SPLIT (COMPLETED)

why were you there

"Jungkook."

He taps on the red phone icon as he sees Chaeyoung in front of him.

"Chae, I saw your text. I'm sorry I took long in the toilet. Taehyung called me just now. You okay?", he asks before he realized who is behind Chaeyoung fixing his jacket.

"You don't think Chaeyoung sent you that text, right?", she replies making Jungkook realized the different tone she is using with him now.

He is about to say something but Junhoe beats him to it, "You should take Rosé home. People recognize you guys."

He looks at Junhoe with narrowed eyes but the other does not look intimidated with him. He says goodbye to Chaeyoung and heads for the elevator leaving the two alone. Chaeyoung looks at her smart watch when Jungkook is thinking of how Junhoe could be with her at the corner at that time.

"Can we leave now? Your fans or whoever they are might come back here and find us, Jungkook.", she asks him as she looks around carefully.

"Oh..okay, come on.", he says as he takes her hand in his as they walk back to the parking area.

🌻🌻🌻

It is so quiet in the car for the couple as they head back home. No one talks as the radio is the only sound accompanying them in the half an hour journey. It seems like they are not lovers and just strangers sharing one car ride together if anyone looks at them.

Both of them are having different thoughts in their heads at the moment. Jungkook with his overthinking habit while Chaeyoung just wants to forget the experience of being recognized and followed around. Only when they reach Chaeyoung's house, they speak up to each other.

"We're here, Rosé.", Jungkook ends the silence between them as he pulls the handbrake to stop his car.

Chaeyoung turns to him and then, looks around at the area outside of the car. She starts to worry of people following them again. She feels insecure to get down from his car making him wonder if she is Chaeyoung now that he is talking to.

"Chae?", he calls her and she looks back at him in confusion.

"Kookie, I'm sorry. I thought I've left you alone and I let Rosé..."

"I know and I'm okay. You don't have to say sorry, Chaeyoung.", he stops her from explaining herself. "Maybe it's still too early to act like we used to before. So, now...I won't ask you out anymore for the meantime. Let's just meet inside your house like when we first knew each other..", he adds while waiting for her reply.

Chaeyoung looks down without a word as if she is thinking of something. Jungkook has to call her name to get a reaction from her.

"You were right. It'd be safer if I go to your penthouse. Can I go there with you, Kookie?", she finally says something after he called her name.

"You sure?", Jungkook asks her back as he does not want to go his hope high.

A single nod is given as a response. "I thought I can face the world but actually I'm not ready yet. I failed it today.", Chaeyoung says as she realized how she lose control of herself and let Rosé took over her body at the mall.

"Hey, chin up, my dear. Don't look down on yourself. I'm sure you'll be able to face it but for now...you need some courage and I'm all ready to give you the encouragement you need. Stay with me and I'll help you to face the world, okay?", Jungkook tries to ease her bothered mind from thinking of her fear to face the judgemental world. "You managed to face your fear of your aunt well, Chaeyoung. So, I'm sure you can face the world too. Trust me.", he adds with a smile before he squeezed her hand softly.