Accidentally Assisting

Chapter 47 - Long Time No Talk

Later that night, I'm watching a movie at my parent's place still overthinking the question Yoora asked me. Yes, of course, that thought has crossed my mind before. Every single fucking day since I left Seoul, to be precise. But it's too late to change the past now, and I fear that actively confronting my previous decisions will just make me realize they were wrong. The thought that I might have wasted so much precious time in New York when I could have been here terrifies and therefore, I prefer to avoid it.

The reason I'm so alone with my thoughts tonight is that my parents had booked a staycation for tonight before they learned I was coming, and I've forbidden them to cancel it because of me. I missed my parents but it's not like we're in a rush as I haven't even bought my ticket back to New York yet. I've told myself that the reason for that is that I don't know yet how long solving this whole scandal issue might take, but it truly just is that I don't see myself returning to New York and pretend that I'm happy there.

This is also why I'm scared when someone rings the doorbell. I didn't make plans with anyone tonight and many of my friends don't even know that I'm back yet. Who could it be? I look through the viewfinder, but I can't spot anyone which makes the situation even more suspicious, especially for someone who's lived in dangerous New York for a while. To make the situation even worse, dad has told me that the light in the hallway has been broken for a couple of days now, plunging everything outside into the darkness.

With a quickly beating heart, I grab the first heavy thing I find, in this case, one of these heavy encyclopedias my dad for some reason reads for fun, fully intending on hitting the intruder with them.

Then, I slowly open the door and shout out a careful "Hello?".

Suddenly, a tall figure surges from the left. I shriek and immediately hit them with the book without thinking. In these situations, it's crucial to react quickly. Better safe than sorry.

"Ouch! What the fuck, Rose-ah?"

Frozen, I stare at the shadow in front of me, recognizing the deep yet clear voice right away. "Jungkook?"

"Yes, it's me!", he groans, rubbing his forehead with one hand while he turns the flashlight on his phone on. "Why the fuck would you hit me like that?"

"Well, I didn't know who you were!"

"And that is a reason to hit me?"

"Well, how about announcing your presence when it's dark somewhere?" I'm already irked.

"How about giving me the time to do that instead of attacking me right away?", he fires back, matching my annoyance.

"How about standing in front of the viewfinder instead of on the side?" I attempt to hide my embarrassment about the incident. Jungkook's not wrong, I should have waited before hitting him right away.

"What difference would that have made, since as you have stated yourself, it is dark in this hallway?"

"Sure." I huff as I cross my arms. "I forgot your incessant need to be right."

Jungkook glares at me and doesn't take long to respond. "And I forgot your ridiculous paranoia."

Seriously? Ruthlessly, I respond: "That's rich coming from someone who put me in danger several times solely by being my boss." No need to explain further since we're both aware that I'm referring to the saesang incident last year.

How ironic that the saesang who wanted me to stay away from Jungkook got her to say in the end.

I seem to have hit him with that verbal attack as he blinks for a few seconds before saying quietly: "That's unfair and you know it."