"Stop looking at me like I've just been diagnosed with a terminal sickness," Namjoon croaked, his mouth pulled up painfully to one side in an attempted smirk. "I'm fine, Jin," He said again when the look on my face didn't dissolve.

"Why did you go?" I asked, watching Namjoon, unable to understand why he'd let his strong headedness leave him in such pitiful condition. "Jungkook said he had it. Why didn't you believe him, take the Goat to the pet shop as planned and just go back home to sleep or play video games or bug my mum all day like you do when you're bored?"

"I had to, Jin," He said, the weird smile still on his face. But the look in his eyes had changed. It was less teasing and more sad. "It was my entire fault. He did all of those because of me. I had to find out why."

"It doesn't matter why-"

"It does," Namjoon said cutting me off. "I fucked up, Jin. Do you remember that day we went to the Library, the day you met Jungkook that we got chased by my ex's husband?"

It didn't take too long for me to connect the whole thing. "We were chased by Mr. Cho?"

Namjoon nodded, against the headboard. He was sitting up against it, wearing only a dark singlet and shorts. "He found out that day."

"And he quit at the school the day after," I recalled. "He saw me. He taught us that morning and just quit right after." A gasp escaped me. I was shocked to my bones.

"You were right. That day you told me nemesis was going to catch up to me and I didn't believe you. I didn't think I was going to drag you into my shit and cause all of this chaos because I only think with my fucking dick," He winced, and then bent over holding his hand to his chest.

I rushed over from where I was leaning against the wall. "What is it?" I asked, panicked. There were so much bruises on his body, so much to cause excessive pain, that I wasn't sure how he was able to even move, let alone smile or wave his hand around as he spoke.

"If you rush over every time I feel pain, you might as well glue yourself to me right now because it fucking hurts all the time," He said. Then he continued, "I'm just glad that you're okay. That he's not going to be able to harass you anymore."

Mr. Cho had given me terrible nightmares that I wanted to forget. He'd made me worse than when all that ate me up was my father, made me more depressed than I already was and made me foolishly paranoid. I was also glad that it was over.

But Namjoon didn't have to be in such a state for it to be over. I won't lie, I understood that Namjoon needed answers to the questions in his head, and even though he was going through pain, he'd been more than satisfied having gotten them.

"Am I expected to go home with you today?" Namjoon asked.

"And tell my mum that you got run over by a truck 10 times? Because seeing you, that's the only other explanation she'd believe," I said. "Or we could just tell her the truth that your ex manfriend's husband beat you to pulp for breaking his marriage."

Namjoon looked at me in feign disappointment. "A good friend would wait a few weeks before making jokes about my predicament, you know?"

"Are we forgetting that I'm a terrible friend?" I teased, poking his head lightly.

I felt so much relief standing there with Namjoon trying to pry open a large plaster on his arm to peek at his wounds. It was all over now, I thought. I was more than ready to go back to my boring regular routine. The only interesting thing being, I had Jungkook now.

"Um, can I talk to you?" I asked, poking my head out of the glass door of the balcony where Jungkook and his friend were talking in the cold night. A shiver enveloped him. The air was crisp and smelt heavily of cigarette smoke.

Jungkook instantly distanced himself from the railing and was stepping into the house next to me, shutting the door behind him. "You okay?" He asked, eyes fixatedly scanning my face for signs of disturbance.

I was more than okay. Nodding, I flashed a smile of reassurance. "I need to ask you for something and listen, you don't have to agree or anything, okay? You can say no and I'll completely understand."

"Okay. Although, I'm not sure I'll ever refuse you anything."

"Still, you don't have to agree," I said almost embarrassed. "You know, with how Namjoon looks and all, I don't think I can bring him home. So, I told my mum he was staying the weekend at a friend's place. I didn't know what else to tell her and she can't see Namjoon like this, you know."

Smiling, Jungkook nodded, eyes not leaving my nervous gaze.

"And of course, I don't want to be an inconvenience, especially after what you just did and all, but I didn't know what else to tell her, like I said," I ranted, heading to a point but also not wanting to get to the point. "Just say no if this feels too much, okay?"

Still smiling, Jungkook nodded once. "Okay."

"So, do you think you could let Namjoon stay here until I figure out what to tell my mum?"

"Of course, he can stay here until you figure out what to tell your mum. Anything else you want to ask me but think I'll refuse you?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "That's all."

"You sure?"

"I'm positive. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, do I get to have you to myself all weekend?"

"Actually, I have to go home now. But I'll be back tomorrow to see Namjoon."

The smile on Jungkook's face had fallen and his brows had creased in an unimpressed bend. "You're not staying?"

"My mum," I stated.

"Your mum's fine. Cho isn't a threat anymore, so you have nothing to fear. You could spend the night with me and go back in the morning, can't you? I want to be with you."

"I know but I don't feel right leaving her by herself. It's not about Mr. Cho, it's just about not wanting to leave her by herself."

"But she's not by herself," Jungkook protested, stubbornly. "She has your godmother with her."

"Two women-"

"What? You don't believe two women can defend themselves against intruders?" He raised a brow, pushing from a different angle. He would make an amazing lawyer, to be honest. But I've come to know him and find ways out of his arguments.

"Intruders?" Jin asked. "Even more reason why I need to go home, Mr. Feminist. My dad's dying, Kook. I need my mum alive for a little bit longer than that," I said. Then I added more quietly, "A lot longer actually."

Jungkook took in a deep breath. I was not happy to leave but I couldn't imagine leaving my mother at home for the night. What if really intruders were to attack? How was she going to defend them? I wasn't a pro fighter but my swing of a bat would be a lot heavier than my mother's or Aunt Soohyun's.

"But we'll see tomorrow. I'll come early and we'll spend the day together," I said suggestively, running my thumb over his cheek. He just stared at me, his jaw tensed stubbornly. "Are you mad?"

He hesitated but shook his head, letting out a sigh. "No."

"But you're disappointed."

He looked away. "A little."

I nodded. "I can see that." I sighed, throwing my arms around his neck, causing him to look at me. "How about I pack a bag when coming tomorrow and stay the night? Then, on Sunday we could go see my dad together from here."

At least, I could go home today and be certain that my mum and godmother were okay. And by morning, the fear and paranoia of Mr. Cho showing up to hurt anyone else would have disappeared.

Jungkook watched me for a second. "You promise?"

I smiled, seeing the scowl on his face slowly faded. "I promise."

Finally, his frown completely dissolved and his beautiful smile appeared again. It was a small smile, but it was all I needed to see before leaving.

"Okay," he said, sounding satisfied.

I bit my lip. "Okay. And maybe you and I could-" I was cut off by the ringing of my phone. I almost ignored it but when I grabbed it from my pocket and look, it was my mother. We had just spoken, so I wondered why was she calling me again. "Sorry, it's my mum," I said before connecting the call. "Mum-"

"Jin," her shaky voice came and my heart plummeted.

"What's wrong?"

"It's your dad," she said, followed by the longest, most torturous pause I had had to endure in my life. I wanted to ask her to hasten up and speak, while at the same time, I wanted to tell her to not say whatever was hanging on her lips because I knew. I knew exactly what she was going to say and my hands started to shake before she said it. My eyes brimmed with tears and my legs felt like soggy noddles as she said the words that eventually undid all the happiness and relief I had felt seconds ago. "He's gone."