~ ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ: ᴊᴋ/ᴊɪᴍɪɴ (ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ) ~

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Seohwa's POV ~

The first day at my new job had finally come to an end. I won't deny - it had gone much smoother than I had expected to go, especially considering my encounter with the CEO, who turned out to be my ex - the man I once loved more than anything.

The employees were really kind and welcoming, which helped me ease some of my nerves. I introduced myself to them and we shared some friendly conversations as well. But no matter how much I tried to focus on my work or on the conversations with the new people I met, the thought of Jungkook never left my mind. It was truly suffocating.

Now, as I stood in my home, finally away from his presence, I heaved out a deep sigh of relief, feeling the heavy weight in my chest lighten.
I was extremely exhausted, my face turned pale from the weariness.

It was night time and I gently tucked my six-year-old daughter, Junghwa, into bed. She blinked up at me sleepily, holding onto her tiny teddy bear.

"Eomma... I missed you so much today...," she murmured, her voice drowsy.

I smiled and stroked her hair gently, "Eomma missed you too, baby." I pecked her forehead and she giggled. "So, how did my baby's day go by?" I pinched her cheek, "You didn't feel lonely, right?"

Junghwa pouted cutely and rubbed her belly, "Daddy fed me a lot of food... I said I couldn't eat but he just fed me..."

"Oh, did he?" I laughed softly. I could imagine Seokjin forcing Junghwa to eat a lot. I chuckled softly, "I'll tell him not to do it next time."

She nodded and smiled, "Then, he dropped me off at school. After school, we went for shopping."

I couldn't help but chuckle sadly whenever she called Seokjin as 'Daddy'. Seokjin was the only person who had been with me through my whole journey - right from when I was still in High School. I never expected him to support me through my pregnancy but his love for me and his niece was special.

I had always wanted my daughter, Junghwa, to recognize Seokjin as an uncle. But it was him who insisted on playing a father role for her. Now, though Junghwa knew her real father was not with us, she still called Seokjin as 'Daddy'.

"Eomma."

Junghwa's voice snapped me out of my inner thoughts and I looked at her lovingly, "Yes, my baby?"

"Will you be by my side in the morning?" she pouted.

I chuckled at her cuteness, "I'll try, my love. I'll try to wake you up by myself."

Her eyes carried a glint of hope, "Promise?"

I chuckled and wrapped my pinky around hers, "Promise!"

She grinned, closing her eyes. My heart swelled with love as I watched her sleep. I gently tousled her hair, singing her a lullaby to help her drift off to her slumber.

I felt a sense of guilt coursing through me. I had been lying to Junghwa that her real father was deceased. But the fact that I met him today after six long years and that I told him I was married... that Junghwa's father was someone else, it made my heart clench. But what else could I do?

I sighed, looking down at the ring on my finger - the 'promise ring' given to me by Jungkook. I had told him I was married, but I never took that ring off my finger. Not even once.

I leaned down and kissed Junghwa's forehead, before turning off the lamp and walking out of the room. I closed the door and pressed my forehead against it, taking a deep breath to steady myself, to not let my overwhelming emotions spill out.

The pain I thought I buried years ago... was creeping back again.

"Seohwa..."

Seokjin's warm voice made me turn back at him. I forced out a smile, "Yes, oppa?"

Seokjin's eyes carried a glint of sadness. He sighed and gestured me, "Come here..."

My eyes furrowed in confusion. What's wrong with him now? Nevertheless, I walked towards him and took a seat on the couch beside him.

There was a moment of deafening silence between us that made me suffocate. It was until he broke it.

"So... are you gonna tell me or do I have to drag it out of you?" he spoke sternly.

I gulped hard, "Tell you... what?"

He stared at me coldly, "Don't play dumb, Seohwa," he sighed, "I can see it all over your face. Something's bothering you."

I huffed out, "I'm telling you everything is alright! Nothing's wrong!"

Seokjin scoffed, "You know right how terrible of a liar you are?"

I looked away and sighed. There was no going back when Seokjin asked me something. He was too adamant to find it out. He wouldn't let it pass so easily.

"It's... about my CEO...," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"CEO?" Seokjin raised his eyebrows, "What about him? Did he yell at you or something?" His expressions darkened with anger and that made me chuckle.

I shook my head, "No... He didn't yell at me. It's just...," I heaved out a heavy sigh. He stared at me curiously, waiting for me to complete my sentence, "It's... Jungkook."

His eyes widened and his jaw hanged open as my words lingered in the air. "Jungkook?!" he gasped, his voice louder, "Jeon Jungkook?! That Jeon Jungkook?!"

I swallowed hard and nodded. His reactions were obvious. He hated Jungkook from the core of his heart.

"That motherfucker...," he gritted his teeth and cursed, "Tell me, did he do anything to you? Did he touch you or anything? I will-"

I shook my head and sighed, "No, oppa. He didn't do anything. Calm down!" I gently grabbed his wrist, "Don't worry..." He was being protective now.

He sighed and looked at me, "Then? Why... why do you look so sad today?"

I let out a sigh, "It's just... I saw him after so many years. It overwhelmed me."

"And?" he raised his eyebrows, "Did he ask about... you...?"

I knew what he was indicating. I looked away from him for a moment and huffed. I spoke softly, "I lied to him. I told him I was married. That Junghwa's father is someone else."

Seokjin frowned, "But-"

I interrupted him and spoke firmly, "Because it's better this way. He's engaged, oppa."

He clenched his jaw, "Engaged...? He... got over?"

I sighed and nodded, "He doesn't deserve to know about... Junghwa."

Seokjin stared at me with worried eyes, "What if he finds out? What if he wants to be back in your life?"

"I won't let him," I say adamantly, "Never. I won't let him destroy my life again."

»»---->

Jungkook's POV~

It was past midnight. I sat on the edge of my bed, my elbows resting on my knees as I stared blankly at the gleaming floor of my room. The dim glow of my bedside lamp casted long shadows on the walls, replicating strange creatures.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand- an unread message from my fiancée, Kiko. I picked up my phone and read the message that popped up on my screen.

"Good night, Honey. "

I was in no mood to reply to her. So, I just tossed my phone back to the nightstand and fell flat onto the soft mattress. I heaved out a deep sigh, my mind replaying that moment when I saw her, the love of my life. I never thought I'd see her again and I was glad to see her.

But her words made my heart clench. She was married, a mother of a child. I could still picture her sharp and guarded expression and the way her tone sounded so cold and distant. It felt as if she was stabbing my heart with a dagger.

What hurt me the most was that it had been six years since she had been living that married life. It had been six years since I left too. Was all her love fake? Did she not love me?

I ran a hand through my hair, exasperated. I replayed those old memories of us in my mind and compared it to how distant she seemed today, when I saw her after so long. I clenched his jaw, shutting my eyes tightly, as if I was trying to erase her face from my mind.

I sat up on the bed. My eyes flickered to the ring on my ring finger - the gleaming engagement ring that never felt like it belonged to me. I tugged it off, tossing it onto the nightstand. It clinked with the wooden surface of the nightstand and rolled till it came to a stop.

"I should be happy! I have everything- a stable life, a successful career, a fiancée who adores me...," I scoffed at myself, "Then why... why does it feel so empty? As if it is not meant for me?!"

Her words constantly rang my mind, shattering my heart every time. It made me shiver every time those words flooded back to my mind.

"I have been married for six years and I have a daughter as well."

I huffed and pulled out a picture from my wallet - a picture of us that I always carried with myself. I looked down at it and chuckled bitterly, "I guess we both moved on, huh?"

A heavy silence filled the room. My heart knew the truth - I hadn't moved on. Not even a little.

»»---->

Seohwa's POV~

I couldn't believe how I spent working in that office for four months now. I must appreciate my commendable strength for being able to stay strong even while working for the man who made my life miserable.

During those four months of service, I made many friendly relations with my colleagues. Among them, Jung Hoseok stood out the most. He was one of the members of the executive team and his workplace was beside mine. He was a warm, cheerful man, with a bright smile always plastered on his face.

I remember how he was the first one to greet me with a warm hug and a bouquet of flowers on my first day. That felt so endearing! Everyday, when I made my way to my desk, he would walk up to me and greet me as if we had known each other for ages.

"Good morning, Miss Kim!" Hoseok came towards me, his usual bright grin lighting up his face.

I couldn't help but smile back at him, "Good morning, Mr. Jung."

"Ah, come on! I told you to drop the formalities," he pouted dramatically, crossing his arms over his chest, "Call me Hoseok or Hobi."

I chuckled, shaking my head, "Alright, alright. Good morning, Hoseok."

"That's much better!" he nodded his head. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, as if he was sharing some confidential information, "So... How was your weekend? Any exciting stories to share?"

I laughed at his way of asking me. "Not much, just spent some time with my family," I replied with a small smile.

"That sounds so amazing!" he said with a warm smile, before playfully nudging my arm, "Unlike me, who spent the entire weekend drowning in paperwork! I wish I could visit my hometown someday... I miss my parents"

I giggled at his dramatic sigh of frustration, "You're part of the executive team. Aren't you used to it by now?"

"Used to it? Yes. Enjoying it? Never," he replied dramatically with a big pout, making me laugh.

But just as I was about to respond, I noticed Hoseok's expression shift. His smile faded as he stared at something behind me.

He suddenly bowed and murmured, "Good morning, Mr. Jeon."

My eyes widened and I flinched when I heard him. I immediately turned back and I saw him, standing so close to me, shooting me a cold stare. I bowed and greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Jeon."

Jungkook barely acknowledged our greetings as he continued staring at me coldly until he asked me in his rough voice, "The file, Kim?"

"Uh...," I searched through my bag to make sure I had brought it, "I have it, Mr. Jeon."

"Come over to my office then," saying that, he turned back and walked to his office.

I huffed, exasperated. Not with him again.

»»---->

Jungkook's POV~

The air in the office was filled with an awkward silence, thick with unspoken words.

Seohwa sat across from me, her fingers swiftly typing on her laptop as her eyes were fixed on the lit screen. She seemed professional-a bit too professional for me to handle. Not once had she looked up at me unless it was absolutely necessary.

I leaned back in my chair, gripping a pen between my fingers and twirling it, watching her from the corner of my eyes. She was completely immersed in her work but I could sense it - the slight stiffness in her body, the way she breathed irregularly while being in my presence. She was tensed and uncomfortable.

"Kim," I called her, my voice firm.

She froze for a second before glancing up at me, "Yes, Mr. Jeon?"

Mr. Jeon. I hated the way she addressed me. It felt so... unnatural on her tongue. It seemed so distant, so formal and cold.

I placed a document on my desk, pushing it forward towards her, "Review this and get back to me within an hour."

She nodded, reaching out to take the file. "I'll get it done," she said firmly before turning away and walking out of my office.

As soon as she left my office, I exhaled sharply, my jaw tightening.

That was torture.

Having her so close yet so far. Working beside her as if we were just two professionals, as if there was no history between us, as if we were just two strangers who came to know each other only in this building.

And what frustrated me even more?

That she was better at pretending than I was.

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Wooh, back with this chapter!! I can't believe I typed this whole 2000+ words chapter in just a day! It wouldn't have been possible if y'all wouldn't have asked me for the update. It just gave me a boost of energy and BOOM! I wrote this in a day. To be honest, I have been more into writing the 5th chapter of this book because.... (Lemme not reveal anything)

Anyways, how's the chapter? Did y'all enjoy?

Stay tuned! ❤