[edited]

SeokJin wore a confused expression, two frocks draped on either of his arms, comparing them while imagining Aera in these outfits so as to ascertain which one would suit her more.

Jungkook, his companion for the day, on the other hand stood near him with his one arm folded against his chest and the other hand against his mouth, suppressing the bubbling laughter inside him. It was rare, so rare to watch his Hyung like this. Watching Jin's expressions change brightly as he might have visualised Aera in those dresses, it only became harder for Jungkook to stop his giggles from escaping, and finally he got exposed.

As soon as he heard giggles erupting from the boy near him, Jin swiftly turned on his heels and glared at him.

"Yah! You are here to help me, not to have the time of your life watching me struggle! Get your lazy butt here and hold these up for me."

He tossed both the dresses to Jungkook, who swiftly caught the items in air.

"Which one do you think is better?"

Jungkook rolled his eyes.
"I would've been able to help had I known your girlfriend's taste in clothing."

-Smack!

"Ow! Hyung! Why?!"

"You keep your mouth shut, brat."

Jin stared at the pastel grey colored dress. It was an off-shoulder knee-length dress with a netted trail at the back of the dress, adorned by pink flowers for the borders.

His lips rose upwards in a smile.
"I got it." He walked away to pay for the dress.

"Seriously Hyung?! If you've 'got it', it's because me! At least I deserve a nice 'thank you' for all this."

"Yeah okay, I'll treat you, now shut up."

-

After treating Jungkook with dinner at his granny's restaurant, Jin and Jungkook walked alongside the road towards the latter's house, which was nearby.
"Thank you for your help Guk-ah. I appreciate it." Jin ruffled the younger's hair.

"Finally you decide to thank me. But being the generous person I am, I forgive you." Jungkook smiled slyly.

Jin rolled his eyes.
"Whatever."

He hugged Jungkook after reaching his house, and bid him goodbye and goodnight.

He then started walking towards his own house, which was five blocks away.

It was around 7 in the evening and there were still people around. He started humming a tune to himself.

A buzz from his phone in the pocket startled him. He took out and checked from whom the supposed message was.

And face turned pale when he read the message.

------

Nia :
-----------------

Jin! Aera is nowhere to be found! She was in the garden in the evening, but since then she's been missing!

-------

-

Jin dashed towards the police station, dodging the people in his way.
He entered the building and walked straight towards his friend clad in his uniform, who seemed stressed, speaking with someone on a phone call.

"Yeah alright, bye." Jungkook hung up and turned towards Jin, who looked equally disturbed, if not more.

"Did you get anything on her?"

"No Hyung, but they are on it. Just- wait, and calm down. Here, drink this." Jungkook handed a bottle of water to his Hyung.

"No Jungkook. Y-you don't understand. S-she's in danger, and I- I can't even do anyth-"
Just then, as if something struck his mind, his eyes widened in effect.

"Hyung?" Jungkook held his shoulder.
"You okay? I promise we'll find her. Don't worry."

Jin stared at Jungkook, wearing the same expression, then starting to trudge backwards.

Abruptly turning around, he dashed towards the entrance of the building only to stop for a moment to address his startled friend.
"You carry on and try to find her! I'll call you back!"

"But Hyung, where are you-"

Jin had already left.

Jungkook sighed, but picked up the phone to get back to his work to search for the girl.

-

Jin ran as fast as he could towards his house, huffing. He hastely opened the door and got inside. He walked towards his bedroom and to the closet and got the device he was looking for, out.

He switched it on, and soon found out what he was looking for. He sighed, relieved. He took his phone to call Jungkook.

"Hello? Hyung! Where did you take off to?"

"Forget that, Jungkook. I'm sending you a location. Just get there as soon as you can with back-up. Hurry!"

Jin hurriedly hung up before the younger could ask any questions and quickly sent the location through his phone to him.

He sure, had a perfect idea as to why Aera had disappeared and wasn't letting him harm her ever again.

He got out of his house, with the key of his vehicle in his hand. He got into his car and sped towards the place where Aera most probably would be.

-

He chuckled, as he watched the poor girl shuddering violently with fear. She was tied onto a wooden chair, and a piece of cloth tightly wrapped against her mouth. Tears ran down her face without a break and even the cloth couldn't suppress the sounds of her sobs.

"Shut up!"

She flinched at the loud tone of the man she'd feared ever since her childhood, the man she'd never wanted to face again. But again, here she was, facing this torture.

The man ran his fingers down her cheeks and towards her chin, only to grip on it harshly.

"You sure grew beautiful, I've to say. What say? Wanna have some fun before I finally kill you?" He growled in her ear.

Aera had never felt this disgusted in her life. All she wanted to do was to run away from there, back to her friend, and to Jin.

As if reading her thoughts, he laughed out again,as if mocking her for her situation.

"Oh no no. Your boyfriend isn't going to be here. But don't worry. We can get him here too. My men are currently..." He checked his phone. "...at his house."

Her heart shattered hearing this.
Not again, please!

"I'm sorry darling. He knew too much, and I can't let that happen, you know?"

He took in her appearance. Red swollen eyes due to continuous crying, a reddened chin due to the strong grip he'd used on her, tears that ran down her cheeks and her heartbreaking expressions. Her fear for him made him swell up with pride and satisfaction. He wasn't a sadist, but it was sure he enjoyed this a lot.

His eyes travelled down to her neck, which still had the necklace around it, which was gifted by Jin.

"Oh, lovely! Never thought you'd grow into a gold digger too."

He smirked. "Tell me, this is from him, right?"

She kept shaking with fear, and due to the cloth around her mouth, couldn't even talk.

"Right?!"

She quickly nodded.

"Well I think-" He touched the diamond with his fingers, then wrapped them around it. "-you won't need it anymore, right?"

Aera violently shook her head, sobbing harder, and unable to breathe.

He laughed like crazy, and was about to pull off the necklace when,

"Put your hands up and get away!"

The sound of footsteps echoed through out the run-down hall which was situated in the middle of nowhere.

The man turned around slowly, only to come face to face with a gun which aimed for his head. He hesitantly put his hands on the top of his head, and got pushed down on his knees by Jungkook.

He looked around to find all his men handcuffed and being dragged towards the police wagons. He was surrounded.

"Aera!" He heard from behind. He turned a bit to watch Jin getting Aera out of the restraints and embracing her tightly, before he was harshly turned around again by his hair to face the front. A cop came forward to cuff both his wrists, then dragging him out of the place.

He got into an eye contact with the girl, and shot her a look expressing all the hatred he could ever manage to build for someone.

And with that, he was out of the sight.

Aera continued to cry against his chest, shaking, with hiccups escaping her throat for a while in SeokJin's comforting embrace.
"Shh...it's okay Aera. I'm here now. You're safe."

"Hyung, we've caught him, he's in one of the wagons now. Let's get out of here." Jungkook informed.

Jin sighed, caressing the girl's head fondly.
"Yeah."

--

"As much as love feels amazing , it hurts more than anything else, when you're hurting..."

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