"You went too far, Jia! How could you do such a thing to that poor boy?!"

"I didn't know, honey. I told them to shake up the place a little, not hurt him," His mother said, her voice sounding panicked.

"Shake up the place? Just like you instructed Lee to make him pay for kidnapping Jungkook? What were you thinking giving out such orders?!"

"I was angry! He took Jungkook away. I wasn't thinking right."

"You weren't thinking at all! When did you become this kind of person? I was silent for far too long. I was so dissociated from what had been going on in my own home that I didn't realize my wife had turned into such a... Monster!"

Jungkook stood by the side watching his parents. Physically, his body was there but mentally, he was far away. But still, he could hear them. He could hear his father finally do what he should have done a long time ago.

It was too late now, but he appreciated it. With his father on his side, he would never be afraid of his mother controlling his life anymore. His father had assured him that he would be more involved in Jungkook's life and he was keeping to that promise.

"Jin doesn't deserve this! All that boy has done is love our son!" His father yelled. "I have watched our son who rarely smiled or spoke become a whole other person because of Jin. He's become cheerful and happy. Isn't that what every parent prays for? That their child would find someone who would light up their life and love them the way they should be loved."

His mother's sobs floated through the air. Jungkook shifted his gaze to her. She looked distraught, like genuinely distraught. He couldn't tell if it was real or she was just pretending. "I thought I was helping him. I thought it was for his good."

Oh my goodness! How?! Jungkook thought. How exactly had her actions been for his good?

"Share with me how torturing this boy," his father threw his hand in Jungkook's direction, "had been for his own good?"

His mother's eyes fell on him and the look in her eyes was like one of realization, like for the first time she could see what her interference in his life and her actions had truly done to him, like she could see how much unhappiness she had brought in. She clutched her chest and started to sob.

Jungkook, who'd willed himself to stop crying earlier, broke at the sight of his mother crying. He was certain he hated her but seeing her sob so painfully broke what was left of his heart.

"My Jungkook," she called, collapsing to the floor. "He's my only baby. After we had him, I couldn't get pregnant again. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't. He's all I have."

"I never pressured you to give me another child, Jia," His father spoke, his baritone voice shaking.

"But I pressured myself. I wanted to give you another child. I wanted to give our son a sibling, a brother or a sister, whichever I could give. But no matter how many IVFs I did, I failed to get pregnant. Then, four years ago, my friend, Hae Soo's son was killed in the US because he was gay."

He'd heard of that. The devastating news had been on the news for days as a headline because the boy had been the son of a Korean Senator. He'd been 23 years old and had gone out on for drinks with his friends. On their way back, they got attacked and he'd been brutally killed and spray-painted the colours of the pride flag.

Someone in the silly group chat he belonged to that was meant for kids of elite parents had posted the disturbing picture. It had been such a sore sight.

So, that was what his mother had seen. That was what had driven her to matchmaking madness, that craze to prove that Jungkook wasn't gay, that he just needed to find the right girl to realize he was straight, after all,

"I got afraid. I couldn't lose my baby to that same fate. He's all I have. I had to do something. I didn't know. I didn't realize how much it affected him. I was blinded by fear and the need to protect him to see that I was the person he needed protecting from the most."

"Jia," his father called. "You should have shared your fears with me. I would have comforted you and reassured you that you have nothing to be afraid of."

His mother nodded frantically, her tears uncontrollable. Jungkook wanted to walk over and wipe them but he remembered the times she hadn't cared for his tears, so he stayed rooted, his back against the wall with his arms folded over his chest.

"I know," she cried. "I wish I had done things differently."

"Our son is safe. He's a good boy. He's in love and he's happy," his father said, then he looked over at Jungkook. Jungkook could see his father correct his words in his head. Was happy. "If he's going to be killed, he's going to be killed."

Jungkook's brows pinched in confusion, just as his mother gave her husband a look. "Honey?"

"Sorry. I mean, whatever will happen will happen whether we interfere in it or not," His father rephrased. Now, Jungkook understood why his father had been silent the whole time. He was terrible at giving talks. "You get?"

I guess, he thought.

"Jungkook?" His mother called, turning to face him, her eyes pleading. "I'm only trying to protect you. I know Jin is a good boy but I never instructed them to beat him up at the club. Yes, I told them to scatter the place but not to set it on fire and leave him there. I would never."

"You would never?" He asked.

"Jungkook," his father called in a tone that suggested he wanted him to be reasonable. He was right. Despite how angry Jungkook was at his mother and how her actions had plagued him for so long, he won't lie that her reasons were understandable.

She was extending the olive branch. He'd wanted it for so long. But he had lost his chance with Jin and suddenly didn't feel as happy about her truce.

"Your happiness means the world to me. I was blinded by my fear but I won't let it get in the way of how I, a mother, should treat my child especially as it concerns the matters of the heart. Okay?"

"If you say so," he said.

The truth was Jungkook wanted to be more excited about this, but he couldn't bring himself to be. It seemed too good to be true and at the same time, almost irrelevant. When he'd needed her support, she'd denied him of it. Now, he didn't exactly need it, she was being generous with it.

"If I remember correctly, you have somewhere to be today, do you not?" His father asked.

His stomach turned with nervousness. Jungkook nodded. "Yes."

His father gave him an encouraging smile and a firm nod. "Have courage."

So, he tried to have courage. He went to his room to freshen up, dressing in a black woollen sweater from Ralph Lauren, beige cargo pants from Burberry and white Dior sneakers. He sprayed on his Bleu by Chanel cologne that he had gotten from his cousin from Singapore.

Usually, Jungkook didn't put much thought into his outfits but he was desperately trying to impress.

Liam was waiting by the car when he got outside. He opened the backseat for Jungkook to climb into. Once the door was shut and Liam was settled behind the wheel, he asked. "Where to, Young Master?"

"School," he said with a nervous huff, running his already sweaty palms along the material of his pants.

Liam nodded in obedience and put the gear to drive. The drive to school was a mental battle for Jungkook, wondering if he should just go back home, give up and not move ahead with this.

Was he even welcome? Would he be ignored? Was his presence going to cause more harm than good? This was such a bad idea. He looked up at Liam, opening his mouth to speak when Liam announced they had arrived.

Jungkook looked out the window, getting swallowed in his anxiety some more when he saw the swarm of people there. Parents, students, relatives, friends and more importantly, the graduating students in their graduation gowns and graduation caps.

He remained in his seat, breathing in and out to calm his nerves. He felt so sick, that he wanted to throw up.

"Are you okay?" Liam asked, his gaze fixed on Jungkook through the rearview mirror.

It took a minute for Jungkook to get himself. When he did, he nodded. "I'm okay," he said. "Umm, don't park far from the hall."

"Alright," Liam answered.

Jungkook took 1 more minute to himself before climbing out of the car and heading towards the auditorium. It was noisy and jam-packed, the chattering gave him a headache. He searched the place, scanning for one particular face.

Was he here? Did he skip his graduation because of Jungkook?

Jungkook felt a hand clap on his shoulder. He turned to find Yoongi staring back at him with shocked amusement. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Umm..." He trailed on.

"You're here for Jin," he said, smiling knowingly. Jungkook nodded.

"What about you? What are you here for?" Jungkook asked.

Yoongi pursed his lips. "Uhm, I'm here for Jimin. We are kinda dating," he said, sticking out his tongue.

"You and Jimin?" He asked, shocked. "Kinda dating? Since when?"

"A few weeks."

"Weeks?"

"Well, it was just casual hooking up in the beginning but we made it official a few days ago," he explained to Jungkook. "It's kind of like what you and Jin have."

Jungkook doubted it was true. Jimin and Yoongi's relationship had probably not started with deception and lies. They probably had been honest with each other from the beginning, and neither of them had betrayed the other one. So, their relationships weren't anything alike.

"You know, it's a good thing you came," Yoongi said, pursing his lips flatly.

Jungkook tried to share in Yoongi's enthusiasm but he couldn't find the confidence to do it. He nodded at first to concur with Yoongi, but then shook his head. "Yeah, I don't feel that way."

"Look, whatever you did, I'm sure Jin's going to forgive you. You've both been through a lot to let it go to flames at your first fight," he said.

The thing was, Yoongi didn't know the details of the fight. All Jungkook had told him was that he had messed up badly and Jin was gravely mad at him. Although, he didn't mind smearing his own name as the bad boyfriend and telling Yoongi what he did.

He definitely didn't want more light thrown on Jin and his family. He'd done enough already to them. He already called Minhyuk from the publishing house to cease any further printing of Fire on Ice. It did nothing to fix the damage but he would be a fool to let them keep printing the lies he'd written about someone he loved and regretted hurting.

"Sure," he said, tapping against the side of his leg. "Maybe." Probably not.

They soon found their seats in the crowd and the ceremony started. Jungkook was afraid Jin would miss out on his graduation but he felt relief wash over him when he spotted him next to Jimin and Taehyung in the front.

An immense amount of guilt filled him the entire time, even as he watched Jin walk the stage to receive his diploma and Namjoon jumped from his seat, cheering his name. Jin smiled, shaking his head before resuming his walk.

"That was fun," Yoongi said flatly after the event was over. "Do you want to come say hi to them?"

Jungkook shook his head. "I don't think I should."

"You're already here, Jungkook, with a bouquet. You should at least give it to him."

A bouquet he'd bought outside the auditorium from a little girl. He'd bought it to give to Jin, but he wasn't even certain being there was a good idea.

"Maybe you can help me give it to-" He started to say but he looked up to find Jin walking towards them, his gaze fixated on Jungkook.

"Do it yourself," Yoongi said, winking at him before heading towards Jimin who was laughing with his family.

Jungkook wanted to turn and run away. He was so scared as he watched Jin approach. He tried to act out his father's words and be courageous but it was so hard.

Jin's gaze swept up and down his body before settling on his face. He stopped a few breaths away from Jungkook. "Hi," he said.

"Hi. For you. Congratulations," Jungkook said, handing the bouquet to Jin who received it with a small smile.

"Thanks," Jin said, his gaze roaming around Jungkook's face as if looking for something. He looked different, a bit slimmer around the cheeks, but he was still the most handsome boy in the ceremony with his graduation gown.

Jungkook's heart thrummed in his chest. He licked his lips nervously and spoke, "I'm glad you got to graduate with your mates. It would have been disappointing if you hadn't."

"Yeah. It's all thanks to your dad."

He nodded. Standing in front of Jin, he was so nervous, so afraid, so sorry. "That's good." He picked at the material of his trousers. "Umm, can we talk somewhere? Please."

Jin didn't respond immediately. He just stood a few feet away, watching Jungkook then his head moved in a slow shake of refusal. "No, we can't talk somewhere, Jungkook."

"Just give me 5 minutes to explain, please," he choked out.

"Not even a second."

His chest hurt at Jin's refusal. He'd expected it but it didn't prepare him to hear it. It really was over. He nodded. It was Jin's day and he wasn't going to ruin it by upsetting him or pressuring him. His vision blurred with tears and he brought his head down. "I understand," he said. "I should probably go now. Take care."

Jin made a sound from the back of his throat in response .

Without looking up, Jungkook swivelled and headed out of the auditorium. He immediately spotted the car and advanced towards it. He was almost there when he heard Jin's voice, "Jungkook."

He willed the tears not to roll down his face as he turned to face Jin.

"Did you come here just to watch me graduate?"

"Yes," he said, and in that second the tears fell.

"Thank you for coming. It means a lot to me," Jin said. "But I'm sorry that I can't give you that listening ear. I don't know if I ever will be able to."

And he would completely understand if Jin never forgave him.

"Get home safe," Jin said, turned around and walked back into the hall. For the second time, he watched the love of his life walk away and there was nothing he could do.

He climbed into the car and Liam drove out of the school premises. He didn't tell Yoongi he was leaving but he doubted Yoongi would miss his presence, not when he had Jimin with him.

The relationship between Yoongi and Jimin was shocking but Jungkook could imagine their friends felt the same about him and Jin being together after hating each other for so long. Hate. If only they had known.

"Home, Young Master?" Liam asked, from the front seat.

"Yes," Jungkook said, leaning back against the headrest and shutting his eyes. He wanted to go home, crawl into his bed and cry until he had no more tears left.

He wanted to mourn the relationship that he had single-handedly destroyed before it had even begun.

"Are you okay?" Liam asked.

"No," he croaked, honestly.

The car went silent for a moment, but then Liam spoke. "I'm sorry about everything. I saw how happy you were with him so I understand how devastated you must be feeling. Heartbreak is painful when it's fresh but it gets better over time."

His throat felt tight and choked. His eyes stung with tears. He tried to speak, to tell Liam he appreciated his concern but he couldn't speak past the swell in his throat. So, he hummed in response.

"Are you sure you want to go home?" Liam asked, kindly. "Maybe you could go to the beach or the park to relax and think. You need to be somewhere that isn't going to be stifling for you."

He let out a shaky breath. "I don't know."

"Do you want me to just drive around for a while? I don't want you to go home now."

Jungkook stayed quiet, ruminating on Liam's words. Liam had always been by his side, going on trips with him, standing a few feet from him at every event but he never truly thought that Liam might care and worry for him. It was refreshing to realize.

"Actually, do you have any idea what cemetery Jin's brother was buried?"