Chapter 4

Upstairs – Guest Room, Late Night

(Y/N lies curled up on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Jungkook sits nearby in an armchair, watching the rain begin to fall outside the window. The silence is thick but not uncomfortable. It's the first time Y/N hasn't felt completely alone.)

[Y/N] (softly)

"You're not like her."

[Jungkook] (glancing over)

"No. And I'm not trying to be your father either."

[Y/N] (after a pause)

"Good. Because he actually listened to me."

(That hits hard. Jungkook nods, quietly absorbing the hurt in her voice.)

[Jungkook]

"What happened between them... wasn't your fault. And it wasn't fair to take you away from him without giving you a choice."

[Y/N] (tears welling again)

"No one ever gives me a choice."

[Jungkook] (softly)

"Then maybe it's time someone does."

(She looks at him, unsure what he means.)

[Jungkook]

"You want to go see your dad? I'll make it happen."

[Y/N] (stunned)

"You... would do that? Even after I embarrassed you in front of everyone?"

[Jungkook] (shrugs slightly)

"I care more about what's right than what looks good. You needed someone to stand up for you. I wasn't going to let you take the fall alone."

(She stares at him, speechless. For the first time, something cracks inside her—a tiny glimmer of trust.)

Next Morning – Kitchen

(Aera walks into the kitchen, dark circles under her eyes. She sees Jungkook making coffee, quiet but alert.)

[Min Aera]

"She's still here?"

[Jungkook] (calmly)

"She's staying."

[Min Aera] (bitter)

"I can't believe you're taking her side."

[Jungkook] (turns to her)

"I'm not taking sides, Aera. I'm trying to fix what you're blind to. She's not acting out for no reason. She's breaking—and you slapped her in front of a room full of people."

[Min Aera] (defensive)

"She humiliated us—"

[Jungkook] (cuts her off)

"She's sixteen."

(Aera looks away, jaw clenched. Jungkook lets out a slow breath.)

[Jungkook]

"She doesn't need another enemy. She needs someone who listens. If you can't be that person... I will."

Later – Y/N's Room

(Y/N stands at the window, watching the street below. Jungkook knocks once, then enters with a calm smile.)

[Jungkook]

"Packed a bag. We're going to visit your dad."

(Y/N blinks in disbelief, emotions all over her face.)

[Y/N]

"Why are you doing this?"

[Jungkook] (pausing, then quietly)

"Because I meant it when I said you matter. And because... I know what it's like to grow up feeling unheard."

(Y/N's eyes brim with tears again. She doesn't know how to respond, so instead, she walks over and hugs him—quickly, awkwardly, but sincerely. Jungkook stiffens for a moment, then gently returns the embrace, careful not to let his emotions take over.)

Later That Day – On the Road

(Y/N and Jungkook are in the car. The mood is quiet but calmer. Y/N occasionally glances at him, still unsure how to process his kindness.)

[Y/N]

"You didn't even ask my mom. She's probably losing her mind right now."

[Jungkook] (focused on the road)

"She already lost control the moment she stopped listening to you. If she wants to talk, she'll call. I'm not scared of her anger. But I am scared of what'll happen to you if no one listens."

(Y/N doesn't reply, but she's visibly affected. She turns toward the window, silently blinking back tears.)

Meanwhile – Jungkook's Penthouse

(Min Aera storms into the living room, phone in hand, pacing as she dials Jungkook for the fifth time.)

[Min Aera] (furious)

"Come on, pick up!"

(Voicemail. Again.)

[Min Aera] (leaving a message)

"You took my daughter without permission, Jungkook! What the hell are you thinking? Bringing her back won't be enough. You're crossing lines—"

(She throws the phone onto the couch, breathing heavily. Her face crumbles with a mix of rage and panic.)

Small Café in Town

(Jungkook and Y/N sit at a small table in a cozy café. Across from them, a man in his early 40s—Min Jihoon, Y/N's biological father—walks in. His face lights up the moment he sees her.)

[Min Jihoon] (softly)

"Y/N..."

[Y/N] (jumps up, eyes brimming)

"Dad."

(They run into each other's arms. Jihoon holds her tightly, tears in his eyes.)

[Min Jihoon]

"You're here... You're really here."

[Y/N] (voice shaking)

"She kept me away from you. I missed you so much."

[Min Jihoon]

"I missed you every single day."

(Jungkook watches quietly, his expression unreadable but heart heavy. He stands and steps away to give them space. After a few minutes, Jihoon approaches him.)

[Min Jihoon]

"You're the one who brought her?"

[Jungkook]

"She needed you. I just made it happen."

[Min Jihoon] (nods, eyes narrowing slightly)

"I don't know your role in her life yet. But thank you."

(Jungkook nods, silent. There's a pause.)

[Min Jihoon]

"You care about her?"

[Jungkook] (without hesitation)

"I do. Maybe more than I should."

Small Café in Town – Late Afternoon

(The café hums with soft music and the clinking of mugs. Y/N and Min Jihoon now sit across from each other, a warm drink in each of their hands. Their earlier embrace lingers in the air, and though they've stopped crying, emotion still clings to every word.)

[Min Jihoon] (smiling sadly)

"You used to sit on my lap and pretend to take my coffee orders. 'One vanilla milkshake, extra love, coming right up!' You remember that?"

(Y/N laughs, a wet sound through her tears. She nods.)

[Y/N]

"I made you drink so many terrible sugar concoctions."

[Min Jihoon] (chuckling)

"Yeah, but you always served them with a bow and a kiss on the cheek. Best service I ever had."

(They both fall quiet, holding their cups but no longer drinking. Jihoon reaches across the table, gently covering her hand with his.)

[Min Jihoon] (serious now)

"I should've fought harder. I let your mother push me away from you. I didn't protect you like I promised I would."

[Y/N] (voice thick)

"I don't care anymore whose fault it was. You're here. That's all I've wanted. Just to be able to talk to you... like this."

(Tears stream down her cheeks. She doesn't wipe them away. Jihoon gets up and moves to her side of the booth, pulling her into his arms. She leans her head on his shoulder, crying openly now.)

[Y/N] (muffled)

"I love you so much, Dad. I never stopped. Not once."

[Min Jihoon] (kissing the top of her head)

"I love you more than anything, kiddo. I'm so proud of you for surviving all of it. And I'm not going anywhere now."

(A few feet away, Jungkook watches quietly. He hasn't touched his drink. He sees how Y/N's entire face has softened—her tension, her guardedness, even her silence. It's breaking apart. In its place: tears, smiles, warmth. A daughter who finally feels seen.)

(Her laughter rings out again, mixed with a sob. Jungkook's chest tightens. It's the first time he's truly seen her happy—and the hardest thing he's ever had to witness.)

(As Y/N rests her head on her father's shoulder, she glances up—just briefly—and catches Jungkook's gaze. Her smile falters for a second, something flickering behind her eyes. Gratitude. Something more. But it fades quickly as she leans back into Jihoon's embrace.)

Outside the Café – Later

(Jungkook walks ahead, giving them privacy as they say goodbye. Y/N hugs her father tightly again.)

[Y/N]

"Promise me we'll do this again. Soon."

[Min Jihoon]

"Every week. Every chance we get. You have me now. For good."

Car Ride Back

(The drive is quiet. Not heavy, just full. Y/N stares out the window, smiling to herself. She wipes her face gently, still recovering from the weight of emotion.)

[Jungkook] (softly)

"You looked... different back there. Lighter."

(She turns, surprised by how gently he says it.)

[Y/N]

"I feel different. Like... something that was broken inside me got stitched back together."

(He nods, then looks back at the road.)

[Jungkook]

"I'm glad. You deserve that kind of love."

(There's a long pause. Y/N watches his profile—the way his jaw tightens, the flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.)

[Y/N] (quietly)

"I wouldn't have found it without you."

(Jungkook says nothing. He doesn't trust himself to speak. Because deep down, he wonders—

Now that she's found the love she was missing... will there be any room left for the love I've been carrying for her?)

[Y/N]

"He still loves me. He never stopped."

[Jungkook] (smiles softly)

"I know. It's written all over his face."

[Y/N] (turns to him)

"You know what's weird? I expected you to yell at me after what I did at the party."

[Jungkook]

"I don't believe in punishing pain with more pain."

[Y/N] (quiet)

"I tried to make you hate me."

[Jungkook] (gently)

"I know. And I didn't."

(Their eyes meet. There's something warm and fragile in the air, but Jungkook quickly breaks the gaze, focusing back on the road. A line they both feel—but neither will cross.)

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