"The prettiest smile hid the darkest secrets,
The brightest eyes had cried the most tears,
The kindest heart has felt the most pain,
The boldest woman had suffered the most."

----

[Y/N POV]

After all the teasing and scolding sessions we had a peaceful breakfast filled with care and worries about loved ones. It may be a simple meal for others but for me, it meant something very valuable even more precious than diamonds! I had a cheerful breakfast for almost an eternity. The simple joy was because I got a family, a beautiful family today. It was time to bid goodbye to them but my heart, for the first time didn't want to let someone go.

It feels this moment should be paused and rewinded many times so that I can feel the happiness again and again.

Mom-Dad.

I'm fine if you're no longer with me but I can see you guys sent two kind angels to make my dark world a bit brighter. But still,

I miss you.

I was busy with my emotional thoughts playing with my fingers, meanwhile, Jungkook was helping in cleaning the kitchen. The manager was talking on the phone with someone. I got out of my thoughts when Mrs. Jung called me out.

"Y/N, eat these medicines, they'll lessen the pain in your belly." She came up to me with a glass of water and a white pill.

"Yes, ma- 'Mom'. " I smiled brightly and ate the medicine with a gulp of water, like an obedient daughter.

"Smile more often. It's not always good to hide your beautiful smile with a mask of seriousness, I hope you'll reflect on this." She cupped my cheeks and softly advised me.

"I understand. Thank  you for showing your concern toward me." I know she's saying right. But she doesn't know what I've gone through in life. After those incidents, I always remain serious, rude, and mean. It has become my nature, a way to protect myself from evil people. No matter what, I can't change it now.

Moreover, I'm used to forcing my lips to tilt upwards as a 'smile' which appeared beautiful to others but in reality, it's always fake and mostly given for professional purposes. It has become my habit to fake smile and I do it so perfectly that it appears real.

A pretty mask that hides the agony inside.

"Y/N we should go now, I've been called for some urgent work at the company." The manager spoke catching our attention.

"I'm on leave today. What have you been called for? Is the work related to me?" Jungkook enquired.

"Yes. I have been called to fix your schedule as you suddenly took leaves, so there are piles of work and I need to re-schedule them on some other day." He explained a sudden professional aura surrounded him.

"I see, I'll be back from tomorrow. I-" I didn't let him speak any further and apologized as I know somewhere it was my fault too.

"I'm sorry Managernim, I'm deeply sorry. You've already done so much for me and now this work also got piled up. I'll make sure there won't be a next time. Please forgive- "

"Children do things wrong. But parents must forgive them. Moreover, it wasn't your mistake. Don't feel guilty, I'm okay with the work. Just promise me you won't do any overwork or take stress over things." He patted my head while saying these consoling words. I was deeply touched by his words. My eyes glistened with warm salty liquid that threatened to spill anytime, but I controlled them as I didn't want to ruin this euphoric moment.

"I will follow what you said. Please take care of yourselves too."

"We will. Jungkook don't be rude to her anymore, she's so sweet to be treated like that." The manager said and he nodded in agreement. Maybe he was in lack of words right now and I can see guilt in those dark brown orbs of his. At least he trusts me now, that's all that matters.

We bid goodbye to them and Jungkook closed the door. There was a moment of silence between us. We weren't getting words to say to each other and were just standing looking at each other. It was way too awkward. Finally, after good two minutes, Jungkook took the initiative to break the silence and mind it, the next action was goggle-eyeing for me.

"Um... Y-You sit on the couch I'll be back in a minute." He spoke shyly and I obeyed his words.

He soon returned with a hot pack in his hands and got closer to me and bent on his knees lifting my shirt a bit and caressing my belly.

"Don't get the wrong idea! D-does it pain here?" He stuttered.

"Huh?! Yes." As soon as those warm hands came in contact with my skin, blood rushed down my pale cheeks making them change into tangerine colour. He placed the hot pack on my belly.

"Eat your meals on time. You don't have to cook for me as I mostly eat outside and if you don't feel like cooking then order something. I'll pay." Jungkook spoke in a low voice, maybe he felt hurt.

"I... I'm sorry for what I did, I truly am." He apologized unable to look me in the eyes, well he wasn't making eye contact with me since the morning and now I understand why was he so stiff.

He was guilty.

"It's okay sir, I'm fine as long as you treat me well." I was stunned hearing his words. The thing which was making me go weak in the knees was that his hand was still caressing my belly. Ah! I'll blast out of shyness now!

"You can call me by my name." He spoke firmly.

"No, I can't, I'm bounded by the contract and I can't break the rules. Moreover, I don't want things to get awkward between us, though you know the truth but I think we still aren't on good terms. It'll take time for us to be friendly and when the day comes I'll call you by your name without any hesitation, I hope you understand." I elucidated still, in the same position.

"Oh- Ok. I got it, still don't be that much formal around me it makes me feel weird." He said with a sheepish grin evident on his cherry lips.

"That's my nature to be formal with almost everyone, please don't mind me. Um... Sir?" I pointed at his hand still on my stomach.

"Ah.. sorry!" He hysterically removed his hand, all flustered. I can see a red tint on his cheeks. Did I perhaps make him blush?

An almost, impossible task for a potato like me!

Soon the moment got interrupted when he got a call and he excused himself for a moment.

"Y/N, I'm sorry I've to go out for some time for urgent work." He apologized for the nth time today, making me smile.

That's the real you.

"Enough of the apologies said by you, I have forgiven you already. Now go fast or you'll get late." I softly shooed him away as he was getting late for work.

"Take care, I'll try to come back earlier. I know you aren't feeling well and I want to atone for doing by taking care of you." He uttered confidently making me ponder where this sudden enthusiasm burst had come from? He appears a little different than his usual self.

"I'm not that weak you know? Go! Wear your mask, cover yourself, and most importantly drive safely." I assured making him smile and he patted my head and left after five minutes.

I made him smile?

I asked this question to myself countless times. It's like a grand prize to me for all the efforts I'm putting in, I sincerely wish to see you happy.

----

Time flew so fast while doing my work that I didn't notice it was night already. I was watching the recording of that bitch to find the evidence because I know this is the silence before a huge storm and I want to be ready in every way to fight it. Soon my peaceful time with me surrounded by my work got disturbed by a call from the manager.

"Hello Y/N. Could you please give the phone to Jungkook? I want to discuss something important about the upcoming album and that brat switched off the phone!" He didn't even let me greet him but spoke all the information in one go, almost like shouting. His frustration was audible in his voice and I crunched my eyebrows in confusion.

"Manager you must be mistaken. He's at the company as he left home shortly after you went." I clarified.

"But he isn't at the company. I'm here since the morning and I've searched for him everywhere in the company. If he was here I wouldn't have called you!" I jolted up from my seat making the papers on my lap fall. With a quivering tone, I further enquired.

"H-He isn't here from the morning! Where did he go?!"  I yelled frustrated.

"Y/N, I'm sorry for disturbing you. Don't get tensed, I'll search for him." He assured but I have better means to search for him.

"No! wait. I installed a tracker on his phone before. I'll see his location, just hold on a bit." I used these little measures for emergencies like these. I knew there must be something weird going on, why is it peaceful? Because the storm hasn't appeared yet.

"Okay." He sighed.

I somehow have a really ominous feeling about this. I don't know why but I'm feeling like he's in danger, a serious jeopardy.

"His location is shown near a deserted island." I informed the manager, confused about the location, it's weird for him to go there amongst all the work he's been assigned with. Moreover, why would a public figure suddenly have a wish to 'solo-travel'?

"What is he doing there?! Send me the location, I'm going there, I'm getting an ill feeling about this." He got all worked up, listening to the information.

"Managernim, please do me a favour, don't go. I'll get him, till that time if anyone asks about his whereabouts, just brush the topic off by saying he's on sick leave for two more days, and I'll handle the next. Don't let this information out, I ensure his safety." I sternly spoke, my eyes filled with rage and fear. I swear I'll kill anyone who dares to hurt him and at the same time, I'm afraid what if something happened to him?

No!

Min Y/N get a hold of yourself. He's alright.

"Y/N what are you saying? Do you think I'm caring for him for work? At this point, the situation is scaring me to death! And what about you? I don't want you to risk your life!" The manager yelled, pulling me out of my deep thoughts.

"It's not confirmed yet that he's in danger. Maybe his phone dropped near that place? Or maybe he went there for solace as meager people are found there?" I was consoling the manager by making up excuses but internally my heart was racing at its highest speed just thinking about the consequences. I closed my eyes for a second to calm myself, my expression stoic and firm.

Be safe Jeon. 

"I-I'm risking everything right now Y/N! If anything goes wrong- " Definitely in a situation like this, his concern was natural.

"Dad, trust me. I will take him out safely, he's my responsibility." I spoke grimly making him speechless for a moment.

"Fine. I know you're stubborn, just don't get in trouble else I won't be able to forgive myself." He spoke after good to minutes as if battling with his heart and mind whether to trust me or not. Finally, the decision came to be on my side.

With this, I cut the call and hurriedly changed into some warm clothes as it was freaking cold outside. I tied my hair in a signature low ponytail and took my bag without checking the items in it and took my car keys, leaving in a rush.

----

I started to drive according to the given location and after crazily driving for an hour, I finally found the place. It was pitch dark at this hour. Not a single soul, even a stray cat or dog wasn't visible. This place sure was creepy. But it didn't scare me, my mind was on finding Jungkook. I ran here and there calling him out as 'sir' but not a trace of him. This was making me worried to death.

Finally, I found an old building. It appeared so old that it can fall anytime with a little bit of pressure. As soon I was about to go near the building's entrance I saw a black van arriving and as trained for situations like these, I hid behind a bush making sure it was visible what was happening there.

There came out two men harshly holding someone, most probably a man by looking at his body structure. They forcefully took him inside the building. The man's face was covered with a black cloth and all the other men were wearing masks and a specific uniform kind of clothes- white shirt, black blazer, pants and shoes. They appeared different from local thugs.

"Hold him tightly! We've been ordered to kill him today, I pity this innocent soul." He said sarcastically kicking that man in the stomach earning a painful groan from him. I clenched my fists in rage. Who gave them the right to kill this guy?

"Yes sir." The other, almost eleven other men spoke in unison following the orders of the man.

My eyes made their way toward the victim. That guy was trying his best to run away, he couldn't even scream because his mouth was tightly taped. They dragged him inside. I saw everything and instantly my hands balled into fists. Like seriously? Normal criminals can't look this classy while doing dirty- bloody stuff. No matter who that guy was but I'm going to save him! He was definitely kidnapped by some big gang members. My mind totally snapped away from my initial mission of finding Jungkook.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Some action ahead!