jungkook reasoned, "She's not too. Please Dad. Help us."

His father just looked at him, confusion and shock also eating him whole but then, Jungkook took Mr. Jeon's hands and promised, "I'll do anything you want, Dad. Just, please. Help us. I.... I'll pursue business and administration! That's right, I'll take over our company. You want that right? Right? Is that good enough? Dad, please."

Mr. Jeon sighed at the desperate state of his son, so he said, "Okay. Now, please get up."

Jungkook's face brightened up upon hearing his father's answer. Finally, he found hope for Dahyun's situation.

"Thank you, Dad."

Thank you for allowing me.

Thank you for knowing little.

Thank you for not knowing Dahyun and Jimin's relationship.

Thank you for not knowing that the child is not mine.

----------

"Marry me."

Dahyun widened her eyes in disbelief. She whispered, "Jungkook, do you know what you're talking about?"

He nodded before pulling her into an embrace. He said, "I promise that I'll take good care of you and your child. So please, marry me."

"But – " Dahyun's protest was muffled by Jungkook's tight embrace as the male hushed her.

"Dahyun, you need me," Jungkook told her, "And you know that I always needed you by my side. Please, let's save each other in this hell that we're going through. Marry me."

Dahyun trembled in his hold as she started wailing once again. Unknowingly, tears were also cascading down Jungkook's face as he cried along with her.

"Come on, Dahyun. Let's get married," Jungkook suggested, "I'll make sure that we'll be a happy family."

Jungkook knew that he was making a choice that cannot be undone, but he did not care about the consequences because he knew that he can sacrifice everything for the girl he truly loved.

In their embrace, they silently promised each other that everything was going to be okay.