𝙎𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙉𝙏 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙏𝙎 𝙎𝙋𝙀𝘼𝙆 || Yang Jungwon

09. 𝙈𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙀𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨

Jungwon's heart felt heavy as he sat by the window, his gaze fixed on the moonlit night. The revelation of Bora's supposed relationship with Jake gnawed at him, leaving a bitter taste of jealousy and frustration. He clenched his fists, struggling to comprehend his emotions.

He knew he had no right to feel this way – he had never confessed his own feelings to Bora because he couldn't. But the thought of her with someone else, even if it was a facade, ignited a fire within him. He wanted to understand his own emotions before they consumed him.

With a determined sigh, Jungwon rose from his seat, a restless energy urging him to move. It was 1 AM, the world outside cloaked in darkness and stillness. He stepped out into the night, the cool breeze washing over him as he walked down the quiet streets of Seoul.

The neon lights of a 24/7 store glowed in the distance, beckoning to him. He stepped inside, the chime of the bell announcing his presence. He browsed the aisles, his thoughts swirling as he grabbed a pack of ramen. His mind was in turmoil, the events of the past days replaying in his head.

As he turned a corner, he froze. There, sitting by a small table, was Bora. She was eating gimbap, her expression distant. Jungwon hesitated for a moment before walking towards her.

He picked up a pack of ramen, his fingers gripping the edges tightly. With a deep breath, he approached her table and took a seat. Bora looked up in surprise, her eyes widening when she saw him.

"Jungwon?" Her voice held a mixture of shock and confusion.

He offered a small smile, though his heart raced. "Mind if I sit next to you?"

Bora blinked, seeming unsure for a moment before nodding. "Sure, go ahead."

As he began to prepare his ramen, their surroundings seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in a bubble of quiet vulnerability.

"So, you're out late too," Jungwon remarked, trying to break the silence that had settled between them.

Bora nodded, her gaze fixed on her gimbap. "Couldn't sleep. Too many things on my mind."

Jungwon looked at her, his voice gentle. "Bora, about Jake... is it true?"

Bora's gaze flickered to him, her heart torn between honesty and a desire to shield him from her complicated reality. She chewed on her lower lip, her thoughts racing as she considered her words carefully.

"It's... complicated," she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

Jungwon's brows furrowed, his eyes searching hers for any clue to what she meant. "Complicated how?"

Bora let out a sigh, her gaze drifting to the ground as she struggled to put her emotions into words. "Jake... he's... he's not really my boyfriend, but he's been acting like it. He's trying to make someone else jealous."

She took a moment to gather her thoughts. "Jake... he knows something about me. Something that I've been keeping hidden."

Jungwon's silence was a comforting presence, encouraging her to continue.

"When you find out," Bora's voice wavered slightly, "about my past, about what I did, promise me that you won't hate me. Promise me that you'll understand why I did it."

Jungwon's gaze softened, his voice a gentle reassurance. "Bora, you're not alone in this. Whatever it is, we'll face it together. And I promise, no matter what, I won't hate you."

Tears glistened in Bora's eyes, a mixture of relief and gratitude flooding her heart. She nodded, her voice a whispered thank you.

Jungwon reached out and placed a comforting hand on hers.

Bora took a deep breath. "Remember those notes and the cake on my birthday? I thought they were from you."

Jungwon's brows furrowed in confusion. "Notes and cake? What are you talking about?"

Bora hesitated, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "I thought you were the one leaving those anonymous gifts for me. I was... fooled."

Understanding dawned on Jungwon's face, his lips forming a small, amused smile. "You thought I was behind those?"

Bora nodded, her gaze fixed on the ground. "Yeah, I thought it was your way of, you know, trying to... well, express something."

Bora's cheeks flushed,  "Well, now I feel silly."

He shook his head, his eyes warm. "You don't have to. It's kind of sweet, actually."

As the night drew to a close, they left the store and began to walk back home. The silence was comfortable now, a testament to the bond they had forged in the quiet hours of the night.

When they reached Bora's house, Jungwon stopped. "I'll walk you to your door."

Bora nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. As they stood in front of her house, the weight of their unspoken feelings hung in the air. 

Before going Jungwon said. "Goodnight, Bora."

She smiled, her eyes holding a warmth that sent a shiver down his spine. "Goodnight, Jungwon. Thanks for tonight."

Jungwon walked away, his heart felt lighter. The night had brought them closer, and he knew that he couldn't keep his feelings hidden forever. 

As he reached his own house, a sense of calm settled over him. He had faced his own feelings, talked with Bora for the first time in a while. His path felt clear, even if just a little. But his moment of reflection was cut short when a voice pierced through the quiet.

"Hey, Jungwon!"

He turned to see Jake approaching him, a smug grin on his face. Jungwon's expression remained impassive, his eyes meeting Jake's with a cool detachment.

"What do you want?" Jungwon's voice was devoid of any emotion.

Jake's grin widened, and he leaned against a nearby tree, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing. "I saw you walking her home.. I just wanted to have a little chat, you know? About Bora."

Jungwon's jaw tightened, his patience wearing thin. "I don't want to have 'a little chat' ."

Jake's eyes gleamed with a challenging glint. "Hmm, okay. I just wanted to tell you that Bora and I are pretty close now."

Jungwon's gaze remained steady, his voice unwavering. "Is that so?"

Jake chuckled, clearly enjoying the rise he was getting out of Jungwon. "Yeah, she's into me. And you know what's the best part? She's forgotten all about you."

Jungwon's fingers curled into fists, but he refused to give Jake the satisfaction of seeing his anger. "Is that why you're telling me all this?"

Jake's grin faltered for a moment, as if he hadn't expected Jungwon's composure. "Well, I just wanted to make sure you know your place. Bora's off-limits now."

Jungwon's voice was icy as he responded, "I never saw her as a possession, Jake. And whatever you're doing, it won't change a thing."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Jake fuming behind him. He could feel Jake's eyes boring into his back, but he refused to look back. He had confronted his own feelings, and he wasn't about to let Jake's manipulations get under his skin.

As he walked back to his house, he couldn't shake off the sense of unease that lingered. Bora's words and their conversation played in his mind, a constant reminder that the path to understanding and possibly something more was still ahead of him.

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Hey, thank you for reading chapter 9! Now I come to think that the kidnapping part makes no sense at all but yeaa now it's too late to change it ..

Anyway don't forget to eat your meals and love yourself!

Lots of love,

Emy