You couldn't help the grin across your face as you approached Jungkook, balancing a large pizza box in your arms. The warm aroma wafted through the air, promising comfort and indulgence.
"What's this?" Jungkook asked, raising an eyebrow while his attention darted from the box to your face, his expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
"Pizza," you replied, with a hint of excitement
"And why on earth would I want that?" His tone was flat, almost dismissive, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were assessing the notion.
You rolled your eyes in response, exasperated yet amused. "Come on! When was the last time you indulged in pizza? You can't tell me you've never experienced the pure pleasure of this glorious food. There's simply nothing that can compete with it."
His gaze lingered on you for a moment before he narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping into his expression. "Are you trying to get under my skin with this? Please don't tell me you're that foolish."
With a bored roll of his eyes, he let the box slip from his grasp, the heavy thud echoing in the room as it landed on the floor, untouched. "I'm sure you can do better than this," he mocked, turning his back on you as he removed his shirt, preparing for bed as if your offering meant nothing to him.
"And by the way," he continued, his voice calm and detached, "I've been living in a prison since I was fourteen. That should tell you everything you need to know about me. You're such a snake," he retorted, a mixture of irritation stirring within him.
Disappointment washed over you at the realization that no one had likely ever brought him a simple pleasure like pizza before. The " snake " label cut more profoundly than you expected; it felt unjust.
You wished to break through the wall he'd built around himself, connect with and help him in any way possible. Yet, the true Jungkook, who seemed to hide behind layers of resentment and distrust, was an insurmountable challenge. It was painfully evident that he had been let down too many times, leaving him suspicious and guarded against emotional connection, as if he were trying to shield his heart from further hurt.
Lost in your thoughts about bridging the gap between you and this stubborn man, you couldn't catch a glimpse of Jungkook watching you. A small, almost imperceptible smile played at the corners of his lips, and his eyes softened as he bit his bottom lip. How your bottom lip jutted out in contemplation seemed to draw his interest-something about your expression struck a chord within him, even if he didn't fully recognize it.
***
**Flashback**
"You lied to me," you declared when you stepped into Mingyu's office, a sharp edge to your voice.
"Lied?" Mingyu exclaimed, his gaze sharpening as if he were trying to unravel the confusion in your expression. "Lied about what?"
"You told me there were only two versions of Jungkook," you pressed, crossing your arms as you locked eyes with him.
"Yes? Why? Did you discover something different?" he replied, the hint of concern evident in his tone.
Raising your eyebrows, you pondered briefly before deciding to steer the conversation differently. "Tell me about these two Jungkooks. What's each one like?"
Mingyu hesitated, his brow furrowing in thought. "Well," he began, "one is childlike. Communicating with him is nearly impossible; he shuts down completely and often retreats into silence. I've had moments where pushing him for answers ended in tears and emotional outbursts-difficulties I can't push through."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as if the weight of the situation pressed heavily on him. "The other one? He's the polar opposite-a total playboy. He's charming and has an undeniable way of making people become infatuated with him. We've had to cycle through countless girls who cared for him; he doesn't form meaningful relationships. There was even a time he slept with a guard."
Your heart raced as he continued, "This other side of him is rude, arrogant, and dangerously violent. We've concluded that he had to be eliminated, as he represented the darker side of Jungkook, the one linked to the tragic death of his family. All the traits he exhibits are telling."
You fell silent, allowing his words to sink in, the implications weighing heavily on your mind. Why hadn't they ever seen a third Jungkook? You pondered that quietly. Could they be mistaking the playboy for the other side? It sometimes took you a moment to distinguish between the two, exuding an aura of danger. But where the playboy was charismatic, the other one was menacing enough to send shivers down your spine.
However, you chose not to voice these thoughts just yet. You needed time to piece together the puzzle. "I won't give him the new medication just yet," you informed Mingyu matter-of-factly. "First, I need to get closer to him and understand if he truly had a hand in his family's deaths and the reasons behind it. It'll be challenging, especially since he's much stronger than I am. Getting that needle into him won't be easy."
Mingyu nodded, understanding the precariousness of the situation. He offered you some freedom, opting to step back and let you navigate this intricate web of Jungkook's mind. However, there was urgency in his tone as he added, "You have two months. If you see no changes in him, I must step in."
"He needs long-term psychotherapy. We must unravel the complex web of different personalities within him and work towards uniting them into a single cohesive identity. With patience and persistence, there's a possibility that he could improve over time. We've attempted this for the past six years, but Jungkook has remained resistant, and it's not just him - none of his personalities have been willing to cooperate. This situation is why perhaps you have a unique opportunity to reach him, to touch his heart in a way that might change his mind and convince him to accept our help."
"While there's no specific medication designed to treat this disorder, we have found that antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and tranquilizers can help to manage the mental health symptoms that are tied to it. You must ensure he takes these, Y/N. They are essential for his well-being. If he refuses our help, we may have to administer the new serum we've developed, regardless of the potential consequences."
***
You stood there under Jungkook's watchful gaze as Mingyu's words echoed in your mind, creating a tumult of confusion and frustration. The desperation weighed heavily on you, and Jungkook's aloof demeanor did little to ease that feeling. His intense scrutiny made the hairs on your arms prickle; his presence was both intimidating and intoxicating, sending shivers down your spine.
"What do you want me to do?" you whispered, barely breaking the heavy silence that enveloped the room. You locked eyes with him, searching for any semblance of understanding.
Jungkook lay on his side, his arm propped under his head, watching you with a mixture of curiosity and subtle indifference. "Nothing. I never asked you to do anything for me," he replied, calm but dismissive.
"Why can't you just accept me? Why won't you ask for help? Do you enjoy living like this? Caught in a whirlwind of your own mind, unable to control your body? Do you really want to keep living with the fear of not knowing what the other you have done? Or worse, if you've harmed someone?" Your voice was laced with concern, each word heavy with urgency.
"And what can you do? What is it... uh... Y/N, right? Are you trying to trap the others and inject that thing into them? They won't allow you, right? Is that what this is about?"
You shook your head, frustration bubbling just below the surface. "No. It's not about that. I want to talk to each one of you and understand your perspectives. I genuinely don't want anything bad to happen to you."
As you spoke, he stood up, his movements deliberate and methodical. He approached you slowly, his presence commanding a kind of attention that sent shivers down your spine. The intensity of his dark gaze pierced through you, leaving you momentarily breathless.
In that charged moment, you could read a multitude of emotions playing across his face-confusion, anger, maybe even fear-as he scrutinized you. His pupils were dilated to an almost unnatural degree, as if he were trying to peer directly into your heart, seeking answers buried deep within.
Then, almost unexpectedly, a small smile emerged on his lips, transforming his expression. His fingers, warm and gentle, brushed against your cheekbone, a tender yet unsettling contact that sent a shockwave of mixed sensations through you.
"Just stop," he breathed, his voice low and tinged with an almost palpable heaviness. "It's nothing you can do. My brain is damaged-this is just the reality of it. And your presence... it makes everything worse."
The weight of his words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the emotional chasm that lay between you, a barrier wrought from pain and misunderstanding.
You took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle in your chest as his hand suddenly cupped your cheek with a tenderness that sent a shiver down your spine. The warmth of his touch ignited something deep within your heart, making it race as you found yourself caught in the intensity of his gaze. You could feel every heartbeat, and it seemed like the world around you faded into oblivion.
As he leaned in slowly, his face inching closer, you could see the myriad emotions swirling in his eyes. They were locked onto yours, searching, as if he were trying to read the very essence of your soul. Instinctively, you shut your eyes tightly, bracing for the kiss you yearned for. Yet, instead of feeling his lips brush against yours, you felt his presence shift. Instead, he buried his face into your hair, inhaling deeply, embracing you differently.
Your heart was a tumultuous storm; it raced so fast that you could hardly catch your breath. Each inhale felt labored as you struggled with the confusing emotions swirling within you. The person standing before you was still Jungkook, but there was an undeniable shift.
The moment he cupped your cheek, something else emerged-a side of him that was darker and more complex, a side you found unsettling.
***
Flashback
Mingyu's words echoed hauntingly in your mind: "Jungkook tried to commit suicide once. And we have to prevent it from happening again."