Investigation

Chapter 20

Jihyun

Jungkook came home with me after the birthday party and told me that he wanted to watch one or two movies together.

I wanted to refuse at first, but he begged over and over again so I eventually let him in. Then, I didn't expect him to be quiet throughout the entire movie. He usually asked questions and talked during movies, but this time it was complete silent.

After a few hours of a movie marathon when I could've used it to work on the case had passed, it was finally over.

"You wanna watch another movie?" I asked, but Jungkook kept looking at his popcorn with a blank expression.

After a while not receiving any response from him, I shrugged and was about to get up to get another popcorn when he stopped me.

"Jihyun, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What?"

He finally looked at me in the eyes, but he seemed upset. "Are you in love with Taehyung?"

I raised an eyebrow before bursting into laughter. "You're asking a very weird question, Kook," I said. "Why would ask something like that? I told you-"

He cut me off. "Jihyun, if you really do like him, please just tell me," he said.

"I don't, Kook."

He sighed. "Friends don't do the things you both do. Do you know how many times I've wished that you would look at me the way you look at him?"

"You're being ridiculous, Kook. I look at him the same way I look at everyone else."

"I saw how you look at Taehyung when he performed in front of those kids earlier tonight. You don't realize any of this because you're the only one who can't see how your eyes always soften and lighten up when you look at him,"  he said, causing me to feel things that I couldn't describe. "Eyes will always tell people things that the owner can't."

I ruffled my hair out of frustration. "So what are you trying to say, Kook?"

He then smiled and grabbed my hand before holding it tight. "Jihyun, the reason why I came here is that I've come to the realization that I should let you go."

"You're breaking up with me over the assumption that I like Taehyung because of my eyes???"

He chuckled. "You come to our date late, you never come over to my house, you always refuse to eat lunch or dinner with me even when it's the precinct," he said, "and I remember that every one of your excuse for all of that involves your very best friend, Kim Taehyung."

I went silent after he said that to me. I honestly didn't remember that Taehyung had always been my excuse for not spending time with Jungkook, but that didn't mean anything right? It just happened that I had to be with Taehyung at that moment that I couldn't be with Jungkook.

He then grabbed his phone and his keys and stood up. "Jungkook, wait-"

He put on a genuine smile on his face and kissed me on the lips for a second before he said, "Take care, Jung Jihyun."

---

I came to the precinct very early in the morning. I thought I could use some time to clear my head.

Last night was so confusing to me. After Jungkook went home, for some reasons I couldn't stop thinking about Taehyung, which caused me to have some trouble sleeping. It was the tight knot in my stomach that kept me awake and wondering if I should call him.

"What seems to be troubling you, detective?"

I turned to my left, to Mrs. Choi who was stirring her cup of tea. "Nothing, Mrs. Choi," I said. "I'm just tired, I guess."

"Oh you all look exhausted, I can see that," she said, "but something else is bothering you. What is it?"

I chuckled. I couldn't believe I was sitting on my desk with a stranger next to me asking me what had been occupying my mind that made me look distracted.

"I don't know why I'm telling this to a stranger, but uh," I said, chuckling once again, "I'm having mixed feelings about my best friend."

"Oh, dear. What happened?"

I looked down at the ground while putting on a slight smile. "He told me he was in love with me, but I teared up instead and told him that he shouldn't," I said, "but now I'm not so sure about it."

"Why do you think he shouldn't?
"

"He's my best friend, Mrs. Choi. I care about him as a friend." 

"You haven't realized it yet because you're not letting yourself open up, detective," she said. "Here. I made some muffins this morning and I want you to give some of these to him."

"What? Why?"

"I want you to go to his house right now and when you come back, tell me how you feel after seeing him."

Mrs. Choi then smiled at me. I didn't know what it meant but I did feel like I had to see Taehyung at the time, so I went to my car and headed to Taehyung's apartment. I knocked on his door several times before it was finally opened.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

To be honest, I also didn't know why I was there. All I knew was that I had to see him, that I had to talk to him.

"Tae, I broke up with Jungkook."

He raised an eyebrow. "Okay, and?"

When Jungkook pointed out everything that he noticed about my eyes, I felt that it was ridiculous. But now that Taehyung was in front of me, I could feel it, feel how my eyes lightened up.

I looked at him without saying anything for a while. I was thinking of something to say but for some reasons I was too captivated by his pretty eyes, his pretty lips, his pretty nose, and his pretty hair that I didn't realize I was leaning closer to him.

"Taehyung, I-"

I got cut off by a voice of a girl inside the apartment. "Tae, who is it?" 

I hardened my jaws when I recognized the voice. I frowned. "Taehyung, don't tell me that-"

My sentence trailed off as I saw the girl approach us at the front door. "Oh my God, Jung Jihyun!" she yelled out. "Long time no see!!"

I put on a bitter smile and waved at her. "Nice to see you too, Kang Sojin."

After having to see him going to get back together with Sojin, I got mad for no reason and went back to the precinct.

Mrs. Choi saw me sit on my chair with a grumpy face and asked, "So, how was it?"

I sighed. "I don't like how I'm feeling, Mrs. Choi," I said, "and I don't even know what I'm feeling."

She was about to ask why when she saw Taehyung and his freaking ex-girlfriend entering the precinct. I noticed her put on a smile after that.

"Your heart knows something that you don't, detective," she said, "and no wonder you're not liking it."