ALWAYS

XIX

He left the mansion at the middle of the night. He drove around the dark city just to clear his messed up mind.

Making a stop at one familiar place. a place where he and his brother used to go. a place where they used to release all of their stress,drinking their minds  just to forget their problems fr a while.

He never expected himself going back to that place since his brother left, he never tried going back in there again, what’s the use of it? The one who always told him not to give up was the first one who gave up and left him.

Looking over at the city, he stopped at a hilltop and dragged himself out of his car and leaned on it as he watched over the flickering lights of the now quiet city.

Suppressing himself to close his eyes for he would always see her face that would always bring him an excruciating wave of pain whenever he sees it.

And just then, a drop of tear escaped his eyes, too shock of what happened, he quickly wiped it off.

Is this really my payment for the pain I caused you?

A thought brushed his mind as he watched the city.

He chuckled at his own thoughts now, he can’t even control the works of his mind, seemed like everything is completely going on out of his hands already.

A night away from her,away from reality hoping that after the night he could go back to his tracks clearing his system of thoughts of her but in the end he  just still couldn’t

--

And just right after he arrived at the mansion yet again, he found himself
looking for her just like last night. the way his body dragged itself towards her. It all happened too fast that he could’t stop himself.
He just found himself watching her again even just by her reflection, it already
fed the emptiness he’s feeling inside and just like it’s already normal    for him. He was not surprised feeling his insides thumping really hard. He is now used to the tightening of his chest he just stood there and stayed still as he watched her beauty
that outlined the mirror. He watched her having her moment reminiscing her memories.

He stayed glued on the ground unable to speak, unable to move.
Until she opened her eyes he came back to his senses as well.
She quickly turned around to face him. a few steps of gap between them and they shared another eye contact.

He looked away first. finally able to control himself he made his way inside and towards his closet. she watched him and  wondering why he’s there.

He rummaged through his closet brushing away the awkward feelinginside him and got new pair of clothes and went directly to their bathroom.

She waited for him, still standing in front of the mirror.

He went back wearing his new clothes and noticing that she’s still there.

She blinked her eyes and cleared her throat before speaking.

Ah…Ju.. Jungkok-ah since when uhmmm.. I thought…

She stuttered... can’t figure out the right words she wants to say. Wants to ask him why he’s there? How come he is not in his lover’s house? Where did he spend the night?

He cut her off.

I went somewhere last night.

He heard himself explaining. it just came automatically from him.

Her eyes widen a bit, for first time he bothered explaining to herand just like that silence then consumed them.

Ah.. ha..

The only word that she managed to say.

He noticed the forming awkwardness once again. It’s  his turn to clear his throat and walked towards their bed finishing to button up his shirt.

You are going somewhere?

He asked without looking at her but before she could speak they heard her niece yelling in excitement as it made its way towards their room.

Omma Omma! Uncle Taehyung’s finally here.

Soojin ran inside their room and towards her aunt with a wide smile plastered on her face but as soon as she saw Jungkook sitting on the bed her smile got wider and ran  towards the man.

Uncle Jungkook!

She yelled once again, extending her arms as for him to carry her.
Jungkook stood up and carried the little girl in his arms.
Hi there angel...

He reached for the child’s face and pinched its chubby cheek which earned a giggle from the child. his wife on the other hand blushed upon hearing him saying such sweet words towards her niece even for the fact that it’s not directed to her, hearing him saying soft words could already make her flutter.

Uncle since when did you come back? Where did you go? Omma said you are busy?

The little girl immediately bombarded him with lots of questions. he lookedat Rosé before turning back at the child.

Rosé just stood in front of the two clasping her hands tight in front of her and bowing her head a bit.

I went somewhere last night baby.

He explained again and then turned back to Rosé.
Whyis Taehyung here..?
He asked her monotonously and she quickly looked up.
We are.. umm..
She started but her energetic niece beats her.

Uncle Taehyung will bring Soojin and omma to the beach..!

She cheered on his arms,throwing her arms up in the air and then back at wrapping it along Jungkook’s neck.

Upon hearing it, he unconsciously raised a bow and continuously looked his  wife.
I told him, he shouldn’t have to..

Her voice trailed off a bit,afraid he would get mad at her again.

Deep inside he’s really starting to get mad not really knowing why but he jsut felt it.

And just then he felt the little girl calling in for his attention. he looked at her and saw a sweet smile on the child’s face.

Uncle come and join us too. Soojin wants to play with uncle Jungkook. She smiled at him. tooâ¦âSS
Rosé quickly went to them and got Soojin from her husband. Baby I told you uncle Jungkook’s busy.
She persisted  her niece started to pout in disappointment.
I’ll go..
She heard him sa, Her niece quickly wriggled on her hold as she cheered.
Rosé’s eyes widen just like him and  both were surprised, especially him.

Yehey! Uncle Jungkook will come!

Rosé put her down and quickly she ran out of the room telling that she’ll
Tell Taehyung that her uncle Jungkook will come.

As soon as the little girl left, silence filled the room once again.
Ju-Jungkook,.. You.. you don’t have to come.
She said in a weak voice.

It was like a pinch inside of him hearing it from her, for him it was like he’s not welcome and pushing him away to have her own time with another man.

He walked towards her until the gap slowly lessened between them. he looked at her with just blankness inside his eyes before he opened his mouth to speak.

Why? Is it because I’ll just ruin your moment with my friend? Is that it?

She quickly looked at him in disbelief, here he is again accusing her of something. she just doesn’t want to bother himand she knows he got more things to do than to force himself to babysit her niece but again, he misunderstood her.

It’s not that..

She said as she got cut off again by him.

You think I would let my wife cheat on me?

He grabbed her chin with his hand and made her to face him directly. he heard a loud thump inside his chest but shook it away as he saw fear in her eyes. his forehead creased in frustration. since when did he hate seeing fear in her?

I won’t let that happen.

He said in a cold voice as his lips slowly landed on her, her eyes widen in shock once again, her body stiffened as both orbs locked with each other as well. He moved his lips but not enough to deepen their kiss.
The sound of their lips as it parted rang the entire silence around the two.

The kiss was short but enough for her to feel the deepness of the mark it left her.
It  was not forceful or anything,it supposed to make her feel more fear but she
Can’t help but to feel the possessiveness behind the kiss as if marking her as  his.
along with the hidden gentleness that comes with it but that was just all in her mind. she thought.

Thinking that for him it would always be just a simple plain kiss.

But for him, it was like the first right thing he did out of all the uncontrolled actions that he made these past few days.

Seeing her shocked reaction, he can’t help but to form a smirk.

He walked past her towards the door, looking at his side enough to have   a glimpse of her.

Hurry up  in  there,  your  man’s  still  waiting  for  you he said as he completely went out of the room.
Oh... You are here. Rosé said you left.

Taehyung said as soon as he went downstairs, trailing his wife behind him. A tinge of disappointment could be felt but he was quickly able to hide it.

He raised a brow once again hearing how his friend just called his wife by her nickname so casually in front of him. while his wife just stayed silent behind. Is it he couldn’t get over of what had happened in their room earlier.

I just came back,so are we heading off now?

He said with a smirk. Soojin cheered in delight and ran towards Jungkook.
He quickly carried her and flashed the child with a sweet smile.
Taehyung was a bit dumbstruck, his eyes then landed towards Rosé and noticed  her silence.

Rosé..

He called her softly enough for her to snap back from her thoughts.she looked

up to Taehyung with a questioning expression painted on her face.

Jungkook clearly saw how his friend looked at his wife. anger started to boil up once againâ. he just doesn’t want someone looking at his wife with those kinds of stares. his brows then slowly connected and when his friend was about to go to                                       his wife, he quickly went to her with Soojin in his other arm. he wrapped his    arm  along his wife’s shoulder.

She gasped in surprise with the sudden contact. She looked up to her husband but he didn’t looked down to her.

Shall we go?

Jungkook spoke and  his friend dropped its gaze towards his wife and turned to him and nod.

As they got out,  two cars were waiting for them.
The three of us will just go take my car. I’ll just follow you, Jungkook stated, all his friend could do  is nod and steal some quick glances on Rosé.

Another heartbreak for him,he shouldn’t have insisted bringing her to the  beach if he knows he would just see another painful moment of her and the man who owns
her now.

Throughout the ride she was just silent. too absorbed thinking why her husband’s acting so odd once again. only the voice of her niece continuously singing beat the silence inside his car. he too was silent he’s just observing her thinking if he’s doing the right thing. if this is still part of his way to hurt her?

--

Soon they arrived at the beach.

And soon she forgot what’s been bothering her.

Seeing the broad sea, smelling the familiar salty scent of the beach, feeling the breeze as it blew past her.

As if automatically, she started taking off her sandals, putting it inside the car
feeling the warm sand on her bare foot, this is what she saw wanting the feeling  of tranquility, stillness and away from her pain.

Together with her niece,  they started running towards the shore, forgetting everything as happiness showered her once again.

Omma! Catch me!

Leaving the two men watching them from afar.

Both eyes were directed to the same girl,  both eyes watched how she smiled and laugh with her niece and both felt the same pace inside their chest. Both beating wildly as they watch her.

Jungkook-ah.

His friend started both were now leaning on the car as they continuously watched the two girls who were now playing at the waters.

He turned to his friend saw how its eyes were all glued watching his wife. He cleared his throat trying to gain his friend’s attention.

His friend turned to him wearing a serious expression on his face which made him a bit uneasy.

Jungkook-ah, you do love Tzuyu right?

He heard his friend asking, he thought of why he’s asking him that; he opens his mouth, only to close it again.  he just couldn’t answer him. surprised with himself why he couldn’t. he do loves Tzuyu for all he knows. she was the first girl who made his heart do somersault. the first one who treasured him the most. the first one who gave him the strength when he needed the most. of course he loves her.
For all he knows

Hearing nothing from him his friend then curved a slight smile,  facing the sea once again his eyes followed every of her moves. he heaved up a sigh.

Jungkook just watch him and waited for another bomb that his friend would inflict him and just as he thought the next words his friend told him felt more like the death itself.
Actually I think I’m in love…. with your wife.