Closer Than This...(vsoo)

18.

The evening was quiet, the soft hum of the city outside barely breaking the stillness of Jungkook's apartment. The two sat across from each other, the silence stretching between them, both of them nursing glasses of wine in hand.

Jisoo had been quiet for most of the evening, her thoughts tangled in the web of her plans, but now she was ready to speak.

Jisoo broke the silence, her voice steady but laced with determination. "I've decided I'm not backing out of the engagement."

Jungkook looked up at her, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean? I thought you were... trying to get out of it?"

"I was," she admitted. "But I've thought about it. I'm going to use this engagement to get back at Taehyung's uncle, Kim Taehwan. I'll play along with this farce for now, and then... I'll make him pay for everything he's done. For what he did to my family."

Jungkook stayed silent for a moment, processing her words. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something...concern? Worry? He set his glass down and leaned forward, meeting her eyes.

"Are you sure about this? You don't know what you're getting into, Jisoo. Playing this game with Taehyung and his uncle... it could get dangerous. Taehyung might get hurt."

She let out a breath, her gaze steady. "I know it's dangerous. But I have to do this, Jungkook. I can't let him get away with it. And Taehyung, he's just a pawn in all of this. He has no idea what his uncle's been doing...even if he has he won't get out of it easily."

Jungkook's eyes narrowed, and he stood up, pacing around the room. "I understand your anger, Jisoo. I really do. But do you think Taehyung is just some tool to use? He's your fiancé now. You're playing with his emotions, too. This isn't just about revenge anymore."

Jisoo felt her chest tighten, her grip on her glass tightening as well. She wasn't sure what to say. Jungkook was right. Taehyung had become more than just a pawn in this game.

But what else could she do? She couldn't let her family's ruin go unpunished.

"I don't want to hurt him," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I can't just back down now. Not after everything that's happened."

Jungkook's expression softened, but there was a hint of something deeper in his eyes. His voice was quieter now, tinged with vulnerability. "Jisoo, you're not the only one who's been hurt by all this. I've... I've always been here for you, you know that, right?"

Jisoo looked up at him, meeting his gaze, but this time, something felt different. The distance that had always existed between them, the unspoken tension, felt like it was finally breaking.

She could see it in his eyes-he wasn't just concerned for her anymore. It was more than that.

Before she could say anything, Jungkook took a step closer, his voice low and urgent. "I've always cared about you, Jisoo. More than you know. But I've been holding back, thinking that maybe you were just focused on the engagement and everything that comes with it."

Jisoo's breath caught in her throat. "Jungkook..."

He shook his head, his eyes dark with emotion. "I can't keep pretending that I'm okay with just being your friend, Jisoo. I... I don't want to be just your childhood friend anymore. I want more than that."

Jisoo felt her heart race. She had never expected this, never anticipated that Jungkook, of all people, would say something like this.

She had always seen him as a friend, someone who had been there for her through everything, but now... now the lines between friendship and something more were blurring in a way she wasn't ready for.