Couple: Boy X Girl, KookJin
She looked at the bruised, pale marks on her body… her hand brushed over the corner of her lip, still feeling the pain and torment vividly. Nothing good had come from this life or this world… her only hope was her brother's survival.
The door opened slowly. She stared at her sad, distressed reflection in the mirror. "You came in again without knocking?"
Jimin smiled charmingly and stepped closer. Seeing the bruises and tear marks, he frowned and ran his thumb over them. "Again? Why are you being stubborn?"
Hyuna gave a bitter laugh and walked toward her window. "Stubborn? You call this stubbornness?"
Jimin approached her with concern. "Hyuna… you know this will eventually take its toll… why are you putting yourself through this? You know I don't want it, but I'm sure your situation will get better than it is now…"
She looked at him in surprise. "Do you understand what you're saying? I'm going straight into the lion's den… do you understand, Jimin?"
"I understand… but at least…" He couldn't finish the sentence. How could he look into the eyes of his only sister and say such words without doing anything? He lowered his head in shame.
Hyuna stared outside again. "Better than lying with strangers every single day and night because of this job, right?"
Hearing this, Jimin choked up. "Hyuna…"
She didn't want Jimin to witness her grief. She walked toward her room door.
Jimin grabbed her arm in a hurry. Worry and anxiety filled his eyes.
Hyuna smiled. "Don't be scared… I'll accept it…"
⸻
She headed toward the large room in the hall. As usual, the place was filled with smoke from his signature cigarettes. She hated this room and this smell. A single cough announced her presence.
Kwangsoo turned around in surprise, cursing under his breath. She was still as beautiful and extraordinary as always. "Oh… look who's here… my Hyuna."
With disgust and hatred, she stared at the man responsible for this life. "I didn't come to see you."
The middle-aged man laughed, putting out his cigarette as he came closer. "It's your defiance that drives me crazy…"
Hyuna directed her disgusted gaze toward his large desk. "What do you want me to do?"
The man's strong hands reached for her soft hair. "Why do you make me angry?"
She pulled back her head and said angrily through gritted teeth, "Just say what you want…"
Kwangsoo moved his finger over her face. "Shhh… calm down… you're provoking me… why do you hate me so much? I give you everything… I treat you well…"
He stepped closer, breathing deeply near her neck. "You sleep with everyone… you're with everyone except me… you know how long I've been waiting for that day… so don't upset Daddy…"
Hyuna closed her eyes in hatred and pushed him back with all her strength. "I'll never allow this… now… if I accept, it's only to get rid of you…"
Kwangsoo laughed loudly and reached for another cigarette from his pack. "You think it'll be easy? It's just the beginning…"
The poor girl clenched her fists, trying her last hope. "I'll accept on one condition… that this is your last demand from me."
He placed the cigarette at the corner of his mouth and leaned against the desk. "Condition?… I'm the one here who decides who does what."
She fell silent. Talking to this man was nothing but a waste of time.
He took a deep drag of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke into the air. "Now that I think about it… you're not wrong… I'm not okay with you being with everyone. It's better if Jimin does it instead… what do you think? I'm sure many men would want it."
Hearing this, Hyuna jumped like a furnace and shouted loudly, "You're trashhh… vile scum…"
Panting, she added, "You won't… understand? Wasn't I enough?"
The man smirked and stared at the cigarette in his fingers. "Then behave and be a good girl… make sure this is the last time you set conditions for me."
He glanced at her swollen, angry face. "Jimin knows what's going on… ask him… and…"
He went to a shelf full of folders and placed a sheet of paper on the desk. "Your job tonight… this guy, Lee Won… is going to Bar Jousang… bring me his phone… you can go…"
She snatched the paper from the desk angrily. But before leaving, Kwangsoo called out again. "By the way… take care of yourself… be sharp… make sure he doesn't notice the bruises on your body."
Without answering, she left the room quickly, her bitterness and resentment growing every day. Seeing Jimin next to one of the bodyguards, she smiled. "Wait… I'll be ready soon."
She ascended the stairs slowly, the remnants of her bruises still hindering a quick, easy stride. She stopped before the full-length mirror in her room. With thick foundation and concealer, she blanketed her entire face. A striking, vibrant red lipstick painted her lips. She slipped into tight denim shorts and a cropped tank top. A pair of tall boots was matched with a black jacket, and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. A final touch of perfume was all she needed to be completely ready.
Taking a deep breath, she headed toward the car.
________
The sound of music and girls' laughter saturated the whole space. Jimin leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Third room upstairs."
She nodded, but before she could leave, Jimin caught her arm. His gaze was kind yet burdened with a familiar shame.
She gently pulled her arm from her brother's worried grasp. "It's not my first time. You don't have to worry."
"Hyuna..."
She looked at him again as he continued, "Whatever happens, just activate the sensor and call my name."
She reassured him with a smile and threaded her way through the dancing, intoxicated crowd. Passing the doors of the other rooms, various sounds reached her ears.
"Ah... slower..."
"Oof... you're... so... tighttt..."
A wave of intense nausea washed over her. She hated these phrases, these words. She quickly moved toward the third room. It was dark inside. She flipped the light switch, and a shudder ran through her as she saw the large bed in the center and a wall covered in various tools of sexual torment. All those scenes suddenly flashed before her eyes. She felt unwell. She went to the window, letting the cold winter air fill her lungs. It didn't calm her. She filled her glass with red wine and stared into it. This client was different. She had to be careful. But Kwang-soo's offer was preoccupying her every thought. She took a small sip of the wine.
The door opening made her turn around sharply. A burly man with a lustful, drunken face approached her. "Oh, now I understand why they charged me so much money."
Hyuna forced a smile to earn his trust. "Oh, God. You're drunk already? I wanted us to drink together."
The lecherous man reached out, touching her undergarment. "We'll drink. But after we do what we're supposed to do."
She set the glass down on the table—she couldn't get drunk. Caressingly, she guided her hands toward his jacket, slowly slipping it off his shoulders.
Lee Won let out a lustful chuckle and spun around once. In that short window of time, she quickly reached for his jacket pockets but found nothing.
The man stopped moving and stared at her in surprise. "Why are you playing with my jacket?"
She panicked, couldn't lose her composure. She brought the jacket close to her nose and inhaled deeply. "It smells so good."
Lee Won sneered and pulled her toward him with a swift movement. "Hey... you can smell it a lot more closely."
She stood chest to chest with him. He began to kiss her neck and every part of her face.
She detested this. It disgusted her. She pushed him back and, with a forced smile, grabbed his tie, pulling him toward the bed. "Wait. I want to be the one to start."
Lee Won gave her a repulsive smile and lay down on his back. Hyuna sat on his legs and began to touch his body. With every touch, his lustful sounds grew louder. She placed her hand on his thigh and felt the front pockets of his pants. Empty!
A surge of stress overwhelmed her. She began to unbutton his shirt. Her hands were visibly shaking.
She picked up a black piece of fabric from the top of the bed and hesitantly began to blindfold him. Lee Won looked at her suspiciously and grabbed the fabric in his hand. "What are you doing?"
She took it from him with a smile and began to tie it again. "You didn't choose this room for no reason, so close your eyes to feel it more. Now, lie down on your chest."
The man laughed. "How professional."
She half-lay on him, and began to whisper into his ear to distract him. Gently and cautiously, she moved her hand toward his back pocket. She smiled as she felt a bulge.
Just as she was about to pull out the phone, Lee Won ripped the black fabric from his face. In one swift motion, he pinned Hyuna to her back and grabbed her wrists. "What the hell are you doing?"
Hyuna was speechless with horror and fear. She swallowed hard and said, "I... I just wanted to help you... take off your pants."
He sat up on the bed, angrily exhaling his breath onto Hyuna's face. "Do you think I'm an idiot? Well, if that's how it is... you asked for this."
Hyuna was slammed hard against the bed. Although she was physically fit, she couldn't match Lee Won's strength. Before he could do anything else, she activated the sensor on her necklace and screamed, "JIMINNN!"
Lee Won smirked and used the same fabric to tightly tie Hyuna's delicate hands to the headboard. He loomed over her and began to kiss and bruise every inch of her body.
Hyuna continued to push him away, pleading, but it was no use.
Hearing his sister's scream, he realized the severity of the situation. He quickly lifted the dark-haired girl who was nestled in his arms and ran toward the exit door. "Come on, hurry! Hyuna's in trouble!"
He took the stairs two at a time. Seeing a strong, hulking bodyguard in front of the door, he paused and said to his own bodyguard, "Ready?"
His bodyguard nodded and stood opposite the man. "This room is suspicious, please step aside."
The guard: "Can't do that. The boss rented this area."
Jimin rotated his wrists and, along with his bodyguard, began to fight. In that moment, Jimin opened the door and, seeing his sister's half-naked body, furiously lunged at Lee Won, beating him with his fists and kicks.
Seeing her brother, Hyuna rejoiced and, trying to free herself from the fabric, said, "Stop, Jimin! Come untie my hands! We have to grab his mobile and leave!"
Jimin stopped punching, breathless, and untied the knot, grabbing Hyuna's hands and rushing out of the room. They ran the entire way at full speed. Exhausted and injured, Hyuna pulled her hand away. "Wait... I... I can't..."
They both stopped moving. Jimin glanced around to make sure no one was following them. "Just hold on a little longer. I'm afraid they might be chasing us."
Hyuna sank to her knees on the ground, shivering from the cold. "I can't run. My body hurts."
He knelt beside her in terror and cursed himself. "Why didn't you say so sooner? How did you even run? Oh, Hyuna..."
He violently hit his own head. "Woe is me... Look what you've been reduced to."
Worried, Hyuna held Jimin's kind hands. "Don't hit yourself. Don't blame yourself. I'm fine."
She was still trembling. Jimin took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "It's cold. Your body is exposed, you'll catch a cold."
She sought refuge in her brother's embrace. "Don't worry about me."
He gently kissed her hair. "That's why I'm saying this... you have to accept that offer. I can't take care of you. At least there... you'll be safer."
Hyuna stared at his kind face, her throat tight with a lump. How good it was that he was doing this instead of his brother. How naive she was to think that accepting Kwang-soo's offer would mean she would stop this work.
Jimin stood up and sat down cross-legged with his back to Hyuna. "Come on my back. This way, I'll get warm too."
She didn't have the energy to object, wrapping her cold hands around his neck. "I'm heavy."
Jimin laughed and, lifting her by grabbing under her legs, stood up. "Ooh, so this time you admitted it yourself."
Hyuna gave a short, light laugh and said nothing. She wasn't feeling well; the scenes of that horrific night kept flashing before her eyes like a movie.
His tired feet dragged across the white sidewalk snow. "Hyuna... are you asleep?"
She groaned. "No..."
He chuckled. "But your voice says you were sleeping. We won't find a car this late at night for me to put you in."
"Chim..."
"Yes, my dear..."
"If you hadn't been here..."
Jimin swallowed his own sobs with difficulty. He knew exactly what his sister meant. "Please don't think about it..."
He loved his only sister. He took a deep breath, letting the cold winter air fill his lungs. How much he hated himself. How dishonorable and weak he was. (I wish I had done this instead of you. I wish I had endured these wounds and this pain.)
__________
She awoke to the familiar ache of her joints and the sting of old wounds. Her body felt too heavy to entertain the idea of getting out of bed. The afternoon nap, however, had given her a boost of energy. She glanced at the time on her phone; she still had a few hours to get ready.
After two hours of showering and dressing, she finally stepped out of her room. Drawn by the sound of Jimin's voice on the phone, she headed toward the dining hall.
"I have a special job lined up for you tonight... yes... Not right now... I can't... In a few hours..."
She approached her brother, who was pacing the hall restlessly. She smiled at his flustered expression.
Jimin looked her up and down in surprise. "Okay... we'll talk later. Bye for now."
Hyuna chuckled lightly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Jimin nervously ran a hand through his hair. "Well, you know, your outfit is a bit... inappropriate. You're not going to a bar to hook up. You're going to meet his mother."
She realized his meaning instantly. "Ah! You're right. If she sees me like this, she won't approve at all."
Jimin snapped his fingers. "Exactly! Attagirl."
She blew him a kiss. "I'll change quickly and be right back."
She carefully climbed the stairs, and after putting on a more conservative outfit, she headed to the parking lot. Jimin, waiting in the car, waved a hand.
That evening was busy, and the traffic was heavy. Finally, after an hour of delay, he parked in front of a small, old restaurant.
"This is his parents' restaurant. I heard from the locals that they are desperately looking for a girl for their son. Do you know how to act? You have to be very composed."
Hyuna shot him a side-eye. "Go away, seriously. I know what to do; I don't need instructions."
He burst out laughing. "Yeah, I can tell by how you dress."
Ignoring her brother's sarcasm, she got out of the car. Jimin called out from the window, "Be careful!"
She gave him a wave goodbye and stared at the restaurant sign. She took a deep breath and opened the door. The restaurant seemed busy. She found a quiet, cozy corner and sat down. As she settled in, someone stood over her and asked, "What would you like?"
She casually glanced at the menu in front of her. "The restaurant's specialty, please."
The waiter bowed and walked away. Her mind was still preoccupied. She was afraid of the future and the task she had to complete. She had never taken such a risk in her life.
Looked around. The wooden tables and chairs were neatly arranged throughout the restaurant. The walls were covered with beautiful framed photos. She stared at the picture above her table, which was one of the restaurant's dishes. What a clever idea. How tasteful and clean everything was. A small pot of geraniums graced her table. Everything was so lovely and charming that she couldn't stop looking. She glanced at the other patrons; everyone was busy eating and chatting with their companions. She sighed, feeling utterly alone. Her gaze was drawn to a door at the far end of the restaurant. They must be there.
The arrival of her order pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked at the food in front of her. Seeing the beautiful dishes and the decorated food, her appetite was sparked. She ate one bite after another, savoring the delicious and pleasant taste of the meal. She felt a staring gaze. She looked up and saw a girl and her friend staring at the way she was eating. She looked at the other customers. She had no grace when eating. It wasn't her fault; she had grown up in a rough, masculine environment.
She paid no mind to the looks and continued eating. She was so engrossed in her meal that she didn't notice the restaurant emptying out.
The working hours were over. Mrs. Jeon peeked into the restaurant through the small kitchen window and said to her husband, "There are one or two customers left. I'll tell Shi-wan to flip the sign on the door."
Hyuna was still eating her meal. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten such delicious food. Once satisfied, she finally glanced at the empty tables. It was time to leave.
She headed toward the counter to pay for the meal. Shi-wan thanked her with a smile, and she left the restaurant. The air outside was cold. She buttoned her long, gray coat and unzipped her shoulder bag to take out her mobile phone. She couldn't find it. She paused to search more easily, but a collision with someone's shoulder made her stumble slightly. She turned around. A disheveled young man with an umbrella gave her a quick glance. "Where is your mind? Is the middle of the path a place to stand?"
The young man's arrogance enraged her. "So many people walked past me and didn't bump into me. You should have watched where you were going."
The young man sneered. "It's a pity I'm in a hurry."
Hyuna wanted to say something else, but he quickly walked away. Frustrated, she continued on her way. She wrestled with herself. (How rude he was... Ugh... that guy...) Giving up the search, she reluctantly headed toward a taxi by the street to get home quickly.
She hung her coat by the door and, after wiping the snow off her shoes, slipped them off her tired feet. Hearing the door, Jimin rushed over to her. "Welcome back. You're early."
She put on her slippers and headed toward her room. "I didn't have much to do."
Jimin followed her worriedly. "What do you mean? Hyuna, wait. Tell me what happened."
She stopped by the stairs, irritated. "I ate dinner and came back."
Jimin was about to speak, but Kwang-soo angrily stormed out of his room. "I didn't send you out to have fun!"
His hateful voice intensified her anger. "Do you expect me to go in on the first day and ask where your son is, or tell them to hire me there?"
Kwang-soo, hands in his pockets, stepped a few paces closer. "We don't have time! Do you understand? That idiot son has evidence against us that needs to be destroyed immediately! I can't wait around for you to enjoy yourself!"
Hyuna clenched her teeth and took two steps closer. "You call this enjoying myself? When was I ever happy? Other than doing every dirty job you asked of me, when did I ever have control over my own life? Tell me!"
A sob caught in her throat, preventing her from continuing her words. Jimin anxiously squeezed his sister's shoulders. "Hyuna, calm down."
He feared the consequences of his sister's actions, the disaster she might bring upon herself. This kind of talk always got her in trouble.
Kwang-soo, having lost his patience, headed back to his room and yelled, "Finish the job as soon as possible!"
The loud slam of the door made her lean frame tremble. Jimin wrapped his delicate sister in an embrace. "Don't be afraid... He argued with the boss today about the same issue, that's why he's taking it out on you."
She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. "Chimi... I have to. I have to go to that restaurant for a few days so they don't get suspicious."
He held her beautiful face between his hands. "You're right. Do whatever you think is right. If he asks questions, I'll stall him or tell him everything is going well. Okay?"
She confirmed his words with a nod and a faint smile. She was too tired to stand. She stepped out of his embrace and headed to her room.
__________
For a few nights, she frequented the same cozy, intimate restaurant, aiming to familiarize herself with the environment. Time was running short, and she had to set her plan in motion.
This young girl had been one of the last customers in the past few days, always sitting at the same table until closing time. Was she crying this time? What had happened? Curious, Mrs. Jeon approached her.
Seeing someone standing over her, she quickly wiped the tears from her face. She glanced up at the worried face of the middle-aged woman, who looked tired from the long hours, and the woman asked with a smile, "Dear... has something happened? Can I help you?"
She made herself appear flustered and anxious. "Ah, I apologize. The truth is..."
Mrs. Jeon waited, worried, for her to continue. Hyuna bit her trembling lip. "I... I don't have any money with me."
Mrs. Jeon, realizing her predicament, squeezed her hands kindly. "It's alright, dear. You can be our guest today."
Hyuna quickly stood up from the table. "Oh no... please let me wash today's dishes."
Mrs. Jeon, surprised by her sudden movement, said, "No, there's no need. But if you're uncomfortable, you can pay whenever you want."
Hyuna, who hadn't expected such kindness, said nervously, "But, I can't... I mean, I shouldn't..."
Mrs. Jeon, hesitant about the request, shrugged. "Alright. Whatever you wish. Then follow me."
Hyuna pretended to busy herself with tying an apron, but she could hear the whispers of Mrs. Jeon's conversation with her husband.
"The poor girl was too ashamed to leave without paying. What was I supposed to do?"
"Wife... we don't know who she is or what she does. How could you trust her? She might be a thief, using this trick to..."
Yoong-mi angrily cut her husband off. "Shhhh... quietly, she'll hear! Oh my, Jung-hwa, have you become like your son, too? What power could this poor girl possibly have to steal?"
"You have no idea. This is what they do. They probably have a group working behind the scenes."
Frustrated, she nudged Jung-hwa. "You're driving me crazy! Go handle the accounts. Don't interfere with my work."
Jung-hwa grumbled as he left the kitchen. "Yoong-mi, you're going to ruin us with these feelings of yours."
After her husband left, Yoong-mi stood next to the young girl with a smile. "You should have waited for me; we would have started together."
Hyuna gave a shy smile. "I apologize. I think I've caused trouble."
Yoong-mi put on her gloves and said apologetically, "No, my dear. What are you saying? I agreed because I felt you were uncomfortable. Oh, just ignore my husband's words. He talks like this because he reads too many crime pages in the newspapers."
She had to appear innocent. While rinsing the dishes, she said, "They have a right to be concerned. The truth is, I left my wallet in the taxi. I wish I had checked my bag before ordering."
Yoong-mi quickly changed the subject so she wouldn't feel more ashamed. "It doesn't matter, don't worry about it anymore. By the way, what is your name?"
Hyuna was taken aback by the intimacy. "Hyuna."
Yoong-mi subtly eyed her slender figure. She glanced at her face, which looked so calm and gentle. "You have a beautiful name. Did your mother choose it?"
Hyuna smiled and reluctantly confirmed the statement... She couldn't remember exactly how old she was when she lost both of them, let alone knowing the choice of her name.
Yoong-mi, more curious, asked again, "Were you crying because you didn't have money for the meal?"
Hyuna, glad for the opportunity, choked up. "Ah, no... I had another problem."
"What? A financial problem?"
After rinsing the last plate, she turned to Yoong-mi. "No... my mother... she's sick."
Mrs. Jeon's heart softened, and she kindly pulled her into a hug. "Oh, my beautiful girl... I understand. It's very difficult. Please don't worry, everything will be fine. Be hopeful."
She needed this hug and affection. She wrapped her arms around Yoong-mi's waist and cried softly. These were not fake tears.
Her heart was full; she truly needed to be close to someone to soothe her long-held pain.
Yoong-mi noticed her tears. She gently stroked her soft hair. Hyuna looked so broken-hearted and sad. She had surely gone through difficult times.
She didn't notice the time passing. She loved this embrace. It smelled of affection and peace. Although she hadn't met the son, she envied him in her heart. How lucky he was to have his parents' presence. If her family had been alive, she would never have fallen to this state.
With the arrival of Mr. Jeon, she reluctantly pulled out of the warm embrace. "I apologize."
Jung-hwa stared at both of them, astonished. Yoong-mi, moved by the poor girl, wiped her tears with a smile. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Hyuna hesitated. She didn't know if saying what she needed in this situation was right. She glanced at the middle-aged man and felt ashamed. It was enough for today. She truly felt embarrassed; they were such a good and kind family. She was ashamed of all the kindness and affection they showed a stranger like her. She headed toward her bag and coat. "No... thank you for everything."
After saying goodbye to both of them, she left the restaurant. How quickly she missed the kind woman. It was as if she had known her for years. She involuntarily thought of her own mother, a mother from whom she only had a few torn, old photos, but whose beautiful smile in the same old black-and-white photo resembled hers. She choked up. For the first time, she felt regret, regret for the good days she never had with her family. Regret for peace, love, and affection. How bitter and tragic it was. She had to step back into that hell, face the same repeated tasks, the fear, and the sorrow. Maybe Jimin was right. Perhaps the plan to get close to Officer Jeon seemed dangerous, but being near such a family made her content with the decision she had made.
__________
The air was heavy with the smell of blood and disinfectant. He stepped a few paces closer. He crouched down beside the corpse and stared at the poor boy's bloody and bruised face. These bruises were not fresh; it seemed he had been in a struggle with someone before. He put on his gloves and began examining his fingers. He called out to his colleague, "Officer Kim..."
Jin quickly approached JungKook. "Yes, sir. Did you discover anything new?"
JungKook focused on the meticulous inspection with a frown and said, "Write down everything I tell you..."
Jin quickly pulled his pen and notebook from his pocket. "Tell me, Kookie..."
JungKook gave Jin a stern glance. "I've told you a hundred times not to call me that when we're working."
Jin, trying to hold back a laugh, brought his hand to his temple and saluted. "Yes, sir."
JungKook was very serious; he always became irritable and grumpy at work and on missions. Jin looked at his handsome face; he loved this serious expression on him. He forced himself to concentrate and write down his words carefully.
JungKook glanced around, a frown etched on his forehead. "He clawed at the ground to escape. I found dark-colored soil beneath his fingernails. All the soil around here is light-colored. So, he must have been murdered somewhere else."
He asked for help from another officer for sample collection. "Please test this soil and give me the exact information."
After the general inspection, JungKook headed toward the patrol car. Jin followed and got behind the wheel. "Ah... JungKook, if we had stayed over him for a moment longer, I would have thrown up..."
JungKook shook his head regretfully. "I really don't understand how they accepted you?"
Jin chuckled. "I can't believe I made such a foolish mistake myself."
JungKook's mobile rang. It was the ringtone for his father. A surge of stress gripped him. "Yes, Dad. What happened?"
Mr. Jeon sounded flustered and worried. JungKook asked with fear, "Dad... is Mom okay?"
"She's fine, son... her heart rate is just a bit high. Can you come? I've tried everything, but she won't go to the doctor."
He was in the middle of his mission and needed to report the day's events, but he was worried about his mother. Jin placed his kind hands on his shoulder. "I'll handle it. You go."
JungKook continued the call with a forced smile. "Okay, Dad, I'll be there in about an hour. I'm outside the city right now."
He hung up the phone. "Thank you, Jin. Please report everything I told you to Colonel Chan... Tell him that..."
Jin grumbled impatiently. "Ya! Kookie, I know my job; you don't need to worry! It's true I can't stand scenes like this, but I do my job well."
JungKook, feeling he had hurt his best friend's feelings, added kindly, "I'm sorry, I know. I didn't mean anything by it; I just get a little stressed when I can't finish an assignment myself."
Jin was staring at the road ahead, his feelings hurt. He expected JungKook to see him as a competent officer.
JungKook looked at his grumpy face and nudged his arm. "Hey... buddy, what's with that face? I know you're very talented, that's why I always tell you to come with me."
Jin, softening up, glanced at his kind face. He wished JungKook always joked like this, wished he was always "Kookie" to him, not Senior Officer Jeon JungKook.
"Kookie... don't worry, your mother will be fine."
Jin didn't know how he said those words, but he felt JungKook was sad, even though he hid that sorrow behind his composed expression.
JungKook said nothing. Any other word might have made him more emotional. He adored his mother; her absence from his life was unimaginable. Nothing could break or bend him except his mother's illness. He couldn't bear the loss of his loved ones. Jin sensed this well. Over the past few years, due to recent events and his mother's heart condition, JungKook hadn't had proper sleep or appetite; he was distraught. Jin understood him. He hoped to bring back his previous peace by being by his side, but he hadn't succeeded.
They reached the city and were once again caught in heavy traffic. Jin slammed his hand on the steering wheel, frustrated. "Phew... what a mess."
JungKook motioned with his hand. "Pull over a little ahead. I'll get out. It will take you too long to drop me off and return to the station. I'll take the subway myself to get there faster."
Jin didn't want to leave him alone in this cold weather, but it was the most logical thing to do.