(Warning: This chapter has intense emotional scenes.)

~sʜᴏᴛ ɢʟᴀss ᴏғ ᴛᴇᴀʀs: ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ~

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Jungkook's POV~

A twitch...

A small twitch...

In her hand...

I froze as I felt her finger twitch in my hand. I held my breath and lifted my head up, my expression a mix of hope and disbelief. I gripped her hand tightly, my heart racing as I waited for any other sign of life.

I leaned in closer, studying her face, looking for any sign of movement. My heart was in my throat, my mind reeling with possibilities. Is it true? Or is this just a cruel trick of my imagination?

I flinched as I saw her eyelashes flutter. And then... her eyes flutter opened. She looked at me weakly and flashed me a small smile,"K-Kookie..."

I gasped, feeling a rush of relief and disbelief as I saw her eyes open. My breath was caught in my chest as I heard her faint voice. I gripped her hand even tighter, my heart pounding in my chest. I leaned in closer, connecting my forehead with hers, desperate to hear her again. I was afraid to hope, afraid to believe that...this was real.

"S-Seohwa...?? B-babe- I-Is it really you...?" I choked out, "P-Please, tell me it's you. Y-You're here, right? You're still alive...?!" I patted her cheek.

She smiled again, calling me with her melodic voice, "K-Kookie..."

I let out a shaky laugh, my heart still reeling with emotion. I stared at her, my eyes drinking in her face, as if trying to commit every detail of her face to my memory. I brushed away a strand of hair that was fallen across her forehead, my touch gentle and tender.

"You're here... Y-You're really here...! I can't believe it...!!" I wrapped my arms around her tightly, "I-I was so damn scared I'd lost you... I can't lose you," I shook my head, "N-Not again...!"

She chuckled as she mumbled weakly, "You won't lose me... I'm... I'm here... Kookie...," she touched my cheek with her trembling hands, "I-I love you..."

My heart skipped a beat as her words hit me like a tidal wave. I gripped her body tighter, my voice hoarse with emotion, "I-I love you too... More than anything in this world. You have no idea how much I've missed you, how much I've ached for you...," I brought my face closer, my nose brushing with hers, "I love you so much... I never stopped loving you, not for a single day...!"

But then... a deafening silence again.

I felt a sudden sense of panic as the silence stretched on. I gripped her shoulder, shaking her, "S-Seohwa...?" I rasped out, "Hey...hey...! D-Don't go silent on me now... T-Talk to me...!"

I felt a chill run through me as I realized that she was still cold and lifeless in my arms. My heart dropped as I realized it all.

It was nothing but a hallucination, a cruel trick of my mind.

I shook her again, my voice a pleading whisper as tears streamed down my cheeks, "No... No... No... This can't be..!! Wake up, please, wake up...!! Don't do this to me..."

I felt a wave of emotions wash over me and I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. I buried my face in her neck, my body shaking as I screamed. My heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces as I held her lifeless body in my arms. I gripped her hand tightly, my voice breaking with pain and despair as I continued screaming.

I held her tighter, my sobs growing louder as the pain and despair washed over me. My heart felt like it had been ripped apart and I couldn't imagine living in a world without her. I hated myself for losing her, for not being there for her when she needed me the most. I hated the cruel fate that had torn us apart, that had left me with nothing but the painful memory of what we had, everything I cherished.

»»————>

A week.

It had been a week since the day I lost her, the lady of my dreams, the love of my life. It had been a week since the light in my world vanished, leaving behind a void of darkness I couldn’t escape from. I was empty. I was just a body, with a lifeless soul. I could feel nothing, all numb.

The sky was grey as I made my way through the graveyard, the cold wind hitting my skin like the regret that clawed at my chest. My steps felt heavy, as if I was chained to something and was just somehow dragging my body. I hated this place but I needed to be here. I needed to see her — my love.

I stopped in front of her grave. The tombstone was cold, her name carved into it, being a cruel reminder that she was never coming back, that I had lost her forever. I stared at it with a distant gaze, my throat tightening as if thorns were piercing it.

I clenched my fingers around the bouquet of white lilies — her favourite flowers. I trembled as I knelt down and placed the bouquet of white lilies at her tombstone. I stood up and stood there still, staring at her carved name with emotionless eyes.

I wanted to say... a lot. So much that it'd take me days to put my thoughts into words. But the words were stuck in my throat. I was numb. I wasn't able to utter a single word.

I closed my eyes as tears welled up. I didn't hold them back. I let them stream down my cheeks freely. My nails dug deeper into my palms as my body shook with the force of my sobs.

I froze when I heard a set of footsteps. For a moment, I wished it was Seohwa. But then... I laughed at myself for even thinking that. She is gone, Jeon. She's gone.

The footsteps stopped close to me. But I didn't glance at the person. More like, I didn't want to. I just wanted to stare at Seohwa's picture and her carved name. It didn't matter to me whoever it was.

I just closed my eyes shut and kept on sobbing. But then, I heard something from the person beside me that made me go stiff.

"I miss you... Eomma..."

My eyes widened as I stared at the person. It was not just a person, but a child — a little girl. She was in a white floral dress, that reached up to her knees, her black hair tied in a ponytail. I sniffled and rubbed my tears with the back of my hand, to clear my blurred vision.

That child with my face... My everything.

I was overjoyed to see her, she was my only reason to live now. Seohwa's daughter... My daughter... Our daughter...

I let out a shaky breath, a small, almost nonexistent, sad smile decorating my lips as I stuttered, "You are- A-Are you...," I swallowed, "Are you... her daughter...?"

The little girl turned her gaze to me, staring at me with her bright, doe, curious eyes, that exactly resembled my own eyes. She backed off a bit, fear lingering in her face as she nodded.

I instantly fell on my knees, to her level as I stared at her with a sense of disbelief. She's real... She's my baby... She's my daughter... My little girl. I stared at her up and down, my breaths ragged.

I was at a loss of words. I wanted to pull her into my arms tightly and never wanted to let go of her. But I knew she was not familiar of me. I was a stranger to her.

"Who are you... uncle?" she asked, her eyes curious and her voice filled with a hint of uncertainty.

I wanted to hold her and tell her that I was her father, her 'Appa'. But then... Seohwa's thought struck my mind. My baby had already been through so much... I didn't want to give her yet another shock.

I just chuckled softly, "I... I was... her friend..."

She nodded at my words, staring at me with wide eyes. I placed my hand on her cheek, gently rubbing it. I wanted to know more about her... I had missed six years of her life.

"What's... your name...?" I stuttered.

I expected her to feel uncomfortable by my sudden touch. But surprisingly, she didn't back off. She said her name softly, "Kim Junghwa..."

And it made me shudder when I got to know her name. "Junghwa...," I smiled sadly, my eyes getting teary again. Junghwa... She was Jeon Junghwa, not Kim Junghwa. I bit my lower lip as I realized that it was a mixture of both our names. Jung from Jungkook, Hwa from Seohwa. She still remembered me, though I wasn't there with her. She still gave our daughter a part of me.

"You were... Eomma's friend?" she asked me innocently.

I reluctantly nodded. I didn't have the courage to tell her the truth.

"Uncle... do you know why... Eomma left me?" she looked down sadly.

That shattered my heart. I cupped her face and sighed heavily, "Your eomma... was sick... Junghwa...," I managed to croak out, my throat tightening as I spoke.

She sniffled, her lips quivering, "First Appa... and now Eomma... Both left me behind..."

That made me shudder. Did she know anything about me? If so, what was it? I whispered, "Your... Appa...?"

She nodded, "My Appa... His name was Jungkook... Eomma told me that he used to love me so much... but he got into an accident and passed away when I was a baby..."

I felt the ground beneath my feet slip as I processed her words in my mind. It overwhelmed me, knowing that she knew her father's name — my name. But it also filled me with grief. Seohwa... told her...I was dead? I clenched my jaw, biting at my inner cheek.

I closed my eyes and sighed. I gulped and looked into her eyes, gripping her tiny shoulders, "I... I'm... there. I'm there for you. I'll look after you, " I said, my gaze solemn.

She stared at me with surprise and confusion. She must be shocked at how a stranger was ready to take care of her. She turned her head back to glance at the entrance of the graveyard.

"I have my Daddy...," she said softly.

It made me narrow my eyes. Daddy... Who? Is it... Seohwa's husband...? I asked her in confusion, "Daddy...? Who...? You said your Appa..."

She shook her head, "He's not my dad. He's my uncle. Eomma's brother. I have been calling him Daddy since I was a baby."

I nodded my head and looked down. I was relieved to know it wasn't her husband or something. It meant that she lied... Lied that she was married to another man.

"What's your name... uncle?" she asked me innocently.

It sent shivers down my spine. Should I tell her? My real name? That I'm Jeon Jungkook? But no. I didn't. I didn't want to cause my trouble for my daughter. I chuckled sadly, "JK. Call me... Uncle JK..."

"Uncle JK...," she repeated, giving me a small smile, a smile resembling to Seohwa's. It made my heart ache.

As I observed my daughter more, I realized... she didn't just look like me. She was a perfect mix — of me and Seohwa. My eyes, my nose, my chin and Seohwa's smile, her hair, her eyebrows... She was our daughter.

I bit my lower lip to control my overwhelming emotions. I looked at her up and down. I wanted to ask her so many things in one go. Her birthday, her favourite colour, favorite food, her hobbies... Everything. I wanted to know everything about my baby.

But just as I was about to open my mouth to say something, I heard a deep, male voice.

"Junghwa?? Are you here?"

Junghwa's head snapped to the direction of the voice and I observed how her face darkened, with a hint of fear. "Daddy...," she murmured.

I turned my head slightly, only to find a tall figure approaching us, or maybe, just Junghwa. The man looked so familiar to Seohwa. With no doubt, I knew it right away.

It was her brother, Seokjin.

He hadn't paid much attention to my presence. His eyes were fixed on Junghwa, with a hint of concern. Junghwa broke free from my grasp and rushed to Seokjin, leaving me with a sense of emptiness.

Seokjin kneeled down to her height and huffed, "Here you are... I have been searching you all day. Do you know how worried I was?"

"I'm sorry, Daddy...," she looked down and muttered, "I was just... missing Eomma."

His eyes saddened as she mentioned Seohwa. He forced out a smile, gently gripping her shoulders, "You should have told me... I'd have brought you here...," he sighed, "Don't go anywhere without telling me, okay?"

She smiled and nodded. A small smile formed on my lips too as I witnessed their cute interaction. But then, my smile faded when I noticed Seokjin's gaze on me.

His face was unreadable but the storm in his eyes was enough to tell me everything I needed to know. He wasn't going to have a friendly or a heartfelt conversation with me. He came to take back what he believed was his to protect.

"Junghwa," he called her softly, keeping his voice warm for her, "Let's go home, baby."

"I want to talk to this new uncle a bit more...," she mumbled with a small pout

He gently patted her back. "I know, sweetie... But it’s cold here and you'll get sick," he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "Go home. I’ll be right back after buying some eggs from the convenience store, hmm?"

"But—" Junghwa was about to protest but Seokjin interrupted.

"Go, Junghwa," he said a little more firmly and then kissed her forehead, "I'll get your favorite banana milk too on my way back, okay?"

That made me chuckle sadly. She loves banana milk too... Just like me.

She finally nodded reluctantly, giving me one last look, her small hand waving at me, "Bye bye...Uncle JK!"

I smiled sadly, my voice weak, "Bye... My princess..."

As she walked away, my eyes stayed locked onto her figure until she disappeared beyond the gate.

I moved my gaze to Seokjin and I saw that...the warmth in his eyes had vanished.

He straightened himself slowly, every movement guarded. His expression was calm — a bit too calm, the kind that hid a volcano of anger behind, waiting to erupt.

“Why are you here?" he asked coldly.

"I-" I cleared my throat, "S-Seohwa... I... I needed to see her..."

Seokjin looked away and huffed. I noticed how his jaw clenched. He was fuming with anger.

I stayed silent, biting down the guilt that had become a part of me now.

"You think showing up at her grave makes things right?" he laughed bitterly, "You killed her!"

His words made me close my eyes. They were too painful. I shook my head, "I-I didn-"

"My sister died when she was with you!" he snarled, glaring at me, his eyes filled with pain, "She was my only family!! You took her away!"

"I loved her, hyung," I rasped, my voice shaky, "I still love her...that day...it was just-"

"She spent six goddamn years waiting for you!" he growled, his voice breaking for the first time, "She died thinking you abandoned her! She carried your child alone! She fought for her health alone! And you — where the hell were you?! About to get married with another woman?!"

I looked away. I had no defense. No excuse that could ever justify the pain I'd caused. I clenched my fists to keep my emotions in check.

"I raised her daughter," he said, his voice ice cold, "I stayed. I watched Seohwa break and rebuild herself every day! I was there when she cried, when she bled, when she smiled for her daughter, despite dying inside!"

I didn't utter a single word. I stayed silent, guilt swallowing me in itself.

Seokjin took a step closer, his voice a low warning, "Go away, Jungkook. Don't ever return."

My breath hitched at his words. I looked up at him, my eyes wide with panic, "N-No...! I... I need Junghwa! She's my daughter! I... I need to be in her life!"

"No," he said firmly, his eyes blazing with anger, "You ruined my sister's life. I won't let you ruin her daughter. I'll raise her. I'm enough for her."

I shook my head vehemently, "No... But-"

"Stay away, Jungkook," he said lowly, "If you ever loved Seohwa — even an ounce — then you’ll respect her wishes... She didn’t want Junghwa to know about you, nor did she want you to know about her."

That made me shudder as tears started spilling out of my eyes. I couldn't disrespect Seohwa. I could never.

"You have a fiancee. A new life. Live it," he said coldly, before turning away.

I panicked, seeing him turn and ready to walk away from me. I instinctively grabbed his wrist, "H-Hyung...!" I cried out.

I sobbed as I grabbed his wrist tighter, my voice hoarse and unrecognizable, "D-Don't do this... please... J-Junghwa... I need her... She's all I got... I need her... I-I will die without her... Please hyung-"

"If I ever see you again here...," Seokjin spoke dangerously, "I won't hesitate to dig your grave in this very place," he looked at me intensely.

Suddenly, he grabbed my collar, jerking me, "You have no idea how much it takes me to not break your neck here," his words sent shivers down my spine, "It's just for your daughter that I'm not killing you. She needs me...," he let go of me, pushing me away.

"Get lost, " with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me behind, frozen in place.

The silence screamed around me as I stared at the empty space where Seokjin and Junghwa once stood. My knees gave in. I sank to the ground beside Seohwa’s grave. My fingers trembled as I clutched the bouquet that I had placed a while ago.

I gave in to my emotions. A guttural cry escaped my throat, my sobs echoing in the dead stillness of the graveyard.

“I’m sorry...," I cried, pressing my forehead on her tombstone, “I’m sorry babe... I lost everything... Everything... I've ever had..."

And there I was, alone and forgotten in this cold world. How cruel of fate it was... to snatch everything from me.

I was nothing but a broken man who had lost everything...

Just a single place, and it took away everything from me. The only difference was that I didn't lose my daughter to death.

My Love was buried, and so was I.

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That's it. This is the last chapter of THE LOVE WE LOST!

Yeah... that cliffhanger... 💀
Take it as an APRIL'S FOOL!

I know y'all will beat me up now. But Hang on! There's still an Epilogue on the way 😉

Stay tuned! 💜