ENTICE || JJk•PJm•KTh

Chapter 54 || Hurts Like Hell

"are you ready?"

jiah shakes her head, hands clutching her bag tightly, staring at jungkook at a distance, holding jihun in his arms, showing him random objects that he could find around to distract the crying toddler. jiah heaves out a shaky breath, turning around to avoid jungkook's gaze if he looks this way and immediately wipes her tears.

"i understand it's hard, jiah. but what you've done is wrong." jimin speaks in a soft voice, patting her side. "all of us have told you numerous times to tell jungkook the truth. he'll be more hurt if he finds out from anyone else except you."

"i know, jimin. i know that." she looks away, nibbling on her lip, "i tried talking to him, but every time i did, something or the other interrupted me... i've been trying for the whole week, but nothing worked... in the beginning i couldn't gather enough courage to tell him, and when i finally did my work, his own life kept getting in between. i know it's my fault and i should've tried harder... but i'm sorry i couldn't..."

jimin nods slowly, blinking his own eyes, for no matter how much he tried to smile around jiah, it's no secret that it shakes him from inside seeing her hurting so bad. "will you stay with him, jimin?" she faces him with hopeful eyes, stepping forward to hold his hands, "please? if any of the lawyers bring it up today, it's over. i don't qanna lose jungkook, please... just stay with him and- and try calming him down if it's talked in the court. if not, i swear i'll sit him down tonight and tell him everything."

jimin glances back at jungkook, who's smiling, still busy with jihun, although his gaze falls in their direction, making jimin smile a little, sighing as he lowers his head and nods. "please talk to him. he deserves to know the truth." he says and steps back, pulling out his handkerchief and gives it to jiah, "now you better stop crying. he is coming."

jiah hums, wiping off her tears and takes a few deep breaths, mumbling softly to jimin, "thank you." he smiles in return, and glances at jungkook and the baby in his arms.

"mamma, go'ome..." jihun mumbles, leaning towards jiah, who doesn't try to carry him for her hands tremble even though she forces a smile.

"just a little while. we'll go back after that."

"everything will be okay. don't worry." jungkook assures, wrapping his right arm around jiah and leans down to kiss her lips. "i can take jihun for a ride on my bike if he cries again. you just focus on the case and don't worry about this little guy, i'll take care of him."

"thanks..." jiah hushes out, hugging jungkook tightly as she looks up at him, "i love you, jungkook. more than i can tell you in words."

"i know." he chuckles, "and i always love you more. now let's go inside, yoongi hyung said it's about time."

jiah nods, glancing at jimin, who gives her an assuring smile. the two males follow her inside the courtroom, finding themselves a seat near yoongi and namjoon, while jiah sits next to the lawyer. soon enough taehyung enters with his manager and to jiah's surprise, his parents as well. she stares at them with unsure eyes, gulping at the sight of his mother looking her way with a saddened gaze.

"why are they here?" she whispers to her lawyer, eyes already holding tears because three years ago when she had taehyung as her boyfriend, she also found a family in his. when her own parents fought with her for dating a man instead of only getting a degree, taehyung's parents treated her like she was already a part of their family.

"they're his family, jiah. they have the right to be here to support their son."

"i know, but..." jiah sighs, massaging her temples.

"all rise!"

jiah stands up at her place, clutching the hem of her top tightly. thoughts of how the court session is going to proceed and its possible outcome in future. she takes a deep breath, lifting her head up to sneak a glance towards the left side, where taehyung sits with his supporters and lawyers. she finds taehyung staring as well, looking just as troubled as her, as if something was hurting him just as bad as this whole situation did to jiah.