Only You

Chapter 31

IU's POV

Today is the day. 

The slips of paper meant for Jungkook and Suzy shivered in my hand like dead leaves in the wind as my hand trembled from the overload of emotion.

I had already told Krystal, because she was the easiest to approach and the most understanding out of everyone currently in my life. She had listened with an expression that became stonier the longer I talked. 

Flashback

"Your parents' company." she paused, looking at me closely. "Could your mother be...Lee Hyeyoung?" 

I stared at her in astonishment. "How did you know?" 

"My mother works alongside your mother!" she gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Our parents run the company together!" 

Realization crashed over me likes waves breaking over the shore, and I stood rooted to the spot.

"I was just about to come to you to tell you that I was going to go, but," she said, starting to smile, "it looks like I don't need to ."

Back to present

My cellphone buzzed with new text messages, jerking me back to reality. 

Lay: I'm outside in the taxi. Jinjja, pali or else we might miss the flight.

Me: Arasseo. I'll be out in two minutes

I took one last look around in my room still containing most of my belongings. The house was still ours, and Jungkook could live in it as long as he wished, so things should be alright for him. I pressed 'send' on the email to Suzy, explaining that she could still move back into the house whenever. I still couldn't get myself to leave anything more than a small note, in fear of more rejection. 

Lay had told me to pack light. Like, literally seriously really light. A suitcase that was only just big enough to accommodate some spare clothes and bathroom essentials, plus a tiny backpack with a few snacks and my passport. The second pocket of it contained Jungkook's songbook that he had given me for my birthday, and on my wrist was Taehyung's bracelet.

In other words, I felt seriously under-prepared for this impeding doom called moving. 

Krystal quietly nudged open the door to my bedroom to see me with suitcase in one hand and backpack already around my shoulders. 

"The weather is really not looking so good. You might want to consider wearing a raincoat over your jacket." she advised in a hushed whisper.

"Ne." I replied shortly, checking my pockets once more to make sure that I had everything. Krystal went downstairs first. I crept into Jungkook's room and placed the note on his nightstand. 

Laying on his side with one arm under his head, the sight of Jungkook sleeping so peacefully nearly broke my heart. I couldn't help myself. I sank down beside the bed and brushed my fingers gently across the hair splayed across his forehead, like how I wanted to of the day on the bus to the school field trip. Tenderly, I placed a kiss on his forehead. 

His eyes fluttered open, and his gaze met mine with tears seeping through his eyelashes.

"Jieun. Don't go." he whispered hoarsely, reaching out a hand to take mine despite being still half asleep.

My heart caught in my throat, and I backed away slightly.

"I-I....I...won't." I whispered back, feeling as if someone had stabbed me in the chest with a sharp dagger, and was now slowly twisting it.

"Promise me...?" he murmured, his eyes starting to droop shut again.

"I...promise." I choked out, the pain in my chest spreading. His hand gripping mine slowly loosened.

"I love you. Only you." The hand in mine slipped off, and he fell back asleep. 

"I love you too."

Bit later...

We crept out of the house with our luggage and emerged onto the street. The sky that was still a murky grey-yellow gradually brightened by several degrees as the sun creeped over the horizon behind the dark, heavy clouds. Lay helped me lift my luggage into the trunk, and I joined Krystal in the backseat. Once he shut the trunk firmly, Lay opened the door to the passenger seat and got on. The engine started, and we started the long drive to the airport. 

Flecks of rain appeared on the glass until they turned into droplets of water chasing each other down the window. The car ride was where the full force of everything hit me. I hugged the bag more tightly to my chest, and the hardness of the songbook digging into my arm was a source of comfort.

I reached out and pressed my palm to the window that was now quickly fogging up.

I'll come back to you. Just once I figure out how to save the company. 기다려.

Jungkook's POV

Jieun. Gone. Why?

I was left with a vague memory of Jieun crying by my bedside. Did I die or something? 

My dream trickled back to me, and I draped an arm over my face, suppressing tears. In the dream, Jieun had left to go somewhere far away, and I couldn't tell her to stop, couldn't reach her, and was left so very alone. 

Slowly sitting up in bed, I knew that the only way of comforting myself would be to see her. With this motivation in mind, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to start my day. 

The first thing that hit me was the unnatural silence as I stepped down onto the landing at the bottom of the stairs. Usually, Jieun broke, smashed, or tripped over something every day. Yet when I walked into the kitchen, everything was the usual spotlessness without a single person in sight.

"Jieun!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the house, and waited for her response. "Krystal?!"

No one replied. 

I suddenly felt extremely wary, and I dashed back to my room. Scanning my surroundings, my gaze landed on something out of place. Two slips of paper were on my nightstand, and as I walked closer, I made out my name on one of them. 

Jungkook,

I'm leaving for America. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you before, but I know that you'll be fine. My parent's company needs me there to help, and once I figure out a way to save the company, I promise I'll come back to you. In the meantime, promise me you'll stay healthy and happy, ok?

I love you, 

Jieun

Tears distorted my vision, and I fell to my knees. It was really true. My nightmare has made itself into the waking world. 

Suzy's POV

"Jungkook."

He stood on the doorstep of Taehyung's apartment, a hood pulled over his face. 

"What are you doing here?" I hissed, looking over my shoulder nervously. "It's six freaking twenty-seven in the morning!"

He looked up, and his burning gaze caused my voice to shrivel and crawl back down my throat.

"We're going to the airport. Now."