𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐆𝐄

s e v e n t e e n

Jisoo woke to the sound of her phone buzzing insistently on the nightstand. Squinting against the morning light, she grabbed it to see a flurry of missed calls from Jennie. She rubbed her eyes and turned to glance at Jungkook, who was still sound asleep next to her. For a moment, she couldn't help but admire his features. His mole beneath his lip and the peacefulness of his closed eyelids drew her in. Even though she didn't like him yet, she found him strangely handsome.

"Why do you have to look so cute when I'm trying to wake you up?" she murmured to herself.

Feeling a bit mischievous, Jisoo shook him lightly. "Jungkook, wake up," she said softly. When he didn't respond, she shook him a little harder.

Finally, he stirred, blinking at her with confusion. "What time is it?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"We have to go right now," she replied, already heading to the bathroom with her clothes.

As she got dressed, she heard Jungkook changing in the room. The sound of zippers and rustling fabric filled the air. After a few minutes, they double-checked their suitcases, ensuring everything was packed before heading down to the reception.

The lobby was bustling with their families. Jisoo spotted Jennie sitting with their mother, who looked both proud and emotional. As soon as Jennie saw her, she rushed over with a teasing smile.

"So, how was your first night with Jungkook?" she asked, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

Jisoo felt heat creep into her cheeks. "Shut up, Jen!" she said, playfully hitting her sister's arm.

Their families exchanged formalities, congratulating the newlyweds. After a few minutes, Jisoo and Jungkook bid their families goodbye and climbed into the car, ready for the drive to Seoul.

As they hit the road, Jisoo felt a mix of nerves and excitement at the thought of seeing her friends again. It was a fresh start, a chance to figure things out. But soon, the exhaustion from the previous night caught up with her, and she leaned back in her seat, drifting off to sleep.

Jungkook drove in silence, occasionally glancing over at Jisoo who was already asleep by the time. When they reached a restaurant, he pulled over and was about to wake her, but he hesitated. There was something peaceful about her sleeping face, and he found himself captivated. Gently, he brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, tucking them behind her ear.

As he did, thoughts flooded his mind. How would Jisoo fit into this marriage? Would she be complicated like Yujin? Their relationship had been filled with misunderstandings and constant arguments. Yujin's demands had worn him down, and the lack of intimacy only added to their problems.

Jungkook clenched his jaw, frustrated. He knew Yujin was a red flag, but he still refused to see that. He had proposed to her four years ago, vowing to love her completely. But now, here he was, married to someone he didn't know at all.

Jisoo stirred awake, startling him from his thoughts. "Are we there?" she asked, blinking up at him.

"Not yet. Let's grab some food first," he replied, his voice a bit gruff.

They stepped into the restaurant and settled at a table. As they ate, Jisoo felt a sense of emptiness; Jungkook was quiet, and the atmosphere felt strained. She tried to think of something to say, but her attempts at conversation fizzled out quickly. It was clear that he wasn't interested in talking.

After they finished eating, they returned to the car. Jisoo took a deep breath, determined to make another effort. "So, what do you like to do in your free time?" she asked, hoping to spark some interest.

"Not much," Jungkook replied, staring straight ahead.

Her heart sank a little, but she pressed on. "Do you have any hobbies?"

"Not really," he said, his tone flat.

Jisoo sighed, realizing she needed to give up for now. The silence in the car felt heavy, wrapping around them like a thick blanket.

Two hours later, they finally arrived in Seoul. Jungkook parked the car in the lot and they stepped out, heading toward the elevator. The ride was awkward, both of them holding their suitcases and staring at the floor.

When the elevator reached the sixth floor, they stepped out, Jisoo following Jungkook as he led the way to their new apartment. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, revealing a clean, simple space with a calming color scheme. Jisoo was amused with the apartment.

"This is nice," Jisoo said, taking it all in. She felt a sense of relief wash over her; it was a fresh start, even if she was unsure about their marriage.

Jungkook gestured toward a room across from the dining area. "That's your room," he said before disappearing into another room.

Jisoo blinked in surprise. Aren't married couples supposed to share a room? But then she shrugged it off. Staying in the same room with someone she didn't love would be uncomfortable, and it seemed like Jungkook felt the same way.

After a moment, Jisoo decided to shower, wanting to refresh herself after the long day. Once she was done, she checked her phone for messages. There were a few from her family, wishing her well and asking about her new life.

Meanwhile, Jungkook had freshened up as well and laid back on the bed, trying to rest after the tiring 4 hours of driving. As he stared at the ceiling, he couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. What would this marriage look like? Would Jisoo be someone he could get along with, or would it be more complicated than he hoped? Jungkook sat up, There's no way he could get along with Jisoo that easily, Their both vibes are different, while Jisoo was cheerful, on the other hand,  Jungkook was nonchalant most of the time. And the antagonism towards Jisoo? Jungkook wonders how did it appear from his teenage times. He is grown up and much more matured now, but seems like that feelings never died. yet.

He again laid and closed his eyes, trying to quiet his racing thoughts. But deep down, he knew they both had a long way to go.