"Work has been my spite these days," Yoongi announced, not convinced otherwise, as he took a sip from his coffee.

"Why?" Jungkook asked, not glancing at the man who was staring at him for a better response and continued to search recklessly through the drawers.

"First of all, I don't understand why the fuck I am hiding about your girl's whereabouts when I clearly know she is right in your house," He attacked, addressing the younger with a sense of irritability.

"Because I told you to." The lawyer shrugged nonchalantly as if stating the most obvious reason. "And... she isn't my girl. She has a boyfriend."

A dubious silence fell between the two. It took Yoongi a sip from his warm drink and a bite of his favourite snack before he started the conversation again.  "Why are you helping her hide?"

"Technically, she isn't hiding anymore. She has started working like a week ago, God knows why, and acted like a knowledgeable, independent woman throughout the week. And I doubt that will go away anytime soon, I hope it doesn't." He smiled softly, nodding to himself before continuing. "She likes to work and it shows. And about hiding? Hyung she needs time." He spoke, this time a little meticulous with his words for his acquaintance, along with the entire world, was still unknown to the actuality. "Everything came out to be too heavy on her. She is a valiant person to still manage her emotions and try and find what she thinks the police is not working on, no offence." He eyed Yoongi casually, giving him a well-known grin.

"It's not like we're not working on it, Jungkook-ah. It's just that there is nothing much to work on. I'll let you have the reports if I had them and you'd say the same." Yoongi sighed, slouching in his chair. "Celebrities tend to make a big deal out of everything and that is the case here. Everything absolutely points towards Mrs. Song slipping from the staircase and ending up with a severe haemorrhage and the consequent aneurysms. She was not treated within the time limit and henceforth," He announced, his hands up in the air. "Sadly, she died."

This turned out to be news to Jungkook, he looked at his friend sceptically, almost pleading him to say that this was a joke and he wasn't wasting his time on a case that had nothing to start with. Was it really just that? Had he been listening to bluff until now? But then how could one explain the authenticity in Youra's voice every time it shivered with fear while she talked to him about her nightmares. The day she arrived was no less. The urgency, the tremor, her tears and her theory, all of it had never pointed to him as a made-up fiction. It could not be. The blood on her shirt, that was real. Then why wouldn't her words be?

It was obvious she hadn't been lying. But then again he was working with someone who had received a blow to her head. It could be a shock! He reasoned, but it felt so wrong. He wondered if it all had turned out to be her imagination.

"Are you sure?" He asked, disquieted.

"About what?" Yoongi yawned, grabbing his cup for another sip.

"That is really all?"

"It should be. The so-called investigation is still going on, so can't say yet. But I think it is just that." He shrugged, shifting back to rest his head.

Jungkook felt relief wash over his being. There was at least some hope that it wasn't a waste after all. "What if you guys have missed something?" He asked, reigniting his confidence.

"I don't think so, but maybe. What were you looking for?" Yoongi pointed towards his hand stuck in the drawer.

Jungkook took a moment to notice and pulled out his hand immediately. "Nothing." He whispered, hiding his fisted fingers from the older.

A questionable eyebrow was raised and the air breathed of uncertainty. "I hope it's not about that?" The interrogative tone had made Jungkook stare at its owner attentively as he shook his head, the hidden statement was well known to him and the questions he had unlocked were bound to surface. Not today, but someday soon.

⌘

The storm roaring in his heart had not settled and he ended up taking out his frustration by honking at the passer-by cars with more agitation than needed. One had even managed to cuss at him and he, not being in his reasonable mind, did not hesitate to flip the bird right in front of the man's windshield.

Youra was not lying. And everything she had informed him about had a connection to the case. There couldn't be any otherwise situation and he was damn sure about it. It wasn't his proficient mind speaking at the moment, he would rather name it as his instinct but he had known better. It was his stubbornness that did not allow him to believe that he had decided to waste his efforts just like that. He could not be that stupid.

He decided on waiting for a little longer. Until the investigation was over he'd manage to stay quiet in front of Youra but the reality told to him earlier blindsided him, he was afraid he'd have to break down the truth to her.

A long way ahead he felt his mind calm down. Driving alone for a while had given him an unknown solace and he was grateful for it. As he passed through a tunnel, his left hand dared to reach in his coat pocket and pulled out an urgently crumpled piece of paper. A photograph. Their photograph. He hadn't realised he had crumpled it so harshly just to hide it away from Yoongi and cursed himself to be foolish enough to hunt for it in front of someone who'd definitely worry later on.

He took a deep breath, slowing down the car with every passing second and finally parking it towards a quiet side of the tunnel. He looked ahead of himself, glad there was no car to disturb his peace. It was only him and his emotions for the time.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Darkness filled his vision as he let his eyes rest for some time.

"I love you, Kook-ah. I always will. No matter what. Will you remember that for me?"

"I will. I love you so much, Hy-"

His eyes blinked open, blinded by the yellow headlights of a car passing through the parallel lane. When his vision focused, he took a moment before thumping his hand against the wheel.

His bloodshot eyes, laden with undying guilt, fell on the photograph lying on the dashboard, resting so peacefully that he almost whispered the three forbidden words yet again.

A lone tear fell out of his eyes, reminding him of the grief he had buried under the temporary heaps of sand over the past years. Reminding him of the actual reason why he turned out to be the way he was, why he was afraid, why he just could not bring himself to do that one thing he had always dreamt of as a naive young boy.

A silent wail left him as his sobs increased, and the thorny roses that were covered under the soil pushed their way through it to clutch around his heart once again. His hard work of four years had managed to wash away in mere seconds. Ironically, even though he wanted to cry, he chuckled at how destiny had once been with him but then betrayed him.

When the time had finally seemed to fly again, Jungkook gathered his shattered self, piece by piece, and placed them back at their original positions, well aware it would fall again but he was determined he wouldn't let that happen soon.

The engine revved up and soon he was out, back on the road and under a wide sky filled with stars that reminded him of all the faith he was left with.

Turns and rounds later he ended up at a destination he wasn't supposed to be near. But his life had been a mess and all he wanted was a happy moment with the one person who knew absolutely nothing about him. Youra.

He sighed, driving up to the entrance of the shooting set that was built on the other side of the town and took him literal hours to reach. But his obstinacy had made him do something that his tired body totally refused. There was a slow smile lifting up his lips as he neared the lighted area. He was, to say the least, somewhat thrilled to see Youra's happy reaction at his arrival since he barely had the time to pick her up whenever she asked him to.

The smile kept widening, naturally, and it lifted up his mood. Until it fell on the back of a man who was hugging Youra. The wide crescent was wiped off instantly and a frown took place when he realised it was none other than her boyfriend.

His nose flared with anger. And as if destiny was really against him, he snorted in the process, almost compelling laughter out of his serious demeanour till his eyes met with hers. He saw her whisper his name and the debatable frown that drew her brows together irritated him to the core.

So much that as soon as she took a step forward, he smashed his foot against the gas pedal and drove away, earning few disinterested glances.

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