This story is dedicated to you if you have ever been abused by someone bigger, stronger, and seemingly more powerful than you. You are not alone. You are infinitely precious. And the trauma you endured is not your fault. Know that you are so loved. And whatever trauma you have been through – it does NOT define you. You are a beautiful rose, a lovely lily, a most precious gem.
Rated M for Mature. This story deals with some difficult topics and involves some graphic situations.
He cleared his throat. “It’s okay. I don’t mind washing dishes.”
Hyejin wasn’t fooled. Something was wrong. She’d seen the distress in his eyes when she’d called them friends. Then she’d endured his silence during dessert. Finally, he had sneaked off to the kitchen to be alone.
“Kookie, I get the feeling you’re uncomfortable with me being here. Do you want me to leave?”
Suddenly, his head pivoted towards her. “No!” he exclaimed before he could think better of it.
Hyejin’s eyes were suddenly full of concern. “Kookie, you’re crying! Why are you crying?” She gazed at his face in shock. He had tears streaming down both his cheeks.
She strode across the room towards him. He pulled his hands out of the warm water and dried them on a towel. Then he reached up to wipe the tears off his cheeks with the palms of his hands. He hadn’t realized he was crying.
“I’m fine,” he whispered.
“You are not fine. What are you upset about?”
He raised pained eyes to meet hers. “Who is he, Hyejin?”
“What?” she asked, confused. “Who?”
“The guy you’ve been seeing. The friend you told me about in October.”
The guy she was seeing? The friend she’d told him about in October? What on earth was he talking about?
When he was met with her silence, he turned back to the sink and immersed his hands in the water. He began to wipe the sponge across another plate.
She stared, bewildered, at him. “There is no guy, Kookie. You’re the guy. You’re the only guy I’ve been seeing. What friend? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“When I was in Paris. On the phone, you said you were getting ready to head out with a friend.” He threw the words out there, though his back was turned towards her.
Hyejin wracked her brain. She honestly could not remember. She shook her head. “I honestly have no recollection of this, Kookie. I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I can promise you one thing. There has never been another guy. You’re the only guy I’ve ever really hung out with.” She glanced down at her toes. Then she mumbled with a total lack of confidence, “You’re the only guy I like.”
Jungkook suddenly smiled. He turned his head towards her. But then his heart sank as he recalled her words earlier this evening. “You mean, as a friend, right?”
She met his gaze. Was she willing to put her heart on the line? She decided to meet him halfway.
“I understand that you don’t have time for a special friend anymore, Kookie. I’m…I’m sorry that I disturbed your evening with your friends. I’ll…I’ll just be going.” On the last word, her voice caught on a sob.
Embarrassed, she spun away from him. She had to get out of here before she burst completely into tears and humiliated herself to the nth degree.
Jungkook wanted to reach for her, but his hands were wet. He yanked them from the sink and grabbed the towel to dry off, but she was already gone. Toweling his hands off as he moved, he went after her. He was in time to see the front door slamming shut in front of him. He grabbed the doorknob and turned it, running out into the cool night air.
She was trudging down the road on foot. Walking through the darkness alone. Again. He realized she must have walked here earlier. In the dark. That made him very uneasy. And here she was…doing it again.
He ran after her.
