Perfect Strangers | jjk ff

Reciprocated

The next morning, the very first thing I did when I woke up was release a sigh of relief, knowing that today's a weekend and that I still had some time to formulate and organize my disordered thoughts.

I spruced up myself while I contentedly sang in my usual off-key tune in the process, then wore my oversized ivory cardigan on top of my pajamas before heading downstairs.

Sauntering down each step of the carpet staircase, my mother's back figure and a male presence in front of her gradually came into my eyesight.

Twirling around as she identified me coming down, my mom gleefully informed me, "Oh Hana, Jungkook came to visit!"

But rather than looking into my gaze, her eyes peculiarly landed on my cheek area.

Gasping in a frenzied manner, she questioned in an immensely loud volume, "Oh my goodness, what happened to your face?!"

Oh shit.

I totally forgot about that.

I hastily took a glimpse at the nearest mirror, and there it was, a few red marks evidently visible here and there on the side of my face.

My chest immediately inundating with a sense of fright and consternation, I glanced back at them with uncertainty in what to do or even tell them.

Both of them were clearly in shock, but there was palpable rage apparent in Jungkook's expression. 

And at this point, my tears were unstoppable.

Now with irrepressible, lukewarm streams trickling down my face, I confessed truthfully to my mother, "T-Taehyung hit me mom... H-He slapped me so hard..."

"Come here." she said as she walked towards me and embraced me tightly, prioritizing her daughter's feelings above anything like a caring mother she is.

Jungkook, on the other hand, stiffly backed away and opened the front door, uttering "I'll give you guys some space." before exiting our house.

He probably felt awkward and didn't know what to do, and I wasn't going to force him to stay and watch me ball my eyes out over my boyfriend.

I continued to wail uncontrollably and stain my mother's t-shirt with tears of relief, finally liberating myself from the cage of unspoken torment I've been held hostage in.

After a long period of my mom constantly stroking the back of my head and reassuring me that everything was going to alright, I was ultimately able to calm down a bit.

Noticing my quietude, she let go, cupped my wet face, and wiped away my tears with the surface of her thumbs.

"You have nothing to be scared of okay sweetheart? You're safe with me right now. We'll do something about Taehyung-"

The boisterous sound of a Marimba ringtone interrupted my mother, making both of us stiffen up in place.

Removing my vibrating iPhone from the right pocket of my sweatpants, I uplifted it to my eye-level and checked who the caller is.

"Taehyung is calling..."

The mere letters of his name sent terrorizing chills down my spine and caused goosebumps to form on my skin, my limbs increasing the intensity of their quivering more than yesterday.

"I-I'll be right back..." I told my mom and exited out the front door, arriving at a conclusion that I should confront my fears rather than shrinking from it like a cowardly tortoise.